Showing posts with label Brand Awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brand Awareness. Show all posts

Sunday, July 6, 2025

YOUR Local Business Social Media Marketing?


You have a brick and mortar business, but is something missing? - You're chatting up with the locals, hosting events, you're even posting on Instagram..

But you know, you're missing something. You're having the case of the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and perhaps the truth is, you're just not being social enough?


It's now just a push of a button and a fingertip away from engaging with your ideal customer. Google has now even begun to use the term Mobile Moments in regards to the consumer's journey across devices. Social media is a 24-hour powerhouse, with users engaged in all hours of the day. There are roughly around 2.1 billion smartphone users.

Mobile Moments

In a recent study, it showed 54% of shoppers are expected to shop in these Mobile Moments (meaning online on their mobile devices).

So what can help you target these incredibly tech-savvy consumers? Before we go there, here is a list of how many people are plugged into social media on some of the most popular social media apps, giving you a bird's eye view of the potential reach that a good social media campaign can have on your business:

--Instagram with 300 million + users
--WhatsApp with 700 million
--Facebook messenger has 600 million users

(All of the above owned by Facebook)



And That's Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

But how will they know you even exist? There are still apps such as the ever-elusive Snap Chat (Which FB tried to buy out at one point), LinkedIn, Twitter, and honestly, the list goes on and on.

This can be a bit intimidating if you're not up to speed with how social media functions and that's why I put together a list that would help you start off on the right track when it comes to reaching the technologically empowered shopper.

11 Social media marketing tips that can help you connect with your audience & take your small business up a notch.

When it comes to posting on social media remember that it's not just about captioning off that perfectly captured filtered image, it's about connection, networking, being socially intelligent and strategic.



1. Brand your Social Media

Stay away from those generic filters. Just because it's easily available doesn't mean it doesn't come with a price. The price of engagement, that is. Branded images allow you to have a distinctive look and appealing brand to those who pop in on your feed. Allowing them to stay a bit longer, convert into a lead and possibly a sale. No one likes murky, dark or blurry vision, why use it on your social feed? A great app to help you edit as easily as pressing a button is the VSCO app which you can download straight to your smartphone. It allows you to make your Instagram pop like it's never done before. Light and Bright are usually a great starting point.

2. Have A Blog

This is something I advise all business owners to have because it allows you to have more online visibility, customer loyalty and set you apart from your competitors. You don't have to write up a novel, 250 - 350 characters work great. And you don't have to post every single day! Once a week to every other week is perfectly fine.



How powerful can your blog be?

"Your Google ranking will go up dramatically. Whereas Google and other search engines may take two or three weeks to list your new website in search results, new blog sites and new blog entries are indexed every day. From comments, you will accumulate external links both into and out of your site, and get additional ranking from Google" -via Business Insiders

3. Add Value

Make sure you're adding content that not only jives with your brand but incorporates value to your readers. Done right a blog curated, branded and socially spread the right way can have you hundreds up-to thousands of visits a month. You can easily set one up through your website hosting provider and if you're using Squarespace or Wordpress.org it is nothing but a phone-call or easy set up away.



4. Use Pinterest

Tailwind is a great app that allows you to schedule posts on Pinterest. Pinterest is like Google with images. It's a large index of beautiful digital sticky notes that you can't help but click and read. Pinterest, in a nutshell, is a visual search engine. It's not just for looking up incredibly tasty Christmas cookie recipes or how to decorate your home for the holidays, it's a social media beast! Use it wisely my friends.

5. Design Your Images

Canva - If you're not already using it you need to. Canva is a graphic designer that you've folded up and placed in your back pocket. If you don't do anything but create pinnable images, it is well worth your time to look into it. Plus canva has a FREE version. With this tool in your back pocket consider making your post pin worthy. Meaning, slap some clickbait on that image!



6. Cross Promote Your Content

Thank goodness for integration! If cash is King automation in the small business world is Queen. The best way I discovered in cross posting meaning posting one time and it posts just about on every social media channel you are on. Using an app called IFTTT (If This Then That).

You can easily cook up recipes that post on Instagram and have your images also showing up on Twitter.

