A Mobile World Needs a Mobile Website

Posted on December 12, 2013 by admin

A mobile website is more traditionally called a “responsive website.” In case you are unsure what this means, basically it means the website design adjusts to fit on a desktop, smartphone, or tablet. If you’ve ever pulled up a website on your phone Website Work 2and had to zoom in to even read the font, you were looking at a non-responsive website. A good responsive, or mobile website, looks good no matter what.

There are three things to take into consideration before diving into a mobile website. Creating a responsive website might not be for you if you have no competitors, you don’t depend on your website to stay in business, or you’ve determined a responsive design is not for you and you have another mobile option, such as an app. If none of these three exceptions apply to you, it would be wise to read on.

It matters. Really, it does. It matters because it really is better. Forbes gives an example from an anonymous website and shows that 62 percent of users access the website from a desktop and roughly 38 percent from a mobile device. It also shows that from 2011 to 2013, the number of mobile users more than doubled in a year. These numbers were all figured using a non-responsive website. Can you imagine the numbers they would receive if they had a responsive and mobile-friendly website?

Nielsen tells us that 60 percent of all United States mobile phone owners are using a smartphone. Making your website responsive is definitely a wise marketing decision and will increase your audience.

Redoing a website might sound like a huge undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. Chances are if you haven’t redone your website in a while, it would be easiest to do a complete redesign and factor in the need for a responsive website during this process. If it has been recent, the likelihood of the design being easy to manipulate into a responsive one is high.

Contact SJC today and we would be happy to work with you on your website, making it more mobile-friendly.

Posted in Mobile Content Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Things to Consider When Crafting Your Content Marketing Plan

Posted on December 11, 2013 by admin

In the same way that real estate is all about location, location, location…marketing could be said to be all about content, content, content. In order to Social Media 5really benefit from social media marketing and SEOs you have to offer great content. Just getting people to show up is only half the job, once there you need to give them what they came for. To do that consistently you’re going to need a solid content marketing plan.

1. Your content should be a priority
Quality content that is fresh and well-conceived doesn’t happen without a content marketing plan. You need more than high-impact visuals. You need content that enhances those visuals with understanding and a great customer experience. And it can’t happen haphazardly – you need a plan for updating your content to keep visitors interested and coming back for more.

2. Your content should be consistent
What this means is that wherever someone goes on your site, all of your content should reflect a consistent voice. Whether it is the design of the web page or the text presentation, everything about your site should be cohesive in tone and message. Conveying core values through text happens when clear writing guidelines are in place.

3. Your content should not be link-dependent
In the kingdom of social media, content is the coin of the realm. It is perfectly acceptable to occasionally link to industry-related content somewhere else, but what you’re really after is your own deposit of original thoughts and viewpoints that live on your site. Your innovative writing should attract others and allow them see you as a thought leader in the industry.

Crafting a quality content marketing plan is what we do at SJC Copywriting Solutions. Whatever your line of business, let the content experts at SJC help you design a plan that will increase visibility, traffic and measurable results.

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Four Fun and Different Ways to Stimulate Engagement on Facebook

Posted on December 10, 2013 by admin

You may know that engagement with your customers is important, however, maybe you don’t understand different ways to get that engagement up and running – or maybe you just need fresh, new ideas on how to keep it going.

Here are four great ideas for engaging customers on Facebook:Facebook 2

  1. Take a Guess
    Buy something that will interest your followers, such as candy, golf balls, perhaps little squirrels. Fill a jar, take a photo and post. If you don’t offer a prize, just post the picture and wait for engagement. You might want to start things off with a guess from yourself or convince a friend to help out. Remember that if you decide to provide a prize, you will have to comply with Facebook Page Guidelines. Don’t forget to put a time limit on the game as well. This helps create a sense of urgency to participate.
  2. Ask a Friend
    Start by posting an questions that give an either/or option, state the next person to post a comment needs to reply and then pose their own question.
  3. Feature a Film or Theme Song
    Ask the question: “If your life was a movie/book/song, which would it be?” Don’t forget to start off by answering the question yourself.
  4. Create a Story
    Involve your fans in a story! Create a graphic or post that shares the first sentence to a story and don’t forget to outline the instructions to the game. Such as: “1. Write the next sentence of the story in a comment below. 2. Be sure to read the previous comment so you know what is happening! 3. Share the story to keep it going.” This is a great way to bring your fans closer together, as well as make them feel closer to you and your brand.

We remind you to check out the Facebook Page Guidelines, since they have changed recently and they are strict about what they allow. If you have questions or need help with engagement on your Facebook page, contact us today. We love finding new and unique ways to get our client’s customers engaged.

