4Apr

Social Media Makeover in Only 7 Days

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Digital & Social Media Marketing
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When’s the last time you updated your social media profiles with your latest company information, making the most of each site’s features?  Not sure where to start?  This simple checklist will help you make over your social media presence in just seven days.

Take stock of all your social media accounts and make sure your overall social media presence is polished, professional, and up to date.

Day 1: Audit Your Current Social Media Presence

  •  Create an Audit Doc:  Create a document with a list of every social media account your company has claimed, including the user name, URL and important information for each site.
  •  Update your Passwords:  While you’re creating your initial audit document, log in to each account you own and update your passwords. Make sure you have a different strong, unique password for each account, and if multiple people need to access your passwords, search for a secure password manager.
  • Create a Task List:  Note on your audit document each of the following that need to be created, revised or updated: descriptions, profile photos, cover photos, logos, videos and product and service descriptions.
  •  Double Check the Facts:  Make sure you spell, punctuate, and abbreviate each word of your business information — such as your phone number, address, web addresses and other business details — consistently on each site you use so that search engines attribute your business with proper citations.
  • Align your Assets:  Request creative support for updates to your logo, profile images, and copy on your sites so you can take the next steps.

Day 2: Google+ Local

  • Refresh your Cover Image:  This image can be up to 2120 x 1192 pixels.
  • Update the About Section:  Select the “About” tab on your profile and navigate to the “Story” module to update your page’s tagline or add an introduction.
  • Check Links:  Make sure these are all working links with up-to-date content, since this profile is associated with Google and helps it know what other accounts are affiliated with your company.
  • Confirm Business Details and Contact Information:  Confirm all your details (phone number, address, email and hours of operation) are optimized and current, because this content feeds into other Google properties such as Maps.

Day 3: Facebook

  • Log in and navigate to your Facebook page where you can directly edit some components.
  • Update your cover photo:  At 851 x 315 pixels, your cover image should be unique and represent your company and its current look. It can be made up of no more than 20 percent text, so focus on a bold and inviting image.
  •  Update your Profile Image/Logo:  Your profile image is 160 x 160 pixels and should be able to stand alone in the news feed where it will display at 90 x 90 pixels.
  •  Arrange and Update Apps and Icons:  Make sure the most relevant apps are showing at the top of your page (you can select three to display).  You can also select new “cover images,” 111 x 74 pixel images, for many apps by selecting the down arrow and the edit pencil.
  •  Update your Page Content:  Under “Edit Page,” you can change various pieces of content affiliated with your page, such as your subcategories, address and short description.
  •  Update Settings:  Under “Edit Page” review exactly how your page is operating, including posting ability, private messaging settings, tagging ability, restrictions, app access, etc. to make sure it’s all optimal and up to date. Remove apps you do not use.

Day 4: Twitter
To update your Twitter account, you need to click the gear icon and select “settings” to edit your profile.  Once there, you can update a number of things under the following sections.
Profile

  •  Update your logo or profile photo: Use a square logo that is recognizable at 90 x 90 pixels.
  •  Update or add a cover photo: This image size works best at 1252 x 626 pixels.
  •  Update your bio section: Remember, you only have 160 characters.
  •  Double check your location
  •  Confirm your website

Design

  •  Refresh your Background:  Experts recommend using an image that’s 1600 x 1200 pixels and under 2 MB in size.
  •  Coordinate Background and Link Colors
  •  Apps:  Revoke access to any apps that you no longer use to keep your account secure.

Day 5: LinkedIn
Log in to your LinkedIn account, hover over your profile image and click “Manage” your company page.  This will take you to a view with several editable tabs — “Home,” “Careers” and “Services.”

Homepage

  •  Page details: Make sure your company type, size, URL, industry and locations are all up to date.
  •  Company description: Can be up to 2,000 characters.
  •  Image: This image needs to be 646 x 220 pixels and can be up to 2 MB in size.
  •  Standard logo: It needs to fit the ratio of 100 x 60 pixels for LinkedIn.
  •  Square logo: This logo version should be 50 x 50 pixels or square.
  • Company specialties: Make sure this is up to date by adding any new services or major product lines and removing those you no longer offer.

Careers Page

  •  Cover image:  This unique careers image should be a minimum of 970 x 240 pixels and can be cropped to fit the space.
  •  Content:  Description, video, slides, images

Testimonials

Services page

  •  Products and Services:  You can customize this page with product logos, images, descriptions, names and even video modules.

Day 6: YouTube
Go to “My Channel” under the dropdown menu, and then select the areas you want to edit and optimize.

  • Channel Art:  YouTube recommends a photo at 2560 x 1440 pixels with a “safe” area within this image for text and logos of 1546 x 423 pixels centered within the image.
  • Channel Icon:  A high-resolution, square image that displays well at smaller sizes, ideally 800 x 800 pixels.
  • Description:  Under the “About,” section, update the description of your company, and optimize this description for search.
  • Links:  You can include links to relevant sites such as your website and social pages.
  • Videos:  Feature your most important videos and make sure uploaded videos are optimized for onsite and offsite search by including important keywords they use to search for your videos.

