LinkedIn Blogging: 5 Easy Steps for Successful Personal Branding

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Blogging is often overlooked as a means to marketing and business success, but under closer evaluation it’s turned out in recent years that blogging is a star on the rise. Just like any other platform of promotion, whether for business or personal, blogging has been one of the vital tools in popularizing businesses or the blogger personally by creating a relatable human presence behind brands. Blogging for personal promotion especially, which is also known as personal branding, is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands. This concept suggests that self-packaging is the new mode of highlighting oneself as a standout candidate whether it be for consideration for a job or simply as a business entity worthy of new clients.

However, as much as we want to promote ourselves as much as possible online, there are limitations to what we can accomplish on sites like LinkedIn. Until recently the only people who were able to post their blog content on the professional social site were people that were deemed “influencers.” Over time we have seen those restrictions peeled back to the point where anyone, even a novice college student trying to wedge their way into the job market, can post their own blog content, and so we’ve seen LinkedIn evolve to the point where people are now able to:

  •  Increase visibility
  •  Expand his network
  •  Demonstrate Leadership

And since we are now able to leverage LinkedIn as a personal branding tool it’s time to take advantage of it. It’s time to learn the 5 Steps for maximizing the LinkedIn blogging feature for personal branding according Forbes.

Step 1. Have your strategy be developed

Any successful plan is born from and carefully executed according to strategic planning. Consider, the following:

1.Topic: Know what you want to talk about and maintain your focus on that. You don’t have to be good at just anything; you have to be good at something specific. Remember that the whole is the sum of its parts so be sure that all the parts are relevant.

2. Format: Select from images, text and videos according to your discernment.

3. Frequency: It doesn’t matter if you don’t post content every day, as long as you are still visible to your target audience’s eyes. What is more important is the consistency of your content.

4. Style: Is your content formal or friendly? Be consistent in your tone because people usually anticipate a certain style as they become familiar with the content you’ve been posting.

5. Limit: LinkedIn suggests content that consists of around three paragraphs.

Step 2. Create compelling content

Creating quality content means more than just having killer filler material. You just have to generate striking titles that will catch the attention of the readers. Also, including interesting photos adds glitz, as does the inclusion of source material from other bloggers and authors.

Step 3. Make it Visible

By scheduling yours posts on specific dates, you get to assure that your content becomes visible to your target audience.

Step 4. Have it Promoted

Disseminate your content not just on LinkedIn, but also on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms that you might think will increase your visibility.

Step 5. Measure It

As per Forbes’ advice, study and write about topics that get the highest amounts of likes, tweets and shares. From there you can refine your strategy and create the most brand value with the least effort.

Essential Tips for Creating Effective Facebook Ads

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Facebook ads have gradually become a mainstay in the way that digital marketers and advertisers reach their target audiences with social media being the channel above all others that consumers flock to on a daily basis. Make no mistake about it, despite the advent and exponential growth and valuation of Snapchat, when it comes to ad revenue Facebook is still king with other a billion daily users. That being the case it makes sense for anyone who has a business, small or otherwise, to take advantage of the possibilities that come with creating Facebook ads. And after making the decision to pay Facebook to push your ads through its targeting algorithms the question becomes about what goes into an effective Facebook ad. I’d be lying if I said there was a definitive guide, but there are a few components that you can tweak to catalyze the success of your Facebook ad conversion.

Visuals

Visual content garners the attention easily and quickly as it’s obviously the first thing people will see when looking at your Facebook ad. If your ad image is attractive, your ad is bound to create an engagement. By attractive, I don’t mean any bold image will work. Rather, it should be an image that conveys your business strongly along with being eye-catching. Whatever content you use, your image is the first thing your target lead will lay eyes on.

Target Oriented

You cannot create an ad that will not connect with your target audience. If your target leads do not find your ad relevant, your time and effort is wasted and you will most likely have to restart from square one.  You can use Relevance Score feature for Facebook ads to keep a check on your ad status.

Be Convincing 

If you say you have the best services, your target audience may just skip your ad. Everyone calls themselves the best nowadays, often without the data to back up their claims. Be able to define your unique value proposition convincingly. If you say more than 1M people love you or you offer a discount of 25%, your ad have higher chances of getting clicked than by simply saying you’re the best. It doesn’t end here though.

Call to Action

Your ad may have a great image, solid content and is targeted to the right audience, but if there is not a call-to-action it becomes a dull ad. CTA doesn’t mean a bright colored button asking users to subscribe or maybe signup only. It completes your whole process of convincing your leads. So, try phrases like “Get 25% off on XYZ“.

