Social media platforms can be a powerful resource for businesses when utilized properly. As part of your social media strategy, it’s important to understand the strengths of each network and how to invest in the right networks to help grow your business. A focused social media presence ensures that you can produce great content and respond to comments on time. Every business should start with the basics – a well designed logo for your profile image, and branding for the customizable part of each profile page.

The right content for the right platform

If you want to run a successful social media campaign for your business, you first need to understand each platform, the nature of your audience, and how you can use the platform for business. Today every business is competing for the same market. Therefore, the more time you spend optimizing your content for a particular platform, the higher your chances of success. To really ensure your content will stand out, focus on headlines the are attention grabbing while using bright and unique images.

Social media strategy

Often, businesses will send traffic from their website to their social media accounts with clickable icons for each platform. But, if you are properly using your social media accounts, they should be sending traffic to your website. Not the other way around. Your website is the center of your marketing efforts, so why send traffic away? This is why it is important to know how social media fits into your overall business strategy. Grow your audience on each network and develop a flow from your social media channels to your website. This will help increase the number of qualified leads that come in from your website.

Timely sharing

In order to achieve maximum engagement, you will want to make sure that your content reaches as many people as possible. Consistency is the key. You will want to come up with a post schedule that ensures your content is posted during specifics times during the day. Different social media networks have different peak times. There is a lot of information on what post times are best, but in reality, it depends on your audience and post frequency. Test different days and times to figure out what works best for your audience. You can also make use of tools such as Facebook Insights or Twitter Analytics to get better insight. 

Sharing on the right platform

There are numerous social media platforms coming up every other day, all jostling for your attention. What you should remember is that different social media platforms cater to different audiences and purposes. Therefore, the first step is identifying and familiarizing yourself with the platform used by the target audience. Pay more attention to those platforms that are likely to give you higher levels of engagement.

Join the conversation

Posting or sharing your content on social media is one thing. However, you need to show your presence in order to engage with potential clients. You can participate in Google Hangouts or Twitter chats on issues relating to your business. Don’t just jump in trying to sell. Actively participate and contribute to conversations on each platform. As long as you belong to the community and have an understanding of the community, you will be able to reach potential clients naturally. 

Bottom line

Any of the above listed efforts will take time before you can get established on social media. If you don’t have the funds, but you have time, you can handle the work yourself. However, if time is not on your side, you can simply hire a professional, to handle the work on your behalf. 

The term “brand identity” means different things to different people. Just ask a few business owners what they think brand identity is. You will certainly get ten different answers. A brand identity and a brand image are two completely different ideas. Creating brand identity is about how your company wishes to be perceived, while your brand image is how your company is actually perceived by customers and other businesses. We all know that perception is the only reality, so if your brand image does not conform to your brand identity, you could be in a lot of hot water.

If you view your brand identity and brand image as promises that you make to your customers, then you will realize that if you fail or falter in communicating your promises and fulfilling them, you will have to take responsibility for the failure and correct it immediately. For example, if you bake cupcakes and advertise them as being the best in town but your customers cannot say the same thing about your cupcakes, then there is a huge disconnect. Additionally, there’s the threat of competition. Regardless of your views about your own product, if you don’t convey the right message to your customers, your competitors will find the road wide and narrow to snatch away your customers.

Developing and delivering a powerful brand identity can make or break your business. Creating brand identity is not just about logos and websites; it encompasses every message, every piece of communication, and each experience every customer encounters. Delivering a consistent image, message, and experience to each and every person who comes in contact with your company is key.

So how do you go about improving or creating brand identity? Start from the inside.

Assess Your Business from Within

First, you’ll want to analyze what makes your brand unique from all the others that are supply the same product or service in the industry. This is critical because by doing this you are able to separate you’re business from the rest and show the clients that you are different. Employees, systems, and procedures are the principal business structures that should also be evaluated. Ensure that at all times these structures are understood, particularly by your employees, and represent your message and guarantee to your customers. Make sure that your employees convey your message and promise through those structures.

Dominate Your Field

Stake your claim and keep your business on the up and up. Track trends and stay on top of your changing marketplace. Stay updated on all media and social networking outlets, and never feel afraid to market to new or different customers you may have skipped in the past.

Improve or Create Your Visual Image

Website, logo and business cards are marketing materials that may come in contact with your client, so ensure that these items are reliable and consistent. Your business stability is communicated by reliability and continuity. Finding the correct brand style or voice is important because it gives your company a unique sense of identity and personification that is usually quite appealing to the customers.

Put Your Target Market to Work

Identifying your target market is a must so that your business will continue to prevail in your field. If you keep your eyes on this market, you will satisfy your customers’ needs and desires through the products and services of your company. Keep your customers pleased with your products and services. Those same customers will happily say good things about your company to others.

Keep Evolving

Just like all things, businesses and markets evolve over time. It is important that you consistently stay in touch with the market trends and changes. This is because the identity of the company has got to change and grow as the markets and customers change. This ensures that you remain relevant in your field and also show the customers that you listen to them.

By pinpointing those areas in your business that need reinforcement or strengthening, you are, in effect, sharpening your ability to forge a strong brand and message about your company. Don’t just stop at dissatisfaction – do something to improve your brand identity.

Emails serve as one of the most widely used ways people communicate worldwide. As a result, companies organize email marketing campaigns to stay in touch with their clients and promote their products and services. Email campaigns, when used wisely, can boost your online reputation, website traffic, and sales. But, there are certain best practices to follow when building out your email marketing strategy.

