Social Media Marketing Shows You Are Active

Today’s consumer is typically an educated consumer. He or she will research a company or product and narrow down the choices before stepping foot into a store or making a phone call. A successful business owner is aware of this change in consumerism and will adjust his or her marketing strategies appropriately. Some consumers will trust a sponsored advertisement, especially if they are a bit less computer savvy. Yet most computer savvy consumers will check a myriad of online locations to learn about a business or product and make an informed decision from there. The consumer may first check out the website. Then he or she may look at review websites, like Yelp or TripAdvisor. Then, the consumer will look at the social media profiles of these businesses. Social media profiles that are dormant and have little to no relevant content will be quickly skipped. The assumption is often that the business is not in touch with his or her clientele and may not even be open any longer.

The opposite is true for a business that is very active on social media. A business with relevant posts looks like they are working to always bring new people to their business. Furthermore, they look like experts int heir industries. Businesses that not only post relative content, but respond to others and their reactions or comments to their content, appear to work hard for their business which often means they want their customers to feel as though they matter with every transaction.

Social Media Marketing Translates to New Business

A person may not call your company and say they found you on social media. However, as a result of your social media marketing, they will call your business. Social media marketing does not translate to new business through the traditional means of business development. It is a piece of the puzzle designed to help you constantly reach new and interested customers. If it is lacking, you will notice a decline in inquiries from new potential customers. This is a direct result of not staying relevant. In addition, properly managed social media marketing will help boost your SEO.

If you are looking to reach your customer base without sponsoring adds on social media and beyond, The Mighty-pen is happy to help. Contact us today at deb@themighty-pen.com to learn more.

The Benefits of LinkedIn Premium

LinkedIn Premium offers several benefits that would not be available to the average LinkedIn user. some of these benefits include:

• InMail credits (credits to allow you to send messages to people within LinkedIn with whom you are not connected)
• Seeing who has viewed your profile
• Business insights (exclusive insights in companies of interest to you, such as competitors)
• Job Insights (staying abreast of career opportunities)
• Unlimited people browsing (you can view LinkedIn profiles in full even up to 3rd degree connections)
• Open Profile (Your LinkedIn profile is available for all to view, working as a continuous advertisement for you and your services)

These are phenomenal resources for many people, which make the monthly premium well worth the investment. However, that does not mean LinkedIn Premium is for everyone. It is important to know who benefits most from this type of platform usage.

Who Benefits from LinkedIn Premium?

As you can see, one of the main focuses of LinkedIn premium is sales growth. LinkedIn Premium allows you to utilize LinkedIn as a cold introduction type platform, wherein you do not need to have people in common to connect. This remove the idea of social media and replaces it with typical sales. This is wonderful for people who are in sales, as it provides a warmer, more intimate introduction method than cold calling, but still does not require an actual introduction.

In addition to people in sales, LinkedIn Premium allows both job seekers and those looking to fill positions a wonderful way in which to connect, eliminating the need for less personal job posting sites, such as CareerBuilder and monster. It allows for a conversation to occur between both parties before an actual interview is to every take place.

Finally, people that are in the field of investigations can benefit from LinkedIn Premium. Due to the ability to message people and view 3rd level connections' profiles, people who are investigators, recruiters, attorneys, or even HR managers can benefit from access to profiles that provide additional insight into who an individual is and how he or she conducts himself in business.

In conclusion, LinkedIn is essential for every business person. However, LinkedIn Premium serves a specific need to specific types of professionals. Just because you are offered the opportunity to upgrade, do not jump on board without determining whether LinkedIn Premium is worh the investment for how you and your company utilizes LinkedIn.

Social Media is Still Relevant

If you have read any article that tells you that social media is no longer relevant in the world of business growth, change your reading habits. While certain types of social media may not be relevant to your market, some form of social media is relevant to every business market. IF you are looking to work with professionals, you may wish to stay away from Facebook and Twitter and stick to LinkedIn. If you are a visual based company, you need to be on Pinterest and Instagram, and possibly even SnapChat. Those in E-Commerce need to be everywhere their client base may be hiding. Your content need to be fresh, exciting and engaging. However, most importantly, it needs to be in front of your client base.

What Does a Website Say?

It is always nice that your website is pretty and engaging visually. However, unless it is video content, pretty pictures do not help you find a place within Google's algorithms. That means no one can find you unless they know the name of your company. Your website needs words. Not just any words, it needs words that speak to the audience and to Google. It needs keywords. It needs valuable content that matters to search engines and well as clients. It need new and fresh words on a regular basis as well.

