Post Less on Facebook for Better Results
People are always asking how often they should post on different social media platforms. While many think they have the magic formula, there is only one rule you need to remember for Facebook:
One or two is enough.
How Facebook Compares to Twitter
On Twitter you can get away with posting several times per hour and reap a lot of likes and follows. This is because Twitter shows a post when a person posts it. If your follower isn't looking at their feed when you post, they may miss it unless they go directly to your page. (Note: I did recently unfollow someone on Twitter because they posted every few minutes for hours. That's too much!)
Facebook isn't like that. It will place your latest post in your follower's feed, even if you posted a few hours ago. The more likes, shares and comments you get, the more times the post will appear in your follower's feed.
Facebook Just a Little
So, if you post a bunch of Facebook posts, all of those posts are going to flood your follower's feeds and, more than likely, they will get sick of seeing you too much. One or two posts per day is the perfect amount. Remember, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Picking Wisely
Since you are only posting once or twice per day, make sure that your posts are awesome.
Here are some guidelines that I've learned when working with clients:
Include a bright, colorful, interesting photo.
Be clever and funny.
Ask questions to increase your comment count.
Get your followers talking about something they feel passionate about.
Entertain! People love watching other people do stuff, so videos are great.
Links that give simple tips are really popular with the Facebook crowd.
What are Your Goals for 2016?
Have you thought about your goals for 2016? All month I've been contemplating my goals, which is hard because 2015 has been wildly successful. It's hard to make new goals when you've already met so many. Here are some things I accomplished in 2016:
Articles I have written have gotten thousands of shares
One of my articles has garnered over 400,000 page views in one month
I helped one of my clients get over 1 million page views in one month
I worked with several new high-profile clients this year, including CNET and MTV
My new goals focus on boosting creativity in new ways. I'm going to get away from the office more and try new things. I'm also going to go to the gym more often to boost my think juices.
Planning 2016
Every year before New Year's Eve I start my planning on two different calendars. On a large wall calendar I post family events and some of my larger work plans. On a notebook style calendar I plan out my more detailed work plans, day by day. I've found this system pretty helpful.
I also like to make my calendars pretty. Here's a page:
Planning for 2016
Beyond getting my calendars started, I like to make a New Year's list instead of a New Year's Resolution. It's simply a list of everything I want to accomplish in the new year. I write this list in the notes section of my planner so that I can refer to it throughout the year.
All of the things that I accomplished in 2015? They were all on my list last January. This year's list is a long one because I have a lot of things I want to accomplish in my business and home life this year.
So, let me ask you:
What are you planning for 2016 and how do you plan for it?
Should You Send Them a Holiday Card?
I've always said, if you want to get ahead in business, you need to get your name out in front of people as often as possible. Christmas cards are a great way to do that. They make the people you send them to feel nice instead of pressured or harassed like cold emails do. Should you send that holiday card? Here is a infographic sent to me by Grammarly to share with you that can help:
The YouTube That is You
Please enjoy this guest post byWilliam B. Miller, Jr, M. D.
youtube
Almost anyone reading this has been on social media sites, like YouTube or Facebook, that encourage active commentary on posts. How many of you have watched a video seen by millions, liked by thousands and disliked by a few hundred? Lets consider Taylor Swift and her 'Wildest Dreams' video on YouTube based on metrics as of 11/21/15: 227,427,424 views, 1,790,763 likes and 84,748 dislikes.
So, who are these people that dislike it? They are basically 1 out of every 3,000 viewers. What drives them to click dislike? Do they feel things that we don't? Or perhaps, even more disconcertingly, maybe you are one of that small minority. How is it possible that so many enjoy something that you don't? The answer lies deep within you.
This disparity of viewpoint has been the subject hundreds of years of speculation. Typically it has been framed as nature versus nurture. Bolstered by genetic discoveries, one school of thought has centered on the general belief that the answer must be hidden variables within our own human genome. Others believe that it has more to do with upbringing and the cultural influences or environmental circumstances that all experience in our own unique manner.
