Friday 16 December 2011
Happy Holidays- southpaw style!
Clients, mentors, partners, friends and followers: Season's Greetings! Check out the video link above that the talented digital media team at southpaw created to wish you a happy holiday.
Your support and business are appreciated,
All the best in the new year. Cheers!
Thursday 15 December 2011
The Social Media Crutch
I asked (ironically enough, on twitter...) what my followers wanted to score free advice on this week. You know, holiday season and all. And Melsha Shea of Wedding Jitters was the first to respond. And she posed a challenge. Melsha wanted to know how to promote her new website (Inspiring Plan-It-Yourself weddings. Workshops to help engaged couples planning their own wedding) when she does not (yet) have a significant following on social media.
Tough question, right? I know I lean on social media to promote all of my initiatives, (including this blog post) but for the sake of everyone just starting out in the world of online, how would you promote your new website? You would read this blog:
1) Build a good website. Do not get your brother's girlfriend's sister's dog groomer's cousin to do it just because it's cheap. You know you need to be online these days - do it well or people will visit the site once and never return.
- Make your content funny, clever, engaging, thorough yet concise and above all relevant to your audience.
- Make the site easy to navigate. Pretend you are teaching your grandma to use a computer. Where does it make sense for information to be categorized? Which tabs should be visible and which should be drop down? Where should images go instead of words?
2) Pick good key words and get utilize your search engine optimization (SEO). You always hear about SEO - now you know what it means. Essentially, it is how easily search engines can find your site. So choose strong, relevant key words for your web designer to build into your site. Remember that people are not always as specific as you would like them to be, and often don't know exactly what they are looking for. For example - when searching for communications and PR help, a lot of people will search "marketing". I don't do a lot of marketing, but it is one of my key words so inaccurate people can find me. Got it?
3) Submissions still work. By that I mean, submit your website to search engines using a tool like WebPosition Gold or WebCEO. The goal of submitting your site is to get it indexes by search engines such as Google.
4) Links! Link your site to others that are relevant to your business. For example, you run a wedding planning company, get your site to link from linens rental companies, florists, caterers, hotels and more.
5) Cross promote. Write guest blogs, articles or promotions for other companies to post on their site, and link it back to your own.
6) Incorporate a blog. A blog is a great way to add content, opinions, tips and any other info that you couldn't fit into your web content. It also shows that you are up-to-date on trends in your industry, that you understand what your clients need and that you know your stuff! By linking other businesses or topics into your blog, you drive their followers to your site as well.
7) Include a tool on your site. Give people a reason to come back time and time again after they have already learned about your company. For example - Melsha, your site could include a wedding budget calculator to encourage people to return to your site, and to tell others about the useful tools you offer clients.
8) Include your web address in all you do. Online profiles, business cards (my business card has a QR code on the back that scans directly to my website), email signatures, newsletters etc. You never know who will click through...
9) Tradeshow demos - when you attend tradeshows, have a laptop open to your website in your display so you can show people it's features and value as you chat with them at the booth. Then hand them a card with a link to it so they can delve deeper on their own time.
10) Social media - HA! You thought I was going to leave it out since you asked for other suggestions. But, the truth is that even if YOU only have a few followers, they each have followers, and those followers have followers. Do not underestimate the power of the retweet or share buttons in your social media streams. Use an engaging, clever title not just "Check out my new website" to pique interest and ensure people are following the link.
11) Hire a communications or PR consultant to help you promote your business. Ok, ok....that was a shameless plug but it works! There are more ideas and tips where these came from.
By ensuring your site is as visible and search-able as possible, your site will be busy in no time!
Now, if only I had found you before I planned my own wedding....
Tough question, right? I know I lean on social media to promote all of my initiatives, (including this blog post) but for the sake of everyone just starting out in the world of online, how would you promote your new website? You would read this blog:
1) Build a good website. Do not get your brother's girlfriend's sister's dog groomer's cousin to do it just because it's cheap. You know you need to be online these days - do it well or people will visit the site once and never return.
- Make your content funny, clever, engaging, thorough yet concise and above all relevant to your audience.
- Make the site easy to navigate. Pretend you are teaching your grandma to use a computer. Where does it make sense for information to be categorized? Which tabs should be visible and which should be drop down? Where should images go instead of words?
2) Pick good key words and get utilize your search engine optimization (SEO). You always hear about SEO - now you know what it means. Essentially, it is how easily search engines can find your site. So choose strong, relevant key words for your web designer to build into your site. Remember that people are not always as specific as you would like them to be, and often don't know exactly what they are looking for. For example - when searching for communications and PR help, a lot of people will search "marketing". I don't do a lot of marketing, but it is one of my key words so inaccurate people can find me. Got it?