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Monday Morning Coffee With The Rusty Chandelier

Posted on December 9, 2013 by admin

The Rust Chandelier 1In a Pinterest-Inspired world, it can be difficult to find great vintage, DIY-look, “shabby-chic” items these days. However, St. Joseph Residents, you are in luck!

The Rusty Chandelier has been around for just over seven years and proudly offers over 100 specialty shops inside. There are vintage and antique items that have been collected from flea markets, estate sales, and a variety of other places. It’s a great place to go if you’re looking for that one piece to finish up a room or even if you need several items to make your office perfect. Rusty Chandelier also offers an Outdoor Store which houses a number of garden and outdoor pieces that will make your yard complete.

Angie Hummer explains, “Each individual boutique owner brings unusual decorating ideas into our showroom. Some mix vintage and antique items with new things to create unique and trendy decorating pieces for your home. Other dealers offer beautiful gifts, jewelry, and home and garden embellishments, while other shop owners hand create their own unique treasures. The eclectic mix of old and new home décor items brings a truly unique shopping avenue into our area.”

When you head over to their Twitter (@Vintage_Rusty), you will find a number of photos displaying their products. By following them, you’ll always be up to date with what they have in store. So, if you’re looking for that perfect desk for your office or that one chair for the corner of your living room, you’ll be one of the first to know about it! Their Facebook is another way to stay connected with them and everything they have going on.

It’s amazing to see a business like the Rusty Chandelier doing social media so well. SJC wants to give them a shout out for their hard work in that area. Be sure to stop by their Twitter, Facebook, and actual store to find some amazing hidden treasures that will be perfect in your home.

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Social Media Begins (and Ends) With Engaging Customers

Posted on December 6, 2013 by admin

Often we all get a little caught up in the idea that social media is going to bring us more revenue. However, it is key to remember that social media is all about building relationships, which will in turn bring in those sales we all desire.

Social media is an opportunity to engage your customers. Beginning to build those relationships will be the foundation to creating a solid and loyal customer base. There are three easy steps to take as a brand to engage with your customers:

1. Show you’re human

Your customers are individuals, even in a B2B situation. This is an outstanding way for you to actually have a conversation with them. Dialogue is vital to any relationship.

2. Get to know your customers

This is more than just understanding who your target audience is and acknowledging Social Media 4what they might what to see and read. It’s all about the conversations. When conversing with friends, you talk about what’s important to them – their upcoming wedding, their new job, that great new coffee place they found. The same thing holds true to your customers. If they mention something, catch the conversational ball and throw it back. Engage your customers.

3. Genuinely care about your customers

Your customers are your business. Without them you wouldn’t have a job. Even if it’s a simple nod, say with a favorite or like when your brand is mentioned on Twitter or Facebook, your customers will appreciate the acknowledgement. It might even make their day!

One brand, May Designs, does a great job of creating personal relationships with their customers. In fact, they adhere to all three of these simple rules. They ask their customers to tweet, Instagram, or share photos on Facebook of the product they purchased. They suggest that you tag them and use a special hashtag to categorize the photos.

Additionally, May Designs goes back through and retweets/reposts each of these photos with a personal comment. This shows they are interested in what their customer created. When they comment on the excitement of their customer, it shows May Designs is willing to get to know them, and it shows they really do care about what’s going on in their lives.

SJC understands the value of engaging customers through social media. We find it can be an extremely impactful way of drawing customers into the culture of the company. If you need help finding ways to engage your customers on social media, get in touch with us today!

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Pinterest is a Powerful Marketing Platform

Posted on December 4, 2013 by admin

Pinterest is a unique spot on the social media spectrum. The site currently attracts 48.7 million users worldwide, most of them female. Used correctly, the site offers
marketing advantages to companies looking to promote to female buyers. With the addition of a new advertising platform, Pinterest is even more appealing to companies with the female shopper in view.

Pinterest 5Unlike most of social media, Pinterest is an image-based site. And while other social platforms do incorporate pictures and images, most of them are relationship-driven rather than product-driven. Pictures of friends and family members do not hold the
same advertising value as pins that focus almost solely on products. Pinterest users enjoy sharing product images and brand specifics.

The site launched a new platform called Promoted Pins just last month and the pinboard will make it even easier for Pinterest users to connect with brands. Brand
recognition and promotion are part of the Pinterest culture making it uniquely well-suited to product marketing. Viewers on Pinterest have been shown to be more likely to make high-value purchases on e-commerce sites, but the shops on Main Street also reap the benefits. The 2013 Holiday season will be a proving ground for the new
advertising format on Pinterest and many companies are lining up to cash in on the opportunity.