However, new findings are raising the possibility that the truth is even more complicated. It seems that our personalities are a complex amalgam of three intersecting factors. Two of those are nature versus nurture. However, we now understand that there is a previously concealed but consequential additional variable. It has to do with the precise composition of microbial life that is in you and on you. Surprisingly, these companion germs help to determine many aspects of our tastes, moods, personality, and stress reactions. These astonishing associations are entirely changing the manner in which we have assessed ourselves and what we have deemed our 'human nature', ie. what makes us choose to click like or dislike.
Up until only a very few years ago, we believed that we were singular organisms with a smattering of attached germs that play only a minor supportive role. However, now it is clear that this is not how nature perceives us. Instead of a 'one' we are an integrated 'many'. Our bodies are actually vast cellular collaboratives that combine those cells that we think of as our own and also an immense amount of microbial life. We cannot survive without some of those microbes and they cannot be what they want to be without us. Furthermore, it is now understood that the exact composition of this enormous microbial constituency has a crucial impact on every aspect of our life.
It is now understood that we are dependent upon a vast array of microbial genes for our metabolism, growth and development, and immune systems. Some of these outside genes critically influence us so it can be contended that they are as much a part of us as our own central genome. Research is showing that varying proportion of microbial life can have a critical impact on our reactions to stress, and even more surprisingly, our moods and attitudes. So the vital aspect of nurture, such as our upbringing, can have sources of influence that has previously been hidden from view and have not been traditionally considered.
Certainly, we are guided by many sources as we grow and mature. Some experience abuse and bullying and others mentorship and abundant encouragement. This is part of our human condition. However, we now realize that there is another highly substantial narrative: the microbes we acquire or miss. In evolutionary development, this set of outside acquired influences is called 'epigentics.' What we are learning is that the repercussions of epigentic factors can be powerful and can be heritable. They affect even something as complex as our personality. They contribute mightily to making us just who we are, yet remain obscured from our own senses only operating in the background.
Emerging research into this microbial component, now termed the microbiome, is informing us that we are critically dependent upon our own particular set of microbial partners in their exact proportions. And further, those proportions and how they vary over time are exclusive to each of us as they participate in and help shape the decisions we make – why we like what we like and how we decide we dislike something.
So what might this have to do with You Tube and thumbs up or thumbs down or Facebook 'likes'? As you offer your candid comment, perhaps you might pause to reflect that just in part, your microbial partners are silently urging that next click.
Dr. Bill Miller has been a physician in academic and private practice for over 30 years. He is the author of The Microcosm Within: Evolution and Extinction in the Hologenome. He currently serves as a scientific advisor to OmniBiome Therapeutics, a pioneering company in discovering and developing solutions to problems in human fertility and health through management of the human microbiome. For more information, www.themicrocosmwithin.com.
Who’s The Boss? More Women Decide They Are
Business Woman Offers Advice To Others ReadyTo Take The Entrepreneurial Plunge
Please enjoy this guest post.
The number of American women who own their own businesses is on the rise.
It’s estimated that more than 9.1 million women now lead their own enterprises. What’s more, from 1997 to 2014, when the number of businesses in the United States grew by 47 percent, those owned by women grew by 68 percent, according to a report published by American Express OPEN.
One woman who is part of that trend – and is helping other women become their own bosses, too – says those statistics may not be that surprising.
“I think many women are willing to branch out on their own because they decide that the benefits outweigh the risks,” says Dr. Diana Hoppe, founder of Amazing Over 40 Inc., a health coaching certification program for women.
“We live in a time when people often re-invent themselves because job opportunities are limited or they are looking for new challenges.”
Hoppe says that when you do that, it’s important to study the market to see where the opportunities are going to be and find a good fit for yourself.
“The women I work with who are going into health coaching, for instance, understand that having a health coach is a major trend in fitness,” she says. “So look at the trends. Where will the opportunities be?”
Dr. Diana Hoppe says there are plenty of advantages to starting a business. Among them:
• Be Your Own Boss. When you own your own business, you can discover what it’s like to be fully independent, dictating your own path without anyone looking over your shoulder. You’re the boss and the decisions are yours.
• Set Your Own Schedule. Maybe you want to work a full 40-hour week, or maybe you are seeking a part-time schedule. When you are setting up your own business, you have more flexibility about when, where and how you work.
