Real Estate Support News

Twitter Best Practices: What a Little Bird Told Me

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 10:47:23 -0800

A vast majority of people who try their hand at Twitter marketing simply do not succeed. Why? It could be as simple as not having a plan. More than likely they didn’t know or follow certain best practices that would increase their chances of success.Here are some successful Twitter marketing practices I’ve learned over several years.Tweet by Tweet OptimizationWhen you’re optimizing your content on Twitter, it’s a good idea to focus on one element at a time. An element is simply a part of a tweet. It could be a question, a link, or a hashtag. When you’re optimizing your tweets for high engagement and click-throughs, your tweets need to be changed section by section. It takes time because even if you do get some sort of improvement, you don’t know which part accounts for that improvement. On the other hand, if you optimize element by element, you can clearly identify which part you changed and reasonably conclude that this accounts for the improvement.Pay attention to your Twitter Analytics. Once you’re no longer seeing a nice improvement with the particular element, you switch to the next element. When the element is a question, you play around with many different question variations until you get one that gets clicked a lot. When working with the hashtag element, swap out the hashtags until you find something that clicks with your followers.Timing is EverythingDepending on your time zone, you may find that a lot of your most active followers prefer early morning or late at night. Learn the timing of the clicks coming in. If you see a pattern, use your tweet scheduling software to mirror the most active times or the most popular timeframe for your content. Two useful tools for checking your stats are Google Analytics or StatCounter.Let Statistics Be Your GuideMany Twitter marketers fail because they base their posting decision on feelings. Unfortunately, these hunches often lead to dead ends. When making a decision involving your content, your conversion pages, your mailing list, etc., pay attention to statistics. Use sound numbers to justify any changes you make.In ConclusionTwitter marketing success is possible. There are lots of people who make a great income every year on Twitter. There are also lots of companies that find clients from Twitter.Digital marketing can create a comfortable living promoting their business on Twitter. What accounts for these individual’s success? They chose to be systematic and methodical.Be methodical. You have to follow the proper sequence. You have to look at the right signals. These two factors, systems and meticulousness, flow together. It takes time to master this but you can do it.Here’s to your Twitter marketing success!You may also enjoy reading:Twitter: Effective Marketing Tool or a Waste of Time?How to Get More Twitter Traffic to Your Website Subscribe in a reader

You Can Lead a Prospect to Water But Will They Drink? Part One

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 11:25:14 -0700

Using Lead Magnets to Grow Your ListFinding a way to capture leads can be confusing and frustrating. Here are the first five of ten lead capture methods you can use to grow your list.eBooksCreate a lead magnet eBook to help grow your list. Here are some tips. Transcription – Conduct some interviews with your customers’ success stories. Transcribe them and turn them into a book. You can find people to do this for you or you can do it yourself. Case Studies – Create an automated survey to send to each of your customers. The survey should consist of yes and no questions as well as long-form answers so they can tell their story freely. Take the information you receive from that survey and turn it into a publishable case study. Allow your audience as a free download to learn more and grow your list. Compile Old Blog Posts – Use categories in your blog to write and publish an eBook. After you’ve written several posts on a specific topic, compile them into an eBook. Add images and create a good design. Brand it to match your own branding. By setting up categories on your blog, you can set up a system to slowly write and eventually publish a perfect eBook for list building. After you have ten to twenty posts about one topic, you can compile it using automatic software in just a few clicks of a mouse. Add in some transitions, images, and design the document to match your branding, and you’re done. If you have a WordPress website, you can use the Print My Blog plugin to easily turn your blog posts into a printable eBook for download. Transcribe a Webinar – Here’s another idea that uses transcription to create an eBook. You talk faster than you write. But you can use technology to help you create an eBook from a webinar you already conducted. Add a few checklists and maybe step-by-step instructions to accomplish a task.Resource GuidesYour audience wants to know what they will need to buy or how to use your products and services successfully. Show them the resources you use by creating a resource guide. It makes a perfect list builder or lead magnet. Website – Set up a page on your site with a resource list of products and services you use to do your business. Add resources you recommend that your audience uses to do whatever it is your niche is about. Print to PDF – Your website version is going to be updated every time you find a new product or service that you like or recommend. When the list is long enough to be a few pages, you can print it right off your site to PDF. If you have a WordPress site, upload it into your Media Library and offer the link for a direct download. Make sure the list is easy-to-read with good formatting. Check all your resource links to be sure they all work.Easy-to-Create ChecklistsChecklists are a great way to create something of value for your audience. There are several ways you can market it to build your list. Text Links – Anytime you have a checklist, mention it in your post or website content and link to it right within the content. Use the anchor text to link to your checklist content. Advertise Your Checklist – Advertise your checklist to anyone who visits your website. Use Facebook Ads and other social media platforms to advertise. Email “By the Ways” – Any time you mention the topic in an email, you can remind your contacts about the resources and information you have to offer. Tell them about the checklist and give them a link to it. Chats and Messenger – Recommend your checklists in your website’s chat or on social media. Using automated technology right through Facebook and AI, you can set up your messages to automatically send this information to the right audience members who use specific keywords. Webinar Handout – Webinars are a great time to recommend any of the checklists you’ve created for your audience. Let your audience know about downloading the checklists for extra assistance.Cheat Sheets/Reference GuidesThink of a cheat sheet the same as crib notes for a particular topic. These reference guides make it easy to find links and resources mentioned in your article, post, or webinar. Easy – Make your cheat sheet easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to implement. Value-Added – Ensure your cheat sheet provides something your ideal customer wants to know and needs to know. Compile it on one page in a way that is understandable and implementable at a glance.TemplatesTemplates make impressive and effective list builders because your audience want shortcuts to success. Create a template that matches the original. Templates Solve Problems Fast – Create template designs for everything from landing pages, to how to do’s, to helping them with a problem. This one-page template makes it easy to use and fast to implement. Easy to Create – A template is not hard to create. Find examples of templates in MS Word to MS Excel. Use their examples to make it easier to choose the data to put into your template freebie. High-Value Item – A template is a high-value item because it solves an important problem at a glance. They are the perfect lead magnets because they encompass everything you want for list building. They are fast, simple, and effective at solving one particular problem for a specific person.Lead magnets are extremely important. They help you build relationships and trust with prospective clients. Choose one of these 5 lead magnet ideas to get started on building your list and promoting your business.AND THAT’S NOT ALL! There are more lead magnets that you may not have thought of. Look for five more in my next post. Subscribe in a reader

