Success On .Social

Author: jonathan.howard

  • 2019 Social Media Stats and Best Practices

    2019 Social Media Stats and Best Practices

    We recently took a look at some of the top social media stats for 2019. We wanted to see what the numbers were telling us about the state of social media and social media marketing. From this, we decided on some key areas new businesses could focus on. To round it all out, we added in some best practices. If you are just starting to promote your business via social media, or want to revise your strategy… here is a good place to start!

    Before The Stats, Let’s Review Some Basics

    First, and foremost a basic that is often times forgotten. The goal of social media is not to sell. Your goal is to engage followers with content that fills a need. The 80/20 Rule is the Golden Rule of Social Media. It states that 80% of what you post should be informational, educational and entertaining. Only 20% should be promotional.

    Some additional guidelines include making sure that your company story is relatable. Only Posting Content that is Brand Appropriate, and being authentic and true to your brand. We even encourage you to be a little bit funny but remember humor can be tricky. Make sure you will not offend anyone and always be polite.

    Following these basic rules will ensure that you are creating and distributing quality content that adds value to your followers and your business. Now, let’s get on with the show…. errr one-minute mini video, read fast!

    Planning and Organization

    Reviewing the tips in that quick video, I am reminded of the importance of proper planning and scheduling. There is no other way to ensure a strong social media presence. Without planning you will not be able to ensure that your content fully aligns with your brand.  It will be impossible to be sure you are presenting posts that are cohesive across all platforms. Planning also allows you to schedule a well-rounded selection of posts that “Edutain” your followers. Are you looking for the best things to post about on Social Media as a Business? Take A Look at our 9 Essential Posts Blog and if you want you can even grab a Free Copy of Our 9 Essential Posts for Businesses Worksheet.

    We recommend creating a social media planning calendar and regularly updating it with key campaigns, events and other occurrences that will impact your business. Then organize your posts making sure that they are appropriate for the time of year. Review it regularly to ensure the content you are presenting is varied and adds value. Social media management software such as Hootsuite and HeyOrca (if you need approvals or are running multiple accounts) also have great tools that will help you plan, stay organized and post regularly to all your platforms.

    Numbers Don’t Lie

    Now, let’s dig into the numbers. They say numbers don’t lie. I have tried to prove this theory wrong, and while I have successfully gotten people to agree that numbers may not tell the full story we have to stop short of saying they lie. What are some of the social media stats telling us and how can we adjust our strategy to expand on successes or compensate for shortfalls?

    We selected three areas to discuss. First, how to stand out in a crowded marketplace of 2 Billion. Then we took a look at some of the social selling stats and provided some tips on this “trend” that isn’t going to go away. Finally, we take a look at the importance of serving your customer through your social media platforms.

    2 Billion Users and Counting

    Social media continues to become more ingrained in our daily lives. More people are accessing at least one social media platform every day. More businesses are using social media to reach customers. Facebook, which is still the largest social media platform, alone has 2 billion active users. Facebook also has 65 million active business pages.

    The landscape is crowded and a tremendous amount of content is being added every single day. 100 million pictures and videos are uploaded every day to Instagram. If you are not creating quality content for both your feed and your stories you will be forgotten. Quality content is content that engages followers, has the potential to go viral and is representative of your company. Failing to create quality content and share it regularly will result in less brand awareness, engagement will continue to fall and the cost of doing business on social media will rise.

    Stand Out In The Crowd

    It is easy for your posts to get lost on social media nowadays. Stock photos, overly generic copy, fake authenticity, and recycled posts will not get you noticed. Flashy misleading headlines and fake promises will get you blocked. In order to avoid these pitfalls make sure your content makes sense for your brand and is adding value. Think about your audience and what they need that you can offer, then give it to them.

    Posts that include user-generated content are more likely to engage followers. Encourage followers, customers, employees, brand ambassadors, influencers and friends, and family to engage with your company on social media. Build relationships with those who engage with you on social media, keep a short list of likes and dislikes and notify them if you see something you are certain they will love. A little effort like this goes a long way and will be noticed. Look into possible collaborations. Befriend an Influencer. And lastly, create more video content. Video is still hot and people are more likely to engage with it.

    When you see numbers over a billion it’s natural to feel like its a mountain you will never climb. The beauty of social is that success is built one story at a time, and one customer at a time. Take the time to cultivate the relationships and you will begin to climb that mountain.

    Increase in Social Selling

    Followers being inspired to purchase an item because of something they saw on social media or discovering a new item that they want to purchase on social media is great news for businesses that have items to sell online. Customers are growing more accustomed to the concept of social selling and feel more comfortable making purchases via social media.  These stats also reflect the availability of new features in Instagram and Facebook that allow companies to directly link products to posts, the rise of influencer marketing, and increased visibility on social media for startups.

    If you are selling products and have an online store, I recommend getting social selling up and running, as I don’t see this trend going away anytime soon. As a matter of fact, stats like 49% of people say that the availability of easy payment options like ApplePay or GooglePay on social media platforms would increase the likelihood of them making a purchase and 50% of Gen Z view social media as the most relevant advertising channel suggest we will be looking at social selling for a long time.

    Once you have the basics set up you can directly link to your products in posts, your Facebook page can have an up to date shop section with all of your products. You can feature products directly on your Facebook page. JRH Graphics has a Facebook store and regularly links to items in his IG posts and Stories.

    Are you already utilizing social selling for your company, please share your best practices, we would love to hear from you!

    Serving Customers via Social Media

    With the rise of social selling, users utilizing social media to research products, and the fact that 45% of consumers go to social media first if they have a question or an issue about a product or brand it is clear that social media is no longer just a marketing platform. Social media is now another storefront and another chance to make a first impression. Your social media is part of your customers’ journey and one part of the omnichannel experience they will have with your company.

    The Other 12%?

    88% of social marketers believe it is important to serve customers via social media platforms. My question is what are the other 12% thinking? Social media is part of your customer journey, it is where they go to research your products, buy your products, and see if they have a friend that has used your product. If you are not available on social media to assist someone who wants your product YOU LOST A SALE!

    Social media is a storefront and it is a storefront that needs to be manned. Whoever is managing the interactions needs to be well versed in your product and policies and has to be able to answer questions in a timely manner.

    Social media is a chance at a first impression, and a way to continue telling your story. Your social media needs to reflect your brand and your story. Your social media should be easily recognizable. If I go to your store, your website, your social media platforms it should all be connected.

    A bad experience on social media could end a relationship with a company. Just take a second to think about this stat. 51% of people would unfollow a brand if they posted irritating content.

    Still thinking? Yeah, you got it you lost a follower, you lost a customer! Their customer journey just ended because of something you posted on Instagram. Ouch. This is equal to a customer having a bad interaction at your store.

    A Stat That Drives Home the Point: Social Media Can Not Be Ignored

    That one statistic alone drove home a very important point for me. Your social media platforms are equal to your store, your website, and the interactions that your customers have with you. Social media is no longer something for the marketing team to worry about, it is as big of a big picture item as anything, and it can’t be ignored.We reviewed the stats, made a few suggestions and we hope you have some jumping off points. If you need help coming up with a plan that works for your business please reach out to us here at JRH Graphics. We would love to help you craft your story, engage new followers, and build your business.Sources

    Social Media Today 

    Sprout Social 

    Hootsuite

     

     

     

  • Leadership: Practical Tips for Small Business Owners

    Leadership for the Small Business Owner

    Leadership is a choice, it is not a position that you hold. Leaders have chosen to lead, inspire, and look after those around them. Leaders are courageous.  Those who lead are risk takers.  Leadership requires a willingness to collaborate and bring out the best in others. Leaders lead every single day.

    Many small business owners struggle with the concept of leadership. They watch videos, read books, take classes and try to understand and mimic the characteristics of great leaders that are being held up as examples. Many believe that being a great leader is an unattainable goal. I personally think that is rubbish. I think leadership is easily attainable if you understand some basic concepts and characteristics of great leaders.