Start with your list

Building an email list should be the first thing you do before anything else. Even with great content and no email list, it’s all in vain. You can start by using a CRM to send emails out to your list. Companies like MailChimp offer free plans to start, and paid plans as you grow. You will want to add email collection forms to your website to start growing your list. If you meet with prospects or clients in person, ask for them to add their email when you are collecting their information. The email list will help you identify clients who you can send offers to frequently and those who are interested in your products or services. When you have an email list, you are able to get people back to your website on a regular basis. Every time you publish a new post or add products, you can notify your list, increasing your repeat traffic.

Stick to a schedule

A schedule will help you stay on track and allow you to get the most out of your email marketing efforts. If your clients start to expect emails once in a month, then keep it that way. Most experts agree that one email per month is sufficient when starting out.



Personalize your emails

It’s best if you can address your email subscribers by their first name in your emails. A personalized email is more likely to be read than a general one. Personalization will help you to develop and nurture relationships with your clients. They, in turn, will feel that you are prepared to give them their due attention.

Write a compelling subject line

Your subscribers will look at your subject line and instantly decide whether they want to open and read your email. Hence, you should come up with a subject line that will compel them to open your email. Usually, a short descriptive subject lines work best.


Send relevant content

Supply relevant content to your subscribers. You can provide articles, tips, product reviews and industry related news. The key is to focus on messaging that will help you connect with your audience. The effectiveness of an email campaign also depends on how well the content is organized. The message you intend to communicate should be placed on the top as not all of your subscribers will read the entire email.

Avoid spam filters

Sending unsolicited marketing emails to users is known as spamming. Many Internet Service Providers are very strict about spam control. They will scrutinize every single commercial mail that’s sent to users. You can test your campaign for spam like terms, such as ”free”, “save”, “discount” and so on. Mailchimp has great write-up on avoiding spam filters if you are unsure. As per the CAN-SPAM Act, you need to add your contact details in your emails. This includes a registered postal address, a functioning telephone, contact information, and an unsubscribe mechanism. Not only will you keep your emails out of spam filter, but you will also boost your credibility in the eyes of your clients and those interested can get in touch with you.


Test your campaign

Testing is an important part of your email marketing efforts. You will want to test your campaign thoroughly before you send it to anyone. Send a quick email to yourself before sending it to your whole audience. In doing so, you can make sure that it looks the same on web-based email services and email clients.

Design has had a powerful impact on everything from products to websites during the last couple of decades. Going beyond what can be seen, design can be thought of as an additional communication medium. It allows perceptions to be shaped without saying a word. Great design is as simple as it is intuitive. But, what exactly is the impact of design in business?

Why Design Matters

According to Adobe, companies that focus on design have outperformed the S&P Index by 219% during the last 10 years. This means that businesses big and small can reap the same benefits by putting design first. But, these benefits will only be apparent if companies fully commit to this approach. With design emerging as a competitive advantage, businesses that lead with design are already seeing the rewards. Walk into any Target location and this design first approach is clear. Target can get away with charging more for products because of their emphasis on design.

Design creates an identity

A company’s design aesthetic is as important as it’s customer service. From the choice of colors, to the use of imagery, every element comes together to form the foundation of a company’s brand. This identity allows businesses to attract the right customers and communicate a lot about the company before a single transaction takes place. When done right, businesses can rely on their branding to help attract new customers.

Web Design

As more people turn to the web, designing a great web experience has become the central focus for many companies today. Companies need to build fluid and visually appealing websites that work well on everything from desktops to mobile phones. Design engages visitors, increasing traffic and keeping visitors on site longer. Each element on a well-designed website should have a purpose and drive visitors to take action.

Large and small companies alike are already proving that design matters today more than ever. Companies that are able to incorporate design first ideology will have the greatest competitive advantage in the digital age.

Your brand is a vital part of your business, allowing you to leave the right impression with clients. Even the subtle nuances of your brand can communicate a lot about your company. With branding having such a powerful impact on client behavior, it’s important continually build your brand and invest in its growth. Here are 3 powerful ways to elevate your brand.

Create an Experience

Every interaction with a client is a chance to leave a positive impression and create a memorable experience. A little bit of time can go a long way when crafting your client’s experience with your brand. Companies like Apple have perfected their brand experience by carefully examining every interaction. This is evident from the second you visit an Apple store, all the way through opening up a new Apple product. Creating your brand’s experience starts with viewing your brand through your client’s eyes. What is your client’s first interaction with your brand like? Your brand’s experience should be consistent every time and true to your brand’s values. If you are able to create a great experience for your clients, they won’t just mention your brand, they will become brand advocates.

Be Consistent

Brand consistency not only makes you look professional, it also helps you stand out to clients. This means the same colors, imagery, and logo, no matter if it’s online or print. Clients should be able to easily recognize your brand even if it’s a quick glance. Studies have show people default to brands they easily recognize (while all other things are equal). This is why big brands like Coca-Cola keep consistent design elements from their bottle to their social media. But, consistency goes beyond just design. Brand consistency also should extend out to all elements that represent your brand. When a client calls versus when they visit you in person, do they get the same level of customer service? Consistency helps shape perceptions and protects your brand.

Stay True to Your Brand

Clients can easily connect with brands that are authentic, open, and true to their values. Nothing is worse than deceiving clients by straying away from your brand’s core values. Clients not only appreciate honesty, they expect it. Today, people want to deal with brands that make authenticity their priority. This transparency creates a strong trust between you and your audience. Strive to tell your company’s real story, and bake values into your brand that will guide the future actions of your company. If you sell products, be true to why the product was created and who it is for. Authenticity communicates to clients what you brand is and isn’t willing to do. Let your values resonate with your clients, and they will keep coming back to you.

Focusing on your brand’s experience, consistency, and authenticity, will easily help elevate your company’s brand. Start small and build on top of the progress you make. The more you invest into these principals, the more valuable your brand will be to your clients.