This is a series where we go out and have a Facebook Live interview with a local business owner. We talk about their business, what the story is behind why they started their specific business and how they are using social media to support their ambitions. In this interview, we talk to Ellen Bletsoe, who runs her own Image Consultancy business from her beautiful studio in Thrapston, in Northamptonshire. Ellen Bletsoe’s background… In the video, you’ll learn about Ellen’s journey to entrepreneurship and that she has had quite a tough personal path to choosing the business she specialises in today. Ellen gained her Textile Design Degree at Leeds University and went on to work for an … [Read more...] about Business Interview: Ellen Bletsoe
Social Media
The following blog posts cover a variety of topics within the area of social media. We share insights into some of the platforms themselves, the strategy behind using them or simply how to blend this channel into your digital marketing strategy.
Business Interview: Barbara Hodgson
This is a series where we go out and have a Facebook Live interview with a local business owner. We talk about their business, what the story is behind why they started their specific business and how they are using social media to support their ambitions. In this interview we talk to Barbara Hodgson, who is a Franchisee of the Women in Business Network (WIBN) and owns and runs 8 groups: Leicester City Loughborough Market Harborough Stamford Kettering Northampton Towcester Wellingborough It is a women-only networking group format, with a profession “lockout” and structured meeting agenda. Barbara Hodgson’s background… In the video, you’ll find out a … [Read more...] about Business Interview: Barbara Hodgson
Facebook Live for Business
If you have still not yet looked seriously at Facebook as a channel for your business - I would urge you look again. It has become a platform to be reckoned with - offering a huge amount of value in terms of user base as well as depth of product. In this post I am focusing on one of their products i.e. Facebook Live. This is basically - going “live” to your audience and getting an instant two-way dialogue or conversation going. How do you go Live? Everyone who has a Facebook account, has the ability to go live. You are able to go live: as YOU (the human) through your Personal Profile (and you can select to go Live to the Public, your Friends…or a specific list of Friends) through … [Read more...] about Facebook Live for Business
10 Digital Trends to Watch
Digital trends are what define businesses like mine and how we service our clients in the future. My challenge (and joy) as a digital agency owner is to narrow my attention on the things that warrant investing time and effort in, for the longer term. In the web and social media industry technological shifts are a weekly occurrence, and new channels or platforms hit the scene often. The key is to rise above the "immediate" excitement and look overall how people are digesting information and also how they share their stories online. My job is to help my clients to be efficient with their time and therefore the energy they spend on their digital channels. The value we ultimately bring to the … [Read more...] about 10 Digital Trends to Watch
How to create a 360 image on Facebook
Facebook 360 rolled out in June 2016 and since then I've seen only a few flurries of 360 pictures, but more often than not people asking: "How did you do that?" This is a little step-by-step help to get you going, so that you can be posting awesome 360 pictures today. Honestly, it is that easy - once you know how. I have listed the steps as well as done a little video to show you exactly how to take the 360 picture (on your phone) and then share it on Facebook. Now, the thing to remember is that there are different levels to this whole new world of 360 images (and video). What I'm going to show you below is literally how you can do a Facebook 360 picture today on your mobile without … [Read more...] about How to create a 360 image on Facebook
Market your content as you would a product
When I work with clients in helping to clarify what their content plan is and how and where the stories are going to come from – sometimes I use this metaphor: Window Dressing. The way to be smart about each piece of content you generate within the business – is to perhaps think of it as a product that you can then “sell” to a variety of different customers. So (indulge me) – take a piece of content (say a blog post that describes a specific approach you have taken with a project that you have just completed with a client) and put it to one side. Now read the following... Identify Bob (or Sally) When you want to reach a specific audience – it helps if you really nail who that person is: … [Read more...] about Market your content as you would a product
How to Manage Your Time On Social Media
I imagine that next to trying to work out "what to say" on social media, the next biggest pressure may be in finding the time to commit to participating fully on social media (in order to really reap the rewards). The main cornerstones to a successful and efficiently run social media strategy is to make sure that everything you do is purposeful, consistent and ties in with everything else that you are doing in the business. Here are some guidelines on how to go about that: Take the time to craft a social media strategy and policy I know I harp on about this as a first step – but it really is worth taking time to reflect on why you are on social media in the first place and what … [Read more...] about How to Manage Your Time On Social Media
How To Extract Information From Experts
Creating valuable content for your social media strategy involves making sure that you get to showcase the expertise inherent in your business. One of the challenges that come with that is how to extract information from the necessary people – who tend to be the busiest and most key individuals in the business. Here are my top tips on how to go about this: 1. Make sure they understand why you need the information They won’t want to know the nitty gritty of which platforms you want to share the information on, but give them a general understanding of what you are trying to achieve by asking for this content. 2. Find out the most suitable extraction method Everyone has a communication or … [Read more...] about How To Extract Information From Experts
How to get the balance and frequency of social media content right
This is part of my series of FAQ videos where I answer your questions in person for you. In this edition I answer the question: How to get the balance and frequency of social media content right. This is a very dynamic question, because how much you share and how frequently you share it, is highly dependent on your industry, your audience and more importantly the device use/behaviour of those audiences. The key is to understand the maths behind how the platforms themselves work on top of the above! Facebook has A LOT of algorithms that determine what content gets seen and what doesn't. It's very much based on how people interact with you - Facebook gives more weight to GOOD content which … [Read more...] about How to get the balance and frequency of social media content right
Where do you find content for social media?
This is part of my series of FAQ videos where I answer your questions in person for you. In this edition I answer the question: Where do you find content for social media? From people who are only just starting their social media journey to those that have been on social for a good long while - this question keeps most social media managers up at night. As you mature along your social media planning journey - your sources will alter over time. The key is to know how much to share of your own content and then to source the kind of content will sit nicely next to yours, as well as be relevant and useful for your audience. A little tool you can use to help gather your ideas is Evernote - you … [Read more...] about Where do you find content for social media?