5 Tips for Maximum Website Traffic

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 10:55:11 -0700

Getting maximum website traffic doesn’t mean you have to completely remake your website. Great content and a winning marketing strategy will only get you so far. A poorly designed website will restrict your success.Google believes in high-quality website design and function. Their standards ensure its visitors have the best possible experience with their searches. If your website is slow and poorly designed, visitors will leave quickly and Google won’t give you a high ranking.How do you manage your website so it brings more traffic and ranks higher in the search engine? Here are 5 tips for maximum website traffic:Compress Images – To lower your website’s load times, compress your images. WordPress websites can use plugins such as Smush and WP Optimize. These plugins will shrink the file sizes of your images which will, in turn, speed up the amount of time it takes for your pages to load.Remove Unused Plugins – Does your website include plugins that you aren’t currently using? Getting rid of these unused plugins is another way to improve your site’s speed. Unused and plugins that are not updated are a magnet for hackers. Download only the plugins you’ll use and get rid of the rest.Build Your Brand – Brand your website with your personal or company logo. Use your brand’s colors and font throughout your site. A strong brand helps communicate to your visitors what your website is all about. It also helps Google see that you are a serious business person.Create Internal Links – Internal links help Google organize your content and improve indexing. Your visitors will stay on your site longer as they smoothly move from one page to another. Internal links have a very positive impact on your SEO.Lead Your Visitors – Show your visitors what you want them to do next. Visual clues will lead your visitors to the action you want them to take. For example, if you’re working on lead generation, lead your visitors to the “thing of value” that you want them to sign up for.Using these five tips for maximum website traffic will get you started on the road to more visitors and better search engine ranking.BONUS ALERT! Get your free 101 Free Website Traffic Ideas. It’s ready for your immediate download! Subscribe in a reader

TikTok: What You Need to Know Before Diving In

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 12:13:58 -0700

To find marketing success on TikTok, you need to understand a few things first. Know Your Audience – TikTok currently has more than 800 million worldwide users. It continues to grow by leaps and bounds. If you market to a younger demographic, this could be a platform for you to consider. Understanding the TikTok Platform – Before jumping in, take a look at the most popular videos. Understand why users are attracted to them. Know how to properly interact with other users. TikTok is all about fun and entertainment and is no place for pushy sales messages. You need to be creative in the way you get your message across. Make Your Content Fun to Watch – If you’re going to use TikTok in your marketing efforts, you need to get your message across in a fun way. REALTORS® are showcasing their products and services on TikTok. Check out at ashleythelasvegasrealtor. Ashley has 33,800 followers and 1.2 million likes. Hashtag Challenges – Many brands and organizations have had a lot of success with hashtag challenges. You create a branded hashtag and then use this to promote a challenge where users participate by creating their own videos using your hashtag. Use Influencers – Do you know an influencer? Reach out to them and ask them to showcase your products and services to their audience. TikTok Ads – There are four types of ads in TikTok’s ad program. Use these ads strategically to reach out to many users. There are targeting options to narrow down your audience. Since TikTok ads are fairly new, time will tell how effective they are in your target market.TikTok isn’t for everyone. However, it has been used successfully by many users to promote their businesses. If you think your demographic would respond favorably to TikTok, give it a try. It could be fun and profitable. Subscribe in a reader

How to Be a Better Online Influencer Through Blogs

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 13:56:55 -0700

An Influencer is a person or group of people who have the ability to influence the opinions of others. Having a blog is one of the best ways to set yourself up as an influencer. Blog posts give you the opportunity to promote yourself and demonstrate your expertise. The challenge is getting noticed by the crowds of people in your target market.Great content is a must. Here are four tips that will help you do that. Narrative Structure – In search engine optimization (SEO) circles, there is a saying that says “storytelling is SEO for the human brain”. This means that the human brain is optimized to hear stories. This is true in a far more literal sense than you might expect. From the beginning, telling stories is how people understood things and passed on knowledge. Stories help us feel like we know the writer and develop trust in them. Keep Your Audience in Mind – Think of your blog posts as your product. Be aware of who your target market is. The more connected you are to your demographic, the better your chances of spreading your posts will be. This is a great time to mention that your blog posts must be made “shareable”. Skim-Worthy Articles – People are busy and, let’s face it, have a short attention span. This issue has exacerbated with the popularity of social media. Take Facebook for instance. When we check-in, it’s normally a distraction. We don’t have time to read pages of text. Your articles need to be made easy to skim through. This is easily accomplished with the use of headers, bolded text, and bullet points. Your readers can quickly glance at your posts and get drawn into what they are especially interested in. Be the Expert – Let your readers know that you are the expert in your field; that you know your position inside out, upside down, and backward. If you decide to hire a blog writer, be sure they know your niche and subject matter. If you’re a Realtor®, find someone who works with individuals in that field. Otherwise, you could run the risk of hiring a writer who will write bland content.BONUS TIP: Blog promotion is essential to be seen in a sea of other posts. Whether you write your posts or hire someone else to write them for you, have a promotion structure in place. Post to your social media accounts, email to your appropriate contacts, and include your blog link and/or posts in newsletters and other promotional materials.To become a better influencer through blog posts, implement these four tips as well as the bonus tip. Check your analytics to see which posts resonate with your readers. Watch your readership grow as you are seen as an influencer and thought leader in your market. Subscribe in a reader

Digital Marketing for Super-Busy Real Estate Professionals

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 10:14:37 -0700

Creating content is time-consuming. Even if you’re a fast writer or you’ve got someone on your team who churns out quality content like a robot, it will still take up valuable time. If you’re not willing to spend all your energy creating content, think about leaving it to the experts.Outsourcing is a great solution for a busy real estate professional to keep their digital marketing strategy seamlessly moving forward. The cost of outsourcing varies but when you’re too busy taking care of your business, outsourcing is a great investment.Here are some tips to help you outsource successfully.Choose the Right Company – Choose a company with digital marketing experience. Make sure they understand your profession and can create digital content that matches your specific needs and language. It’s a general consensus that you get what you pay for. So, be sure the company you choose will meet your standards.Be Clear About What You Want – Vague instructions will lead to poor results. Be clear about what kind of digital marketing you need. Your Virtual Assistant wants to meet and exceed your expectations. Being clear in the beginning will get the results you want.Freelancers are Not Employees – Outsourcing your digital marketing means that you are hiring a company just like any other; IDX provider, virtual tour companies, website developers, etc. They are not employees. You don’t have to create a special workspace, pay for insurance, taxes or any other costs.Have a Contract or a Plan – A Plan of Action will outline an agreement between you and your Virtual Assistant. It clearly spells out what your expectations are and how your goals will be accomplished.Constructive Feedback – The digital marketing expert you choose appreciates your feedback. It helps them learn more about you, your business, how you work, and what your expectations are. It provides insight that helps with improving and creating content that fits your specific requirements.Build Long-Term Relationships – There are many very good digital marketing specialists to choose from. Building a long-term relationship with the one you choose helps build loyalty to your brand and comfort in working together as a team. When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and under-staffed, consider the services of a digital marketing professional. Do what you do best. Leave the rest to someone else.Read these related articles Outsourcing Your Way to Success 10 Digital Marketing Techniques: How to Increase Customer Engagement Subscribe in a reader