Any News?

Another valuable resource is newsletters and email campaigns. Online marketing includes email marketing. Staying relevant with your client base means staying in front of them. Send out newsletters at least once a month to stay on your client base's mind.

Be and Expert on Your Blog

Your blog is a wonderful way to provide a small tidbit of free information that makes you look like an expert, leaves your client base wanting more, and updating content on your website on a regular basis. Blogging should be a large part of your content marketing campaign. People want to do business with the expert. Your blog can showcase your knowledge of your field and be an intriguing avenue to keep people coming back for more.

These are four simple uses of content that help your business find its client base even when the client base is not looking. To learn more about content marketing or to develop your 2018 content marketing plan, contact the experts at The Mighty Pen today!

When my alarm went off this morning to start the new year in the office, I did not forget my resolution. However, i began to question what I was possibly thinking. How can I possibly grow my business? Of course I need to network and reconnect with past clients and professional contacts. However, everyone is doing that. It is like joining a gym on January 1. By January 15, the rooms begin to look bare and people are no longer excited to "grab a cup of coffee." That does not mean that networking must stop. However, it cannot be the sole source of growth for your business.

Along with networking in person, you must have fresh and exciting content. Therefore, part of the plan for the new year must be to present fresh blog, social media, and website content to those looking for you and your services. Last year, I was guilty of working on client content and neglecting my own. then, the new year came and my phone was quiet. My existing clients are still here and for that, I am eternally grateful. However, I can not grow without new clients calling.

So, like all of the other business owners out there, I resolve to produce content to be seen by those who need my services. I will write fresh blogs and send out emails to update people on what they need to know or want to know. I will ne active on social media. I will update my website.  I want to be seen.

I understand that business owners are busy and do not have time to do all of this content marketing on their own. I am happy to help. Along with updating my content, I look forward to discussing how I can help you and provide content to help you be seen online and by your target audience. Contact us today to get back on the content marketing cycle that will help you reach your goals for growth in the new year!

That is a wonderful tagline, but what does it really mean? How can you apply this to your business, to your life? Break it down. Examine the word resolve. Resolve means to find a solution or resolution. This time of year it is a resolution to make the next year a bit better, to be a better person, to have a more successful year than the past year.

The next part of the phrase to examine is "evolve." to evolve means to grow into a more complex form. When you evolve as a person, you grow into a better, more complex person, leaving behind childish impulses and yearning for the world of culture, lasting friendship, and meaning. 

Therefore, to evolve in business would indicate the growth of a simple business to a more complex business, opting to display a more cultured and diverse business model to the world. A business choosing to resolve to evolve is a business choosing to display their talents in a complex manner that speaks to a new clientele while still maintaining its original reach. This year, make the commitment to evolve. Review your business. Review your marketing materials. Take the leap and evolve how you interact with your clients. try new ideas, like crowdfunding, social media, and blogging. Connect with your clients and make a lasting friendship through commerce.

It you are among the many who will Resolve to Evolve, contact The Mighty Pen at www.themighty-pen.com to help you create the campaigns that will help you connect. Enjpoy the New Year and make 2017 one to remember!

The Rules

First, take a look at the rules. Many industries only have rules affecting stolen content. In other words, most industries are not regulated by government entities, and therefore can discuss anything and offer all types of tips and advice while only needing to ensure the content is original and the ideas and wording have not been stolen from others. For instance, a baker cannot publish a recipe as his or her own when he or she found that exact recipe, verbatim, on the Betty Crocker website.

There are, however, the elite industries that must follow compliance issues. Attorneys, doctors, financial advisors, and insurance brokers, dealers, or agents are some of the best known industries in which compliance issues play a part in every last aspect of business. One rule each of these industries have in common is understanding the fine line between offering ideas that can be seen as common knowledge versus offering advice in a blog that can be misconstrued as specific professional advice. This may seem like a bit of an abstract idea, so we will dissect it. Using an attorney as an example, a marketing piece for an attorney located in New Jersey (for instance) may discuss the general issues surrounding a high profile case (like the divorce of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie) and how these issues would be seen in the courts in New Jersey. What they may not do is provide specific legal advice, such as what they believe a party in this situation should do legally (Aside from contact an attorney with questions). Financial advisors may discuss some general guidelines of types of investments that are available for people in similar situations as the above case, but may not provide specific investment portfolio ideas. And doctors may discuss the issues surrounding substance abuse or mental health issues, but may not diagnose the parties with this issue or provide a specific treatment regimen.