    Even better, you do not need to impersonate anyone to be a great leader. You can have your own style, quirks, and beliefs and still be a great leader.

    Take a few minutes now to watch this TED Talks with Drew Dudley about Everyday Leadership! One of my favorite TED Talks!

    Everyday Leadership

    You are powerful, you can be a leader every day. I think the most important point in Dudely’s talk is that you can change the world by changing one person’s understanding of the world. I venture to say that small business owners have likely already impacted a life, changed a trajectory, or shown someone a new way of looking at the world. Small business owners in many cases are already leaders!

    So repeat after me,

    “I AM a leader! I have chosen to lead, inspire and look after those around me”

    Okay, now that we are all in agreement. Let’s look at some of the characteristics of great leaders.

    Great leaders:

    1. Inspire
    2. Focus on the why
    3. Anticipate change
    4. Have the courage needed to try new things
    5. Surround themselves with a diverse group of people with varying opinions
    6. Take risks
    7. Collaborate
    8. Listen
    9. Are empathic
    10. Accept vulnerability as a strength
    11. Encourage openness and candor
    12. Are passionate

    That List is Daunting

    We have all seen this list or a similar list before, and it may only be 12 things but it starts with Inspire and includes things like taking risks and anticipating change. How is it possible for a mere mortal to be a leader every day? After all, we have businesses to run! That is why I am providing you with some of these practical tips for leaders of small businesses! Small things that you can do every single day to be a great leaders.

    Make decisions based on your “why”

    This means that you should make decisions based on your beliefs. Not only should you make decisions on your beliefs but you should share your “why” with those around you. Talking about your beliefs will attract others who share those same beliefs and build up the story of your brand. Effectively telling your brands story and why you/your brand do certain things is not only an effective way to build your brand but it’s an effective way to build and inspire your team and followers.

    Take walks with team members.

    When I was a retail manager I would regularly take my team members outside of the store and go for a walk. These were always the most honest and productive conversations I had with team members. It evened the playing field and allowed for a more open flow of ideas. These walks also allowed me to discuss my beliefs with team members (again reinforcing the “why”)

    Encourage input from all.

    I painted an entire wall in my office with black chalkboard paint and the only permanent words on that board were “What’s Next.” Every member of the team was presented with a piece of chalk at employee orientation and encouraged to contribute to that wall from day 1. Some of the best ideas we had came from suggestions scribbled down on that chalkboard. It encouraged everyone to openly share ideas and be a part of the big picture. It also allowed the management team to anticipate and plan for changes sooner and not just react to things when it was too late.

    Never Ask Anyone to Do Something That You Would Never Do

    Mop the floors, do data entry, clean the bathroom… whatever it is, never ask someone to do something that you would never do yourself. This little tip has amazing power in my experience, in ways you can’t even imagine. It builds loyalty, it creates an environment of cooperation and collaboration, and it elevates morale among other things.

    Try Something Crazy

    You or a team member has a crazy idea, but it could work! Take a risk. This is where innovation occurs. And why not give it a try. Many times the only risk is failing. And failure isn’t really failing it is just a stepping stone towards success. Let people watch you fall, it happens, and then let them watch you get back up and try again!

    Not All “Wins” Will be Able to Be Measured Formally

    This is a hard one to put into words, and I don’t mean you should abandon all metrics, however, there are times when you should “trust your gut.” In my past life, I know a turning point of my communication strategy with the faculty and staff at the University I was working at was when I launched a series of breakfast meetings celebrating our relationship called “Books & Bagels.”

    After the first one, I felt like I had made a huge breakthrough, gained some allies, and opened up lines of communication that were going to be huge going forward. My numbers, however, didn’t show that. It actually took almost 6 months and two more “Books & Bagels” events until I started to see major increases. I knew in my gut that these meetings were going to pay off so I didn’t abandon the strategy based on the lack of success according to the metrics. If I had abandoned the strategy I may not have seen the long-term success and may have continued having an issue reaching an essential group of people. Wins may not be able to be immediately measured but if it feels like a win, roll with it for a bit. Adapt and edit as you see necessary but don’t abandon good ideas.

    Don’t be afraid to show your passion

    Your passion is not something that you should hide from others. If you are truly passionate about something then let others see that passion. The passion that you have for what you do reinforces what you are telling people. As they say, actions speak louder than words, so show the world that you really believe what you are saying.

    Collaborate

    Work with the community, work with your team, work with other businesses. Bring out the best in others and find the best in yourself!

    Celebrate Wins, Learn from Your Losses

    Celebrate your wins with your team. Show them that you appreciate the work they have done. Highlight individual winners through recognition and creating a program that will allow other teammates to model winning behavior. Learn from your losses and share the lessons across your organization. These practices will help build a team that understands the impact of all actions on the big picture and will work to help reach the winning outcomes.

    Learn and Teach

    Learn something every day.

    Teach every single day.

    Every single person in the world knows at least one thing that you don’t know. A great leader is someone who learns from others. Listens to others ideas and learns from what they hear. Being a leader involves constant learning and constant evolution.

    The flip side of learning is teaching. Share your lessons, share what you know, help make people stronger by teaching them knowledge and skills you have gained over the course of your career.

    Learning and teaching are essential aspects of all great leaders and something that we can all do every day!

    Now Take these Tips and Apply Them (in your own way)

    All of the practical tips I provided can be implemented in your own way. Those who know me or have worked with me may hate that I am a blunt, sarcastic and hard working manager who expects a lot from his team. Others may love it. But even if I was a soft-spoken and laid back manager who developed my team in a different way I could still take the practical tips I have suggested and apply them differently to meet my style. Many leaders are quirky and have there own ways of doing things but when you break it down, the aforementioned principles will be there in some way, I promise you!

    Now, get out there, don’t worry about others and LEAD EVERY DAY!If you want to learn more about Leadership or any of the Three Essential Tools needed for Absolute Career Mastery grab your ticket today for this great event being put together by Berry Coaching & Consulting on June 20, 2018 at MakeOffices K Street in Washington DC

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/absolute-career-mastery-3-essential-tools-for-success-tickets-46176573374

  • How to Win with LinkedIn! Starting Out and Strategies for Success

    How to Win with LinkedIn: Strategies for Starting Out and For Continued Success!

    Are you just starting to develop a social media strategy for your business? Do you think you want to be a thought leader but not sure what that entails? Is LinkedIn on your radar but you are not sure if it is the right platform for you? Well, I am here to help. This post is aimed at helping you determine if LinkedIn is the right platform for you and give you tips on how to win with LinkedIn.

    LinkedIn is an incredibly powerful tool for businesses. Especially those businesses looking to win over other businesses as clients. A successful LinkedIn strategy can really help increase the buzz around your business. LinkedIn can help you gain leads, recruit qualified candidates, network, and establish yourself as a leader in your field. If you are still not sure if LinkedIn is right for your business, check out this infographic from the team at coschedule.com. 

    First Steps to Developing Your LinkedIn Strategy

    Ok… you looked at those stats, and you said to yourself, yeah let’s do this, LinkedIn is the place for me. Great! Now, what is your first step?

    Well, as is the case with any social media platform you need to decide what you want to get out of your efforts. To do this you first need to set goals. Then make sure that the goals you set for social align with business goals.

    Common Goals

    Some common goals for LinkedIn users include lead generation, recruitment, networking, collaborating, keeping your business informed, and establishing yourself as a thought leader. Many businesses will select a couple goals and focus their efforts on them. This is a smart starting point as I recommend only picking two goals to start out with and measure.

    The Most Important Goal In My Opinion

    I would argue that one goal for every business on LinkedIn should be establishing themselves as a thought leader. Here is why. Establishing yourself/brand/business as a thought leader is a smart goal for the long game. The long game is ever so important and ignored with social media. Establishing yourself as a leader, innovator, thinker, and smart business owner will naturally help you generate leads. It will help you increase your network, attract better candidates and engage followers on your social media platform.