Website Content is a Make or Break Opportunity

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 11:36:11 -0700

Wondering Why Website Content is So Important?Remember the “Content is King!” mantra? In the long-forgotten past, we were encouraged to add copious amounts of content to our website. Later, we were encouraged to scale back for mobile viewing. Content is how we communicate with our viewers. Eliminating too much text can be a big mistake. Content is still king! Here’s why good website content is still so relevant.Website Content Informs and Educates – The most effortless content is “how-to”, “why”, and other information that teaches your visitors something they may not have know. Teach your readers and provide solutions to their pain points.Google Juice = Search Engine Optimization – Well-placed keywords attract search engines. Use appropriate search terms within the content to attract your visitors and search engines.Inbound Links – When you do a good job organizing the content you want your audience to see on your website, other people will find it and link back to it. When you share that content with your social media followers, that also provides a link back to your content. But when you earn inbound links from other sites, especially authoritative sites, your ranking will go up, and so will your traffic because of it.Content Encourages Engagement – When content is shared, it creates interaction with others as well as another inbound link to your site. You want to not only make the content look attractive, but you also want to ask them to share it. Your contacts get to know and trust you.Create Potential Customers – Your website content can make money for you. It does this by bringing in traffic and educating your viewers. Persuade your viewers to become customers and join your list. Then, create marketing material directed to them and their specific needs.Increase Your Authority – Content is a great way to prove your knowledge about a specific topic. When you show your readers that you are educated on a topic and can lead them to success as well as a solution to their problem, it will solidify your expert status to your audience.Basis of Any Digital Marketing Strategy – All the digital marketing tactics like SEO, offering lead magnets, email marketing, social media marketing, PPC marketing, video marketing, and so forth are all content-based. Think about it. Everything you do to market your business is content-based.Think about website content as an important marketing tool. Organize your website carefully. Use your content to its fullest potential.You may also enjoy reading: There’s More to Content Marketing Campaigns Than Blogging 5 Tips for Choosing and Marketing Digital Content Subscribe in a reader

How to Add Marketing Videos to Social Media for Max Exposure

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:53:47 -0700

Creating marketing videos is one thing. Getting exposure to them is quite another. Uploading your videos to one channel will limit that exposure. Here are the channels you’ll get the greatest benefit from as well as “how-to” instructions”. YouTube – The Obvious ChoiceYouTube is the second most visited website on the planet. It also doubles as a search engine because all videos are indexed by Google. To get started: Log on to your YouTube account and click the “upload video” tab. It’s located as a dropdown menu under the movie camera icon at the top-right of your screen. Click on the “select file” button, locate your marketing video, and double-click on it to start uploading it. You can start customizing your video while it uploads. First, enter the video title, and then the video description. Now select or upload a thumbnail. Now select whether the video “is made for kids” or “it’s not made for kids”. Click on “more options” and enter your niche keywords into the “tags” field. Additional settings you can configure include language, subtitles, recording date and location, license distribution, category, and comments and ratings. You can click on “next” after configuring these settings. In the next screen, you can add video elements such as end screens or cards to promote other content. Click on next to configure visibility. First, click on the “publish now” tab and select “public”. If you want to publish your video on a later date, simply click on the “schedule” tab and select the date using the calendar functions. Now that you are done uploading and configuring your video, click on “publish” to finish. Vimeo – Most Popular Video Streaming ChoiceVimeo is the second most popular dedicated video streaming site. With over 170 million active users, it will help you expose your brand to a more focused audience of content professionals and creative types. It also offers its users an ad-free experience. Here’s how to get started: Log into your account and click on the “upload” button. On the following page, click on the “choose files” button, locate your video, and upload it. Customize your video but entering the title and the video description. Click the “privacy” menu button and make sure it’s set to “anyone can see this video”. Select the language of your video. Enter your niche keywords into the “tags” field and select “all audiences” under “content rating”. Click on the “save” button Facebook – The King of Social Media SitesFacebook is one of an extremely active website. The Facebook algorithm boosts video posts that are native to the platform. This means your best choice is to upload them instead of sharing them from other sources. It couldn’t be easier. Go to your Facebook account and click on the “photo/video” button located in the “create post” section. Locate your marketing video and double-click on it to upload it. Add a caption to describe the video into the “say something about this video” field, and then click on the “post” button. NOTE: To get even more benefit from your Facebook video marketing, click on the photo/video button as mentioned above. You'll need to delete the video once and re-upload it in order to get it to load. (Confusing, I know.) For some reason, the video won't upload the first time. Twitter – The Most Engaging Social Media SiteIf your goal is to boost your brand and go viral, Twitter could be your best bet. Super simple to do!Go to your Twitter account and click on the “compose tweet” icon.Click on the gallery icon.Locate your video, and double click on it to upload it.Add your video title and description into the text field. Make sure that your title and description don’t exceed 280 characters.Click on “tweet” to post your video! Instagram – A Visual Discovery WebsiteInstagram is the choice of video marketers from around the world. Users go there for the images and videos. Here’s how to upload a video to Instagram: Go to the app while logged in to your account and tap on the “plus” icon. Locate and select your marketing video from your gallery and tap on “next”. Customize your video using Instagram’s editing options and tap on “next” to continue. Enter your caption into the text field, and then tap on “share”. Tik Tok – The Newest Video Discovery AppTik Tok a great platform for marketers. It allows you to expose your brand to a gigantic audience. Note that this platform is used mostly by the teenage and young adult demographic. Open the app while logged in to your account. Tap on the “plus” icon. Tap on the “gallery” icon, locate your marketing video and tap on it to select it. Click on the “next” button when prompted on the following screen. Enter the title and caption of your video into the “describe your video” field. Make sure to add a hashtag symbol before each keyword. Tap on “post” to upload it. Now you know how to add your marketing videos to the top 5 social media channels. Get the most exposure for your videos. Practice makes perfect! Other Video Marketing Blogs:The Importance of Video Marketing Even if You’re Camera-ShyCatch the Video Market WaveVideo Marketing Success Checklist Subscribe in a reader

