Inspire your customers to buy by sharing something to connect them emotionally with you. Do not sell.
Everyone loves a good story, or should we say gossiping?
As George Bernard Shaw once said, “The things most people want to know about are usually none of their business.”
Most of the time, as consumers we navigate the internet to look for answers, we do not want people selling us anything.
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Pop culture discussions that used to happen around the water cooler now unfold in real time on platforms like Twitter. As you brainstorm content for your channels, keep tabs on external events and trends. Having a broad view not only helps you avoid insensitive or poorly timed messages, but it also allows you to recognize engagement opportunities that best align with your brand.
A Facebook Live campaign can boost your brand’s exposure online and increase customer engagement.
Facebook Live is a free feature of the Facebook app that allows you to stream real-time video to your audience from your smartphone. It was released in April of 2016.
Did you know that marketers prefer Facebook to create live videos followed by Instagram?
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A painting class is one of many experiences that can be given as a gift this Valentine’s Day.
Think Valentine’s Day marketing campaigns only benefit candy, flower, and jewelry companies? Think again. According to the National Retail Federation, 40 percent of individuals want to receive the gift of a special experience, such as a fun trip or concert tickets. With consumers estimated to spend more than $20 billion this holiday, you should use digital channels to illustrate how your brand delivers memorable experiences.
Explore four ways your organization can tap into this niche and improve your Valentine’s Day marketing campaign.
Katy Trail Ice House, Happiest Hour, Uptown, Deep Ellum. These are the places we know and love to unwind at in Dallas. But does there exist such a place where a digital marketer can unwind AND become a student of their craft? Here are 3 fun social media events in Dallas worth attending.
Have your Instagram posts plateaued? Did you know that Instagram posts with at least one hashtag average 12.6% more engagement than posts without a hashtag? The quality of a hashtag is extremely important but yet so often overlooked. Yes, hashtags are #everywhere. And in most cases, they are thrown into the content and not utilizing their true potential. Once known as a simple pound sign, the hashtag is a powerful tool that goes beyond aesthetics. Continue reading
If you’re like pretty much everyone on the planet, keeping up with the latest social media trends can be a daunting task. As soon as you’ve learned a new feature or believe you’ve figured out the ever-elusive algorithm, new features are released and past tricks are obsolete. So how is a digital marketer to stay on top of the latest and greatest? Here are 3 ways to keep up with social media trends.
Discerning brands strategically use social media as an extension of customer service, with skillfully prepared teams in place for unexpected online situations. Nobody likes loud, verbal haters. While it might be easier to not deal with online negativity, these situations need to be addressed in a timely manner.
While It is certainly easier to avoid them at all costs, the dark cloud haters cast might actually offer a silver lining. Continue reading
This blog will unlock the difference between Snapchat lenses and filters. Continue reading
Unless you’re someone who is deep in the trenches of all things Instagram, you may not even know what an Instagram Pod is, so let’s review.
An Instagram pod is when a group of people that have similar IG accounts (e.g. photographers, makeup artists, lifestyle bloggers, etc.) get together and agree to Like and comment on each other’s photos to increase engagement and activity. Since Instagram’s ever-changing algorithm is so elusive, this has become a popular way for accounts to be deemed more relevant. This method increases the chance of current followers seeing your content in their feed and new followers seeing it in the Discovery feed. But does it actually work? Here are pros and cons of Instagram Pods.
Identify your digital STAMP in five key steps for continued success in today’s social world. This is your STAMP! Simple-True-Act-Map-People. Hone in on two STAMP objectives. Here’s a breakdown of the five steps to identify your stamp. Continue reading 
Anyone with a grasp of the big picture begins to realize that PR, marketing, sales, and even customer service are not four distinct silos that compete for dollars and face time with senior executives. They are four sides of the same square. What one does affects the other side and each one of these facets is a part of social media. In the book No Bullshit Social Media; The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing, Jason Falls and Erik Deckers remind us that social media is where our customers are. No Bullshit Social Media offers direct insights about precisely what social media should do for a brand:
-Enhance brand awareness
-Protect brand reputation
-Enhance public relations
-Build community
-Enhance customer service
-Facilitate research and development
-Drive leads and sales
Not just that, but these two take a deep dive into how to properly use social media and who should be at the helm. This last point is particularly interesting.