• Find Work That Fulfills You. Those who start a business can create a career for themselves that provides fulfillment. Hoppe says she has seen that in action with women who decided to become health coaches. They can personally change the lives of the clients they work with, helping them take charge of their health and discover their best selves. “I think it’s always important – whether you are launching a business or building a career working for someone else – that you find something you consider rewarding,” she says.
But it’s also critical to have a strong business plan so that you understand the market, have specific goals and know how to achieve those goals.
“If you don’t focus on building a strong foundation for your business at the beginning, it is likely to fail or not grow as fast as it can,” Hoppe says.
Among the factors to consider is that some businesses require more overhead than others. For example, if you are working from home, you don’t need to worry about leasing commercial space. Regardless, it’s crucial to make sure you have the necessary capital for whatever business you launch.
That’s been challenging at times for women, according to the National Women’s Business Council. Research shows that businesses owned by women start with about half the amount of capital as men, the council reports.
But don’t think you need millions of dollars, Hoppe says. Many successful businesses have been started with a relatively small amount of money.
“One of the most frequent questions I get asked involves what the start-up costs are for becoming a health coach,” she says. “This is a good example of one of the less costly businesses to start. Mainly, you just need business cards, a cell phone, a computer and transportation. Of course, not every business is quite that simple.”
Once a business is in full swing, one goal is to continue to grow the business while keeping current clients or customers happy, Hoppe says.
“One thing you can do for your customers is develop a relationship with them by engaging them on social media or by keeping them interested with email content,” she says. “Customer service is a critical part of any business because once someone begins to use your product or service, you want them to keep coming back.”
About Dr. Diana Hoppe
Dr. Diana Hoppe, an obstetrician and gynecologist, is the founder of Amazing Over 40 Inc., a health coaching certification program for women. She also is an author and speaker who has been featured on a number of TV shows, including “Dr. Oz.”
Business Network Design Considerations
A network computing system is pretty much considered essential for all businesses in the modern day. The bigger the company is, the more emphasis there is placed on the network. After all, a greater number of computers and other technological devices are used and connected together. A network is integral for the effective communication of a company. Software systems, documents, and other important files can be shared easily. Because of this, productivity rises substantially, as does efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Nevertheless, in order to reap the gains of these benefits, you will need to choose the best network design for your business. This can be extremely difficult for those who have very little knowledge about technology, which is why people outsource IT support for businesses. But don’t worry as there are some key factors you can consider and these will help you to find the best network for your company.
One of the most important aspects you need to concern yourself with is the protection provided via the network. The last thing you want is someone hacking into your system and retrieving all of your important data. But you do need to recognise that the threat of hacking is unfortunately rather substantial in the modern day. You need to make sure that you have a secure network design in place so that you don’t fall victim to a data disaster.
In addition to this, you also need to make sure that your network runs efficiently. After all, this is the whole point of choosing one in the first place. It needs to be quick so that information can be shared at a fast pace, and thus productivity levels are kept high as well. Sometimes individuals can try and overcomplicate things with their network and add too many features, consequently slowing everything down. You are using one centralised base so that all computers can work in conjunction with each other and share the same programmes, this shouldn’t slow down the pace work can be done it, it should enhance it.
In addition to this, you should also make sure you have a substantial level of support. Seek your business’s network from a company who provides great aftercare. After all, if something goes wrong you need to be able to quickly resolve it. Otherwise, your system may end up shutting down for a while and this can be hugely damaging to the effective running of your business.
And finally, you also need to consider the cost of the network. This is an important component because you need to be able to comfortably afford the network design you are having implemented. Nevertheless, you should never cut corners or go for the cheapest deal you find. This is an imperative service and is integral to the running of your business. You definitely need to buy with quality in mind, rather than a bargain.
If you consider the points mentioned in this article then you should be able to find the best network for your business. Remember it needs to run efficiently and safely. Not only this, but there should be a substantial level of aftercare available too.
