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Creating Social Videos That Grow Strong Connections - 399 https://ift.tt/3amsQn7 Wondering how to use video to build stronger connections with your customers and prospects? Looking for a process to follow for your next video? To explore how to create emotional connections with video, in this episode I interview Matt Johnston. Matt is a former journalist turned video marketing expert and founder of Guide Social, a video marketing agency. USEFUL INFORMATION: We'd love you to review our show on Apple Podcasts. Social Media via Social Media Marketing Podcast https://ift.tt/1LtH18p March 27, 2020 at 05:03AM
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Best CRM Software https://ift.tt/33Qe0Tn Customers are the lifeblood of any business. That’s why customer relationship management (CRM) tools have become so popular. CRM software improves sales log communication, lead management, and even helps with marketing campaigns. Historically, CRM software was only used by large businesses and enterprises. But today, CRM has evolved to fit the needs of all organizations, regardless of size or industry. Finding the right CRM platform for your business can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. That’s what inspired me to create this guide. The 7 Best CRM Software Solutions of 2020After researching and testing dozens of different CRM software, I’ve determined that these are the top seven options on the market today: We’ll take a closer look at the features, benefits, and pricing of each software in the reviews below. Use this guide to help you find the best CRM software for your business. Best CRM Software ReviewsHubSpot100% Free CRM software HubSpot is another well-recognized name in the business world. Their blog is one of the best resources for content related to sales, marketing, and services. HubSpot is unique because they offer free CRM software. They also have CRM for multiple roles within an organization, like:
Some CRM providers offer a free trial or free plan with basic features. But HubSpot’s goes above and beyond what you’d normally get for free. These are some of the top features for the free sales CRM:
As for the paid software, prices vary based on the type of CRM you’re looking for and the number of contacts you have. The Marketing CRM, Sales CRM, and Service CRM all have plans starting at $50 per month. Enterprise plans for Service and Sales start at $1,200 per month, and the Marketing Enterprise begins at $3,200 per month. For those of you who want CRM solutions for multiple departments and uses, you can buy a bundle from HubSpot as well. Growth Suites (include Sales, Marketing, Service) starts at $112.50 per month. You can also create your own bundle based on the specific tools that you’re looking for. Zoho CRMPlans start at $18/month Zoho is a global leader in business SaaS. More than 50 million users across the world use their solutions. In fact, Zoho Books made our list of the best business accounting software, and Zoho Inventory is on our list of the best inventory management software. Above all, Zoho CRM is arguably the best solution offered by this provider. It’s used by 150,000+ businesses in 180+ countries. You can use Zoho CRM to convert leads, engage with customers, and grow your company’s revenue. Big brands like Bose, Netflix, Amazon, Ducati, and Suzuki all use Zoho CRM for customer relationship management. Here’s a brief overview of the plans and pricing for Zoho CRM: Standard — $18 per user per month
Professional — $30 per user per month
Enterprise — $45 per user per month
All of the prices are for month-to-month plans. You can save 20% with an annual contract. Zoho offers an Ultimate plan that’s only available yearly. It has features like advanced customization, enhanced storage, email sentiment, and automation suggestions. But you’ll need to contact the Zoho sales team for a custom quote. Additionally, there’s a free version of Zoho CRM—although it’s extremely limited and only realistic for a small home-based business. SalesforcePlans start at $25/month With more than 150,000 businesses using Salesforce CRM, this is another one of the most popular customer relationship management solutions on the market today. Salesforce has an extensive suite of CRM products for you to choose from. They offer solutions based on business type, role, need, and industry. Examples include:
Salesforce offers advisory services, success plans, productivity tools, integrations, and detailed analytics. It’s one of the most extensive CRM product offerings that you’ll find on the market today. For the purpose of this review, I’m going to focus on the Sales CRM from Salesforce. In my opinion, this is the best one that they offer. Here’s an overview of the Sales plans: Essentials — $25 per user per month
Professional — $75 per user per month
Enterprise — $150 per user per month
Unlimited — $300 per user per month
Even the Essentials and Professional plans will be more than enough for most businesses. You can try Salesforce for free with a 30-day trial. FreshsalesPlans start at $19/month As the name implies, Freshsales is a CRM software that’s designed for sales teams. It’s not quite as popular as some of the other solutions on our list. But Freshsales CRM is still used by more than 15,000 businesses. A couple of recognizable brands include Best Western and Dyson. Freshsales will help your team find and manage the best sales leads. You’ll be able to have relevant conversations with prospects and improve your sales pipeline. Let’s take a closer look at the prices and top features associated with each Freshsales subscription plan: Blossom — $19 per month per user ($12 with annual contract)
Garden — $35 per month per user ($25 with annual contract)
Estate — $65 per month per user ($49 with annual contract)
Forest — $79 per month (billed annually)
You can try out any of these plans for free with a 21-day trial. Freshsales also has a free forever startup plan with basic features. I like Freshsales because it’s affordable and perfect for a growing sales team. You can easily upgrade to a higher tier as your company grows. InsightlyPlans start at $29/month More than 25,000 companies use Insightly for CRM software. This includes big names like Bosch, AT&T, and Bloomberg. Insightly is a bit unique compared to some of the other options we’ve reviewed so far. In addition to sales and marketing, Insightly CRM puts a strong focus on project management. You’ll get all of these feature sets in a single solution. Some of the benefits of Insightly CRM include:
Insightly has an exceptional mobile app that allows you to work from anywhere. You can scan business cards, update your tasks in real-time, and create new opportunities on-site at a client’s location. Popular tools like G Suite, Gmail, QuickBooks, Google Drive, Mail Chimp, Slack, and Dropbox all integrate with Insightly. All Insightly CRM plans are billed on an annual basis. Here’s a look at those rates:
You can request a demo and try it out for free. Insightly has a free forever plan with basic features for two users. ApptivoPlans start at $0/month Apptivo is another top choice for CRM software. It’s used by 200,000+ organizations in roughly 200 countries. The Apptivo CRM is unique because it combines multiple apps into a single solution. In addition to CRM, Apptivo also offers:
So for those of you who are in the market for these additional services, you can manage everything in the same place with Apptivo CRM. This is much simpler than juggling multiple apps for different uses. The CRM apps for Apptivo fall into the following categories:
Apptivo integrates tools like Slack, Office 365, G Suite, and more. Here’s a brief overview of the plans and prices for Apptivo CRM: Starter — $0
Premium — $10 per month per user ($8 with annual contract)
Ultimate — $25 per month ($20 with annual contract)
Enterprise — Custom pricing
You can save 20% if you sign up for yearly billing instead of month-to-month. Apptivo is commonly used for businesses in real estate, travel and hospitality, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, utilities, and energy industries. PipedrivePlans start at $17/month Pipedrive CRM is designed to simplify your sales process. More than 90,000 businesses use Pipedrive CRM. It’s a straightforward platform that’s easy for anyone to figure out. This CRM was created to generate more leads and sort your sales in a single location. It helps eliminate administrative tasks that are unproductive. It’s designed to drive more sales with less legwork on your end. Some of the top features and benefits of Pipedrive CRM include:
More than $24 billion in sales have been closed using Pipedrive. On average, businesses increase their close rate by 28% after the first year using this CRM. These are the plans and prices for Pipedrive CRM: Essential — $17 per month per user ($12.50 with annual contract)
Advanced — $31 per month per user ($24.90 with annual contract)
Professional — $59 per month per user ($49.50 with annual contract)
Essential — $99 per month per user (billed annually)
Pipedrive also has a “Leadbooster” add-on for $39 per month ($32.50 with annual contract). This tool is billed per company, not per user. It’s designed to turn more web visitors into leads. Leadbooster is basically a chatbot. It engages with customers with instant responses and makes it easy for them to schedule a meeting. Try Pipedrive CRM free with a 14-day trial. How to Choose the CRM Software For Your BusinessCRM software can be a complicated subject. With so many options to choose from, finding the best solution for your business might be overwhelming. This is the methodology that we recommend here at Quick Sprout to help narrow your search. I’ll explain each element in greater detail so you can make a decision based on your needs. Team SizeThe size of your business and team will have a significant impact on the CRM you choose. Some solutions are better for small businesses, while other options specialize in enterprise software. You can even find CRM tools for small teams of just one or two people. CapabilitiesCustomer relationship management software is so diverse. It’s such a broad term, and it’s used across multiple departments and for various reasons. Common CRM categories include:
There are even other solutions for things like customer service. Some companies offer all CRM capabilities into a single platform. Others specialize in one category over another. There are CRM solutions offered as an all-in-one solution. But other times, you’ll have to buy the software separately or bundle it into a single package. IntegrationsYou should look for CRM software that integrates with popular tools that you’re already using. This will allow you and your team to manage everything from a single dashboard. If you constantly have to bounce back and forth between multiple platforms to manage your leads and customers, it defeats the purpose of using CRM to streamline your process. PriceAs always, price will be a significant factor in which CRM you choose. In most cases, pricing is based on the number of users you have. Depending on the platform, pricing can also be based on the number of contacts or storage you’ll need as well. Make sure to find something in your price range. The pricing for CRM software ranges from $0 to $300+ per user. ConclusionWhat’s the best CRM software? The answer varies depending on your business type and what you’re looking for. Here’s a quick recap of the top seven options on our list:
From startups to enterprises, and sales to marketing and project management, I’m confident that you can find the best CRM software for your company on this list. Social Media via Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/UU7LJr March 26, 2020 at 02:55PM
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Doctors react to viral coronavirus myths https://ift.tt/3amY3GO From claims that kids don't get COVID-19 to Vanessa Hudgens' "death is inevitable" video, we asked two doctors to weigh in. Read more... More about Mashable Video, Social Media, Doctors, Vanessa Hudgens, and Covid 19Social Media via Mashable https://ift.tt/2DCFv97 March 26, 2020 at 10:05AM
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Best Time and Attendance Systems https://ift.tt/2UxVBGU The days of employees needing to punch a time card or paper attendance sheet are long behind us. Like most business functions, modern time tracking and attendance systems have gone digital. Accurately tracking employee hours is crucial for every business, both large and small. Inaccurate and outdated processes could cost your company tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. So if you need an updated time system, you’ve come to the right place. The best time and attendance systems are simple to implement and manage. Your employees will always be compensated appropriately for their work while eliminating bottlenecks in payroll. In fact, it’s common for the best time and attendance software to integrate popular online payroll services. No matter what type of business you have or what industry you’re in, this guide will help you find the best time tracking and attendance system for your company. The 6 Best Time and Attendance Systems of 2020There are dozens of time tracking and attendance systems on the market today. Some are good, while others are not so great. But these six systems stand out above the rest:
I’ll give you an in-depth review of each option below. We’ll discuss the top features, benefits, costs, and other considerations to give you the information needed to make a decision. Best Time and Attendance Systems ReviewsTSheetsPlans start at $28/month TSheets ranked high on our list of the best employee scheduling software. So it’s no surprise to see them at the top of this guide. As a QuickBooks company, TSheets is a name many of you might be familiar with if you’re currently using another QuickBooks product. With TSheets, your employees can clock-in from anywhere using the mobile timesheet app. The app will track time even if Wifi and cell service is unavailable. You can leverage geofencing technology to draw a virtual radius around your business or job site. This feature will ensure that employees are actually where they’re supposed to be while on the clock. As I’ve already alluded to, the employee scheduling features are exceptional as well. This is an added bonus that comes standard with your time and attendance system. For those of you who want a more traditional time clock system, where your staff and clock in and clock out on the same device, you can use the TSheets Clock Kiosk. The kiosk works on any tablet or computer with a connection to the Internet. Each employee will be assigned a unique four-digit PIN. The system also has a biometric facial recognition tool to prevent the “buddy punching” system. Here’s a quick comparison of the two plans and pricing options for TSheets: Premium — $20 base fee + $8 per user per month
Elite — $40 base fee + $10 per user per month
Both plans are available for a 14-day trial for any business that wants to test them out. I’d recommend TSheets to any business that wants to a time and attendance system to simplify their payroll process. TSheets integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks, Gusto, Square, Expensify, Xero, and other popular solutions. TimeClock PlusCustomized pricing As the name implies, TimeClock Plus specializes in time clocks. The company uses top of the line hardware to eliminate old fashioned and outdated equipment. Depending on your business type, TimeClock Plus has a wide range of time clocks for you to consider:
In addition to using advanced equipment for tracking time and attendance, TimeClock Plus doubles as a security feature. You’ll have the option to configure select equipment with your door locks to prevent unauthorized access to buildings, rooms, or any other entrance with a locked door. This type of system is best for larger organizations with complex security needs. Most small business owners won’t need employees to scan a fingerprint to enter rooms throughout the building. TimeClock Plus systems are fully customizable. It has built-in absence management tools and integrates with your employee scheduling software as well. Alternatively, you can use the TimeClock Plus workforce scheduling system if you don’t have one already. TimeClock Plus has more than 30 years of experience providing services to businesses. They provide top of the line equipment for every time and attendance system. While these time clocks might sound complex, TimeClock Plus makes the process easy for you. You’ll have a consultation with an advisor to find the best solution for your business. They’ll set up the system for you and even train your supervisors and employees on how to use it. As a fully-customized solution, there are no prices available online. Although you can expect to pay top dollar for advanced equipment like biometrics that syncs with your security system. StratustimeStarts at $4/mo per employee Stratustime is a cloud-based time and attendance software from Nettime Solutions. It’s a simple yet intuitive way for employees to clock in, clock out, and request time off. Your staff will find it easy to use, and your managers and payroll staff will get the same benefits behind the scenes. Stratustime is flexible. This means that it can grow with your business as you scale and add new employees. It also integrates with 60+ payroll systems to ensure a streamlined process through each HR component. As a cloud-based system, it can be accessed on any device. From smartphones to a computer in the office, Stratustime is available 24/7. Some of the top features of Stratustime by Nettime Solutions include:
While the exact prices and plans aren’t available on the website, Stratustime is very affordable. This is another reason why it’s a top choice for small businesses. Monthly rates start as low as $4 per employee. There are no long term contracts, so you can cancel at any time if you’re unhappy (which probably won’t happen). Using a cloud-based software like Stratustime means you won’t have any complicated equipment installations or troubleshooting problems. The software lives in the cloud, so it can be up and running in minutes. Existing businesses using Stratustime have nothing but good things to say about the software. For smaller organizations with one location, multiple locations, and remote employees, Stratustime is an excellent choice for your time and attendance system. KronosIndustry-specific solutions Kronos has one of the most extensive time and attendance systems on the market today for small and medium-sized businesses. They provide industry-specific solutions for a wide range of business needs. In addition to time and attendance systems, Kronos has workforce management tools, employee scheduling software, absence management, labor activities, and analytics tools. Common industries that use Kronos for time and attendance management include:
What makes Kronos unique is the way that they provide business solutions. They have several different product suites to accommodate the needs of your organization. Here’s a quick overview of each solution: Workforce Dimensions Time Keeping
Workforce Ready Time Keeping
Workforce Dimensions Data Collection
Workforce Ready Data Collection
As you can see, there’s a product suite for basically anything you can imagine in this space. Some are more complex than others. It all depends on what your business is looking for. Regardless of the solution you choose, Kronos systems are safe, secure, modern, and reliable. Contact their sales team to request a quote and schedule a consultation. uAttendPowerful, reliable, & affordable uAttend is a simple way to track time and attendance at your business. It’s a powerful, reliable, and affordable alternative to traditional time clocks. The modern hardware from uAttend is connected to the cloud. In addition to the equipment provided by uAttend, you’ll also have web access and mobile app access to the system. This is an ideal feature for your remote workforce. You can even set up geofencing functionality to restrict punches to designated locations. The web dashboard is the perfect way for managers to see everything at a glance. You’ll be able to see who’s working, who missed a punch, and dozens of other reports. Since this solution is web-based, you won’t have to download any software, and it can be accessed from anywhere. Even if you’re away from the office you’ll know exactly what’s going on with your staff at all times. Here’s a quick overview of some of the popular time clocks and hardware offered by uAttend:
Depending on your needs, you can get a time clock for somewhere in the $120 to $260 range. This is extremely affordable, even for very small businesses. In addition to the time clocks, you can purchase RFID cards and key fobs from uAttend as well. All of the time clocks come with a monthly subscription based on the number of employees you have. The clocks won’t work without a subscription. All of the prices are transparent.