Social Media is NOT an entry level position- it requires Continue reading
Do you ever find yourself on Instagram just to kill a few minutes? Before you know it you’ve wasted almost an hour mindlessly scrolling. If you have an Instagram account, it’s probably a habit of yours that you don’t realize that you do. Today with all the social media platform options, we are shifting more from text-based communication to visual communication. With Instagram’s endless photo and video feed, it’s easy to become an #instaaddict. Soon though we may know if we are spending too much time on Instagram. Continue reading
Picture this: A long line of eager fans wait patiently outside the doors of your small business. Everyone is talking about the grand opening and are excited to use your product or service. Months leading up to this very day, they have been following your social media and already feel a sense of community with your brand. Why? Because you are leveraging the power of the ‘Gram. Sound too good to be true? Here are 4 tips on successfully using Instagram to help launch your business.
If you’re missing the mark with your audience, ask yourself if you truly understand them. Here are 4 factors to consider when understanding your audience.
Instagram released their new Story Highlights feature in December 2017. While some have been using the Highlight reel to showcase more of their brand/profile, many haven’t tapped into this great new feature! Instagram Stories let’s the user capture a moment in time without making it permanent, the way Snapchat has done. However, with Instagram Story Highlights, the 24 hour rule no longer applies! The user can now add the Story to their Highlight reel! This is especially useful for brands and influencers that want to continue to promote a specific event or product after the 24 hour timestamp is up. Here’s a step by step process on how to use Instagram Story Highlights to promote your brand: Continue reading 
Photo by Jared Sluyter
What’s worse than stale potato chips? Stale content on your social media channels. Whether you are a leader, business owner, or entrepreneur, it’s advantageous for you to keep your content “alive” on social media. In fact, make this a non-negotiable priority. And, it’s actually easier than you may think.
So, without further ado, here are three awesome ways to keep your content from going stale across your social media channels. Continue reading
Photo by Matthew Hamilton
Today, one of the most iconic brands in athletic apparel is transforming the social media game. Adidas is chiefly synonymous with athletic shoes. While you may recognize the brand for their quality and style, you might also want to explore how to maximize your brand awareness on social media like Adidas.
The brand produces more than 850 million product units annually. So it’s no surprise that Adidas is cultivating an undeniable influence on social media, specifically Instagram. If you want to maximize your brand awareness on social media like Adidas, get ready to incorporate some of the brand’s tactics in your own strategic efforts.
“Change the game, run the world.” – Adidas
Photo by Marius Ciocirlan
There are currently more than a dozen popular social media platforms for businesses to choose from. From Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, to Snapchat, choosing the right social media channels for your business can yield a significant ROI. The challenge lies in uncovering which platforms support not only your business objectives but also your target audience’s interests. It behooves you to understand the personality of each platform. How do your products and services align with the personalities of these social media channels? Does your target audience gravitate toward visual content? To select the right social media channels, you’ll need to develop a strategy around your products and services, as well as your target audience. Continue reading
In a recent statement, Facebook announced that it launched the very first Facebook Community Leaders Program. Facebook committed $10 million toward residency and fellowship opportunities for up to five community leaders around the world. The objective is to empower leaders who are using Facebook to build their communities. Continue reading 
Consumers prefer brands that favor transparency and honesty.
Do you want more followers? Of course you do. Social media marketing is inherently about popularity. The higher your reach, the more influence you have. And influence results in sales. But growing your audience can be easier said than done. Factors like brand integrity and engagement come into play. Read on to learn how to increase your reach on social media by capitalizing on these marketing strategies. Continue reading
Photo by Brooke Lark
Social media helps brands connect with their target audience. However, many brands are faced with a content challenge. How can brands write content for social media in an effective manner? The answer lies in developing distinct audience personas and a social media brand voice. This will serve as the foundation for your efforts. Social media is one of the most cost-effective ways to speak to any audience. It behooves brands to create meaningful, memorable digital content.
“This content should be so valuable that it compels the reader to share it with others across social media channels.” – Shanda Henley, SEO Copywriter / Digital Marketer / Indie Author Continue reading
In a world that is ever-changing, why wouldn’t the way we communicate with our customers change through social media? In the Private Country Club industry, we as marketing and communication professionals are limited to how we can engage and communicate with our members. Public advertising is not allowed in the industry. What about showing off your club on different platforms where so many members and prospective members live? With millennials beginning to look into memberships and members more active on social platforms, it is more important than ever to study and learn what social media trends to look out for. Continue reading