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. 

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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! 

5 Tips For Hosting an Instagram Takeover!

Instagram takeovers have become globally popular for increasing brand awareness and customer engagement. Normally, this digital event is hosted by an online opinion leader on an Instagram account that is not their own. Depending on the intended goal of the takeover, choosing a host and "poster" (i.e. the person or business creating the posts) comes in all shapes and sizes! 

Today on the blog, I am thrilled to present five tips when it comes to being the hosting account for the Instagram takeover to help make your digital event a success! 

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1 | Find the Right Poster.

Yes, as a host account for the Instagram takeover and a digital influencer, you will need to make sure the company, ambassador or individual is compatible for your line of business. Prior to agreeing to an Instagram takeover, research the poster's website, products/services, business practices, etc. to ensure they will connect with your audience. While the standard intent of a takeover is for the poster to gain followers, you don't want to lose followers because their brand does not fit with yours! 

2 | Set the Guidelines. 

There is no shame in setting strict guidelines for an Instagram takeover. Once you and the poster decide on the overall goal of the takeover, set the guidelines based on those goals. Be clear and you will be the less likely to run into issues/problems during the event. Examples of guidelines include the following: using specific hashtags on each post, number of posts, content guidelines, duration of the takeover and even requiring the poster to interact with other users.

3 | Create a Hashtag!

Creating a unique hashtag with promote the Instagram takeover by allowing all of the posts to fall in one local area. In addition, an event hashtag will help other Instagram users follow along! Hashtags will also make the takeover easier for you too monitor should multiple contributors get in on the game.

4 | Promote!

There is no better way to create excitement about the Instagram takeover than promoting in through other outlets. Weeks leading up to the Instagram takeover, share the event on your blog and other social media accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). Not only could this lead to others interested in participating in your Instagram takeover, but also will allow your followers to pose any questions prior to the event. 

5 | Monitor. 

Sure, you've set the guidelines for your Instagram takeover, but there is always a chance the poster could go rogue. However long your Instagram takeover lasts, make sure to monitor the event and do not feel hesitant to make edits as necessary! (Just make sure to let the poster know of the edits you made and why!) Remember, at the end of the day, this is your account and your followers.

If you'd like to learn more about Social Media Marketing and how Magnolia Media Public Relations can help you, use the below form to contact us today!