In addition to what they may and may not discuss, some industries have words they may or may not use. For instance, many industries must stay away from the word "free" but can use the word "complimentary." All of these rules play a part in developing written content that keeps companies in these fields in business and out of court, yet in the public eye.

To learn more about keeping your company compliant when writing content for your blog, website, advertising material, or social media posts, contact the experts at The Mighty Pen. With many years of experience in the legal and insurance fields, The Mighty Pen writers have learned about the importance of compliance in regulated industries and work diligently to keep their clients int he scope of compliance with all of their written content.

One of the most important ideas to remember when participating in email marketing is the way in which people are getting and reading emails and news in general. People are no longer sitting at a computer to read your email.  They are on the train, bus, or grabbing a quick lunch while catching up on emails on their smartphones or tablets.  They will devote approximately 3 to 5 lines (which equate to about 5 to 10 seconds) to your email if it is not directly related to business at hand, before moving on.  Therefore, you must catch their attention int he subject line and the first two lines of your text. Excessive graphics are a waste of time and will ultimately result in being deleted.

This means newsletters are no longer relevant.  People care about your business as much as they care about a commercial on television, even if they have been your client for thirty years.  Therefore, your email must be as catchy as a commercial on television, of course in the written format as oppose to the graphic format. You must have news that is informative, interesting, and witty. And it must be able to reach an audience in an email as well as social media.  Your campaign must tie your business together with their unknown needs on several letters.

Email campaigns have become a way to share small tidbits of information, such as a quick press release regarding a new business merger, addition of a new key employee or a new offering.  They may also be useful as a way to share your blog or even advertise a large upcoming promotion, which can result in several progressive emails over the course of several weeks, if done properly. 

The logistics are just as important as the content.  Proper email campaign etiquette has been well-defined over the years.  to begin, never just add a person to your campaign because you happen to have their business card.  Ask permission, or risk deletion.  Also, provide an out.  You must let people know they can unsubscribe and provide an easy option to allow for that process, or your email will be marked as spam.  Finally, allow your website to generate interest in your email campaign, offering those interested parties to register through a website link.

If you are interested in producing a productive email campaign, The Mighty Pen is happy to help.  We can design the campaign, write the content, and even manage it for you, including linking it with social media outlets to allow more traction back to your site.  Contact us at www.themighty-pen.com to learn how we can help you market your business so you can focus on your business at hand.

I like to call September the month of "Back to School/Back to Work." This means people, both young and seasoned, are eager to learn and work. it is almost akin to a new year, at least fiscally. Yet, we, as adults in the working world, try to start the new year with the same old stuff.  We think our content, that may or may not have worked the year before, will be sufficient for the upcoming year.  And while the world around us has grown just a bit older, we choose to remain stagnant. This is not the example we want to set for our children and this is the not the example set for us by those that are successful in business.

Imagine, if you will, your child or a child with whom you identify, did poorly on an assignment. This child has a new assignment due in the same class in a week. You suggest analyzing the past assignment along with the teacher's notes and using this analysis to create the new assignment. The child, of course knowing more than you, tells you he will just do what he did before and that will suffice. Lo and behold, the child comes home with the same grade and is dumbfounded. You may now shake your head.

I know for most us, that scenario rings true more often than not, with our children. However, we do not choose to take that same advice with our business and our marketing content and written material. We will ignore the facts in front of us and just keep plugging along, wondering why we are not seeing an increase in traffic or revenue.

This year, instead of staying with the old tactics, test your comfort zone and analyze whether your tactics are working. Make your assignment for the new school year to recreate your brand as needed. Find the best tactics for your company and change your content marketing materials appropriately. Make this year's back to school/back to work month a successful start to a new year and a new business tactic.

It starts with your domain name and branches from there. If you are a famous actor or actress, branding your name may be the best option, however, if you are like the rest of us, you want to brand your business, not your name. No one cares who "John Smith" may be or what he does for a living, but they may and do care about John Smith's company, "XYZ Widgets" because that is how they will write the check, receive their goods purchased, and solve any problems with a purchase. Therefore, John Smith should begin his brand with his website of "XYZ Widgets.com" to begin his online brand.