While uAttend does have plans to accommodate larger organizations, I’d definitely recommend it to those of you who have a smaller operation. It’s an ideal solution for businesses that fall within those first two tiers of up to 19 employees. Beyond that, I’d look elsewhere. iSolved TimeAll-in-one solution iSolved Time is another all-in-one solution for time and attendance. It’s a simple way for managers, supervisors, business owners, and employees to manage time tracking. More than 45,000 businesses and 3+ million employees use iSolved Time for tracking time and attendance in the workplace. The solutions available from this provider are extremely flexible. They offer physical time clocks, a mobile app for time tracking, employee self-service tools, and a combination of these offerings. Setting up your new system from iSolved Time is quick and easy. You’ll also have access to a wide range of training options, so you know the ins and outs of the solution. Like many other choices on our list, iSolved Time is a cloud-based system. You’ll have the option to add physical time clocks on-site, but you can access information from anywhere with an Internet connection 24/7. Here are some of the top features and benefits of the iSolved Time software:
I like iSolved Time because they have the features and capabilities to accommodate any business size. That’s why it’s a top solution for those of you with growing businesses. As your company scales and you continue to add new employees to your team or multiple locations, iSolved Time has the capacity to grow with you. How to Choose the Best Time and Attendance System For Your BusinessNow that you’ve had a chance to review the best time and attendance systems on the market, it’s time to choose one for your business. How do you know which one is right for you? Follow our methodology to narrow down your options. I’ll describe the features that you need to look out for while you’re browsing. HardwareThe very first thing you need to do is determine if you want physical hardware associated with your time and attendance system. For those of you who are already using punch cards, a modern time clock is a viable replacement. I’d recommend this for businesses where the majority of employees work on-site at the same location. Punching in and out as they enter and exit makes the most sense. For those of you with smaller teams or lots of remote or mobile workers, hardware won’t be necessary. You can find a time tracking system with a mobile app for managing everything on the go. There are also web-based solutions that don’t require hardware either. Punch MethodThe punch method will obviously depend on if you’re using hardware or not. But there are still variations with or without physical equipment. For example, mobile app punching can be managed using geofencing technology. Your staff will only be able to clock in if they enter the designed location for a job site. When it comes to in-person clock-ins and outs, there are time clocks that work with PINs, RFID cards, fingerprints, hand prints, facial recognition, and more. A small coffee shop probably won’t need facial recognition or other biometrics as the punch method, but a sophisticated business with advanced security needs would benefit from this feature. IntegrationsYour new time and attendance system should do more than just track time. It should integrate with other tools that you’re using to minimize manual administrative tasks. Look for a solution that integrates with your employee scheduling software or payroll system. Some of the options on our list have these features built-in. Business SizeA startup team of four and mid-market companies with 200 employees will not have the same time and attendance needs. It’s important to find a solution that works well for the size of your organization. Lots must be taken into consideration here. Some systems charge you based on the size of your staff. You could even incur additional costs for things like key FOBs and ID cards. If you currently have a smaller business now, make sure you choose a system that can scale with you as your business grows. That way, you won’t have to switch systems as you hire additional employees or open up new locations. ConclusionWhat’s the best time and attendance system on the market? There are six that stand out above the rest.
The best option for you will vary based on your needs and the factors I’ve discussed in this guide. But I’m confident that you can find a solution with the criteria above. Social Media via Quick Sprout https://ift.tt/UU7LJr March 26, 2020 at 10:04AM
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The Importance of Building an Email List As an Entrepreneur in 2020 https://ift.tt/3am6QZB Being a new entrepreneur is tough. With over 582 million entrepreneurs in the world (with many serving their customers digitally), having a breakthrough in marketing your business online can be a daunting and challenging task for many people. In order to find success, you need to be bold, brave and unique and find creative strategies that will give you an edge over the competition. There is no overnight success. There are a lot of ways to ensure that your business will become successful online. However, in order to achieve that, you must create an effective strategy that includes driving traffic to your website through an online sales funnel to build a list of customers for your business. Why is having an email list important?Building a good email lists is one of the best marketing assets a small business will have. 93 percent of B2B marketers are currently using email to distribute content and spent over $350 million dollars on email advertising in 2019. It is often challenging to build email lists in itself but with proper management and effective utilization of email file, this will drive good revenues immensely. There are 2 ways of building email lists effectively: paid options and free options. Paid optionsAs the word says “paid”, meaning you have to shell out a bit of your money in order to build your email lists. Here are some of the helpful sites you can engage with: Google AdsGoogle allows you to advertise your products with the use of their product listing ads. You can include your product’s image, price, title, promotional message and your business name without having to create different ads for each product you are selling. Make sure that the ads created for your website is encouraging and eye-catching. By clicking on your ads, users are directed to your website thus becoming not only a potential customer but a follower as well. Facebook adsUsing Facebook ads will drive people to go directly to your Facebook page and encourage them to “like” and signup to your email list. Try to create enticing incentives or freebies to users to direct them to your page. Make sure that you identify your target market and more importantly create ads that are precise to your user’s criteria. Pinterest Promoted PinsWith Pinterest Promoted Pins, you have to apply access for this dashboard because it would usually take weeks before its approval. However once approved, the possibilities of having good results for your business is tremendous. You just have to make sure that you create an enticing promotional offer, a blog post that will direct your audience