The Importance of Video Marketing Even if You're Camera-Shy

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 11:14:03 -0700

There are many benefits of video marketing that make it super-important to get involved even if you’re camera-shy. Being camera-shy shouldn’t prevent you from benefiting from video marketing. If you knew that just by adding video to your marketing strategy you could multiply your results, wouldn’t you do it?Here’s a list of video marketing benefits: Boosts brand awareness Improves your online presence Helps people get to know you Enhances social media engagement Builds trust with viewers Improved search engine optimization (SEO) Improve mobile presence Helps explain difficult topics High return on investment (ROI) How to Make Great Videos Without Appearing in ThemRecord Your Slides with a Voice-Over – Do a voice-over using your own natural voice. No one can see you and you will be talking about a topic you’re familiar with.Create Explainer Videos – Make an effective video without being in it. An explainer video explains a topic to your audience in a short and simple way.Tell a Story – When you want to make a video without being in it, focus more on the story. You’ll need to write the story, then perfect it so that it flows well. Get clips, images, animations, and/or text for the story and create it in pictures on MS PowerPoint. Then turn to a video with your voice-over story.Use Impressive Photography – Help your viewers to not get distracted from your message. the visuals Find amazing images that either you take or that you buy from a reputable stock photo company. There are many free images for download. Free resources include Pixabay, Pexels, and Unsplash. You can purchase images at those sites as well. Just be careful of copyrights. You’d be amazed at the ways you can combine images to tell a story and get viewers.Share Your Screen – When you have something important to teach and sharing your screen is necessary to teach it, then that is what you should do. Zoom.com is a free service that helps accomplish this objective.Add Text to Your Videos – To make videos more interesting, consider adding text. It helps to cement the point you’re trying to make in the video. Be careful, though, of adding too much text if you plan to use the video in a Facebook advertisement. Steps to Becoming a Confident Video MarketerKnow Your Goal – You may have a goal to build your email list. You could offer a short video-based email course introduced by one video or two, then require an email address to see more. Another goal might be to solve one problem for your audience so that they want you to help them solve a bigger problem.Know Your Audience – What are their problems? What keeps them up at night? What excites them? What are their life goals, values, and fears? How does what you do address their issues and solve their problems?Develop Talking Points – Write down some basic points you want to talk about. Coordinate your talking points with your video. PowerPoint is an effective tool for creating a presentation, adding your voice-over, and perfecting your presentation.Keep it Short and Simple – Shorter videos are better than longer ones. Sixty seconds to ten minutes is a good length. If you need more time, consider breaking up your long videos into smaller ones to create a series.Be Yourself – Everyone Else is Taken – It doesn’t matter is your viewer has heard your message a hundred times, you could be the one who helps them “get it” just by being yourself.Practice Doesn’t Mean Perfection – Like most things, the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become. Be prepared, be confident, and create a noteworthy presentation. However, don’t get so wrapped up in making sure it’s perfect. Otherwise, you may never finish creating your video. If Your Start TodayIf you start today and create just one video per week by this time next year you’ll have 52 videos under your belt, a larger email list, and you’ll be more comfortable – whether you appear in the video or not.Extra Credit Reading Catch the Video Marketing Wave Video Marketing Success Checklist Subscribe in a reader

Repeat Traffic: How to Get Visitors to Return to Your Website

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 11:29:21 -0700

There are tons of articles written about how to get traffic to your website. That’s a start. But getting those visitors to return to your website is equally, if not more, important.Repeat traffic helps with ad impressions, metrics, and search engine ranking. It’s worth even more when it comes to sales and conversions. Repeat visitors are more likely to come back to your website because they find value in your brand. Quality and ValueThe key to quality and high-value content is good content marketing. It’s likely your visitors will find your website by searching on Google. If their experience on your website is positive, they will start recognizing the brand and know where to find you on their return visit.Well-optimized website content will score high in the search engine rankings. This helps bring visitors to your site through search terms. Voice Activated SearchesAccording to SEJ Search Engine Journal, leading research firms are predicting that somewhere between 30 and 50 percent of all searches will be conducted via voice by 2020.To optimize your website for voice-activated searches: Optimize your business listing Speed up your website Focus on asking and answering questions Test your search on various devices and see what results are generated Tips to FollowUse these quick tips to help gain repeat traffic: Develop a strong and recognizable brand Frequently and consistently post quality content. Include your brand in the SEO title Create a sense of community Incentivize return visits Encourage your social media following to visit your website When it comes to social media be seen everywhere. Have a strong brand on every platform and post to all of them as frequently as you can. Social media provides a way to stay in touch with your visitors even after they’ve left your site. It’s a great way to continually draw them back to your website.By doing these things, your visitors will remember your site, find it easily, and return often. Another interesting post:Google Voice Search: A Game Changer Subscribe in a reader

Catch the Video Marketing Wave

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:55:36 -0700

The Video Marketing WaveVideo marketing is a fantastic vehicle for creating brand awareness, confidence, and trust in you and your products. Videos increase the amount of time a visitor or viewer spends on your website. Therefore, Google loves a well-placed and optimized video. What Is Video Marketing All About? Videos are one of the best tools available that will reach a large number of users at once. Video marketing is used to publicize and market your services, brand, and products. According to the latest statistics, 72% of people prefer to learn about a product or service by watching a video instead of reading about it. More than 70% of surveyed consumers say that a video was more likely to persuade them to make a purchase or contact the company. How to Advertise Your Videos for Free Promote your videos on social media Send your marketing videos to your email subscribers Comment on other niche channels on YouTube The Most Important Metrics to Track Goals and results How many people view your video Social sharing and comments How many times viewers watched your entire video Click-through rate Conversion rate Bounce rate and how much time was spent on a page Do’s and Don’ts of Video MarketingDO Include a powerful intro Be fun Use a catchy title Use keywords to tag your video Make short videos Be the expert – instill confidence Use a good microphone Ask your followers questions Include a Call to Action Use tutorial videos Add “share” buttons” to your video Pin your promotional video to the top of your Pinterest and Facebook page DON’T Don’t be boring Don’t be so preoccupied with perfection that your video never gets completed Don’t forget that production quality matters Don’t completely focus on sales Don’t forget to use analytics Don’t forget to add your video to all social platforms Don’t be disappointed if you don’t immediately get the results you want Don’t promise anything you can’t deliver Don’t make your videos too long Give video creation and marketing a try. Use it to promote your business and products.Check out our Video Marketing Checklist. Find out what to include in your video, how to keep them engaging, and the different kinds of videos to create.Need help with your video creation and marketing? We can help! Subscribe in a reader