The branches extend to an email address, blog, and social media campaign. People do not trust an “@gmail.com” email address as much as they would trust an “@xyzwidgets.com” email address, because a Gmail address shows little or no skin in the game, whereas spending a measly $5 a month shows you care about your brand, which, in turn, shows you care about your products and services. 

Which brings us to your content: blog, website, and social media. These pieces are your first impression to the world outside your home. By providing valuable content through your consistently update website, blog posts, and social media posts, you are positioning your company as the go-to company. You become the source people will seek for answers regarding your industry and products, all while repeatedly sharing your brand with their circle of influence. In the end, your brand will allow you to reach those outside of your circle of influence to grow and expand. 

To learn more about creating your brand online, contact The Mighty Pen (www.themighty-pen.com) for the necessary content to help your grow. 

Our Launch

The Mighty Pen wants to celebrate and wants you to be a part of the celebration. Therefore, on May 31, 2016 at 9 pm, I, Deb Ferguson, Owner of the Mighty Pen, am inviting you and whomever you would like to bring to grab your Tostitos and salsa and your wine or beer (or even margarita) and join me at https://www.facebook.com/events/601403456689046/ for an hour of fun!  The online launch will include a meet the author (That's ME!) style discussion, some grammar games, and prizes!   While I promise no cruises or vacations outside of a journey through the wonderful world of the English language, there will be prizes and giveaways!

What Is It About?

The purpose is simple.  I am introducing my business to you and the world. My hope is to spread the word though those of you that know me and have supported me throughout my journey as well as those who want to get to know me.  My feeling is this: writing content is a personal experience.  I must get to know you and your business on a personal level to express your thoughts and messages to your intended audience. Therefore, I believe it is just as important to allow you the opportunity to get to know me on a personal level as well. 

I invite you all to take the journey with me through the English language and get to know the author (That's ME!) at my online social media launch party on May 31, 2016 at 9 pm.  See you then! 

What Is SEO Content

SEO means search engine optimization. SEO Content is content laced with valuable key words to help Google and other search engines find you, index you, and allow others to find you. One of the most important things to remember is that SEO content is words, not pictures or photos. If pictures and photos are utilized, they must be captioned and laced with written content. SEO is not content alone: it includes links to other websites and links back to your site, however, the content is a large part of what makes your site found and indexed by search engines. 

Other Content Keys

Content is much more than just keywords.  It is your company's first impression and often lasting impression to your client base. Whether it be in the form of a website, email, or blog posting, to name a few, it is meant to paint a picture of you and your company that grabs the reader and keeps their interest long enough to leave a lasting impression. 

It is important your content is fresh and exciting. Change it up regularly, whether that entails adding new website content or sending out updates and newsletters on a regular basis. This benefits you and your customer base in several ways. As a business owner, it allows you the ability to "touch" your client base with new and interesting information on a regular basis, supplying more opportunities to be remembered. As a member of your customer base, it supplies useful infroamtion that may be needed in the future.

In the end, no matter how or where the content is released, what is said is as important as how it is said. To learn more about creating content that is useful, contact The Mighty Pen at deb@themighty-pen.com.

First, you can expect excellence. I believe in excellence in not only my finished products, but my overall service. While I am not perfect, i have a solid team of people working along side of me helping to ensure that everything that is delivered is of an excellent, finished quality above reproach. Furthermore, if it does not meet your standard of excellence, I promise to revise the product until it does. Excellent service means that no matter when you contact me or how we communicate, I will respond and work with you to make you feel as though you are my first priority, because, quite frankly, you are.

Second, but not any less important, you can expect integrity. For over the past ten years, I have built a reputation for myself in business as a person of high morals, ethics, and integrity. Changing my business does not include changing this reputation. I believe that if I say something will be done, it will be done in the amount of time allotted at the price promised. If, for some reason, there is a block in getting it done, this will not swept under the rug. It will be confronted and discussed with you to determine an alternative solution. Most importantly, everything I deliver will be completely original, unless otherwise requested.

Finally, you can expect professionalism. I understand that you are a professional and you expect to do business with a professional. I promise to abide by any standards you set forth and to never publicly or privately air any disagreements we may have. Creativity is a process and at times, we may not see eye to eye. However, you are the client and I have promised to deliver excellence and integrity, so, i stand by that promise with professionalism.

I look forward to working with you and delivering on these expectations!