to your page and tell them what exactly you will be giving away and set it up with an opt-in function for the people to view and be directed to your website. Solo AdsUsing Solo Ads are one of the quickest ways to quickly building a massive mailing list. A solo ad is a method where in you pay other people like webmasters who already have a huge list to send emails and advertise your business to their own list of emails. In short, you will be paying them to recommend your business using their own subscribers. Free optionsThese are some of the sites wherein you can promote your business and encourage users to visit your website. YouTubeEverybody knows that uploading a video on YouTube is free. So make sure that you also include a YouTube link on your website. Create a teaser content for your brand that sparks the interest and curiosity of your audience that would want them to sign up and give their email. Facebook GroupsFacebook groups that allow people to connect and provide information so you can delicately ask for email signups Online coursese-learning or online training sessions can be helpful in getting email lists especially if you they are of value for them. Many online training sessions asks for contact information so that you can reach out to them to provide the training schedule. Forum marketingThis is another great way to make your business be known and stand out. Users are generally experts, respected bloggers, net savvy consumers that are open to engaging in online purchases. That is the reason why forum marketing is another strategy to make a good impression and let you spread the word about your company. The post The Importance of Building an Email List As an Entrepreneur in 2020 appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog March 26, 2020 at 09:42AM
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How to Host a Successful Virtual Event: Tips and Best Practices https://ift.tt/2UBsjqN Virtual events still sound a little futuristic, but they’ve been happening since 1993 when the world’s first livestream brought us nail-biting webcam footage of a coffee maker in mid drip. The streaming pot brewed up millions of views. In some ways little has changed in 2020. On TikTok, teenagers have gone viral with sleep feeds, raking in crypto coin as they catch some zzz’s. But tech and social media upgrades have opened the door to new ways to connect online, from virtual museum tours to live Q&As with astronauts in space. Even some of the largest conferences have gone partially or completely digital. Moving events like this online can reduce costs and carbon footprints, and make attendance accessible to a wider audience. In 2018, Coachella’s YouTube livestream brought Beyoncé’s Homecoming to more than 41 million people in more than 232 countries, rather than just the hundreds of thousands in attendance in person. From live-tweeting to livestreaming, businesses and organizations are staging virtual events across the web. So, is your company ready to get digital? Whether you have an event already in mind or you’re looking for ideas, this article is your all-access pass. What is a virtual event?A virtual event is any organized meet-up that takes place online rather than in a physical location. These events can range from small question-and-answer sessions to large-scale conferences with thousands of attendees. Even a livestreamed feed of a solo cup pyramid can be a virtual event, apparently. Here’s a rundown of the different kinds of online business events your company can host. How-to’s, tutorials, and classesHave a product or service that needs some explaining? A how-to or tutorial is a good way to provide tips, tricks, and instructions. This type of event can be used to launch a new product, answer frequently-asked questions, or reveal different use cases. Kick things up a notch with a full-on class. For instance, yoga instructors or chefs can share exercise and cooking classes online. Training and coursesFor more complex topics, webinars, workshops, and courses might be a better fit. This format can offer deep dives around specific themes, skill sets, tools, and more. For example, some of Hootsuite’s webinars include Best Practices for Using Search and Social Advertising Together and How to Build an Audience Driven Social Marketing Plan. Behind-the-scenes toursGive your followers a peek behind-the-scenes. Places like museums, galleries, theatres, airports, and even national parks, can offer viewers glimpses at what it’s like to visit. Or what it’s like to work somewhere. Your business doesn’t have to be an attraction to make it happen. Tour your lab, factory, office, workshop, tradeshow or test kitchen. Show your customers how the “sausage” gets made. Interviews and performancesTap your in-house experts to share their knowledge in a live question-and-answer session. Host a laidback Ask Me Anything (AMA) on social media. Or invite speakers or artists to give a talk or performance. Everything from TED-style talks to stand-up comedy shows or intimate interviews is fair game. Interactive trivia games and contests can also keep things engaging. Conferences and showsEven large-scale events can have a virtual component. From Coachella to SXSW, live concerts and summits have been streamed online so that people who can’t attend in person can still get in on the action. But there are also many conferences that take place entirely online, with networking and meetings integrated, too. How to host a virtual event (and tools that can help)There are a variety of ways to host a virtual event. Here’s a round-up of the different formats along with some of the best virtual events platforms you can use. Live tweetingStart an online discussion by live tweeting an event, asking a question, or hosting an Ask Me Anything. Use a hashtag to help people find and follow the conversation. Other online discussion tools include:
Social StoriesStories are a great platform to share videos and visuals of tutorials, interviews, and more. Add filters, special effects, and stickers to take questions, conduct polls, host an influencer takeover, and more. On Instagram, you can add them to a highlight for future viewers. The ephemeral approach to live events works with: WebinarsA typical webinar is an online presentation held in real-time. But they can be shared and viewed afterwards as well. Most of the time, a presenter will share their screen to go through slides or demos, while narrating. Participants can ask questions by voice or through a chat feed if the platform and presenter allows. It’s like a one-off workshop or class that happens in real-time. Webinar platform options include:
Social livestreamsJust about every social media platform has a live video feature. Livestreams are known for driving engagement. According to Facebook, live video averages six times more engagement than regular video. Social livestream platforms include: Most livestreams show comments and attendees in real time. And some, like Instagram, make it possible for you to go live with a friend—a good option for a Q&A or co-presentation. Expect Facebook to roll out live selling features soon, too. Conferences and networkingFor more formal virtual events, there are platforms that offer suites of tools that include livestreaming, chatrooms, and more.
