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Olive Garden will Photoshop breadsticks into photos for teens that can't go to prom https://ift.tt/3eMBRc2 Olive Garden will Photoshop breadsticks into photos for teens that can't go to promAll products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Missing your high school prom because of coronavirus social distancing guidelines is a serious bummer, and while Olive Garden breadsticks aren't going to fix anything, they can definitely help lighten the mood. The restaurant chain known for its Italian-American cuisine and legendary breadsticks knows that high school seniors are hurting as prom season approaches, and wants to help. Olive Garden recently announced a campaign to help students commemorate their would-be proms, and it involves creating custom photos of teens with their prom dates and friend groups. "With photo backdrops inspired by popular prom themes and featuring Breadstick walls and mint garlands, it will look just like you were all at prom together," a rep said in a statement. "The photo fun is also available for the kids-at-heart because, let’s face it, we could all dust off our old prom outfits right now and share some laughs." If you want a cheesy Olive Garden breadstick memory of your own, simply take a photo of yourself in your prom attire and ask your date or friend group to do the same. Send the photos to Olive Garden by tweeting at them with the hashtag #OliveGardenProm or sending the images in a direct message, and a social media manager from the restaurant chain will reply with your delightfully edited photo. If you're looking to take your prom accessories to the next level for the photo, Olive Garden has you covered. The restaurant chain created a DIY kit full of "Prom Breadstick Bouquet wrappers" and "a pasta-themed Prom Court Crown" that you can download and print here. Editor's note: This is a .zip file. Whether you were planning to attend prom with your best friends, your "Breadstick Bae," or your "Prince of Parmesan," there's bound to be a perfect custom Olive Garden printable for you. I vote breadsticks for Prom King. You can technically make your own breadsticks at home or fill the wrappers with whatever prom snacks you like, but if you want the real deal for the photoshoot Olive Garden is currently offering food via delivery or pickup. The chain is only creating custom prom photos until May, so act fast if you want this one-of-a-kind memory. Social Media via Mashable https://ift.tt/2DCFv97 April 24, 2020 at 05:02AM
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Facebook and Instagram just made high-reach accounts a little more transparent https://ift.tt/2S18gSd Facebook is making a push to increase the information you can see on posts from high-reach Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts. If you follow an account with a large audience, you'll now be able to see right on each post where the creator of the account is primarily based and the country where the majority of their followers are based. Facebook is piloting the feature in the U.S., starting with Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts based outside of the country that reach large audiences primarily located in the U.S. "These changes are part of our broader efforts to protect elections and increase transparency on Facebook and Instagram so people can make more informed decisions about the posts they read, trust and share," the company shared in a blog post. How it appears on each Facebook post. If this sounds familiar, it's because the feature was originally introduced back in 2018 on both platforms. On Facebook, users are already able to see the primary location of the Page manager, to give them a better idea who is running it. Meanwhile, on Instagram, the "About this Account" feature allows users to see additional information about popular accounts, including the country the account holder is based in, along with date joined, former usernames, ads they are running, and more. What it looks like on Instagram. But until now, that information was only accessible on the actual Facebook Page or Instagram profile. To help minimize the steps involved in gauging the authenticity of whomever you're following, you can now check this information right from your feed in real time. Social Media via Mashable https://ift.tt/2DCFv97 April 24, 2020 at 05:02AM
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Zoom is too hackable. Here's how to use Snapchat for video calls instead. https://ift.tt/2VPES2e If you're trying to round up your friends or family for a good ol' video chat sesh, look no further than Snapchat. In addition to sending disappearing photos and videos, you can also use it for group video chat. Unlike Zoom or Google Hangouts, it doesn't require setting up meeting rooms, sending links, or entering passwords. Quarantine is stressful enough, amirite? Not to mention, there's always that one clueless friend in the group who somehow misses the text message or email with all the login info. (It's me. That one friend is actually me!) Oh, and another perk: You also don't have to worry about weird, creepy Zoom hackers invading your wholesome virtual gathering. If you already have Snapchat on your phone, all you have to do is open the app and tap a few buttons to start. You also have the option to invite up to 15 of your (closest) friends and apply those fun filters you'd normally save for sending Snaps to your crushes. If that's still a thing people do. Anyway... For those of you planning your next virtual hangout, here's how to set up a group call on Snapchat. Gather your groupWhen you open Snapchat, all you have to do is swipe to the right and tap on the "New Chat" icon in the upper right-hand corner. Then, choose the specific contacts you want to add to the group chat. Once your group is finalized, you'll be brought to the standard chat