Business

Need more readers for your blog? Get this easy and affordable Tool!

Need more readers for your blog? Get this easy and affordable Tool!
In order to get more readers for your blog, it is important that you stay organized and consistent with your blogging effort.  So how do you stay organized and consistent?  The right tools can help you accomplish this, but there are sooo many tools on the market, that at times it can be overwhelming trying to decide which tools to use.

I love to research tools and figure out what is going to work best for my business, so in this series, Essential Marketing Tools, I will highlight some of the tools I use that help me to stay organized and consistent with my marketing effort.

The first tool that I am highlighting is a tool that can really help you to plan out your marketing more efficiently. This tool helps coaches and consultants to plan and publish awesome content, share it with the world, and save a tone of time.  The tool is CoSchedule and here is why I use it in my business:

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Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on Need more readers for your blog? Get this easy and affordable Tool!  |  in Blog, Business, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants

5 Ways My Faith Plays a Role in Building My Business

5 Ways My Faith Plays a Role in Building My Business
In the beginning of this year, I announced that I had refreshed my brand, which included a new logo, pictures, vision, and name.  If you missed that blog post, be sure to check it out.

Although all of those items I mentioned in the blog post are important to a brand refresh, one item that is also important, but was not mentioned in the post is refreshing the voice of my brand.  An aspect of my voice that has been eliminated in the past and will be included with my brand refresh is the importance the role of faith plays in my business.

We are taught that we should separate business and religion (or spirituality), so many people shy away from talking about the role faith plays in their business.  Well, with my brand refresh, I have decided to include sharing how faith plays a role in growing my business.

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Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on 5 Ways My Faith Plays a Role in Building My Business  |  in Blog, Business, Business Development, Business Planning, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants, Small Business

How often should you blog to get more business? (Part 4)

 How often should you blog to get more business?

Blogging for business can be an effective long-term marketing strategy.  When used  correctly, it can bring consistent leads, prospects, and clients to your business.  Over the last couple of blog posts, I explored the why, what, and how of blogging for business.

First we looked at why you should blog for business with the blog post ,5 Awesome Reasons Why Coaches Should Have a Blog (Part 1), then we looked at what exactly a blog is and what type of content you can place on your blog with the post,  4 Types of Awesome Blog Content That Can Grow Your Business (Part 2), then we looked at how to use your blog to grow your business with the blog post,  4 Smart Ways to Use Your Blog to Grow Your Business (Part 3), in the last post in this series, we will look at when you should blog, specifically how often should you blog for business?

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Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on How often should you blog to get more business? (Part 4)  |  in Blog, Business, Business Development, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants

4 Smart Ways to Use Your Blog to Grow Your Business (Part 3)

Feb- Blog Post 2
In this series on the how, what, when and why of blogging for business, we have covered the why and the what of blogging, so this post is actually going to go into the how of blogging, specifically How to Use Your Blog to Grow Your Coaching Business.

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Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on 4 Smart Ways to Use Your Blog to Grow Your Business (Part 3)  |  in Blog, Business, Business Development, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants, Uncategorized

4 Types of Awesome Blog Content That Can Grow Your Business (Part 2)

4 Types of Awesome Blog Content That Can Grow Your Business

In my last post, 5 Awesome Reasons Why Coaches Should Have a Blog, I talked about why you should use blogging as a core marketing strategy.  If you missed the post, be sure to go check it out.

In this blog post, the second post of the series of the what, how, why, and when of using blogging as a marketing strategy to grow your coaching business, we take a look at what blogging is exactly.

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Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on 4 Types of Awesome Blog Content That Can Grow Your Business (Part 2)  |  in Blog, Business, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants

5 Awesome Reasons Why Coaches Should Have a Blog (Part 1)

5 Awesome Reasons Why Coaches Should Have a Blog (Part 1)As a coach or consultant, you probably already know about the importance of being recognized as a knowledgeable expert in your field.  One of the main reasons is that people like to do business with people they feel are knowledgeable and can help them solve their problems.

Did you know blogging can play a major role in building your authority and expert status online?  A blog can be your home base for your knowledge and expertise, the place where people can pull up a chair and learn about what you have to share.

