Creating Content: Four Ways to Make a Big Splash

Posted on July 5, 2013 by admin

16763303_sLet’s face it – getting content into the hands of viewers is not the hard part. The Internet is flooded with waves of material, vying for even a tiny slice of people’s attention. The real challenge is creating content that is meaningful, useful, interesting, and engaging.

Of course, this sounds easy enough, but actually putting it into practice may be more difficult. If your brand is looking to connect with viewers on a deeper level, check out these ideas for creating content posted by Social Media Examiner.

  • Make the Most of Facebook

    While simply throwing up a Facebook page is not enough to drive results, it can be a good starting point. To maximize this channel experts say to keep the following in mind when creating content: continually load fresh content, provide plenty of cool incentives, post content that is likely to be shared, and don’t forget the entertainment and humor elements.

  • Don’t Underestimate the Power of Google+

    With 359 million subscribers, Google+ is one of the most popular social networks out there. Businesses looking to up their ranking in the search engines might want to take a look at this powerhouse when creating content. If you’re going to do it, though, do it right: only distribute top-notch content, get involved in hangouts, engage others with feedback and comments, and follow users who can positively impact on your brand.

  • Integrate Email and Social Media Strategies

    Oftentimes companies separate the two, but when email and social networks are connected, the effects can be synergistic. Here are some ways to join them:

  • Extend a special offer/discount to those on your email list when they invite their Facebook friends to sign up for emails

  • Add the “retweet this snippet” to email communications

  • Include an icon for email opt-in on Facebook

  • Build social media icons into emails

  • Use your blog to plug email

  • Hire Great Copywriters

When it’s your brand on the line, you can’t afford to make simple grammar or spelling mistakes or be unclear about what it is you’re trying to convey. Good content is foundational for engagement and generating results.

Are you ready to do more with your content? Let the team of writers at SJC show you how.

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Does the Boss Know About Your Content Marketing Strategy? They Should.

Posted on July 4, 2013 by admin

15142786_sThere are five key benchmarks when creating your content marketing strategy: findable, readable, understandable, actionable, and shareable.

To develop your content marketing strategy you need to start by developing a successful execution plan. Through your plan, you can tap into your creativity and start generating content that can be beneficial to readers. Before you can begin using a checklist to create your content marketing strategy you need to gather all of your decision makers. By getting the right people together you run a greater chance of getting things done.

For example, a checklist for a strategy was implemented in a majority of Detroit’s hospitals to streamline central lines, decreasing injection sticks, and limiting the amount of patient infections. The list was assigned to not only a senior project manager but to a top level executive, too. That executive was responsible for checking up on the staff and finding a solution for any problems that arose.

This survey was able to illustrate just how critical it is to get the people involved with the most authority. Most employees know what works and what doesn’t but have little control over how to fix it. Getting someone at the executive level involved was just the marketing strategy they were looking for. In fact, those hospitals were able to lower infections by 66 percent.

Imagine if you could drive 66 percent more traffic to your site. Using an effective marketing strategy, involving the right people, and sharing the entire message with your team, you can.

Your content marketing plan should collectively manage all of your resources and influence how the company views social media, and brand recognition. Every employee, even at the very top, should be aware of the many challenges that you and your company are facing and what propositions are in place. Involving everyone can be a great opportunity to change how things are executed in the future.

To be as effective as possible, share your checklist with the team. Keep in mind that you are only one person, one part of the overall process. If the end result is to keep users coming back, you need to connect the visual design with the usability and information architecture. Each piece is a unique part of the puzzle and each one is needed for a fluid content marketing strategy that works.

If you’re looking to build a checklist for your company as well as each team member, contact us. We can help you combine each list for the most optimal content marketing plan.

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What is Your Social Media Campaign Missing?

Posted on July 3, 2013 by admin

18459566_sSocial media isn’t just a way to keep up with friends and family. In today’s business world, it has become the lifeblood for how we, the business leaders of tomorrow, stay connected with our customers.

For those of you who are just getting starting, you may realize there is a learning curve associated with using Facebook and Twitter as a business practice. This is why it is important to decide early on who will be managing your brand’s social pages. Be sure to educate all employees on what their role is and how everyone can share their responsibilities and reach the company’s goals. Another key part in your social media campaign should be to develop a way to analyze success and measure feedback.