Why You Should Hire Someone to Write Your Content
question
It used to be that you could write anything, put it on a website and people would find your business. These days, Google and other search engines are very picky about what ranks on web searches. Also, more and more people are using social media to find businesses. Both of these things mean business owners need to hire an experienced content specialist that can write content and social media posts that make search engines and readers happy. People often say, "Why would I pay someone to write an article for my site? I can do that myself." Well, if the writer has more than a decade of experience and is well-versed in what readers and search engines look for in an article, then no, no you can't write an article that is of the same quality. Sure, you can write an article, but it won't do you any good if you don't know what you're doing. I could probably rewire my living room, but that doesn't mean lights will turn on when I'm done because I'm not an electrician. In fact, I'd probably do more harm than good. My house would probably burn down.
It's the same way with writing content for your business site yourself. If you don't get it right not only will visitors click away from your site, but search engines will also penalize you. That means that you're site will get buried in search results and potential clients or customers will never find you.
You should contact me because you want your site content done right. Don't go through the headache of creating a site that doesn't rank and doesn't convert traffic.
Take a look at my content packages, or if you don't see what you're looking for, I am open to all inquiries and I'm flexible with my rates. Simply send me an email to get started.
New Client: CNET
I am happy to announce that I am the newest contributor to CNET. I write in the Smart Home section. Check out some of my articles: Flip Your Fridge or Dryer Doors for Easier Access
20 Things You Don't Actually Need to Keep in Your Fridge
Ways to Keep Your Wine from Tasting Like a Musty Basement
Leftovers Aren't Making Your Fridge Stink, It's the Fridge Itself
New Ways to Use Your Slow Cooker that Don't Involve Food
Foil vs. Parchment vs. Wax Paper: Here's When to Use Them
20 Unusual Things You Can Clean in the Dishwasher
New Client Shoutout: I'm a Tech Writer for MTV
mtv writer
During the past couple of weeks I have had an enjoyable time working with my new client, MTV. I write articles for them that focuses on tech from and for women. I can be a tech writer for you, too. Here are some clips from my first articles:
11 Reasons Polaroid Is Making a Comeback
When we heard that Polaroid is coming out with a digital camera that prints photos, we have to admit, we got a little giddy. Any kid born in the ’80s or ’90s kinda has a soft spot for Polaroid, and is awaiting its domination of photography once again. Here are 11 reasons why we think the company is primed for another moment in the sun with its new camera, the SNAP...
21 Tools For Classy Ladies Who Like To Code
Even though women make up around half of the workforce, they only occupy a little less than 25 percent of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs. This statistic doesn’t mean that the guys are better at STEM jobs, it just means that more ladies need the skills to break up this huge sausage fest… And coding is a great way to get started...
These Sexy Emojis Have A Surprisingly Wonderful Purpose
Have you ever tried to flirt with a guy through a text, only to realize that the standard emojis are, well, lame. Kinda hard to get in the mood with an emoji of an eggplant. There’s got to be a better way, right?
That’s exactly what Amy Galland thought. “When flirting with a guy on my phone,” Galland told MTV News, “I was so disappointed that the options for ‘flirty’ emojis were not empowering to women that I drew on my background in art history and women’s studies and created an app with images that are sexy and empowering for people of different races, sizes, ages and sexual orientations...”
5 Reasons Why Your Best Employees Might Leave Your Business
So you’ve finally hired some other writers to take some of the client load off your shoulders. Everything is going great, at least you think it is…
So you’ve finally hired some other writers to take some of the client load off your shoulders. Everything is going great, at least you think it is…
Quitting a job is a big decision for any employee to make. It’s definitely one that none of them takes lightly. All employees have good and bad days, but when a member of your team begins seeing more and more of the latter, it could push them to leave your business behind. In the working world, improving staff retention is just as important, if not more so than attracting new talent or clients. With that in mind, here are five reasons why great employees might leave your business.
1. Inadequate Tools
All jobs require certain tools. Sometimes, these are as simple as a pen and paper, but in many circumstances, a big tool that is missing is guidance on how to complete work. As talented as your staff may be, they’re going to struggle to do their jobs properly if these essentials aren’t provided, which is sure to cause frustration. Whatever it is that your staff need for their jobs, make sure that that give it to them.
2. Unreasonably High Workload
While most entrepreneurs bring on staff to lighten their own workload, you shouldn’t pile theirs high. If you haven’t hired enough people to take on client work, you should try outsourcing some work. The managed IT services, which you can find at https://www.xbase.com/, for example, would free your IT staff from network support. We can only take so much before completely burning out, so avoid pushing your team to that limit.
