sparq

Holiday Social Media Content Ideas for Brands

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 19:50:04 GMT

Looking to promote during the holidays? Here are some content ideas to help your small business shine on social media:

1️⃣ Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peeks: Give your audience a glimpse into the inner workings of your business and showcase the hard work and dedication of your team.

2️⃣ Product or Service Tutorials: Create engaging tutorials to educate your audience on how to make the most out of your products or services.

3️⃣ Customer Testimonials: Share reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility.

4️⃣ Team Spotlights: Highlight different members of your team and share their stories and expertise. Show the human side of your business!

5️⃣ Industry Updates and Tips: Share relevant industry news, trends, and practical tips that your audience will find valuable.

6️⃣ Promotions and Discounts: Create exclusive offers for your social media followers to increase engagement and drive sales.

7️⃣ Contests and Giveaways: Organize fun contests or giveaways to boost excitement and encourage user-generated content.

8️⃣ Inspirational Quotes: Share motivational quotes or uplifting messages that resonate with your target audience.

9️⃣ Curated Content: Share interesting articles, blog posts, or videos from other credible sources that align with your brand values.

�� Interactive Polls and Surveys: Engage your audience by seeking their opinions on various topics related to your business or industry.

Remember, consistency and authenticity are key to building a strong online presence. Let your creativity flow and have fun connecting with your audience!

10 Tips to Radically Improve Your Social Media Presence

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 04:00:39 GMT

10 Tips to Radically Improve Your Social Media Presence

Having a strong social media presence is crucial for your business. This guide lists 10 tips to radically improve your social media presence.

Been thinking about social media marketing to boost your small business?

The global pandemic has obliterated businesses and livelihoods. While it is still possible to increase the brand awareness for your small business, how can you promote it in the middle of the pandemic?

The solution is through the help of social media!

If you are experiencing low sales and weak lead generation, social media can move your business forward . If you don't know where to start, don't worry, we got you! We have a list of 10 simple, yet powerful tips to increase your social media presence right here.

1. Plan Your Strategy

Start with an online marketing game plan for small businesses.

First off, assemble a team that will be responsible for the social media accounts. Your team can range from just you and me ( if you hire Sparq! ) to an entire marketing department.

After that, you can start by answering these several questions:

What is your marketing strategy? What's worked in the past? What hasn't worked in the past?
What is your brand promise? Mission statement?
Who is your target audience? Are you marketing to a certain demographic?
What is your content strategy? Have you identified your core offerings and pillar content (more below)?

A content strategy is crucial to make it simple for your followers to take action. You probably know that a confused customer doesn't buy! So let's get to work clarifying your goals and developing your content strategy.

Pillar Content

Single Grain puts it this way - the basic characteristics of pillar content include:

It solves a problem or answers a question with comprehensive, accurate information.
It’s different in scope or detail from other content on the subject.
It’s some combination of trustworthy, useful or interesting.

Create pillar content for your brand so that your target market keeps coming back for more. This blog post, for instance, is an example of pillar content. It’s comprehensive in nature with tons of valuable content for my readers.

Opening Channels of Communication

One of Sparq's methodologies is to encourage businesses to update three channels of communication to customers or clients on a regular basis. Businesses often wonder why they aren't generating more business when the truth is that they may not understand one important thing. Most likely your potential audience doesn't know how you can solve their problems!

By using the three channels of communication below, you ensure that you're promoting your products and services where your audience will search.

Website
Social Media
Email

These channels have stood the test of time and are still relevant. Some of the hottest social media platforms of the day may come and go but as long as you're driving your followers to your email list (you own your email list; you don't own your social media) you'll be able to create customer loyalty.

2. Use Multiple Social Media Platforms

Most people are familiar with social media but often stick with their usual main platforms, only 1 or 2, that they understand.

If you want to reach more people, you need to create multiple accounts where your target market "lives". Use Facebook for in-depth consumer engagement to get people to impulse-purchase. But don't stop there! Create thumb-stopping images with Canva to target people visually using Instagram. And, have you tried Pinterest?

Try Pinterest to Attract a New Audience to Your Content

Try something new. Enable your website with widgets so that visitors can easily save your beautiful images to Pinterest, allowing your pin to gain more viewers.

As an example of the Pinterest widget, go to the top of this blog post and hover over the image on the page. You'll see the small Pinterest icon in the top right corner just like the image below.

When logged into Pinterest, you (or a reader on my site) can click the Pinterest logo and easily pin the image to Pinterest to read for later, or better yet, save them to a board of theirs to share my content.

Do it Yourself!

To do this, go to Pinterest Developer Tools . I used the Save Button option and then chose to use the "Image Hover” button. You’ll be able to see a preview of what the Pinterest logo will look like. When you’ve chosen your custom options, be sure to copy and paste the code(s) that you’re given on the page where you want the button to appear. There are two codes to use, and you’ll need to add both to your blog. When you’re finished, you’ve just added the functionality so that your readers can save your content!

3. Integrate Visual Marketing

According to a study, human beings can process visuals much faster than text. People find visually appealing imagery more interesting and engaging than a big block of letters. Well-designed images can step up your marketing game and help you attract more customers.

My favorite online design tool is Canva ...take a look how easy it is to create beautiful designs! Designing appealing graphics includes choosing the right color and proper placement of visual elements. Creating different designs, using elements of color, and giving your audience what they want will add value and relevancy to your brand.

Consumers are savvy when they are researching their next purchase. Give them what they need to travel down the buyer's journey and go from the "awareness" phase to the "decision" phase. To do this, create how-to video demos of your products and/or services so your customers can learn more about what you offer.

4. Engage with Your Audience

Develop a good relationship with your audience and followers by engaging with them on social media.

Engage with your followers who comment on your posts. Commenting with a meaningful response, answering a customer service inquiry, or even a quick "like" on their comment can make a huge difference with a potential customer. "Listen" to what they comment on then start responding with relevancy.

Engaging with your audience is a great way to foster brand loyalty and trust from your customers.

5. Build Loyal Followers with Newsletters

An email newsletter can help you promote your brand while engaging with your present and future clients. Your subscribers will feel connected with you and your brand when they receive updates about your social events and promotions.

You can offer exclusive specials for the people who follow your newsletter. Stay top-of-mind to your subscribers and you'll create loyalty.

In composing the newsletter, don't be too sales-y. You can check out our list of top 5 email marketing trends to guide you on how to do it the right way.

6. Schedule Your Posts

It’s crucial for your small business to remain consistent on social media. Your audience needs to see your posts often enough so they can recognize your brand. Commit to a posting schedule to by scheduling your posts.

To help you with that, most social media platforms have a scheduling feature natively on the platform. You can create a post beforehand and the system will post it at the time you selected.

Try This

Have you tried Creator Studio to post to Facebook and Instagram? It will help you schedule your content quickly and easily...and it's free.

7. Create Your Content to Entertain

Your content must be relevant and engaging to entice your audience. In addition to the how-to videos about your products and services that I mentioned above, entertain your audience to add to your brand promise.

Content ideas include:

A National Day Calendar for content ideas (also check out my post for September content ideas !)
Reviews from your previous customers
Integrate recent trends with your own brand

This list of ideas to entertain your audience to boost your social media presence and attract people different from your usual demographic audience is cornerstone to the content creation process. I received one of the best reviews ever from a client recently. I created this this recent post for a client:

The mom called her daughter, the owner of the restaurant, to tell her that she loved the post! How's that for a testimonial!

8. Invest in Ads

How can you build awareness for your business? Invest in paid ads. This maximizes your use of social media to reach more people than you can organically.

Ads can also help increase traffic and leads to your online accounts.

For example, if you're selling fitness products then you can expect the majority of your target audience may be men and women interested in health related topics. Targeted ads can be served to your audience at the right time and then the right audience can learn more about your products or services.

If you want more specialized ads on social media for small business owners, then it's time to hire a social media manager . We are experts who can guide and give you advice on custom content, ads, and strategy.

9. Pay Attention and Adjust

Start removing what doesn't work and improve on what does work for you. I had a mentor years ago that said, "Do more of what works and less of what doesn't." Sounds like great advice, right?

It's important to track your social media platforms. Ask yourself:

How is your audience reacting to your content?
What does your audience comment on the most?
What are the best times to post?

Use the data to your advantage to develop a good content strategy to further boost your small business.

10. Social Media Should Be PART of Your Strategy, Not the ENTIRE Strategy

It's important to be ambitious about your social media but know that success doesn't build overnight. You have to build it and "they" will come!

Use other traditional marketing tactics to generate leads. Many local Chamber of Commerce organizations have ways that you can advertise. Also, direct mail campaigns have proven beneficial for many industries, such as dental offices , restaurants , and more.

Besides, you still need to work on your actual business. Make sure that you don't slack on operating your day-to-day procedures. Remember that your core business is the main reason why people are buying your products or hiring you for your services.

Follow These Simple Tips to Improve Your Social Media Presence

Here are the many ways you can get a breakthrough in your social media presence and boost your business! Don’t let your social media accounts sit idle. Social media can help boost sales, improve your brand marketing, and help you engage with your consumers.

Don’t stop learning here!

If you want to learn more about social media marketing for small business ventures, get in touch with us right here!

Social Media Content Ideas for September

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 00:06:59 GMT

When I start to create content for the month, I often think of important family days, pertinent business or events, and monthly holidays.

By taking the extra few minutes planning my content with special holidays, I'm sure to stay relevant to my audience all year long.

Hopefully this list helps you, too, remember those important holidays...and it also triggers some fun and whimsical content that can uplift and inspire. Some of my favorite "national" days include food , with a latte love around coffee! Did you see what I did there?

Love me some java to jumpstart the day. ☕

Special Days

September 4th : National Wildlife Day

September 5th : National Cheese Pizza Day

September 6th : National Read a Book Day

September 7th : Labor Day

September 10th : World Suicide Prevention Day

September 11th : National Make Your Bed Day

September 13th : National Blame Someone Else Day

September 15th : International Day of Democracy

September 15th : National Online Learning Day

September 16th : National Guacamole Day

September 18th : National HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day

September 21st : International Day of Peace

September 22nd : First day of Fall

September 22nd : National Voter Registration Day

September 25th : National Daughters Day

September 26th : National Pancake Day

September 27th : Yom Kippur

September 28th : National Neighbor Day

September 28th : National Sons Day

September 29th : National Coffee Day ☕

September 30th : International Podcast Day

September 30th : National Love People Day

Special Weeks

September 13-19 : National Assisted Living Week

September 20-26 : Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

Special Months

National Baby Safety Month

National Suicide Prevention Month

PCOS Awareness Month

Hope that helps you stay on track with your content and plan ahead! If I missed an important day, let me know!

Reels for Instagram

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:47:36 GMT

Facebook's answer to Tiktok!

Instagram just launched Reels, Facebook's answer to Tiktok! I tested it out for the first time and well, I need more practice for sure!

Or I needed more coffee.

Surely I needed help in general.

But after searching for the "audio" selection which offers music clips for your Reels I gave up. My business account, @sparqmarketing, doesn't yet have "audio". So I went over to the next best thing, my personal account @alisonstripling.

Why do I have two accounts?

So I don't spam you with all my pics of all my kids.

You're welcome.

Take a look at my first Reel! Have you tried it yet?

New Canva Feature! How to Add Text Effects in Canva in One Click!

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 02:54:18 GMT

Here's a new Canva feature! Looks like this feature started rolling out to some in June 2020...and I now have it! Add a shadow, outline, echo effects and more with this new text effects feature in the free version of Canva.

I was just chatting with a friend, Zenaida, about how to create a text drop shadow. There were quite a few steps in involved with doing this and no easy way to create a design easily. And then this week I saw the addition of "Effects" in Canva.

Take a quick few minutes to see this in action below!

Have a Canva account? If you don't click the button below to sign up for Canva today! (affiliate link)

Looking to sharpen your Canva skills? Take my free Creating Content that Converts with Canva Challenge where you get 5 emails (one each day) to get you in the habit of focusing on your design skills. Each takes a few minutes to finish but you'll be a design pro with Canva in a snap.

Watch how easy it is!

Amplify Your Message

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 17:45:00 GMT

Social media should be a large part of your strategy to amplify your message, engage your fans, and build relationships. A good mix of relevant content and eye-catching images for your target market is the best way to keep those relationships connected.

In my post, 5 Clever Social Media Tips that Gets Results for Small Business Owners , I talk about the different tips to consider.

Depending on your business, service or product that you're offering, there are tons of different ways to promote your content.

Some of the ways that helped my clients with social media content is by designing custom images for social media. Here's an example of posts for a trade association's Instagram below. I've been able to increase their following and member loyalty, promote great educational opportunities, and be a top-of-mind partner for many industries in their niche.

If you want to see a video highlighting the steps to create a week's worth of client content, watch this short video below.

If you're looking to increase your influence, let Sparq help you with your content! Let me know if you have any questions. I've made it super easy to reach me in the chat on my website. Look in the bottom right corner, type your message, and hit send. If I get your message during business hours I'll answer you right way. If not, leave a message and I'll get back to you the next business day.

You can view my Social Media Manager packages to see what I have to offer.

Let Sparq ignite your brand today.

Instagram Rolled Out Pinned Comments

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 00:48:30 GMT

Instagram recently rolled out pinned comments. The idea is that by highlighting positive comments, you can better manage the tone of the conversation.

Will trying to steer the conversation work or backfire? Let me know if you see pinned comments! I'd like to see how they're working.

How I Skyrocketed My Pinterest Audience from 800 to 8,000 in One Day

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 02:00:56 GMT

The Past

I started in the online marketing space in 2011 and never looked back. I started helping a pilates studio with their marketing, became a “Jill of all trades”, and loved it from the start.

I sought out the teachings of other marketing gurus at the time. Back then before social media exploded on the scene, email list building was really the best to grow an online business.

I saw other successes and wanted to build an engaged community of my own.

I heard that if you build your email list then it’s something that you own––because let’s face it, we don’t OWN our social media.

And all I did was watch. And subscribe to their lists. And watch.

I didn’t really work to grow my list even though many successful marketers said that their only regret was that they waited too long to start their list.

The Present

Right now, this blog post comes at a time in history where we're in the COVID-19 quarantine. Since March 17, we in the SF Bay Area, have been in shelter in place with some hope on the horizon. We’ve needed to hit pause for many business, restaurants, and events to come back to life. And RIP to those who've lost loved ones due to the coronavirus, and those who've lost their jobs, lost their businesses, and just plain lost. This is a sore spot for me, too, as I have lost. But that’s a story for another day.

So you’re here to read a Pinterest story, right?

The short of it is that I’m on a quest to build a membership group, build courses, build something... anything ...that I can help more people with their online marketing.

I learned early on when I started in graphic design right out of college (called desktop publishing back then) that I could sit at my computer for hours obsessing about colors, formatting, and moving one element pixel by pixel around a page until I’ve exhausted all variations of design.

Sit for hours...just me and the little screen.

And people? Do I need community in my life? Or do I just need a computer? Lucky for me during this shelter in place order, that my introverted self can exist with my faith, my family, and Zoom for that digital connection when most have grown weary...but not me.

The Future

On May 25 I brainstormed with a friend to start on the path to online marketing world domination. Okay, sure, that’s pretty lofty! But truly, the idea is to start and not stop .

We mapped out more than I thought possible––mainly capturing data, staying active on social with content and engagement, writing blog posts, creating videos, and taking the steps that I tell my clients to do for more online visibility.

And this, of course, is a step in the right direction because even though I’m passionate about community, engagement, and content, I haven't really been focusing on growing Sparq. You’ve heard the excuse, right? The cobbler's kids have no shoes!

In our conversations, my friend and I keep each other accountable as much as we can without annoying one another, and we talk about what’s worked, what’s still left to do, and what ideas transpire when voicing our thoughts.

We ask questions and then answer them together.

And yesterday we even talked about what’s happening in the world today––from rioting and protesting to how we feel about current events. But that's for another post too.

I digress.

And now...Pinterest.

My goal is to help more people and the strategy is to grow my email list and Facebook group. In doing so the tactic is to film videos that teach a specific online marketing task and use a simple content strategy to share them on social media.

That’s it.

My video on Pinterest had the most impressions than any other social media platform that I am active on. I posted a video on Pinterest on Monday, June 1, and by Wednesday evening the analytics showed that I had jumped up 1,076% to a whopping 7,960 monthly visitors (the total number who have seen or engaged with your pin) from 806!

Some argue that “monthly visitors” or “total audience” is vanity metrics. This is in part because this increase also includes ALL pins, so if I pinned other people’s content, it includes those impressions too. And to this point, I received 6,600 total impressions from my video so there were 1,320 impressions from other people’s content.