A productive social media campaign should give you the ability to talk to customers, hear their grievances, respond to their feedback, and suggestions.

Competition is fierce in today’s market place. This is why it is critical to position yourself early as the ultimate authority in your field, instituting your brand. To do this, a brand must be connecting with the customers. If you present your brand as human, and not just a logo, you will get better results.

In developing a social media campaign this article talks about a few objectives. When taking this first step you should recruit very different minds to work together on a strategy. Not every mind thinks alike, but when you combine very different minds, the outcome could be incredible. You never know which employee sitting around the office could be the one to create that award-winning plan. A cross-functional team should always be the go-to group to manage your social network.

Together, the team should establish what your goal is, who your target audience is, and how to approach them. Initially, the social media campaign should focus on one particular area be it brand awareness, loyalty, or sales.

If it’s brand you are trying to establish, you need to know it inside and out. Building a brand can be tricky business so understand what sets yours apart from the others and sell that to the customers. If you have a good understanding of who it is you are trying to market your goods or services listen to them. Customers are a company’s biggest resource. If you are interacting with followers and friends on social media like a human being and not a giant corporation, feedback can be significant.

If you’re struggling with social media we can help you get started. Contact us about developing a social media campaign that meets your goals and maximizes your return on investment.

 

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5 Easy Ways Writing a Successful Blog is Good For Business

Posted on July 2, 2013 by admin

13378900_sThere are several ideas for creating successful content on social media but here are a few that pinpoint writing a successful blog.

There are five basic steps to writing a successful blog but all of them should begin with a well thought out plan that you should stick with. Before you even sit down at the keyboard, you should know what you are going to write about. A great way to keep your content and scope organized is to do what the writing experts do: keep an editorial calendar. In fact, the real publishing professionals make a year’s worth of ideas and how to execute them.

Doing this will eliminate procrastination and thoughtless writing. Depending on your business, a calender can also keep your content coinciding with the various seasons. For example, it can keep you ahead of schedule for holidays or particular times of the year for top trends like mowing, swimsuits or buying a car.

Remember to share the value of content more often than the value of you or your company. While blogs are a great way to promote your business, writing a successful blog means giving customers information and not a sales pitch. You should be sharing more than selling.

When writing a successful blog you need to remember that people tend to buy products and services from people they like. And believe it or not, potential customers will catch on to your game if you’re blogging from another perspective. It’s best to blog in your own voice and really connect to your readers. Even if you don’t capture every audience member, most likely you are going to relate to your target audience and, in turn, gain loyalty and increase revenue.

Writing a successful blog is contingent on how well you communicate. Blogs are written words, plain and simple. This means that while you may not have a degree in English, you should do your best to spell words correctly with accurate punctuation. You should also avoid slang or any other terminology that may not translate well in other parts of the globe. This is the same when using humor.

At the end of the day, writing a successful blog depends on your level of commitment and consistency. If you don’t have a blog plan in place, contact us. We can help you develop a solid list of ideas that can easily establish you as a regular blogger and drive traffic.

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Monday Morning Coffee: Royal Family Kids Camp

Posted on July 1, 2013 by admin
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Each summer, the team from Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions helps coordinate and serve meals at Royal Family Kids Camp, along with many other community organizations. It’s a team-building activity everyone looks forward to.

From the outside looking in, it looks like a typical camp:  kids laughing and enjoying games, crafts and songs; barbecues and water activities with new friends. Behind their smiles, it’s one week of the year kids can have fun without fear of harm or neglect, take part in special activities to show them they are loved and enjoy the basic comforts of having enough to eat and a safe, nurturing environment.

There are so many camps happening all around the country, but there is one camp that does things differently — Royal Family Kids Camps (RFKC). The goal: To create life-changing moments for children of abuse or neglect. The system: Provide opportunities for local businesses and groups to get involved in a very hands-on way in the camp kitchen, which helps share the message and the inspiring work of this remarkable week each summer. Give each camper a camp “buddy” for the week and create a five-day experience with plenty of great activities and positive memories that show a child they are wonderful just the way they are.

