Five Ways to Use Video on Instagram

Every social media platform is looking for ways to leverage video to engage its audience and Instagram is no different. In this article, I’m going to walk you through five ways you can start using video to grow your Instagram account. Without further ado, let’s hop in. READ MORE

Four Profit-Producing Ways to Use Email

Email is not just a means of communication. In 2021, it is one of the top methods to sell to your customers online.

When I left my job in my twenties to help launch our first family business, email was a means to ask questions and have questions answered. Fast forward a decade and now email marketing is revolutionizing the way businesses sell online. According to the Data and Marketing Association, for every $1 you spend on email marketing, you can expect an average return of $42. I’ve watched my business reach the coveted “money while you sleep” status in the peak of the pandemic as a direct result of an email marketing strategy. So if you’re burnt out posting on social media and you’d like to implement a virtual approach to generate leads in 2021, here’s a quick checklist to get you started along with four ways to use email marketing to grow your business. READ MORE

Crafting a Video Marketing Strategy

Video is revolutionizing the way people communicate. According to Hubspot, 3 out of 4 people prefer to learn via video. Video is not just a marketing tool, so it’s essential that your brand develops a strategy for implementation to stay competitive.

For many, the thought of producing a video feels overwhelming and perhaps out of your wheelhouse. Think of it simply: Video leverages technology to create more face-to-face interactions.

If you could speak with your customers and potential customers more face-to-face, would you do it? If you could provide customer service and troubleshoot problems face-to-face instead of over email or the phone, would you do it? That’s the power of video.

Successful videos are built on effective strategy, so creating your video marketing plan should precede selecting a vendor or beginning pre-production in house. Ask these essential questions before creating content to improve your ROI and maximize your production budget. READ MORE

The Millennial’s Guide to Networking

Your network is your net worth.” – Tim Sanders, New York Times Best Selling Author

While it’s important to prepare and train to enter the workforce, your ability to network and build social capital will significantly help you progress faster professionally. But just like logging onto WiFi, if your connections aren’t strong and genuine, your efforts will fall flat.

No one wants to feel like a number. The power of networking is found in mutually beneficial relationships built with integrity and trust. So before you re-order more business cards, consider these relational approaches to build your network in greater Lynchburg. READ MORE

Growth Through Giveaways

It may seem counterintuitive to increase your income by giving items away, but giveaways are an extremely effective form of relationship marketing. They produce a feeling of goodwill between you, your customers and even potential customers which has a direct correlation to how they perceive the brand.

People are way more likely to invest dollars and rave about a company that has previously given to them. However, there is a downside to this strategy. If not executed correctly, giveaways can manufacture a vapid social following or email list filled with people who never intended on purchasing from your business. You’ll see this occur frequently after tradeshows and expos where vendors ask for a person’s name and email address in exchange for a chance to win a prize. But if you focus giveaways on your ideal customer, you can increase the conversion rate and benefit your company greatly.

Four local entrepreneurs have offered up their advice to help you reframe your thinking about growth through giveaways. Which approach will you take in 2019? READ MORE

5 Ways to Turn Your Biz Into a Destination

Location matters. If it didn’t Walgreens wouldn’t spend top dollar to be on the “corner of happy and healthy.” But not everyone can afford prime real estate for their businesses. So what do you do? How can you turn any address into a shopping destination? Believe it or not food trucks have mastered this art and I will share my top five observations to help you transform your business into a destination.
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