    I promise I will get into how you establish yourself as a leader a bit later.

    Step 2 for Winning on LinkedIn

    Step 2 is to determine who your audience is. One thing that I always need to remind businesses is that they need to find their niche. You can’t be everything to everyone, no matter how hard you try.

    Figure out who your audience is, where they reside, what they like. Once you have figured that out then create and share content that they want. Your content should add value, solve a problem, or provide interesting and informative insight. This is one of the ways that a LinkedIn strategy does not differ from any other social media strategy. Your goal… EDUTAIN!

    Step 3: Before We Discuss What to Share

    So, Step 3 is important. It is more important than what you share, and often the step that is often forgotten. I am putting it before what you should share in hopes that you will read it. I fear that if it were step 4 after what to share it would be ignored.

    What is Step 3 Already

    Step 3: Be active. Post regularly. Comment regularly. Respond to People. Engage Followers. Engage Possible Collaborators. ADD VALUE. Get involved in groups and actively participate, don’t be afraid of sharing your ideas, your thoughts, but also be open to listening and learning. Others are trying to add value as well and you can learn a lot from the folks on LinkedIn.

    Ask questions. Asking questions shows a willingness to learn. Asking questions shows followers you care about whats new and what matters to them.

    Engagement and Value for the Win

    Again, as with all social media engagement is key, but adding value to this engagement is essential. Provide solutions, give out tips and tricks. Let people in on your secrets. This builds a foundation of trust and allows you to become an asset to followers. Gary Vaynerchuk describes these as your “jabs” and smartly recommends to go all in on your jabs. Just simply provide useful information with no sales pitch. Not even a hidden one.

    This added value, these jabs, are the basis of how you establish yourself as a thought leader. Your long-form content you are sharing will be based on providing this useful information, with no sales pitch. You will be providing content to inform and entertain your followers.

    Step 4 What to Share…

    So, the final step for you LinkedIn Strategy is figuring out how you actually become a thought leader. That involves sharing the right content, geared at the audience you have targeted. Making sure that the content you share is informative and that you are engaging with people on topics surrounding this content.

    This step of your LinkedIn Strategy involves sharing long-form content that is engaging and interesting. Content that is innovative or provokes thought and conversation. Infographics, video blogs, written blogs, case studies etc are all perfect for sharing on LinkedIn. In my opinion, the content shared by an average business should consist of 1-2 original long form blogs or video-blogs per week, 1 infographic or video that solves a common problem and 1-2 shared pieces of content that you comment on. Now, I know that = only 3-5 posts per week what else will you do to fill the 7 days.

    Turkey Sandwiches and Other Great Things About LinkedIn

    Here are a few notes on LinkedIn content…

    1. Unlike Instagram people are not logging in and checking your content multiple times a day so posting 5 times a week is okay.
    2. Engage in several groups and share your content in groups to magnify your reach
    3. Treat your original long-form content as a Thanksgiving Turkey and your LinkedIn posts as turkey sandwiches.
      1. Example: I could post this blog today and comment on the infographic I shared from www.coschedule.com in the first section of this post. Then on Friday I could post this same blog with another image and comment on Step 1 deciding on your social media goals, then the following Wednesday discuss my obsession with Gary Vee and his jab, jab, jab right hook theory, etc etc. Your captions to what you share and the followup engagement as well as conversations you start allow you to do this and win.

    As with all social media, a plan is essential, goals are essential and being active and engaging followers is a must. That means that you need to be willing to dedicate time to being on LinkedIn. It is also essential to understand that all of social media is a long game, you will see your metrics rise by being active but you may not see leads rolling in right away. Have patience. Post consistently over a long period of time. Engage and provide valuable insight and the social media game will pay off. I promise.

    Need help managing your social media check out some of my resources.

    Help Planning Your Social Media Content 

    Predictions for Social Media in 2018

    Strategies to Expand Your Reach 

    Or reach out directly and set up your Free 30 Minute Social Media Consultation 

  • Defining a Roadmap for Your Business: Creating a Plan That Works for You

    Defining a Roadmap for Your Business: Creating a Plan That Works for You

    Defining a Roadmap for Your Business

    Are you in the process of defining a Roadmap for your business. Are you hoping to create a plan that works for you? First things first… Quick, name a benefit of owning your own business…

    1. Getting to be your own boss
    2. Working from home on your schedule
    3. You pick the projects you want to work on
    4. Deciding who you want to work with

    Are these at the top of your list? They are at the top of mine and many other entrepreneurs. It is why we have decided to go into business for ourselves. The independence is wonderful, we get to decide on the path we take and we can define the values of our company.

    Creating A Plan that Works for You

    However, when I talk with other business owners or some of my clients that are starting out they are always (many times inadvertently) trying to force their business to fit into the plans of another business. Or trying to follow the roadmap that their friend followed when starting their successful business. Why?

    Create a plan that works for you! Decide on what is most important to you, what you want to be known for. Imagine what your ideal day would look like and build a plan that takes these things into account. Map out a plan that accounts for your passions. The plan should highlight your strengths and minimize the impact of your weaknesses. When I am working with clients to begin creating a roadmap for their business I have a series of questions I ask them, like the ones below. They are aimed at helping the client figure out what the right direction is for them as they begin their business endeavor. If you are at this stage or even revisiting your roadmap take a look at some of the questions below and answer them honestly.

    Defining The Mission of Your Business

    For what do you want to be known?

    What types of projects do you wish to work on?

    Which aspect of your business inspires you the most?

    What is your bread and butter service/item?

    How will you bring clients and customers in the door?

    Once you get them in the door how do you plan on selling them the bread and butter item/service?

    Defining Your Clients

    Who is your ideal client?

    What makes them your ideal client?

    Do you know where your ideal client works?

    This ideal client currently purchases goods and services from what business?

    Where are you likely to meet your ideal client/customer?

    Setting Priorities and Defining Goals

    What is your number one priority?

    What do you wish to accomplish in 3 months? 6 months? 9 months?

    Define your key differentiators… What sets you apart from others in your field?

    Define a win in your own words. What does a win look like for you ?

    How much time do you think it will take to reach your goals?

    Can you dedicate an appropriate amount of time to reaching your goals every week?

    What limits do you have on your time?

    Do you think you are working on things now that are not helping you reach your goals? Can these be eliminated?

    Past Experiences and Lessons Learned

    What are some of the experiences you have had in the past that you can draw on to build your success?

    What mistakes have you made in the past?

    Think about the lessons you have you learned from these mistakes?

    What is something you have told to past employees/coworkers that you can use yourself now?

    Think back to the interview question…

    Talk about a time when you had to overcome diversity in the workplace, what was the situation and what did you learn in the end? Answer this honestly.

    What is one of the hardest lessons you have had to learn in business?

    Strengths and Weaknesses

    Describe your strengths?

    What are your weaknesses?

    The thing that excites you about your business most?

    What terrifies you?

    The tasks in your business play to your strengths?

    Do you have a plan to minimize the impact of your weaknesses?

    Obstacles

    The obstacles do you foresee?

    What plans can you make now to help you overcome these obstacles?

    When obstacles present themselves how will you react?

    How will you prevent obstacles from throwing you off course?

    Can you take these obstacles into account as you build your roadmap?

    Building and Activating your Network

    Who in your area would you most like to work?

    What do they bring to your business?

    Who do you already know that could help you build a successful business?

    How often do you talk with those already in your network?

    How are you planning to expand your network?

    What connections do you hope to make?

    Name some ideal jobs the people you want to meet will hold?

    Are you willing to network with others who do not possess these job titles?

    What activities will you engage in to maintain your network?

    Are networking events part of your strategy?