Why You Should Be Holding Virtual Events

Thu, 14 May 2020 11:19:10 -0700

If we’ve learned anything during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that we have to get creative to stay in business. Holding virtual events is one way to keep a high profile for you and your business. Raises Your Profile and Visibility – Be the “go-to” expert in your industry. Gain credibility and trust by sharing your knowledge and expertise as well as other well-known experts. Building strong relationships with your peers is an excellent way to build your own skills. Builds a Community – Who’s your community? It’s loyal clients and other contacts who value what you have to offer. Those are also the people who will help you build credibility through reviews, referrals, and recommendations. Gets You Free Marketing – Invite guest speakers to your virtual event. They, in turn, will invite their contacts thus broadening your exposure. Creates More Opportunities – Expanding your network will automatically open new doors. You could be asked to write a guest blog post or be an attendee at someone else’s virtual event. These additional opportunities increase your exposure to contacts you may never have met before. Gives You Freedom – Your virtual event can be streamed from anywhere in the country or the world. Set a schedule that’s convenient for you and that everyone can participate in. Social Distancing is Not a Problem – There’s no limit to the number of people attending your virtual event. Another perk is that there are no flights, accommodations, meals, or staffing needed on your part. Creates Marketing Opportunities – Whether you’ve written a book, offer courses, or want to self-promote, virtual events are a great way to do it. Be direct and be brief. The last thing your attendees want is to listen to an infomercial the whole time. Proves Value – Virtual events can be cloned and kept evergreen. Leverage one event into another. Once your attendees are excited about your event, they will want to attend more.Virtual Events aren’t new. However, it is a great way to keep your business moving forward in both good and challenging times. Think of your virtual event as an asset that will continue to bring you business.You may also like reading: Now That We’re All Working From Home The Secret to Working Less While Earning More Outsourcing Your Way to Success Subscribe in a reader

Secrets to Building a Responsive Email List

Thu, 07 May 2020 11:41:46 -0700

The Money is in the ListThe secrets of generating sales are to have a large email list of contacts. Size isn’t everything. Instead, put the focus on quality instead of quantity.How to Build Your Email ListBuild Your List Organically – Start with people you already have a good relationship with. Add prospective buyers/sellers as they contact you.Target Your List – Add contacts to a category that fits their needs. This enables you to better target your emails.Automate – Apply technologies and tools to save valuable time and increase your bottom line.Offer Something of Value – A free report or some other item of value could cause a contract to sign up or reach out to you. Try asking them to participate in a poll or offer a free consultation. How to Create an Organic Mailing ListUp Your Opt-In Game – An opt-in form should definitely be on your website. However, it should also be found on your social media accounts. If that option isn’t available, add information in your social bios, services, or other sections of your social media accounts.Utilize Social Media – Social media offers a huge opportunity to connect with potential clients. Post updates and links to offers you want to promote. How to Use Technology to Track SuccessDouble Opt-In – This means a subscriber must confirm their email address via a response email sent to them from your auto-responder. It helps eliminate spammers and fake email addressesCheck Open Rates – Services such as Constant Contact, SendInBlue, and Ixact Contact provide reports that show how many people opened your email, what links they clicked on, and bounce rate.Sale Funnels – Immediately add a contact to your sales funnels. Most paid subscriptions offer this as part of their service.Sign-Up Information – Set up your sign-up forms so they automatically go into the right mailing list. Paid services often provide the HTML code for this so you can add their forms to your website. Best PracticesAttention-Grabbing Headlines – Add a headline that grabs their attention and makes them curious about your emails. Otherwise, your email will be sent to the deleted file.Make It Personal – Add your contacts’ names to your emails. It adds a personal touch and makes it appear that it was sent especially to them – not along with hundreds of other contacts.Keep it Short – People get tons of emails every day. Long email messages will often be skimmed or skipped altogether.Add Links – Whether it goes to a blog post, a special offer, or something else, an email is a great place to add a link back to your website or landing page.Add Unsubscribe Information – This protects you as well as your contact. Make it easy to unsubscribe. You don’t want to be seen as a spammer.Forward to a Friend – Referral business is the best business. Add a “forward to a friend” option to your emails. There’s a trust factor built into an email sent by someone who already knows the sender. Timing is EverythingWeekdays – The best time to send an email is before or after work hours. The most replies occur between 6 a.m. – 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m.Track Your Emails – If you are sending contacts to a webpage, a blog post, or landing page, you will be able to track it through your email program. Otherwise, set up a Google Analytics account and track dates and times. Most ImportantlyKeep in Constant Contact – This builds trust and provides an opportunity for your contact to get to know you better.Frequency is Key – Although you don’t want to deluge contacts with promotional information, it’s important to stay in touch often.Be Consistent – If you decide to send a weekly or monthly newsletter, be sure to stay on that schedule. This applies to any other strategy or contest, etc. you put in place.Be Responsive – Respond quickly to any questions, comments, or complaints. This lets your contacts know you care about what they have to say or contribute. In ConclusionKnow how to create a solid email list. Find the best service or solution to automate your emails and responses. Always use the best practices. This will build trust, create more website and blog traffic, and create a better experience for your contacts. Stay in touch on a consistent basis and be responsive to your contacts’ needs. Other Email Marketing Blog Posts: Email Marketing Checklist Email Marketing: Easy Do's and Don'ts Putting Social Power Into Your Email Marketing Subscribe in a reader

Have You Been Telling Social Media Stories?

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 14:05:51 -0700

How to Create Your Personal Brand with Social Media StoriesDigital marketing involves creating a brand and selling products through that brand. Corporations do this all the time. Another option, though, is to use personal branding. What is Personal Branding?Personal branding is used when either you are the business or you do business under your own name. For example, anyone who reads Tom Ferry’s Blog will instantly recognize Tom Ferry. He is front and center of his online marketing. In his case, he’s also an influencer where his brand is his business. What are Social Media Stories?Social Media Stories are short posts used on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms. They are visible for a short period of time and then disappear.This method is perfect for building your personal brand. It allows your fans to get to know you for the person behind the products and services. This builds trust, makes your followers feel they know you, and thus creates more sales. What Are the Advantages? Personal branding puts you “out there” in front of a lot of potential buyers. You’ll give your brand a personality. You can interact with people on Twitter or Facebook, creating a feeling of personal contact instead of corporate messaging. Stories show you and/or your team hard at work or having some fun after a long at work. Stories are popular with users and have a lot of engagement.What Sites Should You be Posting Social Media Stories On? SnapchatSnapchat was the first to start the “self-destructing” message. Stories take this concept and apply it to a public form of publishing. Although not as popular as it once was, Snapchat is still one of the biggest social platforms on the web.Snapchat Stories have advanced filters as well as the advantage of allowing an embedded link. FacebookFacebook Stories allow you to appear at the top of the user’s feed and to interact in a very direct manner.Facebook also has the advantage of being THE largest social media platform in the world and giving you access to a truly massive number of people. Facebook also lets you include a call-to-action link, which has the potential to be extremely useful. InstagramInstagram doesn’t allow you to include a link until you have at least 10,000 followers, or you are a verified account. Options such as polls, question boxes, etc. will help to make up for this to some extent.Instagram also lets you share your stories directly to Facebook, expanding your reach even further. YouTube StoriesYouTube Stories are stories encourage users to embrace short videos. YouTube Stories will only appear for 24 hours.YouTube Stories are added via your mobile app only. Staying ahead of the social media marketing game can be challenging. Take a look at each of these five social media story options. Choose one and get started. Subscribe in a reader

