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- 07 Aug
A Handy Guide to Press Release Distribution Success
by Sam Allcock
To thrive as a small business, you need people to know that you exist and that you can help them. One way to do that is to get press coverage. But, unfortunately, coverage doesn’t just come naturally. It is something that you need to work to get.Enter: The press release.
Press releases are important for increasing your brand awareness and helping your public relations (PR). But if nobody sees your release, you won’t get very far. You need to distribute it effectively to get your story picked up by national newspapers, magazines, or blogs.
But you may not know exactly how to do that. So, to help, Sam Allcock from HubSpot has put together a Handy Guide to help you learn how to properly create, pitch, and distribute a press release for optimal brand awareness. To see the full guide, read the full article at HubSpot.com.
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- 22 Jun
The 5 Types of Social Media: Which is Best for Your Business?
by Pamela Bump
Research tells us that over 97% of marketers are now using social media to engage with their audiences. But if you’re trying to start a social media strategy for your company, you have questions. You might be wondering which type of platforms you should be on. And you may not know which one is best for your business.
Big and Getting Bigger
The list of social media platforms is growing. And well-known platforms like Facebook are always evolving and adding new features. With a greater and greater need for a social presence and an overwhelming amount of platform choices, it can be hard to pick which social channels to use. You might not want to spread yourself too thin by managing a channel on every imaginable platform. But you also don’t want to miss great brand-awareness opportunities.
To help you make informed decisions about which platforms to use, Pamela Bump, staff writer from HubSpot brings us some great guidance on some of the core-types of social media. And, in this article, she also provides some specific examples of platforms within each category, and the pros and cons that each type might present. To lean in all, read the full article at HubSpot.com
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- 05 Jun
What is Earned Media? And Does it Really Work?
Remember ‘back in the day” how people used to learn about upcoming events, the latest trends, and cool new products. Well, it was probably almost exclusively from magazines, newspapers, and TV shows.The Times, They Are a Changing . . .
Back then, this was where brands used to get all their earned media. But earned media has expanded beyond print and TV. And marketers can harness it in several ways.
But because the places we get information have changed over the last 30 years, earned media changed as a result. So what is earned media, is it really effective? And how can you gain some? To find out, read the full article at HubSpot.com
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- 23 May
Six Naming Trends to Help Your Brand or Product Stand Out
It is a simple reality of the business world. Every new business wants to stand out to attract more attention. And, of course, they want to connect with, appeal to and engage an audience of potential customers.A Rose by Any Other Name is, . . . .
One way to do that is with a memorable business name. And that’s because one of the first things a potential customer learns about your business is its name. So, it’s vital that the name make an impact.
But hitting on that exactly perfect combination of word-smith imagery to define your brand in one name is hard. But, when someone comes up with an intriguing or interesting naming technique and convention, others follow suit, creating a name trend. Here are 6 trends that may be able to help your brand stand out, so read the full article at MarketingProfs.com
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- 28 Mar
7 Creative Hyperlocal Marketing Strategies for Growth
by Irina Weber
The world is becoming more and more mobile. In fact, according to Google, searches on mobile devices have grown. Currently they are up by 150 percent. So, with that, it makes sense for businesses to tap into this trend. It may be time for you to begin hyperlocal marketing.Great! What the Heck is Hyperlocal Marketing?
Hyperlocal marketing is an entirely new marketing approach. Designed for small, local business, it focuses on a smaller number of shoppers. And in a very defined and smaller area. So, it specifically targets people in highly localized and address-specific regions. Plus, it emphasizes people with a tendency to purchase locally.
And that means that hyperlocal marketing is a super targeted form of niche marketing. And you don’t need to spend money to generate inbound traffic to your local business. So, to get started, read the full article at Jeff Bullas’s Blog.
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- 13 Mar
An Easy Guide to Social Media for Small Business
We know that people are spending more and more time on their phones. And a lot of that time is spent on social media apps. Plus we also know that social media users regularly interact with companies. And they tend to interact and engage with names they know or already do business with.For small businesses focused on community and individual customers, this makes social media a powerful platform. It is useful for connecting directly with an audience, to build brand awareness and brand loyalty. But, even better, social media is also an effective platform for lead generation.
Social media is a free and easy tool for businesses to connect directly with people interested in their brand. But, free, easy doesn’t mean that you can just log in and start posting, though. Before that, you need to set a social media strategy. So read the full article at WordStream.com to see how you can do that.
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- 04 Jan
6 Promotional Marketing Trends to Watch in 2019
from With the new year here, it’s a good time to do a final review of your marketing budget. Now, for many marketers, this means a focus on digital channels.
Promotional Materials Still Maintain a Strong Impact
But interestingly, non-digital channels still hold a huge amount of influence in today’s internet driven world. And of these, promotional marketing could be seen as one of the most consistently successful at both driving sales and brand presence. But, it helps to know what your customers are looking for in the promotional space and to recognize the trends.
