Creating Engaging Content For Your Target Audience

Posted on February 5, 2013 by admin

Creating Engaging Content For Your Target Audience.

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

Monday Morning Coffee with Let’s Go Local

Posted on February 4, 2013 by admin

Like to Travel? Like it More with this New Resource

Lets Go Local logo

 

 

 

Going somewhere? If you are, you’re likely to log on to an online map or search your smartphone for ideas of where to eat, shop or visit once you get there.

A new resource – letsgolocal.co – helps you find the best of what’s local in a simple, straightforward way that focuses on the most accurate information. Site creator for letsgolocal.co, Eric Garrison, formed the concept for a new locally-based online directory from his own problems finding resources when traveling for work. He recalls spending a few days in a town and asking around about places to eat or visit, only to get vague responses. As he departed for his next stop, he realized he was only a short drive away from numerous restaurants and attractions. Thus the idea for “letsgolocal.co” was born:  an online directory for travelers with truly accurate, useful information.

What’s unique about letsgolocal.co is up-to-date information without a big mix of reviews or pages to navigate. What’s also unique is that visitors can add a business they want to see on the directory for a city, and then the let’sgolocal.co team makes sure the business is valid – avoiding common directory problems like listings that have been closed for months.

The site founders of letsgolocal.co believe, as we do, that “When you know local, you go local,” and are working to expand the resource to several cities. Business listings on let’sgolocal.co are free, and select paid advertising space is also available for businesses who want to stand out. The site is also set up to change city directories, based on your current location. For now, the skyline of downtown St. Joseph, Mo., (ironically, the historic home of the Pony Express mail route) sets the backdrop for today’s modern way of getting information.

Searchable categories range from hotels, restaurants and business services to recreation, professional services and schools. Travel tips and other helpful information are continuing to expand the resource. A blog and social media are also in the works, connecting travelers to a community who thinks like they do and that also values local information.

Let’s Go Local.co is set to help travelers find the best of what’s around without any extra hassle – and we at Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions think that’s great news to enjoy with your Monday morning coffee, and any day of the week.

Posted in Monday Morning Coffee, Support Local, Website | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Small Business Revolution

Posted on February 1, 2013 by admin

According to an article at SocialNewsDaily.com, small businesses are embracing social networking while 10% are still struggling with their online presence. Where do you land? Is your effort put forth, yielding results?

Posted in Consistent Customer Communications, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Marketing Strategy, Online Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Video Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Regular Blog Posting Could be the Key to Online Success

Posted on January 31, 2013 by admin

16797975_mRegular blog posting is a key component to creating a successful online business. If you are wanting to make money as an online entrepreneur, dedicating the time and energy to regular blog posting will be well worth the effort. It doesn’t have to bog down your day by uploading dozens of blogs. Instead, try to allocate an hour or so to one or two quality postings. This not only keeps your site fresh and up to date, but it gives readers something to look forward to. It can also transpire into regular traffic which equals dollar signs.

There are a couple of tips in this article from Your Article Writing Service that can help with regular blog postings to impact the success of your online business. For one, it is important to be unique. Make sure all of your articles can pass any plagiarism test. You want them to be fresh and original, not the work of someone else.

Regular blog posting is an essential tool that generates solid search engine results. Google even prefers sites that have regular blog postings, favoring the original content that adds value for the reader. Establishing yourself as a place to find quality content not only validates your popularity, but also helps to create a dominate online presence. Once you’ve made a name for yourself as an expert in a particular market, the followers will come in droves.

Once you have regular readers, encourage them to subscribe to your regular blog postings. This is a great way to get them involved and integrated into your online business. They will receive notification of new blogs, be invited to comment and feel a part of the overall process. That’s a quick way to develop loyalty.

Keep in mind that readers prefer shorter blogs compared to drawn out pieces and plan accordingly. Give your regular blog postings some structure. Choose a broader or general topic that could be broken down into several talking points.  At the end of the day, remember to keep it simple, relevant and with the reader in mind.

