Preparing for Instagram's Algorithmic Feed

Today on the blog, we are sharing the best practices to prepare for Instagram's newest update that will affect the feed algorithm. 

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Stop Ignoring Twitter Marketing!

With 3.7 million active users (via Statista), I'm sure you are questioning the title of this week's blog based on this bite-sized social media platform. Trust me when I say that have two very big reasons that are causing my concern of business owners ignoring Twitter: a phenomenal amount of professionals that cross my path do not want to incorporate Twitter into their social media marketing campaign and the alarming number of business owners who do not have an account at all even though they may have a personal, private account. 

In hopes of changing some opinions, I am offering four reasons on how incorporating Twitter into your social media work flow is important for modern marketing and your business. 

1 | Gain New Leads and Customers

Once you have created a solid foundation of substantial, creative tweets, relative to your business on Twitter, you are at the point of gaining new leads and customers. You can start doing this by using the search feature on Twitter to research phrases and hashtags that relate to your industry, business and products/services. Interact with fellow Twitter users who have tweeted those phrases and hashtags to generate more followers and engage by tweeting a personalized 'thank you.'

Remember: When someone follows you it is because they want to hear and learn more about your company. 

2 | Get Customer Feedback

Once your current customers begin to realize that you either joined Twitter or have become more active, the door for feedback and constructive criticism will open. By responding promptly and effectively you are showing your company's strength and confidence. Always remember that all feedback, good or bad, should be handled with grace and with careful consideration of a response.

Tip: Avoid Twitter trolls by sending a practical response that is effective and then private message that user to turn a negative situation into a positive one. 

3 | Spy on Your Competition

Research all of your competition by determining their Twitter handle and take note of their language, hashtags, followers and page descriptions. Pull inspiration from those aspects of their account for your content, but make it ten times stronger! It is important to continuously monitor your competition, including learning from their successful and unsuccessful marketing strategies and engagement.  

4 | Develop Brand Ambassadors 

By enlisting your employees and interns involved in your new Twitter marketing campaign you are creating brand ambassadors. Teasing new product/service launches, using your company's unique hashtag(s) and tweeting company news are just a few ways you can encourage your employees and interns start a conversation. In addition, you can also have loyal customers tweet in your favor as well. While it would be ideal for those customers to tweet organically, you can offer incentives (discounts, coupons, free product/service, etc.) to customers if they tweet a review or use your hashtag! 

TIP: Post pictures with all of your tweets as users are more likely to read content with imagery. 

See where your social media marketing strategies stand by requesting a Social Media Analysis today! 

Preparing for 2016: Strategies to Make Marketing Easier

When it comes to preparing your company for the New Year, I think we all agree that anything that makes the marketing side of business easier is always better! While today's blog may not be the easiest pill to swallow at first, it will enable you the tools necessary to make marketing and planning easier. 

1 | Create Goals

Challenge yourself to write down all of the realistic and "reach for the stars" goals you'd like you company to achieve during 2016. Once you have written them down, let's make them happen! Whether it be to network, gain more press or book more clients there is never a goal that is too large or too small! I want you to take that list and post it in a location that you will see each and every day. This will not allow yourself or your employees to disregard those goals or put them on the back burner. Remember, your goals will only help you grow! 

2 | Determine Your Ideal Client

What are the demographics of your ideal client? How can you reach them? Will that strategy coast a fortune? These are all questions that you should consider when determining your ideal client. Deciding the type of person that you want to target is important because not only is that the audience you would like to work with, but also the audience that is in need of your product(s) and/or service(s). Once you define your ideal client, we can then determine the marketing strategies to reach them instead of haphazardly marketing through random selection. 

3 | Create a "Date Night" with Your Blog & Social Media

This is an important one, friends! Choose one night each week to write and schedule your social media posts and blog. I always suggest working on this on a Sunday or Monday evening, but of course you should choose what day works best with your schedule! Before start scheduling your social media, take a moment to review my previous blog post on social media timeliness! Trust me when I say that you will be so glad that you scheduled these post when the day-to-day tasks begin to takeover your schedule. 

4 | Create Your Own Stock Photos

Here is your next big challenge: create your own stock photos! Enlist photographer to help you create stock images for blog, social media and portfolio to fall back on when needed. It is true that visual marketing is a hot ticket for 2016, and you do not want to fall short going in to the New Year.

5 | Hire Someone! 

This may be a favorite strategy among some of you! There is nothing wrong with waving the white flag and surrounding to a third party to help make your marketing more efficient and effective. If you believe that this is you, be sure to fill out the form below to learn how Magnolia Media Public Relations can be of service!