    After you have reviewed these questions and answered them honestly you will have a better idea of the specific needs you have for your business. Then you can begin to plan what your specific roadmap looks like. If you still need help putting it together, please reach out to us here at JRH Graphics.

    If you would like this blog in the form of a worksheet to work on, grab your free copy of it in the store under social media tools.

  • 8 Tools for Social Media Success

    What 8 Tools Are Needed for Success on Social Media?

    The 8 Tools for Social Media Success, like the magic bullet for social media! What are the things that will help you get the most out of the work you do, besides hiring JRH Graphics!

    As a business consultant that focuses on social media management, I am always asked about the tools I use. I was recently asked to name the 8 tools for social media success. I couldn’t because everyone needs different things. What I could do is provide 8 types of tools needed for social media success. The difference is that there are hundreds of tools out there. Thousands more articles about what tools to use. You also have about 1 million people telling you that you are doing it wrong without providing any information on how to do it right.

    So I am not going to do that. Instead, I am going to tell you what I use and why I like it and then you can decide if it will work for you. For a couple of tools, I will make recommendations based on needs. But lets first start with what types of tools I feel are essential for you to be successful on social media.

    Types of Tools Needed for Social Media

    1. Tools to capture the moment and post it
      1. A Great point and shoot or DSLR camera
      2. A smartphone
      3.  scheduling tool
    2.  Tools for promoting and creating
      1. A simple tool for creating social media posts that involve a little graphic design
      2. Free stock photo site you like
      3. A photo editor or photo editing app
    3. Tools for Tracking and ROI
      1. Hashtag research tool
      2. Social Listening and Analytics tool

    Yeah, that’s a lot of things just to start, thank goodness some of the tools I am going to recommend cover a few different roles and do it well.

    Tools to Capture the Moment and Post It

    1. A great camera is essential, yes an iPhone can take great pictures but it is still a phone. If you are going to be active on social media and want to share moments from your life as you see them I recommend investing in a great point and shoot or if you are inclined a DSLR camera. You will find yourself using it more, loving it and taking great photos. This camera will also help you shoot video which is becoming a must.
    2. A smartphone is essential, sorry I can not imagine working full time on social media without the newest smartphone out there as I am constantly on my phone and pushing it to do more and more each day. I might also recommend a few extra charging cords and a backup battery.
    3. A scheduling tool! This is your number 1 must have tool. As a social media manager who does work for numerous clients, I use HeyOrca. I am a happy member of the pod when it comes to this tool as it has eliminated spreadsheets and constant google sheet updates and allows me to send clients previews of posts as they will appear. If you are doing social media for yourself there are a couple tools out there that I have used that do the job well. Prior to HeyOrca, I was a Hootsuite user and still use some of the services they provide. The great thing about HootSuite is that you can schedule, monitor, and react to your posts from the tool. It also has a solid analytics suite and for many, it will be a good tool to help keep your content flowing.

    Tools to Promote and Create

    As a business, you will not only need to capture real authentic moments to share but you will also need to promote things. Like your business, events, ideas, sales, webinars etc and so on. So what tools are there out on the market to help you do this.

    1. I personally think that the best tool out there to create social posts is Adobe Spark. I have used it non-stop since discovering it years ago and it has improved over time. If you are a graphic designer you will see it as a stripped down InDesign or Illustrator but the functionality and the results are clean and professional. Plus, I feel like you have more control over the outcome than with tools such as Canva. However, many people swear by Canva! I recommend trying them both and picking the one that works best for you!
    2. As much as I hate stock photos there is a place for them in the creation of social media content. So, I figured a solid list of free stock photo sites would be useful. Be careful to check on the license of all stock photos to make sure that you understand how they can be used before you use them. Generally, you are looking for images marked as CC0 aka Creative Commons Zero. This means you can copy, modify, distribute and use the photos for free, including commercial purposes, without asking permission from or providing attribution to the photographer.

    Free Stock Photos

    1. Gratisography Gratisography is one of the most interesting of the free stock photo sites due to the quirky style of photographer Ryan McGuire. All of the photos are high-resolution and royalty-free—ready for your use wherever you please.
    2.  Pixabay Pixabay offers over 490,000 free images and videos for both personal and commercial use.
    3. Unsplash Unsplash offers 10 new photos every 10 days via an email subscription and on their website. All photos are licensed under Creative Commons Zero.
    4. Negative Space This site adds new free CC0 stock photos every week. These images are searchable by category, position, and color.
    5. Life of Pix Life of Pix is a collection of free high resolution stock images donated to the public domain by the Leeroy Advertising Agency in Montreal.
    6. Pexels The free stock images on Pexels are curated from sites such as Gratisography, Unsplash, and Little Visuals. All of the photos on the site are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero

    A Photo Editing Tool

    New camera? Check! Tons of photos taken? Check! But none of the photos are quite right… now what do you do? This is the beauty of a great photo editing app! A photo shot with a high resolution in good light can become an amazing picture with just a touch of editing on a good photo editing app. I personally recommend Adobe PS Express.

    Adobe Photoshop Express (a go-to app)

    This compact little app can be intimidating to start with but it is a powerhouse of photo editing once you realize all it can do from the palm of your hand. From cropping to a adjusting the horizontal and vertical skew. Light, color, detail and effect adjustments that you can break down or opt for a full auto adjustment. It includes Red-eye reduction, ability to add text, add borders, fix blemishes and export to photoshop. It also includes a good set of filters to help brighten or add color to your photo. I provide a quick tutorial with screenshots on this awesome app here!

    Tools for Tracking and ROI

    A simple hashtag is your gateway to discovery on Twitter and Instagram. But how do you know what hashtags to use and what hashtags to avoid? The popular tags are always changing and whats trending may impact the hashtags that are used. What about branded tags? Following tags? We all need a bit of help keeping up and that’s why there are tools for this…

    Use Twitter and Instagram

    Pop around on the platforms, look at the people you are following, look at who they are following, what hashtags do they use that bring you to content like the content you want to be discovered for? Make a list of those hashtags. Repeat the process as you grow and explore the platforms.

    Want some other tools

    1. RiteTag: With RiteTag, you can get instant feedback on your hashtags and get recommendations of hashtags not to use. This tool is very flexible and it can give you analytics on any hashtag that you are following, not just the ones that you’re actively using
    2. Keyhole.co lets you track Twitter and Instagram hashtags in real-time. This tool will tell you the number of posts that contain your hashtag within a specific time period, how many users are using it, and each post’s reach and number of impressions. It has multiple paid options after a free trial period. 
    3. Hootsuite again has a huge suite of services that can be easily managed from your dashboard within their platform including hashtag research and tracking.
    4. Are you in the photography world, I use Focalmark for my photos and images and it autogenerates a list that I can then edit add or subtract from to get a full list to add.
    5. Hashtagify- I have not used this one much, but Hashtagify will give you all the information that you need to know about how your brand hashtags are being used. Information includes the top influencers that are using the tags and it’ll show you example posts and reach.

    Measuring It All

    And with all of these tools, if you have no way of measuring the success of your strategy then what is the purpose. So the last group of tools needed to be successful on social media are the analytics, metrics, and social listening tools. Keyhole published a list of the top 25 Social Media Metrics tools to help measure ROI that is still fairly relevant. I have personally used and like Buffer, HootSuite, BuzzSumo and Simply Measured.

    For many of you, Hootsuite will be your starting point for a lot of your social media tools needs based on their extensive suite of services across all the needs of a small business for social media. I do recommend exploring as many tools out there but be aware of inconsistencies in your calendar and marketing and how they can detract from brand identity. 

    In Conclusion the 8 Tools Are …

    Up to you to decide.  Which ones work best for you.

    All of these tools should be helping you to focus on the endgame. Creating engaging content for your followers. The edutaining content that they want. If any of these tools is taking away from that then it is not the right tool for you. That is the best way to measure the value of a particular tool and how it works specifically for you.

    Best of luck finding the combination of that suits your needs and keep in mind it is what works for you and your followers.

