Authors, take full advantage of profiles available to you.
So you are published or self-published. Yay you! You have a website to promote you and your published works, right? You are selling at least one version of your book on Amazon, right? If you are, you have an author's profile to fill in. It is a great place to lend credibility as to WHY someone needs what you published. It gives them a taste of your personality [...]
Know your audience before you try to relate a story.
When we create content, we are usually telling a story, solving a problem or educating someone. Without knowing your audience, you may not be understood, appreciated or respected because they won't have a CLUE what you are talking about. Let me talk to ALL of you about car travel and what it is now vs. what it was when I was growing up. When I pack the car [...]
Beware of email domain scams.
A client wrote today to verify the piece of mail he received regarding domain renewal was a scam. YES, it was. I know a lot of small business owners, and large, that fall prey to the bait and switch to domain hosting at higher prices and big messes when you want to switch back. Be so careful and know your suppliers. Make a list of who hosts your [...]
Short checklist when you are moving your site.
Divorce is a terrible thing. There are a lot of pieces, including splitting up digital assets such as a joint business website. If you are looking to split up a company, change hosting companies, hosting platforms such as moving from html to Wordpress, or to another CMS, please make and sure you know these answers: Does your new hosting company have a PHONE number for support you can [...]
When was the last time you called YOU at your company?
We all know the drill to fill out our online profiles in social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, YouTube, Instagram, trade associations and directories, your bio page, email signatures. And you all know by now how I feel about REAL HEAD SHOTS! Just as these profiles need to be reviewed and updated regularly, the most important profile can be neglected - your VOICEMAIL messages. This is how people [...]
In Person Networking Kit
Last night I attended a local networking event. Lately, I've been skipping most events for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason is ROI (return on investment) of my time. After working a full day, creating solutions, guiding clients, I'm ready to unwind and be with the family, or go for a walk. I'm an introvert, meaning I recharge with quiet time. A dear friend invited me to [...]
Google Analytics Annotations: Your marketing diary.
Here is a central place to keep track of your marketing efforts - Google Analytics - the little gray arrow under the bar graph. You can share your annotations with those who have access to your analytics account, or keep them just for your eyes. Google Analytics offers a little gray arrow that is the key to your marketing and website diary. This is a great way to [...]
Vanity URLs – keep it short and matching.
I don't always take my own advice, and with a name that's not so unusual, sometimes I just miss out. Vanity URLs give your personal brand a consistent message. Ideally - your Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ profile vanity URLs are all the same: @susanfinch . No, I was not able to get those due to my friend in New York. I've talked about her before [...]
Did you remember to ask them to like and follow you?
I received an email from one of my favorite companies, nambé. It was clean, simple and direct. The goal: get me to follow and like them in all social media venues. They spelled it out with a photo, an icon a few words and call to action link. Sounds obvious, but it's not. Have you sent out an email like this to your customers or email marketing list? [...]
Just because you have beautiful models, it doesn’t make your product memorable.
While watching Sharknado3 the other night, we were accosted by the Dorito commercial with the flying pig. The boy in the spot is unique looking, to say the least. Our children asked how they find kids like that and shouldn't they want kids that are more "put together" looking. My husband and I both chuckled, since we both come from advertising backgrounds. The answer was NO. There is [...]
Days of Ultron and My Own Iron Man
The excitement in our house is building. We won't make it tonight, but we will see Days of Ultron as a family tomorrow. This is a rarer event lately as we have a teen who usually prefers to see movies like this with her pals. This is different. This is Marvel. Marvel movies, with the heavy weight on Iron Man's shoulders, have come to be a gathering place [...]
Create a press kit for your site – even if you are a solopreneur.
Make sure they use the photo you prefer and bio. Sometimes we are asked to be guests on a show, guest writers, there may be a story about our company, or a member highlight in one of your professional organizations. You don't want people just googling your name and deciding which image to use. Make it EASY for them and have a press kit on your website. Even [...]