This monthly visitors metrics gives you “street cred” and is certainly flattering! But it's called vanity metrics because it’s meaningless unless the impressions are generating traffic to your website.

After all, the purpose of pinning is to get more business, right?

Now obviously I want this number to grow. But I’m not going to get caught up in it too much because it should grow if I keep adding the right content for my business. So I should focus on adding the right content. It’s really business as usual with the strategy I have in place.

If the answer is yes to wanting more business and you’re looking to grow Pinterest for your business, let’s talk about how to create content to help you increase your Pinterest impressions 1,076% (at the time of writing this post).

To do this, join my Facebook Community and start asking questions. This helps others in the group as well and you’ll have a direct line of communication to me!

Join my Online Marketing Community
by clicking the link below

Removing a Photo Background Using a Free Website

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:44:34 GMT

Join my Online Marketing Community:

After the COVID-19 pandemic settled in after a few weeks, I thought about a few skills that I could brush up on during the quarantine.

One thing lead to another and I found myself wanting to help others more than ever while we were sheltering in place.

I started a group, somewhat a little corner of the internet, somewhere to call home. And that's where I started.

Hope you enjoy the short video showing you a simple little website that you can use for free to remove a photo background. Someone in the group asked and went to work to answer that question for her!

Here are the two websites I mention on my video.

remove.bg - remove backgrounds for free
pexels.com - stock imagery for free

Join my Online Marketing Community:

Watch my next video:
Using Canva to Design Instagram Stories Templates

Tips for Crafting the Perfect Pinterest Bio

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Fri, 29 May 2020 22:07:09 GMT

Craft your social media bio on Pinterest to make a great first impression.

There are three places you can add keywords to optimize your profile–make sure you take advantage of how to get found on search!

If Content is King, then Connections is Queen

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:56:50 GMT

Have you seen this slidedeck, "How to Make 64 Pieces of Content in a Day?"

If you've been anywhere around the internet the past few years then you've heard "Content is King." You have, haven't you?

And in my humble opinion, if you have a king then you have to have a queen. So I took a stab at it today and came up with, " If Content is King, then Connections is Queen ."

What do I mean by that?

CONTENT

Gary Vaynerchuk has been saying for years that you need to have " media company mentality " in regards to marketing.

This is a quote from GaryVee's website :

"Never before have brands and consumers had the ability to create and consume content at scale. Because of the iPhone and the internet, and social media, anyone can produce and distribute. Just 15 years ago, if you wanted to create a commercial to promote your brand, you would need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on media and marketing. Today, you can literally use your smartphone, record a 2 minute clip and run ads on Facebook. The cost of entry has dropped 100 fold."

So with that comment in mind, content is vitally important to your business or brand.

But you cannot just exist with content alone. You have to build connections along the way.

What do I mean by that, you ask?

CONNECTIONS
You have to engage with your audience and connect with them by answering questions, asking them questions, and ultimately providing value to your community any way you can.

I was talking to a client this morning about getting videos of her nonprofit out there to her potential donors on a consistent basis. I jokingly said, "You can't keep your nonprofit a secret!" She laughed and then agreed with me!

I think that the word CONNECTIONS in the plural format is important. When I looked up the definition of the word, I found Word Hippo , a site that said that the plural form of the word CONNECT means "people with whom one is acquainted who can offer help and influence."

When I think of connecting, I think of not just connecting and establishing a mere "nice to meet you and have a nice day". I think about being helpful in some sort of way.

Just like at Boost with Facebook this week, there was someone who asked me if I worked at Facebook. I don't know what made him think that...everyone had Facebook lanyards on with their name badge. The Facebook Staff ones were a different color blue, but I don't think he really noticed that. I could tell he was confused at something in a brochure. So I asked him if he needed help. He needed help with a QR code because he didn't know how to use his phone camera to point it at the code. That was an easy 30 seconds of my life (or less!) and he was profusely thankful for my help. Mission accomplished.

If you made it down to the bottom of this blog post, then take my challenge. I challenge you to create more content and make more connections.

Do it daily.

Don't take my advice. Take Gary Vaynerchuk's .

Do it 64 times in a day and see what happens!

5 Clever Social Media Tips That Gets Results for Small Business Owners

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 04:31:11 GMT

Looking to get results from your social media efforts? Work smarter not harder. Check out these five proven social media tips for small business owners.

What do you think is the number one marketing tactic small businesses use to find new customers and retain old ones? Email? Banners?

Nope! Over 53% of small businesses use social media as their primary means to engage with customers.

If you're among the 53%, you likely realize how important social media is to your business. That being said, it never hurts to improve your tactics a bit every day.

Below we've outlined five social media tips for small businesses that help you work better, not harder.

Think Outside Your Business Hours

One mistake small businesses consistently make when it comes to social media is only posting during operating hours. The truth is, not all of your customers will be active on social media during your typical 9-5 workday. That means you're really limiting yourself if you only post during work hours.

An easy way to post outside of your normal operating hours is to use a social media scheduling tool like Buffer or Hootsuite. These tools allow you to schedule posts for whenever you get the most engagement on top social media channels. The will also alert you when someone comments on your posts so you can respond in an adequate amount of time.

Having an editorial calendar can also help you plan out when you'll post certain messages and certain types of content.

Focus Your Efforts in the Right Place

As you learn more about your customer base, figure out which platforms they tend to use most often. For example, a mostly middle-aged customer base will tend to use Facebook and LinkedIn over Instagram.

The type of business you run will also help you determine which platforms to use. If you run a small consultancy, LinkedIn will be the best place for you to focus your efforts. If you run a local pet shop, you should focus your efforts on Facebook and Instagram.

Mix Up Your Content

Social media provides a flexible medium for small businesses to promote their products and services, interact with customers, and provide helpful tips.

While each social media platform has a typical media (ex. Instagram is photo and video heavy), that doesn't mean you have to post the same type of content every time. For example, don't just post about your products and services; post some helpful tips related to your business or feature a customer for how they used your product.

Another reason to mix up your social media content, especially away from content that's only about you, is that customers get bored following accounts that only talk about themselves. Social media users want to see how businesses are interacting with their customers and communities.

Show Appreciation

There's something so human about feeling warm and fuzzy when someone calls out what a good job you did for meeting a goal or just being you. The great news is, you can translate this feeling on social media.

There are several ways you can show appreciation to your customers. The easiest way is to highlight a success a customer or client had by using your product or service.

Another way to show appreciation for your customers is to hold giveaways. Those who are engaged with your content will see your posts about giveaways, engage with those posts, and whoever wins will receive a free product or service that they already use regularly.

Check Out What Others Are Doing

If you're just not gaining traction with your social media audiences, take a look at what other businesses and brands similar to your own are doing. Perhaps there's something very particular about your target audience that you haven't figured out yet that another business has.

Do keep in mind you should go through this exercise as a learning exercise, not a copy and paste exercise. See what kind of content your target customers are engaging with on other business profiles and determine how you can put your own spin on it.

Smarter Social Media Tips for Small Businesses

No one wants to spin their wheels on marketing tips that just won't move the needle.

If you implement any one of these social media tips for small businesses, you'll notice better engagement with customers and more impact on your business.

For professional help, check out our social media marketing offerings .

Top 5 Email Marketing Trends You Need to Get on Board With

alison@sparqmarketing.com (Alison Stripling) — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 22:53:33 GMT

Need an email newsletter?

Are you looking to do some email marketing in the near future? If so, then you need to get on board with the top email marketing trends. Read on to learn more.

We've all dealt with spam before. It's erased and forgotten about without ever being read. That could be you.

To avoid this, you need to stay ahead of today's email marketing trends. By staying ahead, not only will your customers see you as committed. You'll also get an edge against your competition.

Any successful email marketing campaign needs to stand out from the rest. Your emails need to strike a personal tone with customers and should resonate with readers.

Around 53 percent of consumers reported getting irrelevant emails from brands. For five of the best ways to keep your email marketing strategy out of that, keep reading below!

1. Personalize emails so they're like letters.

It's a warm feeling whenever you get an email from someone you know. It's nice knowing they took the time to actually write something for you.

Your emails need to give people that same warm feeling. It can't feel like it's from a cold, heartless machine. Your email should mention the customer by name. It should reflect their browsing habits or offer advice for what they can do next on your website.

2. People don't read anymore. Put in visuals.

What do you do when you get an email from a brand with only text? If you're like most people, you delete it.

That's because just including plain text makes these emails look untrustworthy. It suggests that the marketer hasn't put in the work. If the marketer doesn't put in the work to sell something, why should a customer be bothered to buy it?

By including visuals, consumers know work's been put into the campaign. They also convey more information at once and naturally attract users' attention.

3. Email marketing trends are like everything else: GO MOBILE.

Desktops are increasingly becoming tools for work only. People aren't using their computers like they used to - to browse the internet or just have fun. Instead, they're bringing their computers along with them outside, in their pockets.

Your campaign needs to follow them wherever they go. By designing emails for mobile, you'll be able to reach customers wherever they are. Whether they're hiking a mountain or relaxing in a cafe, they have their phones on them.

And if you design your campaign to be mobile-friendly, they'll have your emails too.

4. Location. Location. Location.

Location-tracking technology is giving marketers more material to work with. They can tailor messages around wherever customers may be.

If you notice most of your customers are located in New York, you may want to send them a custom email. It should feature notable landmarks like the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.

It'll engage your customers on a deeper level and make the campaign that much more impactful.

5. Engage for reviews and ratings.

The best way to develop your relationship with customers is to ask them for feedback. Include a link to review a recent purchase or the company as a whole.

That way, customers will feel like they have a clearer voice with you. And since they'll have a clearer voice in the product, they'll be more confident in it. Let them know they are being heard.

Email remains one of the surest ways to reach customers.

There are 3.8 billion people in the world that use email today. That makes it one of the best ways to reach customers. It's a common, convenient, and approachable way to communicate.

All you need to do is keep up with email marketing trends, and your campaign will be successful. Even with these tips though, it can be harder than it sounds. It helps to have people supporting you.

That's where we can come in. Contact us , and we will make sure your email campaign does more than avoid the spam box.

Small Business Marketing: 3 Tips to Attract and Retain Local Customers

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 21:49:00 GMT

Attracting and keeping local clients can sometimes be hard. There may come a season when everything seems slow. The good news is, with the right strategy you can find a way out. Here are three things you could try.

Cross-promotions

Joining forces with other businesses can work wonders. You could do a promotion with businesses that cater to similar audiences. For instance, you could have a package that gives discounts at participating stores.

The benefit is that all the businesses will gain new customers. It costs almost nothing to execute. Plus, existing customers can help spread the word. This kind of promotion is great for social media as well. It’s truly a cheap and effective way to boost traffic to your business.

A fun example is a Brows & Botox night! One of my clients is a threading salon that is right next to a medispa in the same upscale shopping center. We promoted a Brows & Botox event that brought in new clients at each location. Each guest was able to receive services on the same night! Contact me to learn more about Event Marketing .

Lead Generation

The secret to a steady customer base is consistent communication. Treat everyone who comes across your business as a potential customer. Even if they’re not ready to buy yet, do your best to get their contact details.

Then, send them emails that are fun and teach something. You may also provide inspiration and guidance, depending on the nature of your business. This will show your customers that you’re here to stay. As a result, you will get the chance to offer them your products or services. This strategy is the backbone of many marketing campaigns.

Monthly Newsletters

Newsletters are an effective yet underestimated way to connect with your customers. That’s a pity because it’s not that hard to produce a good newsletter. A couple of pages are more than enough to engage an audience. The most important thing is that you have something interesting to say.

For example, feature a customer in each issue. It could be a success story or simply a fun introduction. Customers love to be recognized, so this is a great way to increase loyalty. You can also ask customers to contribute their own content. As long as everyone is having fun, it’s OK! A newsletter can be a very pleasant way for customers to experience your business.

Whatever you do, the key is to take action. A slow season can be a great time to renew your current strategy. You may discover a new opportunity that will put you ahead of your competition. If you want help to move forward faster, get in touch now.

Setting up a Business Profile on Instagram

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 01:39:00 GMT

I get asked social media questions quite often so I thought I’d share the most recent one.

The question is, “Should we switch to a business account in Instagram?”

The answer is basically, yes.

Here’s what is said about a business profile…

A Business Profile on Instagram will help your customers connect to your business When converting to a Business Profile, you’ll be able to include additional information about your business on your profile. For example, you’ll be able to add a phone number, an email address and your business’s physical address. Keep in mind that you must include at least 1 contact option.

When you add contact information, a Contact button will appear near the top of your profile. When people click that button, they’ll see options like Get Directions , Call and Email , depending on the contact information you provided.

Additionally, when you convert to a Business Profile, you’ll get access to Instagram Insights. These insights will help you learn more about your followers and how much your audience engages with your content.

Here is my personal profile.

Personal Profile in Instagram

Here is my business profile. I’ve made it easy for you to spot the added phone number, email, and business location.

Business Profile on Instagram

I bet you want to know how to convert?

To convert to a Business Profile:

Woohoo! You’ve done it. Hello Business Profile for Instagram!

There are some really great insights that are available in the native Instagram app. Stay tuned for another post on that topic soon!

Wrapping up our Summer Internship!

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 05:29:00 GMT

This is a post by the founders of Hofssi Chocolates, Linda Hofmeister and Susan Rossi. SPARQ met them at a Lamorinda Business Women (LaBWo) networking meeting and fell in love with their passion...chocolate! At the same time, we were fortunate enough to be contacted by Julia Lauer, a first-year student at the University of Michigan The post Wrapping up our Summer Internship! appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

At the same time, we were fortunate enough to be contacted by Julia Lauer, a first-year student at the University of Michigan looking for a summer internship.

And just like that, SPARQ worked matchmaking magic and Julia went to work to help Hofssi Chocolates in specific marketing tasks, from photography to social media.

We asked Linda and Susan to comment on Julia’s work…and we wanted to share the glowing review with you.

Thank you, Linda, Susan, and Julia!

Linda Hofmeister
Susan Rossi
Hofssi Chocolates & Gourmet Caramels

How to Use Twitter Analytics to Increase Your ROI

Mon, 01 May 2017 20:10:00 GMT

Twitter Analytics is a treasure chest of information that you can use to improve your online marketing social media marketing ROI. Carefully tracking this data leads to helpful insights that help you refine future campaigns for better performance. However, it's important to know which metrics are worthy of attention, so you don't waste time analyzing The post How to Use Twitter Analytics to Increase Your ROI appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Twitter Analytics is a treasure chest of information that you can use to improve your online marketing social media marketing ROI. Carefully tracking this data leads to helpful insights that help you refine future campaigns for better performance. However, it’s important to know which metrics are worthy of attention, so you don’t waste time analyzing data that doesn’t correlate to growth. Next, we’ll explore how to create a plan to use the appropriate Twitter metrics to find out what’s working. Finally, we’ll explore some best practices for Twitter that have been shown to increase business’ ROI.

Vanity Metrics vs. Engagement Metrics

Vanity metrics are data that looks good on paper, but don’t mean much when it comes to tracking performance. Engagement metrics provide useful information that helps you track growth. Number of followers is an example of a vanity metric, while number of link clicks from a Tweet is an example of an engagement metric. Notice how the latter example shows how your audience responds to an action you take, making it a much more useful metric.

When you’re looking to improve your ROI, it’s important to focus only on engagement metrics. Not only does this ensure you’re paying attention to what matters, it also prevents you from being overwhelmed by information.

How to Find Your Current Twitter Engagement Percentage

As long as you have analytics turned on for your account, you can view data from up to 3,200 Tweets from October 2013 to the current day. You can use your current data as a benchmark for future performance. Upon logging into the analytics page, you’ll see a breakdown of your Tweet activity. Take the number of total engagements and divide it by the number of impressions; this gives you the percentage of people who interact with your Tweets. You can use the number as a baseline to improve from. As you refine your Tweets and discover why people interact with your business, you’ll be able to craft Tweets that have a better engagement percentage.

How to Utilize Engagement Metrics for Growth

What are you trying to accomplish with your Tweets? The answer to this question tells you what metrics to focus on. If your goal is to collect leads or make sales, the “link clicks” and “profile clicks” metrics are important, especially if you’re sending visitors to a product or squeeze page. On the other hand, if you’re trying to build brand awareness and get people talking about your company, “likes,” “ Retweets ,” and “shared via email” are metrics that deserve attention.