  • Mini Brand Profile: An Interview or Two with Jonathan Howard

    Mini Brand Profile: An Interview or Two with Jonathan Howard

    Over the past couple of week’s, I have been asked by a couple online Facebook groups I am a member of to complete a Mini Brand Profile. These are really just some basic who am I, what do I do to let people know about my business and a bit about me. So here I am combining these two mini brand profiles to give you a bit of a deeper look at what I am about and what my business does.  So here is the JRH Graphics Mini Brand Profile. I hope it gives you a deeper look into me and my crazy. If you have any questions of your own feel free to ask in comments. So, here we go…

    A Mini Brand Profile: JRH Graphics

    Who are you and what is your business / what do you do?

    Well, let’s start from the top, my name is Jonathan Howard. I am a business consultant, social media manager, photographer, graphic designer and lead content creator at JRH Graphics. So as they say in business I am a Jack of all Trades and Master of None.

    I started my company, JRH Graphics about a year ago and we provide business consulting services as well as social media management, graphic design, and photography to small businesses in Washington DC. Our goal is to help businesses get the most out of the efforts they put into social media by helping them build campaigns that will educate and entertain their followers (edutain as I say).

    What We Do

    We help create the content and make sure that your brand is set up to support the business that will be created with that content. Having close to 20 years of management experience. Plus 10 years of social media experience gives me the skill set necessary to build campaigns that highlight the strengths of a business while telling their unique and winning story. The power of social media is most visible when a brand can tell their story in a way that connects with its followers. Capture the hearts of followers and you will be able to build a loyal customer base. Stories connect and create relationships, and relationships sell and sell and sell.

    How long have you done what you do?

    I could answer this by saying one of two things, not very long or forever. I started my business over a year ago after leaving my 18-year retail management career with Barnes & Noble College Booksellers. BNC is a company that was founded on the idea of building relationships that transcend transactions.

    Our goal was to create a campus community in and around our stores. It was a company that allowed managers to innovate and reinvent the role of the campus bookstore based on each school’s needs. As a store manager, I was allowed to do what was right for my store which provided me a lot of wiggle room to be a rebel with a cause. A role that I definitely enjoyed and still fill in my own business.

    My community, students, and campus were my number one priority. We engaged our customers by listening to what they needed. Then we would find a solution. Our job was one of a storyteller, a facilitator and campus partner.

    We Should All Tell Our Story

    I am a storyteller now, that is my main job. I am a partner to my clients and I help them effectively tell their story. Social media is the platform I utilize to tell it but the idea is still the same. I help people tell a story in a way that engages followers. Stories have a way of transcending transactions and building long-term connections. Followers may not need your services now, but they will think of you when you do.

    What got you into it?

    Working at college bookstores my team became intimately familiar with social media from the moment it began impacting the way students would engage and shop. I was lucky enough to work for a company that adopted social media as a way to engage our customers early on. They provided us with key insight and allowed us to control our social media platforms ensuring that the content was “hyperlocal.” Some things we did were successful, other times we failed miserably but we got up brushed ourselves off and tried something new. We figured a lot out and we kept learning.

    The impact of social media on traffic and engagement with our community was shocking to me. I wanted to know more so I began to take classes and read all I could find online about businesses using social media effectively. I also read a lot of stuff on millennials and how they engaged with businesses. The more I learned the more I knew I could make a difference helping businesses utilize social media correctly.

    The Oh Sh!t Moment

    My decision to leave my 18-year career happened about 2 years before I thought I would make that decision. It happened quick but the time was right. I was terrified.

    Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.

    Can you share with us a time where you struggled and persevered?

    Perseverance is a mandatory quality for an entrepreneur. If it is not a quality you possess you will fail. I jokingly say, “the struggle is real,” but it is true when you own and operate your own business you struggle daily. But can also celebrate your wins daily. Wins that are real and directly impact you.

    When I left my career, every day was uncertain. I left on a Tuesday and I had a couple options… stay in bed and mourn my loss for a week or so or get up and do something. Wednesday I was applying for my business license. By Friday I had my first meeting with a potential client. Every day since then I have been working to make something out of my business and my ideas. I believe I have a good idea here. I know I can offer value to businesses that choose to work with me. The businesses I have worked with have seen a greater reach, and have felt an impact on sales.

    A Year In: Well, I  Am Writing A Mini Brand Profile

    Now a year into my journey, I still struggle. But I still learn every day as well. I think the ability to learn and adapt is the flip side of the perseverance coin. You are going to struggle and you need to persevere. In each of these struggles, you must find lessons and learn from them. If you fail to learn from them you will continuously face the same struggles. In my humble opinion; failure to learn daily is a failure in life.So tell us some things we wouldn’t know…

    So yeah, I guess I did a decent job telling my business story but I didn’t focus on the real me. If I was one of my clients we would have had a point in our weekly conversation where I reminded them that a glimpse into what makes you tick is essential. It’s an aspect of your story that builds a connection with your followers. So here we go…

    Things You May Not Know Part of the Mini Brand Profile

    I’m 37ish-year-old social media geek who loves what he does. Definitely bit of a goober, bit of a smartass, and a lot of a rabble-rouser. I learn all the rules and I like to find innovative ways to break them. I’ve been known to speak my mind with nothing held back. But I do it to make you better. My public persona pretends to have no feelings but in reality, I have all of them!

    I live in Washington DC with my two puggle pups, Max and Ryder. These two have so much personality and stubbornness it can be hard to manage. But they love their Dad more then I will ever understand.

    My escape from my work has unexpectedly become another job for me but I still love to take my camera out and photograph the city. These images are the basis for my Instagram feed which highlights the photography manipulation side of what I do that I barely spoke about here.

    I have an amazingly supportive extended family that lives in Upstate New York and a younger sister who is getting married this year.

    More Random Info

    I am a huge fan of P!nk and have watched her Truth About Love Tour a frightening number of times. I am also a big Billy Joel fan and on occasion, I can be heard blasting his greatest hits as loud as the speaker can go and singing along. Yes, I know all the words to We Didn’t Start the FIre

    What is something that you think you may take too seriously?

    That’s the easiest one so far, branding and brand identity. I am a stickler for posts being representative of the brand. Everything you do as a business should be guided by brand, even your unscripted content. Because your brand is defined by an emotional reaction from your followers. It is not defined by the brand identity guidelines you live by internally. Your unscripted content has the potential to create a brand identity crisis if you don’t really believe in your brand and use it to guide those interactions. Like I said, take it too seriously.What’s your best advice to someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?

    If you have an idea. One that you truly believe in. Then it’s time to get out and do it. Period.

    What’s your best advice to someone who just started as an entrepreneur?

    Don’t look back with regret. Look back to see how far you have come and then forward to see where you want to be. It is going to be the greatest journey of your life and you are going to be terrified at times. Actually, you are gonna be terrified a lot.

    Don’t forget that the struggles teach us lessons that are invaluable. Keep learning, keep doing, keep innovating and keep adapting. Your business doesn’t need to look the same as you planned it to look on paper. You may think there was one void that needed to be filled in the market but after a few months you notice that you are filling a different void. That is not failure that is a success. Maybe not the success you planned but who the hell cares a win is a win.

    Keep racking up those wins.

    If you don’t have (blank) you will never succeed as an entrepreneur?

    If you don’t know how to interact and read people you won’t be successful. You need to be able to step back and watch people and there actions to see what they really need. Translating what people say into actionable items. Motivating and inspiring employees. That is all based on your ability to interact and read people and their behaviors. Learn to be an active listener. Let people complete sentences and ideas. Don’t talk over people. Practice ways to engage people and explore ideas and differences in a polite way that keeps the conversation opened. Be aware of your body language.

    Can you share with us one of your favorite experiences on your journey to success?