Instagram doesn't play nice with Twitter when it comes to posting images. Instagram also integrates and allows you to post on Facebook and Tumblr, but with IFTTT all you would have to do is share it one time without choosing additional options when posting. Zapier & an FB messenger tool called ManyChat are other apps which allow you to automate and stay connected.



7. Use Strategy

With Facebook constantly changing their algorithms, Instagram no longer being what it once was there is a unique way of posting that can help you drive in more traffic to your business and using Apps such as Social Sprout or Hootsuite that can make your life much easier while your social engagement climb.

They allow you to post to your Twitter, Facebook group, Facebook page etc. on a schedule. For Facebook, I recommend scheduling post directly onto Facebook as its algorithms are more in favor of a "genuine" post as opposed to a post, posted from an outside app or bot.

While using Twitter, go ahead and schedule out those posts straight from your app. Tailwind (used for Pinterest as stated above) can also point toward your Instagram but I recommend having the traffic drive more towards your website.



8. Using Tags

Hashtags are not just to randomly use in a sentence just to look #cool. Used strategically it can help customers and clients better find you. Make sure to include and use Geotags towards your overall location helping those tech-savvy customers find your business and land on that beautifully curated feed you created, making them want to scroll a bit longer and visit in the future. Don't have a brick and mortar? Geotag the city you do business from.

9. Giveaways

Allow you to engage with your audience. A great way to truly use the giveaways to your advantage is by asking your audience not just to comment but to tag a friend in order to enter said giveaway. A bonus is hosting giveaways both on your Facebook business page & Instagram Accounts. If you really want to get techy, FB ads are a great way to place new eyes in front of your business. And since you got the branded images, cool looking #hashtag sentences, what prospect wouldn't you lead towards a very worthy sale. Win-Win.



10. Schedule Posts

In favor of using the latest apps, I recommend building content at least a month in advance, scheduled out around those special moments or promotions you would like your customers or clients to take advantage or be a part of. This allows you to think outside the box, giving you time to be creative and prepare for those amazing turnouts.

11. Be Authentic

People don't want to connect with a "business". They want to connect with real people, with a heart and soul behind those beautifully displaying images and perfect captions. Business is about serving people and sometimes the best way to do that is by being authentic & genuine with your audience. By allowing the consumer to get to know a bit more about your brand identity opens up a deeper relationship and brand loyalty with them. An example of this is by posting campaigns that you care about, local events that your business funds or are a part of and why. This can also help build awareness into the heart of your brand because influence in any capacity is powerful.

Alas, if all else fails you can always outsource or hire someone to help you set up your social media the right way for your unique business needs.

Guest Authored By Linda Mendible. Linda is an ABC11 Influencer who specializes in digital marketing. Learn more about Linda on her website. Follow Linda on X.





Go LIVE - Videos are the new black.

Meaning, in the words of Zoolander, Videos are hot right now. If a consumer were to choose between a business that was using video versus the same type of business who wasn't using video, the consumer would choose the business capitalizing on video visibility hands down.

The reason? Brand Awareness.

There is a deeper connection made with video and a result of higher visibility. In other words, adding a product video on your landing page can increase conversions by 80%. Using tools such as Zoom can help in creating great live videos with just a push of a button..

    • Authored by:
      Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBr@nd.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Scottsdale, AZ,  where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

    Monday, June 23, 2025

    The Art Of YOUR Storytelling In Business


    From the humble beginnings of Apple in a garage to the invention of Gatorade as fuel for the University of Florida’s athletic teams, compelling narratives play a pivotal role in shaping the identity of iconic brands. 

    However, the art of storytelling in business extends far beyond founding lore. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe may have been talking about architecture when he said, “God is in the details,” but the sentiment rings true when it comes to brand storytelling. Details can make a considerable impact on a business’s audience.

    Ideally, your brand’s story will shine through in every marketing detail, from your website domain to your graphic design choices. By carefully shaping your brand’s story and using it to inform other business decisions, you build a narrative that endures in the minds of consumers.

    Related Article: Instagram Tips For YOUR Small Business



    Every Great Brand Has A Story

    At the heart of every exceptional brand is a narrative that encapsulates the ethos, values, and journey of a business. As a marketer or entrepreneur, your job is to create that narrative and make it memorable.