3. Cluttered Work Environment
The environment in which we work is incredibly important if you have staff that work on-site with you. As well as having an effect on our moods, it plays a big part in creativity and productivity. If you give your staff a dirty and cluttered space to work, then it will begin to cause problems. Because of this, you should clear out any clutter the business no longer needs and hire a maid service to keep the space clean and tidy.
4. Outdated Staff Policies
Staff policies aren’t put in place for no reason. However, that doesn’t mean that the purpose of certain rules is a good one. While banning staff from using their phones might seem an effective way to keep them productive, it could cause more distractions. After all, most will want to check their phones even more. Regularly updating staff policies will help you keep up with the times.
5. Poor Compensation
Everyone deserves to be paid a fair salary or wage for the work they do. If your staff discover that they are being compensated less than the average, it will make them feel unappreciated. Because of this, you should always try to meet or exceed this figure. When you don’t have the funds to do this, there are other ways to provide compensation. Take a look at the ideas at https://hiring.workopolis.com
Hopefully, with the advice above, you can improve staff retention in your business.
Social Media Tip: How to Make Perfect Pinterest Inforgraphics
social media tips for pinterest
Recently, I posted an article called 10 Ways to Ace Marketing on Pinterest. A few days ago, Venngage sent me an infographic to share with my readers that goes well with that article. Here is how to create amazing Pinterest infographics with 6 easy formulas. Enjoy!
The Six Circles of Google Hell and How to Pull Your Site from the Fiery Depths
how to get better search engine results
Ah, hell is not reserved for the afterlife if you are a site owner that's displeased Google. Hell lies right in your website analytics. One day you're swimming along with plenty of site visitors pouring in from Google searches and the next day poof they're gone. I've seen this happen time and time again to businesses, especially after the Panda algorithm change. They lose a major amount of traffic and lose their sales.
Google doesn't send everyone to the deepest circle of hell, though. There are six circles reserved for people who displease the Google bots. The seven circles of Google hell are:
Google never liked you. Your site has never had great traffic from and you can't figure out why.
Your traffic is slowed to a trickle over time.
There is a sudden drop in traffic
Google stops all your traffic.
Your site isn't even being indexed anymore.
You've lost your AdSense account.
Don't lose hope if any of these Google penalties have happened to you. There are several things you can do to get back in Google's good graces.
how to get better page rank on google
Check Your Links
Some of the latest Google algorithm changes deal with linking. Google hates these types of links:
Broken links
Spam links in forums and comment sections
Redirects
An abundance of sponsored (paid) links
Sweeping your site clean of these linking offenses can really make a difference in your Google ranking. No need to go it alone. There are many websites and plugins that can make the task easier. I use the Broken Link Checker plugin for broken and redirecting links and it works great.
how to improve page rank
Stop Your Stuffing
Panda really put the smack down on sites that keyword stuff and yet I still see people doing it religiously. They didn't get the memo, so I'm leaving one here:
DON'T USE A KEYWORD MORE THAN TWO OR THREE TIMES IN ONE ARTICLE.
Better yet, just write the darn article and don't think about how many times you use a keyword. To get Google to love you again you will also need to go back and keyword de-louse old articles.
Beef Up
Once upon a time you could throw anything up on a site and it would get traffic. Not today, my friend. Your content needs to be chock full of useful information and interesting visuals. There has been a lot of research that points out that the longer your content is the better Google likes it. Of course, your readers will sometimes prefer shorter content because, well, no nobody has time to slog through a 2,000 word article. Just be sure to keep your article over 200 words because anything less is usually deemed as "thin" by Google bots.
If your traffic has slowed to a trickle over time, that usually means you need to beef up your content posting and keep it steady. It's simple. Your content slows down, you traffic slows down.
Cut Out the Stealing
If your site isn't even being searched by Google bots anymore or you've lost your AdSense account, you may have been pinged for plagiarism. Remove all of the content you got from somewhere else and apply to have your site re-indexed.
Start off with these tactics and I assure you that your site will start getting more traffic again. It will be slow, but have patience. This Google penalties hell is escapable.
