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ISSUE 936
CHOOSING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS PART 1: SOCIAL NETWORKING Over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re tasked with starting a social media strategy for your company, you might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. There are 5 “types” of Social Media (we will be covering Social Networking in this article): 1. Social Networking
Social Networking is the most traditional form of social media where users can easily communicate with others through simple actions like tagging, hash-tagging, commenting, private messaging, reacting to posts, and re-sharing content. Aside from social interaction, newsfeeds on common social networking platforms are designed to show off a mix of text and visuals, rather than one primary content type. This flexibility makes social networking platforms easy to begin a social strategy on because you can experiment with different forms of content before branching out to platforms that require more specific content types. For those who want to dabble in video or graphics, these platforms could be a great place to test this new content. With the growth of video marketing, many have begun to launch more advanced features like Facebook Stories and Twitter’s live streams. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have also started to encourage native video and photo uploads more heavily. Recently, Facebook even adjusted its algorithms to favor live video and image uploads. This has caused these types of native content to gain greater user engagement. The main platforms for Social Networking are: a. Facebook: 2.38 billion monthly active users If you’re a small business, like a restaurant, a platform like Facebook could be a great place to start your social strategy. With Facebook, you can build a business profile that includes links to your website and details about your menu. b. Twitter: 126 million daily active users A Twitter account could be helpful to companies in a wide spectrum of industries, from entertainment to e-commerce. This platform similarly allows you to create a profile where you can list and link company information. c. LinkedIn: Over 500 million users For companies looking to offer a professional service, B2B or publishing companies, LinkedIn is another great way to grow your following. LinkedIn emphasizes career-related networking. ISSUE 937
CHOOSING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS PART 2: PHOTO SHARING Over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re tasked with starting a social media strategy for your company, you might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. There are 5 “types” of Social Media (we will be covering Photo Sharing in this article):
Platforms like Instagram help with brand awareness. Approximately 60% of people say they’ve learned about products or services on Instagram. Showing a photo or video of your product or service will often be more powerful and appealing than writing about it. The main platforms for Photo Sharing are: a. Instagram: Over 500 million daily active users Instagram offers a visual feed with posts showing photos and short videos followed by a caption. Users can also post live video or create Instagram Stories that disappear after one day. Like the social networking platforms above, users can interact with others through tags, likes, comments, or direct message. This platform would be helpful to companies like restaurants or stores that want to photograph and display and update followers about their food, goods, or products in a crisp, clean way. Unlike some social platforms, Instagram emphasize visuals and doesn’t allow link sharing directly in posts. Basic users on Instagram can only share links in their bio. b. Pinterest: 250 million daily active users Pinterest is well-suited for ecommerce companies, such as those who sell home goods, and businesses that would like a place to share crisp standalone product images with links. It similarly offers a photo-based feed with posts that can include a photo and short description. Unlike Instagram, it allows all users to link directly to websites or product landing pages in posts. One interesting aspect of the platform is that users can heart posts from others, or assign them to a themed “board.” For example, users might make boards centered around topics like “Inspirational Quotes” or “Bedroom products.” ISSUE 938
CHOOSING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS PART 3: VIDEO SHARING Over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re tasked with starting a social media strategy for your company, you might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. There are 5 “types” of Social Media (we will be covering Video Sharing in this article):
Roughly 83% of marketers say video gives them a strong ROI and 90% feel the level of video competition has increased. Adding a video platform to your social strategy could make your brand look relevant and keep you up to speed with your competitors. The reason to use a video platform, is that your videos can be much longer on these platforms than on Facebook. Video can be helpful to a wide range of industries. While a restaurant could have a vlog with cooking tips, a technology company might focus its video strategy around product demos. The main platforms for Video Sharing are: a. YouTube: Over 1.9 billion monthly active users b. Vimeo: 240 million monthly viewers When it comes to long-form video, YouTube and Vimeo are the leading platforms. Both platforms have website linking capabilities, and the ability to add SEO to each video, which make your videos searchable! While YouTube has the bigger audience base and better SEO capabilities, Vimeo’s smaller platform is very community driven. Youtube also seems to have better opportunities for advertisers and monetization, while Vimeo offers viewers the perk of no pre-roll ads. If the pre-roll ads don’t bother you, YouTube is the clear winner. Along with Youtube and Vimeo, the more traditional social networking platforms have also begun to embrace video marketing more aggressively. In the last few years, Facebook launched Facebook Stories and Facebook Live, and added a tab on their mobile app dedicated to video. Meanwhile, Twitter has allowed users to launch live video streams which are powered by its Periscope software. ISSUE 939
CHOOSING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS PART 4: INTERACTIVE MEDIA Over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re tasked with starting a social media strategy for your company, you might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. There are 5 “types” of Social Media (we will be covering Interactive Media in this article):
Apps like Snapchat and TikTok allow users to share photos and videos, they also have a variety of unique interactive and highly experimental features. These two apps include AR/VR filters, musical overlays, and interactive games. Their audience bases are also prominently Gen-Z. Snapchat has grown up since its launch in 2012, introducing more media formats, filters, and ad formats. (Because mainly large companies are just starting to experiment with these new applications, marketers who are just beginning a social strategy don’t need to prioritize these interactive apps before traditional social networking platforms.) The main platforms for Interactive Media are: a. Snapchat: 190 daily active users b. TikTok: Has 80 million app downloads Brands and influencers on these apps tend to cater their content to the platforms’ younger audiences. For example, on Snapchat, you might see stories that present beauty tutorials, wellness tips, news, or trendy new products. TikTok, which offers short, repetitive clips -- similarly to Vine, has begun experimenting with testing ads with GrubHub as their first client. These video ad spots will run for about five seconds and can be skipped instantly by the user. If you do test out these platforms, you might want to make sure your industry and content fits in with the young age demographic. You should also try to properly estimate the time and money that might go into keeping these accounts up to date and relevant. These platforms are very creative and experimental. They have young audiences, which can help brands better target Gen-Z. Stories can be used to give your following a behind-the-scenes look at your brand. Note that these platforms are fairly limited to mobile. These are up-and-coming Social Media Platforms for Interactive Media. If you are adventurous, give it a go! ISSUE 940
CHOOSING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS PART 4: BLOGGING Over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re tasked with starting a social media strategy for your company, you might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. There are 5 “types” of Social Media (we will be covering Blogging in this article):
BLOGGING Tumblr and Reddit are Blogging Platforms. Both allow users to post about interesting niche topics, like memes, events, politics, and pop-culture. When users publish a post, these platforms allow other users to share them or add to the conversation with their own commentary. Both blogging and community building platforms could be helpful to those who want to encourage discussion around very niche industries or topics. By blogging, you can write posts about topics in your company’s industry and link them to your product or site. While many people have a blog on their website, platforms like Tumblr might be great to use if you haven’t set this feature up -- or just want to see what others in your industry are blogging about. Both platforms allow you to share text posts, photos, and videos about your business, brand, or individual thoughts. These platforms enable you to start conversations about a topic. Both platforms allow linking to outside websites and encourage web chatter and post shares from users that care about the same topics. Both also allow users to follow you or subscribe to your blogs or Reddit boards so your content could show up on their feeds. Here’s an example of what Reddit’s feed looks like. The main platforms for Interactive Media are: a. Tumblr On Tumblr, the feeds are organized by time. However, a post can show up higher when it is re-shared by other users. When a user shares or interacts with your Tumblr content, they give it a note. When they reshare, they have the option to post a comment with the post that gets added to a thread. b. Reddit When someone publishes something on Reddit, other users can up-vote or down-vote it. Up-voting makes a post show up higher in Reddit feeds while down-voting does the opposite. With a discussion site like Reddit, you could share a link or a post about a specific topic on a discussion board related to your industry and see how users respond. You could also start your own board if a topic you’re looking to encourage discussion on doesn’t have one yet. ISSUE 941
THE NEW WAVE OF ONLINE SHOPPING Online shopping is on the rise. Research from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project indicated that 79% of American adults have bought something online at some point, including about 9 in 10 adults aged 18-49. Many consumers still love the in-store shopping experience – trying things on, browsing sales racks, or touching a piece of furniture. But what may surprise you is that more and more consumers are avoiding brick-and mortar shops and trending towards online shopping. And this trend began way before COVID-19 invaded our lives. 40 percent of consumer respondents said they see shopping as a frustrating activity, even calling it a chore. Consumers feel that the in-store experience is simply not keeping up with the same convenience as shopping online. For example, 71% of consumers explain that it’s too difficult to compare prices in-store. It’s much easier online. And roughly 65% don’t like long checkout lines. They also don’t like not being able to find a product or an associate to help them. 30% of consumers surveyed said they had experienced lack of consistency in discounts in-store versus a website or app. They want to be able to be able to make online price comparisons and expect same day delivery of products purchased in-store. Online shopping is on the rise. Research from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project indicated that 79% of American adults have bought something online at some point, including about 9 in 10 adults aged 18-49. Among weekly online shoppers, almost twice as many would prefer to buy online (62%) than in-store (37%) given the choice. The ability to compare prices also ranked as high in importance. 60% of shoppers said they typically compare prices if they need to make a purchase, rather than buy in-store or online without comparing prices to the other channel. The customer experience can make or break a relationship with customers. In such a highly competitive economy, retailers need to take advantage of every opportunity to win customer loyalty. As retail continues to change, retailers must embrace digital change while taking the opportunity to improve the experience in their physical locations. The store front is still important in the digital age, but only if brands take the extra step to ensure they provide consistent customer experiences. eCommerce (selling items online from your website) is becoming essential to running a business in 2020. ISSUE 942
IS YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE AS STRONG AS IT SHOULD BE? The Facts: Before the “national business shutdown of 2020”, 75% of buyers preferred shopping in-store, the top reason being, it allows them to touch and feel their purchases. But when the businesses open again, will people come rushing in to touch and feel and buy like the old days of 2019? We don’t know…and that’s what business owners need to be thinking about. The big question is: How can you keep your business going while strategically pivoting its focus so that you are giving the public what they need? Will people show up to the stores right away? Will they touch your merchandise? Do you want them touching your merchandise? Ask these questions to yourselves now, while you’ve got the time off, so you will be prepared no matter what happens. You may decide to add a drive-up window. You may offer free delivery. Just be sure that whatever you offer makes people’s lives just as easy as ordering online, because if it isn’t convenient, nature will take the path of least resistance. If you own a brick-and-mortar business, and you don’t have your products for purchase online, you have seen over the last month what that can do to a business. Many businesses with eCommerce websites were able to continue earning an income even though their businesses were closed for the month. Of course, we hope for everything to get back to normal as soon as possible. We especially want to put all the anxiety, fear, suffering and tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us. That day will come, but the world afterwards will not be the same as before and your business needs to be prepared for change. In adjusting to the new abnormal your customers are learning new ways of shopping and those new habits that are forming will not go away after this huge international change in thinking. People are getting used to ordering much of their needs online at this time. They are finding it convenient. Take notice and pivot your business, even if just slightly, to point it towards the future. Be aware of how people are acting and reacting, and how that may affect your business. Do you sell items that older people (60+) would buy? That age group may be even slower to come out of this and enter stores regularly. Please make life easier for them and put your products for sale online. People are buying everything they need online more and more. In the past few decades, online shopping has gone from being non-existent to becoming a multibillion-dollar industry. Most of the time, the future arrives gently. Despite the high speed of technology change, we absorb its effects into our daily lives far more slowly — until one day something happens and suddenly everything that was familiar is changed. We are in one of those exceptional moments. Pivot your business to thrive in the future world! ISSUE 943
IT’S TIME TO P.I.V.O.T. YOUR BUSINESS FOR THE NEW NORM Guest writer: Mary C. Kelly, PhD It is time to P.I.V.O.T.. There’s no going back to the habits, routines, and the normal that we all enjoyed before the COVID-19 virus. It is tempting to be nostalgic for a simpler time when a dirty doorknob or a hotel remote was not considered a potentially deadly threat. But the new normal is a new reality. You must adjust your business for the new way people are thinking in order for your business to survive going forward. This virus has changed how many people view products, sourcing, supply chains, and inventory. It has also changed how and where people want to work, and how and where they interact with others. For the past 10 years, the United States has enjoyed unprecedented growth. The economy is strong, unemployment was at record lows, and businesses were flourishing. The virus is an external shock. In economics, that is an event or impact that virtually cannot be controlled, cannot be predicted, and has far-reaching effects. In these situations, great leaders need to change processes, procedures, and how their people work. There are 5 areas to examine to start looking for opportunities and action steps moving forward: P.I.V.O.T. P= Purpose. People need to feel needed. Employees need to know that what they do matters. Great leaders imbue people with a sense of importance by listening to their ideas, getting their input, and listening to their concerns. I=Influence. Great leaders exert influence in the right ways, and they encourage those around them to do the same. How are we using resources to create a positive influence on our people, our customers, our communities, and our families? The Hawaiian word for this was coined by George Kanahele, “Do the right thing, at the right time, to the right person, with the right spirit, every time.” As my niece says, “Use your powers for good.” V=Volatility. People are struggling. Before making a judgment or an assumption about someone at work, in a store, or at the post office, understand that people are in a volatile situation. In the history of the world, we have never experienced anything like this. Rein in your first reaction and give people a little grace. Every major shift comes with uncertainty. On the volatility spectrum, assess what phase they may be in: Vague, Vulnerable, Vexed, Valuable, or Victorious and act accordingly. O=Opportunity. Yes, the situation is serious, and we do not want to capitalize on the suffering of others, but in times of great change, there are also great opportunities to serve others, shift your focus, change your product offerings, and respond to a rapidly changing market. Ask yourself: “Where is there a need in my community?” “Where is there a need in my industry?” “What do my customers need now?” “How can we serve them in the best possible ways?” “If I was starting from zero, where would I focus my energies?” T=Tools/Training/Technology. What do we need to use, learn, or develop moving forward? What do we need to upgrade? Who can we contact for advice? What do we need to learn how to do? We need each other now more than ever. For more free resources, please visit www.ProductiveLeaders.com/free. Mary Kelly can usually be found where there are dogs and wine. She can be reached at Mary@ProductiveLeaders.com. ISSUE 944
WHY SELL ONLINE? An ecommerce system provides real time data and analytics about your products and your customers. You can see how people interact with the site, what products interest them, what they left in their cart and how much the average purchase was. Valuable metrics that allow you to make adjustments to meet your customer’s needs. Selling direct online increases your reach. With an online store, your profits are no longer limited by the number of customers that can physically visit your brick and mortar location. You can sell across towns, states, and even across borders, removing all geographical limitations. Your online store also allows you to cater to shoppers who find it more convenient to browse and buy at times when retail locations are not traditionally open. Online shopping can save time for both the buyer and retailer, reducing phone calls about availability, specifications, hours of operation or other information easily found on company and product pages. According to Medium Inc., more and more people say they prefer online shopping over conventional shopping. The buyer’s decision-making process has changed dramatically in recent years. Buyers are conducting extensive research online before ever speaking to a sales person. Buyers are also making more direct purchases online and via their smartphone, never stepping foot into traditional brick-and-mortar locations. It’s led to changes in the way people do business with a rapidly growing worldwide trend towards online shopping or e-commerce. Many people prefer to shop online and buy products that they cannot find or are not available in their home towns. It is now playing a very important role in everybody’s life especially elderly people, as well as people with a very busy life schedule. It provides a very comfortable service for its customers, by being able to save the item in the personal shopping bag, and buy it later on. There are a lot of reasons why customers today prefer shopping online: Convenience. The convenience is the biggest perk. Where else can you comfortably shop at midnight while in your pajamas? There are no lines to wait in or shop assistants to wait for. Online shops give us the opportunity to shop 24/7, and also reward us with a ‘no pollution’ shopping experience. Downloadable items purchased online are yours immediately. Price comparisons. Comparing and researching products and their prices is so much easier online. Also, we have the ability to share information and reviews with other shoppers who have firsthand experience with a product or retailer. No crowds. If you are like me, you hate crowds when you’re shopping. It can be chaotic and this sometimes makes us feel rush or hurried. Avoid the grumpy and annoying shoppers in the stores and parking lots. All of these problems can be avoided when you shop online. Send gifts more easily. Sending gifts to relatives and friends is easy, no matter where they are. No more packaging and waiting in line at the post office. They will mail the gift directly to your relatives and friends. ISSUE 945
WHAT’S ALL THIS I HEAR ABOUT EGGS AND BASKETS? I have been writing a lot over the past few months about the importance for businesses to also have an online presence (e-commerce to sell their products on their website). There is a very good reason for that. I want my little town’s local businesses to be strong enough to survive anything the waves of time can throw at her. A large part of that strength comes from an old saying, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Having only one avenue for sales and having just a brick-and-mortar store isn’t going to work anymore. You can’t compete with another brick-and-mortar store if they are also selling on their website, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. Here’s What Happened: 1. The coronavirus pandemic caused the shutdown of millions of brick-and-mortar businesses worldwide. Many businesses are gone forever, due to the lack of income while still having the responsibility of the overhead costs of running a physical business. 2. But here’s what also happened... there are millions of brick-and-mortar businesses who had their products for sale online also. An understandably larger number of these businesses are surviving. The Key is to “Create More Baskets” According to Forbes: • There are millions of online customers changing their behavior at the same time. They are opting for a more time-saving and convenient way to shop. This puts a considerable amount of money into the pockets of e-commerce retailers today. • Just over 306 million Americans are affected by stay-at-home orders, nearly 95% of the U.S. population. Covid-19 will forever change retailing. Its initial impact on e-commerce is creating sales records no one imagined possible in January. • With the arrival of coronavirus in 2020, ecommerce has been expanding rapidly. U.S. online sales grew 76% in June, reaching $73.2 billion last month. Business Owners: If you are a brick and mortar business, and you sell a product, it’s time to rethink your business strategies and create an e-commerce website. Shoppers: Our local shops are just now beginning to open their doors (while following strict guidelines for health safety). When you’re ready to come out, start out shopping locally….I mean, really locally. The big box companies were allowed to stay open….they will survive. It’s the most vulnerable, the small shops, mom and pop shops, that were at a disadvantage anyway, that were harmed by the shutdown. So, if you are okay with getting out and shopping in stores (minding healthy safety guidelines and of course shopping at the stores that advertise in Snippetz), then please shop locally. And if you aren’t ready to go out shopping yet, that’s okay. I just think it would be cool if we purchase online from our local businesses’ websites….supporting our businesses right here in our little town! ISSUE 946
6 WAYS TO ADJUST YOUR WEB STRATEGY DURING THIS TIME Since the corona virus shutdown of local small businesses, we’ve seen "business as usual" take on a whole new set of rules. With these social distancing changes, we have seen meetings and conferences evolve into online Zoom meetings, and online shopping with delivery expanding 10-fold as individuals look for ways to minimize contact with crowds. Business is changing for the immediate future and most likely changing for good. The internet is becoming more and more of an intriguing part of our lives and this means your website is going to be an even more crucial piece in your sales and marketing puzzle. With that in mind, let’s look at five ways you might want to adjust your web strategy: #1 UPGRADE YOUR WEBSITE’S ECOMMERCE CAPABILITIES People are avoiding shopping areas. So, if you have products to sell this is a good time to upgrade your online store. #2 CREATE MORE ONLINE VIDEOS AND PRESENTATIONS Millions of businesses that rely on personal demos, face-to-face presentations, and trade shows are being put in a tough spot by the sudden move away from travel and personal interactions. One way to overcome the issue is to upload more online videos and presentations to your website. #3 SCRUTINIZE YOUR AD CAMPAIGNS Leading economists expect that buying patterns are going to change. With that in mind, this is a good time to review your online advertising expenses. Keep a close eye on your analytics over the next few weeks and pause any campaigns that aren’t showing positive returns for the time being. #4 ENHANCE EMPLOYEE INTRANET FEATURES FOR "WORK AT HOME" EMPLOYEES “Employees working from home” is going to become the norm. Integrate features like mobile hotspots, team chat apps, remote desktop software, file-sharing apps, and video conferencing apps. It’s crucial that you and your team stay in touch and on top of the workload. This is the time when your customers, employees, and vendors need to hear from you more often. Use your email newsletter to inform them about any developments, policy changes, or shifts in the business. #5 UPDATE INVENTORY, HOURS, AND OTHER BUSINESS DETAILS ON YOUR WEBSITE The internet is the information highway….give it the correct information. ISSUE 947
3 E-COMMERCE TRENDS TO USE ON YOUR WEBSITE IN 2020 According to Forbes eMagazine, the COVID pandemic has shifted e-commerce in 2020, more than any other time in history. Traditional retail sales have declined but e-commerce has seen a 129% year-over-year growth in U.S. as of April 21st. Most brick and mortar stores that have survived the pandemic have taken their businesses online. Andrew Lipsman, principal analyst with eMarketer, says that U.S. e-commerce sales will hit a projected $709.78 billion in 2020. Across the world, people are changing their buying habits. Even Boomers and older generations are shopping online. COVID has accelerated the e-commerce industry’s growth. By the end of 2020, global e-commerce sales are expected to reach $4.2 trillion, explained in a report by the e-commerce behemoth Shopify. But, creating a website and selling your products isn’t that easy. The cash won’t just flow in once you hit publish on that new eCommerce site. The competition is getting steeper and online shopping behaviors are changing faster than ever before. These are the new trends that will put your eCommerce website ahead of the rest in the coming years. "Personalized Commerce” Is the Next Frontier Successful e-commerce companies are leveraging personalization technology to give consumers a customized experience. You must get to know your audience and give recommendations and specific offers based on your customers’ browsing behavior, previous actions, prior purchase history, customer demographics, and other enriched personal data. There are many plugins for your website that your website developer can install. These plugins (I use Google Analytics for my clients) can monitor a huge array of information about your customers. Compared to in-store retail, e-commerce doesn’t include a retail salesperson to recommend products based on interest, preferences, or taste. Making online feel more “human” by mimicking what a consumer’s in-store experience would be, through a personalized customer journey online. Learning your customer base and their needs will make them loyal to you and your products. Social Commerce Through Endorsements Social commerce is selling products directly through social media. It differs from social media marketing because you’re not redirecting users to an online shop, but giving them the ability to checkout directly within the network they’re using at that moment. Influencer marketing and “celebrity” endorsements have been around since the dawn of social media, but the key is to garner people with massive followings to endorse products at a more affordable level, combined with social commerce to drive sales directly from social. Interactive Product Visuals We all have been there – you like a product, but you’re not sure if what you’re seeing on the site is what you will get when you make a purchase. Long story short, you hesitate from hitting the purchase button and the shop loses a consumer. In 2020 online reviews are not enough to convince a customer to buy a product. Modern consumers need to trust the company, product and experience before purchasing. That’s why high-resolution images matter in e-commerce sales. But static images are no longer enough, either. Consumers demand more, such as 360-degree viewing images that let potential buyers view all angles of the product. ISSUE 949
IS SOCIAL MEDIA INHERENTLY GOOD OR BAD? The world has given us Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest (named in order of popularity). More recently, less invasive, more conservative platforms have become increasingly popular, such as, MeWe.com (a Facebook alternative) and Parlor (a Twitter alternative). Social Media -- just like anything else in life, you get exactly what you put into it. Social media can be fun, convenient and informative, or it can be invasive, depressing, and stressful. If you are “burnt out” on social media and want to move to a deserted island to get away from it, instead, try using it in a completely different way. You can still turn off notifications when you need a break. You can stop scrolling when you start to feel anxious or angry. You can switch to platforms that don’t feel so invasive. You can actually stop and talk to real people. These decisions rest in our hands. Here are some healthy ways to use social media: 1. Humor From the relatable to the outrageous, social media is full of hidden gems. 2. Sharing You’re often literally sharing someone else’s post, but even the ability to forward an article, a thought, or an idea provides a connection with others. After all, sharing is caring. 3. Good News Share good news about your family, your town, your state, your church, your friends or any charity. Share touching videos and stories. These will touch the hearts of your friends! 4. Friends and Family One of the most obvious benefits of social media is that it still provides us with the ability to stay connected to the people who matter to us most. 6. Chance to Create Share your creative talents. What are your hobbies? Your friends want to see! 7. Easy Shopping You no longer have to spend hours browsing through isles in stores. It’s easier than ever to find the things we want online and have them shipped to our doors. The internet can lift you up or destroy you. Use it wisely and have fun!!! ISSUE 950
UPDATE YOUR ONLINE SALES IN 2021 Part 1 The most pivotal event this year, the pandemic, created new shopping habits. The massive shift to e-commerce buying spanned age, economic status and geography. 7 in 10 shoppers said that they started shopping online more than usual due to lockdown. The businesses that sold products online, understandably survived the lockdowns much better than brick and mortar only businesses. Here are some of the top ecommerce trends for 2021: Diversify Your Media
Deliver Customers Directly to your Online Shop You can’t just sit back and wait for customers to find your website and buy your stuff! Here are easy ways for customers to get there.
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UPDATE YOUR ONLINE SALES IN 2021 Part 2 1. ONLINE SALES GROWTH IS UNSTOPPABLE Ecommerce sales have been growing constantly and for good reason. Online shopping is one of the most popular online activities. The sales are projected to increase from 1.3 trillion back in 2014 to 4.5 trillion in 2021 (Statista, 2019). That’s a massive figure. It would mean a threefold growth over a 7-year span. 2. THE FUTURE OF ECOMMERCE After COVID-19 Undeniably, one of the biggest impacts—if not the biggest— on ecommerce trends in 2020 was COVID-19. With governments worldwide shutting stores and implementing lockdowns to restrict social movement for months on end, more and more people are resorting to online shopping to purchase items. Already, ecommerce giant Amazon’s Jeff Bezos has seen his fortune grow by nearly $24 Billion thanks to increased customer demand for Amazon’s products and services. Don’t allow big tech giants to take your business! If you sell items in your store, sell them online! This trend will continue. People have gotten comfortable with the convenience online shopping offers which are likely to cause a permanent behavioral shift towards digital purchases. 3. MOBILE SHOPPING IS GROWING Since 2016, sales made via mobile devices increased by 15%. By the end of 2021, 73% of ecommerce sales will take place on a mobile device (Statista, 2019). These figures can’t be ignored. Improving the ecommerce experience for mobile customers can be a huge opportunity for businesses to tap into. Be sure your online store is optimized for mobile devices as well. 4. THE DESIRE TO SHOP WITH SMALL BUSINESSES! Not only are more and more consumers shopping online, but their shopping habits and brand preferences have also evolved. A growing number of consumers are becoming more open towards purchasing from independent businesses. More than half (57 percent) say they’re willing to shop with new brands for the first time (Shopify, 2020). The public is becoming more and more aware that it’s the small businesses who have suffered the most during the pandemic, and WE ARE CHANGING OUR WAYS! In fact, more than one-third (37 percent) of consumers who shop with independent businesses say they’re doing so now more than during preCOVID-19 times. Stats and info brought to you by Maryam Mohsin at Oberlo. ISSUE 952
UPDATE YOUR ONLINE SALES IN 2021 Part 3 With the advancement in technology and changes in consumer behavior, you need to keep an eye out for these ecommerce trends in 2021. These ecommerce trends are aimed at improving the shopping experience for your customers, and building a long-lasting relationship with them. Take your ecommerce evolution to the next level! 1. Augmented Reality and Visual Commerce Will Transform How We Shop By 2022 over 120,000 ecommerce website stores will be using Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, offering a much richer buying experience (Prnewswire). This is the same technology that is used in programs like 3D Floor Planner, where you can design a room with furniture, and it’s also used in video games where you control what the characters do. One of the main concerns that people have when shopping online is the inability to see the product firsthand. AR technology helps bridge this gap and enable online shoppers to better visualize the products that they are interested in. For online customers this could be a game changer. Instead of an online store showing models wearing the clothing, customers can scan in a photo and see themselves in the outfits. Scan in a photo of your face and try on different makeup, hairstyles, hats. See products in 3-D so you can move them around and see all angles. Delivering more personalized experiences to consumers will allow for better online shopping. Visual commerce is the next generation of normal static visuals. It incorporates other types of visuals such as consumer-generated media, interactive content, and engaging videos. 2. Personalization is the Future More than 50% of shoppers say that a personalized online experience is important (Bazaarvoice). Adding to that, 74% of marketers believe personalization has a “strong” or “extreme” impact on advancing customer relationships (Evergage). Personalizing the online shopping experience is the key to keeping customers satisfied. People shopping online want help to find the products that they need, and they value a more personalized experience. Ecommerce sites are onboard with this trend and are investing in personalization tactics to make the online shopping experience a better one. This could include the personalization of messages that go out via email, or by providing the right information to the interested consumer group. By offering personalized customer communications, providing relevant discounts, and engaging with customers through, for instance, video content, will help deliver a better shopping experience and strengthen the bond with your customers. Stats and info. brought to you by Oberlo. ISSUE 953
TOP 10 LIST OF SCAMS OF 2021 Our list focuses on the scams that you could avoid, those reported to the CFR, FTC, Fraud.org and BBB (Better Business Bureau). Debt Collection Most of the complaints under this category involve debt collectors. Consumers tell of receiving calls from harassing collectors for credit/debit card fees, pay day loans, credit repair companies and unauthorized use of credit/debit cards. They are threatening and will repeatedly call attempting to collect a debt. Fake Government Officials If you received an email, letter or phone call from a government agency (typically the IRS or FBI) and it instructs you to wire, Western Union or MoneyGram money someplace, or follow a link and enter information - don't believe it! The U.S. government would never instruct anyone to use those methods. Identity Theft, Phishing and Pharming Scammers gain access to your confidential information, like social security numbers, date of birth and then use it to apply for credit cards, loans and financial accounts. Typically, the victim receives an email that appears to be from a credible, real bank or credit card company, with links to a website and a request to update account information. But the website and email are fakes, made to look like the real website. Phone scams This includes telemarketers violating the Do-Not-Call list, Robo-dialers, scammers calling up pretending to be from a bank or credit card company, or they’ll say “Your Microsoft license key has expired". The National Do-Not-Call-Registry (U.S.) offer consumers a free way to reduce telemarketing calls. Scammers call anyway, of course. Loans Scams / Credit Fixers False promises of business or personal loans, even if credit is bad, for a fee upfront. Or a scam that promises to repair your credit for a fee. Fake Prizes, Sweepstakes, Free Gifts, Lottery Scams You receive an email claiming you won a prize, lottery or gift, and you only have to pay a "small fee" to claim it or cover "handling costs". The prize, of course, does not exist. Internet merchandise scams You purchase something online, but it is either never delivered or it is not what they claimed it was, or is defective. China is doing this on Facebook. Automobile-Related Complaints Car loans, car buying, car sales, auto repair, fake or useless extended warranties. Credit Bureaus and related credit scams Credit/debit card fees, pay day loans, credit repair companies and unauthorized use of credit/debit cards. Some of these complaints involved hidden fees and billing disputes as well. The Impersonation Scam In this form of internet scam, the scammer poses as a longtime acquaintance/family and ask for help. Phishing/Spoofing Emails These are emails that pretend to be from a company, organization or government agency but ask you to enter or confirm your personal information You can also find these scam descriptions on the website address at the start of this article: Fake check payments, Recovery/Refund Companies, Computer Performance Scams, Scholarship, Student Loan and Financial Aid scams, Online Dating Scams, Facebook Fake Friend Scam, Click Bait Scam, Fake bills and invoices, Tech Support Scam, Medical Alert Scam, eBay / Auction Reseller Scam, Arrest Warrant Scam, and more. Beware the scammers! They are on the rise! ISSUE 954
DELIVERY APPS COMPARISON The use of food delivery service apps skyrocketed in 2020. People got used to eating at home. But cooking for yourself all the time gets old. Thanks to Delivery Service apps, you can now dine at home on almost any cuisine! Restaurant Delivery Service Here’s a comparison of the 5 most popular delivery service apps. DoorDash Recently ranked the most popular food delivery app, DoorDash has 310,000 restaurants located in 4,000 cities worldwide, 80% of which are in the US. A menu of icons at the top of the screen let you search by type of food (burgers, Mexican, etc.) or by rating, price, or vegetarian options. Uber Eats Last year, Uber merged its ride share platform and Uber Eats food delivery service into the same app. Uber Eats has 320,000 restaurants in 500 cities globally. It sorts restaurant choices based on your previous orders, but you can also sort by most popular, highest rating, price range, delivery. Postmates Postmates now operates in more than 4,200 US cities, and has more than 500,000 restaurants on the platform. You can sort by Fastest, Recommended, Popular, or type of cuisine. Unlike some of the other apps, Postmates also offers 24/7 service, as long as the restaurant is still open. GrubHub Grubhub operates in 2,700 US cities, and has partnerships with 140,000 restaurants. The Grubhub and Seamless apps are almost identical. You can search by type of food, and sort results by price, rating, distance, delivery time, and delivery fee. You can also see daily deals and past orders. Grocery Delivery Service These apps offer almost anything that you can get at the store, with the convenience of delivery. Two of the biggest and most widely available grocery delivery services are Amazon Fresh and Instacart. Amazon Fresh Locations: More than 2,000 cities (check availability); no dorms Membership required: Yes, included with Amazon Prime ($119 per year) Shipping fee: Free with minimum order of $35 Delivery times: As fast as 1 hour What you can buy: Groceries and non-perishables, including Whole Foods Instacart Locations: 40 states Membership required: No Shipping fee: Starting at $3.99 with minimum order of $10; free with Instacart Express ($99 per year or $9.99 per month) with minimum order of $35 Delivery times: 2 hours to 6 days You can buy: Groceries, non-perishables, and even alcohol. Hybrid Delivery Services For just about anything you need. They deliver anything from dry cleaning to tires. Delivery Delivery is in more than 1,800 US cities, with 15,000 restaurants on the platform. Unlike most other platforms, you can also order groceries, alcohol, wash-and-fold services, dry cleaning, and gifts that can be delivered to a friend. Walmart.com & Target.com Same day service is available, and they deliver anything they carry. There is a $12.95 mo. membership fee, and delivery is $9.99 per order with free delivery over $35. ISSUE 955
9 THINGS EVERY SMALL-BUSINESS WEBSITE NEEDS The Web is full of beautiful sites. It is also full of horrendous sites, and we're not just talking about bad design. If your website isn’t customer-friendly, inspirational, and organized, you are losing business. According to Entrepreneur, here are the essentials that every small business website should have for it to effectively help you do business. 1. A clear description of who you are Someone who stumbles upon your website shouldn't have to do investigative work to figure out what you do. You must clearly state your name and summing up your products or services right on the homepage. Studies show that your potential customers will leave your site within 2-5 seconds if your site isn’t organized properly. 2. A simple, sensible Web address Don't make things complicated – no dashes, no underlines, use .com whenever possible, don’t get too cutesy with the name, and numbers in your web address (domain) are not good for SEO. Your domain name is like your brand. It should be easy for a user to type it into a Web browser or an e-mail address. 3. An easily-navigated site map Be sure your page menu is easy to find. Use dropdowns so your visitors can see the subpages. You want to make it very easy for your visitors to find what they are looking for…or they will go elsewhere. 4. Easy-to-find contact information It is very important to place your contact information where it can be easily found. The best place for your contact information is the top left or top right corner of the home page. It also should be placed in the Doormat, the area right above your copyright line at the bottom of your website. And the third place to have your contact information is obviously the Contact page. Some of the information you want to provide is company, your name, title, office phone, cell phone, fax, email, address, Google maps link, social media, and awards. 5. Customer testimonials Honest words from others help make your products or services more tangible to customers who are visiting you online. Testimonials help your potential customers to build trust in you, especially if your business is fairly new. People love to hear stories from real people. 6. An obvious call to action On the home page, in the space below the header, you want to place a “call to action”. This would go something like this: “Call Now for FREE Quote!”, or “Sign Up to Receive Online Coupons!”, or “Watch this Video!” 7. Know the basics of SEO Your website won't do you as much good if no one can stumble upon it. Become familiar with the SEO basics to make it more accessible by search engine. You don’t need to be an expert – your website tech will do that. But you should know enough about SEO to guide your tech to use the most advantageous keywords in your text and in the back-end software. 8. Fresh, quality content and a design and style that's friendly to online readers For many businesses, your website is your first impression on a customer. Your content HAS to be well written with clear information. Changing your content every week, every month, or at least every 6 months will keep your content from getting stale and Google likes “change” – it means you have a vested interest in your own website. If you don’t care about freshening your content, your potential clients will get bored. You can do this easily by incorporating a blog of social media on your site. Forbes says, “Web surfers have the attention spans of drunken gnats." Break things down into short paragraphs with headers, use bullet points, or highlight areas or phrases. And make it fun! 9. A secure hosting platform Having your online information hijacked is a nightmare. It is imperative that you have a secure, trustworthy hosting company to keep the bad guys out and your content up and running. It is also very important to keep your content management system updated in order to stay one step ahead of the hackers. You need a hosting company that offers site maintenance also. (Call me if you have specific questions about this.) ISSUE 956
THINGS NO WEBSITE SHOULD BE WITHOUT While every website is different, but there are elements that are important to have on any website. Consider the following:
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6 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR WEBSITE FOR FREE So, you’ve just finished creating a website, and now it’s time to share it with the world. After all, what good is your site if no one sees it? Website promotion doesn’t have to cost you a ton of money. 1. Solidify your Website SEO SEO, or search engine optimization, is one of the most effective ways to promote a website, as it helps improve a site’s ranking on Google and other search engines. SEO is totally free - the competition is open to everyone, based on the quality of the content you publish, the fluidity of the navigation, and the number of links you receive from external sources. Place keywords and phrases throughout your website, add alt text to your images, and optimize your headings so that your website can get found on search engines. Getting your website indexed is a crucial first step in getting your website on Google, where it can be discovered by new visitors. 2. Take Advantage of Email Marketing Newsletters are a particularly effective form of email marketing, since they are a direct form of communication between you and your potential customers. They also help you get subscribers and can help drive traffic to your site. To create an engaging newsletter, keep your content punchy and direct, and use prominent calls-to-action that encourage readers to click. That will help your content stand out from the sea of other newsletters your subscribers may receive. 3. Start a blog Create a blog to bolster your SEO and increase your site’s rank on search engines. Blogging helps you establish yourself as an authority in your field and can dramatically improve your conversion rate. 4. Try Guest Blogging When another writer in your industry writes a post on your own blog, you expand your reach to their audience and gain quality leads. In addition, connecting with writers who are already established in their field helps you grow your own network. This can bring you more exposure, traffic, and social media shares. 5. Harness the power of Social Media Social media is an effective way to promote a website, as it helps businesses reach a diverse audience and build brand awareness. Whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, social media marketing is important for engaging followers. Importantly, posting compelling content increases the chances that your audience will share it - which is free promotion for your website. 6. Submit your Site to Online Directories Online directories make it easy for people to find your URL and navigate to your site. Free services like Google My Business allow you to claim your business so that when someone searches for your business, a complete set of details - including your website, opening hours, contact details, and a map of your location - appear on the results page. Other locations you should place your website information are Angie’s List, Yellow Pages, and Yelp. ISSUE 958
10 WEBSITE STATS FOR 2021 1. There are more than 4.8 billion Internet users. As this number steadily grows, day by day, it’s not just due to more consumers using the Internet. It’s also because there are more businesses creating ecommerce websites to sell their products and services. 2. There are over 1.8 billion websites online. A new website goes live approximately every one second. Selling your products and services online is the way of the future. 3. There are more than 89,000 Google searches done every second of every day. Even though there’s a ton of competition on the web, the sheer number of search queries gives websites a fighting chance to rank — so long as they’re well-optimized for search. If SEO isn’t yet a part of your web design strategy, it needs to be! 4. Consumers average 6 hours and 55 minutes on the Internet every day. Whether they’re at work, at home, on holiday, or on the go, people are finding reasons to be online. 5. 61% of consumers plan on spending more time online post-pandemic than they did before it. It doesn’t appear that the uptick in online activity from 2020 is going to be a temporary thing. A growing number of consumers and businesses have grown quite comfortable in the digital world. 6. 40% of all websites run on WordPress. WordPress continues to dominate the market share of website platforms. And with good reason. It’s very popular, it’s powerful, and it’s very diverse. 7. There are 5.2 billion smartphone users around the world. As more and more people get smartphones, your website needs to be prepared to deliver a mobile-first experience for these users. 8. Over 50% of all website traffic comes from smartphones. It’s not just the number of smartphones in the world that’s growing. It’s also the usage of smartphones to access websites. So, you need to be ready for it by making responsive design a primary part of your website design strategy. 9. It’s predicted that eCommerce on Smartphones will account for 75% of all online buying by 2023. It’s only natural that more smartphone traffic will lead to more website sales on mobile. But this prediction suggests that the number of smartphone sales is going to double between 2019 and 2023. If that’s the case, then your website needsl to focus on perfecting the mobile e-commerce experience — from point of entry to checkout. 10. There are 5 common factors that drive people to buy something online. The most popular one is having the cheapest prices, so providing shoppers with a price comparison tool would be advantageous. Free shipping, sales/discounts, product availability, and product specs round out the top five. These features are easy enough to include in a website — just make sure they’re easy to find. ISSUE 959
WEBSITE SEO CHECKLIST SEO, as most of you know, is the most important element of your website. Without search engine optimization, you can have the most beautiful and functional website in the world, but no one will ever see it. Web Savy Marketing has come up with an SEO checklist for initial content gathering and for development stages of your site build. The list below combines multiple elements before and after your website goes live. These steps are crucial for the best search engine optimization for your website. Initial Website Set Up
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SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING CHECKLIST Responding to your social media platform comments, questions, reactions, and shares is one of the most important tasks to engage your clients and potential customers. According to SocialChamp, a leader in social marketing, these are tasks a business should engage in as a daily routine. Let it be your morning coffee time with social media! Reply to All Direct and Private Messages and Mentions Replying to all social media messages and mentions is essential! There is nothing more insulting to a customer or a prospective client than if their message is left un-seen and unanswered. If you want your business to be successful, always set apart an hour of your day to clear out the inbox for all social media channels. This includes Your Website Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc. accounts. This means, reshare all Instagram mentions on your story, re-tweet a few mentions on Twitter, and react to all Facebook negative and positive mentions. (Turn on push notifications so that it is easier for you to keep track of the mentions.) Check Out All Comments and Reactions on Posts Engage with all comments on official channels, Facebook and LinkedIn groups, communities, and Twitter threads. Schedule Posts for the Next Day It is good practice to schedule posts in advance using a social media scheduling tool. Make sure all regular and planned posts are scheduled at least 24 hours before. Follow Back Those Who Follow You On channels such as LinkedIn and Twitter, you can easily connect and follow back everyone. It might be a little challenging on other social channels, so even if you can’t follow everyone back, you can most definitely follow those who are from your industry or niche. Connect With at Least One Important Person/Influencer Building a solid community is the most critical challenge of social media marketing. For this, plan on connecting with at least one important influencer, startup, or person of interest in your niche. You don’t necessarily have to engage with them right away, but you are at least building a strong network one connection a day. Comment fun GIFs, leave a quirky reply, offer support, or re-tweet or re-share a post! Answer Questions on Forums Make it a habit to answer as many Forum questions as possible such as Reddit, Quora, and HARO. It helps increase brand awareness and establish you as an authentic source on subjects concerning your line of work. This small activity helps you grow both professionally and personally. ISSUE 961
8 WEBSITE FEATURES YOU CAN'T DO WITHOUT Give your website a little checkup. No need to hire a marketing company for this. These are just 10 features that you can add to your website to make it more accessible, more user friendly, and more effective. 1. Put Your Contact Information Everywhere Above the menu area, you can add an easy access bar with a clickable phone number, email address, location, social media icon(s) which remain at the top of each page when scrolling. Also place this information in the “doormat”, the area just above your footer at the bottom of each page. And, of course, this information needs to be on your contact page. 2. A Blog Your blog should be listed under your domain (www.yourcompany/blog) instead of off-site through a service like Blogger.com. Posting articles on your blog established you as an “expert in your field”…..this is something most businesses owners are not taking advantage of. Give free advice, show people how your industry works, show off your products, and you can even add in videos! 3. Testimonials Potential customers need to trust you before choosing to work with you. Often, a testimonials page is one of the most visited pages on sites. When you do get testimonials, ask your clients for permission to use their real names. Endorsements from recognizable businesses and local people means a lot more than an anonymous review. 4. About Us -- Your Team & Work Customers like to see that you know what you’re doing. If your company provides a service, show before and after pictures of your work. Show your team having fun at work. People care about who they’re doing business with, so this can make a real difference when trying to attract business. 5. Subscriptions A subscription will let you share information about your company through email marketing and build your email list at the same time. Give them something free for signing up, like 20% off on your next visit. 6. About Us Section People care about who they’re doing business with, which is why sharing your story and “why you do what you do,” can make a real difference when trying to attract business. 7. Search Functionality WordPress websites have a magnifying glass icon that is used for just this purpose. Don’t make people look through your whole site for the item or information they want. Implement the search functionality. 8. SEO Strategy Write your titles and meta descriptions with SEO in mind, making sure you use relevant keywords in both. Keep your URL structure concise and incorporate keywords. Also, including your location information will help your SEO strategy succeed and help people find your business. 
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7 HOLIDAY WEBSITES TO EXPLORE WITH YOUR KIDS! Holiday websites are a fantastic way to spend quality time with children, stimulate their learning, spark their imaginations and, most of all, have fun. Kids today are very tech-savvy and love to interact with tablets and computers. Online holiday games are a great way to spend special time with your children, showing them creative, healthy ways to use the internet as a resource. Quality time with your children is key, whether it is outdoor activities, family games, or exploring the internet together. Below are a few websites to share with your children this holiday season: This website includes a countdown to Christmas, a way to write Santa a letter, Mrs. Claus’ favorite recipes, a look at the weather at the North Pole and much, much more. There are also options for parents and teachers.
This site is run by a woman named Marilyn Scott-Waters whose “goal is to help grownups and kids spend time together making things.” The highlight of the page is definitely the numerous options for printing paper toys that children can then cut, glue and enjoy. Included on each page of paper toy diagrams are games children can play with their finished products.
This site allows parents to create a custom video greeting from Santa that includes their names, photos, good deeds that landed them on the nice list and more. Parents can also set up a phone call from Santa.
This page offers coloring sheets (online and printable), puzzles, online toys, freebie downloads and much more. Many of the games are educational and help develop critical thinking skills and hand-eye coordination.
Santa.net has a blog, “Santa’s home page,” videos for kids to watch and sing along to, animated skits, games, Christmas tree decorating, Santa facts and much more.
Highlights magazines have been a staple of childhood for several decades, and now, their website offers the same sort of enjoyment to a new generation. Users can sort by month for holiday-specific stories, surveys, games, crafts and more. Highlights also offers activities for Kwanzaa and Hanukkah, in addition to Christmas.
Though parents do have to be mindful to choose child-appropriate options on this one, the age-appropriate inclusions are plentiful. Kids can create holiday e-cards with their own photos inserted. They can also insert themselves into popular music videos and share them with friends or family. And JibJab.com has options for all holidays, not just Christmas. This popular site also has an app.
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INSPIRING WEB DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2022 Playful Websites An overarching trend we see for the upcoming year is an increased sense of playfulness in web design, according to Mischa Vaughn from Webflow. Designers have started creating sites as art, sites as interactive projects, and sites that simply exist for play and delight. This harkens back to the beginning of the web when designers found ways to show off new techniques or create websites for their own sake. We seem to be in a bit of a renaissance period of the early web. It makes sense. Fashion has also been borrowing heavily from the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Many of us have been spending time at home idly surfing the internet, looking for something diverting or exciting like we used to do when the web was first emerging. One-page Websites Sometimes the most effective site is the least complex one. We have seen the increasing popularity of the one-page website that forgoes menus and navigation in favor of simple scroll navigation. One-page sites work best when their subject matter is narrower, like a portfolio or the presentation of a single idea. These sites evoke the feeling of holding a flyer or reading a poster. All the information you need to review is in one place without the distraction of navigation or searching multiple pages. Oversized Typography Typography of unusual size is a fresh, bold design trend for this year. At a certain size, words become more of a graphic element than simply part of the copy. This is a versatile technique that can be used in minimalist or maximalist designs just as effectively and can suit many different styles. Web-based Scavenger Hunts Websites’ structures actually lend themselves to puzzles and scavenger hunts incredibly well. You can daisy-chain pages and password-protect certain parts, making visitors provide answers or find clues to unlock the next page in the series. There are all sorts of creative ways to conceal and reveal prompts, clues, and answers. This is a case where you can use your web design prowess to create a puzzle that enthralls. Some ideas for clues:
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4-STEP MARKETING PLAN FOR YOUR NEW WEBSITE Creating your website took a tremendous amount of planning, management and coordination. No matter how awesome your website is, it wouldn’t matter if no one is around to see it. So, it only makes sense to put as much effort into building a marketing and communications plan that will help you promote your new website. If you’ve just launched your new website and now wondering how best to spread the word, BrandShack compiled a step-by-step marketing plan for your new website. Step 1: Making the Announcement We recommend campaigning about your website launch first at least 2-4 weeks before the scheduled launch date. Here are the tools and channels you can use in your announcements:
Before launch, have 3 articles ready to post on your new website. These shouldn’t be “come buy my stuff” ad articles. They should add value to your customer, such as, video that shows what your company does, or a how-to article. Step 3: Be Consistent in your Marketing Branding Be consistent on every front, from email signatures to posting on social media. It’s best to refresh all tangible marketing collateral to reflect the new website. Step 4: Measure Your Progress When your new website up and running and you already have incredible traffic coming, you should start measuring your new website’s performance. Create a Google Analytics account to start tracking your results. This guide will also help you navigate your way through Google Analytics. Here are a few metrics you need to keep an eye on:
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6 WEBSITE IDEAS FOR AN ONLINE-SIDE-BUSINESS Are you looking for website ideas to launch a side business in the new year? There are tons of opportunities online with profitable website ideas that you can transform into a sustainable side income. In this article, we’ll share the best website ideas to launch this year according to the editorial staff at WPBeginner. Blog Website with Affiliate Income One of the most common ways to make money blogging is affiliate marketing. Launching a blog is pretty easy, and it can be on any topic that you are passionate about – Gardening, Auto Repair, Food, Photography, etc. You don't need to have your own products or services. You simply promote other people's appropriate products on your blog, and when someone makes a purchase, you make a commission off it. Or sometimes bloggers get paid by the advertiser per impression or per click. You would simply sign up for programs like Google AdSense to display appropriate ads, promote affiliate products, or sell direct advertisements. Build an Online Store Sell your own products to your readers such as ebooks, jewelry, or anything you create. You can easily start an eCommerce website with WooCommerce with WordPress. It allows you to sell any type of digital, virtual, or physical products that need shipping. You can easily accept online payments using PayPal, Stripe, or many other payment services. Make a Membership Website Another popular website idea that is getting a lot of momentum is to create a membership-based website. Basically, you restrict access to some content on your website that is only available for paid members. This could be a members-only forums, audio or video content, or anything else. The easiest way to do this is by using MemberPress. It is a WordPress membership plugin that helps you create subscriptions, restrict access, and sell membership plans on your website. Sell Online Courses Creating and selling online courses is another popular website idea that is growing really fast. This growing website niche is fueled by the modern gig economy where people need to learn new skills to find new jobs, improve existing skillsets, or just learn something new as a hobby. Create a Drop shipping Website Drop shipping is another growing website idea that you can launch without much investment. A drop shipping store is an online store where you sell products, but they are shipped directly by the vendor. This saves you from the hassle of managing and storing stuff, keeping up inventory, and shipping things. It also allows you to sell a wide-variety of products. Start a Podcast Website Podcasting is another popular website idea that you can launch. It is a fast-growing niche with tons of monetization options. A podcast is an episodic series of audio files that users can subscribe to download and listen to. Successful podcasters are making significant money online through sponsorships, advertisements, selling products, and more. It does require a little bit of hardware and some practice with recording and uploading files. |
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