If you’re not using blogging as a core marketing activity then it may be something you might want to consider, or if you are using blogging, but not getting any results from your blogging effort then you might want to read on.

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Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on 5 Awesome Reasons Why Coaches Should Have a Blog (Part 1)  |  in Blog, Business, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants

The 3 C’s of Successful Text Message Marketing

 The 3 C’s of Successful Text Message Marketing
Text Marketing can be a powerful marketing tool when done correctly.  The problem is so few companies are attempting text marketing, and some of the ones who are using text message marketing, are not using it effectively.

In this post, I will cover the 3 C’s of Successful Text Message Marketing, you can check out the video below or read the post:

[Tweet “The 3 C’s of Successful Text Message Marketing. #TextMarketing #SMS #MMS #MarketingEssentials”]

  1.  Convenience
    One of the main reasons why Text Marketing can be so effective is the convenience of this marketing channel, so many people have smart phones now a days, and most people have their phones close by at all times, so this makes text message marketing a convenient and easy way to reach someone.  Some people actually prefer text messages even more so than a phone call, and it’s definitely faster than an email, so this makes text marketing convenient for the marketer and convenient for the person who has opted-in to receive text messages from your company.
  2. Communication
    Communicating via text message can be an easy way to quickly reach your audience.  Giving your clients or prospects the option to be reached via text message is a great opportunity to connect in a way that is most effective for you and for your clients or prospects. 
  3.  Content
    Even though it is convenient to communicate via text message to your clients and prospects, it is important that you are providing relevant and timely content in your text. Some examples of content that works well via text message include coupons, appointment reminders, notifications, etc.  As long as you content is valuable, your audience will want to receive text messages from you. 
  4. Bonus C-  Cost
    Text message marketing can be one of the most affordable and cost effective ways to reach your customers, so if you’re not using text message marketing, you might want to think about adding it to your marketing mix.

Are you using text marketing in your marketing mix?  If so, what do you think makes your text message marketing successful?  Be sure to comment below.

 

Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on The 3 C’s of Successful Text Message Marketing  |  in Business, Business Development, Marketing, Text Marketing, Uncategorized

Top 3 Super Simple and Easy Text Marketing Services

 Top 3 Super Simple and Easy Text Marketing Services
Are you considering using text message marketing in your marketing mix?  If so, check out the top three text marketing tools that I recently researched.

[Tweet “top three text marketing tools that are super simple and easy! #Marketing Essentials #TextMarketing”]

All three options do not require contracts or set-up fees, the systems are super easy to use and they offer the following standard features:

  • Group Texting–  Allows you to send a text to a large list of individuals at one time
  • Keyword and Shortcode–  Each company offers you a Keyword-  a word people can use to text your company ( i.e. “Text”), and a shortcode-  a 5-6 digit number that your customers or prospects can text your keyword to (i.e. 515155)
  • Scheduling Ability–  Ability to schedule a specific day and time for your text message to be sent
  • Auto Replies–  Automatic messages that can be setup to respond to incoming text requests
  • Multimedia Message Service (MMS)–  The ability to send pics, video, or audio via text
  • Inbox/One-on-One Conversations–  An inbox that also allows you to respond to individual text received by clients or customers
  • Drip Campaigns/Autoresponders–  the ability to schedule a series of text messages in advance and automatically send to your customers and clients over a period of time.
  • Upload a Permission-based list-  the ability to upload into the system a list of mobile phone numbers of individuals who have opted in to receive text messages.
  • Text-to-Join/Text-to-Win–  the ability for people to join your mobile list by texting your keyword to a shortcode.
  • Reports- The ability to track and see the analytics of your text messages
  • Social Media Integration–  Ability to send text messages and post messages to Facebook.
  • Website Sign-up Widget–  Allowing your prospects to sign-up for your mobile list via your website
  • Link shortening–  allows you the ability to shorten any of your links within your text message.