Photos edited from these Creative Commons Images: Westboro Baptist Church Protest and Counterprotest via photopin(license)
Social Media Marketing Tips: 10 Ways to Ace Marketing on Pinterest
Marketing on Pinterest
Pinterest is often an overlooked social media site, but there's one big reason to implement a Pinterest social media marketing plan for your web content.
Money!
Hello Society found that purchases originating with Pinterest average around $168.83 per checkout. That's almost double the results from Facebook and Twitter!
Are you convinced, yet? If so, here are 10 ways to kill marketing on Pinterest.
Use the right image size. Posts that get the most attention use photos that are 735 x 1,102 pixels. Use a minimum width of no less than 600 pixels to get the best look.
Get the aspect ratio right. According to Pinterest, use aspect ratios of 2:3 to1:3.5.
Be creative with your product shots. Everyone has photos with white backgrounds. Get creative and place your product in fun places, then take the shot. For example, take a few photos of people enjoying your product.
Don't pin every single photo from your site. People will get bored. Only pin amazing images.
Don't pin all at once. Don't go pin crazy and pin a bunch of things all at once or your followers will be bombarded with a sea of images...and then they will unfollow your boards.
Use bright colors. Bright colors catch people's attention.
Don't just market. Don't just pin your products and call it a day. Create boards that will interest your target audience and incorporate your products. For example, I created this board for Goody hair products. Notice that the board is about creating hair styles, which is something their customers are interested in. I only pinned one of their products in the board to make it seem less commercial and more helpful.
Interact! Make sure that you take the time to reply to comments made on your pins. People like following companies that offer a personal touch.
Don't show everything. When pinning, make sure not to show everything. Make sure that people will click over to your site because they are curious.
Boost who sees your pins. Give Promoted Pins a try.
pinterest ads
Your Independent Shop Needs Web Access
Independent boutiques are coming back in force to prove big brands wrong. You can go far even if you’re not a chain. The Bishop district in Dallas, Texas, is renowned for being the home of over 60 independent boutiques, from restaurants to fashion shops. If there’s one thing the area demonstrates with success is that you don’t need to be big to get noticed. However, it doesn’t mean that your independent and unique shop will become a success overnight. Where big brands can rely on their established reputation to push new products and services, small entrepreneurs need to be creative to attract the attention of their audience group. Being visible and accessible to all is not just a strategic goal; it’s the very foundation of your growth. Of course, you might be able to rely on a target PR event such as a contest or sponsoring activities to get your brand name out. But ultimately nothing beats the ease and comfort of web access to appeal to your customers and spread the word about your offers.
independent boutique
Nobody pays cash anymore
The main difficulty that shoppers face when they visit an independent boutique is at the till. Nowadays, at an age where most people pay either with a plastic card or by using an app of their smartphones, the idea of having to pay cash can seem preposterous. However, too many small shops fail to meet the requirements of secured card and smartphone payment transactions – and have to turn away countless customers every day as a result. While it might be too expensive to set up a dedicated payment station that does all the digital extravaganza you can expect from big brands, you should consider choosing a mobile POS system which offers a cost-effective solution to the card payment dilemma. Additionally, it’s also a great add-on if you deliver services or products directly to your customers’ addresses. You can take payments on the go and access all data through your web-based software.
Your blog is your shop diary
Everyone has a blog. Why do you need one? Precisely because everyone else has one. As an independent shop owner, you can utilize your blog presence as an online journal to introduce your boutique news, offers, and ambitions. Additionally, your blog also serves as a platform to introduce your vision and personality to your community, making it easier for your audience to notice your brand. But with a million different ways of creating a blog, it can be tricky to figure out what you need. As a rule of the thumb, you want to display accessibility and professionalism at the same time. Your choice in layout, imagery and page design will affect your boutique reputation as much as your choice of words.
Start sharing your cool products online
Can you go big without a social media presence?
It’s a silly question in 2019. But, as you asked, the answer is NO. You need to develop your social media presence to reach out to your audience and showcase your best products. Fashion, restaurants and homeware shops share their worlds on platforms such as Instagram. You can also use Pinterest boards to create a mood around the launch of new items, for instance. Finally, combining different platforms helps you to connect with your customers, wherever and whoever they are. After all, social media versatility encourages customer acquisition.