These are the four basic tenants of creating a successful Facebook ad, but each one is able to be expanded upon further. Utilize the extra tips that follow to aide in creating your own effective Facebook ads

  • Your ad requires leads to take actions immediately. Hence you will need to provide more context. You don’t need to surprise them. It is necessary you tell them what they are signing up for. For example, “Click here to signup for free“.
  • Coupons and incentives are more proven methods to convince your lead to share their information
  • Your value proposition should be reflected. Users must know that by sharing their information they won’t get stumped later. There is no separate landing page here. So treat your ad like one. Tell them explicitly why they should share their details with you
  • Take caution with CTR, i.e. Click-through rates. Many-a-times, best converting post-click lead ads fail due to low click-through rates. If your ad is too much “form-like” and your CTR drops below 1%, it is only a matter of time that delivery will drop. So, it is necessary to optimize and try out new creatives on a regular basis to keep the CTR high
  • Convincing your leads is not just restricted to an engaging image or context or content. Users have become smart and they are always looking at what benefits they will get immediately after signing up. If you have compelling offers or rewards that add value, it will speed up for lead capturing process. For example, you can give free PDFs, coupons, etc.

 

The Importance of Owning Your Own Business Website by Maurice Lennon

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Business practices have been with us since the earliest known civilization, evolving from the simple trade and barter system of old to the revolutionized versions of capitalism and investment that drive western economies today. It has always been one of the main driving forces behind people’s method of survival and ability to provide both for themselves and for their families. And after millennia of undergoing updates to the simple practice  and methodology of it,  it is so ingrained within our society and the fabric of our being that it is hard to think of a way in which business is not present in our lives.  Wherever you go, you will find business whether it be in the most remote villages of the world to the sanctity of your own home. Need an example? Modern Greeks are currently reverting to ancient barter systems in their more remote fishing villages. And if you’re in your home chances are you’re watching TV, listening to music, or reading a book, all of which you’ve paid for. So, aside from change as the only constant thing in this world, there is also business. Thus, it becomes important to take control of what you can regarding business and do as much as possible to use it to benefit your own life so that you can not only provide for yourself in a constantly changing world, but also your family. In today’s world it is not enough just to be a mere employee. It has become essential in so many ways to master your own destiny and be able to run your own business. However, setting up business is not as easy as 1, 2, 3. It requires innate talent, passion, determination, as well as a network. In this article, we’ll talk about this network.  What does it mean exactly? Simply put, it just means that you have to have a good online presence whereby you are able to communicate with potential customers, existing customers and even competitors. Besides maintaining an excellent social media presence this is done by setting up your own website for your business. You might say, “My business is doing well already,”  and not think it essential which very well may be the case, but you’d still be wrong to think a website isn’t important to further success.  What we are trying to say here is that, as your business is heading to its full potential, you have to establish and position it in today’s competitive digital market, and for that you definitely need a website. But why? Below are four simple reasons why your small (but soon to be big) business needs a website.

1. Establish Credibility

How do customers find out which business are the best in town? A great website will give you an edge over others in exposure as well as in credibility.

2. Efficient Communication

With your website, you can find new customers while staying in touch with the existing ones. And, one way of knowing your clients’ suggestions, feedback and even complaints is through your website.

3. E-commerce

Based on studies, a great website can increase the revenues for up to 80%. Do not dare lose the opportunity while it’s available.

4. Cost-effective Marketing

When you ask about which marketing tool is the best, there are no second thoughts — it is the website. Websites can virtually reach anyone on the planet as long as they have a computer or smartphone and of course, internet connection. It also gives the business the highest return on investment. Cold calls, trade shows, commercials, brochures, magazine features are way too costly, right?  Think it over.

Social Media and its Role in Your Small Business

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social media

Before the advent of social media, businesses advertised what they had to offer through simple methods such as billboards, TV commercials, print ads and even outbound marketing strategies like phone calls, word of mouth or even door-to-door visits. These days, you might still see those methods being employed, but it’s certainly without the fervor that they once embodied because in today’s world, filled with technological advancement, advertising occurs in the blink of an eye or the click of a button on the internet. From pop up ads to website banners, the availability of information across the web has enabled the world of advertising to push forward ferociously in the digital market, but still one channel remains the king of all digital marketing and that is  social media.

Wikipedia defines social media as “computer-mediated tools that allow people to create, share or exchange information, ideas, and pictures/videos in virtual communities and networks. Social media is further defined as “a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content.”

Meanwhile, social media marketing is where businesses come into play. The use of different social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, Pinterest and Instagram have been the best channels for companies to utilize as tools to convert potential customers to actual ones for some time now. And as they continue to evolve and push the envelope, so too do they continue to pave new roads for marketers to take in the pursuit of pushing product. Coming to the point though, why should the power of social media be limited to mega corporations with loads of money to blow on large campaigns. The simple truth is that it’s not. Social media is important to any business, but especially your small emerging one. Below are three of the reasons why.