    A well-crafted story can humanize a brand, making it relatable and providing consumers with a connection that goes beyond products and services, establishing genuine trust and brand loyalty. Each detail of a brand story, no matter how small, contributes to the richness of the narrative.

    For example, Cash App stands out as a financial service brand for its universal accessibility, simplicity, and ease of use. When choosing a domain name, Cash App opted for a descriptive choice that reflects its brand’s identity and enhances memorability. The domain name cash.app says it all in two simple words. This clear branding is reiterated with Cash App’s bold and streamlined design choice of a green dollar sign for a logo.

    Related Article: 4 Steps To YOUR Social Media Brand


    Craft A Narrative That Resonates

    The essence of brand storytelling lies in crafting a narrative that reflects the values of a business and resonates with audiences on a profound, human level. You can start by identifying the core elements that define your brand, like your mission, the unique value you offer customers, and the impact you hope to make. Authenticity is a storyteller’s greatest asset in genuinely connecting with audiences, so make sure to prioritize honesty and truth in your storytelling.

    One brand that exemplifies strong storytelling is Nike. From its iconic "Just Do It" slogan to its collaborations with world-class athletes, Nike runs with a narrative of determination, resilience, and achievement. With its story, Nike has become a beacon of strength, guiding millions to immerse themselves as heroes in a story of teamwork and triumph.

    Related Article: The Future of YOUR Social Media Platform


    Details Illustrate A Story

    Details like the Nike swoosh make all the difference in building a brand story that truly stands the test of time. Details are not incidental; they are the brushstrokes that paint a vivid picture of a brand's identity. As you choose these details, make sure they align with your brand's values, mission, and unique selling proposition.

    The elements of your business’s story should be integrated into every aspect of your brand, from logos and website design to marketing collateral and email signatures. Giving a brand story its own digital space can take that memorability to the next level. A domain that includes keywords before and after the dot, like thrift.store, instantly communicates what your brand offers.

    The online game Fortnite uses the domain fortnite.fun to encourage players to track their scoreboard stats. Specific brand stories can also warrant their own domain. A top-level domain like .press might bring attention to a brand’s public relations initiatives, while a top-level domain like .tech could emphasize the digital innovation of a brand. The domain you choose all depends on what kind of story you want to tell.

    Related Article: What Other Peoples Advertising Can Teach YOU

    Guest Authored By Akram Atallah. Akram is CEO of Identity Digital, a global next- generation top level domains and digital identity. Follow Akram on X,





    Consistency Makes Brands More Memorable

    The art of storytelling is defined by the meticulous craftsmanship of a skilled storyteller.

    As you script your own brand narrative, look for the details that elevate a story so it sticks in the minds of consumers. Consistent storytelling across all elements of your branding ensures that your brand’s narrative makes a genuine connection with audiences and fosters trust for lasting customer relationships.
  • Post Crafted By:
    Fred Hansen Brand Alchemist at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Scottsdale, AZ. where I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)


  • Friday, June 20, 2025

    YOUR Social Media 2.5 Billion User Reach?


    Facebook Inc. (FB) and other social media company investors have another thing to cheer about: a potential 8% increase in the number of users that access a social network at least once a month this year..



    That’s according to research firm eMarketer, which is out with a new forecast that pegs the number of social media monthly active users (MAUs) at 2.46 billion individuals, or one third of the global population in 2017.

    Put it another way, it's 71% of worldwide internet users and marks an 8.2% increase from a year ago. "For much of the world, social networks are a way to stay connected with friends and family," said Corey McNair, forecasting analyst at eMarketer in a report highlighting the new forecast. (See also: Google and Amazon Take a Page From Social Media's Playbook.)

    Cheap Phones and Wi-Fi

    Driving the growth of new users isn’t a move on the part of the leading social media companies including Facebook, Twitter Inc. (TWTR) and Snap Inc. (SNAP) to embrace video content on their platforms but the increased adoption of mobile phones by people around the globe. eMarketer said in its report that most of the user growth is thanks to the widespread availability of lower cost mobile phones, increased access to Wi-Fi and the expansion of 3G and 4G networks around the world.