Day 7: Pinterest

  • Log in, locate your profile icon in the upper right hand, hover, and select “Your Profile & Pins,” then select the pencil under your description and select “Edit Profile.”
  • Account Type:  If you joined Pinterest before it had the option for business pages, you can convert your account type to a business at business.pinterest.com.
  • Profile Image:  A square version of your business logo at 211 x 211 pixels displays best across the site.
    About: 200 characters to describe your business.
  • Boards, Board Covers and Descriptions:  Refresh your Pinterest boards by adjusting board names and descriptions and selecting new cover images for each board and arranging them into a new order on your page.
  • Add Maps:  A new Pinterest feature is the ability to add maps to boards, called Place Pins.
    Get Started!

With this checklist, you can tackle a social media makeover to make sure your business web presence is refreshed, accurate and even more effective. All that you need is to get started! 

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25Dec

30 Creative Ideas for Holiday Email Marketing

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Marketing TIps
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Is email marketing part of your holiday marketing plans?

If not, you could be missing out.

Here’s why:

  • Last year, Constant Contact customers sent 1.3 billion emails in the week leading up to Cyber Monday.
  • Email marketing was the #1 driver of online sales on Black Friday .
  • From one email, Southeastern Underdeck Systems made $67,000!

1. Holiday preview sale

Give your audience the chance to beat the holiday rush — bring people into your store early with a holiday preview sale! You can encourage current customers to bring their friends, and even offer additional discounts to them for helping you spread the word about the event.

Bonus tip: When hosting a sale early in the season, make sure to offer a convenient way for new customers to sign up for your email list.  Let them know you’ll be following up with more updates about holiday offers later in the season.

2. Cyber Monday offer

If there’s an e-commerce side to your business, make sure to participate in the annual online shopping event, Cyber Monday. You can send a series of emails leading up to Cyber Monday letting people know about special discounts, and send a final reminder when the big day finally arrives.

3. Free shipping

There are many small things you can do to add value this holiday season.  One of the easiest ways to add value is to offer free shipping leading up to the December holidays. You can encourage people to shop online or provide details so that customers can call to place an order.

4. Gift card bonus

In addition to traditional discounts, you can also look for ways to reward people for shopping small by adding a bonus prize, like a gift card or gift certificate.
Offering a gift card as a bonus can increase sales during the holiday season, and can also help introduce you to new customers in the process.

5. Holiday gift guide

Help your customers find the perfect gift with a holiday gift guide.

You can send a general mailing to your entire list, or create separate lists for different audiences and come up with different gift ideas for all of your different audiences (gifts for moms, gifts for your husband, gifts for your grandkids, etc).

6. Holiday coupon

Coupons can be used in a variety of different ways throughout the holiday season. You can use them as the focus of your email, or add a coupon to your regularly scheduled email newsletter as an extra bonus for your readers.

7. Sample sale

Showcase some of the different products you offer with a holiday sample sale. For a business like Sugaree’s Bakery, a sample sale lets customers experience their different recipes and share with holiday guests.

Think of ways you can let people sample your products and services this holiday season.

8. End-of-year update

One of the best ways to celebrate the holidays is to reflect on all that you’ve accomplished in the previous year. As a small business, you share a special connection with your customers and they’ll be happy to hear about all of your success.

Use the holidays to say thanks to your loyal customers and give them something to look forward to in the New Year.

9. Extended holiday hours

Keep customers up-to-date about any changes in your schedule throughout the holiday season. Customers will be thankful for the reminder, and will be more likely to fit you into their holiday shopping plans.

10. Early pricing

A successful holiday season can help you end the year on a positive note, and can also set you up for success in the New Year.

Start your holiday season early by offering fall discount — like Halloween specials.

11. Naughty or Nice

With so many businesses vying for your customers’ attention during the holidays, you’ll need to come up with creative ideas to get your emails noticed. Boston-based burrito restaurant Boloco, uses humor to make a lasting impression, while also promoting their holiday special.

12. Say thanks

What is your business thankful for? The holidays are a great time to let people know that you appreciate their support. Saying thanks can humanize your business and help build the trust you need to build customer relationships.

13. Holiday announcement

A successful holiday email promotional plan will include a mix of announcements, reminders, and thank you emails.

Think about the big things you’re promoting this season. For some businesses it may be an annual holiday sale or event, or it could be a new line of products for the holidays.

You can use a holiday announcement to get the word out early and start the season off on the right foot.

14. Holiday video

Add some personality to your holiday emails with a special holiday video.

You can use video to go behind the scenes and let people know how you’re preparing for the holiday season. You can also showcase your employees or just use the video to say thanks for a great year.