Tips for hosting virtual eventsAll events come with logistical challenges. Here’s how to avoid hiccups during your virtual event. 1. Create a game planWhether big or small, offline or online, every event should have a strategy. Start with a key goal and concept, then take it from there. The earlier you can get planning, the better. Before hosting a virtual event, answer the following questions:
2. Choose the right timePicking the right date and time for your event is important, regardless of size or platform. Before sending out “save the dates” to your network, do a little research. Make sure there are no competing events or holidays that would interfere with attendance. Take time zones into consideration, too. If you plan to go global, try your best to pick a time that works for as many of your customers and followers as possible. If that doesn’t seem possible, make sure content is accessible after live presentations for those who couldn’t make it. It may also be worthwhile to plan multiple networking sessions and different virtual events for different time zones. Check analytics to see when your community is typically online. And for a firmer consensus, consider sending out or posting a poll for preferred dates. Emily Schuman, founder of Cupcakes and Cashmere, used an Instagram Story sticker to set the time for an Instagram live session. By the way, these are the best times to post on social media. 3. Promote the event“Build it and they will come” may be a fallacy, but “promote it and they will come,” isn’t. Especially when you offer a good incentive. Determine the key selling points your event has to offer attendees. It could be a noteworthy speaker, skill sharing, an opportunity to network, and more. Whatever you choose, make sure the value proposition is clear in your marketing. Share the event details by email and on social media. If you plan to run ads, target them strategically and choose the right format. For example, LinkedIn’s InMail ads may be a better way to extend invitations than impersonal sponsored posts. According to Adobe, registrations tend to spike two-to-three weeks before an event. So it’s a good idea to ramp up around this time. View this post on Instagram Take advantage of the social media tools available. Create an event countdown in Instagram Stories. Create a Facebook event with all the necessary information. Consider listing your event on sites like Eventbrite and in other places your audience will come across them. Speakers often double as influencers—so provide them with the details they need to become event ambassadors. Always include who, what, where, and how. That means no virtual event marketing should be without a link. Whether it’s a link to registration form or your Instagram profile, show people where they need to go. Don’t forget to share an event hashtag. This will help people promote the event and drive conversations online. Check out our complete guide to social media event promotion. 4. Prepare for tech troublesIf physical events have hitches, virtual events have glitches. Before kicking things off, test your Internet connection—and have your speakers do the same. Prepare backups of visuals and presentations in case a file goes wonky or awol. If possible, run a rehearsal. The sooner you identify problems, the sooner you can identify solutions. Remember that not all of your guests are tech savvy. Anticipate the troubles people may have by preparing easy to follow guides or FAQs. If you have the resources to provide support, even better. Make sure it’s easy to find where and how to ask for help. 5. Make it inclusiveJust like in-person events, virtual events should be as inclusive and accessible as possible. Make sure clear language, large fonts, and high colour contrast is used at all touch points—including presentations. Provide captions and visuals where possible for audio, and provide descriptions where possible for visuals. Sites like Vfairs also include page narrations and allow text character sizes to be adjusted. And this probably goes without saying by now, but if your event includes a panel of experts, try to avoid choosing exclusively cis white males. Unless you want your event to trend for the wrong reasons, make sure your virtual event showcases a diverse range of voices. Learn more about inclusive design for social media. 6. Encourage engagementIt’s simple: If you create opportunities for engagement, your audience will be more engaged. Why? It’s fun to see the outcomes of your engagement. Here’s a simple example: Ask viewers to submit questions in comments or through a chat tool. Chances are the people who ask questions are going to stick around to see if they get answered. Pro tip: If you do this, make sure to have a moderator assigned to the task of fielding questions. Virtually every online platform has interactive features. Ask people to participate in polls or quizzes. Encourage live tweeting. Take requests and suggestions. Or simply shoutout names as people tune in. And at the end of the event, ask for feedback. Examples of virtual events hosted by businessesHere are some examples of virtual events that businesses and influencers have hosted across social media and beyond. Bill Gates’ Reddit Ask Me AnythingThe Microsoft founder’s seventh AMA event on Reddit got more than 110,000 upvotes. This is Us behind-the-scenes set tourStars Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia use Facebook Live to take fans on a tour of the set of This is Us.
Benefit Cosmetics’ makeup tutorials on Facebook LiveMore than 2.4K viewers tuned in to learn how to create a brow-mazing glow-up.
The Earful Tower Podcast’s live Pub QuizOliver Gee, host of The Earful Tower podcast, hosts Parisian-themed trivia events from his YouTube channel—and even offers prizes for the winners. View this post on Instagram Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood’s Facebook Live concertThe country superstars held a jam session on Facebook Live, taking requests from fans head of time and during the broadcast.
The Sunday Service Comedy Show live on YouTubeVancouver comedy troupe, The Sunday Service, brings viewers the The Sunday Cyber Digital Service on YouTube live from their apartments. Antron Brown’s behind-the-scenes tour on TwitterThe NHRA driver showed Twitter viewers around his shop, which houses dragsters and trophies, among other gearhead treasures.