Once you have the metrics you’re going to track, it’s time to begin the testing phase. While you’re experimenting, it’s recommended to focus on one area (lead capturing, audience engagement, etc.) at a time. Find something you want to test, such as including a joke in your Tweets or adding cute cat pictures, then create two Tweets: one with the element you want to test and another Tweet without the test action. Send out the two Tweets, and compare your results. Continue this process until you don’t think you can improve your metrics anymore, then move on and test another element until you’ve found a winning formula.

Best Practices for Twitter

Let’s explore a few tips that have been shown to increase your Twitter engagement percentage.

First, determine what your audience likes and wants to see. Twitter Analytics lets you see your audience’s interests, lifestyle information, and consumer behavior. Analyze this information and try to create a detailed profile of the average person viewing your Twitter page. Write down what they like and don’t like, their fears, what they’re hopeful for, and anything else that you think might be useful. Keep this profile in mind while creating your Tweets, and make sure anything you Tweet connects with your audience.

Second, take your time while crafting Tweets. You only have 140 characters to make your point, so make sure everything counts. Don’t worry about taking your time to assemble the perfect message. When you strike gold and write a Tweet that does well, take the time to analyze everything about it to determine how to replicate the success.

Third: don’t be afraid to double down on a winning formula. Did you send out a Saint Patrick’s Day Tweet that people loved? Feel free to reuse the format or idea for Independence Day. You’ll want to make a few changes so it’s not an exact copy of your old Tweet, but try to keep the concept or style that made the last message a hit.

Fourth, let your personality shine through. People like Tweets that make them smile, and they won’t hesitate to skip over messages that bore them. You have your detailed profile from the first tip, which means that you should have an idea of what your audience finds funny or brightens up their day. Make sure your Tweets connect with your audience on an emotional level, and you’ll see an increase in your Twitter engagement.

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 17:27:00 GMT

When you think of social media, you may think of it from a personal standpoint. After all, networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest make it easier, more convenient and fun to connect with friends and family. However, for a business owner, these same social networks can be invaluable tools for connecting with existing and potential customers. If you didn’t realize how important being active on these social networks are for you, you soon will—we’ve gathered six reasons why social media marketing is critical for business.

Builds Online Reputation

More and more customers research a company before they decide to do business. A company with strong social media profiles is more approachable and appears to have a better reputation in the marketplace. Plus, since you can engage with customers if they leave you a review or make a comment, it can be an excellent way to “fix” problems too.

Customers do research before they decide to do business. Have a strong social media profile.
Click To Tweet

Make sure your business is paying attention to “social proof.” I was just talking to a colleague yesterday about Facebook. She was mentioning that because of changed algorithm and business pages not getting enough engagement, maybe “LIKES” are not as valuable nowadays. I argued that because business pages still should increase their LIKES to increase their social authority and influence, LIKES are still a valuable commodity.

If your company is looking for a social media marketing agency to help you with increasing LIKES on Facebook, please contact us at alison@cornerstonecreative.net .

Drives Targeted Traffic

If you have, for instance, a new product to advertise or you want to bring customers to an eBook, using social media can be a great way to send targeted traffic to your landing pages. Including links to well-designed social media, posts can build traffic in a huge way.

Boosts Your SEO

SEO or search engine optimization is the key to making your website appear higher in the search engine rankings. While there are many tactics you can use to achieve this; a particularly effective method involves being active on social media. You may be surprised at how these social media links can improve your regular website’s standings.

There are Paid and Non-Paid Opportunities

While you can achieve quite a bit by posting and interacting on social media sites with no “cost” so to speak, there is another side these networks. Most networks offer paid advertising opportunities that may be a better option than your standard online ad. You can target either a broad audience or a very targeted one—whichever suits your needs best. Both paid and non-paid marketing options offer a huge ROI when compared to other products.

It’s Easy to Reach New People

While your website may seldom be discovered by people who don’t know your company if you take advantage of the “viral” nature of social media marketing, it’s easy to get your name out in front of new people. Most networks make use of hashtags. With hashtags, you can “tag” a post with keywords that may be searched for by your target audience. Tagging a post will put your message in front of those who don’t already follow you. Also, your fans and friends can share your post and spread the message even further.

Your Competition is Already There

If you don’t have business pages up on social media, you are sliding behind the competition. More and more companies are taking advantage of these opportunities, which means more and more people turn to social media when looking for information on businesses of all types. If you don’t have a presence, you will miss opportunities to connect and build thriving relationships.

Wrap Up

While there are many developed networks and many companies that have already taken advantage of the opportunities that they provide, it is important to realize that social media is still newish or at least taking hold as marketing best practices. By doing so, you will get your name out there and make a significant impact in the place where your customers turn to for communication, news, and information—social media.

If you would like more information about Walnut Creek social media marketing or an event in Danville , reach out to us today. We look forward to working with you.

The post Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business appeared first on Sparq Marketing .

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 17:27:00 GMT

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business When you think of social media, you may think of it from a personal standpoint. After all, networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest make it easier, more convenient and fun to connect with friends and family. However, for a business owner, these same The post Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business

Builds Online Reputation

Customers do research before they decide to do business. Have a strong social media profile.
Click To Tweet

If your company is looking for a social media marketing agency to help you with increasing LIKES on Facebook, please contact us at alison@cornerstonecreative.net .

Drives Targeted Traffic

Boosts Your SEO

There are Paid and Non-Paid Opportunities

It’s Easy to Reach New People

Your Competition is Already There

Wrap Up

If you would like more information about Walnut Creek social media marketing or an event in Danville , reach out to us today. We look forward to working with you.

Social Media for Social Good | FRENCH PASTRY CHEF

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 18:05:00 GMT

Recently at a Savvy Women Connection event, I was talking with two wonderful women, Bettyanne Green and Cynthia Stott, about the power of social media. I had met Bettyanne before but we hadn’t spent much time together. The other connection, Cynthia, a new found friend.

Our conversation about social media grew into storytelling when both ladies, beaming with excitement, boasted about a story of social media for social good.

After hearing these heart-warming stories, I couldn’t just keep them to myself. I JUST HAD TO SHARE!

So, I mentioned that I would love to take their stories and shout it from the mountain tops. I hear to often about how social media could be used in a negative way. But what about all the good it has done?

Good people use money in good ways. Bad people use money in bad ways. It’s that simple.

So it is for social media…IMHO.

Because you’re still reading, I assume that you are interested in hearing more about the good…so without delay…here is Bettyanne Green’s touching story in her own words.

FRENCH PASTRY CHEF

Love your idea about sharing social media success stories! So here’s the story of my son’s Instagram experience:

My son is a French Pasty Chef who works at a hotel/restaurant in Chicago. He’s been in the business for almost 15 years and decided recently to create a brand to prepare to leave the restaurant biz and step onto a bigger, entrepreneurial stage. So to raise his brand visibility he created a very successful Instagram campaign which in less than a year earned him 10K followers (without a website and limited other social media presence)!

One day at work he was told that someone wanted to see him. He went out to the Pavilion where the hotel hosts a high tea (with his pastries of course).

He saw a young girl seated there and two adults who were obviously her parents. He greeted them, to learn that the 11-year-old Elizabeth was celebrating her birthday.

Her ONE wish was to come into Chicago, meet Chef Scott, and eat one of his pastries! Needless to say, she had been following him on Instagram for months. He sat down with them to answer her questions and talk pastry. The experience touched his heart and was special for all of them.

When we show up on social media – with intention, authenticity, consistency, value and heart as Chef Scott did – we can never know whose life we will touch and transform for the better. Is it a possibility that planted in young Elizabeth was the seed that could become a passion in her life and work? Yes! We can all offer that possibility to someone by sharing our gifts with the world via Internet.

Follow Chef Scott on Instagram or on his blog .

Ways To Boost Your Web Traffic with Social Media Marketing

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 15:45:00 GMT

When done correctly, your social media accounts and your website should work together to bring in the traffic. However, many businesses try to increase their web traffic without the use of their social media accounts. Your social media marketing should focus on driving traffic to your website as well as increasing your brand awareness and visibility. Use these tips and tricks to use your social media marketing tactics to boost your web traffic.

Use internal links in your social media posts. Instead of finding links from other websites to make your point, create that content on your own blog. Then when you are creating a social media post, link your own blog post. When your readers click the link, they will be on your blog or webpage instead of someone else's website.

Use promotional ads on social networking websites. If you have a Facebook page and you want to make sure that one of your posts gets seen by people that are not currently linked to your page, then consider promoting a post. Make sure that this post is a strong one that will catch the eye of readers and also that is links back to your website. This will grow your current Facebook audience as well as increase your web traffic.

Make sure all of your social media accounts are set up to include your landing page. Your social media traffic cannot convert to web traffic if you do not have links to your website. This does is not only important to your posts that have links back to your website, but also your overall set up of the social media account. Make sure you take some time with your social media management to ensure that all of your social media accounts have the right web address so that people who want to learn more can easily get to your website.

Make use of short and concise updates. The thing about social media is that many people do not want to spend a large amount of time reading a long post. Instead, create a short update and link for more information. People are usually briefly skimming posts on social media accounts and when they want to know more, they then click the link to continue reading.

Focus on trying to capture the attention of your readers. Write social media posts that make them want to learn more about what you are putting out there. Spark their interest and they will click the link to your page and increase your web traffic.

Create share worthy content. With social media marketing and social media management, it is not just about putting out a specific number of updates every day to meet a quota that you have decided on. What really matter is that the content you are putting out there is share worthy. When it is share worthy, your current followers will share the content with their friends which will increase your social media reach. The more you increase this, the more you will increase your web traffic.

Know your social media account. Not all social media accounts are made the same. In fact, different platforms perform well with different kinds of posts. Facebook is great for sharing images. Google+ is ideal for videos. Twitter is great for short links, vines, videos, and easily seen posts. There is one thing all of these have in common though and that is that you are more likely to get more of a reaction from your followers if you use some kind of visual content instead of just text.

Try to make your posts interactive. You can do this by posting quizzes or questions. You can even do this by sparking a discussion with your followers and actually keeping up with it. This is a very important part of social media management. There is more to having a social media account than posting updates. When you are more present on your social media accounts, the more success you will have with them which will turn into increased web traffic over the long run.

It is important to understand that with social media, it takes time to build up a good following. Investing time and being consistent is the shortest path to increasing your web traffic.

Social Tools Roundup #SMS16

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 18:33:00 GMT

I’m in awe of the caliber of social tools speakers that collaborated with me for Social Media Summit 2016. Some applied to be a speaker, some were referred by a colleague, and some emailed me directly. Of course I met the majority of the speakers after moving back to the Bay Area a few short years ago and I’d either attended their Meetups, knew them personally, or met while networking.

Suzanne Yada and I were strangers until she reached out to me in the beginning of December. She was a fantastic resource for our Social Tools panel. And she quickly pulled this valuable list together to share with all of you.

Her post was originally published on Medium.com . Kudos to her for a great job on the panel and a comprehensive list of Social Tools for our benefit.

The social media tools digital marketers actually use

Social Media Summit 2016 for Marketers

Mon, 18 Jan 2016 17:17:00 GMT

It’s happening!

It’s an honor to host SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMIT 2016 on January 21 at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center from 8a-5p.

Have you seen the lineup? I feel like it’s as powerful as the 1992 Dream Team . Well, except instead of a team of 12…we have 21 speakers, 5 sponsors, and 3 volunteers. This is the biggest summit yet!

What are the deets? I thought you’d never ask…

SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMIT Thursday, Jan. 21 Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center 8a-5p

WHY ATTEND SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMIT?

https://sparqmarketing.com/summit

Why Every Business Should Hire a Social Media Manager

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 07:11:00 GMT

Triple your sales in six months with Social Media Marketing Before you read the following list of why you need to be implementing Social Media Marketing (with a social media manager) in your overall marketing strategy, I wanted to share some analytics from a small business marketing client that I just received. As a result of The post Why Every Business Should Hire a Social Media Manager appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Triple your sales in six months with Social Media Marketing

Before you read the following list of why you need to be implementing Social Media Marketing (with a social media manager) in your overall marketing strategy, I wanted to share some analytics from a small business marketing client that I just received.

As a result of my help with social media marketing, web updates, events, email marketing, graphic design, and video creation (and too long of list to mention here), we successfully tripled sales in six months.

Yes, you read that correctly. TRIPLED SALES IN SIX MONTHS .

If you’re eager to do the same, I can help.

If you want to find out ways that you can learn to do this yourself, attend SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMIT on Thursday, January 21st at Lafayette Veterans Memorial Center from 8a-5p . We’ll have a keynote speaker and various panels to educate you on online marketing and social media marketing. Use code “SOCIAL” to save $100 to get a ticket for $147.00 by Friday, January 15th .

If you want a complete done-for-you solution, call me at 925-322-0221 or email me at alison @cornerstonecreative.net . Packages starting at $99.00 for Social Media Marketing only.

Now, on to “Why Every Business Should Hire a Social Media Manager.”

One of the first things we do when we wake up is check social media to find out what friends and family are up to or to post our own status updates. As much as this networking technology has made a huge impact on how we connect with those who are closest to us, it has also helped businesses of all sizes grow by reaching their target demographic. Whether your business is still small or it is a large corporation, here are some of the top reasons to use social media as part of your marketing campaign.

Gets people talking

Social media can be used as a narrative for businesses to tell a story. Sharing a story through posts gets people engaged in the social media campaign and ultimately build the brand. Not only will this help get your customer’s attention, but will also help attract more customers. We believe a brand that we know, like, and trust and we’re more likely to become fans or followers of social media pages that are also liked by our peers, colleagues, and loved ones.

Increases brand awareness

Especially for small businesses, social media marketing is an excellent way to make more people aware of your products or services. Having a consistent marketing message throughout your social media posts and pictures will enhance the chances of your audience recognizing your company and all that it has to offer.

Small and large businesses can compete equally

Print ads in magazines, billboards, and newspapers is a highly effective way to build brands, but requires a large budget. Fortunately, social media marketing levels the playing field. By creating an online marketing campaign that is liked and shared, you can easily receive more website traffic and that means more exposure.

Allows search engines to find you

The rules for link building is constantly changing. Should you acquire more “do follow” links than “no follow” links? Will you be penalized by getting too many links? Are they quality links? The number of questions you probably have on this topic may be lengthy, but can be resolved by becoming active on social media websites. Every time a new blog or social media profile is created for your website, you are getting more link juice, resulting in better rankings on search engines like Google and Bing.

Inexpensive

As I mentioned previously, traditional marketing methods can be extremely costly, ranging from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Social media marketing campaigns have a small price tag and if done correctly, can give you huge rewards. It does require time and patience before you will begin to see any results. In addition to organic growth, ads can be advantageous on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for a small fee. Explore Google Adwords Express for a quick launch to be found on Google search.

Opens up a direct line of communication with consumers

Once you create those social media accounts, your company is no longer available just locally, but can also be viewed globally. Customers will also have the opportunity to stay engaged on your pages by posting, comments, questions, or complaints. By promptly responding, customers worldwide will feel as if they are being heard and will potentially become loyal to your brand.

Research what customers like

The wonderful thing about talking to customers through a computer screen is the fact that they feel more comfortable sharing their feelings and thoughts. Want to know how your audience feels about a specific product, service, or marketing campaign? Ask them online and they will be more than happy to share their honest thoughts with you. This honesty will allow you to improve your company’s offerings to better suit the needs of new and current customers.

Leverage yourself as an expert

Answering industry-related questions you find by following certain hashtags or are posted in a message board will help you earn an expert status among your audience. Frequently answering questions will not only have others looking to you for the answer, but will also continuously keep your company’s name top-of-mind with customers. Writing blog posts on some of the questions you see will also allow you to more thoroughly explain yourself and become known for your knowledge on the topic.

Boost website traffic

With millions of websites competing for traffic, it may seem nearly impossible to get the amount of traffic you want. Social media makes it easy for businesses. One shared social media post has the potential to attract many people to your website.

Social media can be a powerful marketing tool if done correctly, but make sure to give each campaign the time, energy, and patience needed before major results become evident.

11 Email Marketing Tips That Gets Results

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:14:00 GMT

Email marketing can be an extremely valuable tool for every company that is trying to boost awareness of their brand and promote their products or services without spending a fortune. With these tips, you will be able to create emails that get noticed, humanize your business, and educate your audience through your email marketing campaign.1. Let customers know The post 11 Email Marketing Tips That Gets Results appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

1. Let customers know what content you will be sending. Whatever the reason behind your emails may be, it is important that your subscribers know what to expect. If your audience knows you will be sending coupons, articles that educate, event updates, or other information, they will be more inclined to open your emails. It’s important to let your readers know as much information as possible about what will be sent to them will prevent people from unsubscribing in the future.