window you'd normally use to type messages to one another. You can choose who you want to add right from the contacts and also nickname the group. Image: brenda stolyar / mashable When everyone's ready to start the video chat, tap the camera icon in the right-hand corner. If your friends or family are like mine and use Snapchat to communicate often, then you might already have a group set up. If that's the case, all you need to do is open the app to the Chat section, tap on the specific group, and then select the video icon. If you create a new group, though, you'll always be able to access it from the contacts list so you don't have to type in everyone's names all over again. Those using an Apple device also have CallKit integration. That means you can also start a video call via Snapchat through your main call log on your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook without having to open the app. Navigating the chat windowsI'll be honest, figuring out how to navigate everything might be a little confusing at first, but it's easy to get the hang of it after a while. Once you hit the video call button, a notification appears to let you know it's ringing. Make sure your face is in the frame, though, because whoever you're calling can see your video before they answer. When everyone picks up, each person's face appears in a tile while yours is displayed at the bottom in a little circular bubble. Group video chat mode. Image: brenda stolyar / mashable The chat window so your other friends don't feel left out. Image: brenda stolyar / mashable Similar to how most video chat apps work, you can also choose to enter with either video or just audio turned on. And, if you change your mind mid-video chat, you can turn either one on or off while you're on the call. If there's someone who can't make it to the video chat session, you still have access to the chat window while on the call. So, you can type your messages and chat with everyone simultaneously. But if you want to hear what everyone is saying on the video call, you'll have to jump back into that video mode by tapping "Join" in the upper right corner of the window. Forget backgrounds, you can use filters insteadI think this one works best. Image: brenda stolyar / mashable Sure, switching up your virtual background on Zoom is fun. But those face filters are a lot more fun, especially during quarantine, when you're trying to hide the fact that you haven't been keeping up with your skincare routine. Or, washing your hair, or really anything for that matter, but I digress. When you're in the video chat, tap on your beautiful face at the bottom of the display and all of the filters will appear below it for you to scroll through and try on. When you've decided on the one you want, you can tap anywhere on the display to lock it in and use it for the remainder of the call. Or, change it up if you want. The sky is truly the limit here. But just don't let it get too out of hand because while they're fun, trying all the different options can be very distracting. And your friends might start to hate you for not paying attention to them. I'm not speaking from experience or anything, here. Social Media via Mashable https://ift.tt/2DCFv97 April 24, 2020 at 05:02AM
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Learn how to create better content with this $30 digital training https://ift.tt/3eEfIfZ Learn how to create better content with this $30 digital training
Products featured here are selected by our partners at StackCommerce.If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Image: pexels By StackCommerceMashable Shopping TL;DR: Get going on great content creation with the Digital Content Creators Master Class Bundle for $29, a 98% savings as of April 19. When it comes to content creation, quality is generally more important than quantity. But with many people stuck at home and living on their phones these days, it feels like quantity is gaining steam. People are digesting content at an unprecedented rate — it's honestly hard to keep up. While learning to create growth-worthy content for Instagram, YouTube, and more is never a bad idea, it's especially smart these days. With more people online, more eyes will be on your content. And with more eyes on your content, there's more opportunity for growth. Get it? If you need some help getting there, no worries. This Digital Content Creators Master Class Bundle can help. With eight comprehensive courses covering everything from social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube to essential skills like copywriting and video editing, completing this training will earn you the title "content creator." Choose your starting point and work your way through lessons on video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro, copywriting techniques that turn leads into customers, building and growing a successful YouTube channel, leveraging the Instagram algorithm, uploading content to Amazon Prime Video Direct, and creating a class worth taking on Skillshare. Taught by Bryan Guerra, the founder of Invert Media and an expert in e-commerce, online marketing, and customer acquisition, these courses are specifically designed for your growth. It'll take you 11 hours to work through each course, but with lifetime access, feel free to take your time and return to them whenever you want. Worth $1,600, you can sign up for this content creation mastery bundle for just $29 and start churning out content like it's your job. After all, the internet stops for no one. Social Media via Mashable https://ift.tt/2DCFv97 April 24, 2020 at 05:02AM Organic Social: Content Marketing Ideas From a Pro - 403 https://ift.tt/3bzglW9 Wondering if publishing organic social is worth your time? Looking for tips to improve your organic social content? To explore the power of organic content marketing, in this episode I interview Larry Kim. Larry is the founder of WordStream and Mobile Monkey, and is a content marketing pro. USEFUL INFORMATION: Learn more about Becoming Well-Known We'd love you to review our show on Apple Podcasts. Social Media via Social Media Marketing Podcast https://ift.tt/1LtH18p April 24, 2020 at 04:57AM