    Some of the regions taking advantage of these trends and are forecast to be big consumers of social media include the Asia Pacific region, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. This year eMarketer said 81.8% of social media users will access the platforms via mobile devices.

    By 2021, that’s expected to increase to 86.7%. In areas where social media has long been a part of consumers' daily lives, growth isn’t expected to be that big, with the research firm predicting social network user growth of 2.9% in the U.S. and 3.4% in Europe in 2017.

    The researchers noted those growth forecasts underscore the fact that embracing video content isn’t a driver of new users in established markets.

    Among the growth markets for the social media companies, the research firm pointed to China as an area that should have a huge uptick in users. eMarketer raised its forecast significantly in that country due to new data that shows growth, particularly with people 45 and older, is outperforming the firm’s expectations.



    It also upped the number of MAUs logging on at least once a month in India. The new forecast comes at a time when Facebook has hit a record, surpassing 2 billion active monthly users in late June.

    To hit the next billion, which will be tougher to do, the company is setting its sights outside the U.S. and Europe and in places like China where its been banned since 2009. (See also: Facebook Hits 2B Users: Will China Get It to 3B?)

    Guest Authored By Donna Fuscaldo. Donna is a freelance journalist hailing out of Long Island, New York. Donna writes for numerous online publications including Bankrate.com, Glassdoor.com, Goodcall.com,  and SigFig. As a personal finance reporter for years, Donna provides invaluable advice on everything from saving money to landing that dream job. Previously, Donna was an equities reporter for Dow Jones Newswires and a special contributor to the Wall Street Journal. Follow Donna on X.





    71% of worldwide internet users and marks an 8.2% increase from a year ago.

    "For much of the world, social networks are a way to stay connected with friends and family," said Corey McNair, forecasting analyst at eMarketer in a report highlighting the new forecast.

    (See also: Google and Amazon Take a Page From Social Media's Playbook..)"


      • Authored by:
        Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)

      Monday, May 26, 2025

      Own & Apologize For YOUR Social Media Fail?


      Hootsuite founder and CEO Ryan Holmes is a passionate advocate on the topic of why executives need to be active on social media. But for a brief moment this year, he became a case study in how that can go wrong..

      Since then, Holmes has been trying to be an example of how to respond and recover from a very public embarrassment of his own making. But it turns out that for Holmes, this public pratfall was far from being the most difficult moment during his tenure as CEO.



      During an interview this summer, Holmes said that there have been lots of tough calls he's had to make behind closed doors as he tries to fulfill the lofty expectations facing one of Canada's most notable startups. Chief among them: having to overhaul his entire management team when the company's growth was stalling two years ago.

      "I loved that team that got us to that level," he said. "So it was hard as a leader to say you're not the people to get us to the next level."

      Holmes was in Paris this summer for the Viva Technology conference where he was talking about Hootsuite as well as the publication of his new book, The 4 Billion Dollar Tweet: A Guide for Getting Leaders Off the Social Sidelines.

      The title refers to a tweet from President Trump about cost overruns for new presidential planes that briefly wiped about $4 billion off the market cap of Lockheed Martin. Holmes' message is that executives cannot afford to ignore the conversation happening around their businesses and brands on social media. Rather, they need to be active participants.




      Holmes has always practiced that mantra by developing his own strong presence on social media.

      However, he found himself on the wrong side of this equation in February following the publication of a Bloomberg story that challenged the valuation of Hootsuite.

      Hootsuite was founded in Vancouver in 2008 as the era of social media was coming into full bloom. Hootsuite offered a platform for people and companies to manage their social media presence across the rapidly expanding and evolving landscape of social media services.

      Hootsuite was hot and has raised $246 million in venture capital. Because it was based in Vancouver, it gained extra notoriety in a country hungry for its own startup success stories. Unconfirmed reports had the company riding that momentum toward an IPO, possibly this year.