Royal Family Kids Camp, located in northwest Missouri at Camp Farwesta, Stewartsville, is part of the largest network of camps for abused and neglected children (as well as children in the foster care system) in the country. The St. Joseph area was introduced to Royal Family Kids Camp in 1993, with about 20 children attending this first camp located in Kansas. After a few years, camp organizers finally found a location for the camp in Missouri. This summer marked the 20 year anniversary of the camp in St. Joseph, located at Camp Farwesta off of 36 Highway.

RFKC provides the opportunity for local churches and groups to sponsor one five-day camp for these kids each year. Each camper is assigned a camp “buddy” who provides almost undivided and attention and encouragement throughout the week, due to the ratio of one adult volunteer to every two children. It’s a chance for the children to have an adult friend and role model in a non-violent, positive and faith-based way. For one week each year, kids can participate in the classic activities of summer, such as swimming, tie-dye, dress-up, Legos, and even field trips to places like the Kansas City Royals. For many, it’s the only true recreation they have throughout the year.

The biggest event of the week is one large birthday party for the campers. They celebrate with cake and a big gift box filled with unique things they will get to take home with them. This is an especially impactful event since many of these children have never had a birthday party, and it’s truly a hallmark of the week.  royal

Another element that sets Royal Family Kids Camp apart is the long list of generous businesses, groups and service clubs who roll up their sleeves (and grab their spatulas) to serve all the meals for the week. Volunteers bring the food, prepare and serve it, and many come back year after year because they enjoy the experience so much.  In fact, nationally, there were 9,324 volunteers who served over 1 million hours and raised over $4 million last year for the camps last year. Many of the camp “buddies” return each year – even flying from miles away and using vacation hours from work – just to come alongside a camper and encourage them throughout the week.

We would like to thank the St. Joseph Royal Family Kids Camp all the volunteers who helped make this 20th year possible in St. Joseph. As a team, Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions looks forward to helping coordinate meals and serving the campers each year. We find, like all others who participate, that our favorite summer memory has become seeing the kids’ smiles first-hand. That’s something to celebrate this Monday morning!

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When You Engage Customers You Add Value to Your Company

Posted on June 28, 2013 by admin

14825657_sCan you put a price tag on your followers? A recent lawsuit put social media in the spotlight after an employee took his Twitter followers with him when he left the company.  Obviously the company felt those customers had value.

How we engage customers is not just a trend, it’s a way of doing business. Social media has allowed us to engage customers in a way they’ve never done before. The catch is knowing for yourself the real value of your “friends” and “followers”. Some are fake and do not add value to you or your business. But how do you know the difference?

When new research looked into the profitability of how we engage customers, it paid off, literally. The findings revealed that engaged social media customers will spend nearly six-percent more than the ones that aren’t.

Researchers were able to study customers using the database of a large American wine retailer. The company began using social media in 2009. Since that time they have been able to engage customers with promotional material and advice on wine while really establishing themselves. The study was able to identify which customers were regularly participating with the wine company on social media.

They took this information and cross referenced it with the customer’s demographics and spending habits. The entire study was able to look at data for around 400 customers during a three-year period the company was using social media. Yet to give a good perspective on how well they engage customers, researchers also looked at similar customers before the winery went online and how many of them aren’t engaging the company.

They found that before the wine company joined Facebook and began sending tweets on Twitter, customers would visit the brick-and-mortar stores and usually spend the same amount of money on products. That all changed when the company began using social media to engage customers. The customers that take part in regular promotions and contents with the company go into their stores more often and now spend more money.

The ability to engage customers has created a genuine relationship between the company and the customer and it is paying off. Not only are the customers coming in more often but they are buying more wine and appear to be more loyal to that specific wine company.

It’s important to know your customers. Let us help you engage customers using a social media marketing plan that works for you. At Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions we can identify which customers can provide added value to your company.

Posted in Social Media Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Overcome Obstacles With an Effective Non-Profit Marketing Strategy

Posted on June 27, 2013 by admin

10537001-marketing-concept-on-the-blackboardNon-profit marketing strategies offer their own challenges. While for-profit groups are looking for ways to maximize profits, non-profits seek opportunities to help fund their organization. The two have obviously different goals.  A recent article talks about how non-profit marketing plans utilize resources in a different way rather than for-profits which look to increase sales and maintain a competitive advantage.