Now here is how they differ:

SlickText

SlickText offers the following additional features:

  • Email address collection–  If you want to also build your email list and collect email addresses, SlickText offers an email capture feature. 
  • Double opt-in–  If you want a double opt-in requiring individuals to confirm that they are opting in to your mobile list, SlickText offers a double opt-in feature.
  • Unique Coupon Codes–  If you offer coupons, and you want the ability to track each coupon individually, SlickText offers unique coupon codes.
  • Dynamic Expiration Date on Coupons–  If you would like to automatically add an expiration date to your text coupon, SlickText allows you to dynamically add expiration dates to your coupons.
  • Send your texts directly from your phone, no need to send from your desktop
  • Create flyers to promote your text message campaign
  • Create QR Codes to help promote joining your mobile list
  • Link Tracking–  the ability to track the links people click on in your text message
  • Free Rollover Text for paid accounts
  • List Segmentation-  segment contacts into unlimited Groups. Then, choose to send your messages to one group or multiple groups. 
  • Email Marketing Integration with MailChimp and Constant Contact

SlickText Price-  A forever FREE option is available, then prices start as low as $29/month

SimpleTexting

SimpleTexting offers the following additional features:

  • Schedule automatic appointment reminders
  • Text-to-vote–  Poll your audience with the text to vote ability
  • Schedule messages on Twitter
  • Link Tracking–  the ability to track the links people click on in your text message

SimpleTexting PRICE–  FREE 14-Day Trial, then prices start as low as $45/month

EzTexting

EzTexting offers the following additional features:

  • List Segmentation-  segment contacts into unlimited Groups. Then, choose to send your messages to one group or multiple groups.
  • Recurring Messages-  allow you to compose a text message that will be sent out on a regular basis – daily, weekly or monthly, with all sorts of scheduling options. 
  • Personalization-  First and last name fields can be automatically merged into your mass text messages for a personal touch.
  • Message Templates-  Allows you to save your favorite text messages for future use.
  • Voice Broadcast-  you can send out thousands of calls within minutes. 
  • Text-to-vote–  Poll your audience with the text to vote ability
  • Schedule messages on Twitter
  • Email Marketing Integration with MailChimp, Constant Contact, and AWeber
  • Send your texts directly from your phone, no need to send from your desktop
  • Create QR Codes to help promote joining your mobile list

PRICE-  FREE Option available, then prices start as low as $49/month

Are you using a Text Marketing Service?  If so, which Text Marketing Service do you prefer and why?  Be sure to post your comment below:

Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on Top 3 Super Simple and Easy Text Marketing Services  |  in Business, Marketing, Text Marketing

The Secret to Successful Text Message Marketing

The Secret to Successful Text Message Marketing
As a business owner, coach, or consultant, you may not be taking advantage of one of the best marketing platforms out there, Text Message Marketing.  Many people avoid text message marketing because they are unsure how to use it, how to not be intrusive, and how to get results.  However, it’s not as complicated as people make it out to be.

The secret to successful text message marketing is really four-fold:

[Tweet “The secret to successful text message marketing is… #MarketingEssentials #TextMessageMarketing”]

  1. Build an engaged audience of people who are interested in hearing from you via text message.  This is the first step and the most important step.  You have to build a permission-based list of individuals who have agreed to receive text messages from you.  Without a permission-based list you will not be able to succeed with Text Message Marketing.  Similar to email marketing, your list is going to be the core of your success.  For tips on how to build your Text Message Marketing list, be sure to check out the post How to Build a Powerful Text Message Marketing List
  2. Once you build an awesome permission-based Text Message Marketing list, the next step is to provide valuable content.  Discounts and promotions work really well with text message marketing. Offering some type of coupon or discount code for your product or service via text message has a high response rate because the majority of people will see your message, and those are interested in your promotion will usually take action.  However, text message marketing is not limited to just coupons and promotions, they are also good for announcements, notifications, and reminders.  For more ideas on how you can use text message marketing in your business, be sure to check out the post How to Use Text Message Marketing in Your Business
  3. Be sure to consistently reach out to your audience via text message.  You have to be very careful to make sure that you respect your access to someone’s text messages, and you don’t want to be an annoyance, so it is important to gauge how often you will be sending out text messages to your list.  It even helps to establish frequency up front so people will be more comfortable opting in to receive information from you via text.  Saying something like “We respect you and will only send you text messages two times a month”.  Establishing it upfront and sticking with what you promised will help establish trust.
  4. Lastly, it is important to always offer a way to opt out of receiving text messages from you.  This is a requirement, and if you are using a text message marketing provider this option can automatically be added to your text messages.  You want people to be able to easily opt out if they are no longer interested.