After all, what do customers value from promotional materials? To learn the latest trends that are emerging in promotional marketing and how they will shape this still powerful marketing strategy in 2019, read on at Jeffbullas’s Blog.
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- 15 Dec
Dan Hoff Marketing Receives 2018 “Best of Award”
BELLINGHAM December 5, 2018
Dan Hoff Marketing has been selected for the 2018 Best of Bellingham Award. They have received this recognition in the Marketing Consultants category by the Bellingham Award Program.Bellingham Award Program Honors Achievement
Each year, the Bellingham Award Program identifies companies that have achieved exceptional success in their local community and business category. And these are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. Plus, these exceptional companies help make the Bellingham area a great place to live, work and play.
About Bellingham Award Program
The Bellingham Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Bellingham area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
The Bellingham Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
SOURCE: Bellingham Award Program
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- 12 Dec
Four Steps to Ensure Your Email Campaigns Work
by Nora Snoddy
A common fallacy regarding email programs is that once you set them up, you’re done. The idea is that they are, and should be, self-sustaining. But, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.Your email marketing demands regular maintenance. It needs consistent attention. And it needs a persistent desire to create a more meaningful connection between brand and customer. Those are prerequisites to a successful and profitable email program.
But How Can You Get There?
Make sure your email campaigns actually work as you’d like them to. Take these four steps outlined at MarketingProfs.com
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- 05 Dec
How to Create a Buyer Persona That Works
No matter what you do for a living, you have customers. And odds are you want more of them. But every customer is not equally valuable to your business. And every potential customer out there does not want to buy what you sell or buy it from you.You Need to Truly Deep Understand Your Best Prospects
The easiest way to develop that deep understanding of your best prospects is to think about the current customers you have. And, then identify what common traits they share. This is the start of building a persona. These are the people who you are most likely to delight over and over again.
The more detailed and realistic your persona is, the stronger tool it will become for you. Then you can let your personas guide your language, channels, and key messages. So, to learn how to How to create a buyer persona, read the full article on McLellan Marketing Group.
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- 30 Nov
The Secret to How Small Businesses Can Impact Their Brand with Social Media
by Sian Jaylo
Unsurprisingly, most small businesses are on social media these days. But having a social media account isn’t enough to attract and engage your audience anymore. A business needs to be both creative and consistent if they want to get the attention of buyers and build relationships with customers. One way to do this is through a strong social media marketing campaign.But, as a small business, you probably don’t have the ready resources to simply dedicate to social media. And that’s why it’s vital for a small business owner to be smart about social media.
So, what can a small business do to make their social media marketing campaign stronger? To learn the secret to how small businesses can impact their brand with Social Media, read the full article at DrumUp
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- 22 Sep
The Ultimate Guide to Video Marketing
by Alicia Collins and Megan Conley
Brands need a video marketing strategy. Now, this idea isn’t new. But, what has changed is how important video has become on every platform and channel. It’s no longer just one piece of your overall marketing plan. It’s central to your outreach and campaign efforts. And especially important to your social strategy.Why is This Important?
Well, if you aren’t creating video, you’re likely falling behind. But, don’t fret. For most videos, the more simple and raw it is, the more authentic the content seems. And that’s what really matters to your audience. And besides that, video production is more cost effective than ever. Now you can shoot in high-quality, 4K video with your smartphone.
So, with video getting cheaper and easier than ever, now is the time to make it work for your business. But, between camera equipment to lighting to editing software, the topic of video marketing can still seem pretty complicated. That’s why we compiled this guide. And to learn everything you need to know about video marketing, read the full guide at HubSpot.com
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- 12 Sep
Which Social Networks Does Your Business Need to Be On?
from SocialReport.com
So, you run a business. And now you’re ready to start social media marketing. Or, you may already have a company page on Facebook. But, the first you need to answer one question. What social networks should my business really be on?Good Question, But . . .
And this is the first thing your business needs to consider when building a social media presence. Social media platforms are not a once-size-fits-all proposition. How you approach it, and each platform is different for every type of business and industry. This is due to the fact that each industry and business has different needs and, as a result, needs to be on networks that match their needs. Plus, each has platform has audience characteristics and profiles that either match your target market or not.
Social Report recently posted an article that explores the idea of which social networks different types of businesses should be active on. You’ll find a list of different types of businesses with a couple paragraphs that discusses what social networks that business should be active on. So, read the full article on the SocialReport.com to find out exactly Which Social Networks Your Business Needs to Be On
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- 27 Aug
The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Trends in 2018
by Allie Decker
Marketing moves at the speed of light. At least it feels that way when you’re brainstorming a new campaign or strategy. And then, all of a sudden, a new statistic or technology release changes everything.Ch. . . ch. . . ch . . . Changes . . .
On a yearly, quarterly, and even monthly basis, new trends and techniques pop up. And invariably, it will transform the way we attract, connect with, and market to our audiences.