3) Submissions still work. By that I mean, submit your website to search engines using a tool like WebPosition Gold or WebCEO. The goal of submitting your site is to get it indexes by search engines such as Google.
4) Links! Link your site to others that are relevant to your business. For example, you run a wedding planning company, get your site to link from linens rental companies, florists, caterers, hotels and more.
5) Cross promote. Write guest blogs, articles or promotions for other companies to post on their site, and link it back to your own.
6) Incorporate a blog. A blog is a great way to add content, opinions, tips and any other info that you couldn't fit into your web content. It also shows that you are up-to-date on trends in your industry, that you understand what your clients need and that you know your stuff! By linking other businesses or topics into your blog, you drive their followers to your site as well.
7) Include a tool on your site. Give people a reason to come back time and time again after they have already learned about your company. For example - Melsha, your site could include a wedding budget calculator to encourage people to return to your site, and to tell others about the useful tools you offer clients.
8) Include your web address in all you do. Online profiles, business cards (my business card has a QR code on the back that scans directly to my website), email signatures, newsletters etc. You never know who will click through...
9) Tradeshow demos - when you attend tradeshows, have a laptop open to your website in your display so you can show people it's features and value as you chat with them at the booth. Then hand them a card with a link to it so they can delve deeper on their own time.
10) Social media - HA! You thought I was going to leave it out since you asked for other suggestions. But, the truth is that even if YOU only have a few followers, they each have followers, and those followers have followers. Do not underestimate the power of the retweet or share buttons in your social media streams. Use an engaging, clever title not just "Check out my new website" to pique interest and ensure people are following the link.
11) Hire a communications or PR consultant to help you promote your business. Ok, ok....that was a shameless plug but it works! There are more ideas and tips where these came from.
By ensuring your site is as visible and search-able as possible, your site will be busy in no time!
Now, if only I had found you before I planned my own wedding....
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Volunteer work is free advertising
Case in point: http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3396594
My recent coverage in a Central Alberta publication. How did I get a comprehensive write up about my company in the paper? How did I reach all these local businesses and area residents? By working for nothing.
As a start-up company, I do a lot for free. (Don't get any ideas about calling for free work now). Why, Megan? Why the hell would you work for free as a start-up who needs the cash? Because it leads me to a LOT of great (paying) work and contracts.
Offering to keynote events, speak to business groups or run workshops for non-profits is one way I get in front of a significant audience of potential clients with my message cleverly disguised as a valuable presentation. When you offer value to others, it shows you know your stuff. So don't just fill your presentations, social media posts and blogs with generic drivel - throw some bones. By demonstrating you can provide actual tips, actual points and actual value, you are demonstrating how you can help their company. Examples are the best form of advertising.
Whether you are a start up, an established business or a mid-size company looking to grow - consider donating time instead of paying for advertising. It works for southpaw!
My recent coverage in a Central Alberta publication. How did I get a comprehensive write up about my company in the paper? How did I reach all these local businesses and area residents? By working for nothing.
As a start-up company, I do a lot for free. (Don't get any ideas about calling for free work now). Why, Megan? Why the hell would you work for free as a start-up who needs the cash? Because it leads me to a LOT of great (paying) work and contracts.
Offering to keynote events, speak to business groups or run workshops for non-profits is one way I get in front of a significant audience of potential clients with my message cleverly disguised as a valuable presentation. When you offer value to others, it shows you know your stuff. So don't just fill your presentations, social media posts and blogs with generic drivel - throw some bones. By demonstrating you can provide actual tips, actual points and actual value, you are demonstrating how you can help their company. Examples are the best form of advertising.
Whether you are a start up, an established business or a mid-size company looking to grow - consider donating time instead of paying for advertising. It works for southpaw!
Wednesday 30 November 2011
The Score: Education - 2 Experience - 6759345532
I get it - our society dictates that education is must (well, except in Alberta where you can make millions using a hot stick to make metal stay together), but as I have been out of university for a few years now, I am starting to get really pissed off at how much of that time (and tuition) was wasted on work that is now irrelevant to how I do my business.
Prime example: my media relations courses. in 2011? Almost entirely inaccurate. Being able to draft a perfectly crafted by-the-book press release is no longer a marketable skill when press releases now need to be SEO and Twitter friendly. When now, they need to include links, videos and images to get picked up. Today, no one notices if I put -30- at the bottom, as long as I include a link to the company website or a photo of the product that was developed. I learned none of these things in school, yet now, could not pay my mortgage without these adopted skills.