    It is not really one experience that I can look to as a favorite in this journey. It’s the people. When I left Barnes & Noble College I left a family that I deeply loved behind, A family that knew my weirdness and quirks and tolerated my cursing. A group of people that will never be replaced.

    Within a month, however, I was working with people who would start to fill that void. I never imagined I would be so lucky. These were amazing people who showed a tremendous amount of support and believed in what I do. They tell me when I am wrong. Help pick me up when I am down. Push me to keep going.

    I met so many of these people via social media, just saying hey I love your work. Or hey, would you like an orchid?  Do me a favor and if you ever need help with social media hit me up. I have nurtured these relationships. They have nurtured these relationships. And they have brought so much to my life in this first year of business.

    People like Cody Alexander (who is 100% responsible for me doing what I am doing right now). Believers like Zack Wade, Dani Sauter and My Ly. Risk takers like Lea Berry, Pamela Moyer and Rinny from Oak Vino are all a part of my JRH Graphics Family. They always will be and that is the amazing part of the journey.

  • The Buzz Around the Social Media Algorithms

    The Buzz Around the Social Media Algorithms

    Algorithm 2018 and Your Social Media Strategy

    There has been a lot of chat about the 2018 Algorithm on all social media and what they mean to businesses. A lot of people have been whining about how Facebook is hurting their advertisers that pay the bills. More even thinking that Instagram is being unfair in how they are handling what is seen. And before everyone jumps on the bandwagon lets all take a step back and think. Are these changes really hurting you, or are they pushing you forward. Making you take that next terrifying step?  Which in my opinion isn’t that terrifying and shouldn’t really change the core of your strategy anyway.

    The Specifics of the Algorithm Don’t Matter

    Yes, I said it, when you boil it down the specifics of the algorithm absolutely DO NOT MATTER! It really doesn’t, yeah you will need to change maybe how you deliver an idea, switch to a heavier video strategy, utilize more live streaming, use stories, or use fewer hashtags and put them in your caption so they really matter. Make those minor changes, watch what happens and then continue to evolve and respond to your testing. Those things are not the core of your strategy and if they are, I hate to break it to you, you are doin’ it wrong!

    Why I am So Harsh

    Yeah I know I am being harsh. But the thing is those are all minor things. The big deal, the major focus is creating great content that people engage with and then engaging with them. Guess what, CONTENT IS STILL KING!!!! Content will always be king, content is thinking about changing the spelling of his name to KONTENT… he knows he is that big of a deal.

    KONTENT IS KING

    So we have accepted KONTENT as the king! Now, take a deep breath cause stability is here … If you create content that is “edutaining” as in it educates and entertains your followers you win!  If it is something that they actually engage with and you are a smart business person and you engage back, you are golden. All that is really changing is the best method of delivery. It really all boils down to having a great content strategy. Plan it in advance, build it around goals and promotions, and then fill in the specifics as you go and test what works best now within the algorithms.

    Your Content Strategy

    So, yes build out a content strategy in advance. Have a plan for what you are posting and make sure that it is brand appropriate and fulfills the needs of your audience in some way. You should review your plan before you put throw it out there. You should regularly review the results of your plan and adapt as you go. Tweak it to make sure it is still reaching the people that you want to reach. Review and make sure it is appropriate to your brand.

    You Shouldn’t

    The one thing that has made me crazy this week is the idea that these changes require you to throw your entire plan out the window. Rethink everything and throw lots of buzz words and shit at the wall and see what sticks. THAT IS NOT WHAT YOU SHOULD RESORT TO.

    Facebook simply and quite well stated that they wanted to make the time people spend on social media more meaningful… why is that a threat to your business? That should be your goal as well, create content that will make people’s time on social media more meaningful. Instagram’s algorithm change may test your content and see how well it does by releasing it to 10% of people and then if it does well it gets released to the rest. If you create content that the first 10% engage with then it will be released to the rest.

    Wait a minute, they are building the test in for you, don’t get angry, thank Instagram because now all you need to do is see what things engaged really poorly from the start and make less of that content, the stuff that does well you know that you should create more of that content.

    Your overall strategy does not need to change if you are creating great content and engaging with your followers. If you are putting crap content out, or using other people’s content and not actively engaging with followers then you need to worry your content won’t be seen. And honestly, it shouldn’t be seen, put in an effort.

    What changes do matter

    So what does matter with all of these changes? I highly recommend you start a group that is attached to your business page on Facebook as I believe that a lot of the engagement will happen in this community and then get put out by your followers. Dive into video head first. You should not be afraid to go live (I still am). I recommend reviewing your hashtag strategy on Instagram and make sure that you are responding to all your followers quickly.  Be okay with having fewer interactions and be okay with having more engaged followers. Ask followers what kind of content they want to see. Get them involved in your content strategy. Keep your feeds clean and brand appropriate but don’t be afraid to show some personality and quirkiness in your stories.

    And finally I have always recommended this, plan ahead but don’t over plan your calendar. Only schedule 70-75 percent of your posts in advance and leave room in your plan for some trendy posts and user-generated content.

    Now, relax, stop whining, and create great content! Guess what I bet this plan works for 2019 too!

  • Business Inspiration Needed! What Inspires You to Hustle?

    What Inspires You To Hustle?

    Business inspiration can be a challenge for many small businesses or solopreneurs (businesses made up of one entrepreneur)! As a small business owner, solopreneur and a business consultant, among other things I sometimes struggle to find inspiration and direction to keep me moving forward. It is natural for question to pop up, like the following…

    Am I making a difference?

    Are the services I am providing right for my target audience?

    Will the hustle now pay off later?

    Can I make something out of this?

    Is the work I have done so far moving me in the right direction?

    And it’s healthy and smart to answer all of these questions honestly as you reflect on the things you have done, your goals for your business, and where you want to be down the road.

    The Most Important Question

    There is however, one question that matters most of all and that is…

    Do you love what you are doing?

    Honestly, do you actually love what you are doing? Do you stay up late or jump out of bed ready to go to work? If the answer is yes then keep on hustling. This should be all the business inspiration you need, right? You are a business owner.

    You are smart.

    You are already making a difference.

    You can modify your services as needed.

    And you know that your hustle will pay off down the road.

    You are certain that you will continue to innovate and adapt.

    Your head knows this, your heart knows this but somehow the connection is not there.It is not easy. We all feel down at times! Our drive can fade in and out. It is when we are down and out, about to quit, that we need a good dose of inspiration. A reminder of why we do what we do.

    The January Blues

    So, I was missing that ever so important drive this January. I needed some business inspiration because this month has been uncomfortable for me. With clients facing transitions of their own my ability to afford to live in DC was in question. Some leads that I thought I could make into something fizzled out. Numerous emails had been sent but remained unanswered. I had a really bad case of the January Blues which were magnified by the heinously cold weather!  I have felt overwhelmed with tasks but lost on direction. Unaccomplished and unable to commit. I was ready to let go of this hustle. It didn’t matter that I loved what I did if I couldn’t live off what I did, something had to give.

    Inspiration Strikes

    Cut to an unexpected surprise while I was attending an event with a local client. Here I am chomping on an apple behind the table. A familiar face strolls up, I recognize the face but with a mouth full of apple, at a loss for words and somewhat shocked I take a moment as she comes in to give me a hug! The familiar face was a woman from my past life, an author by the name of M/R Johnson.

    The Back Story

    I still remember the day she came into my store with a copy of her self-published book, Memoirs of an Addict: Fact or Fiction to see if we would carry it and what we would be willing to do to help promote the title. Normally, I would have taken the book and told her my assistant would get back to her, but she struck me as someone special. Her ability to capture an audience with a story was evident. Her passion was unmistakable.

    We booked her for an event, her first ever book event on October 8, 2015. I remember listening to her as she delivered a captivating story that was full of hope and inspiration, and I smiled because I sensed that her story touched a few hearts and minds of the attendees and it had the potential to make a difference. In 2016 we asked if she would be one of the featured authors at the first ever Healthy Book Festival we did in conjunction with NBC. Once again her story was captivating, and I watched and was so very proud of her.