Live baking lessons from LinkedIn’s executive pastry chefLinkedIn’s pastry chef shows members how to make croissants and bread pudding. Purple Mattress’ sleepy Facebook LiveMore than 295K people watched this 45-minute video of a woman yawning and brushing her wig.
Lunch Doodles by Mo WillemsEvery day at lunchtime the Kennedy Center Education artist-in-residence hosts doodle sessions for kids on YouTube. Lululemon’s Yoga livestreamsThe yoga brand’s global ambassadors are leading workout, meditation, and yoga classes on Instagram live. View this post on Instagram Online exhibitions by VanGogh MuseumThe VanGogh Museum in Amsterdam lets followers take tours of gallery from the comfort of their couch.
British Museum opens its doors to Google Street ViewMore than 60 galleries of the British Museum can be visited from Google Street View.
Fire Drill Fridays goes virtualJane Fonda’s organization takes climate activism online with virtual rallies every Friday.
Girlboss Rally goes digitalGirlboss founder Sophia Amoruso plans to host her brand’s annual conference entirely online this year. View this post on Instagram Skift’s Business Travel Online SummitSkift will use Zoom to host this online summit featuring multiple speakers and attendees. Guests have the opportunity to ask questions and will have access to a recording of the event.
3% Conference livestreamed presentationsThis organization—founded to remedy the fact that only 3% of creative directors were women—offers livestreaming of its conferences for reduced costs. The group also regularly hosts Instagram Story takeovers to inspire followers. View this post on Instagram Hootsuite can help you promote your virtual events on social media and connect with attendees. Schedule all of your social media posts, engage with followers, and measure performance from one dashboard. Try it for free. The post How to Host a Successful Virtual Event: Tips and Best Practices appeared first on Hootsuite Social Media Management. Social Media via Hootsuite Social Media Management https://ift.tt/1LdunxE March 26, 2020 at 08:07AM
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6 Things To Consider When Starting An E-Commerce Store https://ift.tt/2QKTSNn We’re living in unprecedented times with billions of people around the world told to stay home. E-commerce sales have surged as the public turns to online shopping, but this was already a booming business with a recorded growth of 221% over the past six years. More people are now thinking about launching an online business, and while leveraging the power of the internet is an attractive proposition, there are things you must consider to succeed in this challenging marketplace. 1. What will you sell? The first thing to consider when starting an e-commerce business is what you will sell. If you already know this then you can jump to the next step. Start with finding the right niche, and a proven way of doing this is by conducting market research. You want a niche that is not in an oversaturated market, but one where there is a demand for your product. Start by choosing a specific niche, nothing too general, and one where the major brands are not already established. This enables you to compete and direct your advertising towards those specific customers. Here are some ways to spark ideas:
2. What content management system will you use to create your website? If you are going to build your website then you will be using one of the many content management systems. A CMS is a platform that helps you create a website without having any prior code writing experience. The best CMS platforms provide you with helpful tools and additional features that you can install using plugins and extensions, these enable you to create and change content during and after the building process. There`s a lot of options available and it can be a daunting prospect for someone new to e-commerce, but one way of narrowing it down is by choosing one that fits the requirements of your website. 3. What e-commerce platform will you use? Your choice of platform is driven by your e-commerce strategy, and with different services being offered how do you choose? There are lots of good platforms. The two most popular are Shopify and Godaddy. Godaddy is best suited for those who need a simpler platform and provides a cheaper alternative to building an online store. Shopify is suited to those you have a more complicated strategy and need specific e-commerce features, inventory control and shipping. You can read an in-depth review of both here Shopify vs GoDaddy that will help you make a more informed decision. 4. How will you source your products? Once you know what you will sell and decide on a platform you will have to source your products. Many people source from China using Alibaba, however, this is not the only option. Depending on the products, you might also be able to source in your own country or even locally. For those of you that are making products – maybe handmade items – sourcing won’t be an issue. 5. How will you get customers? Getting customers to your store is the hard part of running an e-commerce business. However, there are lots of ways to do this –
6. How will you deliver your products? Because of consumer demands, you must provide a cost-effective, efficient and reliable service, and there are factors you need to consider when choosing your shipping solutions. Your product’s weight and size. The number of items you expect to ship daily. Are they domestic or international? Speed of delivery and price. Platforms such as Shopify and Amazon offer very affordable and secure fulfilment services. CONCLUSION: Due to the current crisis the public’s buying habits have shifted away from traditional brick and mortar stores and towards online retail, and this is attracting a lot of attention. Business owners are thinking that now is a great time to start an e-commerce store, and they are right, but not because of the current situation. Here are some e-commerce facts that should help you decide as to whether it’s the right move for you. Approximately 1.92 billion people purchased from an e-commerce store in 2019, about a quarter of the world’s population, however, e-commerce only accounted for 11.9% of global retail sales in 2018, this figure is estimated to rise to 17.5% by 2021. Growth statistics already show a steady rise year on year and it’s expected that the global e-commerce income will surpass $4 trillion by the end of 2020. It is also predicted that the current 11.9% of global retail purchases will rise to 95% by 2040! So, I think it’s safe to say that it`s a market with potential, and by ensuring you have the answers to the questions above you will be starting on a solid platform. The post 6 Things To Consider When Starting An E-Commerce Store appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog March 25, 2020 at 03:48PM