A majority of non-profits don’t have competitors. This can be a double edged sword when implementing a marketing strategy. There is no clear cut way to measure whether or not the plan is successful. There are limitations with a non-profit marketing plan because the only way to really measure if it’s working is with subjective factors.

While for-profit companies measure their marketing plans by the number of customers or sales, a non-profit marketing plan might take into account their accomplishments. For example, a non-profit literacy organization that provides books and tutoring services to underprivileged youth might measure success by how many children they taught to read or how many students earned their general education diploma.

It’s tough to balance the organization’s mission with revenue. The group needs both to survive. Non-profits are allowed to generate a profit but that money must be retained for its own self-preservation. Finding that balance can be difficult and creative tensions can flare up during the process.

The recession was particularly hard in the non-profit sector. These organizations are continuously forced to develop non-profit marketing strategies with limited resources and financial constraints. When revenue isn’t coming in, these groups rely on charitable donations to keep them up and running.

In a downward economy fewer people give to their local charities. Couple this with weak revenue streams to begin with and many non-profits don’t survive. This is why it is important to have a successful non-profit marketing strategy. While there isn’t the same competition as Coke and Pepsi, these organizations still compete for every dollar and donation with the other 1.9 million charities in the United States.

As government funding continues to decrease, a non-profit marketing plan is more important than ever. Contact us at Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions about how to create a plan that understands your mission and obstacles. Let us help you find a creative solution to continue your good work.

Posted in Marketing Strategy, Nonprofit Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Four Steps Forward, No Steps Back: Facebook Marketing

Posted on June 26, 2013 by admin

facebook picNinety-two percent of consumers can’t be wrong, can they? Most consumers trust a personal recommendation from a friend over marketing advertisements. Think about the last new restaurant you tried, was it because of the ad that you saw of their food or your friend’s description of the atmosphere, the good customer service, and the excitement about how delicious their food was? Facebook marketing is a way to tap into what people’s friends are posting and liking in regards to your company

We have all heard someone say that Facebook marketing “doesn’t work.” Well, we’re here to tell you that it just isn’t true. It does work, but you need to frequently reevaluate and follow some basic steps during your Facebook marketing to ensure success.

  1. The EdgeRank Algorithm. This is Facebook’s fancy way of saying if you generate more likes and comments on your posts, you will stay at the top of someone’s newsfeed for longer. This premise makes a fair amount of sense, but truly understanding the “why” can help you produce more interaction on each post you make.

  2. Content, content, content. In retail, it’s all about the location. In communication, it comes back to content—every single time. If you’re saying something that’s interesting to your audience, they’re more likely to interact with you, which helps with step one as well.

  3. Paying for Posts. Yes, Facebook marketing is a great, free tool, but it can only do so much. Facebook has sponsored stories and promoted posts; and yes, there is a difference. Sponsored stories are there to encourage others to take the same action their friends did, such as liking a company’s page. Promoted posts, on the other hand, are meant for friends and fans and will be shown in the newsfeed, rather than the sidebar. Using these tools can take your Facebook marketing to the next level.

  4. 1, 2, 3, Testing! In order to truly connect with your audience, you need to make sure to understand what kinds of posts will impact them the most. Your options are broad—text, photos, polls, videos, links. You might have to try a couple of options and variations before you figure out how to build relationships with your followers.

Bringing together knowledge of EdgeRank, great content, promoted posts and sponsored stories, and testing your audience will get you results in your Facebook marketing efforts. Soon the friends of friends will be seeking your Facebook wanting to know more about you. It’s important to evaluate where you are, where you want to go, and how you can get there. Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions can help you do just that.

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Creative Blog Writing Tips For Better Headlines

Posted on June 25, 2013 by admin

blog picIn order to get the customer in the door, department stores design elaborate window displays. You have to give them something they want. It’s no different with your online content. Creative blog writing begins with offering that enticing headline for your readers.

So you’ve written an amazing article to post to your website but you can’t muster up a decent headline. Unfortunately, a majority of your target audience isn’t going to read your masterpiece. A poorly written headline can limit the number of clicks you get. Even if you’ve done your homework and used all the search engine optimization (SEO) tools in your belt it won’t work.

