“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”
Walt Disney Company
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy.
As the year comes to a close, I reflect on all the opportunities there are for small businesses when it comes to branding, storytelling, and marketing both online and off. One of the biggest areas I continue to see is how we present our images on social platforms.
Image matters. Both online and off. Cut off logos, blurry pictures, cut off pictures, etc are not helping our image. But there is a solution. Finding a designer that can help size your images can make a big difference in how your brand is seen in the eyes of the customer.
While there are always exceptions and variables and the platforms seem to be changing almost by the day, these templates are a great place to start.
Facebook Profile Art (and almost every other social platform profile pic)
If you are using Facebook for business, your logo goes here. Not a promotion or fancy image. Save that for the Cover Image or a post.
Facebook Cover Art
This is an awesome place to show your business, your work, a feature program or promotion. Make the space count and change it up just like you change-up your marketing calendar. When creating this image, be sure to leave space for the Profile pic in the lower left hand side.
Facebook Event Art
If you are big on posting events such as fundraisers, girls nights, grand openings, etc, this can be a highly engaging part of your Facebook biz page.
Facebook Post Art (also Instagram)
When creating art for Facebook and Instagram posts, this is a good template to follow. When you post images taken from your phone or tablet, Facebook and Instagram almost always “re-size” it for you when uploading.
YouTube Channel Art
If you have not noticed, YouTube changed their channel layout, and thus, the need for creating new art. It’s a tricky one, but important none the less if you have a presence on YouTube.
Pinterest Pin Art
Image is everything on Pinterest. Be sure to invest the time, money and energy to present compelling and powerful images if Pinterest is part of your social strategy.
When in doubt, always go to the HELP section of any social platform. There is almost always help available on sizing, dimensions, etc. Are there any platforms you would like to see a cheat sheet for? Share your thoughts in the comments below or reach out directly to me, I’m listening.
As 2013 comes to a close and plans are being made for 2014, it may be a good idea to add a review of all your social pages. Do they reflect your image, message and brand? Are all the links updated and working? Is your About section current and relevant. Those are just some of the questions to ask yourself as you do your year end review.
“We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.”
Jeff Bezos, CEO Amazon.com
Here is the audio version of this post. Thanks so much for listening. Enjoy.
Today is Cyber Monday, another made up shopping holiday to drive traffic to websites to consume goods and services. I’m sure you know this by the gazillion emails that are waiting for you to click on in your inbox. That fact is, we are all online. Whether we are socially networking on Facebook and Instagram or shopping for the holidays.
We are all in e-commerce today, one way or another. And we all need to think hard about the customer experience (online), if we want to be a relevant business in 2014 that is.
Here is a simple checklist for you to see if you are a discoverable business and for you to audit the customer experience (online).
Search Engines
1. Google terms that relate to your business. If you are a hair salon, Google “best hair salons”, “best colorist”.
2. Take a look at what results come up. Are you there?
3. Click on the links. Are they your business pages? What do they look and feel like?
Website
1. Visit your website.
2. Is it easy to find your location? Contact info? Hours of operation?
3. Are there pictures of your business and your work?
4. Can I make a reservation or at least contact you?
5. Is the copy reader friendly and relevant to your business?
6. Can I easily see where to find you on Facebook, YELP, etc?
7. Is it mobile friendly?
YELP (being active on YELP is one of the best ways to rank higher in search engines. Fact.)
1. Have you claimed your page? If not, click here to learn how.
2. Have you added images of your business and work?
3. Have you filled in the “About this business” section?
4. Are there recent reviews?
Google Places
1. Have you claimed your business?
2. Have you added images, contact info, hours of operation and a business description?
Facebook
1. Do you have a business page?
2. Have you claimed your unique URL? This is the best way to show up in Graph Search, the “Google” of Facebook. Click here to learn how to claim your name.
3. Is your about us section filled out?
4. Are the hours of operation there?
5. Is your website, phone number and an email address available?
Instagram
1. Have you written a short about message?
2. Is there a link to your website?
3. Do you have your phone number or email listed?
Inbox
1. Can I easily find where to sign up for your emails?
2. Do you have a subscribe area on your website?
3. Do you have a subscribe tab on your Facebook page?
While this is not even close to a complete list, it’s an awesome start if you are in a service business. When was the last time you took a look at your online presence? Today may be an awesome day to start.
Here is the audio recording of this weeks post. Thank you for listening.
In the world of beauty, we strive to help make people feel and look beautiful both inside and out. But how much time and attention are we putting towards our own brand image online?
In today’s social + digital world, we have an opportunity to extend our offline experience into the online world, and that includes how we look in the eyes of current and future clients. As they say, we only have once chance to make a great first impression. What impression is your online presence making?
Here is a list of ways you can create awesome in your online image…
1. Your Website
Logo
Always be sure your logo is clear, sized right and prominent.
Font
Choose a font family, or ask a designer for their suggestions, make a decision and stick with it.
Images
Be sure images are hi-resolution and sized correctly, a designer can help.
Favicons
One of the most overlooked things on a website but it’s the little things. What is a favicon? It’s the little image in the left hand side of the browser tab. A web designer can help, or if you are using a self-serve template, there are places where the favicon can be added. This is what it looks like…
Color Scheme
Pick a color scheme for your brand and stick with it. Both online and off. Try to keep it clean and easy to look at. By all means get creative, but once you decide, consistency is key.
2. Your Social Pages
Logo
Place your logo where the profile picture is if you have a business page. Unless of course, you are the business. Most all social platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. use the same sizing for profile pics. Ask a designer to make one for you. I mean, it’s your logo for goodness sakes. It matters.