    She was gaining experience and more confident and she was openly telling her powerful story. This time I was certain that she had made the difference in the life of at least one of the people in that audience.

    Powerful Stories

    I have always believed that stories have power. Stories inspire. A well-delivered story can make you suddenly realize something about yourself, or motivate people to stand up and fight for something they believe in. I may have only been a bookstore manager but I felt good that day. I had given M/R a platform to tell her story. A story that was going to help somebody.

    Making a Difference

    When I decided to go into the social media business it was because of people like M/R Johnson Those people in the world that realize the power of words, woven together so beautifully they create a tale that is capable of moving mountains. Each story has value and should be told. We should all listen and try to learn something new about ourselves or others.

    She was now standing in front of me, a successful author, storyteller, mental health activist, and she has published another book. She is still telling her story and making a difference in the lives of those she touches. And after that hug and reintroduction, I glanced down at the card she had handed me and read to myself, “Words Can be Powerful, carefully put together, they are priceless.” It was exactly at that moment she said to my client…

    “He gave me my big break, he believed in me.”

    My Realization

    All this time I was hoping that she made a difference in the lives of those who heard her speak and I missed the fact that I had made a difference in her life. I believed in her story and the power of stories to bring change. It was simple, but it was PRICELESS!

    Business Inspiration: Returned. Hustle Mode: Resumed

    And in a flash, my blues had lifted. At that moment when I needed it most the Universe provided me my business inspiration in the form of M/R Johnson. I discreetly wiped a few rogue tears that had snuck out of my eyes away and grabbed my notebook to begin making a plan. I am determined to continue down this path and see where it leads. I love what I am doing and know that I can help individuals and businesses tell their story. Harness the power of social media. Change perception. Help others. And do so many more things.

    I had learned something priceless last week. I learned that believing in those around you may be enough to make a difference in their lives!

    That, right there, is why I love what I do! That is my business inspiration and the reason I hustle! Thank you, M/R for reminding me of that and getting me back on track!Do you need someone to believe in your story and help you tell it on social media? Have ideas but not sure how to execute them? Need to brand yourself or your business? JRH Graphics can help!

  • Building A Community Around Your Brand

    Building A Community Around Your Brand

    Community and Social

    Community and social media have been tied together since the dawn of the social media era. However, the more I look at the social and social media landscape the more I believe that building a community around your brand is going to be an essential part of all businesses strategies in the upcoming year. According to Hootsuite in their Social Trends 2018 Webinar real customer communities, micro-influencers, and ‘people like me’ take center stage as consumer trust continues to decline. So now is the time to put the ball into play and make sure you are nurturing a customer community that will advocate for your brand in 2018 and beyond.

    The Decline of Consumer Trust in the System

    The decline in consumer trust is a major indicator pointing to the increased importance of building a community around your brand. The lack of trust in authority figures is shockingly low according to Edelman’s 2017 Trust Barometer. Only 37% of the public trust CEOs. 29% trust government officials, and 85% of the public lack faith in the entire system. So, with this incredibly low level of trust in the system who are people looking to for advice and guidance? They are looking toward peers. A peer is considered by 60% of people asked to be very or extremely credible (the same as experts). “People like me” are the experts, the people they trust. They have the same likes, experience the same problems, and use the same products. This change alone has thrown marketers for a loop.

    The Uber Mega Influencer Lacks Authenticity

    Influencer marketing is a key part of community building. An influencer is a “person like you” they are just the coolest friend of the group. But the key to influencer marketing is having someone who does actually use the brand they are representing. 2017 marked the end of the celebrity influencer era, 2018 will mark the rise of the mini and micro-influencers. Consumers are looking for a more authentic spokesperson. For today’s consumer a peer to peer review, and employee testimonial or a customer’s story can carry more weight than the celebrity endorsement. The rise of the mini-influencer is another reason it is important to build your community. Tapping into the feedback from your community will lead to the discovery of these key assets and personas. It will also provide invaluable insight into a customers journey and what customers are looking for from your brand.

    True Belonging

    The third reason I believe that building a community around your brand will be an essential step is based on Brene Brown’s research on shame, vulnerability, and true belonging. Brown states in her book Braving the Wilderness, “Belonging is the innate human desire to be part of something larger than us. Because this yearning is so primal, we often try to acquire it by fitting in and by seeking approval, which are not only hollow substitutes for belonging but often barriers to it. Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” To get a fuller understanding of the concepts she studies check out TED Talks for two phenomenal thought-provoking talks. But for my purposes here, the concept is simple, humans want to belong to a community. An idea larger than ourselves. If a brand is able to provide that, you have a win on your hands.

    So we all agree, community building around our brand is essential, right? Okay, good! Now, how exactly do we build a community, where will we build this community, and what does it really look like. The answer is simple yet complex, it is different for everyone! But I believe the following are must have parts of the formula…

    Defined Brand + Engaging Story + Inspiring Leadership + Focus on Consumer + Goes Above and Beyond Daily

    Define Your Brand, What it Is and What it is Not!

    Want a little guidance on brand identity v. brand check out this post…

    You can not build a community around a brand that is not defined so your first step of community building is defining what your brand is and is not. Is your brand representative of something? What does it sound like, taste like, feel like, and how does it look on paper (logos etc)? How do you want your followers to feel when they use your brand or product? Is it exclusive? What do you include and what do you make sure to leave out? What would your brand post about on social media?

    After you define your brand you explore your differentiators. Are you different from your competition? What is different about your product? Why will people choose you over another brand? Taking a deep look at what makes you different from all the other brands. This will help you define what makes your brand special. And it will help you be able to define and communicate key differentiators to your followers.

    Tell Your Story

    If you are not telling your story, you are not doing your job. Your story sells. Stories win over customers. A story is the difference between success and failure, Your story is your golden ticket. Make sure that you feature your real, authentic brand story. Whatever your story is it is essential to your business and your brand. It is how you got to where you are. It is the basis for what you do. And your story will continue to develop as you continue to learn and grow. Your story is human, unscripted and real and it what allows you and your brand to connect with the community at large.

    Give Members A Reason to Join

    What will members get for being a part of your community? Inside information, special discounts, cool swag? Not ready to take a hit on the bottom line to encourage community membership and engagement? Then encourage the development of an inside language, inside jokes, memes, or other member exclusive items that set them apart from non-members, just make sure that you have a plan in place to get new members up to speed.

    Make Sure Your Focus is the Customer or Follower

    Real engagement and meaningful interaction should be the focus of your brand community. What questions do your followers have? Why did they join your community in the first place? What information can you provide them that can help them in their everyday life. Your goal is to have real relationships with these followers not just see how many followers you can quickly add so that you can boast about the numbers reached.

    Don’t be Afraid to Engage and Inspire

    You have a great brand, people like you, some may want to be like you. It is likely that some of your followers look up to you, and that is okay. Engage in the conversation when it’s appropriate and lead the conversation if you see a chance to inspire someone. Your followers want to be inspired and they want to feel like they are part of something (your brand) important!

    Speaking of Being A Part of Something Important

    Ask your community questions and listen listen listen listen to all of the feedback that you get. Your followers and community members want you to be successful and they have ideas! Listen to the ideas that they have, listen to the feedback they provide, listen to the chatter amongst group members. Then after you have listened to what they have to say make sure that you take some action based on the feedback you are provided. Every single person counts and listening to all the ideas, taking the time to really understand the feedback and then acting on it shows that you value your community members and that alone can be the win for your company.