      Then in February, Bloomberg published an article under the headline "Hootsuite: The unicorn that never was." Hootsuite had a reported valuation above $1 billion after its last round of VC in 2014. The company had neither confirmed nor refuted this. Bloomberg cited sources saying the real valuation was between $700 and $750 million, and implied that Hootsuite executives had been somewhat deceitful about the issue of valuation.



      That prompted this now infamous exchange on Twitter between Holmes and the reporter:


      "I’m not proud of this," he said on stage at Viva Tech. "It was something rash I did."

      Cue social media backlash, made all the more fierce because the culprit, Holmes, was head of a social media company and thus should have known better. "It's an example of what happens when it goes wrong," he said.



      Holmes later apologized for the tweet. He said that was the most important thing he learned from the incident.

      "Own it," he said. "And when you need to apologize, apologize." If there is good news, it's this, according to Holmes: "The news cycle moves on. It does pass."

      If there was another disappointment for Holmes, however, it was that the personal misfire overshadowed the renewed success of Hootsuite. The company has been making big inroads among corporate customers, which has reignited its growth. And it can boast of new partnerships, like the one announced this week to integrate Hootsuite with Adobe's Creative Cloud.



      It's a big turnaround from 2015 when it seemed the Hootsuite growth story had hit a wall.

      Holmes recalled that the company had fallen short for a couple of quarters on its own sales targets. The company was losing out on deals to larger customers and wasn't seeing current customers expanding use of its product.

      "I had an executive team that got us to here in seven years," he said. "It's very few people that could do that. But what I realized after we missed a couple of quarters is that I don't know that we've got the right people at the table. The playbook was used up."

      So he cleared out the executive ranks and started building a whole new team. That also included laying off 65 employees, which led to another brief moment of social media infamy for Holmes.

      On Instagram, he posted a picture of his hand holding a drink with the caption: "Cheers to my homies." What was intended as an homage to the ex-employees was blasted for being insensitive before he took it down.



      Still, the overhaul soon paid off.

      The new executive team included a handful of top names with deep experience in tech and digital media, including a new chief marketing officer who had worked at Juniper Networks and Macromedia; a new chief financial officer from OpenText, Canada's largest publicly traded software company; and a new head of sales who had worked for 20 years at companies such as SAP.

      Hootsuite began ramping up integrations with new services, such as Dropbox. It introduced new pricing packages to target enterprise users. It made some targeted acquisitions. It launched a $5 million developers fund to extend third-party applications for its own platform. And it began focusing even more on international expansion, including opening new offices in Sydney.

      By the middle of 2016, the company said it was cash-flow positive. "We've come out the woods in a really good position," Holmes said.

      That momentum has been helped by the continued shift to digital advertising and the growth of social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.



      "The industry is growing up and budgets are growing," Holmes said. "Brands" understanding of social has come a long way."

      And that was the main message he had in Paris this summer: Executives and brands need to get in the game.

      In a sign of just how fast things continue to evolve, Holmes has speculated that the title of his book may already be dated by recent events. Last week, in a random rant, President Trump tweeted:




      That temporarily sent Amazon's stock tumbling, wiping out about $6 billion on market value. Bad news for Amazon. But it does nicely serve to emphasize Holmes' message about why the financial impact of social media is only going to escalate from here on out.


      Guest Authored By Chris O'Brien. Chris is based in Toulouse, France, where he is conducting a three-year, government-backed study to determine how much cassoulet, butter and wine a single human can consume on a daily basis. Previously, he covered Silicon Valley for 15 years as a reporter for the San Jose Mercury News and the Los Angeles Times and he still has the talking sock puppet to prove it. Every day, he wonders what would happen if people in Silicon Valley knew how much less expensive it is to live in the south of France.





      "Own it," Holme's said. "And when you need to apologize.. Apologize!"

      If there is good news, it's this, according to Holmes: "The news cycle moves on. It does pass.."


        • Authored by:
          Fred Hansen Pied Piper of Social Media Marketing at YourWorldBrand.com & CEO of Millennium 7 Publishing Co. in Loveland, Colorado. I work deep in the trenches of social media strategy, community management and trends.  My interests include; online business educator, social media marketing, new marketing technology, skiing, hunting, fishing and The Rolling Stones..-Not necessarily in that order ;)