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DIY Marketing Or Hire A Professional?

DIY Marketing Or Hire A Professional?

Marketing Strategy
Are you a solopreneur and/or small business owner running your business all on your own? Are you functioning as your own marketing department, learning as you go, reading books, subscribing to marketing newsletters, experimenting with trial-and-error marketing tactics? So you can do your own marketing, after all, your efforts seem to be working. My question to you is... Should you be doing your own marketing? Marketers make marketing look easy, key word being ‘look’. Experienced marketers can discuss procedures, processes, strategy and measurable results as easily as they can discuss what they ate for breakfast. If you've ever had a conversation with me, you know what I mean. It's similar to the artist that makes a brush stroke look fluid and effortless, and yet when you try your hand it…
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Success on Social Media In 60 Minutes A Day

Success on Social Media In 60 Minutes A Day

Social Media, Strategy
Think 60 minutes a day on social media is impossible? Hear me out. There was a time when I thought all the tips on successfully engaging on social media in 1-2 hours a day were impossible. That's because I was reading all those articles when I first started using Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, so of course my learning curve killed the whole 60 minutes notion. I would use social media for hours at a time trying to figure it all out. Sound familiar? Let’s go beyond the initial process of learning how to use each platform. Once your profiles are complete, and you become experienced with engaging, posting, and sharing content, you can do social media in 60 minutes a day! Success on Social Media in 60 Minutes a Day If…
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Stagnant Social Media Profiles: No Icons Required

Stagnant Social Media Profiles: No Icons Required

Social Media
I know you’ve seen those companies that have a bunch of social media icons and links on their website asking you to connect with them. But have you noticed for some companies, when you click on the icons, they have outdated profiles, or profiles they don’t really use much? These companies don’t post frequent updates, and they look like they really just put the icons/profiles up for show. Why do some companies do this? Are you one of them? Here’s a tip to remember when including social media buttons on your website and promo materials: stagnant profiles stink! Nobody said you have to list every single platform you’re registered on. So why list them all? Instead, list the sites you use regularly, and your brand will be stronger for it. Why? Your level…
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Too Many Social Media Choices, I Can’t Decide!

Too Many Social Media Choices, I Can’t Decide!

Social Media, Strategy
I can’t count how many times I discuss social media with business owners and they feel like they can’t get the hang of a particular platform. Or they feel like they should be using them all, and they get completely overwhelmed at all the options popping up pretty regularly. Here’s my advice: don’t feel coerced into stretching yourself across all the social media platforms out there. You won’t have time to run your business! Here’s the one thing these business owners (and maybe you) don’t understand: Not all social media platforms are created equal. They each have a purpose, user group, frequency of use, their own language, etc.  Start with the most commonly used platforms and learn the ropes. Read some articles/how-to’s on each platform. Review the FAQs, user guides, and…
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3 Tricks To Ruin Your “No Time To Blog” Excuse

3 Tricks To Ruin Your “No Time To Blog” Excuse

Blogging
We've reached part three in our impromptu "get to blogging" series. You know why you should blog and you’ve learned a few tips to help build your blogging strategy. Now, here’s the million dollar concern that even I’ve voiced a zillion times: “I don’t have time to blog!” Ok, now I understand that’s just nonsense, but it took me a while to realize it. So before you go on a tirade about this being yet another thing you have to add to your schedule, here’s some quick tips to make sure you have time to blog. Write for 30 minutes a day. I cannot take credit for this tip. I credit the lovely Ann Evanston for giving me this idea when I participated in her accountability writing challenge. So here’s the rule:…
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Develop Your Blogging Strategy

Develop Your Blogging Strategy

Blogging
Blogging requires a strategy. A strategy of “post an article and they will come” doesn't work. Do you realize how crowded the web is? Of course you do! Whether you're new to blogging, a sporadic blogger, or you’re still on the fence about it, here are a few tips to help you start developing your blogging strategy: A 4 Step Plan to Develop Your Blogging Strategy Design: There are several blogging platforms (Wordpress, Tumblr, Blogspot, etc.) and there are differences among the options, so take a look and decide which is right for you. If you’re going to choose one of the free themes offered with your chosen platform, please please please do not use the theme as-is. Nothing says “newbie” or "hobbyist" more than using a standard template theme.…
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3 Reasons to Blog For Business

3 Reasons to Blog For Business

Blogging
You’ve heard this a hundred times already. Well, I’m telling you again, blogging is a great way to build your brand and demonstrate you  expertise, in your own words. In order maintain a successful blog, you have to build a following and keep your readers engaged, so make a plan to build momentum. For all you non-believers and sporadic bloggers, here are 3 reasons to blog for business, not personal discussions, not family pics, we’re talking blogging for business: Traditional website content is static. Think about this: If you visit a company’s website and they don’t have a blog or dynamic content, how often do you revisit that website? Want to know why you don’t visit that site often? It’s because website content is traditionally static, if you’ve seen it…
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Upcoming Event: Do I Play or Pass?

Upcoming Event: Do I Play or Pass?

Marketing Strategy, Networking
We all need to network in some form to build our businesses, and there's nothing like face-to-face events to get the ball rolling. But there are too many choices, so what should you do? You have an idea of the types of events you'd like to attend. You’ve done a bit of research on each event, and you've given consideration to 5 important factors (we discussed these in a previous post). Now it’s time to make a decision: should you attend an event or not? Don’t wing it, make a calculated decision. Is this more of the same thing?  Take a look at the types of events you regularly attend. How does this event compare? Mix in some out-of-the-ordinary mixers, luncheons, breakfast meetings, evening socials, and conferences. Don’t stick with what or who you…
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