Shine for your community
Do you have a special skill that is related to your independent boutique? Let’s say that you’ve got your hairdressing salon. Why not help customers to style their hair with a few Youtube tutorials? If you own a fashion boutique, you could help your customers to find the best wardrobe capsule for their lifestyle. Independent restaurant owners can give a handful of easy recipes or even show how the menu favorites are prepared in the kitchen. You’d be surprised to know that most independent brands tend to get discovered as the result of an online video.
Encourage your customers to share the experience
Last, but not least, once you’ve developed your online presence } and especially your social media platforms – you can leave it to your customers to shout out about the brand on your behalf. How so? By giving them something to talk about. Fashion boutiques, for instance, can create a cozy dressing room atmosphere in which customers can relax and share their selfies. Do you run an independent coffee shop? Why not use themed toppings, such as a Hello Kitty cocoa shape on cappuccino drinks or Disney characters on hot chocolates? One rule to remember: Let your customers know about your #hashtag for their selfies.
Visibility is crucial for independent boutiques. Aside from selecting the best location and decor for your business, you also need to make the most of the web facilities. From web-based payment solutions to creative selfie strategies, online access lets small brands reach out to new and existing customers.
Find customers
Once your site is up, it’s time to find customers. Adfully.com is a company that can help. They help customers see your ads on social media and online and then make their way to your website.
Make Your Site Content Better Instantly
Why You Need to Delegate Content Creation
There is one, surefire way to boost the quality of your site's content, enabling you to draw in more visitors and sale more product. Delegate it.
Yup, that's right, I'm telling you to let someone else handle your content creation.
Why Delegate Content Production?
There are two reasons why you should hand the reigns of content production over to someone else. One, you don't have time to run a business and:
Keep up with SEO trends
Research topics that will interest your customers
Write articles and blog posts
Search for visual content to go with the posts
Upload the posts to your site
Promote the posts
Two, you probably don't have the skills to write the post in the first place. Don't take that as an insult. Most people don't have the skills to write a great article that is engaging and insightful while avoiding spelling and grammar errors on top of adding cutting edge SEO techniques. That takes years of learning and practice to achieve.
[bctt tweet="A surefire way to boost the quality of your site's #content, drawing in more visitors and selling more product."]
Your Content Options
How to Delegate Content Creation
Okay, so you're convinced you need to delegate your content creation to someone else, but who? There are several options:
Hire an on-staff content writer. This can be really expensive since the writer will be an employee and require a certain number of hours per week of paid work time, a computer, printer, internet service, desk, etc. The upside is you will have someone creating content everyday for your site. The more you post fresh content the more search engines love you.
Hire a freelance writer, like me. Freelance writers aren't employees, so you don't need to buy us computers, desk and the like. You simply decide how often you want new posts to appear on your site and pay the freelance writer to do it. Typically, you pay us per post, though some writers like to be paid per word or per hour. To get a really good freelancer you need to pay good rates, but we're much more affordable than staff writers.
Sign up for a content syndication service. These sites provide you with fantastic content that has already been published on big sites. The benefit of this is that you get access to amazing writers who are creating up-to-the-minute news articles and stories.
There you go. Three ways to delegate to increase the quality of your content and save you time.
Are you ready to make your site awesome? Contact me and let's talk!
Interview by Global Media & Brochure Printing Company
Brochure Printing Robot
I was recently interviewed by Global Media & Brochure Printing Company for their website. If you would like to know some marketing secrets that I give my clients, head on over and check out the interview.
While you're clicking around, check out their video: "Brochure Printing Company Web Offset Printing LA, NY, Hawaii, Singapore and Qatar." It's a pretty fascinating insight into how those marketing brochures that we read from other companies, and that we design for our own business, is made.
They have one of the largest offset printing facilities in Asia and the world. This place is MASSIVE. They have all kinds of presses for different jobs. My favorite part is that they have a robotic arm as their packer (yep, that's it on the left). Can't get any cooler than that.
I didn't know it took all of that equipment to print brochures. Just goes to show, you learn something new every day.
Need someone to write your brochure? Don't just hire someone, hire me. I have almost two decades of marketing writing experience. Contact me!