2. Send a “Thank you for subscribing” email. As soon as someone hits that submit button, a thank you email should be sent welcoming them to your company and emails, as well as reminding them of why they signed up and what types of emails will be sent.

3. Create a content calendar. During the busy workday you may forget to regularly send out emails, leading to subscribers forgetting about your business and that they signed up for. The best way to stay fresh in their minds is through consistent emails planned in advance on a content calendar. This handy calendar should be planned a month in advance with the topics you will be writing blog posts, social media marketing posts, and content for your email marketing campaigns on. Having a calendar will make it easy to know what content you will be writing about in advance. However, if a more relevant topic or sale comes up that needs to be included in a future email, the calendar can be edited to fit your business’s needs.

4. Listen to your audience. Sure, you may want to tell all of your subscribers about your products, services, or company as a whole, but is this something they will want to read about? As you create the email, think about your audience and what they may want to read. If you have several different audiences you would like to create an email for, you can create segments in the email marketing tool you use to send out a different message to each demographic.

5. Have someone review the email before hitting send. Once you hit send there is no going back. If there are any grammar, image, or link errors, it could reflect poorly on your company’s brand. Ask one, two, or five people to thoroughly read it in order to find any mistakes prior to having your customers find it in their Inbox.

6. Test it. Different devices could make the email appear distorted or unusual, so take the time to review it prior to sending it to your subscribers. Send yourself a test email to discover how it will appear to your audience on their mobile device or tablet.

7. Make it mobile-friendly. If readers are not able to view the email on their smartphone, this could be a problem. One study determined that 63 percent of Americans and 41 percent of Europeans would close or delete an email that was not optimized for their mobile device. Since more and more people are using their phones to check emails and browse websites, you could be hurting your email marketing results by not having mobile-friendly emails.

8. Research the CAN-SPAM Act. The CAN-SPAM Act was established to penalize those who send out bulk emails without the permission of their recipients. If you received emails from a networking event or a casual discussion with a possible new customer, make sure they understand what emails you will be sending out by sending a “thank you for subscribing email.” Also, place an unsubscribe button at the bottom of each email to give your audience the option not to receive them if they so choose.

9. Make it easy to share. If your audience likes what you have to say, then make sure it is easy for them to share it with all of their friends and family. Add a share button that will allow readers to show others the wonderful content or sales they received from your company. This button should allow them to share on their social media pages or through email.

10. Only send an email when there is something to say. Just because a competitor sent out an email does not mean you have to. As you are designing your email message, think about what the goal of the message is and if it aligns with your current marketing campaign. By not having a clear plan for your email, it will most likely end up getting deleted.

11. Make subscribing easy. If your customers are finding it difficult to subscribe to your newsletter, you will most likely not be getting all of the subscribers you were hoping for. Have your social media management team send out a link to your subscription form and have an easy-to-find form available on your website for your customers to complete.

Not Getting Any Followers? 11 Social Media Mistakes You are Probably Making

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 04:45:00 GMT

So you have taken the time to create social media accounts for your business but can’t get anyone to follow you or like your posts. What could be the problem? Well, if you’re like most businesses, you’re probably making a few of these mistakes, resulting in a lack of social media popularity.

1. Not being consistent

One of the worst things you can do for your social media marketing campaign is to sporadically post content when you have time instead of on a consistent schedule. To stay relevant and noticed by your audience, it is important that you’re posting to your social media pages at least once a day. There are several tools available, such as Hootsuite , that will allow you to schedule your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter posts, so that you can go on with your busy day without worrying about posting them yourself. Without committing the time needed for a successful social media marketing campaign, you will end up forgotten by your audience.

2. Ignoring feedback

Whether your fans send you good or bad comments, it’s a must to respond to each one. Remember that unless these comments are sent through private messages, they will be seen by all of your followers. How you respond to them can either help or hurt your company’s reputation. For example, if one of your customers is unhappy with the service or product they received, come up with a solution that will put their faith and loyalty back in your company. When responding to unfavorable comments, do not forget to add a personal touch letting the customer know that you hear them and are not just sending out a generic response. KMart caused an uproar among their social community in 2013 when they responded to all negative comments with a generic response over their holiday hours and staffing policies.

The customer needs to know they are heard and they will be able to tell what your level of caring is through your message. Another form of feedback is the number of likes or shares your posts receive. This information can tell you what topics your audience are interested in and what ones should not be posted again. By not paying attention to the nonverbal cues your audience gives you, your social media campaign is bound to fail.

3. Posting material that is too controversial

If you want to get people talking, bringing up a controversial topic will definitely accomplish that task, but could also end up being offensive. Before posting anything that may cause quite a stir among your audience, talk it over with your team and brainstorm what topics may upset some people and which ones your customers will enjoy talking about. There is a fine line between publishing a post that will get people talking and one that could hurt your brand. If it’s too controversial, you may even lose customers, so choose your posts wisely.

4. Misusing hashtags

Social media users have become too hashtag-happy since the beginning of the Twitter era. Everyone think they need to include numerous hashtags with every post, but using too many could hinder your social media results. The main reason behind using them is to become easily found, join in on conversations, and promote brands among a target demographic. By using only one or two you will avoid overwhelming your audience with an abundance of extra hashtags , while also putting more emphasis on your post or picture.

5. Lack of pictures on Facebook

Pictures have been proven to get better results than text or links alone. The reason? It offers a visual description of the content that will give your audience a better understanding of what you are trying to say. According to Zabisco , 40 percent of the population respond better to visual information than they do to plain text.

6. Buying your followers

You have most likely seen those ads that promise thousands of Twitter or Facebook followers for a small price. Before shelling out the money, know that these fake followers could severely damage your social media results. The whole point behind social media is to become more engaged and interactive with your audience, which is something fake fans and followers will not do. If Facebook finds out that you paid for fans, you also risk having your account closed. Instead, spend your time searching for quality fans and followers who will be interested in what you have to say.

7. Constantly promoting your products

We get it, you have a product to sell and you want the whole world to know about it. Before sending post after post of sales or products your company offers, think about content and topics that will be of use to your audience. For example, is there a trend in your industry that would make for an interesting read? Just remember the 80/20 rule when posting to your social media accounts – 80% of posts should be relevant, interesting content and no more than 20% should be used to promote your products.

8. Trying to do it all

Just because there is a new social media website does not mean that you have to join it. Spending quality time on 2 to 3 social media websites will get better results than spreading yourself too thin among 10 or 20 small social media sites. Think about the sites that your audience uses the most and spend your time on those ones.

9. Not managing your social media team

Even if your social media management team have years of experience, it is important you also stay involved in order to know exactly what is being posted and when. Remember that this team is the face of your company online, so what they post could drastically impact your business’s reputation. Stay as involved in the creation of social media campaigns as possible.

10. Not having a clear marketing message

All too often companies will publish content to their social media pages without having a consistent voice or message. Posting images and content with a similar theme, having a consistent voice among all social media profiles, and having a posting schedule will help get your brand in front of your audience and will create a memorable campaign.

11. No descriptions on Pinterest boards

If you have not joined Pinterest yet, you’re missing out on a huge marketing potential. However, if you’re creating boards and Pins without a description, you could risk not getting found online without properly optimizing the page. Pinterest acts as a search engine and allows users to type in what they are looking for. By having a description, your pins will easily be seen by anyone in search of similar information or products.

New Year Kickoff with Social Media Summit 2015

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:45:00 GMT

One Word

In 2013, I wanted to follow the idea of choosing “ one word ” (or phrase) to focus on during the year. It’s much simpler than resolutions and easier to focus on…since it is only supposed to be a few words.

This is what I posted to Facebook a the start of 2014:

I received many replies. CREATE. DIET. SUCCESS. HAPPINESS. APPRECIATE. HEALTHY.

Love them all.

I haven’t chosen my one word theme for 2015 yet. But what I do know is that I want to set goals, kick off 2015 with a bang, and hit the ground running.

Set Goals for 2015

Now is a perfect time to do it start setting those goals. BEFORE it gets crazy busy.

If your goals include making new business connections in the East Bay and learning about the power of social media, join us for Social Media Summit 2015 . It’s Tuesday, January 27 from 5:30-9:30 pm at Laptop Lounge in Walnut Creek.

Here’s a quick summary what we’ll cover:

Social Media Summit 2015

Here’s a link to the event page . Tickets are $49 until November 30, 2014. Get them at the Early Pass price.

I hope to see you there!

Social Media Marketing Resources for Newbies

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 03:06:00 GMT

And the harder I tried to find answers online and the more I searched, the more frustrated I got.

Don’t get me wrong…there are many programs out there. You can even search YouTube and get tons of ways to learn more about social media.

But are those really the best resources? Probably not.

YouTube will provide you many free resources. But do you have the time to sift through all the videos to get to the one you need?

Time is money.

You’re better off finding a comprehensive proven program to help you. Especially if you’re a beginner.

Ways to Learn Social Media as a Newbie

Hire a Coach

BEST WAY – If you can hire a coach for a one-to-one session, this is your best bet. A social media coach can help you with specific questions, especially if you’re having a hard time grasping concepts that you’re already working on.

Live or In-Person Training

The next best way to learn social media is live or in-person training. It’s is quickest path towards an actionable mindset when it comes to social media.

Online Training

Watching webinars on how the pros do it or case studies about successful social profiles can be effective. Online training is effective, but only if the instructor walks you thorough each topic step-by-step. Just remember if you’re “watching” you are in “entertain me” mode and you’re not going to learn as fast as if you take a hands on approach.

Resources

Udemy

For free resources, try Udemy . I first heard of them when a client of mine wanted to list a class. Their mission is to help anyone learn anything online.

When I first got started in social media, I found YouTube videos of Laura Roeder. Since that time, she’s produced many paid programs that help you solve the social media puzzle. Recently I found a Udemy class that she’s offering. Yes for free.

Hootsuite is a social media scheduling platform. You can use it yourself or with teams of people on one project.

CreativeLive

CreativeLive offers free online live training and the ability to ask questions when the show is live. Look for the schedule for upcoming classes to take advantage of what “the world’s top talents and most inspiring experts” teach. You have the opportunity to buy the programs after the live broadcast is over. And that’s exactly what I did this year after I watched Social Media Bootcamp .

Lynda.com

At Lynda.com, they help you learn the skills you need to achieve your full potential…online. For a membership fee, you can access their huge database of professional videos. I like their easy to view courses, with the transcript easily visible. If you’re like me and learn faster to see the words while I watch a video, then you’ll love their format.

Lynda.com does offer a few video modules that you can watch for free to help you along your journey, but for the meat of the lessons you’ll need to become a member.

Some of my Top Favorite Social Media Blogs

To keep up on the latest trends, I suggest connecting on Facebook, Twitter, and email with these social media giants. They’ve provided me with terrific knowledge over the years and is a great place to start. Each have their own memberships, webinars, and online classes – many that I have bought.

Live Training

Monthly Social Media Meetup

If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, join my meetup group, Social Media Mastermind where we discuss the top social media trends. We’ll start up again in February 2015.

Social Media Summit

Social Media Summit is back in 2015! If you’re looking to learn and network with business owners in the area, I’ll be hosting Social Media Summit on Tuesday, January 27, 2014 at Laptop Lounge in Walnut Creek from 5:30-9:30pm.

We’ll have dinner and drinks, be amazed by our keynote speaker, and learn from our diverse panel of online marketers, bloggers, and social media managers. This event coming up will be our second annual event. If you’d like to peek at our first one , head over there.

For updates and discounts to this event, subscribe to my newsletter .

How Women in Business Thrive

Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:39:00 GMT

How Women in Business Thrive Many stay-at-home moms are dusting off their resumes. Part-timers are going back to school to further their education. Women in business are thriving. We’re all forcing ourselves to get smarter, faster, leaner, and meaner. Figuratively speaking, of course. But how are you doing? Want some tips from business pros? I’ve The post How Women in Business Thrive appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

How Women in Business Thrive

Many stay-at-home moms are dusting off their resumes. Part-timers are going back to school to further their education. Women in business are thriving.

We’re all forcing ourselves to get smarter, faster, leaner, and meaner . Figuratively speaking, of course.

But how are you doing? Want some tips from business pros ? I’ve surveyed my executive and entrepreneur friends to see what they’ve done to recession-proof their businesses. Thanks a million (plagiarized from Alissa, see below) to the 37 of you who participated. There were so many more of you that I wanted to ask! So if I didn’t include you, comment below and I’ll add you next time.

My executive and entrepreneur friends were asked:

“What is your best business survival tip for a bad economy for women in business?”

and

“What’s helped you the most?”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Nicole Queen

Owner, Nicole Queen Interior Designs

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kim Hefner
Worthe Real Estate Group

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Zenaida Soria Reyes
Business Owner, World Ventures & The Zenaissance Now

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

What’s helped the most is subscribing to Dailyworth.com , bolstering 401k contributions and increasing how much is put away into a high yield savings account every month. When that rainy day hits …you can be prepared to ‘lean into the curve’.

Dorothy Enriquez
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
The Dot Magazine

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Crystal Tran
Owner, Beauty by Crystal

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kristen Oviedo
Owner, Knockout Tan

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Stay competitive in pricing and consistent in your delivery of service and care.

Lita Gelgur
Owner, Not Just Faces Medical

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Maria Stefanopoulos
Owner, Ingenious Travel

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Megan Kosaka
Architectural Designer

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Karina Arshad
Owner, Kaza Design

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Gina McLane
Owner, OC Celebrity Smiles

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Natalie Frailey
Owner, Bricks 4 Kidz

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Fiona Sarn
Owner, Fiona Sarn Photography

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Bill Davis
Owner, Internet Marketing Muscle

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Amy Cady
Owner, ABC Pilates , ABC Pilates Training , Skinnylates

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thanks a million for thinking of me!

Alissa Bickar, Success Coach
President of CompassRose Development

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Staying on top of the newest technologies has helped me get ahead, and the people I know who are moving forward have had the same philosophy.

Just thought I’d add that the investment doesn’t have to be monetary. With webinars so available, the biggest investment can be your time.

Denise Sonnenberg
Owner, Social Media Dot Connection

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The philosophy of being good to people goes beyond the customer in my company as well. I want my employees to be treated (an treat each other) with the utmost respect and care. I consider my clients and my staff as friends. I feel treating them well not only keeps them happy but also makes them want to stay with the company and give a little extra…something I’m not expecting but I see it comes back when people are treated with kindness.

Of course I’m not talking about dollars and ROI here and it may be really simplistic but because I had to give just one tip….that’s the one I feel encompasses a lot when you’re fighting a tough economy. You want to stand out: be exceptional.

Karin M. Caro
Owner, BluChip Marketing

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kristy Freeman

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Oscar Gonzalez
Owner, OCweb.pro & OscarsTech.com

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Scott Luke
Owner, Luke Design Associates

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Always maintaining quality products and outstanding customer service.

What’s helped you the most?”

At Kinder’s we are fortunate to be diversified in the services and products we offer while remaining a medium priced establishment.

Paula Kinder
Kinders BBQ

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I feel like if you are friendly and not pushy with orders and are wiling to work with them…it will take you further in this economy.

Vanessa Laverdiere
Line Art Printing

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Wendy Goetschel

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Email Marketing Made Easy: More Business, Less Stress

Thu, 01 May 2014 22:41:00 GMT

Which of those tactics should you use?

Uh, NONE.

You probably knew that those were trick questions. It sounds so good to build your list super fast! But those three ways are not the way to do it with maximum success. Sure you can add all the business cards you can collect or spend money buying a list. But you’re not going get the real results of people reading your content, learning from it, and ultimately buying your products or services.

I talk about:

In fact, when you get started with one of my three packages and tell me one of the 9 email marketing benefits in my ebook, I’ll give you a $5 gift card to one of my favorite places, Starbucks.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Email Done Right: Still the Most Effective Marketing Strategy for Small Businesses

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 21:43:00 GMT

Email marketing, when done wrong , is the biggest waste of time, money…and electrons.

Why I Love Email Marketing

To be honest, there are more reasons to love email market than you want to read about, so I’ll stick to the high points.

Permission Based

This is the stupendously HUGE caveat: email marketing based on a list you build yourself can take you anywhere.

People who volunteer their email address are more likely to open your marketing material and less likely to opt-out in the short term.

Also, with a permission-based list, you know you are talking to people interested in what you have to say.

Cost Effective

According to the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing returns almost $40 for every $1 spent . While your results can vary, that’s a sweet number.

A big reason email marketing can produce such a nice fat return is that you are not investing in the physical necessities of a print campaign including paper, envelopes, and postage. And that leads to…

Eco-Friendly

Electrons are recyclable. You cannot destroy them; just rearrange them to a different configuration.