Bonus tip: Smartphones make it easy to create professional-looking videos on a budget. Here are 6 examples of videos you can create without spending a dime.

15. Tie in social media

Offer people multiple ways to connect with you this holiday season.

In addition to traditional methods like phone or email, you can also encourage people to connect with you on social media.

Bonus tip: Even if you don’t have an e-commerce side to your business, you can still use social networks like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to showcase your different gift ideas. Consider creating a special board of gift ideas on Pinterest and promoting it to your email list.

16. Black Friday offer

Black Friday isn’t just for the big-name retailers. As a small business, you can create a special Black Friday offer and take advantage of the rush around the holiday shopping weekend.

This year Black Friday takes place on November 25, 2016!

17. Look ahead to the New Year

If you don’t have a lot going on during the holidays but have big plans for 2015, you can use the holidays to promote your upcoming activities. Use online registration to make it easy for people to sign up in advance.

18. Last minute reminders

Don’t forget to factor your last-minute email reminders into your holiday planning. You can come up with a list of last-minute gift ideas and promote them in the days leading up to the December holidays. Or help customers find last-minute decorations for their holiday parties.

19. Gift certificates

Don’t forget to offer gift certificates as a gift idea this holiday season. This can be especially effective later in the season when people are looking to pick up last-minute gifts.

20. Celebrate your success

Were there certain projects or achievements that really stood out for your business in 2016?

Make your email subscribers feel appreciated and include them in your celebration.

21. Holiday event

Hosting a holiday party is the perfect way to thank employees and customers for their continued support all year long. After all, they are the backbone of your business and you want them to know just how much you care.

22. Gift packages

Put a holiday wrapping around some of your products and services to create special gift packages.

You can create packages that are unique to your different audiences, and add value without adding a discount.

23. Small Business Saturday

Plan a special offer for “early bird” shoppers and promote it to your email list. Here’s an example of how 3 Kittens Needle Arts promotes Small Business Saturday shopping to their subscribers.

24. Share a story

The holidays are a great time to make a more personal connection with the people who support your business. Share a story about how your family celebrates the holidays.

Adding a personal touch to their holiday newsletter resulted in Second Bloom Design’s biggest order of the holiday season.

25. Shipping deadlines

People need all the help they can get when it comes to keeping track of important dates and deadlines during the holiday season. Email is one of the most reliable tools you can use to notify your audience about any important deadlines.

26. Affordable gift ideas

Help people find the perfect gift on a budget with an email that shows off some of your affordable gift ideas. This is a great way to bring people into your store so that you can show off all the other great products you have to offer.

27. Local gift ideas

There are a number of benefits of shopping small during the holiday season. Use these benefits to your advantage. Show off the personal touch your business offers, and encourage people to “beat the crowds” by shopping small.

 

28. Photo contest

Contests are a great way to celebrate the holidays with your biggest fans. Boston-based burger restaurant “Tasy Burger”, created a fun “12 Days of Ugly Sweater” contest, and encouraged people to share their best photos on social media. This is a great way to engage your audience and have some fun during this busy time of year.

 

29. Fundraising campaign

Celebrate the “Season of Giving” by supporting one of your favorite organizations. You can donate a portion of your sales, or come up with different ways that encourage people to interact with your business and donate.

30. Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a national day of giving, following the busy holiday shopping weekend.

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25May

Using Social Media as a Tool for Success

Posted by: IndiVisualCreations Categories: Digital & Social Media Marketing
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Social media is similar to starting a new business, and with it comes many obstacles: how to treat your customers, present yourself to the community, and effectively spread the word about what you do and what makes you different from your competitor.

Same as a new business you have to hire a friendly person to work the front counter is a good way to create a welcoming atmosphere.   Your Pages should be just as inviting.  If done correctly, you will begin to build your clients, generate a voice in a online community, and keep your fans coming back.

This might sound easy, but Social Media can be hard to maintain once you get it started.  What to post about and who to build relationships with can be tricky.  Here’s a list of tactics to use to keep your Social Media thriving:

Actively Engage with your Customers:  Don’t post only about your company.  Use interactive ways to promote your business by talking about current events going on in the community, or sharing posts made by others that will generate conversation relevant to your customer”s interests.

Measure your Success:  Track who your followers are, and make sure you are reaching out to the appropriate audience.  Having your message fall on deaf ears is not only frustrating; it’s a waste of time.

Ask for Advice from Others:  Using other people’s strategies to your advantage can really help, and most people are willing to share how they use their Social Media pages.  Getting advice will not only help you, it will let you engage and build stronger relationships in the online community.  After all, social media is a group effort.
Get into a Routine:  Make sure you stay on a schedule.  This gives your fans a time frame for when you will or will not post, which helps keeps things rolling.
At IndiVisual Creations, we provide customized Social Media Packages to fit our customers’ specific needs.

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