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Agent Finders: A Stress-Free Guide to Selling your Home https://ift.tt/2zsJTqf Relocating the home is something we all have to deal with at some point in our lives, and yes, it can be a very stressful experience at the best of times. You may already have found your new dwelling, and despite loan approval, you can do nothing until you find a buyer for your existing property, and with so many homes on the market today, how do you manage to find a buyer within a short time? Three Step Digital Solution For those who are looking to sell their home, look no further than an online agent locator – a website where you can, A) Find real estate agents B) Compare information C) Connect with agents Quick and to the point, using such a web service in completely free to the homeowner, as the buyer pays a nominal fee, and with everything at your fingertips, you can scroll through agent information until you find one that looks inviting. The service is free and you have all the tools you need on your device screen, empowering you to contact and connect with chosen agents, and there’s never been an easier way to find real estate agents, and what’s more, the service is free! Agent Networks As you would expect, when buyers wish to view properties, they do so online, and connecting with a single real estate agent could have your property listed on as many as one dozen digital platforms, which would reach thousands of potential buyers. Professional Property Presentation Like selling anything, listing a property is all about presentation, with the agent using a professional in-house photographer and a copy writer to present your home in the best possible light, which dramatically improves your chances of a quick sale. There might need to be some gardening and painting, to show the real appeal of the property, and with professional images and perhaps a show video, interested parties can gain an insight into your home. Unbiased Information When you use a website that connects sellers with agents, you can rest assured that the data you receive is genuine and unbiased, which really does help you to make an informed decision when looking for an agent to represent your property. Using an established agent finder is the key to a hassle-free quick sale, and as the service is free to the seller, you would be crazy not to take advantage of this online offer. Planning the Next Chapter No one wants the sale of a property to hold up their plans, with a new home secured and empty, waiting for the new occupants, and the agent finder will connect you to the best agents. This will mean your move will happen sooner rather than later and you can move onto the next exciting chapter of your life. Searching for an established agent finder is easy with a Google search, and before you know it, you will connect with the best real estate agent who will help you to sell the property. The post Agent Finders: A Stress-Free Guide to Selling your Home appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog April 24, 2020 at 02:07AM
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Things That Small Business Owners Can Do to Ensure Success https://ift.tt/2Kr9DFI When you start a small business, it’s a scary, uncertain time, and you’ll no doubt be looking at any potential ways you can improve your chances of success. No matter what size of your business or what you do, there are certain things that can really help in those early days, so here are some tips to help you get your business off the ground. Work with business consultants Even if you’ve worked in your industry for a long time, it’s a good idea to work with a consulting company early in the process, so you can make a great business plan. Knowing your industry and knowing how to start and run a business are very different things, so most budding entrepreneurs will need some sort of support and guidance in the early days, no matter what they plan to do. Focus on marketing In the early days of your business, it’s important to focus on marketing to get the word out there and start building your client list. There are many different ways you can market a business, including:
In the early days of your business, it’s best to try a little bit of everything to see what works best, but as you get further into building your brand, you can identify what works for you and budget accordingly. Do lots of research Research is key to building your business, as whatever products or services you want to offer, you need to make sure there’s a market for them. Start by looking at your potential competition. Does anyone else do what you want to do? If so, what’s your unique selling point? Will there be enough local demand to turn a profit? If not, would you sell online and potentially become a global business? The more research you do, the lower your risk. Start small Many budding entrepreneurs make the mistake of taking out a huge loan, spending a whole load of money to get things off the ground, then finding their business plan isn’t viable. It’s much better to start small, especially if you are self-funding and potentially risking your savings. Many entrepreneurs start their business in their spare time from their garage, so don’t feel like you need to spend a lot to get started. Don’t be afraid to ask for help If you need help with your business, don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s from the professionals or family members. Building a business can feel lonely at times, so there will no doubt be times when you need a second opinion or just someone to talk to. When you are building a new business, you’ll want to ensure it’s as successful as possible. While there’s no guarantee of success, there are steps you can take to make it more likely. From getting the right advice to making sure you get the word out through different types of marketing, follow the tips above for business success. The post Things That Small Business Owners Can Do to Ensure Success appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog April 23, 2020 at 10:28PM
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SURVEY: 55% of public relations pros still use spreadsheets to manage contacts https://ift.tt/2Y7tCRX To rev up support for Prezly’s Global PR Survey 2020, they’ve teased out some of the current findings to show the current state of public relations professionals workflow habits. With all of the technology and services at our disposal, early results show a whopping 55% of pros still rely on spreadsheets to manage media and contact lists and/or transfer contacts to a spreadsheet from another service. It implies that the majority still want control over their assets as much of it becomes proprietary. Current process requires manual updates annually and can become time consuming and costly — but may be worthwhile, especially to small firms who rely heavily on their outreach lists. Manual is the name of the game. Not only do professionals continue to mostly work from spreadsheets, the best research for media, influencers and other industry contacts comes from doing it yourself. Buying media lists was the lowest ranking at 9% with 83% thus far reporting in and listing “manual research” as the number one tool in their research arsenal. Typically manual research implies professionals are doing a combination of things: keeping up-to-date with what reporters are writing about, alerts set up on a social channels, monitoring key industry titles and simply using social media to identify and connect with potential media who may be interested in a story. All said, manual implies “real,” and there’s no price tag for that. The 2020 survey itself focuses heavily on questions related to PR pain points, like, “building a contact database from scratch,” and “following up with unresponsive contacts.” The survey forces you to think about what a meaningful and reciprocal relationship looks like with media contacts and where you may currently fall short and what your future goals are. Then they dig into what it means to have great relationships with media. While these are built over time and through reliability and credibility, it seems, based on the line of questioning that the sheer ability to simply be “seen” by media is something PRs continue to struggle with. The Prezly team plans to announce their findings from the survey on April 30 and will share visual representations of responses, key findings and insights from their executive leadership. If you work in public relations and would like to take the survey before it closes on April 27, click here. The post SURVEY: 55% of public relations pros still use spreadsheets to manage contacts appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog April 23, 2020 at 07:38PM Here’s How to Use Twitter To Bolster Your Personal Brand https://ift.tt/3aDPlnb With approximately 330 million active monthly users, Twitter remains one of the most effective tools for engaging with people, growing businesses, and building personal brands. Indeed, savvy Twitter users are adept at crafting a captivating profile and timely tweets to build brand awareness. It’s not difficult, and something you can achieve, too. With that in mind, let’s explore a few helpful hints to get you on the road to hashtag heaven. Maintain a Consistent Twitter Presence Anyone can set up a Twitter account, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will do anything with it. Some may create a profile and never return while others may only post once in a while. Either way, that’s not going to work. To develop followers and engage with other users, you need to post nearly every day. It’s the only way to make a lasting impression within your network. Take a look at impact investment leader Olympia De Castro’s Twitter page. She posts relevant tweets frequently, sometimes multiple times a day, building her followers as she goes. As you post with more regularity, people will begin to recognize your profile picture and the tone of your posts, which is all part of your brand. The more often you post, the more people will see you. But Don’t Over-Post Of course, if you go from never posting to posting regularly, the needle has the potential to swing too far in the opposite direction. Meaning, you’re over-posting. It’s important to be present on the social network, but you should avoid overdoing it. There are those who tweet something every five minutes. Don’t be one of those people. It can cause you to lose followers. Rather, you should post two or three times a day, maximum. You may find that some days require more posts than others. That’s fine. But don’t make a habit out of barraging people’s Twitter feeds with your posts. Don’t Forget the Hashtags Hashtags help people find your posts. If they’re looking for information about a specific product or service, they’ll often look up a hashtag in Twitter’s own search engine. If you include that hashtag, people will be more likely to find you. But Don’t Go Hashtag Crazy Use hashtags purposefully and sparingly. According to a study by Twitter itself, using hashtags incorrectly in your tweets can actually have a negative impact on your click-through rate. While that may sound alarming, what it really points out is that you need to be careful about which hashtags you use. Don’t use too many and make sure the ones you do use are applicable to your brand. Start Retweeting! Retweets are like reliable internet connections — everyone wants one. Don’t be afraid to retweet others’ posts. Just make sure they appeal to people in your target audience. Otherwise, you could end up losing followers. Plus, retweeting draws the attention of the original writer, which is always a great resource for networking. And remember, if someone retweets something of yours, make sure to thank them. Figure Out When To Tweet There are more than 350,000 tweets sent each an every minute. With numbers like that, it’s no wonder that it can be so difficult to cultivate followers. So try to create a strategy about when to post and stick to it. Friday is considered by many experts to be the best day to post, while the best time to post is between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (but you can often stretch that to noon). For most businesses, Sunday morning tweets provide the lowest engagement. Twitter analytics is a great way to figure out what time and which days are the best to post for your audience. Stick To The 80/20 Rule In general, around 80 percent of your Twitter posts should be entertaining or informational. The remaining 20 percent can focus on self-promotion. If you end up marketing yourself too much, people may become annoyed and unfollow you. Shake Things Up Avoid posting the same type of content over and over again. Try instead to rotate the types of posts you share. Images, Text, Links, and Quotes are all different types of tweets, with images being the most popular. Text, meanwhile, is great for conveying information and using hashtags. Links are good for cross-promotion, while quotes can be personal and help grab the attention of your audience. Learning The Ropes Twitter is an effective tool. But just like all tools, it takes some time to learn how to use it properly. Take the time, put in the work, and you’ll start seeing more people click the “follow” link. That’s what makes Twitter such a reliable tool for building your brand. The post Here’s How to Use Twitter To Bolster Your Personal Brand appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog April 23, 2020 at 01:59PM
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3 Ways to Increase Website Traffic https://ift.tt/2zgSWKD Many “online-peneurs” are rethinking ways to sustain themselves, especially now under quarantine. Small-time business owners, as well as more established companies, are always searching for ways to increase their website traffic. After all, the more people that visit your website, the more likely you are to have higher sales. It’s no secret that the digital world is an arena where the most innovative, creative, and technologically savvy stay ahead of the game. But how does one do that? Search Engine Optimizations (SEO), website incentives, and associating your product to triggers through content are three ways to increase website traffic. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)Currently, there are roughly 2 billion websites on the internet. To sort through all of it, most of us rely on search engines to find what we want. These search engines work so well that over 90% of online users depend on them to find things. According to BlueShare, 83% of all global traffic uses Google as their search engine. A whopping 94% of people look at the first few links on the first page results. Instead of clicking on the second page, many folks prefer to modify the keywords of whatever it is they’re searching for. The best SEO company London, mentions how useful a free 20-minute strategy session to help optimize your website for the best search engine results can be. This kind of expertise is in how they understand how search engine algorithms would function to your advantage. When someone searches for something, and your website comes up, they’ll click on your page. These aren’t your typical visitors. These are people that are looking for your exact product or service. These are the folks most likely to convert into customers and subscribers. Offer Website IncentivesAs we see with top companies, they offer a free consultation that inspires guests to interact with them from the get-go. This little incentive is a win-win because it sets the preliminary stage for business. Other incentives may include product giveaway, free trial memberships, free shipping, coupons or discounts, and even donating to a charity. A little chat box that pops up and allows guests to type in their questions and receive feedback is an excellent idea. Never underestimate the good feelings of connection and gratitude amongst potential clients and customers. Those little perks can go a long way. Use Triggers Through ContentAn advertising trigger is something that happens to someone that makes them recall your product to mind. And in 1999, nobody did a better job of triggering people to buy their beer than the Budweiser’s “Wassup?” campaign. One of the reasons Budweiser was so successful was because it played on the social interactions we have daily. Saying “what’s up” to your friend is something most of us do every day. The hard work is coming up with the idea, and the payoff is people spreading your idea word of mouth for free. Geico uses a gecko to sell insurance. Unfortunately, geckos aren’t going to trigger as effectively as a group of friends greeting each other. Whatever your trigger is, it has to be something that the potential clients can correlate your product with regularly. Stay Educated and Creative with MarketingWhy do some products go viral while others die? There’s deep psychology at work when it comes to selling to and attracting customers. So much of business and increasing internet traffic comes from the extra oomph and freshness in ideologies. Use these three methods to get you started on the right track. The post 3 Ways to Increase Website Traffic appeared first on Social Media Explorer. Social Media via Social Media Explorer https://ift.tt/2onGYog April 23, 2020 at 09:26AM |
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