Some form of energy production is required to create, send, and read an email campaign; however, there is no need to cut trees, process paper, or drive cars.

Doing it Wrong

We have all seen email done poorly – our SPAM filters cannot catch them all. What makes for a bad email?

Doing it Right

To get the great ROI, you mustdo your campaign right.

Next, to keep them opening your campaigns:

Bottom Line

We are flooded with ads (and bright shiny objects all day long)…from radio ads to T.V. commercials. Even my Pandora station plays annoying ads.

But if you have good content that I can learn from…I’ll be on your list for LIFE. Just, please, do it RIGHT.

Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Do you love your brand?

Mon, 17 Feb 2014 20:10:00 GMT

Here is a definition that works for me:

The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.”

Your brand is your reputation. It’s your promise to your customer or client. It’s the cornerstone of your marketing that will separate you from your competition. (See what I did there with cornerstone?)

Your brand resides in the heart of your target market.

But this doesn’t mean that branding is about choosing you over your competition, it’s about getting your target market to see as you or your business is the only one that provides a solution to their exact problem.

So how do you build a better brand? Here are three ways:

Know why you’re in business.

Now this seems a little silly. Of course you know why you’re in business. But you don’t want to spread yourself too thin, you want to keep your brand focused and be the best in the business on what you do.

For example, if you’re a fitness instructor and you’re looking to drive more traffic to your website and become an authority in the fitness world, there’s a ton of competition.

So figure out how you could define your niche further than just health and fitness. It’s possible that your niche could be focused on dieting, and even further, it could be weight loss for new moms. By doing this, you won’t be competing with Dr. Oz or Jillian Michaels, but you’ll create your own space. Even the search engines will start to love you because of your content and your audience.

A good niche is to go two levels deeper than the most popular and competitive companies and celebrities. Look at these two examples below. Instead of the larger health and fitness category, try a more targeted segment such as Crossfit or Gluten-free recipes.

Another example is:

Action: If you’ve been in business for a few years already and want to attract an even bigger audience online, ask your happy customers or clients to tell you what you excel at. Take a survey to find out your strengths and weaknesses so you can focus on how you can elevate your business.

Build your brand promise.

Your brand promise is a powerful statement of your promise to your customers and clients. It’s based on something you can prove. It’s grounded in your company’s culture and philosophy no matter if you’re a solopreneur or small business. It’s your remedy that you give to make your audience’s pain go away.

Think about these brands:

Zappos.com: ultimate shoe source, amazing customer service

Athleta: performance athletic wear for women, return guarantee

Action: I’ve heard it put this way. If you need help defining your brand promise, fill in the blanks here. “My customers or clients buy from us because we’re the only one that ________________.”

Be authentic to your brand.

Your brand needs to be authentic. Everything from your pitch, voice, your teaching style, and your delivery needs to be consistent and genuine with who you are. Your employees also should follow in your footsteps and duplicate the same.

Because you’ve taken the time to define your brand and your promise, authenticity should come naturally. Be hip and happy if you sell fashion products for a new mom and baby. But your brand should be formal and fact-driven if you’re an accountant. With that said, if you’re a CPA and you’re outgoing and have charismatic personality, then your target market will fall in love with you if you stay consistent with your dynamic personality as a CPA.

It’s not supposed to be confusing. Just be you.

Action: Be consistent and genuine. When your audience connects with you, they’ll keep coming back for more, which translates into repeat business for you.

Do you love your brand?

And all of this begs the original question, “Do you love your brand?” Is your voice and personality consistent on your blog and social media? Is your visual identity representative of your brand? Do you love your website and not apologize that it’s outdated when hand out your business cards?

Let’s be honest.

When you love your brand, the world will too.

Love your brand and make it amazing.

image courtesy of freepik.com

Social Media Leadership Forum 2014

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 23:51:00 GMT

Ready to grow your business in 2014? Serious about incorporating social media as part of your marketing plan? Want to hear from successful entrepreneurs and business owners about strategies that have worked best to expand their influence and increase revenue? Join us! Tuesday, January 28th5:30pm-9:30pmLaptop Lounge, Walnut Creek, CA You’ve got goals and you’re ready to up The post Social Media Leadership Forum 2014 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Ready to grow your business in 2014?

Serious about incorporating social media as part of your marketing plan?

Want to hear from successful entrepreneurs and business owners about strategies that have worked best to expand their influence and increase revenue?

Join us!
Tuesday, January 28th
5:30pm-9:30pm
Laptop Lounge, Walnut Creek, CA

You’ve got goals and you’re ready to up your game. You’re taking your business to the next level and you want to make solid, meaningful social media connections.

Our mission is to use social media to help entrepreneurs , small businesses, and startups prosper and thrive by inspiring creativity , innovation, and collaboration.

Who is this event for? Social Media Managers and Strategists , marketers , small business owners , entrepreneurs , coaches , solopreneurs , and speakers .

Maybe you’re interested in social media but aren’t sure whether it’s the secret sauce or a waste of time. And there are so many platforms. Which one is the right one for your business? What are the secrets to doing it right?

Join us for dinner and drinks, networking and an informative social media discussion that will expand your mind and grow your business. Learn proven strategies from the Leadership Panel with an opportunity for Q&A. Meet other dynamic Bay Area business leaders. Be among the first to hear about trends in Social Media for 2014.

Sponsored by Cornerstone Creative and Bay Area Social Media Mastermind .

You’ll learn:

Early registration: $65 until Monday, January 6
Regular price: $75 until Friday, January 24
At the door if available: $85

You’ll learn:

Early registration: $65 until Monday, January 6
Regular price: $75 until Friday, January 24
At the door if available: $85

Only 50 tickets available. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn how to use social media to increase your business in 2014!

*Keynote Speaker, Gail Nott: Top 3 Social Media Trends for 2014: Jump Ahead of Your Competition by Leveraging What Works Now

As social media matures, it’s no longer optional for businesses to implement, but a necessity to stay relevant in today’s economy. How can you best leverage what’s new in social media, but not fall for untested hype?

Gail Nott, Social Media Strategist with Nott Ltd Solutions, will present the top three social media trends that local businesses can leverage to jump ahead of their competition.

Happy Small Business Saturday 2013

Sat, 30 Nov 2013 06:57:00 GMT

Not interested in fighting the Black Friday crowds?

Nestled between the big box retail and ecommerce shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is an emerging shopping event for small and local brick and motor businesses. Small Business Saturday started in 2010 to boost sales of our neighborhood stores, capturing the shopping spirit before the holiday season is upon us.

I’ve been just a consumer in previous years. But today, in honor of my small business clients, I’m offering a Small Business Saturday Special.

Small Business Saturday Special – 20% Off Graphic Design

Because the #1 reason people buy from you is TRUST, your business needs graphics to show credibility and sell products or services. Images make your business real and tangible in the eyes of an online viewer.

If you marketing collateral for your business like this recent client’s brochure, here’s my special.

Regular price double-sided, tri-fold brochure is $450.

Your special price is $360.

That’s 20% off!

My Small Business Saturday Special of 20% Off Graphic Design ends Monday night, Dec. 2 at midnight . Don’t wait! Only the first 5 people to email me with the subject line “I want the Small Business Saturday Special” at alison@cornerstonecreative.net by the deadline gets the offer!

Want to see more recent work?

Facebook Portfolio

Website Portfolio

All work needs to start by January 31, 2014. This offer is good for 5 hours maximum at the discounted rate. Not including printing prices or stock photos. Brochure 8.5 x 11 in. pictured.

Extreme Website Makeover

Sat, 02 Nov 2013 20:29:00 GMT

I get to work with some of the best and the brightest entrepreneurs by branding their business. Here's a case study on a recent website redesign. KickAss in Business Alissa Bickar, KickAss Coach, came to me for a website redesign for her updated brand. She had the logo, new name and tagline already done and The post Extreme Website Makeover appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

KickAss in Business

Alissa Bickar, KickAss Coach , came to me for a website redesign for her updated brand. She had the logo, new name and tagline already done and wanted a clean, fresh site with a custom header.

After giving her my WordPress theme recommendations, she choose at theme that focuses on a simple message on the homepage with a video to showcase her and her services. She also wanted a side bar for email optins to promote her training to her members-only list.

Here was her wish list:

Without the migration and some automation features which we didn’t get to deploy, the job came in at $500, our Basic Blog price.

Extreme Makeover

I love to showcase the EXTREME MAKEOVER picture. Yup, here’s the before and the glamorous after!

The custom header brands Alissa and her picture as the KickAss in Biz Coach. It brings her to life on her site. Her video helps visitors gain trust in her. She has an offer to apply for a KickAss Strategy Session, but if her visitor is not ready for that, they can enter their email address to get her training. Simple, no-nonsense, and classy.

Pricing as of October 2013.

Bay Area Social Media Mastermind – New Location in Palo Alto

Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:28:00 GMT

We are proud to announce the launch of Bay Area Social Media Mastermind in Palo Alto, CA at Enerspace . You spoke up and we listened! You wanted more coworking locations in the Bay Area with our unique mastermind learning setting. Join us to discuss social media trends with dynamic entrepreneurs and small business owners.

OUR LAUNCH Enerspace Palo Alto 12 noon – 2:00pm Wednesday, September 18th

Bring a lunch and your business savvy to the table. Looking forward to seeing you there! Contact me with questions at alison@cornerstonecreative.net .

Blogging with Wix

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 08:00:00 GMT

As a web designer, I often get questions about building a website on one of the many "Do It Yourself" web builder platforms, such as Wix. Entrepreneurs (like you!) want a simple solution to market your products and services with the ability to update your blog, messages, and pictures easily...and within budget. Here's my take The post Blogging with Wix appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Stunning Websites

Wix is a design favorite of mine. You can create stunning websites with their drag and drop interface with no coding skills and little design experience.

Blogging with Wix

Wix brings easy functionality to life for the do-it-yourselfer. This year, Wix Apps added an easy way to start a blog on your site. Ready?? Let’s do it!

1. In the editor, click on the App Market icon.

2. Find the EASY SEO BLOG with Search or just scroll down in All Apps and find it.

3. Select the app and then click the button Add to site.

4. You’ll get a message that a new page has been added to your site with your new App. Go to the Pages menu to select Page Settings.

5. Next you’ll see another message to click to go to App Settings.

6. Here’s where you write you post, give it a title, add pictures, video, or any links, and hit Publish.

7. View your blog post! For SEO tips, make sure your blog title is what your target market is searching for. I’m assuming here that my readers would search for “hawaiian surfer girl” and the’d come across my site organically.

8. Move your blog link on the navigation bar where it fits best.

You can click on the dotted square and move your blog up or down on your navigation bar. You can also click the blue gear icon to change the name of your blog. I’m so original…I called mine “blog.” Simple, so that my readers can find it easily.

9. Wix offers built in social media integration right from the App Settings section. Add social icons to make it easy for your readers to share.

10. You can also edit the Colors and Fonts, Layouts and Pagination, and Manage your posts for extra flexibility with your design.

If you have a Wix blog, share it in comments. I’d love to see it!

2013 LinkedIn Marketing | A DIY Guide

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 22:19:00 GMT

The guys at KISS Metrics are fanatics about analytics and results for your business. They did a recent blog post about LinkedIn that gives you the Do It Yourself [DIY] look at what you can do today to gain more exposure on LinkedIn. DIY 2013 LinkedIn Marketing Guide Here is one of the key points The post 2013 LinkedIn Marketing | A DIY Guide appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

The guys at KISS Metrics are fanatics about analytics and results for your business. They did a recent blog post about LinkedIn that gives you the Do It Yourself

LinkedIn Marketing Secrets for Small Businesses

Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:01:00 GMT

As organizer of Bay Area Social Media Mastermind, I’ve been contacted by many people looking for a job and those who are newly minted entrepreneurs. The main question is, “How can this group help me and my business?”

I tell them that some are employees looking to sharpen their skills to take back to their employer. Some are looking at hiring interns for their current campaign. But most are freelancers and small business owners looking for a knowledgeable group to help them answer their toughest social media questions.

At our most recent meetup we had a B2B owner asking questions about how to increase engagement on Facebook. We spent time on some of the best ways to deliver content to his audience and offered content solutions to reach his market.

But the best ideas to help his B2B company came from ideas on LinkedIn.

So we’re offering LinkedIn Marketing Secrets for Small Businesses .

If you are like most people on LinkedIn, you joined to build and maintain your career network so it would be handy when you needed to look for a new job. But if you are a small business owner, LinkedIn is for more than building a network and finding a job. It is a powerful social media marketing tool and a great way for small businesses to gain an advantage over their larger competitors. And it’s FREE.

LinkedIn has over 200 million members. But how can you reach the ones that matter to your business?

In this presentation you’ll learn how to:

Chris Conner is the owner of Words 2 Wow . He provides copywriting, message development and content strategy to help businesses differentiate themselves from their competitors and win the battle for scarce attention.

Save your spot today! Space is limited.

How to Leverage Video Marketing Without Breaking the Bank

Tue, 02 Jul 2013 17:10:00 GMT

On Thursday, July 11, Stephanie Shaterian, Managing Partner of fLO Content Marketing , will give a presentation at The Laptop Lounge (1701 N. California Blvd., Walnut Creek) on How to Leverage Video Marketing Without Breaking the Bank .

Video is the hottest trend in social media and content marketing, and the numbers are only going up. Online video marketing is growing with online video users anticipated to increase to 1.5 billion by the year 2016. Amazingly, only 24% of national brands are currently using video as part of their marketing mix.

“The thing that holds most organizations back from adding video to their marketing mix is perceived cost,” says Ms. Shaterian. “Video is a force to be reckoned with in today’s marketplace and there are some innovative methodologies to cost-effectively incorporate it into your marketing plan.”

There will be networking and an ice cream social following the presentation.

“There is so much information about social media available,” according to Alison Stripling, Owner of Cornerstone Creative and founder of The Bay Area Social Media Mastermind Meetup group. “Business owners shouldn’t have to figure it out by themselves. We provide a forum for exchanging experience and ideas on how they can use it to grow their business.”

The event is a donation of only $10 and proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. To learn more: http://bit.ly/summersocialevent

The Business of Blogging

Wed, 29 May 2013 18:10:00 GMT

Hire an expert Hire an Expert Let’s say you hired an expert for $1,000 to launch your blog and spend 2 hours a month (at $100/hr.) to write a posts. Your investment = $3,400/yr. Your expert could setup your blog so that your posts automatically send via email to your permission-based list as The post The Business of Blogging appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Blogging for Business Meetup at Laptop Lounge

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:21:00 GMT

Build a Better Blog

Thank you for coming to the Blogging for Business meetup at the Laptop Lounge. I had a great time helping you build a better blog while talking about blogging for business strategies.

Many of you requested the presentation and I wanted to offer it to you.

Build a Better Blog for Business

You can click the link above and view online or download. Happy blogging!

Blog Audit for Cats

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:22:00 GMT

I had a captive audience at my Blogging for Business presentation a few weeks ago. I offered a Blog Audit package and my new friend, Maura, stepped up.

We met in person so that I could give her solid advice and hands on training for her blog about cats. Yes, people, she’s blogging about her cats. And cute ones they are.

Her Cat Blog

Because her cats are her passion, Maura launched FinchFriesandFluffms.com . She also wanted to practice writing so that when she launches her blog for business, she’s have an understanding of how she should build it. Bright idea!

Her Goals in Her Words

How I Helped

Visual Tab

When Maura logged into WordPress and showed me how she normally puts a post together, she couldn’t see the Visual tab. Strange! This is the first time I’ve encountered that. No wonder she had a hard time putting her post together. She was looking at all that HTML stuff. I fixed that.

Free Online Editor

She wanted a way to crop her photos quickly to add cute pictures in her posts but she was spending too much time editing them. I showed her a great free online editing site where you can do lots of neato things that make you look like a pro. You can crop, add speech bubbles, shapes, hearts, text overlay, borders…the list is endless! (See cat above.)

Social Media Icons

Next, I recommended that she add social icons so that her friends could connect with her on Facebook. Uploaded and activated a plugin.

Using Headers (like this one!)

Maura had someone tell her that her posts were too long. Some of her readers love all the cat stories but have limited time. So my recommendation was to use bold headers for her stories. Makes it easy for visitors to skim the headers if they are busy. And it also leaves the longer posts for her readers to really dive in and enjoy the furry fun.

Social Sharing

She also wanted her posts to be shared so that she would gain readers over time. She already had an email optin so that people could sign up for her RSS feed. So I recommended a way to prompt her readers to use social media to share her stories. Plugin uploaded, activated, and configured. (Looks a bit wonky right now, needs to be fixed.)