    Let Your Brand Ambassadors Be Ambassadors

    Let your brand ambassadors be ambassadors and let them speak to your story, your product and your brand in their own words. If you think this is crazy then you are fucking insane! Brand ambassadors are employees, influencers and regular customers that like and support your brand. They believe in you and support your company. These people have actually spent time activating people. Encouraging them to try your offerings. Brought you new followers. They do this because they are passionate about something that you do. Let them share that passion in their own words. Allow their passion to show. How they choose to speak and what they choose to say should be up to them. Don’t fill their mouths with your uninspiring quotes, and perfectly word-crafted statements. Those statements are bullshit and your followers see thru them.

    Go Above and Beyond All Day Every Day

    It does not matter if you are dealing with your best customer or the browser that never buys anything. Your goal should always be to surprise and delight your customers and followers. All Day! Every Day! It is never a good idea to discount your customers or followers, you never know what that breakthrough moment for one customer could be your breakthrough moment, period! Read Discounting Your Customers

    Over the course of my 18-year retail career, my proudest and most impactful campaign was not a campaign at all it was a crazy bet. I challenged my team to ask everyone if they wanted their gifts wrapped, and to wrap each and every item they wanted wrapped at the counter as part of the checkout process. And that year we wrapped every present bought with us, some presents bought at other stores and that year we destroyed our sales budget for Christmas and had delighted hundreds of neighborhood customers and followers. People came throughout the year and asked us if we would be doing that again, or if we could wrap a birthday present for them, of course we could it was a little niche we had won simply because we were the only ones doing it.

    What is Your Little Niche?

    Whether it is on social media, or something that you can do at your storefront, what is your niche and how can you do a little something that will surprise and delight your customers? Can you figure out how you and your team can go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations everyday?

    In my opinion this is the make it or break it moment for your business and for building a brand community. Nail this and you win!

  • Crystal Ball 2018: Predictions for Social Media in the New Year

    Our Crystal Ball Predictions for Social Media and Social Media Marketing?

    Here at JRH Graphics, we actually hate predictions. AKA a random guess! But content planning is important. So, we took a look at our crystal ball (the internets) and tried to assess the social media predictions for 2018. The perusal of articles and posts by talented writers and companies and helped us compile this list. Including some of what we believe will happen based on these trends and what we are seeing ourselves. We want to help you manage your social media. Make smart plans. And slay the year so here is what we think (aka guess)!The TrendThe PredictionsTakeaway

    Instagram Killing it With Stories

    Instagram Stories will continue to capitalize on the successes of 2017 and will continue to gain popularity. Stories are just over 1 year old, yet over 200 million users utilize the feature monthly. More than the number of users on Snapchat, plus with opportunities to tie in e-commerce the future looks bright for Instagram Stories.If you are not already using stories to engage followers then it is time to start using them. Stories are a great way to provide followers and non-followers with an exclusive behind the scenes look of your brand, tell your story and engage customers and potential customers. Check out some tips here!

    The Customer Experience from Start to Finish

    The customer experience throughout the entire life-cycle is incredibly important. Your brand is built on the experiences that customers have. This could be anything from in-store customer service experience, to seeing your items at a local reseller or seeing one of your business’s posts Facebook. Every interaction impacts brand! 

    Creating a great experience for the customer is more likely to help you gain brand loyalists. Negative online experiences, bad customer service,  late delivery of an order, or inconsistent messaging can all hurt your business and they WILL NOT USE YOUR BUSINESS AGAIN. Make no mistake they have other choices.

    No customers = no brand loyalists = no champions of your brand = fewer customer = fewer sales = bye bye businessLock this one down in 2018. Make sure all your employees.  Anyone with customer contact.  Or anyone who creates a policy that will impact a customer. KNOWS THAT THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST. Create a loyalty program to reward followers and customers. Encourage and reward feedback from customers that post reviews (good or bad). Pay attention to these reviews. You can be certain your customers are reading them. Go Above and Beyond. Everyday. All Day. Until it hurts!

    Content Creation Still Remains Incredibly Important

    What kind of content are you creating? Is it informative? Entertaining yet educational? Is your content unique to your brand and offer greater insight for your followers?

    An overwhelming 70% of people said they’d rather learn about a business via an article instead of an advertisement. Content marketing is cheaper than regular marketing and drives more leads so content marketing will continue to grow. Blog posts, infographics, video, live stream, stories, photos, articles, and so on is all part of content marketing.

    Content creation. Is hard.  It is even harder to do when running your business.  If you don’t have time, consider outsourcing your content creation or certain aspects of your social media to a local company focused on your growth like JRH Graphics. Find the company that meets your content creation needs!

    Great Job Getting On Social and Creating Content But What’s Next?

    Oh c’mon you knew this was going to happen!! In 2017, there were more than 50 million small businesses using social media pages to interact with their customers. Great. Many of these businesses are creating content to educate and inform customers. Awesome.

    But, many consumers are starting to get tired of sponsored or branded content and are skipping over it! Well, shit! Consumers are going to outside sources to get information not directly to brands. Brands are going to need to create more content with independently verifiable information and sources in order for this content to gain traction and help market.Now what? Stop creating content? No continue creating content but use stats and specifics that apply to more than just your company. Share content that can be verified independently. Pro Tip: Look at how you are collaborating, is it possible that one of your past collaborators would be able to create valuable content.

    Get Your Toolkit Today and Start Planning:  Collaboration Toolkit & Pre-Collab Worksheet

    Influencer Marketing Goes Micro

    Over 90% of marketers that utilize influencer marketing believe that it is successful and with traditional marketing continuing to struggle with social more and more companies are likely to move towards this form of marketing. But Influencer Marketing is stepping away from mega-influencers who represent multiple brands.

    Mega-Influencers or spokespeople are not where companies are getting a return on investment. This is why Influencer Marketing is starting to go micro. Followers and consumers are looking for actual people within a community that has invested and real followers.If you are already engaging with influencers are you getting the return on investment you should be? Have you looked at other options or begun to look at the opportunities that may be available from micro-influencers or brand advocates. Also look to create a community around your brand and make sure your influencers are a part of that community. PRO TIP: Don’t end your relationship with an influencer at the end of a contract. Continue to engage!

    Rise of Augmented Reality

    Both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X have ground-breaking new chips that allow for extraordinary augmented reality experiences. Social Media is likely to incorporate some of these features for their platforms as soon as possible and will likely look for innovative ways to do so. Possible early uses include selfie filters with celebrities or brands having the ability to project products into our homes. What other possibilities do you see from this trend?Small businesses should actively observe what is happening with augmented reality as it develops. It is likely that large companies will be the first to jump on this trend but as social media platforms change and include this technology look to see if it makes sense for you to utilize.

    Gen Z Enters the Workforce

    The impact of the Gen Z generation is about to be felt with marketers as these 22-year-olds are about to enter the workforce. As they step into the workforce and they will gain more buying power and become more important to organizations. We just got used to millennials but its time to change again.

    Engagement on platforms where Gen Z resides will be key. How are they engaging with companies and changing the way you do business?Actively observe the developments and pay attention to trends here. Small businesses may have a bit more time to react to Gen-Z, but start looking for opportunities now. Key platforms will include YouTube, Live Streaming Sites, and possibly still some Snapchat. Key practices will include transparency and authenticity.

    It’s Going to Be All About Live

    Live messaging apps and live streaming are going to become more ingrained in the mainstream. Over 2.5 billion people are utilizing live messaging apps and live streaming is making up a large part of video content consumed. Brands will need to begin looking at options to engage on these live apps when followers are looking for them.Live gives businesses many opportunities to show off the behind the scenes, tell a story, give followers special benefits and to be unscripted. Live messaging is a good place to begin working with bots, but don’t forget the human touch!

    So, What Do You Think?

    Those are some of the trends we believe will be dominating social media this upcoming year, based on our readings, and what we are seeing with our clients. We invite you to share your thoughts throughout the year below! To read some of the articles we read and to draw tour own conclusions then please visit these links.

    Forbes: Social Media 2018

    Hootsuite: 2018 Social Media Trends 

    https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/300813

    Socialmediatoday: Trends to Watch Out For in 2018