In case you’re still unconvinced about Pinterest’s marketing value consider the Georgia Tech study (2012) which found that the site is full of words like “need”, “want” and “look” – all powerful sales drivers. Consider too, that 84 percent of those active on Pinterest are women. And the women who are active on Pinterest tend to be better educated, higher earning females. This makes the site particularly suited to companies wanting to connect with female shoppers.

Pinterest is the online version of a window display seen by literally millions of female shoppers. If you are wondering whether Pinterest is a channel that ould benefit your brand, talk with the social marketing experts at Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions. They can put together a marketing strategy that will connect your brand with customers in fresh and interesting ways.

Posted in Pinterest Content Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Trending Now….Video Marketing

Posted on December 3, 2013 by admin

Social media is what’s hot in brand marketing and video marketing is what’s trendingSocial Media Marketing 1
now in the social hot spot. Consulting firm Accenture’s 2013 survey revealed that 90 percent of consumers worldwide enjoy viewing online videos. That means that posting videos online is a sure way to attract visitors to your site and make increased connections with new customers.

The sites which host online videos report hefty traffic. YouTube gets billions of viewers annually. Vimeo has reached the 14 million mark and Vine is not far behind with 13 million users. So how can you get your brand in front of the online video audience? Here are just a few suggestions.

1. Educational video

This kind of video isn’t so much about promoting your product as it is about meeting a customer need. Pottery Barn uses educational videos to show customers how to hang drapes and measure properly for area rugs. The information goes beyond product promotion by giving customers something they value. Other ways to incorporate educational videos might include a local garage posting tutorials on how to change a car tire or a bakery sharing how to create a party dessert bar.

2. Customer reviews

This form of video marketing is appealing because it taps into the most trusted source of product information – the personal experiences of other customers. Customer testimonials can take place in-store or can be sent in by customers themselves. The real-life experiences of others makes for compelling viewing as well as powerful product promotion.

3. The human connection

Video marketing also works well when you can give your brand a personal touch. Use videos to introduce the people that make your product happen – from the manufacturer to the warehouse to the person who makes the final sale. Video is a great way to give your inanimate product a human fingerprint and allows customers to make an interaction with people rather than an impersonal company.

The professionals at Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions understand the online marketplace. They can help your business incorporate the latest trends and keep your brand where customers are most likely to see you. Call them today to stay ahead of
customers, not lagging behind.

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Monday Morning Coffee: Time for a Great Story with Robidoux Resident Theatre

Posted on December 2, 2013 by admin

rrt picThis winter, it’s time for a great story.

We encourage you to set aside the DVR and seek out some great theater featuring innovative scripts and Broadway-style musical favorites. How about award-winning set designs? Options like dinner theater, mystery theater and comedy? If you have children, you may also be looking for hands-on educational classes. You’ll find all this in more in a shining gem of a structure, built in 1927 with a unique ceiling design you can only see in a few theaters nationwide.

If this sounds like a road trip to Kansas City or St. Louis, Mo., think again – it’s right down the road in the heart of historic downtown St. Joseph, Mo. The cast and crew are volunteers for Robidoux Resident Theatre, or RRT, and they’re turning heads (and headlines) across the state and the Midwest for quality and creativity, show after show.

RRT is a non-profit organization that features two venues – the 1927 Missouri Theater and the historic, riverfront Robidoux Landing Playhouse – offering numerous plays, musicals, special theater events and educational opportunities throughout the year.  Casting calls are open to the entire community, which offers residents an opportunity to shine with their acting talents on the stage, apart from typical roles in the workplace or other settings. Shows range from serious to hilarious, such as “A Christmas Story,” “Hairspray” and “Les Miserables.”

In fact, it’s the community base of outstanding talent across all generations that has led to the longstanding success and packed houses at RRT productions.  Reading through the program for a show, you may see a local judge, a college student, a law enforcement officer, pastor or community leader on the cast or crew. Many are taking the stage as a throw back to their high school or college drama roots; others audition and find out they love being involved, either on-stage or behind-the-scenes. Three different companies are part of RRT, performing at schools and across downtown and area locations.

Speaking of scenes, be prepared to be awe-struck. The volunteers and board of RRT have earned numerous recognitions for creative, highly-detailed designs, as well as high-tech lights and sound. At regional gatherings for community theater programs, RRT is often the envy of the crowd, boasting the talents of set designer Frank Polleck.