Cover Image
Invest the time, money and energy in creating an awesome cover image that fits. Again, a designer can help.
Images
Be sure you are posting quality images on your pages. Most phones these days capture amazing images. If you are finding images on Google or such, just be sure they look awesome before posting and are sized right.
3. Your E-Newsletter/Confirmation E-Mails
Logo
Need I say more?
Color Scheme
Enough said.
Font
Do your best to use your brand font family. If the email platform you use does not have your font, either choose one that is super close to yours or invest in a designer to design artwork for your newsletters.
Images
Enough said. Again.
4. Your E-Newsletter Sign Up Forms
Logo
OK, I know, but so often overlooked. Keep it awesome Passionistas.
Color Scheme
Consistency again is the name of the game. Try signing up for your own newsletter, what do you see? Is it awesome and consistent, cool, if not, change it.
Font
Yep, again, if you can be consistent, awesome, if your font is not available, choose one closest to your own.
5. Mobile
The world is going mobile. If you have a mobile or responsive site (responsive means the site knows which device it’s being accessed from and acts accordingly) or mobile app, be sure to visit your site from your devices from time to time to see what the experience looks and feels like. If you have not yet gone mobile, it’s still an awesome idea to see what your platforms and pages look like via mobile devices.
Can your image make or break your business? Maybe. Of course, there is also living up to that image, you know, your promise, purpose, why and delivering a kick ass experience, every single time.
Here is the audio version of this post. Thanks so much for listening. Enjoy.
Actions speak louder than words. Something we can all agree on, yes? There is a big difference between saying we care and showing we care.
After reading The Thank You Economy by my biz hero Gary Vee, I was convinced more than ever that caring is not only a critical part of having a successful biz, but can also be a competitive advantage. As lame as that sounds, because it’s easier than ever to show we care, and sadly, there are just so many businesses who don’t.
With the rise of the social + digital web and the tools available to us, we can show we care in so many ways. Listening, engaging, responding, replying, paying attention, saying thank you and even wishing our clients a Happy Birthday.
Here are some of the awesome Birthday wishes I received in my inbox on my special day. Did I notice which brands remembered? Absolutely.
1. American Apparel
A great image and a special savings. A call to action. Simple and effective. And yes, I did take advantage of the offer.
2. Sephora
A beautiful image and note. An offer I did not take advantage of but would have if I needed the gift. An invitation and call to action to get my makeup done for my special day was icing on the cake, pun intended. 3. the Hair Loft ltd
A beautiful image and message from my friends at the Hair Loft ltd. A special offer and a call to action. Perfect on all levels. Only reason I did not make a reservation is because they are in Chicago. But I would have if it came from my salon in Los Angeles.
With the technology & platforms we have available to us today, no matter the size of our businesses, we all have an opportunity to show we care. But the platforms can’t do it for us, we have to care first, then use the technology to engage. We actually have to care. For reals.
How do you show clients you care? What do your birthday greetings look and feel like? I would love to hear and see what you are doing to show you care. It matters. You matter. And I’m listening.
The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do. -Michael E. Porter
Here is the audio version of this post. Thanks so much for listening. Enjoy.
What is YOUR strategy? Sound like a loaded question? It’s not. It’s a question I believe we all need to take time to answer as brand and small biz owners if we are going to be awesomeness creators.
Here is one definition of strategy, and it includes the word ART which I love…
(noun) the art of devising or employing plans toward a goal
One of the important things we do as brand and biz owners is make decisions. And the best way to make good decisions is if we have a clear strategy. When we have clarity, the decisions become easier to make. We know our plan and are clear on the steps we need to take to get closer to our goals.
And strategy can be and needs to be very fluid. Things change, people change, markets change, opportunities change, and thus our strategy will continue to change over time.
So what does all this have to do with the topic, “One Size Does Not Fit All”?
In today’s hyper connected world, we have opportunities to engage and help our community in so many ways. If someone has a question, we all seem to have answers. Yet, there is a very big flaw. And that flaw is how can we really answer a persons question without knowing more about them, their biz and their strategy? You see, one size does not fit all.
Promotional Strategy
Someone asks a question in a Facebook group about Daily Deal platforms and if they are good…
Several people jump into the comments with their “personal” opinion, knowing nothing about the person or business asking the question. How could anyone really answer that question without understanding the goals or promotional strategy of the person asking the question?
Pricing Strategy
A healthy discussion begins about pricing of products and services…
Several people jump into the conversation adamant about what someone’s pricing strategy should be. Really? How can we be so sure without knowing more about the marketing strategy?
Online Marketing Strategy
An expert is at a hair show talking business and a several people ask the “expert” which social platforms they should be on. And the expert actually answers them, very specifically, knowing nothing about their marketing strategy. Really? How in the world does this expert know?
Referral Strategy
A group of small businesses get really mad at YELP and tells all their biz owner friends to avoid it. What an incredible disservice that is. YELP may or may not be important depending on the businesses strategy. And how in the world would that small group of businesses know that? SMH.
You see, one size does not fit all. We must begin to craft our own strategy, not just absorb other people’s.
Can we all learn from each other? OMG yes! One of the most awesome things about the social + digital web is that is has brought us so close together, to be able to help empower and support each other. But at the end of the day, awesome businesses have strategies unique to them. And strategy is an art, just like cutting and coloring hair.
When we have a strategy, making decisions becomes easier. We are clear on what to say yes to, and even more importantly, what to say no to. And that my friends, is where awesomeness creating and real marketing begins.
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy.
Here is the audio version of this post. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy.