Unique Ways to Boost Your Blog Visibility

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 10:59:34 -0700

Most people think getting traffic to their blog is all about using social media. Something they may not have considered is how you can get more traffic just by making a few tweaks to your blog. Attract More Traffic TO Your Blog FROM Your Blog Install Sharing Icons – Make sure your blog is shareable by installing social icons. WordPress users will find a variety of sharing and social media icons. Include a Memorable Tweet – If you have a WordPress website, find a plugin such as Better Click To Tweet. Your readers will automatically be able to share your content on Twitter, thus driving traffic back to your post. Ask Your Readers to Share – Add “Share” icons to the bottom of your post. Or, as an alternative, simply ask, “If you like this post, please share it on Facebook”. Use Tags and Categories – Tags and categories help people find your content in search engines. They help your readers find more of your content and decrease bounce rates. Add a Search Feature – Readers may come to your blog to read a specific topic. Lead them to other topics by adding a search feature on your blog. Link to Other Authority Sites – Hyperlink appropriate text to specific high-traffic sites. For example, when discussing a topic such as WordPress plugins, hyperlink “WordPress Plugins” to the appropriate page on their site. Traffic-Boosting WordPress PluginsSocial Media Scheduler – Schedule your posts as soon as you’ve created them with Blog2Social. Auto-post to several social media accounts at once.Add a Pinterest Button – Don’t overlook the value of Pinterest. Your interesting graphics will draw attention to your post. Each graphic will be linked back to your post. Adding a rich pin allows you to add more information about your business.Connect Your Blog to Buffer – Buffer is a social networking scheduler. It allows you to schedule your upcoming blog posts as social media updates.Add Links to Your Social Profiles – Adding links helps readers connect with you on social media. This also encourages them to share your content. Simple Social Icons plugins can help with this. Get Media ExposureCreate a Media Page – Dedicate one of your website pages to include your bio, headshot, and social media links.Be Available for Interviews – Include your bio at the bottom of each post. Mention that you are available for interviews and other media inquiries.Accept Guest Posts – Accepting posts from niche and industry leaders gives your posts more credibility and exposure. Add Audio and Video to Your Posts – Short videos show reporters and other interviewers that you are comfortable being interviewed. They’ll be able to hear your voice, too. Use these unique blog-posting tips to boost your blog’s readership and exposure. Subscribe in a reader

Working From Home: Challenges and Solutions

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 10:12:33 -0700

Working from home is today’s “new normal”. It presents some challenges. However, there are solutions to every challenge.The Challenges No special place for a work-only environment No line between work and play No tools or software Too many distractions No accountability No exercise The Solutions Set aside a designated room or area for work only Set your schedule to include specific work hours Use online tools and software designed specifically for your work needs Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals and be accountable for their progress Productivity Hacks Complete the biggest, most pressing tasks before distractions put you behind Use the one-minute rule: Anything that can be done within a minute should be done first Schedule breaks throughout your day Get tomorrow’s work ready before you leave for the day Set up “To-Do” lists. Add anything you didn’t finish today and schedule time to complete them tomorrow Optimizing Your Office Use systems to keep yourself organized Go paperless as much as possible Make yourself comfortable. Adjust your desk, chair, and computer so you don’t end up with aches and pains. Create an environment of peace. Play soothing music, place inspirational quotes on your desk or wall. Show off your awards. It will help keep you focused on why you work so hard. Tools and AppsG-Suite – A cloud-based suite of apps and tools providing solutions for email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation decks, shared calendars, cloud storage, and much more.Free Conference Calls – Set up conferencing and face-to-face meetings online. GoToMeeting, and FreeConferenceCall are 2 available free options. Many professionals already have experience working from home. Others may be experiencing it full-time for the first time. Either way, this list of working from home challenges and solutions are helpful for everyone. Subscribe in a reader

Now That We’re All Working from Home

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 11:15:43 -0700

In most cases, sheltering in place means you’ll be working from home. For many, it’s going to get old rather quickly. But, look on the bright side (and there is one). There are many benefits to working from home. Work in Your Jammies – No shower. No problem. Make your phone calls, stay in touch digitally, and catch up on the administrative tasks you can’t seem to find time for. No one will know what you’re wearing. Nor do they care. No Traffic Jams – How long does it take to drive to work? Now you can smile at the time and gas you’re saving. Stay Calm – Working from home gives you the opportunity to do your work at your leisure. That’s not to say to put things off to the last minute. It just means you can work in a calmer setting with fewer interruptions. Walk Away – When the work you’re doing gets frustrating or when there are too many distractions, walk away. Go outside for a few minutes. Read a comforting article. Talk a walk. Promote Your Business – How lucky are we that we have so many online tools at our disposal? Create promotional marketing pieces. Stay in touch with contacts using social media and email. Use Facetime. Create virtual tours, quick videos, go live on Facebook. The options are endless. Take an Online Course – Looking to improve your skills? There are tons of online courses for both business or leisure. OpenCulture.com offers free courses from a variety of universities. Set Your Own Schedule – As long as your work gets done, it doesn’t matter if you do it between 9 and 5, 7 and 9 or while the kids are down for a nap. The point is that you can set your schedule to accommodate your lifestyle. With so many promotional options at your disposal, you will be able to keep your business moving forward – even if you’re working at home. Subscribe in a reader