I also understand that that is ONE example, and I am sure that many people who work 9-5 drone jobs still utilize a lot of book-based skills that they honed in school. However, why are our schools encouraging this behaviors? Why aren't post-secondary institutions more focused on promoting entrepreneurship and giving us the skills the start and manage our own businesses, rather than teaching us to help someone else make money?
Granted, I do utilize one text book I got in school, but today, I could google it and find the same information, saving myself the $150 textbook, the tuition and wasted class time.
Any of you who attended university with me know I have always felt this way. I rarely attended classes, only when mandatory, read the texts and notes and still maintained a 3.85 GPA. No, not everyone can learn in that way, but there needs to be an education revolution away from the norm. Our society is evolving so quickly, information in available everywhere and universities will become irrelevant in some disciples. SOME! Med students - please don't follow the Megan method and just read the text.
But I digress, my point here is that now that I have created my own company and am doing fairly well at it, I am constantly striving to break away from everything I was force-fed in school, because in the communications and PR game, standard is not good enough. Clients need fresh, creative and unique in order to stand above their competition. Therefore, I need to go against everything I was taught, break molds and be fresh in my own work in order to help my clients reach their savvy consumers.
Consumers themselves are demanding fresh tactics, normal and standard don't interest them anymore, because they are aware of all their options in our information age.
Am I saying forget everything you learned in school? Am I saying don't bother with school at all? Hell no. I AM saying, be savvy about what you apply to your career, to your clients and to your portfolio, as the standardized press release I was taught to write a mere 3 years ago is no longer relevant. I AM saying, be creative - take what you learn and modernize it, turn it into something worthy of a 2011client and consumer. But also remember that a lot of the richest people in the world got there without education. Be critical of your education, select relevant courses, not mandatory ones. And above all - do it your way. Our society now applauds those who step outside and crush the boxes they came from.
- 30 -
Prime example: my media relations courses. in 2011? Almost entirely inaccurate. Being able to draft a perfectly crafted by-the-book press release is no longer a marketable skill when press releases now need to be SEO and Twitter friendly. When now, they need to include links, videos and images to get picked up. Today, no one notices if I put -30- at the bottom, as long as I include a link to the company website or a photo of the product that was developed. I learned none of these things in school, yet now, could not pay my mortgage without these adopted skills.
I also understand that that is ONE example, and I am sure that many people who work 9-5 drone jobs still utilize a lot of book-based skills that they honed in school. However, why are our schools encouraging this behaviors? Why aren't post-secondary institutions more focused on promoting entrepreneurship and giving us the skills the start and manage our own businesses, rather than teaching us to help someone else make money?
Granted, I do utilize one text book I got in school, but today, I could google it and find the same information, saving myself the $150 textbook, the tuition and wasted class time.
Any of you who attended university with me know I have always felt this way. I rarely attended classes, only when mandatory, read the texts and notes and still maintained a 3.85 GPA. No, not everyone can learn in that way, but there needs to be an education revolution away from the norm. Our society is evolving so quickly, information in available everywhere and universities will become irrelevant in some disciples. SOME! Med students - please don't follow the Megan method and just read the text.
But I digress, my point here is that now that I have created my own company and am doing fairly well at it, I am constantly striving to break away from everything I was force-fed in school, because in the communications and PR game, standard is not good enough. Clients need fresh, creative and unique in order to stand above their competition. Therefore, I need to go against everything I was taught, break molds and be fresh in my own work in order to help my clients reach their savvy consumers.
Consumers themselves are demanding fresh tactics, normal and standard don't interest them anymore, because they are aware of all their options in our information age.
Am I saying forget everything you learned in school? Am I saying don't bother with school at all? Hell no. I AM saying, be savvy about what you apply to your career, to your clients and to your portfolio, as the standardized press release I was taught to write a mere 3 years ago is no longer relevant. I AM saying, be creative - take what you learn and modernize it, turn it into something worthy of a 2011client and consumer. But also remember that a lot of the richest people in the world got there without education. Be critical of your education, select relevant courses, not mandatory ones. And above all - do it your way. Our society now applauds those who step outside and crush the boxes they came from.