Perhaps most importantly, remember that your blog posts are meant to add value for your readers. This is essential if you hope to drive regular readership and a loyal following. At the same time, make it fun. Dull content is boring to write, boring to read and never gets shared.

Posted in Blog Writing, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Marketing Strategy, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Getting Results with Your Website: Four Simple Tips

Posted on January 30, 2013 by admin

12253148_mYour website is talking to some very important people every day. This includes donors, volunteers, your employee team and people who want to learn more about your organization so that they can make a decision whether or not to get involved. Getting results with your website is critical, and it doesn’t have to be overly complicated.


Picture this — People love photos, and the images you share will make a substantial difference in getting results with your website. Don’t worry about hiring a photo shoot; instead, ask event attendees, employees or volunteers to share the pics they captured themselves with you. Make this request more fun by sharing across social media (as long as the human subjects in your photos have given the OK to share).

Every word counts. With the rise of mobile sites and QR codes, people aren’t actually website readers – they’re more likely to quickly view the page for little tidbits of info, part of the tips offered in a recent Nonprofit Marketing Guide article. Keep in mind the fundamental reason for having a website:  websites exist to answer a viewers’ questions. Getting results with your website starts with this premise. Incorporate short lists and impactful, well-planned text rather than long messages.

Don’t skip keywords. Take the time to determine which keywords and phrases are going to give you the edge, meaning they have low competition and high search rank. Your keyword list should be incorporated into fresh, consistent content weekly on your website, and should link together your blogs and social media activity.

Tell them what to do. Allow visitors to your website to know exactly what steps you’d like them to take. This can mean visiting your online market page, sharing your link with a friend, reading your blog or donating money. Getting results is easier when people know what results you’re asking for.

Getting results with your website isn’t complex, but it does require consistent content over a planned strategy. Your website is only one of the ways you’re talking to your audiences, but it has an important voice. Make yours loud and clear today.

Posted in Blog Writing, Consistent Customer Communications, Content Marketing, Copywriting, Marketing Strategy, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Website | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Monday Morning Coffee with The Grace House

Posted on January 28, 2013 by admin

It All Started with One Broken Down Car

15195673_mSometimes the greatest change occurs when we don’t stop to over analyze; when we act because there’s a need, and we can do something about that need.

An inspirational example from St. Joseph, Mo., is The Grace House – whose motto is “you can have it for a smile.” Founded more than nine years ago, The Grace House provides hundreds of clothing items, coats, shoes, household items and other necessities to families who are struggling.

 

It’s just that simple. And just that powerful, in equal measure.

There’s no charge for any of the items, and The Grace House is set up like a store – neat racks, with all the clothing items hung up. All the housewares are creatively bundled and incredibly organized. An inventory area in the back of the store allows volunteers to meticulously sort and prepare donated items, with rows of labeled bins and even a sewing machine for items that need a little extra care. The atmosphere is dignified, and guests are treated as shoppers, with volunteers asking if there’s something in particular they’re looking for, and if they need any help, just ask.

The story behind The Grace House is one to remember. The founder and director saw a family in a broken down car with out-of-state-plates in a grocery store parking lot one cold winter night. Rather than going on in to shop, she stopped to find out more. The children were visibly upset and the situation was destitute. Immediately she secured a warm hotel room, coats, food, a car part and a great deal of encouragement, helping the family get back on their feet.

Five months later, the family returned to her, asking if they could repay her for her kindness. She explained that their smiles were all she needed, and it’s still the philosophy of The Grace House today. Over the past nine years, the 501c3 has moved homes several times, starting with the founder’s own garage and then more moves into drafty places until they landed at their present home, at 2638 Lafayette, St. Joseph, Mo.

Each year, a coat drive provides more than 700 coats to area infants, children, adults and seniors. The Grace House also hosts a blanket drive, a mitten and hat drive, and a back-to-school backpack and school clothing drive. Last year, nearly 300 new pairs of tennis shoes were donated to The Grace House for children to start the new school year; more than 680 children received a backpack with two sets of new school clothes and other needed items.