1. Customers Are Usually Social Media Users

Americans, according to a 2011 report published by Nielson, allocate approximately a quarter of their online time on social blogs and networks. That being the case, it’s a given that potential customers are always present, waiting online and searching for products that they may be interested in buying. A proper social media presence and strategy is essential to driving funnel them to a conversion point where they purchase your product or avail your services.

2. It Gives You The Chance To Know What Customers Need and Want

The truth is, people use their social media to express what they want the world to know. That can include the simple whims and details of their day to praise, complaints, and feedback on a variety of products and services they come across on a daily basis. You get to know the current trends based on what people post, and with that knowledge, you can take advantage of their wants and needs.

3. Social Media is Cost-Effective Business Marketing

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, Pinterest and Instagram are social platforms which are usually used by people searching for products and services nowadays. The good thing about social media is that they’re almost entirely free of charge. It’s a win-win situation. By leveraging these technologies properly, you can build a direct relationship with your clients and eventually continue to expand your business from small to big.

4 Social Media Tools for Beginners

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The ability of social media marketing to effectively promote and establish a brand is widely dependent on the tools employed. These tools provide not only fast traffic to the content but also connect the target audience to brand with customization of search results. Here are some of the most effective social media tools used by the best digital marketers to enhance their brand visibility.

1. Hootsuite: Hootsuite is one of the most extensively used social marketing tool adopted by the leading marketers. With a convenient scheduling feature and Chrome plug in that lets you post across all the major social media platforms, you can see the feeds across various social networks simultaneously, and launch a critical analysis of what is working and what is not.

2. Sprout Social: Another great tool accessible via a mobile app enables you to watch the social content along with monitored keywords searches in a single stream. It also offers scheduling of the content publishing and management of social posts across Facebook, Twitter, and Google +; all on the go.

3. Mention: Most of the digital marketers rely on this powerful tool which provides great insights to the keywords used across the various digital platforms including forums and blogs. It lets you track any mentioning of your brand and also allows you to respond and share it.

4. Post Planner: Facebook is still the most preferred platform a search engine marketing company Delhi targets to take the advantage of. Post Planner is an app of Facebook which provides the customized trending content according to your niche. It also lets you schedule your Facebook posts in advance and do the analysis of most viral posts with loads of status ideas to enhance the brand presence on Facebook.

There is no shortage of both free and paid social networking tools to enhance and develop the digital marketing strategy. These are just four of the easiest tools to begin to use. Their application makes all the difference.

Essential Marketing Tips for Your Business

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Part 2 by Maurice Ondoy

Marketing Tips Essential For Your Business

As what was promised in the previous article that you’ve read, we are giving you five more marketing tips that are essential for your business to grow.

6. Your People Are Your Most Important Investment

What’s the most precious asset in a company? Is it the building? Is it the machinery? Is it the furniture and fixtures? Everything mentioned is important, but it’s your people or human resources that are the most important of them all. Look after them and give them the training that they need to do their jobs well. Make sure that all of your employees are motivated. Provide them with the adequate resources to be able to accomplish their respective jobs and make them feel important as a part of the process of accomplishing the business’ success.

7. Make a good pricing strategy

A good pricing strategy does not only mean that you mark-up  your production costs enough, and sell it for profit. Rather, it also has to consider the market you are targeting. Look at the product or service relevant to what you are offering, and from there, you can gauge what level of pricing you should be setting for your products or services.

8. Take Good Care of Responding To Complaints

A complaint is a great chance to pivot a disappointed client – react rapidly and decidedly. Keep in mind your company’s image is effectively harmed, and the exact opposite thing you need is for individuals to be spreading terrible stories about your business. A protestation that is managed well can regularly bring about a loyal client, they will have revived trust in your company and the certainty to purchase again realizing that if things do turn out badly they will be sorted out rapidly.

9. Make sure that your establishment facade is tidy

It’s understandable. No one wants to buy from an establishment that is untidy. Thus, maintaining the cleanliness of the façade, as well as inside, will keep you away from turned off customers.

10. Create A Marketing Plan

Build up your methodology by creating a marketing plan, as this will guarantee all individuals from your business comprehend the company direction. The marketing plan is an extensive researched document which covers every vital strategy the business needs to employ in order to be aligned on its goal, which is company success. Questions that need to be answered are as follows:

• Where would we say we are presently?

• Where would we like to be?

• What opportunities exist in the environment?

• How will we arrive?

• Who will do what?

• How will we know we have arrived?

We have to recall that our business, without effective marketing campaigns, may still offer its products and services, nevertheless, some of your target market would not be aware about its presence. Proper Marketing is like the backbone of the business, for without it, the business cannot stand alone.