- 30 -
Wednesday 16 November 2011
How to offer services you don't offer: Small Business 101
As of late, you may have noticed southpaw offering many fun new services such as web design, graphic design and motion graphic production. That was my way of announcing I now do motion graphic development and production - stay tuned for samples. But, if you are one of the few people who actually saw my face in a class in PR school, you are all "Whaaa..? Megan hated graphic and web design and well, didn't do it." You would be correct. So how do I offer these services without actually having the marketable skills to build a website or colour within the lines? I partnered with a great graphic and web designer who needed to be able to offer strategic content development, writing, marketing, communications, social media etc to her website clients. Clever, right?
The same could be said for the motion graphic videos. Obviously not a talent of mine (why the hell can't I embed a youtube video into powerpoint?!), and yet here I am - able to offer clever, fun, creative video creation to my clients as part of the actual implementation of the amazing communications strategies I wrote for them.
The key is in partnering with other small businesses to offer complementary services. The take home message here? If a customer asks you, "Hey, do you guys offer elephant preg checking?' You think to yourself: Can I make money offering elephant preg checking? If the answer is yes, then you respond to said customer, "Why of course we do!" Then you spend the next hours googling the hell out of elehpant preg checkers who will sub contract with you. Point made? I mean, don't go out of your way to offer completely irrelevant services because some Joe Blow asked you to help him plant a windrow of poplars around 30 acres, but make sure you don't limit yourself to your specialized service if you are just starting out. Wal-Mart is popular for a reason - its convenient and it has everything. So, if you can offer the services you are recommending clients use, or offer the services they are asking for - perfect. They are that much more likely to see you as a solution than a quick-fix.
That being said, I do not YET offer elephant preg checks. But, if you run a small business where your clients need help to market, promote and communicate to their audience, let me know. Chances are I have a need for you as well. Or if you are in an industry completely irrelevant to mine - this should still have some bearing on you. Don't try to do it all yourself. You are successful because people pay you to do what you do well. Pay them to do the same, and make yourself look good at the same time.
The same could be said for the motion graphic videos. Obviously not a talent of mine (why the hell can't I embed a youtube video into powerpoint?!), and yet here I am - able to offer clever, fun, creative video creation to my clients as part of the actual implementation of the amazing communications strategies I wrote for them.
The key is in partnering with other small businesses to offer complementary services. The take home message here? If a customer asks you, "Hey, do you guys offer elephant preg checking?' You think to yourself: Can I make money offering elephant preg checking? If the answer is yes, then you respond to said customer, "Why of course we do!" Then you spend the next hours googling the hell out of elehpant preg checkers who will sub contract with you. Point made? I mean, don't go out of your way to offer completely irrelevant services because some Joe Blow asked you to help him plant a windrow of poplars around 30 acres, but make sure you don't limit yourself to your specialized service if you are just starting out. Wal-Mart is popular for a reason - its convenient and it has everything. So, if you can offer the services you are recommending clients use, or offer the services they are asking for - perfect. They are that much more likely to see you as a solution than a quick-fix.
That being said, I do not YET offer elephant preg checks. But, if you run a small business where your clients need help to market, promote and communicate to their audience, let me know. Chances are I have a need for you as well. Or if you are in an industry completely irrelevant to mine - this should still have some bearing on you. Don't try to do it all yourself. You are successful because people pay you to do what you do well. Pay them to do the same, and make yourself look good at the same time.
Monday 7 November 2011
southpaw presents: How not to suck at Twitter
Seriously - how frustrating is it when a website says "Follow us!", or "tweet us!", but then won't respond to your mentions, your replies or your messages and only tweets about their sales?
Businesses - don't just use twitter as a free billboard to shamelessly self-promote. Utilize it to engage your customers - both current and potential. How you respond to people (or if you respond at all) will make or break your social media success. So, below are the southpaw tips to not sucking at Twitter (not listed in order of importance)
1) Follow relevant organizations, people and groups. Don't be that guy who has 6578 followers but only follows 3. How will you know that the trends are or what people are saying? Search for people, interests, trends, take twitter's people suggestions, and follow those recommended by others in your feed.
2) Have a relevant profile pic and for eff sakes - fill out your description! I don't follow anyone with no profile description because, well, I have no idea who they are, where they are from or what their tweets will be about, or if said tweets will benefit or interest me. A good, comprehensive description (a clever, witty one is even better) and a legit profile pic instantly add credibility and let followers find you.
3) Don't be a kool-aid pusher. Don't just promote your company's benefits, sales, services, products blah, blah, blah.... Discuss trends in your industry, spout useful tips and tricks of the trade, retweet good info that people might like, engage in #FollowFriday to promote interesting tweeters (and get promoted in return...). Helping others only ensures your own success...
