What do people such as Steve Jobs, Marissa Mayer, and Sara Blakely have in common?  Aside from intuition and guts, they also had a great deal of creativity.

Creativity is one of the best things you can arm yourself with in the workplace.  It breaks monotonous routines and helps you come up with great ideas that can increase your productivity.  In order to be creative, even in seemingly boring, bleak times, you have to think outside the box and sometimes even break a rule or two.

That’s not to say that you need to be a rebel at work. It just means that you’ll have to deviate from how things are usually done.  During days when inspiration runs short, set yourself up to give birth to new ideas.  Here are a few simple things that you can do:

1. Have alone time to reflect.  In order for new ideas to come, try emptying your mind whenever you can have a quiet moment to yourself.  This way, you’ll always have a fresh canvas to draw on

2. Write notes.  A lot of times, you get a great idea when you least expect it–when you’ve just woken up, while making coffee, or even while arguing with your boss.  These ideas are fleeting and easily forgotten, so it’s important that you put them down on paper or save them on your phone.  Even when you think that you have no use for them at the moment, when the right time comes, you’ll realize that they can actually help you out.

3. Use your senses.Open yourself to new experiences.  Start reading quirky books, try exotic dishes, and listen to a different genre of music.  By exposing your senses to things you aren’t used to, your views of people, places, and things will constantly transform.

4. Don’t force it.  Sometimes, at the risk of burning out, people force themselves to churn out “creative” ideas which turn out  not as successful as they hope.  If you feel that you have nothing else to give at the moment, let it go.  Rest your mind and do something else.   Diverting your attention to a different activity can give you a fresh perspective later on.

Creativity can help you improve your business, but that doesn’t mean that it can make everything perfect.  Sometimes, being creative can cause failures too, but don’t be disheartened – failures can be sources of new ideas; sometimes even more so than successes.  Be aware, be open, and follow your gut.  Opening yourself to untried possibilities will sooner or later bring you to the right track.

How about you, what tips can you give to help boost creativity?

Google+ has been around for quite some time now, but not everyone is taking advantage of what it has to offer.
Having more than 40 million users, Google+ is shooting up as one of the world’s biggest social media sites. With Google being one of the largest search engines in the Internet right now, it only makes sense to set up a Google+ business page.

Why Google+?

Here are a few short and simple reasons:

• Google+ incorporates other Google services, such as Google Local and Google Maps. If you have a business, this is definitely a big help for your customers especially for those who aren’t really familiar with your location.
• A business page on Google+ gets a complimentary SEO (search engine optimization) boost if maintained and updated. 

Remember: you want your page to rank higher on search engine results so people get to see you first. This is a really huge advantage.

• It also has a feature called “Hangouts” that hosts video conferences you can use for brainstorming sessions or for sharing files with your co-workers.
• It allows you to selectively target your contacts, sending out messages to specific groups of people, or what they call “circles.”

Did you know that Google+ can help you generate more leads?

A lot of  entrepreneurs have  already discovered the wonder that is Google+ and have taken to making new business partners and developing more opportunities with it. HubSpot showed that the key is to have a link back to your landing page on your website whenever you post content on the site, be it a text description or visual content. Once you’ve made an account, you can also try these:

1. Follow the right people.

Follow those who you think are interested in your business or could be your lead prospects in the future. You usually don’t find these people out of the blue but thanks to Google+, now you can. All you need to do is type a keyword on the search box at the top of the site. Just beneath the search box you’ll see your keyword next to a drop down menu box. Hit the blue search button, the one with the magnifying glass.

In order to index people under your chosen keyword, select “People and Pages.” The search results would show people who have that keyword in their profiles.  The same thing goes when you click “Google+ posts”, “Hangouts,” etc.

You may also like to follow people or companies that regularly update their page and could be genuinely interested in your business.

Need some help in crafting your first contact message? Check out our  email template  and use it to close your first lead.

2.  Respond, Share, and Comment.

As a newbie, you can choose to be discreet and just lurk around the site at first, but that can’t go on forever, especially now that you’ve found the right people to follow. Just as in any type of social media, the only way for you to get noticed is by being active. That means taking the time to read, respond, and comment on other people’s posts.

You can also read these tips to help improve your Google+ use:

Click the “+1” button if a post deserves it. A “+1” is just like the thumbs up button in Facebook known as the “like” button. Hit the +1 button if you like, agree with, or appreciate a post. It’s the easiest way to tell someone, “Hey, I’ve seen your post and it’s awesome! Great job!” without really leaving a comment on the post.

You can spot the total number of people who had +1’d a post on the right side of the same row. Profile icons that appear when you click the number indicate the people who had recently +1′d or “reshared.”

How about actually leaving something on the post?  It’s usually how conversations start online. Someone comments, the other responds, an interesting conversation breaks through, and poof! Instant connection.

Don’t forget to add the “+” sign and the name of the person you’d like to address when commenting. When you do so, Google+ indexes people with similar names so that when you click on the correct name, it will be added to your comment immediately.

When you view your comment again, notice that the name is in color blue. This means it already has a hyperlink back to the name’s profile or company page.

The person whose name you mentioned will get a notification via email, telling him or her that someone mentioned his or her name on a comment. Works exactly like the “@” symbol on Faceboook and Twitter. If you do not mention the name, he or she could miss your  comment, especially if it’s on an older post.

Found something really relevant? Share it! Personalize by adding a short comment saying how the post affected you or your business before sharing it with everybody. A sentence or two will do.

You can also click the +1 button or add a “thank you” comment to the sharer of the post. Your comment may be removed, though, if someone “re-shares” the post from you.

3. Post interesting content.

People are often looking for something fresh and cutting-edge. If you keep in mind those qualities, you can attract people not only with the content you post, but also with you and your business.

Don’t post the same content over and over again like you do on other networking outposts. Give a little variety and make sure your blogs and articles are related to your business. Pour in your thoughts about it as well, so it’s more personal and engaging. Posting interesting content on Google+ will help direct more people to your website and bring more business leads.

If you’re new to Google+ and have little idea how to post content, don’t worry. Google+ is really user-friendly. Here’s a guide you can follow:

Step 1:  Either click on “Share what’s new” under the share box right at the top of your homepage, or the “+ Share” button in the upper right hand corner of the Google bar.

Step 2: Upload or type in your post. If it’s a photo, click on the camera icon; if it’s a video, hit the play icon. Or if you’re inserting a link, click the icon that looks like a chain.

Your main goal in creating a Google+ account is interacting with people, so of course you’d like to share your posts with them.

To share content, click the “+ Add more People” link and type the names of the people with whom you like to share your posts, or select a circle.

If you think you’ve indicated too many people, you can delete them by clicking the “X” button beside their names.

Note: If you choose to share publicly, content may appear in search results. 

Step 3: If you’re the type who’s easily distracted by feedback, you can prevent people from commenting by locking your posts or disabling comments. You can do that by clicking on the right arrow of the “Add more People” box.

Step 4: If your browser supports it, Google+ can also show your location, or where you’re currently posting, next to your status update. Your post will then have a mini-map attached to indicate where you are.

Step 5: Once you’re done, click the “Share” button, and you’re all set.

4. Optimize your posts.

The word “optimize” means managing your posts effectively. Post content that are appropriate and beneficial to your business not only to capture your reader’s attention easily, but to rank higher among competitor sites or companies.

Here are a few guidelines:

Step 1: Formulate an effective Title Page. Your Google+ business page name will be included in the title page so it’s definitely a must to use effective title tags. Title tags give people a hint on what your page or your website is all about. Search engines index them, too, so be very careful of your input.

Google+ restricts words that are too long and those that  contain a lot of invalid characters. Remember KISS: Keep It Short and Simple.

The post can be even more effective if (1) what appears on the title tag can also be seen on the body of the post, (2) if you key in casual words rather than unnecessarily long and profound ones and (3) if you place important keywords in front.

Step 2: Be direct with your Tagline. The Tagline is like your slogan or your page theme and is located on the About page of your company brand or product. You may want to place your keywords there so people can index you easily and for search engines like Google to rank your page higher.

Step 3: Place keywords on the Introduction. Sure, you can post everything you like people to know about your company, but keywords are really the key – pun intended. This doesn’t meant that you have to be redundant about your main keyword – like “outfit, outfit, outfit” – but try to add a bit of zest in your intro. You can also spread your keywords in between paragraphs, or write in bullet lists so you don’t bore the pants off your readers.

Step 4: Always post to “Public” if possible. You may already have your Circles and prefer posting only for certain groups of people, but you’re only reaching out to a limited crowd. If you want your business to expand, making more connections is necessary. You’d rather have people see your content while interacting with you, and sending out your posts to the public can help with that. Public posting also takes away the hassle for others to have to reshare your posts on their pages just to spread the word.

Remember: more people = more leads.

Not to worry though, if you post to “Public”, people from your Circle will still see your posts.

Step 5: Use a URL shortener; specifically if you’re referring to another Google+ post. Long URLs are annoying! So always use a URL shortener like goog.gl.

Step 6: Use Pictures. Images are really catchy and most people like to read posts with pictures or videos in it. This is a good and effective strategy to get and hold people’s attention.

5. Target your posts.

Google+ works very much like Twitter, so when you post something, make sure you utilize its hashtag “#” feature, followed by a keyword, so users can easily come across your page and your posts. As said earlier, you can also use the “+” sign to speak directly with users with whom you want to interact.

6. Avoid flooding your followers.

As much as you love your followers and would like to update them often, bombarding them with your posts every minute will irritate them and may drive them to block or remove you completely from their online lives. The trick is to send out your posts at a scheduled time, and third-party management tools and providers can help you with that. What they do is collect your recent posts, queue them chronologically, and send them to your followers’ feeds at a specific time.

Buddy Media, Adobe, Hearsay Social, and HootSuite are some third-party management providers you can use.

7.  Join Hangouts.

Hangouts is a fantastic way to meet and interact with new people.  Instead of using the usual text comments for conversations, you can use this to chat face-to-face with fellow users for free.

With Google+ Hangouts, you can do a one-on-one live chat or chat all at once with up to 10 different users. When you engage with your audience through visual mediums such as what Hangouts offers, you leave a strong impression with people because they now have a face to match your business.

Google+ Hangouts is pretty similar to Skype, Face Time, and Video Chat on Facebook. What sets it apart is its seamless streaming for group interaction, compared to the individualized, one-on-one real-time video chats its rival sites feature.

If you’re a bit uncomfortable starting your own Hangout, try to join after you get an invite. It’s a great way to get in touch with people within your Circle or others who happen to have similar interests as you do.

When you enter a Hangout, make sure you mute your microphone and open the chat window. You can find the mute button on the upper right of the Hangout window. Muting is an act of courtesy to other users who are also live streaming, especially if you’re in a noisy environment. Otherwise, there’s no need for muting. On the other hand, opening the chat window, located on the window’s upper left, helps you slide into a conversation without interrupting any ongoing discussion.

Hangouts are venues of conversations, so don’t just burst in and yell, “HELLO!” to other users. That might send the wrong message and make them think you’re rude. Try to observe first how the people interact with each other, and slowly initiate the flow of conversations.

You might have to follow the etiquette the first few times you use Hangouts, but you’ll have more leeway once you’ve become friendlier with the other participants.

Generate leads. Grow your business. Join one of the fastest growing networks today and be officially part of Google+.

And if you need help composing an email message to reach out to possible leads and prospects, use our template and let us know how it turns out: just tweet us @memokitchen.

Like all business owners, you only have one goal for your business: success. And what do all growing, successful businesses have in common? Customers. Lots and lots of customers.

So we’re kicking off a series of posts to talk all about getting more customers and generating leads and prospects. Let’s start our lead generation discussion with LinkedIn.

Why LinkedIn for lead generation?

Simple. It’s the one social network where you’re actually encouraged to make business connections. In fact, a HubSpot study found out that LinkedIn is 277% more effective than Twitter and Facebook when it comes to generating leads.

Want to get use LinkedIn for lead generation? Here are a few things you can do right now to get a running start.

1. Create and fill out your LinkedIn Company Page.

The first step is to establish your company presence in LinkedIn. To create a Company Page, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open up LinkedIn and then, click on Companies in the navigation bar.

Step 2: Next, click Add Company at the upper right of the screen.

Step 3: On the Create a Company Page, enter your company name and your company email address (the one you created earlier). Also, check off the box that says, “I verify that I am the official representative of this company and have the right to act on behalf of my company in the creation of this page.” Click on the Continue button once you’re done

Step 4: Wait for the verification email (you’ll get it in your inbox within 24 hours, most likely you’ll get the email immediately), and follow the instructions therein.

Step 5: Afterwards, you can proceed filling out your company’s other basic information like your company size, when it was founded and more. Add additional data as well like location and related companies.

Step 6: If you already have a company logo, upload it to your profile as well so people can remember your company better. Remember to add both your standard logo and square logos, and keep in mind the maximum file size and dimensions for the images.

Step 7: Since you can also place links on your profile, use this as a referrer link to your company website to generate traffic from people viewing your personal profile. Once the visitor is on your page, you now have a better chance of converting him into a customer by sending him to the appropriate landing page.

To do this, mouse over Profile in the navigation and click Edit Profile. Scroll down to Additional Information then click Edit. Add your company URL under the Websites section.

2. Make use of LinkedIn’s Follower and Page Insights.

Follower Insights and Page Insights let you track people who follow you, visit your site and what they do on your page. Go to your Company Page and click on the Follower Insights tab or Page Insights tab to view your stats.

Follower Insights is a bit similar to Facebook Page Insights since it also shows charts and grids of your follower demographics (whether entry, senior, director, etc.), your total number of followers and the engagement you have been earning from your status updates. The statistics also show the most recent profiles of your followers and total post impressions.

Page Insights on the other hand shows your page views, unique visitors, as well as your product and service clicks.

After sharing your company profile for and driving traffic to it, use these stats to learn more about the people who took the time to check out your page. Message them first (so you don’t appear too aggressive) then send them your company/business portfolio. You’ll never know, they might be a prospective client or employee. Do a follow-up call too afterwards, if you’d like.

Need some help in crafting your first contact message? Check out our email template and use it to close your first lead.

3. Answer questions and respond like a pro.

Establish your credibility on the site by helping other LinkedIn members through LinkedIn Answers. LinkedIn Answers is a section in LinkedIn very much like Yahoo! Answers or Quora where you can freely ask, respond and most importantly give sound advice to other people’s queries about business.

How do you ask questions?

All you have to do is:

Step 1: Click on the Ask a Question tab.

Step 2: Type in your question.

Step 3: Pick a category that applies to the question so that people can find and answer it more easily.

Add other details that can help clarify your question and tick off the checkboxes that apply, though you don’t need to fill them up if you don’t want to.

Your questions then would automatically appear on the Answers tab, the homepage of your connections, your profile page, and company page. You also have the option to send your question via email to some of your connections so they don’t miss out on it.

NOTE: If you ask questions privately, it wouldn’t be visible on the site but instead will simply be delivered as a message to your selected connections.

How do you answer questions?

Since the answers you provide also appear on your profile, answering questions habitually could turn you into a useful resource and go-to person because this helps show your expertise on certain topics to your connections and potential customers and business partners.

If you’re eager to answer questions, you can check them out in these places:

1. The network updates on your home page. When a connection asks for a question, it will appear there accordingly.
2. On the Answers tab under LinkedIn Answers. Here you can view and answer questions from your network and under specific categories.
3. Under Advanced Answers Search. If you click on a particular question, it will redirect to a new page with related Q&A’s previously submitted by LinkedIn users.

Your answers then will be displayed on your profile, on the network updates of your connections, sent via email to the user who asked the question and of course, under the question you answered.

Like questions, you may opt to answer privately and your answer will never appear on any part of the site but will instead be sent via email to the one who posted the question.

Aim for Expertise.

In LinkedIn Answers, answers are rated by users so every time a user rates you as the best answer, you gain one point of Expertise, LinkedIn’s feedback system, under the category of the question you answered. So the more points you gain, the higher you rank on the list of experts.

But what if I always forget to post on LinkedIn Answers?

It’s a given you won’t get to post as much as you’d like. Maybe because you’re so busy that you’re just inclined to forget that you have to be as active as possible on the site.

There’s a way to access questions effortlessly and post answers easily. How? By signing up for RSS feeds under your area of expertise and sending them to your RSS reader. All you have to do is to simply check your reader every day, scroll down the topics of your chosen expertise and think about which questions you’d like to respond to.

Here’s how to create an RSS feed for LinkedIn Answers:

Step 1: Go to LinkedIn’s Answers section Find a topic you know well and go through the open questions. Scroll down until you find the RSS button on the right side of the page. Sign up for the “Answers” topic feed using your RSS feeder.

Step 2: Create a new folder in your RSS reader exclusive to your Linkedin Answer feeds. Subscribe to as many categories as you’d like, and the questions will come to you instead of the other way around.

With you constantly interacting with your followers and fellow LinkedIn users, turning your answers into business leads would be a piece of cake.

4. Keep in touch with present contacts and continue building connections.

All it takes is a well-composed email and you’re off to an engaging discussion that may lead to closing a sale. But who exactly do you invite to join you and your network? Who can become your possible contacts?

• Former colleagues or your present co-workers.
• Alumni from your college.
• Your friends and acquaintances in real life.
• Your friends and acquaintances that you’ve come to know online or
• Contacts from other social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Members from LinkedIn Groups that you’re part of.
• People you’ve previously corresponded with on LinkedIn discussion pages or those who have viewed your profile.

To make it your life easier, you can also import contacts from your email address (whether Yahoo, Gmail or Hotmail) through the Add Connections link.

Here’s how to import your email contact list:

Step 1: In your LinkedIn homepage, click on the Add Connections in the upper right hand corner.

Step 2: Click the icon of your email provider. If you don’t see the one’s you use, just click on the Any Email icon.

Step 3: Enter your email below.

Step 4: Click on Continue.

A window will pop up indicating that you are authorizing the site, LinkedIn, to import contacts from your email address.

Take note that LinkedIn selects all your contacts automatically so if there’s anyone you wouldn’t want to send an invite to, make sure to uncheck the Select All box and manually tick the boxes alongside the contacts you’d like to invite.

5. Post targeted status updates.

Targeted Updates lets companies aim status updates directly towards the microdemographics of LinkedIn users which in turn allows them to interact with their followers more effectively.

With Targeted Updates, a company can choose whether to send in their status update to All followers or a more focused audience which they can select based on industry, company size, geography, seniority or function.

Once a status has been posted, LinkedIn users can have access to more detailed analytics of their posts such as demographics, growth and engagement information.

The main objective of LinkedIn’s Targeted Updates is to increase engagement and brand loyalty which is working out very well for its initial users. For example, the company Philips has seen a 106% increase in engagement by followers subsequently after using targeted status updates as part of their daily interaction among its members.

6. Join LinkedIn Groups.

Participating in LinkedIn Groups is an effective way to build significant relationships online and have discussions with people, particularly with those who are in the same field as you are. If you pick the right groups to join and actively take part in discussions, you’re off to a really good start.

At present, LinkedIn allows its members to join 50 groups at most. Depending on your company objectives, you can either join as much groups as you want regardless of their classification, or select only a few within your field of interest. What’s important, though, is to be an active participant in the groups, and not just be a lurker.

Another important thing is to keep tabs on the how much participation members of your prospective group are engaged in. Self-promotions and self-advertising are red flags, and you might not want to join any group who do these heavily. LinkedIn groups who have minimal updates regarding its members’ businesses are ideal ones. If you don’t find groups you don’t particularly like to be a part of, then by all means create one yourself.

As soon as you’ve joined your selected groups, be active! Let members  know you’re new, post a few reasons why you joined, and respond intelligently to posts previously made . Make yourself visible and be in touch with group members, possibly on a daily basis.

LinkedIn Groups works pretty much the same way as groups do in real life. The more you contribute to your group and the more you give and share content, the more value members place on you. So, the higher members value you as, the higher your status will be in that group.

7.  Join LinkedIn Events as well.

If you’re the type who enjoys organizing and attending events, you might like to join LinkedIn Events.

LinkedIn Events helps you create, organize, and promote your events, and subsequently send out invitations to your connections. You can make the most out of it once you have many LinkedIn connections, because the more people see your event, the more chances there are of spreading the word and of a well-attended event. People outside your network may also see your events, in case they are interested.

Creating an event doesn’t take much time, and once you’re done, your event will automatically appear among the events happening in your area. Events are really effective because they can go viral. Once users decides to attend an event, they will RSVP, and other people will take a look at the event they had just RSVPed, and it goes on.

The big question: does LinkedIn work in generating leads?

Absolutely. LinkedIn is one surefire way for you to be able to generate leads, no doubt about that.

Take your cue from Lewis Howes, founder of the Sports Industry Network and SportsExecutive Association. He went from being an injured former football star to an Internet millionaire in a span of 2 years—all because of LinkedIn.

Howes utilized LinkedIn to expand and influence his network and later on to build his own brand. Lewis Howes is now a sought-after entrepreneur, speaker and brand consultant.

His good friend named Stuart Jenkins (VP of Business Development at Deckers) encouraged him to join LinkedIn and it all began from there. He decided to commit to the site everyday in order to leverage connections with people on the site and eventually found himself exchanging banter with sports professionals and sports executives.

He then came up with the Sports Industry Network and the Sports Executive Association because he felt it was hard for people to build connections in the sports industry.

He went from being an injured former football star to an Internet millionaire in a span of 2 years—all because of LinkedIn.

Within a year, the Sports Industry Network gained over 10,000 members and is now one of the largest sports business professional groups on LinkedIn with over 80,000 sports professionals worldwide.

Howes used LinkedIn Groups and Events to generate his leads. Having a LinkedIn Group of his own, he used it as means to send in messages to its members every week or so to promote his webinars.

The more members you have for a particular group, the more people are most likely to participate on your scheduled webinar, especially if it’s about a topic they can very much relate to. LinkedIn also allows a user to create and promote events, which you can also use to promote your webinars (if you have any).

If you’d like to use LinkedIn for lead generation and expand your network of potential prospects, start using these LinkedIn features today!

And if you need help composing an email message to reach out to possible leads and prospects, use our template and let us know how it turns out: just tweet us @memokitchen.

You just started your business, and you’re ready to make the online world know about its existence. Before you start creating a blog, a website, and your very own Facebook page, here are a few tips that will help you to effectively create and deliver content online.

1. Keep it simple

The content of your social medium is what keeps internet nomads coming back for more. By providing interesting information, you are letting people know what your company is all about. Everyone in the internet is a potential customer and the best way to reach out to them is by keeping your message brief and concise.

2. Know your objectives

It’s not enough that you present yourself with appealing material, but once you catch your reader’s attention, they must also find substance. The content of your social media should be geared towards what you want your company to become, that’s why it’s important to prepare your message and sticking with it. It’s as simple as knowing what your audience is looking for.

3. Be visual

When you think of content, most people would assume write-ups. People often fail to realize the power of visual representation. To give your article an extra oomph, tie it up with an image to support the information you’re relaying.

4. Know how to curate

Curating content would allow you to publish original and internet-available content conveniently. In maintaining your website, it’s not always advisable to publish purely original articles, as other information needed to support your write up is found in other sites. This includes statistics, reports, case studies, or even content made by important people. Make use of the information available to you, but be sure to use it well.

5. Optimize your content

The problem with most marketers is that they assume that the best way for them to optimize their content is to include keywords and links to get more hits. Optimization is not just about placing a keyword on your article thrice, but it’s about creating helpful content that would engage readers. Leading readers to your site, but not providing them the information they need will not give a good user experience. Optimize content for your customers, not for search engines.

6. Enable social sharing

Social sharing fuels viral marketing; it’s a powerful tool to get your message across. The power of social sharing is giving your readers the ability to relay your message to other people since a good read that is worth sharing to friends and family.

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You just started your business, and you’re ready to make the online world know about its existence. Before you start creating a blog, a website, and your very own Facebook page, here are a few tips that will help you to effectively create and deliver content online.

1. Keep it simple

The content of your social medium is what keeps internet nomads coming back for more. By providing interesting information, you are letting people know what your company is all about. Everyone in the internet is a potential customer and the best way to reach out to them is by keeping your message brief and concise.

2. Know your objectives

It’s not enough that you present yourself with appealing material, but once you catch your reader’s attention, they must also find substance. The content of your social media should be geared towards what you want your company to become, that’s why it’s important to prepare your message and sticking with it. It’s as simple as knowing what your audience is looking for.

3. Be visual

When you think of content, most people would assume write-ups. People often fail to realize the power of visual representation. To give your article an extra oomph, tie it up with an image to support the information you’re relaying.

4. Know how to curate

Curating content would allow you to publish original and internet-available content conveniently. In maintaining your website, it’s not always advisable to publish purely original articles, as other information needed to support your write up is found in other sites. This includes statistics, reports, case studies, or even content made by important people. Make use of the information available to you, but be sure to use it well.

5. Optimize your content

The problem with most marketers is that they assume that the best way for them to optimize their content is to include keywords and links to get more hits. Optimization is not just about placing a keyword on your article thrice, but it’s about creating helpful content that would engage readers. Leading readers to your site, but not providing them the information they need will not give a good user experience. Optimize content for your customers, not for search engines.

6. Enable social sharing

Social sharing fuels viral marketing; it’s a powerful tool to get your message across. The power of social sharing is giving your readers the ability to relay your message to other people since a good read that is worth sharing to friends and family.

You just started your business, and you’re ready to make the online world know about its existence. Before you start creating a blog, a website, and your very own Facebook page, here are a few tips that will help you to effectively create and deliver content online.

1. Keep it simple

The content of your social medium is what keeps internet nomads coming back for more. By providing interesting information, you are letting people know what your company is all about. Everyone in the internet is a potential customer and the best way to reach out to them is by keeping your message brief and concise.

2. Know your objectives

It’s not enough that you present yourself with appealing material, but once you catch your reader’s attention, they must also find substance. The content of your social media should be geared towards what you want your company to become, that’s why it’s important to prepare your message and sticking with it. It’s as simple as knowing what your audience is looking for.

3. Be visual

When you think of content, most people would assume write-ups. People often fail to realize the power of visual representation. To give your article an extra oomph, tie it up with an image to support the information you’re relaying.

4. Know how to curate

Curating content would allow you to publish original and internet-available content conveniently. In maintaining your website, it’s not always advisable to publish purely original articles, as other information needed to support your write up is found in other sites. This includes statistics, reports, case studies, or even content made by important people. Make use of the information available to you, but be sure to use it well.

5. Optimize your content

The problem with most marketers is that they assume that the best way for them to optimize their content is to include keywords and links to get more hits. Optimization is not just about placing a keyword on your article thrice, but it’s about creating helpful content that would engage readers. Leading readers to your site, but not providing them the information they need will not give a good user experience. Optimize content for your customers, not for search engines.

6. Enable social sharing

Social sharing fuels viral marketing; it’s a powerful tool to get your message across. The power of social sharing is giving your readers the ability to relay your message to other people since a good read that is worth sharing to friends and family.

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Let’s be honest: press releases are dull and very boring to write. Only zombies would read those (if zombies could read, that is). But companies still keep on churning them out and sending them to all the corners of the universe. Why?

It’s an industry standard, that’s why. And if done properly, you’ll get your fair share of news coverage from your friendly neighborhood blogger or mild mannered journalist. Done incorrectly, it’s end up as food for their trash bin.

So what press release basics do you need to remember to avoid undead writing?

Think like a customer.

Sometimes when you’re caught up in your product, you produce press releases that shout: “This is our product. We want to make money. Call us here:”

As you know, that’s really not a very enticing read for someone hearing your product for the first time. They’ll think you’re just a capitalist who will say anything for profit (and even if that’s true, let’s keep that a secret for now).

There are certain things that your customer will want to know. What does this product have to do with me? Do I agree with its benefits? Is the company sincerely trying to help?

Dangle a bait that will get them interested then reel them in.

Think like a reporter.

If you want your press release to reach the papers, you have to offer an interesting angle for them to write about. Chances are, there are other companies who are already doing or selling the same things as you.

Search deep within your product and discover something in it that’s truly unique. This should be really easy if you’ve done your product development right. You can offer a different take on the issue, offer discounts or even stir up some light controversy. Offer something that will make them give you a second look.

Don’t think like a businessman.

Yes, the last person you need to think like is yourself, sadly. Don’t look like you’re a money hungry freak. Instead, share your bit on how you can solve your potential customer’s needs, then the reporters, and then just add your (very short) pitch at the end, like an afterthought. It’s counterintuitive really, but it will get you lots of coverage in the end.

 

That pretty much covers all the press release basics you need to know.So whip out your literary shotgun-slash-chainsaw and tell us how you’ve exterminated your zombie PR in your business. Share them in the comments below and maybe we can feature you in a future blog post!

Source: Publicity Insider 1, 2

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Let’s be honest: press releases are dull and very boring to write. Only zombies would read those (if zombies could read, that is). But companies still keep on churning them out and sending them to all the corners of the universe. Why?

It’s an industry standard, that’s why. And if done properly, you’ll get your fair share of news coverage from your friendly neighborhood blogger or mild mannered journalist. Done incorrectly, it’s end up as food for their trash bin.

So what press release basics do you need to remember to avoid undead writing?

Think like a customer.

Sometimes when you’re caught up in your product, you produce press releases that shout: “This is our product. We want to make money. Call us here:”

As you know, that’s really not a very enticing read for someone hearing your product for the first time. They’ll think you’re just a capitalist who will say anything for profit (and even if that’s true, let’s keep that a secret for now).

There are certain things that your customer will want to know. What does this product have to do with me? Do I agree with its benefits? Is the company sincerely trying to help?

Dangle a bait that will get them interested then reel them in.

Think like a reporter.

If you want your press release to reach the papers, you have to offer an interesting angle for them to write about. Chances are, there are other companies who are already doing or selling the same things as you.

Search deep within your product and discover something in it that’s truly unique. This should be really easy if you’ve done your product development right. You can offer a different take on the issue, offer discounts or even stir up some light controversy. Offer something that will make them give you a second look.

Don’t think like a businessman.

Yes, the last person you need to think like is yourself, sadly. Don’t look like you’re a money hungry freak. Instead, share your bit on how you can solve your potential customer’s needs, then the reporters, and then just add your (very short) pitch at the end, like an afterthought. It’s counterintuitive really, but it will get you lots of coverage in the end.

That pretty much covers all the press release basics you need to know.So whip out your literary shotgun-slash-chainsaw and tell us how you’ve exterminated your zombie PR in your business. Share them in the comments below and maybe we can feature you in a future blog post!

Source: Publicity Insider 1, 2

Let’s be honest: press releases are dull and very boring to write. Only zombies would read those (if zombies could read, that is). But companies still keep on churning them out and sending them to all the corners of the universe. Why?

It’s an industry standard, that’s why. And if done properly, you’ll get your fair share of news coverage from your friendly neighborhood blogger or mild mannered journalist. Done incorrectly, it’s end up as food for their trash bin.

So what press release basics do you need to remember to avoid undead writing?

Think like a customer.

Sometimes when you’re caught up in your product, you produce press releases that shout: “This is our product. We want to make money. Call us here:”

As you know, that’s really not a very enticing read for someone hearing your product for the first time. They’ll think you’re just a capitalist who will say anything for profit (and even if that’s true, let’s keep that a secret for now).

There are certain things that your customer will want to know. What does this product have to do with me? Do I agree with its benefits? Is the company sincerely trying to help?

Dangle a bait that will get them interested then reel them in.

Think like a reporter.

If you want your press release to reach the papers, you have to offer an interesting angle for them to write about. Chances are, there are other companies who are already doing or selling the same things as you.

Search deep within your product and discover something in it that’s truly unique. This should be really easy if you’ve done your product development right. You can offer a different take on the issue, offer discounts or even stir up some light controversy. Offer something that will make them give you a second look.

Don’t think like a businessman.

Yes, the last person you need to think like is yourself, sadly. Don’t look like you’re a money hungry freak. Instead, share your bit on how you can solve your potential customer’s needs, then the reporters, and then just add your (very short) pitch at the end, like an afterthought. It’s counterintuitive really, but it will get you lots of coverage in the end.

 

That pretty much covers all the press release basics you need to know.So whip out your literary shotgun-slash-chainsaw and tell us how you’ve exterminated your zombie PR in your business. Share them in the comments below and maybe we can feature you in a future blog post!

Source: Publicity Insider 1, 2

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Going viral is synonymous to getting attention. And let’s face it, your business needs all the attention it can get. In order to do that, master your target audience, and see to it that they love what you’re giving them. Be it funny or tragic, uncommon or cute, your content is bound to get viral if you give it the right qualities.

Here’s an infographic that shows you just what you need to turn that interesting and useful content to an internet sensation.

See what we mean? So get that funny company video up in YouTube or that useful infographic up in Digg. Just keep in mind though, that an Entertaining type of viral content doesn’t sell as much as a Useful one. Enough knowing what you need to go viral, we say start creating that viral content now!

In case you’ve been under a rock this past month, Gangnam Style is the newest Asian viral hit and you can watch the video below to see for yourself why.

And why are we writing about Gangnam Style? If Time, The Atlantic and WSJ saw it fit to write about it, why not us? Also, it’s nice to learn why it’s such a hit (more about that below).

Closing in on 100 million views, this video is already a massive global hit. But the true measure of being a hit in today’s world is how many times the original is rehashed by others to create new equally quirky versions.

Here’s the female version (it’s from the love interest of Oppa in the original video)

The misheard English lyrics version (Condom Star)

Violin version, classy

A one-man band instrumental version

Gangnam Marching Band

Gangnam Style, hardcore metal version

This French guy does a pretty good English version

LMFAO meets PSY (Everyday I’m Gangnam Style)

Also, Sexy Style

Girl group Waveya dances to Gangnam Style

Even Nelly Furtado wants in on the action

BONUS: Call Me Gangnam: Carly Rae x PSY

From what I can figure, Gangnam Style really captivates a wide variety of people:

• Average Joe YouTube who wants to watch a funny video that makes fun of rich people and has a crazy horse dance.
• Pundits who get the real message of the video: a critique of consumerism  and the opulent lifestyle of the superrich.
• People who want to copy the viral elements of Gangnam Style and make their own hits.

While it might seem amazing that a Korean jester would make it big in the Western world (and globally), performer PSY really just followed a simple formula that’s been used, recycled and adapted by hits of the past to climb the charts.

• Outrageously flashy scenes that are easy to remember.
• Add to that, elements of comedy and parody to make the video even more memorable.
• An easy way to spread the video both online (YouTube embeds, FB shares) and offline (English lyrics, that crazy horse dance).

If you want to make your own viral hit, just add some of these emotional elements to your content and wrap that around your message. Simple? Maybe. If not, maybe we can help out and write the script to your next viral video.

Your brand image is one of the most important things you ought to care of; it doesn’t come cheap. Fans and supporters can represent you, but ultimately, one of the most accurate brand ambassadors (or haters) that can make or break you are the people you work with.

Who else is best to represent your company than your employees? Sure, your Mission, Vision, and Value Proposition says things about you, but these are all ideal things, possibly even shared with other companies across town. However, your employees–ah, they’re a living testimony of your company. According to Madison, there are two kinds of employees: Brand Ambassadors and Disengaged Employees.

The motivated and actively engaged employee tends to be more productive and creative, which of course, gives your company the advantage if not guaranteed success. Soon enough, they become your brand ambassadors. Recognition programs help engage your employees and in turn, inspire them to work better. So keep this in mind: as the boss, let all the love and positive vibes flow through you!

Too small? Click on the image to see a larger version.

Source

Customers come and go; attracting and keeping them can be a daunting task. Some would smile, others would simply ignore you. It’s like having relationships with a bunch of people who later says, “It’s not you, it’s me. This won’t work. I’m sorry.”

But the truth is, they’ve could have probably found someone better; maybe it’s your fault that you haven’t given them enough attention; or they just don’t like you anymore. Sad, right?

So, how do you make customers say “Yes!” and make them stay?

Make Them Know You More

You meet, then ask each other’s name. What’s next? Ask for the number! That’s right. Your website is up, all details are in, and all you need to do is to make sure you have a “Subscribe” button. By subscribing, those who are interested are willing to share their contact details in exchange for free information.

How Do You Make Them Hit That Button?

1. Put a subscription box on your webpage. Don’t only place it in a single page, make it visible in all of your website’s pages. It should allow the interested customers to easily type in their contact information.

2. Lure them by offering promos or discounts. Don’t just say, “Subscribe to receive news and promos.” Make it hotter by adding offers like “Hit subscribe to get a 10% discount today!”

3. Make them subscribe in exchange for white papers, free reports, or ebooks. People easily and willingly provide their email addresses to view informative documents. Just say, “Enter email address to download”.

4. Insert audio reports. By clicking play, people could listen to your catchy sales pitch. Hiring someone popular could even help you attract more people. And, don’t forget to say “Subscribe!”

Keep Them Updated

Having subscribers means that these people know you and that they’re interested to know more about your products or services. Now that you have them, you can build their interest and maintain their attention by sending them updates through email. It’s just like regularly sending messages to someone you like to keep the interaction and attraction.

What Do You Send?

1. Articles or reports. Every week, you can send online articles (also called white papers) about your product or service. You can also send reports featuring blog reviews or answers to frequently asked questions.

2. Monthly magazines (ebooks). Talk about what you offer: what’s new, hot, best-selling, or even all of them! Don’t forget about the product information plus highlighted comments from reviews or articles.

3. Webinars. Don’t even miss this one! Make your viewers know how your products or services actually work through video tutorials and reviews. Seeing these in videos actually makes them more interested without feeling it’s ‘another’ sales pitch.

Make The Loyal Ones Feel Loved

You don’t want to lose touch with your recent buyers, so give them a reason to keep coming back.

1. Offer them discounts and more. Through email, you can offer them discounts and freebies. You could also ask them to invite friends and other people to earn more discounts and referral fees. More discounts for them and more customers for you!

2. Make them the first to know. Are you going to launch a new product or service? Then, send your old customers newsletters about the product before others could know about it. You could even give discounts for the first few buyers. With this, they’d be eyeing you until it’s available in the market and will even wait for more surprises.

Emails can combine internet and relationship marketing, making it easier for you to reach your loyal and potential customers.  So, don’t even wait for the others to take them away! Start making yourself attractive and woo customers! What do you think? Leave us a message!