Facebook

We also talked about posting to Facebook in a way that would grab her friends attention in the Newsfeed better than just sharing the blog post. Because Facebook engagement is better with large, gorgeous pictures, I recommended Maura to post a picture of her cats manually to capture her readers. When she does this, she’ll always insert her blog post URL so that her friends click the link and go over to her blog.

So many ideas, so little time.

There are a few more ideas I have to make sure she’s getting the most out of her blog. I would:

Results

Top 10 Reasons to Build a Blog

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:51:00 GMT

Getting Started with Blogging

I started a blog in 2008, right after my last child was born. I was homeschooling my kids back then and needed to fuel my creative juices.

My plan was to start a journal, but typing in a Word document wasn’t very exciting. I knew I wouldn’t use pencil and paper, so a pretty bound journal was out of the question. Then I found a free online blogging platform, added a cute background, and began to write my thoughts for the whole world to see.

It was addicting! Between infant feedings, naptimes, and field trips, I would be glued to my iMac writing and reading everyone else’s blogs. I read blogs about family, crafting, parenting, fitness, marriage, and the list goes on. So many blogs, so little time.

Not Alone

I was not alone in my obsession. New blogs are born every minute. As of early February 2011 there was a staggering 156 million blogs in existence.

My love for blogs continues to grow. In fact, I’ve built a business and a brand around designing blogs , specifically, better blogs.

There are many ways to experience fulfillment and happiness through blogging. If you want to build a blog or a better blog , let’s get started.

Posted with permission from Vanity Network Magazine.

Blog vs. Website

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 17:41:00 GMT

What's the difference between a blog and a website? As a designer, I'll often have to answer that question. It's confusing...do you start a blog and then a website will follow? Do you start with a site and a blog will follow? Which comes first, the blog or the site? A blog IS A TYPE The post Blog vs. Website appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

What’s the difference between a blog and a website?

As a designer, I’ll often have to answer that question. It’s confusing…do you start a blog and then a website will follow? Do you start with a site and a blog will follow? Which comes first, the blog or the site?

A blog IS A TYPE of website

A website is a connected group of pages on the World Wide Web regarded as a single entitly, usually maintained by on person or organization and devoted to a single topic or several closely related topics. By definition, a blog means a website containing the writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites. So anything on the web is a website, but not all websites are blogs. Clear?

Start Simple

In my estimation, a blog is a simple way to post ideas and thoughts, videos, stories, personal and business content, pictures, etc. in a chronological order so that the newest content is at the top of the page. If you want a platform post your own stuff and you want to own your content (unlike Facebook) then you should turn to a blog to do it.

Blogs are Scaleable

Starting a blog is simple. You have an idea that you want to share to the world and you can use a blog to do it. Since blogs are built on a content management system (CMS) you can update quickly and easily, and with pictures, videos or text. But after a few months you want to promote your Facebook Page on it, brand your blog, add an optin to collect email addresses, and install a plugin so that you can get your readers to comment on your posts. Is it possible? Yes.

Websites could be Portfolios, Brochures, or Ecommerce

Some websites boast the owner’s portfolio to portray the type of work that they do. Models and actors have a site to promote their resume and headshots. Some sites sell products, services, or have a compelling call to action so that you’ll pick up the phone to call. Just search your local plumber…the best designed sites lead you to call for more information to book an appointment.

Getting Started

If you’re looking to start a blog or a website, a good designer will ask you who your target market is, what your unique selling proposition is, and if you want to sell products. You’ll need to think of these questions and more when you start. The best places on the web incorporate both qualities so that their visitors stay awhile and immerse themselves in the content, and also look for a place to do business. Don’t worry, a good designer will help you through the process. They’ll help you increase your online authority and presence. They’ll even help you with your bio , if you need it.

Why You Need to Hire an Inbound Marketing Agency

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:27:00 GMT

Need to attract visitors to your site? If you did, are you prepared to wow your potential clients or customers? If you need help, consider this. Source: sparkinboundmarketing.com via DragiBuzz on Pinterest The post Why You Need to Hire an Inbound Marketing Agency appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Need to attract visitors to your site? If you did, are you prepared to wow your potential clients or customers? If you need help, consider this.

Source: sparkinboundmarketing.com via DragiBuzz on Pinterest

Bay Area Social Media Mastermind #baysocial

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:56:00 GMT

Happy first day of February. How are you doing on your social media resolutions?

In 1937, Napoleon Hill published Think and Grow Rich . His principles are still applicable in business today. I remember reading it years ago. I was truly fascinated at his insight that transcended after an entire generation (although it has nothing to do with social media).

One of his 17 Principles of Personal Achievement is what I’ve been working on for 2013.

Does this sound unattainable in this super busy world? It isn’t.

Since I moved to the SF Bay Area at the end of in 2011, I’ve wanted to start a Social Media Mastermind inspired by the successful Social Media Mastermind of Orange County, SMMOC . After being invited by my friend, Chris Fleury , I met so many brilliant minds in the short two months I attended the group. Chris’ son was in my daughter’s class in elementary school. Thank you, Chris.

I met organizer, real estate guru, Bob Watson , a dynamic and professional thought-leader who presided over each meeting with authority and humor. Both traits worthy of a charismatic leader. Thank you, Bob.

I also connected with Oscar Gonzalez , website expert from SMMOC , who encouraged my entrepreneurial ideas. And I appreciate Stephanie Shaterian of Founding Mom’s Exchange who has given me wise words from an organizer perspective. She runs the fun and informative SF meetup group for mompreneurs .

I’m happy to report that I FINALLY just launched the Bay Area Social Media Mastermind! I added “Meetup Organizer” to my name. I saw a need in the Bay Area community to take the “mastermind” idea regarding social media to the NEXT LEVEL.

I finalized all the details of the first meetup and I’m ecstatic at the interest this past week with 63 members and 20 attending. Sure, I know there will be attrition. There will be road blocks. There will be u-turns.

But so excited that it has come to fruition!

We launch Bay Area Social Media Mastermind on Wednesday, March 6th at the Laptop Lounge in Walnut Creek. Be the FIRST TO ATTEND and help me launch our think tank of social media enthusiasts, newbies, and experts.

What goal can YOU hit in the next 30 days? SHARE with me.

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 12

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:47:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 12 Survey your fans. They'll give you valuable input. You judge books by their cover. We all do. Because of this, polling your fans is a great way of engaging your audience and allowing them to voice their opinion about your product or service. My favorite book cover for Get the Skinny The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 12 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 12

Survey your fans. They’ll give you valuable input.

Here’s my prior post.

I gave ABC Pilates’ fans choices to give input. They were very specific on their comments which allowed Amy and I to tailor our design to fit the needs of her clients. View ABC Pilates Facebook Post here.

I originally started out with 31 flavorful ideas for your

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 11

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 03:17:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 11 Poll your visitors. Over at Social Bakers, they posted, "How to Use Facebook Questions to Increase Engagements and Fans." Here's what they said: There are two main reasons why this new feature is a more beneficial way to ask questions than before, firstly is its ease of use. While there are The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 11 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 11

Poll your visitors.

Here’s my prior post.

I’m going to have to try another poll and make it easier for fans to click. LOL

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 10

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:13:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 10 Create a fun and interesting Facebook Timeline Cover. If you don't have access to photo editing software, use picmonkey.com to create fun and interesting images for your Facebook Page. Here's my prior post. Maybe too much pink in the snowflakes... The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 10 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 10

Create a fun and interesting Facebook Timeline Cover.

If you don’t have access to photo editing software, use picmonkey.com to create fun and interesting images for your Facebook Page.

Here’s my prior post.

Maybe too much pink in the snowflakes…

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 9

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 03:06:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 9 Create a fun and interesting Facebook Profile Picture. If you don't have access to photo editing software, use picmonkey.com to create fun and interesting images for your Facebook Page. There are so many edges, overlays, borders, and you can even add airbrush makeup and mascara to your mugshot! Add snow, snowflakes, The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 9 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 9

Create a fun and interesting Facebook Profile Picture.

If you don’t have access to photo editing software, use picmonkey.com to create fun and interesting images for your Facebook Page. There are so many edges, overlays, borders, and you can even add airbrush makeup and mascara to your mugshot! Add snow, snowflakes, and holly for cool, wintery touch.

Here’s my prior post.

It doesn’t snow in the San Francisco Bay, but I put on a hat and scarf to keep warm. LOL

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 8

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 02:53:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 8 Remind your fans to "like" and share. Ching Ya also states, "Facebook has some easy ready-made sharing buttons with which people can promote your tabs and pages to their friends. Place a shout-out or reminder to ‘Like’ your status updates and instruct fans to click that little ‘Share’ button right next to your message so The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 8 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 8

Remind your fans to “like” and share.

Here’s my prior post.

I love coffee…and I wanted to share it with others. This was a cute cookie idea!

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 7

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:50:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 7 Reward your loyal supporters. Ching Ya states, "You may have just started your Facebook page, but your business is well-established. Encourage your loyal customers to join your Facebook page as supporters, reward them with customizable badges/tabs (to be placed on their profiles for visibility) and special deals for consistent support. A shout-out from The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 7 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 7

Reward your loyal supporters.

Here’s my prior post.

I thanked Cendrine for being supportive, and I even gave her a few blingy snowflakes that I added using my favorite online photo editor, picmonkey.com.

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 6

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:34:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 6 Stay on topic. Think of it as a creative challenge. “People who Like your brand on Facebook expect your posts to be at least somewhat related to your brand or industry. Keeping your focus so narrow may seem limiting, especially if you’re the one crafting the posts each day. Instead, think of The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 6 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 6

Stay on topic. Think of it as a creative challenge.

Here’s my prior post.

I thought of posting something that I do for my clients. My hope is that visitors would see this and want to hire me!

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 5

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 04:20:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 5 Ask questions that are easy to answer to get one-word responses. Here's what Facebook Expert, Amy Porterfield, said, “One of the best ways to get your fans talking on Facebook is to ask interesting and entertaining questions. But did you know there’s a right way and wrong way to ask questions on Facebook? The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 5 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 5

Ask questions that are easy to answer to get one-word responses.

Here’s my prior post.

Cendrine could have given a one word answer, but she chose write a sentence. Well, she IS a writer. LOL

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 4

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 01:41:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 4 Find a Facebook Page that you like and post a link from their blog to Facebook. If you post and article with relevant content, your visitors will see that you're in good company. It seems contradictory, but if you post just your knowledge or promote just your content, your fans may The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 4 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 4

Find a Facebook Page that you like and post a link from their blog to Facebook.

If you post and article with relevant content, your visitors will see that you’re in good company. It seems contradictory, but if you post just your knowledge or promote just your content, your fans may not

Here’s my prior post.

I read l krsocialmedia.com ‘s blog for interesting tidbits about social media. They have some talented guest bloggers that give you non-nonsense tips.

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 3

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 06:18:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 3 Answer the question, "What's happening?" Sometimes we forget that people liked our Facebook Page because they want to hear from us. So we have to tell our fans what's going on with our business or our lives. If you need help thinking of something, you can post, "What's happening in the The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 3 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 3

Answer the question, “What’s happening?”

Sometimes we forget that people liked our Facebook Page because they want to hear from us. So we have to tell our fans what’s going on with our business or our lives.

If you need help thinking of something, you can post, “What’s happening in the world today?” The nifty people at Alltop.com have a a headline for you. Peruse their most “topular” stories. I’m sure you’ll find something to post!

Here’s my prior post.

This is what I did when I answered the question, “What’s happening? It didn’t get ANY likes. Just sayin’. I’m pretty proud of this post because I’d be volunteering my time towards GuardaHeart , a wonderful non-profit to help keep America heart healthy. It’s just that my fans didn’t want to hear about volunteering time right now. December is a busy time of year.

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 2

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 19:34:00 GMT

Actionable Tip Day 2 Post a simple text status update. But you're wondering what to post on your Page? I have the answer for you. Go to Post Planner and the Status Idea Engine will generate a post for you! There are plenty of sites that will give you ideas for fun Facebook status posts but some The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement | Day 2 appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Actionable Tip Day 2

Post a simple text status update.

But you’re wondering what to post on your Page? I have the answer for you. Go to Post Planner and the Status Idea Engine will generate a post for you! There are plenty of sites that will give you ideas for fun Facebook status posts but some aren’t G Rated, if you know what I mean. The Status Idea Engine’s ideas are creative and most are appropriate for any business.

It will take you under 5 minutes to find one that you like, copy, and paste.

Here’s my post yesterday.

Short, sweet and to the point. Not much engagement but I did get a few likes on a Saturday, even. There have been studies that the weekend is prime Facebook posting time for certain niche markets. But more on that later.

Since I only have less than 200 Likes (I’d like to have thousands) I’m happy with two Likes that I received.

31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement

Sun, 02 Dec 2012 06:36:00 GMT

In the next 31 days of December, I want to offer you 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement. Each day will I will give you an idea for a Facebook post that you can implement THAT day. Then you'll have no excuses to be consistent. I'd like to do this as The post 31 Actionable Facebook Page Post Ideas to Increase Your Engagement appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

I’d like to do this as more of a 31 day Facebook Reality Project . I’ll be completely transparant in my acquisition of Likes and increasing my influence with Reach.

Actionable Tip Day 1

Record the total Likes you have on your Page .

Yes, it’s a simple task. It’s important to have a starting point so you have something to measure. For this project, we’re monitoring the Likes and Reach.

Here it is. I’m at 172 Likes and my Overview looks less than desirable.

Note: Social media marketing strategy is different for every business. So for the purposes of this exercise, the strategy here is to post daily on Facebook using my own tips I’m giving to you. Also, if I want to post relevant news otherwise, I’ll do so. And at this point, running a campaign or creating a Promoted Post is not in my strategy.

Want Better Relationships, Communicate More Effectively, and Have More Confidence?

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 07:04:00 GMT

Want Better Relationships, Communicate More Effectively, and Have More Confidence?

Did you answer yes to all of the above? Yes, you can have it all. Better relationships, communicate more effectively, and have more confidence. And I have the secret.

When I first heard about the methods to make all this happen, I was completely surprised. It’s so logical yet we are always thinking of ourselves that we don’t think about other people. There is finally an answer as to why my husband communicates opposite of the way I do, why my mom talks so slow, and why some people have to be right all the time. Were you paying attention? There is finally an answer. And I have the secret.

Join me by coming back often as I revisit the topics of personal development and how it relates to social media marketing. It’s guaranteed to be fascinating because you get to discover more in depth about your favorite topic…YOU.

Leaving a Legacy for Your Kids

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 04:48:00 GMT

I'm the sentimental type. I believe in miracles and fairytales. I love sappy love songs from the 80s too. I also love creating family memories. One of the things I think about often is leaving a legacy of my life to my kids through my pictures. I want them to know what I was like, The post Leaving a Legacy for Your Kids appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

I’m the sentimental type. I believe in miracles and fairytales. I love sappy love songs from the 80s too.

I also love creating family memories. One of the things I think about often is leaving a legacy of my life to my kids through my pictures. I want them to know what I was like, especially when they couldn’t remember. Through my pictures I’d leave them my favorite places, foods, quotes, people, and the fun memories we have together as a family.

In the last few years I’ve been bitten by the blogging bug. And now to add to the ideas of leaving a photojournalistic legacy to my kids, I’ve wanted to put words down on paper…or “type out loud” so to speak.

I think a lot of moms…and dads are like me. They want to build something meaningful for their kids. Creating a personal blog is something that we, as parents, would be able to add to everyday for our kids. I try to focus on “beginning with the end in mind” when starting a project like this.

If you decide to start a blog, first read these tips from problogger.net . It’ll answer some questions and raise a few. I encourage you just to start…and don’t stop.

Why Moms Make the Best Entrepreneurs

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 01:55:00 GMT

Jill Salzman, founder of Founding Moms, talks about why moms are savvy in business. I agree, well, because I'm run a mom-owned business. And because I'm a nameologist, like Jill's husband, I'm lovingly naming it the MOB. Mom-Owned Business. You're not reading the post because I'm good at name branding...you're reading it because you want The post Why Moms Make the Best Entrepreneurs appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Jill Salzman, founder of Founding Moms , talks about why moms are savvy in business. I agree, well, because I’m run a mom-owned business. And because I’m a nameologist, like Jill’s husband, I’m lovingly naming it the MOB. Mom-Owned Business.

You’re not reading the post because I’m good at name branding…you’re reading it because you want to find out more about Why Moms Make the Best Entrepreneurs. So read on.

Because I was multi-tasking while listening/watching this TEDx segment, I took abbreviated notes. These might not be Jill’s exact words, but it’s close…from memory. You’ll love her message too.