The Grace House has a website and an eNewsletter, as well as a social media presence. Yet it’s the contagious blessing of giving someone else something they need, and all for a smile, that keeps growing the donor and volunteer base. Still, the needs of the community continue to grow as well, and help is always needed.

It’s a simple formula, but profound and meaningful. Susan J. Campbell says thank you to The Grace House for all that they do behind the scenes to meet basic needs and lift up lives.

Posted in Monday Morning Coffee, Newsletter Marketing, Success Stories, Support Local | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Content Marketing – Run with the Big Dogs

Posted on January 24, 2013 by admin

16343161_mContent marketing is emerging from the shadows to occupy a starring role in many companies’ current marketing strategies. This past year has been one of considerable content growth, and the medium has continued to gain momentum as both as a unique and effective way to connect with consumers.

As Ron Faris, Virgin Mobile’s Head of Brand Marketing puts it, a winning content marketing strategy encompasses much more than expanding reach. It’s all about finding where followers like to congregate and discovering ways to engage with them there. For Virgin that has meant establishing Virgin Mobile Live, a virtual social lounge that streams fresh content like music, apps, and ideas across sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The site’s popularity is evident by its 1 million hits a month.

According to a Forbes article, Virgin isn’t the only big brand to realize the benefits of content marketing. Under parent brand L’Oréal, Garnier Fructis designed an entire content campaign aimed to catch the attention of Gen Y in a relevant, new way. The company’s goal was rooted in forging emotional connections with fans by partnering with Rolling Stone magazine to uncover new musicians and their individual styles. Consumers were asked to vote for their favorite artist who was then awarded a record deal and was featured on the magazine’s cover. So far the program has helped Garnier Fructis meet or beat key goals set forth by the company.

American Express is also no stranger to the use of content marketing. Walter Frye who serves as Director of Entertainment Marketing and Sponsorships states that content has helped the company create memorable experiences for its followers that translate to the bottom line. Instead of just aiding consumers in passively viewing a message, marketers are guiding them to actively consider their brands. One way American Express is accomplishing this is through its program American Express Unstaged, which airs real-time concert performances and exclusive videos via sites like You Tube.

Content marketing is all about thinking outside the box. If you’re stuck in a rut or are ready to amp your connection with fans, give SJC a call. We’ve got creative solutions for every challenge and can help you bond with followers on a whole new level.

Posted in Consistent Customer Communications, Content Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Mobile Content Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two Ways to See if Social Media is Working

Posted on January 23, 2013 by admin

11613956_mMuch conversation circulates around the bottom line on social media – particularly around the question, “does social media work?”

In short: yep.

Numerous articles highlight the successes of social media, including the ways organizations are using “mini moments” across social media to let their audience in on the little things that make their product or service a top choice. Others are using social media to ask intriguing questions to get the conversation going with their buyers.

If you’re pondering the question in 2013 “does social media work?” consider that there are many different goals and outcomes to help determine the success of social media efforts. You could connect social media posts with site traffic, with marked customer inquiries, and with helping create more qualified leads. According to a recent Marketing Profs article, you could also invest in advertisements across social media through Twitter – ads which can be specifically tied to social media campaigns.

Even new developments like social media ads don’t stand alone. The answer to the question “does social media work” has to be tied to your efforts to promote your product or service across multiple offline channels and multiple online channels. They coexist, and that’s really the only way to achieve a successful return.

Two of our favorite ways to track a social media strategy:
1. Get your landing page going. Landing pages are a simple but effective way to know if someone is acting on your social media ads or your social media campaign. Give the landing page address in your social media messaging and count the action. You can even be very specific with evaluating which pages of your main site visitors to your landing page go to.

2. Offer readers some valuable, informative content through a whitepaper. Then ask them to share some very basic information in order to view the whitepaper, and in this way, you’ll know if they saw the whitepaper from your social media campaign.

There are numerous other ways to know if social media is working, but like other content creation strategies, it all starts and ends with quality writing that gives real value to your audience across different channels.

Posted in Consistent Customer Communications, Content Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, White Paper Marketing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments