Small Business

Influencer marketing for Startups your Small Business

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Influencer Marketing for your Small Business | Influencer marketing for Startups

Influencer marketing has emerged as a potent business strategy, regardless of size. This marketing approach harnesses the power of influential individuals on social media to endorse products, services, or causes. If you’re contemplating incorporating Influencer marketing for Startups into your small business strategy, this comprehensive guide will delve into the nuances of this dynamic field.

Understanding the Essence of Influencer Marketing for Startups

At its essence, influencer marketing revolves around collaborating with individuals who have cultivated substantial online followings, often on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or blogs. These individuals, or influencers, can sway their dedicated followers’ opinions and behaviors through authentic and engaging content.

Why Small Businesses Should Embrace Influencer Marketing

Influencer Marketing for Startups offers several compelling advantages for small businesses:

  • Establishing Trust: Influencers are trusted intermediaries between your brand and potential customers. Their endorsements carry weight and authenticity.
  • Augmenting Content Strategy: Collaborating with influencers can infuse your content with fresh perspectives, injecting authenticity into your marketing efforts.
  • Targeted Outreach: By carefully selecting influencers whose followers align with your target demographic, you can efficiently reach your ideal audience.

Finding the Perfect Influencer for Your Brand

Identifying the right influencer requires a strategic approach:

  • Niche Relevance: Seek influencers whose content aligns with your business’s niche, ensuring a seamless fit between your products or services and their content.
  • Engagement Metrics: Rather than fixating solely on follower counts, scrutinize an influencer’s engagement rate—likes, comments, and shares—as a more accurate gauge of their impact.
  • Alignment with Brand Values: Evaluate an influencer’s past content and values to ensure they align with your brand’s ethos.

Exploring the Spectrum of Influencers

Influencers come in various sizes, each with its unique strengths:

  • Mega-Influencers: These are often celebrities with millions of followers. While they offer unparalleled reach, their collaborations come at a significant cost.
  • Macro-Influencers: These non-celebrity influencers typically possess follower counts ranging from 100k to 1 million. They may be experts or industry leaders.
  • Micro-Influencers: Boasting follower counts between 10k and 100k, micro-influencers offer a cost-effective option with higher audience engagement.
  • Nano-Influencers: These individuals may have fewer than 10k followers, but their audience tends to be highly dedicated and niche-focused.

For small businesses, the sweet spot often lies in collaborating with micro and nano-influencers due to their affordability and engaged audiences.

Crafting Mutually Beneficial Partnerships

The foundation of Influencer marketing for Startups lies in your collaboration. Here are several ways to structure these partnerships:

  • Paid Collaborations: Compensation is offered to influencers for promoting your products or services.
  • Product Gifting: Influencers receive free products or services in exchange for reviewing or featuring them in their content.
  • Affiliate Partnerships: Influencers earn sales commissions through unique referral links.
  • Social Media Takeovers: Grant influencers temporary control of your brand’s social media accounts to provide fresh insights and attract their followers.

Initiating Contact: Making the First Move

When reaching out to potential Influencer marketing for Startups, personalization is vital. Craft thoughtful messages highlighting why you believe they are an excellent fit for your brand, and be transparent about the terms of the collaboration. Additionally, take the time to inquire about their creative input and vision, as involving influencers in the ideation process can often lead to more authentic and engaging content that resonates with their audience.

Monitoring and Adapting Your Strategy

Once your influencer campaign is live, it’s crucial to monitor its performance:

  • Engagement Tracking: Beyond mere likes, delve into comments, shares, and the quality of interactions.
  • Conversion Metrics: Use tools like UTM codes or affiliate links to track sales or sign-ups from influencer-driven content.
  • Audience Growth: Observe whether there is an increase in your brand’s followers following an influencer campaign.

Use these insights to fine-tune your strategy, select influencers more judiciously, or revise collaboration terms for optimal results. Consider conducting post-campaign evaluations and surveys to gather feedback from influencers themselves, as their firsthand insights can provide valuable perspectives for refining your Influencer marketing for Startups approach and fostering even stronger partnerships in the future.

Ethical Considerations in Influencer Marketing for Startups

Transparency is paramount. Ensure Influencer marketing for Startups discloses the nature of their collaboration with your brand, not only for ethical reasons but also to comply with legal requirements in many regions. Furthermore, maintaining a clear and open line of communication with influencers throughout the campaign ensures that any unexpected issues can be promptly addressed, fostering a more collaborative and successful partnership.

Cultivating Long-Term Relationships

Rather than one-off collaborations, aim to nurture enduring relationships with influencers. Continued partnerships foster familiarity and trust among their audience, significantly benefiting your brand. Building long-term relationships with influencers enhances brand credibility and allows for more consistent messaging and brand integration, creating a cohesive and recognizable presence in the eyes of their audience.

Prioritizing Authenticity

Influencers have risen to prominence on the foundation of authenticity. Instead of micromanaging content, provide guidelines while allowing influencers creative freedom. Authenticity resonates more deeply with their audience than forced endorsements. By striking the right balance between guidance and creative freedom, you empower influencers to create genuine content that resonates authentically with their followers, resulting in a more impactful and organic brand promotion.

The Potential Influencer Marketing for Startups of Small Businesses

Influencer marketing for startups, when executed strategically, can be a game-changer for small businesses. It’s about establishing genuine connections, respecting an influencer’s unique voice, and adapting based on performance metrics. With the right partnerships and a commitment to authenticity, even small brands can make substantial waves in the expansive realm of social media marketing.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you want to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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From Zero to Hero: Targeted Digital Marketing Ideas that Catapult Small Business Promotion

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From Zero to Hero Targeted Digital Marketing Ideas

Small enterprises often need help to stand out and gain recognition in the fiercely competitive business landscape. Limited resources, tight budgets, and the presence of industry giants can make it seem like an uphill battle. However, with the right approach to targeted digital marketing ideas, even the smallest businesses can rise from obscurity to become industry heroes. This article will explore creative and practical ideas that will help catapult your small business promotion and turn you into a market leader.

1. Define Your Target Audience of Digital Marketing Ideas

The first step towards effective digital marketing ideas is to identify your target audience. Start by understanding demographics, interests, and pain points. Use analytics tools and customer feedback to gather insights and create buyer personas. This information will guide your marketing efforts, ensuring your promotional strategies resonate with your audience.

2. Craft Engaging Content

Content marketing remains a powerful tool for small business promotion. Craft compelling and informative content that resonates with the interests of your audience. Whether blog articles, videos, or social media posts, focus on providing value. Share expert advice, industry insights, and practical tips that address your customers’ pain points. Engaging content builds trust and establishes your brand as a thought leader.

3. Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms are invaluable for small businesses looking to amplify their reach. Discover the platforms where your target audience is highly engaged and establish a robust presence on those channels. Regularly share your content, interact with followers, and participate in relevant conversations. Use social media advertising options like Facebook Ads or Instagram Stories to target specific demographics and increase brand visibility.

4. Implement SEO Strategies

Search engine optimization (SEO) is vital in improving your online visibility and digital marketing ideas. Optimize your website with relevant keywords, meta tags, and descriptive URLs. Publish high-quality, keyword-rich content that appeals to both users and search engines. Invest in link-building activities to increase your website’s authority. Higher search engine rankings will drive organic traffic to your site and boost your business promotion.

5. Embrace Influencer Marketing

Collaborating with influencers in your industry can significantly boost your small business promotion. Seek out relevant influencers with engaged audiences and establish partnerships. Influencers can endorse your products or services, share your content, or host giveaways. Their endorsement brings credibility to your brand and exposes your business to a broader audience, resulting in increased visibility and customer acquisition.

6. Harness the Power of Email Marketing

Harness the power of email marketing, a powerful strategy for nurturing leads and boosting conversions. Construct an email list by providing valuable content or exclusive promotions to visitors on your website. Segment your list based on customer preferences and send targeted emails addressing their needs. Personalize your emails, use compelling subject lines, and include strong calls to action to encourage engagement.

7. Engage in Online Communities

Participating in online communities can help establish your small business as an industry expert in digital marketing ideas. Join relevant forums, social media groups, and Q&A platforms where your target audience congregates. Provide helpful insights and answer questions related to your niche. You can generate brand awareness and attract potential customers by showcasing your expertise and building relationships.

8. Invest in Paid Advertising

While organic strategies are essential, investing in paid advertising can yield quick and measurable results for digital marketing ideas. Platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads allow you to target precise demographics and display your ads to a highly relevant audience. Establish a budget, outline your objectives, and develop persuasive ad copy that deeply connects with your intended market.

9. Monitor and Analyze Results

To secure the triumph of your digital marketing ideas endeavors, diligently monitor and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs). Utilize tools like Google Analytics to measure website traffic, conversion rates, and user behavior. Identify which strategies generate the most leads or sales and optimize your campaigns accordingly. Regularly assess your digital marketing ideas performance to refine your approach and maximize your promotional efforts.

10. Foster Customer Advocacy

Turning your existing customers into brand advocates is a powerful way to promote your small business. Provide exceptional customer service, incentivize referrals, and encourage customer reviews and testimonials. Engage with your customers on social media and respond promptly to their queries and feedback. Satisfied customers can become your biggest promoters, generating positive word-of-mouth and driving new business.

The journey from zero to hero in small business promotion requires a well-executed digital marketing ideas strategy. You can elevate your small business by defining your target audience, creating engaging content, leveraging social media, implementing SEO, embracing influencer marketing, harnessing email marketing, engaging in online communities, investing in paid advertising, and fostering customer advocacy.

Remember, with determination, creativity, and a targeted approach, your small business can become a market leader and achieve the success it deserves.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Building Lasting Influence in the Digital Landscape

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building lasting influence | Digital Landscape

Nowadays, social media dominates the conversation around influence-building in the digital landscape: exploring alternative strategies that can help you establish lasting influence is essential. While social media platforms have their merits, relying solely on them might limit your reach and longevity. 

This article aims to uncover effective SEO-driven techniques that will empower you to build lasting influence in today’s ever-changing digital landscape. By leveraging these strategies, you can position yourself as an authority, expand your online presence, and create a strong and sustainable influence that transcends the fleeting nature of social media trends.

1. Understand Your Target Audience 

Building lasting influence begins with a deep understanding of your target audience. Invest time researching and identifying their needs, interests, and pain points. Establish yourself as a reliable source by creating relevant content that addresses their challenges. Utilize keyword research tools to identify the most pertinent and high-impact keywords in your niche. This research will enable you to optimize your content effectively and attract organic traffic from search engines.

2. Create High-Quality, Shareable Content

Content remains king in the digital landscape, and creating high-quality, shareable content is vital for building lasting influence. Craft articles, blog posts, videos, and other forms of content that provide unique insights, actionable tips, and engaging storytelling. Ensure your content is well-researched, authoritative, and addresses the needs of your audience. Incorporate visual elements like infographics or videos to enhance user experience and encourage social sharing.

3. Optimize Your Website for Search Engines 

To establish lasting influence, optimizing your website for search engines is crucial. Implement on-page SEO techniques like optimizing meta tags, headers, and URLs with relevant keywords. Improve website navigation, page load speed, and mobile responsiveness to create a seamless user experience. Additionally, consider building a solid internal linking structure to enhance discoverability and keep visitors engaged on your site for longer durations.

4. Leverage Influencer Collaborations – Digital Landscape

Collaborating with influencers can significantly amplify your reach and credibility. Discover influencers within your industry who share your values and can genuinely connect with your target audience. Engage with them through guest blogging, podcast interviews, or joint content creation. This collaboration can introduce you to new audiences, boost your brand awareness, and solidify your influence in the digital landscape of 2023.

5. Foster Meaningful Relationships 

Building lasting influence requires nurturing meaningful relationships with your audience and industry peers. Create meaningful engagement with your audience by actively responding to comments, addressing their questions, and fostering a sense of community. Actively participate in relevant online forums, groups, and discussions to establish yourself as an authority figure. Additionally, network with like-minded professionals through industry events, conferences, and online communities. These relationships can open doors for collaborative opportunities and further expand your influence.

Recap

By practicing the strategies outlined above, you can easily position yourself as a trusted authority, attract organic traffic, and cultivate a lasting influence that surpasses the fleeting trends of social media. Remember to prioritize understanding your target audience, creating high-quality shareable content, optimizing your website for search engines, collaborating with influencers, and fostering meaningful relationships. Embrace the power of SEO-driven techniques to navigate the digital landscape of 2023 and beyond and build a lasting influence that withstands the test of time.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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The Role of Influencer Marketing in your PR Strategy

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influencer marketing for pr strategy

In today’s world, businesses constantly seek new ways to reach their target audience and build their brand. Including influencer marketing in your PR strategy can effectively expand your brand’s reach and gain new customers. Here, we will explore the role of influencer marketing in your PR strategy and how it can help you reach your business goals.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influencer marketing is a popular form of marketing in which brands and companies partner with online personalities and creators to promote their products or services. These individuals, known as influencers, can influence their followers’ opinions and purchasing decisions.

Businesses often use influencer marketing to reach a specific target audience and increase brand awareness. By partnering with an influencer, brands can tap into their audience and create content that resonates with them.

The Role of Influencer Marketing in Your PR Strategy

Influencer marketing can play a significant role in your PR strategy. PR, or public relations, consists of managing the circulation of a company’s messaging and brand image to the public. Influencer marketing can help you achieve your PR goals in several ways:

Increase Brand Awareness

A huge advantage of utilizing influencer marketing is its ability to increase brand awareness. By teaming up with a notable influencer with a large following, you can reach a wider audience and introduce your brand to new people.

When an influencer shares content about your brand, their followers will see it and may be curious to learn more. The interest from the influencer’s followers can lead to more website traffic, social media engagement, and, ultimately, more sales.

Build Trust and Credibility

Influencers have built a following by creating content that resonates with their audience and providing value. When an influencer recommends your product or service, their followers are more likely to trust their opinion and consider your brand. This influence builds credibility for your brand and increases the likelihood that people will choose to do business with you.

Generate User-Generated Content

In addition to creating content with influencers, you can also encourage their followers to create user-generated content about your brand. User-generated content (UGC) is any content users create about your brand, such as reviews, photos, and videos.

When influencers promote your brand, they create awareness amongst their social media following, letting their audience know about your product or service. This new brand awareness can help you build a community around your brand and generate buzz.

Reach a Specific Target Audience

Another advantage of influencer marketing is its ability to reach a specific target audience. Influencers have built a following based on their interests and expertise, which means they have a highly engaged audience in a particular niche.

By partnering with an influencer in your industry, you can reach a targeted audience likely to be interested in your products or services and generate leads to increase conversions.

Boost SEO

In addition to its PR benefits, influencer marketing can boost your SEO efforts. When influencers link to your website or share your content on social media, it can improve your website’s search engine rankings.

Search engines use social signals as a ranking factor, which means that social media engagement can help improve your website’s visibility in search results. By partnering with influencers and creating shareable content, you can improve your website’s SEO and drive more traffic.

Best Practices for Influencer Marketing in Your PR Strategy

While influencer marketing can be a powerful tool in your PR strategy, it’s essential to approach it with best practices in mind. Here are some tips for incorporating influencer marketing into your PR strategy:

  1. Set clear goals and objectives. Before you start your influencer marketing campaign, be clear on what you hope to achieve. Are you looking to increase brand awareness? Drive more sales? Generate user-generated content? Having clear goals will help you measure the success of your campaign and ensure that your efforts align with your overall PR strategy.
  2. Choose the right influencers. When selecting influencers to partner with, choose those who align with your brand values and have an engaged following in your target audience. Look for influencers with a genuine interest in your product or service and a track record of creating quality content.
  3. Be transparent. Be transparent about your partnership with influencers. Ensure their followers know that they are promoting your brand and that any sponsored content is clearly labeled as such. Build trust with your audience and ensure that your efforts are ethical and compliant with advertising regulations.
  4. Collaborate on content. When working with influencers, make it a team effort and collaborate on the content creation process. The collaboration ensures the content resonates with the influencer’s audience and aligns with your brand values. You can guide influencers on messaging and tone and allow them creative freedom to create content that feels authentic to their brand.
  5. Measure and analyze. Measuring your influencer marketing campaign will determine if any tweaks or changes are needed. A few pointers include: tracking metrics such as engagement, website traffic, and sales to determine the impact of your efforts. Measuring and analyzing the marketing campaign’s success will help you refine your approach and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns.

In Summary

In conclusion, influencer marketing can significantly improve your PR strategy. By partnering with influencers with a large and engaged following, you can increase brand awareness, build trust and credibility, generate user-generated content, reach a specific target audience, and boost SEO. However, it’s crucial to approach influencer marketing with best practices in mind and to be transparent with your audience about your partnerships. By setting clear goals, choosing the right influencers, collaborating on content, and measuring success, you can incorporate influencer marketing into your PR strategy and achieve your business goals.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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3 Effective Ways Local Businesses Can Get Media Coverage

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Local Businesses

For any local business, getting media coverage is a great way to generate publicity and attract new customers. However, it can be challenging to grab the attention of journalists and editors in today’s fast-paced media landscape. Today, we will discuss three effective ways local businesses can get media coverage and increase their visibility.

Build Relationships with Local Journalists | Local Businesses

Building relationships with local journalists is an effective way to get media coverage for your business. Establishing a personal connection with a journalist or editor can increase your chances of being featured in their publication or website.

One way to get started with connecting with a journalist is to research local businesses media outlets and identify reporters who cover your industry or niche. Once you have identified these reporters, reach out to them and introduce yourself. You can start by sending a brief email introducing yourself and your business and expressing your interest in being a source for future stories.

It’s important to remember that journalists receive many emails, so make sure to keep your message concise and to the point. In addition to email, you can also reach out to journalists through social media using Twitter or LinkedIn.

Another effective way to build relationships with local businesses journalists is to attend networking events and industry conferences. These events are an excellent opportunity to meet journalists face-to-face and establish a personal connection. Bring business cards and relevant marketing materials to share with journalists when attending these events. Provide information on your brand’s product or service that will likely appeal to the audience the journalist writes for.

Create Compelling Press Releases
free local business media coverage

Press releases are an excellent tool for local businesses to generate media coverage. A well-crafted press release can grab the attention of journalists and editors and generate interest in your business.

When creating a press release, it’s essential to focus on the newsworthy aspect of your story. Consider what makes your business unique and newsworthy, and emphasize those elements in your press release. For example, if your company is launching a new product or service, focus on the benefits that this product or service will provide to customers.

Include quotes from relevant sources in your press release. Using quotes from the CEO of your company, satisfied customers, or industry experts is a common practice. These quotes add credibility to your press release and make it more compelling to journalists. Focus on highlighting the product or service and demonstrate how your brand stands out. 

Once you have written your press release, distribute it to local businesses and media outlets. You can do this by using a press release distribution service or by sending your press release directly to journalists and editors. When sending your press release, you’ll want to personalize your message and explain why your story would interest their readers.

Leverage Social Media

Social media is a powerful tool that local businesses can use to generate media coverage. By leveraging social media, you can reach a broader audience and increase your chances of being noticed by journalists and editors.

One way to use social media to generate media coverage is to share your press releases and other news updates on your social media channels. Sharing the press release can generate interest in your business and increase the visibility of your story. Use relevant hashtags and tag relevant journalists and media outlets in your posts to expand your reach. If you tag a journalist, be sure to exercise the proper etiquette, so you don’t get your account banned for spamming. 

Another way to use social media to generate coverage is to engage directly with journalists and editors. A few ideas for engaging with journalists involve commenting on their posts, sharing their articles, or responding to their tweets. By engaging with journalists on social media, you can establish a relationship with them and increase your chances of being noticed.

It’s essential to remember that social media is a two-way street. Make sure to engage with your followers and respond to any comments or questions they may have. By building a community on social media, you can increase your visibility and generate interest in your business.

Other Tips: Besides the strategies discussed in this article, local businesses can get media coverage in other effective ways. For example, businesses can participate in community events, sponsor local businesses organizations or sports teams, and offer expert commentary on relevant industry topics.

Conclusion

Getting media coverage for your local business is an excellent way to generate publicity and attract new customers. By building relationships with local businesses journalists, creating compelling press releases, and leveraging social media, you can increase your chances of getting noticed by journalists and editors and getting your story covered.

It’s important to remember that getting media coverage is not a one-time event. No matter which approach you decide to take, persistence and patience are essential. Getting media coverage takes time and effort, but the rewards can be significant.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you want to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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How Small Businesses Can Use AI Productivity Tools to Grow

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AI is a tool that can be used to both streamline and improve the operations of small businesses. AI productivity tools are perfect for small businesses because they have access to fewer resources than larger companies do. Even though these tools might seem daunting at first glance, they’re relatively easy to use when you break them down into their components. In this article, we’ll cover some tips on how small businesses can use artificial intelligence tools to grow their businesses even faster than they already are.

Artificial Intelligence & its Impact on Small Businesses

Artificial Intelligence is a massive buzzword in tech, but what does it mean? Here’s the short answer: AI refers to intelligent machines that can perform tasks as well or better than humans.

AI has become increasingly important because it improves productivity, efficiency, and customer service. Many small businesses are now using some form of AI-powered tool to help them manage their business more successfully. AI tools can do everything from help you get more sales leads on LinkedIn or Facebook ads by analyzing your website traffic data and learning which keywords are most effective for attracting new customers. From generating automated reports on key metrics like sales pipeline progress that would otherwise take hours each week for someone like yourself who’s just getting started in marketing (or doesn’t have time).

How Small Businesses Can Use AI Tools to Improve Productivity

One of the most common misconceptions about AI tools is that they can only be used for highly technical tasks. While it’s true that some of these tools are designed for businesses that don’t have a large workforce or complex processes, you can still use them to get more done with less effort. Many small businesses are already using AI productivity tools to streamline their workflows and make more money.

One way to use these tools is by outsourcing repetitive or monotonous tasks so that employees can focus on other business areas. An example would be having an AI system handle customer service calls while an employee looks over transcripts and provides feedback on improving performance next time. Another way is by automating data processing so that employees don’t have to do it themselves—and yes, even if your company doesn’t deal with tons of numbers every day, there may still be ways in which automation could help.

How AI Helps in Content Creation

AI helps you create more engaging, relevant, and actionable content.

Say you’re a small business owner looking to launch your first blog post. You have a perfect idea—a product review of Samsung’s latest smart kitchen appliance. But where do you start? How can AI help?

First, when it comes to writing blog posts about consumer products, there are two main types: reviews and how-to guides. Reviews tell readers what they need to know about a product before making a purchase decision; how-to guides show them how to use it once they get their hands on one. When creating these types of posts for your site or social media channels, AI tools can help by advising which type best suits your audience based on past engagement levels with similar content (and other factors).

AI Productivity Tools for Better Marketing & Sales

AI productivity tools can also help you with marketing and sales. These tools can help optimize your marketing campaigns and improve your sales process. For example, AI-driven email automation software can automatically segment contacts into different groups based on their interests and preferences; This allows for highly personalized communications across multiple channels (e.g., social media, newsletters, etc).

The use of AI in marketing has increased over the past few years due to the rise of chatbots and virtual assistants like Alexa or Siri. Chatbots are becoming one of the marketers’ most valuable assets because they allow them to interact directly with consumers through messaging apps like Facebook Messenger without having to deal with pushback from customers who don’t want to talk on the phone.”


Conclusion

As you can see, using AI productivity tools has many benefits for small businesses. They can help you save time and money, improve communication with your customers and make sales more efficient. Using these tools, you will grow your business with less stress and effort.

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you want to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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5 Content Marketing Ideas To Help Small Businesses

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Content Marketing Ideas

Content marketing is an excellent way for small businesses to reach their target audience. It’s relatively low cost and can effectively generate leads and build brand awareness. Here we share five effective content marketing strategies for your small business today.

1. Landing Pages

Landing pages are a great way to engage with customers, build trust, and generate leads. They can be used to promote products or services or collect information from visitors.

Landing pages are a key part of any content marketing strategy for small businesses because they’re highly effective in generating leads, driving sales, and increasing traffic to your website.

2. Email marketing

Email marketing is an inexpensive and effective way to keep in touch with your customers. It’s also a great way to build relationships with them because it’s easy to customize emails based on their interests or purchase history.

You can create email campaigns through free services such as MailChimp, Constant Content Marketing, and AWeber; however, if you’re short on time and resources you can use one of these services or hire a professional who will help set up your email marketing campaign for less than $100 per month.

3. Blogging

Blogging is a great way to build credibility, trust, and rapport with your customers. It’s also free traffic—if you’re savvy about it!

For example: If you have a blog post about what it’s like to run the business of your dreams (and some so many people can relate to), then share it on social media channels. People will see that you’re not just another faceless company selling them something; instead, they’ll see a real person who has been in their shoes and wants to help them succeed at whatever they’re trying to do. And if they like what you wrote about your journey? Then maybe they’ll stick around for more content marketing from you down the road!

4. Case Studies

A case study is a detailed account of how your business helped someone else solve a problem. They’re usually written in the first person, so you can use them to show off your expertise, but they can also be used for promotional purposes. This makes them perfect for small businesses since they show how you can help others while promoting your brand.

If you want to create this type of content marketing, it’s best to choose a customer who was particularly happy with your results and write about their experience in detail. You might include some background information on what led up to the situation they were dealing with and any challenges they faced along the way. Finally, make sure that it ends on an uplifting note so that readers feel encouraged no matter what problems they might face in their lives (because let’s face it: most people have problems).

5. Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to attract new customers. They can help you show off your expertise, build brand awareness, and connect with new customers. Podcasts are a medium that’s relatively easy to produce and distribute, but they can also be very effective in increasing your audience reach.

Podcasting is an excellent way for small businesses to get their name out there because it allows them to share information about their products or services with anyone who can access the Internet or mobile devices. The key is to make sure that people know what they’re listening to so they’ll know how helpful it might be for them.

Conclusion Content Marketing

If you’re looking for new ways to content marketing your small business, the above list is a great place to start. These strategies have been proven time and time again as effective tools for building brand awareness and increasing conversions. They are also relatively low-cost compared with other options, such as paid advertisements or SEO, which can be expensive if not managed correctly by an expert in their field.

When it comes to content marketing for small businesses, there’s no “one size fits all.” So don’t stress if these five seem irrelevant to your brand; instead, use them as inspiration for coming up with something more unique that fits perfectly into your brand (and budget).

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you want to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Top 7 CRM Solutions for Small Business Growth

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Top 7 CRM for Small Businesses

If you’re a small business owner, you probably have a lot on your plate. You’ve probably got your hands full with all the day-to-day operations of running the company and keeping things in order. The last thing that should be on your mind is how to manage all your contacts and leads. But if you want to grow your business, it’s important that you have an effective customer relationship management (CRM) system in place that keeps track of all this information for you—and helps you find new opportunities for growth as well. With so many options out there, how do you know which one is best for your needs? The good news is that there are plenty of both paid and free CRM options available which makes setting up a CRM easy and affordable. We’ve narrowed down our top 7 CRM solutions below.

1. Nimble

Let’s start with a quick brief on Nimble. Nimble is a cloud-based sales and marketing software that helps you manage your sales, marketing, and customer relationships. It’s available on all mobile devices, so it can be used by small businesses on the go. You can easily set up workflows for your team and easily create and monitor assigned tasks.

Nimble offers an intuitive interface with drag-and-drop customization tools for creating lists, tracking activities, managing contacts, and more.

2. HubSpot

HubSpot, a marketing automation platform, also offers CRM software. The HubSpot CRM is integrated with the rest of the company’s offerings. This means that it will function similarly to other tools in the HubSpot ecosystem and won’t require you to learn a new system or change your workflow.

HubSpot CRM is best suited for small businesses that have fewer than 100 employees and need a relatively simple solution for managing contacts and leads. The free version provides an intuitive interface for creating leads, tracking interactions, sending emails, and scheduling meetings with clients. Paid plans include additional features such as lead scoring, reporting dashboards, and team collaboration tools (such as contact groups).

3. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is a cloud-based solution that can be used for free by up to 10 users. It integrates with other Zoho apps, such as Gmail and Google Drive, which makes it easy to use the product from within these existing tools.

The user interface is also intuitive and pretty easy to navigate. A simple sidebar menu allows you to access your contacts, leads, tasks, reports, and more.

Zoho’s mobile app also has a great user experience; it’s fast and responsive so you can make quick changes on the go without having to worry about losing your train of thought while switching between apps or devices in order to do so.

4. CRM.me

CRM.me is the most affordable of all the CRMs listed here. It offers a free plan for up to 3 users and costs $7 per user per month for its paid plans. You can integrate it with your existing website using their API or Zapier integration feature if you wish to do so.

The price point makes it an excellent choice if you don’t want to spend too much on managing your leads and contacts, but still want an easy-to-use tool that will help you improve customer relationships over time.

5. Freshsales

Freshsales is an excellent CRM for small businesses. It’s affordable, easy to use, and has a mobile app.

Freshsales’ free plan allows up to five users with two-way integrations with email marketing platforms Mailchimp and ActiveCampaign (not included in the free plan). You can also extend your Freshsales account by adding more users or upgrading your package.

In addition to its features on the web app, Freshsales provides a mobile app that syncs with your desktop version of the software so you can view data while on the go.

6. Really Simple Systems CRM

Really Simple Systems CRM is a cloud-based system that helps you manage and track your contacts, leads, and opportunities. You can also use it for customer service. It’s easy to set up and use. It integrates with Gmail, Outlook, and other email clients so you’re able to create notes from messages in any of these applications.

If your business needs to keep track of multiple sales channels or project teams then this tool will help you achieve those goals by giving you an easy way to update information about deals on all fronts without double-entry into multiple systems or losing the context behind each piece of info.

7. Salesforce Essentials

Salesforce Essentials is a lightweight CRM solution designed for small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. It offers a range of features to help you manage your contacts, leads, and opportunities.

Salesforce Essentials is easy to set up and can be accessed from anywhere. This means that not only will it save you time, but it will also allow you to work on the move no matter where in the world you are.

Try one of these systems to grow your business and get to know your customers better.

To grow your business, you need to know your customers and how you can best serve them. CRM software helps you do this by managing the customer information you collect, store and analyze.

You can also use CRM to grow your business. CRM can help you identify new leads, manage existing clients and build trust by providing them with valuable information or services.

There are many CRM software options for small businesses. We hope this list helps you make an informed decision when choosing your own CRM solution.

 

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Late Payments: Simple Prevention and Handling Measures for Small Businesses

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late payment

Nearly 40% of invoices are paid late. Although late payments on goods provided are almost guaranteed to happen, this can wreak havoc on small businesses already struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can help prevent late payments from happening. When they do occur, you can take some steps — including those presented below — to manage the situation without damaging your relationship with your customers.  

Communicate Effectively  

Effective communication with your customers is essential to stay on top of payments and handle them when they do occur. Most importantly, you want to ensure communication takes place without error. 

For example, double-check that customers understand verbal communications by summarizing the conversation at the end. Always ask the customer if they understand and whether they have any additional questions.

Pay Attention to the Contract Details 

Writing a clear contract is one of the best ways to prevent late payments. Pay attention to details when writing customer contracts to avoid confusion.

A few essential details to include in your contracts are:

  • Important dates: Contract creation and expiration dates, dates contract was signed, and (if applicable) dates of goods provided, alongside payment due dates.
  • Involved party’s information: The name and contact information for both you and the customer.
  • Payment terms: When and how payments are to be made.
  • Late payment terms: What happens when payments are late.
  • Contract termination terms: When, why, and how the contract can be terminated before its expiration date.

Make the Invoicing Process as Easy as Possible 

Invoicing doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use financial API bank account balance software, such as Plaid Balance, to help make the process smoother. Plaid Balance allows you to verify (in real-time) whether customers have the money to pay for your services or products. You get peace of mind knowing you can receive on-time payments. Your customers get peace of mind knowing they can avoid hefty fees because the funds are available. It’s a win-win situation. 

Create a Late Payment Plan (and Stick to It) 

Establish a late payment plan, stick to it, and make it transparent for customers. Generally, fees are added to balances once they remain unpaid after their due dates. How much those fees are and when they’re imposed are your choice. 

If payments are very late, you may need to send the account to a collection agency. When you choose to do this is up to you, but some experts recommend waiting at least 90 days. Try communicating with a customer before sending the account to collections. Let them know it’s coming up, and ask them to reach out to you, so you don’t have to take this step. 

You Can Prevent and Handle Late Payments

Late payments are an unfortunate reality that can significantly impact the financial well-being of small businesses already struggling after the pandemic. Thankfully, the information above can help you prevent late payments from happening and handle them when they do occur. 

Keetria is an entrepreneur, wellness advocate, and brand strategy coach for creatives & entrepreneurs with 16 years of public relations expertise working with some of the world’s leading brands, startups, media personalities, and entertainers. If you would like to work together, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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Learn The Most Important Lessons Of Starting Small From Netflix

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Lessons Of Starting Small From Netflix

Most companies are not immediately successful on the market. Indeed, it’s true to say that over 90% of startups will fail within their first year. What’s the lesson here? You need to make sure that you know how to start small and work towards building your business the right way. You shouldn’t jump too many steps ahead because this could mean that your bills grow while profit levels remain the same.

If you are looking at how to start out small the right way, you may want to take a few leaves out of the Netflix logbook. Most people forget that Netflix did not start as the streaming media giant that it is today. The business actually began life as a DVD rental service. How did it become the industry champion that it is today and what can you learn about the path this business took to success.

Embrace Diversification

The first step in the growth of Netflix was to diversify their business venture. While they began to offer a DVD renting service, they would eventually offer a streaming option as well as blu-ray rentals. It’s worth pointing out that once Netflix began to build a streaming service, they did not abandon DVDs or hard media options immediately. Instead, they offered customers several options, diversifying their model. This ensured that if one area of the company failed as it began to during the dot-com crash, other products would remain profitable. Diversification of your business and what you offer is a smart step to take as soon as you began to grow your small company.

To this day, Netflix continues to adopt a solid model of diversification, offering both original contents developed by the business and content that they have purchased streaming rights for from other companies.

Plan For Success

Previous employees of Netflix have shared insight into the mindset of the company and the growth of the business. Ultimately, employees were instructed to build for scale and work on the premise that an idea, product or service was already successful. If a product was successful, it was going to be used by millions, and thus it made sense to plan for this possibility.

According to past employees, this even helped reduce costs. Adding ten or twenty percent during a core development phase in the company was far more beneficial than adding two hundred percent for growth after initial development had been completed.

Think Beyond The Bottom Line

Finally, a lot of people think that growing a small startup is about constantly focusing on the bottom line or the cap table. However, one of the reasons why Netflix reached their incredible level of success was due to their ability to see the bigger picture. Netflix did not shy away from mistakes but rather embraced them and built their company while looking at issues that could impact the overall model, continuing to create products for mass consumption. This is what you should learn when creating your own products and building your own business from the ground up.

Ultimately, your company could become the next Netflix in terms of size and success and you should plan for this possibility.

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