Also unique to RRT’s brand of community theater is your ability to choose between shows at two distinct locations. The mainstage is the Missouri Theater, the city’s $1 million, 1,200-seat “Movie Palace” with amazingly ornate décor. For a more up-close selection, choose the Robidoux Landing Playhouse. Dinner theater, comedies and mystery dinners draw groups and residents back time after time to this eclectic atmosphere near the banks of the Missouri River in downtown St. Joseph. A strong following on Facebook helps residents keep informed of shows they won’t want to miss and audition opportunities.

Recently I had the opportunity to enroll my son in the RRT Theatre Academy, a six-week instructional session where young students can learn the basics of props, browse and enjoy the extensive costume collection and the basics of acting in a fun, upbeat environment. The education team was outstanding and it’s easy to see they’re bringing up the next group of talented performers. For older students, the Summer Musical Camp is a popular choice to work daily on a production and then perform on the stage.

At its essence, RRT captures what community theater is about and makes it sparkle:  enthusiastic and creative volunteers; a diverse cast and a diverse show line-up; ambitions productions across all genres; and the ability to make the very best of what’s around in terms of structures and audience outreach.

As storytellers ourselves, SJC says check out the tales shared on the stage by RRT today.  Prepare to be impressed.

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New Report Shows Growth Areas in B2B Content Marketing

Posted on November 29, 2013 by admin

A new report on trends in content marketing says that B2B marketers who are 17668095_menjoying the greatest success share a few key stratagems. Consider what the report said was characteristic of leading content marketers.

1. They have higher budgets
According to the report, the most effective content marketers were involved in organizations that devoted 31 percent of the marketing budget to content marketing as opposed to less effective marketers in organizations where just 18 percent of the budget was allocated for the same thing.

2. They fine tune their strategies
The majority (73 percent) of B2B groups have at least one person designated to oversee their content marketing strategy. A significant 86 percent of the most highly effective B2B organizations have a person in place versus 46 percent of less effective companies. Strong content management requires a well-outlined strategy. More than one half (66 percent) of the strongest content marketers have a clearly defined strategy for their content. Only 11 percent of less effective marketers had a documented strategy.

3. They make optimal use of social media
The report found that successful B2B marketers use six social media platforms on average. Social media should be part of every content marketing strategy, even in small companies with small budgets. A secondary source suggests that 70 percent of folks who read stories on social sites wind up clicking through to blog content on a brand’s own site.

4. They generate more content
The latest report found that content production is up in general over last year. Nearly three quarters (73 percent) of B2B organizations are generating more content this year. Fresh content is the key to connecting with and informing potential consumers as well as holding onto existing ones. Quality of content does matter, but not at the expense of quantity.

The new report reveals how industry standards are continually developing. But the trends are clear – more content used with a documented strategy over a greater number of platforms is key to success. At Susan J. Campbell Copywriting we specialize in helping companies develop and implement a strong content marketing strategy. Contact us and let us show you how we can make you more effective.

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Updated Page Insights on Facebook Bring Greater Benefits to Your Marketing

Posted on November 28, 2013 by admin

facebook picFacebook has been a marketing bonanza for many businesses. Now the social media giant has made some changes to the Page Insights that should yield even greater benefits for your company. In case you’re not aware of them, here are a few of the recent upgrades.

1. Easier information management
The People Talking About This section has been removed. Instead, the information on Insights is now neatly categorized for you so that you can access specific data more readily. An overview tab allows you to check out big picture metrics, but there are also tabs for smaller bits of information such as visits, people, new page likes, comments, post likes, shares and mentions.

2. Graphs of daily activity
If your business page uses custom tabs to promote new products or competitions, the updates on Facebook will be especially welcome. The new format allows marketers to access information on daily tab activity and displays that information in graph form. This makes it far simpler to get a composite picture of the peaks and valleys in tab activity over a campaign’s lifetime.

3. Able to compare yourself with others
The revised Page Insights still keeps a record of fan demographics just like it did before, but now that information has been expanded. With the updated Page Insights, you can find age and gender-based fan comparisons between yourself and other Facebook pages. This provides you with a clear look at who has the greatest interest in you. It also helps you sharpen your marketing strategies to hit those audiences.

The updated Page Insights now offers you more detailed information that can easily be rolled over into concrete business strategy. Navigating the information has been simplified and the expanded data gives you a better view of who is interacting with your page and how. Susan J. Campbell Copywriting is ready to help you put these benefits to work for you today. Contact us at: http://www.susanjcampbell.com/.

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