But simply keeping up with the changes isn’t quite enough. To succeed in this fast-paced marketing world, you have to stay ahead of the game. That’s why the people over at HubSpot created a great guide to help. So, get the full report at HubSpot.com
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- 22 Aug
What is a PR Strategy and Does Your Small Business Need It?
As a small business owner, it’s key that you do all you can to maintain a strong and credible reputation in the public eye. And a solid public relations strategy can help you do just that.But, What is a PR strategy, You Ask?
In a nutshell, a public relations strategy lets your customers and the wider world know that your business exists. According to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations “Public Relations is about reputation. I t is the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you”.
Well, that sounds simple enough. Right? But, why does your small business really need a PR strategy? To find out and to learn how to make it work for your small business, read the full article at Manta.com
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- 20 Aug
The Ultimate Guide to Putting Facebook Ads to Work for Your Small Business
You’ve probably heard this before. But, Facebook can be a great, cost-effective lead source for your small business. For a large portion of the local small business market, it is already a staple of their marketing through organic contact with their followers.However, statistics show that your organic Facebook posts might only reach about 2% of your followers on average. Now, while organic posts are still an essential part of any Facebook content marketing strategy, you’ll want to make sure paid advertising plays a large and effective role as well. Not only are paid ads your best bet at attracting new business – you can target the people you want them to be shown to, and your current audience will be more likely to see your posts.
But there’s a definite learning curve when it comes to Facebook ads. So, how can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your Facebook ads? Here are 7 tips that will help you strengthen your strategy and get the results you need at Manta.com
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- 26 Jul
How Much Will Social Media Marketing Cost for Your Small Business?
ROI from social media marketing for your small business can be substantial. But so can the effort and cost of properly managing it. Once you have a budget, big or small, there are several options available when your SMB is ready to hashtag it’s way to the next level.
Small Business? Don’t Be UnSociable
You’ve been told that you need to leverage social media for your brand. And if you’re new to the platform, social media marketing (SMM) sounds a bit daunting to say the least. There are a lot of elements to success where SMM is concerned. This can include a strong objective, a strong plan, a strong strategy, a strong team. Oh, yea, and a budget and a plan for ROI.
As a small business, we know we need a social media marketing plan, but how much is all this going to cost you? To find out, read the full article at Manta.com
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- 17 Jul
6 Social Media Marketing Strategies That Cost $0
Today, small businesses simply can’t afford to ignore social media. And there are several reasons why your business needs social media marketing. The number one reason being that it’s where your customers are. And, bear in mind that Facebook alone has more than 2.19 billion active monthly users. Plus Instagram is rapidly growing as well, with estimates at close to one-billion users.
The Sooner You Become Active on Social Media, the Better
And as a small business, there can be huge value in Social media marketing. It can allow you to attract new customers and engage with current customers, turning them into repeat customers. Now, while things like Facebook ads and paid promotion require monetary investment, there are several ways you can leverage the power of social media without spending any money.
Here are six ways that you can use social media to help grow your small business with zero cost at Manta.com
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- 02 Jul
The Easy Guide to Optimizing Your Google My Business Listing
It’s always been a challenge to see any real success of local SEO. From link building to on-page and technical SEO, you still have to get the fundamentals of SEO absolutely right.Google My Business – The Linchpin of Local SEO Success
One area to pay extra-close attention to is Google My Business. Without a well-optimized GMB listing you won’t get noticed. In fact, your chances of appearing in Google features like the Local Pack and Maps are going to be slim. With 97% of consumers looking online for local businesses in 2017, you need to do everything you can to be as visible as possible in front of this local audience.
Google My Business Now Offers a Whole New Slate of Features
With a whole host of new features for you to take advantage of, there’s plenty you can do to ensure this linchpin of local SEO is fully optimized. Not only that, it’ll encourage users to get in touch with you and convert, right from the listing itself. So, let’s take a look at some of the most useful features, and how you can use them to boost your local SEO on WordStream.com
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- 23 Jun
The Art & Science of Social Media Marketing for Small Business
from Deluxe Small Business Resource Center
Here’s a surprising statistic. Today, 94 percent of small businesses are using social media for marketing purposes. Now, it’s likely that you’ve already begun to utilize some form of social media. But are you making the most of the platforms you’re using? Because it’s so easy to dive into social media, many entrepreneurs skip past the strategizing that’s necessary to fully experience the benefits of platforms like Facebook and Twitter.From managing the company Facebook page to fielding customer questions on Twitter, most small businesses are already utilizing some form of social media to generate awareness for their products, services or brand online. But is social media actually helping you reach your goals?
You can become a social media power user
It is possible for you to publish content that better supports marketing goals and drives engagement. All by following established best practices and optimization techniques. And to learn what they are and how to best use them, read the full article at the Deluxe Small Business Resource Center
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