Facebook Marketing for Your Local Business

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:28:31 -0700

Benefits of Using Facebook Marketing for Your Local Business Facebook is a digital platform that is marketing-friendly. Build a presence for your business by providing valuable content and be involved in the conversation. Build your brand through your social presence and interactions with your followers. Facebook provides cost-effective advertising Connect with current and past contacts Facebook Marketing Strategies for Your Local Business Build a collection of reviews Create events Curate local content Mention other local businesses and events Tag locations Encourage traffic to your website and blog Find connections in your demographic Use media in your posts How to Make Your Facebook Page Traffic Go Through the Roof Include your Facebook page URL in your email signature Send an email blast campaign to promote your page Add a social sharing plugin to your website Engage with other Facebook pages and groups Optimize your content for mobile devices Ask people you’ve done business with to write a review on your Facebook page ASK people to like your Facebook business pageUse Facebook Live to interact with contacts in real-time Set your goals, get to know and engage with your audience, create a Facebook posting schedule, and watch your following grow. Other Social Media Marketing Posts Create a Facebook Checklist 5 Tips for Creating an Engaging Facebook Business Page Subscribe in a reader

Email Marketing Checklist

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 09:09:37 -0800

How to Leverage Your Email Marketing EffortsEmail Marketing Checklist – If you have an email list, leverage it to send traffic back to your blog. It only takes a few minutes to send a quick newsletter to your subscribers. Get started with these simple tips. Send Your Subscribers to Your BlogUse an intriguing subject line. Make it engaging or intriguing. Let your subscriber’s curiosity make them open your message. The more “opens” you have, the more likely you are to drive traffic to your blog.Greet your subscribers by name. Personalized messages make the recipients more likely to feel your message is just for them.Use formatting. Formatting options such as bold text, bullet points, and divided sections make your emails stand out.Include an image. Using images helps your readers visualize your content. Link your image to your blog.Add your signature. Include a link back to your site so subscribers can click through to your blog. Email Features that Can Boost TrafficUse buttons. Try using buttons instead of links for your Call to Actions. A button is more eye-catching and more likely to be clicked.Use headlines. Headlines help your subscribers scan your messages for the information they’re interested in. These are especially helpful with you are covering multiple topics.Add videos to your email. If your email provider doesn’t include this service, create a screenshot graphic, add it to your email, and link it to your video. Seeing a clip of you at the beginning of your email raises your readers’ curiosity. They are more likely to finish reading your email.Link your logo to your blog. Many web users click on a logo expecting to be taken to a website or blog. Take advantage of this habit by adding a logo to your message with a link back to your site.Hide an “Easter Egg” in your email. Include a special emoticon such as a smiley face in your messages. Encourage your subscribers to find and click on the Easter egg to get a small bonus item. When they click, they should be taken to your blog where they can download their special prize. Direct Traffic to Your BlogHost a contest. This takes more work and you need to familiarize yourself with how to run one.Create a quiz inside of a blog post. Then email your contacts and ask what their results are. Be sure your quiz applies to your niche.Add a printable checklist. Include a link on your blog post that directs your readers to a downloadable checklist. Encourage them to download it “before it’s gone”.Create special coupons. Include a coupon code in a blog post. Let your readers know it’s on your blog. They are more likely to click through and read your post.Generate PDF worksheets. Create a simple worksheet and save it as a PDF file. Let your subscribers know they can find and download it.Get the most from your email marketing efforts by using this checklist to maximize traffic to your blog. You may also like to read: Email Marketing: Easy Do’s and Don’ts Putting Social Power Into Your Email Marketing Email Marketing: 3 Most Frequently Asked Questions Subscribe in a reader

Email Marketing: Easy Do’s and Don’ts

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 11:53:04 -0800

Email MarketingRemember the old days when you’d put a list together, create and print a marketing piece, add postage and labels and wait? It was an exhausting process. It was also expensive.That kind of marketing has its place. However, today’s email marketing is so much faster and cheaper. The trick is to know the email marketing do’s and don’ts.Please Do Define the purpose of every campaign Determine the action you want the contact to take after clicking the link(s) in your email. Plan your marketing goals and strategies Design the components of your email (text, links, CTA’s, etc.) to make it easier for your contact to respond. Segment your lists by dividing your contacts into categories. This will drive more conversions and better relationships. The contact will feel that you know them and are providing information relative to their needs. Please Don’t Don’t waste your hard-earned cash on buying email lists. You could run the risk of violating general data protection laws such as the CAN-SPAM Act. Those lists often have outdated information that can affect your deliverability rate. You could also be jeopardizing your reputation. Don’t send unbranded or custom email addresses. These are often caught by your Internet provider and will be sent directly to the SPAM file. Use email addresses that include a personal name instead of “info@” or “customerservices@”. Use your email marketing efforts wisely. By putting these simple do’s and don’ts to work, you’ll find more success, develop better customer relationships, and prevent wasting your time.Other Email Marketing Posts: Putting Social Power into Your Email Marketing Email Marketing: 3 Most Frequently Asked Questions Email Marketing: A Path to Successful Sales Subscribe in a reader

Niche Marketing: How to Standout

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 08:52:56 -0800

Stand Out With Niche MarketingSucceeding in a business with a lot of competition requires standing out from the rest of the pack. You don’t have to develop new concepts to interact with your target market.Follow this niche marketing outline to succeed. It will take less time and effort than you may think. Who’s Your Competition?Do you know who your competition is and what they are doing? This is important information that will help you compete in your niche. Not knowing your competition puts you at a serious disadvantage.Use a free online service such as SimilarWeb to find out your competition’s marketing strategy, their market share, and their strengths and weaknesses. This kind of information will help you create your own marketing plan. What is Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?You are uniquely qualified to provide your particular services. Use your uniqueness to differentiate yourself from your competition. Can you offer a better service? Do your customers get additional value from using your services? Are your selling methods unique in some way? Quality Needs to be Your PriorityAlways add value to everything you do. This includes anything from your website or blog to your social media, email marketing or any other marketing outlet you choose to use.Interact with your customers and followers promptly and professionally. Provide them with valuable information. Let Them Know the Real You Connect with your customers and prospects Tell them your story Let them know how your USP will help them Add a human touch in your communications Your Customers Come First Be responsive Show them their interests are important to you Always give them value A solid niche marketing plan will help you get and retain clients. You’ll develop longtime relationships with people who trust that you will always give them value, honesty, and reliability. Subscribe in a reader