Infographic: Social Media Hashtags Cheat Sheet
Social Media Hashtag Cheat Sheet
Need people to sit up and pay attention to your social media posts? Add hashtags. Hashtags increase viability and engagement. Give a few of these a try and feel free to share this infographic.
Embed this infographic on your site: <iframe width="737" height="2406" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="overflow-y:hidden;" src="http://www.easel.ly/index/embedFrame/easel/2225528"></iframe>
Infographic: How to Use Twitter for Recruiting
Using social media for recruiting
I've worked for several recruiting companies, writing copy for their bait emails. Twitter was one of the sites I used to research potential recruits. Do you use Twitter for recruiting? Maybe you should. Here are some tips for finding the best new employees using one of the world's biggest social media sites via my friends over at AkkenCloud.
Click To Enlarge
Via AkkenCloud
Elance is Closing Its Doors
Elance is closing
It looks like Elance is closing its doors and evolving into something else.
I know many of my readers use Elance as a way to find freelancers or as a way to find freelance work, so I thought I'd share this email I just received:
Hi Alina,
I’m writing to share that we will soon wind down the Elance platform and invite you to join the community on Upwork. As we shared earlier this year, the decision to focus on a single platform was difficult but ultimately proved to be the best way to give freelancers access to the greatest jobs, and clients access to the greatest talent.
Elance companies are incredibly important to us and we are committed to helping you succeed on Upwork. We will send you an invitation that allows you to copy over your Elance profile including work history, reputation and any team member accounts to Upwork. Also, when you work on Upwork with clients you already worked with on Elance, we’ll honor the same fee you paid before.
You will receive your invitation to join Upwork within the next 1-2 months. In the meantime, please attend a webinar with information on how agencies work on Upwork and how we can help you make a smooth transition. You can also refer to this overview to learn more.
Important dates for Elance companies:
In early August, new customers will no longer be able to register for Elance.Starting in September, we’ll begin to limit the ability to post new jobs on Elance.Through early 2016, you can continue your current projects on Elance. However, we encourage you to begin all new contracts on Upwork and move existing contracts to Upwork when possible.Through mid-2016, you will still be able to access your messages, contacts, and files on Elance.
Upwork has already proven to be a rewarding marketplace for companies, with more contracts resulting in higher earnings than on Elance. We’re also working to deliver innovations to boost your productivity: mobile apps are now available for iOS and Android and a new messaging tool enables real-time collaboration.
Thank you for your business on Elance. We appreciate your patience during this transition and look forward to welcoming you to the Upwork community. You can read more about this announcement on our blog.
Best regards, Stephane Kasriel CEO, Upwork
[bctt tweet="It looks like Elance is closing its doors and evolving into something else. "]
Will be giving Upwork a try?
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Ghostwriter
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Ghostwriter Infographic
Should you have someone ghostwrite content for your site? Here are some pros and cons from my point-of-view as a freelance writer.
Pros of Hiring a Ghostwriter
You can spend your time doing something else for your business
Your blog's content will always be professional and error-free
A ghostwriter can come up with topics or angles you may not think of
Cons of Hiring a Ghostwriter
You must spend time searching for the perfect ghostwriter
You must take the time to explain to the ghostwriter what you want
You may select a ghostwriter with poor writing skills
Should I Get the Ghostwriter to Write a Test Paper?
Many people think that they should test a writer by having them write a sample. A lot of professional ghostwriters (including myself) don’t do test papers. There are several reasons why. 1. We writers get burned often by people who want something for nothing. There are people that ask for “test” papers as a way to get writers to do free work for them. I’m sure you’re not one of those people, but a ghostwriter doesn't know you and most won't take the chance. 2. The writer’s credentials, clips and testimonies from past clients should tell you what you need to know about the writer without the need for a test. If the writer doesn't have any of these you don't want to work with him anyway. 3. For professional writers that have years in the business, and all of the credentials to back up their expertise, asking them to take a test is somewhat demeaning. You're starting a professional relationship out on the wrong foot. Trust your writer! 4. Writing a test paper takes time. Time is money. If writers wrote test papers for every client that asked, that would equal out to be hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, in lost time.
Need a ghostwriter with no cons? One that can get things done fast and professionally? One that has testimonials and a long track record of great work? You're on her website right now! Contact me and let's get to taking.