Why Moms Make the Best Entrepreneurs

1. We make stuff up.

2. We’re good multi-taskers.

3. We tell our dentists.

But don’t just read those notes and think you know it all. Watch Jill’s rant.

Also, if you’re in the Bay Area join to attend a Founding Moms meetup in SF. My good friend, Stephanie, is the Chief Founding Mama.

“Go Out on a Limb” Zig Ziglar

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 02:22:00 GMT

I remember seeing author and motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar speak on stage. He was dynamic, making the most of any stage. During his powerful messages when he wanted to accentuate certain points in his talk, he would jump, squat, lay down, and walk to the very edge of the stage - and the audience would The post “Go Out on a Limb” Zig Ziglar appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

I remember seeing author and motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar speak on stage. He was dynamic, making the most of any stage. During his powerful messages when he wanted to accentuate certain points in his talk, he would jump, squat, lay down, and walk to the very edge of the stage – and the audience would be intently listening in fear that he would fall off mid-sentence.

Back History

When I met my husband in college, I had lost all hope in men. Yes, I was only 20 years old, but I thought I knew everything. He and I met at the Mac Computer Lab at UCSB while I was working. Eventually I told him that I was done with guys in general and I didn’t want to date. Days later we had a long phone conversation with him begging to go out with me. Well, at least that’s what I remember.

Go Get It

My story is relevant to Zig Ziglar because my husband, unbeknownst to me, read See You at the Top by and was quoting it. He said, “How do you know if the fruit is any good if you don’t go out on a limb to get it?” *smiling*

Here’s an excerpt from the book See You at the Top :

At least this is my version of the story. And I’m sticking to it.

Zig is a legend, and we are better because he touched millions of lives, including mine.

Rest in Peace, Zig. We’ll see you at the top.

Tis the Season for Email Marketing

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:28:00 GMT

In my corner of the world, I help small businesses with their marketing. It ranges from launching a teleseminar, landing pages, website design, social media marketing consulting and management...the list is long. What separates business owners that can generate sales with inbound marketing and those who produce very little seems to come down to one The post Tis the Season for Email Marketing appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

What separates business owners that can generate sales with inbound marketing and those who produce very little seems to come down to one number…the size of the EMAIL LIST.

Hubspot states in this infographic that 92% of marketers plan to maintain or increase their level of investment in email.

What about you?

5 Cornerstones of Leadership

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:48:00 GMT

I'm fascinated with what differentiates a good leader from a great leader. It seems like leaders should exemplify certain standard qualities while demonstrating unique qualities as well. From what I've read, leadership is influence. While that may be true, influence is only one indicator. Let's explore more characteristics of a leader that we can apply in business, The post 5 Cornerstones of Leadership appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Leaders are confident.

I can immediately tell when a leader is confident or unsure of themselves. It’s either awkward or a leader turns a potentially sticky situation into a collaborative discussion.

Leaders are creative.

As a leader, value that you offer is directly correlated to the number of problems you solve. The bigger the problems you solve the more value you give. If you can creatively and swiftly solve issues that arise, without drama, you’ll add tremendous value.

Leaders are credible.

Leaders are credible if they can back up their claims, reference other’s work, or can lead us to an expert. People don’t necessarily believe that you’re the expert, but they can believe that you know the expert. You may have to reread that one.

Leaders communicate.

A great leader is one who over communicates rather than under communicates. It’s always better not to assume anything, especially when it comes to people. The more you communicate procedures, policies, and expectations, the better off you’ll be.

Leaders have compassion.

The great leaders know that connecting with their audience is key to gaining trust. Leaders who show compassion toward others know the “golden rule” to treat others as you’d like to be treated.

What characteristics of a leader do you think are important?

Black Friday Deals

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 06:38:00 GMT

Black Friday was a productive day. After I got work done, my family rented Avengers and we lounged in our jammies snuggled up on the couch. I did manage to play a little tennis with my older son before dark and did some shopping in downtown Walnut Creek. But in addition to the family The post Black Friday Deals appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Social Media Marketing Tip 6: Using a Facebook Fan Gate for your Landing Page

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:02:00 GMT

If you have a strategy to acquire more likes on Facebook, you should consider using a Fan Gate for your business. It's a way of getting new fans and promoting another offer. I've set mine up so that when someone new gets to my page, they'll be asked to "Like" my page for a 10% The post Social Media Marketing Tip 6: Using a Facebook Fan Gate for your Landing Page appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

If you have a strategy to acquire more likes on Facebook, you should consider using a Fan Gate for your business. It’s a way of getting new fans and promoting another offer.

I’ve set mine up so that when someone new gets to my page, they’ll be asked to “Like” my page for a 10% coupon for my services. Immediately after they click “Like” I promote my email newsletter where they just click “Register” to sign up. The forms autopopulates with their contact info so it’s a simple click to grab it.

However you take advantage of the ability to use these Facebook Tabs, make sure the call to action is clear and simple with clean design.

Here’s what my Offer Tab looks like from my Page.

Fan Gate Functionality

After clicking on “Get the Offer, ” you get to this page where you click “Like.” This is the “Gate” that my new visitor needs to get through to get the offer.

Success!

Once they are a fan, they get their bonus offer – they can subscribe to my newsletter for social media strategies and stuff. Easy peasy!

Feel free to test out my sequence and “Like” my Cornerstone Creative Facebook Page .

Social Media Marketing Tip 5: Pin to Top

Sat, 17 Nov 2012 09:19:00 GMT

I just downloaded an ebook from Hubspot.com called How to Master Facebook in 10 Days. And while I believe it takes much longer than that, this guide gives some great tips on Facebook engagement. I wanted to share this from Hubspot. Focus on engagement. You are trying to connect and get response from your community. The post Social Media Marketing Tip 5: Pin to Top appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

I just downloaded an ebook from Hubspot.com called How to Master Facebook in 10 Days . And while I believe it takes much longer than that, this guide gives some great tips on Facebook engagement.

I wanted to share this from Hubspot.

Engagement is about being creative. How do I create content so that my audience will want to connect with me?

Pin to Top

Let’s say you have a compelling photo or post that you want to promote often and you want to keep the “social proof” (all the comments and shares). If you click on a previous post of yours and click, “Pin to Top,” your post will move to the top of your Timeline.

Example

If you’ve been fascinated with Facebook, you’ve probably run across Mari Smith , Facebook Marketing Expert and Social Media Thought Leader. Here’s how she engaged her audience with 670+ comments and 116 shares. Staggering.

So all the “social proof” she has in this one post may have come from many weeks of her Facebook Fan Page Friday, not just from today. Pretty slick, I must say.

Stand Out From Your Competition

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 04:52:00 GMT

Looking for a new way to stand out from the crowd? Something as simple as new business cards with the right creative message can put you at the top. I use moo.com for some of my clients who want to do something different. Moo.com's printfinity process allows you to print different images, photos, artwork, The post Stand Out From Your Competition appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

CoWorking + Social Media at the Laptop Lounge

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 04:14:00 GMT

Social Media is great for meeting new people, staying in touch, and finding information...but meeting IRL (in real life) puts you in touch with other like-minded peeps. This was only my second time attending a meetup at Laptop Lounge in Walnut Creek. Each time I go to network, I leave with more ideas, tips, and tools The post CoWorking + Social Media at the Laptop Lounge appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Social Media is great for meeting new people, staying in touch, and finding information…but meeting IRL (in real life) puts you in touch with other like-minded peeps. This was only my second time attending a meetup at Laptop Lounge in Walnut Creek. Each time I go to network, I leave with more ideas, tips, and tools than I feel like I offered to others.

Thank you all for coming and participating in the Social Media mastermind session! Great tips on ifttt.com, Brandify.com, Hootsuite.com, Triberr.com, and Heyo.com and more.

Looking forward to the NEW secret Facebook Group soon for members of Laptop Lounge.

Leslie Reitzes , Account Executive at Laptop Lounge

V ictor Mataraso , Founder/President of Reliable Receptionist and Laptop Lounge

Jayson Beasley , Mobile Marketing and Social Media guru

Steve Roeder , Innovators Radio

Joe Workman , Mac software developer

Susan Schwartz , Your Marketing Spot

Kim Miller-Hershon , Productivity Expert

Linda Wolf , marketing/admin for Cheetah Computer Services

Facebook Fun Tip 1: Archived Book

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:43:00 GMT

For the last few years, I posted quotes from my little ones on Facebook...so much so that my friends told me to write a book of all the cute things they said! What if I wanted to go back and find all the quotes? It would take too much time on Facebook to scroll through The post Facebook Fun Tip 1: Archived Book appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

For the last few years, I posted quotes from my little ones on Facebook…so much so that my friends told me to write a book of all the cute things they said!

What if I wanted to go back and find all the quotes? It would take too much time on Facebook to scroll through my wall.

Some time ago, my friend, Oscar, told me about a fun way to bring back those Facebook posts. Amaze your friends with this tool cool, Archivedbook.com .

So far I have 1203 posts since August 25, 2008.

Here’s just a few…just for fun.

Social Media Marketing Tip 4: Show Fans How to Get Notifications From You

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 06:00:00 GMT

You may have heard that Facebook changed the way they calculated what posts show up in fans' Newsfeed, called Edgerank. Facebook is continually trying to optimize posts that fans would most likely engage with, ensuring that fans would see the most interesting stories. You may have seen a drop in your Insights, in the Admin The post Social Media Marketing Tip 4: Show Fans How to Get Notifications From You appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

You may have heard that Facebook changed the way they calculated what posts show up in fans’ Newsfeed, called Edgerank. Facebook is continually trying to optimize posts that fans would most likely engage with, ensuring that fans would see the most interesting stories. You may have seen a drop in your Insights, in the Admin panel of your Facebook Page, some dropping 60% or more on average.

Marketing Tip: One of the reasons why I have a self-hosted WordPress site/blog is that I didn’t want to run the risk of putting everything I have on a platform owned by a third-party. When this happens, “they” can do anything they want. In other words, don’t base your marketing on something that is free or can be taken away.

Get Notifications

Here’s a solution for your fans who don’t want to miss any page posts that might not make it into their Newsfeed. Facebook has rolled out the option for fans to receive notifications about Page posts. Phew. Thank you for throwing us a little bone, Facebook. This is similar to the Close Friends feature that alerts users each time a new update is shared by someone on the list.

Tell your fans to go to select Get Notifications to receive updates from you. This feature will help your fans get updates from your Page.

Social Media Marketing Tip 3: Promote your Business in the Facebook About Section

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 03:30:00 GMT

I was talking to a new acquaintance yesterday about graphic design for her event in San Francisco in December. She asking me questions about Facebook and how to make the most of social media for her event business. After looking at her Facebook Profile and Page, here's the first thing I suggested: Promote your business in the Facebook The post Social Media Marketing Tip 3: Promote your Business in the Facebook About Section appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Promote your business in the Facebook About Section on your Personal Profile.

See, when and if you and I meet in person, I’d probably ask you too many questions. I’d ask you where you live, work, family… I’m just naturally curious!

And so will your Facebook friends.

So how do you link your business in your Facebook About section? Let’s start with my original boring profile.

Here’s my About section that doesn’t tell the whole story, especially when I want people to know that I have a Facebook Page. The idea is for you to go to my Page and “Like” it, right? So let’s change it to link my business to increase connections.

My original boring profile. LOL

Step 1

Step 2

Start typing your Page name and the box will auto populate.

Step 3

Enter your position, city, description, and time period. Click Add Job.

Done! Isn’t this more interesting? Begs at least a click, right?

Social Media Marketing Tip 2: Customize Your Timeline Cover

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 20:52:00 GMT

When crafting your marketing strategy on Facebook, you want to make sure you include a Timeline Cover that promotes your brand. 1. Follow Facebook's Terms Using a photo or creative images are a good choice to advertise your business without violating Facebook's Terms. These rules are not conducive to marketing techniques, however. In a nutshell, The post Social Media Marketing Tip 2: Customize Your Timeline Cover appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

When crafting your marketing strategy on Facebook, you want to make sure you include a Timeline Cover that promotes your brand.

1. Follow Facebook’s Terms

Using a photo or creative images are a good choice to advertise your business without violating Facebook’s Terms .

These rules are not conducive to marketing techniques, however. In a nutshell, you cannot:

It seems like Facebook wants you to use a photo in a creative way, not as an advertisement or a wordy message.

2. Design

Your Timeline Cover image should be 851 pixels x 315 pixels. The minimum size is 720 pixels wide. If your image is smaller than the official image size it will be stretched to fit.

Your Profile Picture should be 160 pixels x 160 pixels.

Focus on your branding. You can include quotes, your logo or tagline, or a collage of photos. You can use my fav online graphic tool, PicMonkey , to make you look pro.

Here’s a few samples I like. I love the feeling I get from ABC Pilates’ cover. Doesn’t it make you feel like doing Pilates?

Lululemon’s Timeline Cover makes me feel like running! I don’t know what’s going on with their Profile Picture, though. LOL

And here’s mine.

3. Upload

After logging into Facebook, select the “Change Cover” button and upload a photo on your Page. Make sure you click the “Save Changes” button. You can also reposition your Timeline Cover and Profile Picture images to slightly adjust your images. Have fun!

Social Media Marketing Tip 1: Schedule It on Facebook

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 03:58:00 GMT

Let's face it. We all need reminders, to-do lists, schedules. Scheduling your social media activity can help you stay on track. Here's a quick way to schedule a post in Facebook. Step 1 Click in a Facebook post where it says, "Write something." Click the clock symbol. If it's your first scheduled post, you'll have The post Social Media Marketing Tip 1: Schedule It on Facebook appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Let’s face it. We all need reminders, to-do lists, schedules. Scheduling your social media activity can help you stay on track.

Here’s a quick way to schedule a post in Facebook.

Step 1 Click in a Facebook post where it says, “Write something.” Click the clock symbol. If it’s your first scheduled post, you’ll have to answer pertinent questions.

Step 2 Enter the year, month, day, hour and minute information. Write your post. Add any videos, or images. Click “schedule.”

Step 3 You’ll see “Your Post Has Been Scheduled.” If you choose to view the activity log, then you can see what your post will look like.

I’ll use this to preview my posts even when I’m posting in real time just make sure it’s exactly how I want it. Yes, I’m very particular about my stuff.

Now you can go to the game, have some mouth watering ribs, grab a beer, and know that your post is ready to go. Enjoy!

How to Promote Your Blog Post

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:45:00 GMT

Amplify Your Message Here's an informative infographic about 30 Ways to Promote Your Blog Posts. These aren't the only methods to amplify your message, but it's a good start. As you get into your groove, you'll find ways be more efficient with your time. Your platform, most often your blog, is cornerstone to your business. The post How to Promote Your Blog Post appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Amplify Your Message

Here’s an informative infographic about 30 Ways to Promote Your Blog Posts . These aren’t the only methods to amplify your message, but it’s a good start. As you get into your groove, you’ll find ways be more efficient with your time.

Your platform, most often your blog, is cornerstone to your business. And if you’ve caught the blogging bug, you’ll want to be consistent.

Here’s a fun way to think about your newest blog post.

Blog Post Growth

When you publish a blog post, the idea is that you want your blog post to reach more readers.

#1 Publish = Baby Blog Post

Time to promote growth. Think of your fresh new post as a baby blog post like newborn in your arms, cozy and comfortable. You haven’t promoted it so your post is born but protected.

#2 Social Media = First Day of Kindergarten Blog Post

When you send your blog post out on social media, it’s like your first day of Kindergarten blog post , ready to make friends.

#3 Bookmarking Sites = Middle School Blog Post

Using bookmarking sites is like your middle school blog post . Your blog post is ready to possible stumble along, become popular, or reach the top ranks of the internet.

#4 Send to Your List = High School Blog Post

Sending your blog post out to your contacts is much like your high school blog post , ready to be independent, get comments and feedback, good or bad, and learn how to deal with people.

#5 Leverage Other Blogs = College Grad Blog Post

And when you gain exposure with other blogs as a guest blogger you spread your blog post’s wings like a college graduate blog post , and tell the world that you’re an expert in your field.

#6 Syndication = Successful CEO blog post

When you syndicate, you’re like a mature successful CEO blog post in your chosen profession and you teach others how to follow in your footsteps.

It’s time to grow up.

Infographic source: launchgrowjoy.com

Blogging for Business

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:46:00 GMT

In January 2008, about 1-1/2 after the birth of our last child, I started blogging. One month after, I joined Facebook. That year was the start of my digital love affair. I started reading mommy blogs, crafting blogs, interior design blogs - if it was online and fun to read, I read it. I started reading Dooce The post Blogging for Business appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

In January 2008, about 1-1/2 after the birth of our last child, I started blogging . One month after, I joined Facebook. That year was the start of my digital love affair.