You, a Vlog, and YouTube

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 09:51:49 -0800

Thinking About Starting a Vlog?YouTube videos garner around 4 billion page views a day. People turn to YouTube for all kinds of information. Creating a Vlog (video blog) on YouTube is a great way to showcase your talent, expertise, and products to the world.Getting Started with Your VlogTo make the right impact from the start, you’ll need to do some planning.What Will Your Vlog Be About? – Decide what special skills you have that will be helpful to your viewers. What are you passionate about? Think about how you’re going to monetize your videos.Using the Right Tools – Most smartphones today have an adequate camera to record videos. They offer the opportunity to be recorded on location. Investing in a good HD camera will provide the best quality videos. Although most cameras include a built-in microphone, a good quality external mic offers the sound.Use a free editing program for your computer or use Window’s free Movie Maker or Mac’s iMovie program. Another alternative is CamStudio.Purchase an editing program such as Camtasia. It will allow you to create tutorials and presentations via a screencast or Powerpoint on your computerWhat’s Your Brand? – Decide what you’re going to call your Vlog. If you have already branded yourself, use that name. Otherwise, be creative and decide on a memorable name. This will become your YouTube channel name. Set Up Your YouTube Channel – You’ll need a free Google account in order to set up your YouTube account. Create professional channel art that coincides with your brand. Canva and other programs offer free channel art templates.There are many ways to create and grow a successful Vlog. Showcase your property listings, day in the life, relative news, fun contests, and whatever else your imagination can come up with. Have fun! You Might Also Like Reading:Video Marketing Success ChecklistYouTube: How Does Your Channel Grow?YouTube: How Your Business Can Benefit Subscribe in a reader

Video Marketing Success Checklist

Thu, 23 Jan 2020 10:41:01 -0800

Video marketing success is not hard to achieve when you know a few facts. Find out what to include in your video, how to keep them engaging, and the different kinds of videos to create.What to Include:Attention-Grabbing Intro – Build your brand-recognition by starting your videos with a great intro.High-Quality Images – As visual learners, most people learn more and are captivated longer by images.Recommendations – When you find a great product that you think your viewers will like, add a recommendation.Call to Action – Be sure to include a CTA at the end of your videos. Include a link to a corresponding landing page, web page, or any other resource you want them to visit. Engaging VideosStart with a Specific Topic – Get a clear picture in your mind of what you’re going to talk about. This keeps you on track and will be more engaging your audience.Jot Down Talking Points – Consider 3 or 4 talking points you want to make during your video. Stick to your script.Tackle the Highlights First – State your most important points first. Your viewers will know right away whether they want to continue to watch. They will also see your best points first.Choose Your Time – Consistency is key to a successful video channel. Choose a specific time to add or update your videos and stick to it.Not So Fast – The pace and pitch of your voice are important. Speak in a normal tone at a conversational pace. Types of Traffic-Driving VideosSneak Peek – These teaser-type videos can be about anything from blog promos to Coming Soon listings.Tutorials – Teach your viewers something specific. At the end of the video, provide a link to a corresponding blog post, sign-up form, landing page or webpage.Make a List – Create a video that gives lists for a particular topic. Give your viewers a link that goes to a corresponding post, page or video with corresponding information.Hacks – Provide tips that simplify your viewers’ lives. For example, “My #1 Hack for Cleaning Your Oven” or "My #1 Hack for Getting Your Home Showing-Ready Quickly". Video marketing complements your email marketing efforts. It encourages likes and shares as well as clicks to your website. Search engines love them, too!You might also enjoy reading:7 Ways to Create Great Videos Even if You’re Extrovert-Challenged Subscribe in a reader

Create a Facebook Checklist

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 09:14:45 -0800

A Facebook checklist will help you get the most from your posts by driving traffic to your website and gaining your readers’ trust.Get Valuable Link ClicksKeep it Short – Short posts are more likely to be read than long ones. Long posts tend to get fewer link clicks.Hashtags – Facebook users aren’t as likely to search for your content using hashtags as they are with other social networks. Save your characters for the important things you have to say.Use Short Links – When adding a link to your posts, use a link shortener such as bitly.com. This helps keep your posts shorter and more likely to be read.Creating Engaging Images to Boost TrafficBoring Images – Use attention-getting images in your Facebook posts. There are many free (and stunning) photos available online. Use a site like Pixabay, Pikwizard, and Unsplash for gorgeous photos and other images. Read their terms of use prior to use.Use Large Photos – Larger photos look better than smaller ones. Viewers who are accessing your post via their mobile devices with HD screens will be more impressed with larger photos.Sharing is Caring – Ask your readers to share your images and to respond to your post using a GIF. Or, you can ask them to respond with one word or phrase. This engagement means more people will see and respond to your post.Let Them Choose – Post an image that showcases two alternatives. Ask them to choose which one they prefer. This elicits a response from them and anyone else they share it with. This example is regarding kitchen islands. You can use any number of photos for your readers to make a choice from.Hosting a Facebook EventStart with Your Website – Create an event page on your website. Use that page link in your Facebook event post.Share Updates – Schedule event updates leading up to your event date. This will keep people interested while driving traffic to your website’s event page.Make Your Invitation Pop – Create a digital invitation using a free service such as Canva. Upload it to your Facebook event and add details and your website’s event URL.Be Part of a Group or Create OneJoin groups related to your niche and target market or create your own.Answer questions and provide useful feedback.Ask the group host if it’s okay to add your website link to your posts that would add more information to the conversation.If you’ve created a whole new website or specific page, provide the link and ask for critiques. This can create some real conversation.Whether it’s your group or one you belong to, always be respectful of the rules.Provide positive feedback from the group. Use this Facebook checklist to drive your followers to your website. You’ll find that you’ll have more engagement and website traffic. Subscribe in a reader

Putting Social Power into Your Email Marketing

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:35:46 -0800

Email marketing is one of the most powerful forms of Internet marketing available. It’s being recognized as being an essential part of any marketing plan.More and more people recognize the potential in creating contact lists. However, a lot of them aren’t using their list to its fullest potential. Digging a little deeper, they would realize that email marketing isn’t simply a way for them to communicate with their contacts. It’s also a way for their contacts to communicate with them and with each other. Social Power ExampleMany email marketers use newsletters as a way to stay in touch with their contacts. They’re a great way to keep the marketer top of mind while providing information and expertise. Instead of just “talking” to them, go a little farther. Invite your readers to respond. Give them a way to get in touch with you with questions and comments. Then answer them right away. You are now having direct conversations with the people who want to hear more from you. This builds trust and authority. People who feel like they know you will be more likely to contact you and can get in touch when they need to! Starting a casual conversation with a contact can lead to them remembering you when they need your services. How to Use Social PowerDo some market research by sending a survey. It gives you an idea of what your contacts are most interested in and would like to hear more about.Share your blog posts. Send an email with a few words of teaser text along with a customized graphic, and link back to your blog post.Ask your contacts to forward your emails to someone they think would be interested in what you have to say. Put a call to action at the end of your message asking new readers to become subscribers. Put social power into your email marketing. Create an environment of trust and confidence. Engage your contacts by letting them know their thoughts are important to you and that you want to hear from them. Subscribe in a reader