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Importance of Customizing Your Website Landing Pages for Pinterest Traffic https://ift.tt/2UCz4J6 Pinterest is one of the best social networking platforms to reach new customers. According to the most recent estimates, 322 million people use the platform every month. There are 84 million Pinterest users in the United States alone. Pinterest is also far less competitive than Facebook and Twitter, so businesses should see results much quicker and with smaller budgets. However, there is still a learning curve for new businesses that are trying to reach customers on Pinterest. One of the challenges they face is creating successful landing pages to appeal to their audience. One of the mistakes that I see many new Pinterest marketers (as well as some experienced ones) make is using the same landing page for all of their visitors. This can significantly limit the ROI of your Pinterest marketing campaigns, because your customers are obviously going to have different needs. It is important to adjust your Pinterest landing page for different angles and customer segments. You should have noticeably higher conversion rates after making these changes. You can always get assistance from a professional web development service. Understanding Different Customer NeedsPinterest has highly nuanced targeting capabilities. They are different from Facebook’s, but they can still give their larger social networking rival a run for its money. Although the demographic targeting options aren’t as sophisticated, Pinterest allows marketers to reach users searching for various keywords. This enables you to match your ads to Pinterest users actively searching for relevant offers. This gives your brand a lot of potential. However, you need to make sure your entire funnel is optimized for your customers. You can’t just create a unique ad for every targeting option and refer all of your visitors to the same landing page. Every stage of the funnel needs to be built with your target customers and their end goal in mind. This includes building a relevant landing page. Building Custom Landing Pages for Your Pinterest funnelThere are various factors that you should keep in mind when building a landing page for Pinterest. Here are a few of the most important. Split-test category and product pages relevant to your targeted keywords Every landing page should carefully match the keywords that you are targeting. However, there are still a couple of different styles that you can try. You could have a category page with links to multiple offers. You could also try having links to product pages with a single offer and a stronger CTA. Which style is best? That is going to depend on the nature of each campaign. You are going to need to split-test to find out. As an affiliate for AliExpress, I have found that product pages work better for some keywords and category pages work better for others. It may depend on how committed a customer is to purchasing a particular product, as opposed to alternatives. You can’t possibly predict this ahead of time, which is why you will need to test both types of landing pages. Test different demographic targeting options with your keywords and customize landing pages accordingly Pinterest allows you to target both specific keywords and demographics. You could choose to only target users based on demographics, regardless of the keywords they are searching for. You would get a lot more volume, but your ads would be much less targeted. When you first start running a campaign, you should try being a lot more targeted. You will get better results if you test different keywords and demographics at the same time. For example, let’s assume that you are promoting weight loss offers for a client. You might want to target customers searching for the keyword “weight loss.” You should also try creating a few different campaigns for these potential users. You may want to target the following demographics:
Each of the demographics listed above may have different pain points when looking for weight loss services. Younger woman might be looking to lose weight to make themselves more appealing do men they want to date. Older women might want to lose weight to feel more confident with their husband. Older women and men of different ages might be more concerned about their health. Younger men might also want to lose weight for athletic reasons. Your landing pages should reflect the unique needs of every visitor. The post Importance of Customizing Your Website Landing Pages for Pinterest Traffic appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog March 25, 2020 at 03:48PM Marketing In a Time of Crisis https://ift.tt/2wmkyqV I know many of you are facing a time of great uncertainty for your business, as are we at Social Media Examiner. In this special episode, I share a number of useful resources we've put together to help you. Watch Mike's Live video with Joel Black Watch Mike's Live video with Marcus Sheridan Read Marketing in Times of Uncertainty: Tips from Top Marketing Pros Listen to Showing Up In a Time of Uncertainty: What Marketers Need to Know on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Social Media via Social Media Marketing Podcast https://ift.tt/1LtH18p March 25, 2020 at 02:18PM
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Twitter pulls The Federalist’s dangerous ‘pox’ coronavirus tweet https://ift.tt/2QHhlio A tweet by conservative online magazine The Federalist, which suggested people should deliberately infect themselves with the coronavirus strain COVID-19, has been pulled after it “violated” Twitter’s rules. The infringing tweet, posted on Wednesday morning, said: “It is time to think outside the bod and seriously consider a somewhat unconventional approach to COVID-19: controlled voluntary infection.” A spokesperson for Twitter confirmed the tweet violated its rules, but did not say why. The article focuses on “pox parties,” where parents would historically gather their young children together in order to infect their children with the common childhood disease. The theory goes that the child obtains the immunity and doesn’t suffer from the illness later in life, which can have far more serious medical implications. The article goes on to suggest this same principle should be used for the coronavirus strain, COVID-19, which to date has killed more than 20,000 people. Governments, both federal and local, have unified behind mandating that people stay at home and self-isolate in the hope of slowing the spread of the virus to prevent overrunning the health systems. Experts were quick to dispel the theory. Eugene Gu, a doctor and chief executive of Cool Quit, called the article “dangerous” and “irresponsible.” The article also used a racist term in its headline to describe the coronavirus, which Gu called the “racist cherry on top of dangerous and fake medical advice.” One Twitter user said that sharing the link to The Federalist’s article was blocked because it was “potentially harmful.” A spokesperson for The Federalist did not comment. Twitter has taken an aggressive approach to misinformation by proactively verifying known experts to improve the flow of accurate information. It’s also doubled down on its efforts to prevent disinformation by updating its policies to prohibit new tweets that “could place people at a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19.” Social Media via Twitter – TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com March 25, 2020 at 02:05PM |
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