On the other hand, well written headlines can add significant value to your content. A recent social media today article highlights five steps to creative blog writing, starting with your headline.

It’s okay to mimic what others are doing well. Pick up a copy of the latest issue of any popular magazine. See those catchy headlines that make you want to flip to page 25. An experienced copywriter created those headlines so make some notes and try experimenting with your own creative blog writing formula for success.

Fear will make us do a lot of things. Put a little fear in your headline and people will read your content. For example, “Your Blog is Being Hacked” not only instills that initial fear of someone hijacking their blog posts but you appeal to their fear of not knowing it is happening to them. Using a little creative blog writing in your headlines and you have one foot in the door.

Don’t be afraid to assert yourself as an expert by highlighting common mistakes in your field. You might ask questions in your headlines like “Are You Ruining Your Twitter Reputation?” or “Common Mistakes When Businesses Use Social Media?” People always want to improve themselves and offering them information for something to avoid is sought after.

Two other creative blog writing tricks are enlisting the help of “How-To’s” and “Lists”. Both of these are simple but astronomically effective. They are simple but draw the reader in, especially if you can be specific. Don’t stop at “How to Write a Better Blog” or “10 Ways to Boost Your SEO”. You should try “How To Boost Sales With Your Blog” and “10 Ways SEO Can Generate Sales Leads”.

A good headline can be the framework you need for your content.  At Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions we can help develop a creative blog writing solution that will get you more clicks and drive traffic to your site.

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Biggest Birthday Party Ever: Monday Morning Coffee with the YWCA

Posted on June 24, 2013 by admin

WOEHow do you celebrate 125 years of serving women and children in your community?

Try a birthday party for nearly 1,100 guests, complete with a nationally-known speaker and moments of both tears and laughter. You might also throw in a total gift of $70,000 toward your cause, and most of it raised on-site in just one hour.

This week we honor the YWCA of St. Joseph, now celebrating 125 years of service in St. Joseph. What began as the vision and dream of a handful of ladies – who went door to door collecting funds for the building in the late 1880s – is now a cornerstone of hope for thousands of women and children who have entered its doors in downtown St. Joseph through the years. Last week, the YWCA celebrated a century-plus of accomplishments at the annual Women of Excellence Luncheon, a very fitting atmosphere in which to honor the modern-day women whose hard work and dedication continues to change our community for the better.

The awards have become one of the premier special events of any non-profit organization in the area, with a growing attendance each year and a continual upswing of on-site cash gifts called “Steve’s Centerpiece Challenge.” This year, Steve’s Challenge marked an all-time high, with the businessman and benefactor generously matching 34,000 in on-site gifts placed by event attendees in the bright orange envelope at their table. With nearly $70,000 raised for the families served by the YWCA – most of it in just under one hour – there’s no question the message and the brand of the YWCA is stronger than ever.

The event highlighted the accomplishments of past and present honorees, including women who have excelled at leadership, in the workplace, in volunteerism, as student leaders and as lifetime achievement winners. Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron, national CEO of the YWCA USA, spoke about the accomplishments of women over the past century and how the work of the local YWCA was a model to others across the country.

How does an organization bring in a speaker like this, a near-capacity crowd and an all-time high donation level for Steve’s Challenge?

A few basic principles are at work here. They continue to match their work with their mission, and to communicate that mission in a clear message time and time again. The organization utilizes blogs, enewsletters and social media to remind attendees about the event – and to drive home the bigger picture of how the YWCA helps families. The volunteer committees are enthusiastic, many returning year after year, and they work to draw support and attention from their own networks.

And,  perhaps most importantly, while events like these are happening, just blocks away at the YWCA building, you might see a tired mother pull in with her children, a few small suitcases and a car that just won’t go another mile. She finds the shelter, hope and help she needs in the moment. In an atmosphere of dignity, and with a team ready to help her plan her next steps, the critical work of the YWCA mission continues just as it did in the beginning.

Today SJC congratulates all the women in attendance at the YWCA Women of Excellence Luncheon, and we thank you for your continual contributions of time and talent toward making this community a great place to live. Here’s to the next 125 years!

 

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