I started reading mommy blogs, crafting blogs, interior design blogs – if it was online and fun to read, I read it. I started reading Dooce and Zen Habits and watched their blogs shoot to the top of the blogosphere.

I wasn’t a consistent blogger and it took me hours (embarrassing) to write a post and I didn’t really want anyone to read it. Nevertheless, I knew that the more I practiced, the better I’d get. At least that’s what I was hoping.

Almost 5 years later, I thought I’d get serious about blogging. I knew that I could blog about my daily life with four active kids, share all the thousands of pictures that I snap of them, and if I posted 2 or 3 times a week and had a compelling message, I’d gain readers. But where’s the ROI on all that?

So last year started Cornerstone Creative to generate income, channel my inner creativity, and challenge my brain and talents. I’ve since connected with Greta Boris , author, blogger, friend, and partner in crime launching our digital woman’s magazine, Vanity Network Magazine , who has encouraged me to blog. And recently joined a blogging group lead by the web guru and friend, Oscar Gonzalez . And now, after all the inspiration and support from my friends, I can call myself a blogger for business.

Yes, blogging for business is important. Pretty convincing, right? Are you blogging for business?

Infographic source: imbuemarketing.com

Barefoot and…Successful?

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:59:00 GMT

I saw the founder of Barefoot Wines, Michael Houlihan, speak at an event I went to recently in San Francisco. I was moved at the humble beginnings of their Barefoot Cellar empire, as they are now the most awarded wine brand in the U.S. Michael talked about their new book, The Barefoot Spirit, and their passion The post Barefoot and…Successful? appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Michael talked about their new book, The Barefoot Spirit , and their passion of making the world a better place through wine. I was fascinated about their non-traditional method of marketing and how their business acumen is making them one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

Brilliant, I must say. Who wouldn’t want to build a massively successful business on a culture of being barefoot?

The Value of an Existing Customer

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:12:00 GMT

I love infographics. I may have been a better student growing up if textbooks had more of these. This was originally posted by flowtown.com two years ago but the facts still remain today. Email marketing is one of the best, cost-effective ways to keep in touch with your customers. Enjoy. Flowtown - Social Media Marketing The post The Value of an Existing Customer appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

I love infographics. I may have been a better student growing up if textbooks had more of these. This was originally posted by flowtown.com two years ago but the facts still remain today.

Email marketing is one of the best, cost-effective ways to keep in touch with your customers. Enjoy.

The post The Value of an Existing Customer appeared first on Sparq Marketing .

Get 100% love from your fans

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:09:00 GMT

When your clients get an email from you, they think of you. That's what you want. You need to be in front of your customers consistently. If you're a professional spray tan artist and your client is thinking, "I'm looking a little pasty...it's time for a spray tan," your contact information is already in their The post Get 100% love from your fans appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

What’s your goal? It’s to increase your open rate so that 100% of your fans think of you before they think of your competition . You did the work to build a relationship and earn their business once, you might as well keep it going.

The best way to do this is to consistantly add new, fresh names to your email list. People cycle through. Sometimes they unsubscribe, and that’s okay. There are many reasons clients may no longer want to recieve your emails, but you need to concentrate on the ones that do. You’re looking for excited, happy, satisfied, loyal fans who are ready to recommend you to a friend. Adding your new clients to your email list reminds them that you’re there, and you’re interested in continuing the relationship.

At Vanity Network we create original, current, and creative content. We do the research, write from heart, and craft each newsletter with your aesthetic medical practice or cosmetic business in mind.

Our goal is to increase your open rate. The more your fans open, the more they will read, think of you, and buy from you. So let’s get increase relations, referrals, and of course, your sales and get 100% “Open Rate Love” from your clients.

Creating Compelling Content

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:45:00 GMT

The infographic below offers great tips for creating compelling content. I've taken a walk (to take care of the dog) and taken a drive (to pick up the kids) and found that it's helpful to clear my mind to brainstorm content. Running does it for me, too, but I don't remember what my ideas were The post Creating Compelling Content appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

The infographic below offers great tips for creating compelling content.

I’ve taken a walk (to take care of the dog) and taken a drive (to pick up the kids) and found that it’s helpful to clear my mind to brainstorm content. Running does it for me, too, but I don’t remember what my ideas were as easily. Is it age? Hard to say.

Start Generating More Leads from Your Website

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:24:00 GMT

I recently came across a powerful graphic about the power of inbound marketing. This is concise, clear, and simple to understand. Thank you to Impact for this outstanding tool. The Inbound Marketing Process Infographic From: IMPACT Branding & Design The post Start Generating More Leads from Your Website appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Triggering Passion in your Brand

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:31:00 GMT

I've been intrigued with personality tests for quite some time. Actually took my first test when I started dating my husband-to-be waaay back in college. He wanted me to take it. We were studying at the UCSB library and he pushed a piece of paper in front of me and asked me to fill it The post Triggering Passion in your Brand appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

I’ve been intrigued with personality tests for quite some time. Actually took my first test when I started dating my husband-to-be waaay back in college. He wanted me to take it. We were studying at the UCSB library and he pushed a piece of paper in front of me and asked me to fill it out.

It was the start of a beautiful relationship . Yes, of course, I’m talking about my marriage.

But more specifically for the reason why this post…I fell in love with finding out more about the people around me and ~~why they were~~ ~~always wrong~~ why people do what they do .

My personality style is that of only 3% of the population that has taken the DISC Personality test. Three percent! Rare and unique I guess.

Recently, I ran across Sally Hogshead’s info and videos. I read great reviews of her and clicked into her YouTube Channel . She uncovers the ways that makes people, brands and products fascinating.

This is one of those ways.

It’s worth taking the test to find out more about you and your bran d.

Turns out that only 4% of the people who took the F-Score test use the same primary and secondary trigger combinations as me. Truly fascinating.

Take her Brand Assessment test to discover YOUR OWN natural, hidden strengths of persuasion.

P.S. I’ve been a fan of Les Brown’s quote, “It’s not our intention to please or satisfy our customers, it’s our intention to AMAZE them.” I believe you need to be amazing AND fascinating at the same time. No problem, right?

How do you amaze and fascinate your audience?

Why Facebook Timeline?

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:33:00 GMT

Change is good… …unless you’re frustrated at Facebook for introducing Timeline. But get ready, global Timeline is happening tomorrow, January 26, 2012 whether you like it or not. I’ve read plenty of complaints from friends. They say Timeline is difficult. And why change a good thing? Here’s why. Watch the f8 keynote from last September and discover The post Why Facebook Timeline? appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

Change is good…

…unless you’re frustrated at Facebook for introducing Timeline. But get ready, global Timeline is happening tomorrow, January 26, 2012 whether you like it or not.

I’ve read plenty of complaints from friends. They say Timeline is difficult. And why change a good thing?

Here’s why. Watch the f8 keynote from last September and discover why Facebook is doing what they’re doing.

But to sum it up for you here’s some trivia:

Historically, Facebook changes haven’t been well-received. So, be prepared to be confused and frustrated. But get over it. The long awaited global Timeline launch is upon us.

Quick Tip : Clean up any embarrassing or unwanted revealing posts on your profile wall. Timeline will make it easier for your family, co-workers, and friends to see ALL of your posts. Heh.

What I do on Facebook

What I don’t do on Facebook

Let’s Share

S ubscribe to me or friend me on Facebook and let’s share together.

I chat with my friend Oscar at Oscarstech and we share here. Join us.

I took some notes for your reading pleasure.

You Share

How about you? Are you a Facebook Fan? Or have you jumped ship to Google+?

Fast Track to Becoming an Expert

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:32:00 GMT

Becoming an expert in any field is not an overnight achievement. But we all hope at some point to gain the confidence and skill to excel in our chosen endeavor. So it was when I started my network marketing business many years ago. As I was getting started, I tried hard to focus on the The post Fast Track to Becoming an Expert appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

So it was when I started my network marketing business many years ago. As I was getting started, I tried hard to focus on the concept of being “the messenger” instead of trying to be “the message.” That meant that I was to leverage the knowledge and skill of my mentors until I was able to move up the success ladder towards becoming an expert. Using this approach made it easier for my initial prospects (close friends and family) to receive the information that I was so enthusiastic about.

As I worked my way up the various levels of my business I was determined to have the ability to parachute in to any city and get a perfect stranger registered in a matter of days. Yes, really. I heard that “parachute” scenario once and I couldn’t shake that visual! It turns out that the learning curve included many peaks and valleys and the process, although simple, took longer than I wanted.

Over time I did make thousands of friendships as I achieved success in the process of becoming the expert with “the message.” Success meant everything from counseling and coaching to running functions and even speaking at events with audiences in the thousands. It truly was an amazing experience.

I have since entered a new chapter in my life and started my own business in the digital marketing space, as a result of my graphic design background and those early entrepreneurial days. And often I look back to evaluate the things I could have improved during those years that would have helped me gain more success today. These ideas here not only apply to network marketers but ALL business owners . So pay attention! I’m here to save you time and help you get better results, so you don’t make the same mistakes!

One of the big lessons that I learned was…

I was not keeping in touch with the prospects I made. This caused me to miss out on countless opportunities. Now remember…years ago select few had an email address or mobile phone and no one had email on their mobile phone! The lack of technology was a barrier back then but I should have figured out a way to keep in touch. I mean why not make the most of every effort and contact that I had made. Even snail mail would have been better than nothing.

But you have no excuse today.

Here’s what I should have been doing…

I should have been cultivating all those wonderful relationships over the years by collecting the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of everyone I met.

Think about it. People like to do business with those that they know, like, and trust. So all those friends that knew, like (I’m hoping!), and trusted me then would have been great to connect with today.

Ask yourself these questions:

“What if you could post messages or videos to share your thoughts and receive feedback from your audience quickly and easily?”

“What if you kept the contact information from every person you met, put that in a database, and keep in touch with them by adding value to their lives, while occasionally marketing to them?”

And, “What if, on your quest to becoming the expert, you were able to provide your readers with terrific articles and compelling content from your mentors and over time establish yourself as the expert voice with your products and services?”

Sound too good to be true? The technology is already in place.

The first step is to become “the messenger” to your audience by leveraging your mentors’ knowledge with social media channels. Set up your business profiles on Facebook and Twitter . Be consistent and authentic.

Second, start your website and blog, answer comments, and collect opt-ins.

How to Profit with Email Marketing

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Email marketing is an important part of any marketing strategy. With an organic list and relevant content you can: increase requests, boost leads and sales, build relationships, and connect frequently with your customers/clients. There are several providers to choose such as Constant Contact, iContact, Aweber, MailChimp, and Infusionsoft to name a few that I’m familiar The post How to Profit with Email Marketing appeared first on Sparq Marketing.

There are several providers to choose such as Constant Contact, iContact, Aweber, MailChimp, and Infusionsoft to name a few that I’m familiar with. And there’s much to think about when choosing the right software to use but that’s a post for another day.

Today I’m telling you a story…

Amy of ABC Pilates is a savvy business owner and she is one of the top Pilates teacher trainers in Southern California. She just launched her Pilates Teacher Training site and blogs about tips for her trainees.

I’ve been working for few months now tweaking and finding right marketing strategy between Amy, her Studio Manager, Katherine, and me.

Why Blog?

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 09:52:00 GMT

I’m often asked, “Why should my business have a blog.” Aren’t blogs just the narcissistic rants of immature people? Will anyone read it?

Come On In

I compare your social media marketing strategy to building or designing a home. Your ideal home of choice may be Victorian, New England cottage or Mediterranean (my favorite!), but all homes have certain essential elements.

Continuing with this analogy, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other networking sites are compared to your front porch or entryway; it’s where the invitation to “come on in” takes place.

Stay A While

Once inside, guests enter the living room, or your website’s home page. The living room should be inviting, comfortable and from there they should be easily able to access the other rooms of the house.

Similarly, your blog is the center of all other social media sites where you can come in and stay a while.

Serve It Up

“Why are they visiting?” They’ve been invited to dinner of course. They’ve been invited over for lively and stimulating conversation.

The blog, or dining room, is where you serve up your delicious and nutritious offerings. The better the dinner, the more likely they’ll come back. So, in answer to the question, “Why blog?” I would reply, “Why would you invite your house guests over for good eats?”

Engage Conversation

A benefit of your blog to your readers is to put a personality to your business. It answers the question, “Who is the voice behind the brand?”

You’ll want your blog to be interactive so that your readers can leave comments. You’ll encourage conversations so that you engage your readers and find out more about them.

Join Me

I invite you to pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite drink, and engage with me. I’ll explore more reasons why businesses need to have a compelling, authentic, informative blog.

Your turn. Do YOU blog for business?

Leveraging Social Media

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 22:13:00 GMT

I bet you remember the last time someone did something nice for you. Were you grateful? If you’re like me, you probably wondered how your could reciprocate kindness and return the favor. It’s because we’re human.

Personal interaction is the way we communicate. And doing business is no different.

As a business owner, you know that your target market would rather buy from a business that they know, like, and trust. So by leveraging Social Media you can connect with your audience to engage and communicate your message, sometimes even before your customers spend a dime. You add value and consumers really like that.

Social Media has made it possible to do business the way we live, through building strong relationships.

If you’re a savvy startup or small business owner, you’ve heard the buzz about how Social Media can increase your exposure. You try to balance work and life but at the end of the day all your online searches about “why you need social media” leave you confused and paralyzed.

Let us help you create your strategy, communicate your passion, and connect you with your consumers.

The post Leveraging Social Media appeared first on Sparq Marketing .

sparq

Holiday Social Media Content Ideas for Brands

10 Tips to Radically Improve Your Social Media Presence

10 Tips to Radically Improve Your Social Media Presence

1. Plan Your Strategy

Pillar Content

Opening Channels of Communication

2. Use Multiple Social Media Platforms

Try Pinterest to Attract a New Audience to Your Content

Do it Yourself!

3. Integrate Visual Marketing

4. Engage with Your Audience

5. Build Loyal Followers with Newsletters

6. Schedule Your Posts

Try This

7. Create Your Content to Entertain

Content ideas include:

8. Invest in Ads

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9. Pay Attention and Adjust

10. Social Media Should Be PART of Your Strategy, Not the ENTIRE Strategy

Follow These Simple Tips to Improve Your Social Media Presence

Social Media Content Ideas for September

Reels for Instagram

Facebook's answer to Tiktok!

New Canva Feature! How to Add Text Effects in Canva in One Click!

Amplify Your Message

Instagram Rolled Out Pinned Comments

How I Skyrocketed My Pinterest Audience from 800 to 8,000 in One Day

The Past

The Present

The Future

Removing a Photo Background Using a Free Website

Tips for Crafting the Perfect Pinterest Bio

If Content is King, then Connections is Queen

5 Clever Social Media Tips That Gets Results for Small Business Owners

Looking to get results from your social media efforts? Work smarter not harder. Check out these five proven social media tips for small business owners.

Think Outside Your Business Hours

Focus Your Efforts in the Right Place

Mix Up Your Content

Show Appreciation

Check Out What Others Are Doing

Smarter Social Media Tips for Small Businesses

Top 5 Email Marketing Trends You Need to Get on Board With

Need an email newsletter?

1. Personalize emails so they're like letters.

2. People don't read anymore. Put in visuals.

3. Email marketing trends are like everything else: GO MOBILE.

4. Location. Location. Location.

5. Engage for reviews and ratings.

Email remains one of the surest ways to reach customers.

Small Business Marketing: 3 Tips to Attract and Retain Local Customers

Setting up a Business Profile on Instagram

Wrapping up our Summer Internship!

How to Use Twitter Analytics to Increase Your ROI

Vanity Metrics vs. Engagement Metrics

How to Find Your Current Twitter Engagement Percentage

How to Utilize Engagement Metrics for Growth

Best Practices for Twitter

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business

Builds Online Reputation

Drives Targeted Traffic

Boosts Your SEO

There are Paid and Non-Paid Opportunities

It’s Easy to Reach New People

Your Competition is Already There

Wrap Up

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business

Six Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Critical for Your Business

Builds Online Reputation

Drives Targeted Traffic

Boosts Your SEO

There are Paid and Non-Paid Opportunities

It’s Easy to Reach New People

Your Competition is Already There

Wrap Up

Social Media for Social Good | FRENCH PASTRY CHEF

Ways To Boost Your Web Traffic with Social Media Marketing

Social Tools Roundup #SMS16

Social Media Summit 2016 for Marketers