4) Switch it up. Do you post nothing but links? Nothing but pictures? Nothing but retweets? STOP IT! To truly engage your audience, keep them on their toes. Don't be the tweep who only ever posts a link to his blog or a picture of his office. Mix up the type of tweets you post.
5) Respond. Respond. Respond. If you ignore customers, they will, in turn, ignore you. Watch for all mentions, messages and public comments. Ya, I know, everyone is busy but if you utilize twitter like the business tool it is - it is working for you, so dedicate resources to it.
6) Participate. Twitter is laden with relevant chats (small business chat, ag chat etc.) that are there to connect people to others in a relevant field or interest group. Find chats. Join in - don't just creep. Ok, you can creep the first time, but after that - get in there!
7) Diversify your tweeps. If you are running a company account - let a few people have access. It will keep the tweets fresh and not force one person to come up with all the content alone. BUT - do not give access to the janitor and his dog. Too many people can lead to duplicates, messages being missed, replies being skipped and people getting ignored. Everyone assumes someone else will do it. So, let a few people in, get them on a reply and posting system and let them loose!
Essentially - use your head. Be logical and promote the same customer service and information as you would at the store front. Even if you don't have a store. You know what I mean.
Businesses - don't just use twitter as a free billboard to shamelessly self-promote. Utilize it to engage your customers - both current and potential. How you respond to people (or if you respond at all) will make or break your social media success. So, below are the southpaw tips to not sucking at Twitter (not listed in order of importance)
1) Follow relevant organizations, people and groups. Don't be that guy who has 6578 followers but only follows 3. How will you know that the trends are or what people are saying? Search for people, interests, trends, take twitter's people suggestions, and follow those recommended by others in your feed.
2) Have a relevant profile pic and for eff sakes - fill out your description! I don't follow anyone with no profile description because, well, I have no idea who they are, where they are from or what their tweets will be about, or if said tweets will benefit or interest me. A good, comprehensive description (a clever, witty one is even better) and a legit profile pic instantly add credibility and let followers find you.
3) Don't be a kool-aid pusher. Don't just promote your company's benefits, sales, services, products blah, blah, blah.... Discuss trends in your industry, spout useful tips and tricks of the trade, retweet good info that people might like, engage in #FollowFriday to promote interesting tweeters (and get promoted in return...). Helping others only ensures your own success...
4) Switch it up. Do you post nothing but links? Nothing but pictures? Nothing but retweets? STOP IT! To truly engage your audience, keep them on their toes. Don't be the tweep who only ever posts a link to his blog or a picture of his office. Mix up the type of tweets you post.
5) Respond. Respond. Respond. If you ignore customers, they will, in turn, ignore you. Watch for all mentions, messages and public comments. Ya, I know, everyone is busy but if you utilize twitter like the business tool it is - it is working for you, so dedicate resources to it.
6) Participate. Twitter is laden with relevant chats (small business chat, ag chat etc.) that are there to connect people to others in a relevant field or interest group. Find chats. Join in - don't just creep. Ok, you can creep the first time, but after that - get in there!
7) Diversify your tweeps. If you are running a company account - let a few people have access. It will keep the tweets fresh and not force one person to come up with all the content alone. BUT - do not give access to the janitor and his dog. Too many people can lead to duplicates, messages being missed, replies being skipped and people getting ignored. Everyone assumes someone else will do it. So, let a few people in, get them on a reply and posting system and let them loose!
Essentially - use your head. Be logical and promote the same customer service and information as you would at the store front. Even if you don't have a store. You know what I mean.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Muahaha... more (and longer!) rants unleashed upon the interwebs! Alternate title: southpaw communications inc. announces the addition of a blog
I mean *ahem* oh excellent, another business communications tool to utilize. That's right... I have added a blog. Well, ok. No I didn't. Clearly that is beyond me - what with the codes and the java and the HTML (short for hotmail, right?). This blog was added by the illustrious Phoenix Design Group, my fierce partner in communications and web crime. (www.phoenixdesigngroup.ca).
And watch for my website makeover soon too! Phoenix won't let a site go stale, and this one will soon be super easy to navigate and learn all the ways that southpaw can help you communicate. Tabs, categories and more - coming soon!
But now, back to your regularly scheduled internet browsing. I am sure to be far wittier, clever, cynical and enlightening tomorrow.
And watch for my website makeover soon too! Phoenix won't let a site go stale, and this one will soon be super easy to navigate and learn all the ways that southpaw can help you communicate. Tabs, categories and more - coming soon!
But now, back to your regularly scheduled internet browsing. I am sure to be far wittier, clever, cynical and enlightening tomorrow.
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