If you follow all four steps, then you will have the secret to successfully using text message marketing in your business.  Are you using text message marketing in your business?  If so, what have you found makes your text message marketing successful?  Be sure to leave a comment below.

Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on The Secret to Successful Text Message Marketing  |  in Business, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants, Text Marketing

5 Types of Content that Creates Engagement on Social Media

social media marketing

Social Media has become a part of every day life for most people.  From checking Facebook to see what your friends, family, and associates are up to, to checking LinkedIn to stay connected with your professional network, to checking Twitter to join the conversation about the latest show, event, or major topic, or browsing Pinterest for the latest recipes or fashion trends,  social media and checking in to a social network has become a way of life.

Many smart business owners, coaches and consultants have also seen the importance of including social media in their marketing mix, so they can reach their target audience where they are already hanging out on these social networks. 

However, getting results from your social media marketing can be difficult.  Especially if your audience doesn’t seem to be engaging with your content, so in this post, I will go over five types of content you can post on social media that gets the most engagement. 

[Tweet “Five types of content you can post on social media that gets the most engagement. #MarketingEssentials #SocialMediaMarketing”]

  1. Inspirational Quotes
    There’s so much negativity in the traditional media channels that people are craving positivity and inspiration, so being the light of inspiration in someones day by posting an inspirational quote can really increase engagement.  Inspirational quotes are appreciated on almost every social network.  When you post an inspirational quote picture on Facebook  you can get engagement, when you post an inspirational quote on Twitter you can get engagement, when you post on inspiration quote graphic on Pinterest you can get engagement, etc., so no matter what type of business you have, or what social network you are on, posting inspirational quotes can help to increase your engagement.
  2. Ask Questions
    People like to be helpful and to express their opinions, so asking questions can be a really good way to increase engagement.  This can work for the social networks that are more conversational like Twitter and Facebook.  It’s not necessarily as effective on image or video sites like Pinterest, Instagram, or YouTube.  However, posting insightful questions can help to increase engagement, in fact social media is a great way to conduct market research.  If you are wondering how your target audience will feel about a particular topic, product, program, etc., ask them on social media and see what they say.
  3. Show Behind the Scenes
    Social media is supposed to be “social”, so having posts that show behind the scenes at the office or behind the scene of an event can really increase engagement.  This works really well when you are posting behind the scene pictures or videos on  social networks like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.  Think about what would be interesting to your audience.  Would they like to see pics of behind the scenes of a company event?  Would they like to see pics of what happens in the office on a busy day?  Think about interesting behind the scenes pictures or videos that you can post to your social networks.
  4. Post Pictures
    Whether your posting inspirational quote pictures, or behind the scenes pictures, pictures always increase engagement on most social media platforms.  #TBT on Facebook is a great way to use pictures.  Post pictures from around the office or staff that was from back in the days, because social media is “social”, you need to include some social elements in your social media marketing including the use of various types of pictures.  What types of pictures can you use for your social media marketing?
  5. Post Videos
    The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, well a video is worth a thousand pictures, so including posting videos on your social networks is important.  There are many types of videos you can post on social media (i.e. spontaneous videos shot on your smart phone,  professional videos produced by a professional video company, etc.).  Whatever type of video you choose to post on your social networks, be sure that it is the type of video that reflects your brand.  If you choose to post a spontaneous video shot on your iPhone, be sure that the camera angle is right, the lighting is right, that it still looks somewhat professional, because the video is a reflection of your brand.  You can also use a professional to shoot the video for you.  I prefer the professional videos, I feel it’s a better look for your brand.  I have used Captured in Time Productions to produce some of my latest videos.

These are just five types of content you can post to get more engagement on social media.    What other types of content have you posted that creates engagement on social media? Be sure to comment below.

Also, don’t forget to download the Marketing Essentials Checklist 21 Things You Must do in Order to Get Amazing Results from Your Social Media Marketing .

 

Posted by Nadine Mullings  |  Comments Off on 5 Types of Content that Creates Engagement on Social Media  |  in Business, Marketing, Marketing for Coaches, Marketing for Consultants, Social Media, Uncategorized