What’s the real reason you aren’t using LinkedIn?

While kids (and some brands) are out there mastering TikTok, professionals are spending more time on LinkedIn and for good reason. LinkedIn has about 675 million members and the network reached record levels of engagement.

Some people think the reason for higher engagement is because it’s getting too casual and becoming more like Facebook, others would argue that it’s because people are beginning to have more authentic interactions there.

Whether you’re running a B2B or B2C business, it’s still valuable to gain new contacts there, reconnect with old ones, and network for possible referrals or for professional development. You can also follow some of your favorite brand leaders to get insight on industry news.

What you’ll find is that content they’re sharing on LinkedIn is likely different and more in-depth than what they’re posting to Twitter, Instagram or other platforms. Keep that in mind and also remember to also post, comment and add articles. Get involved. LinkedIn is a valuable tool that you can master to reach a whole new audience.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Connect with me on LinkedIn. Just type in my name Robin Samora and let me know how we met. Talk tomorrow!

 

Want the skinny on Google’s Discover Mobile Feed and what it can do for your business?

The Google Discover Feed has been around for a couple years and it automatically loads on mobile when users go to Google.com.

If you aren’t familiar with Discover, it’s basically a feed of articles, news and other content that interests you. You can go into settings to customize this feed, but most users don’t know how to do that - or even that they can. That means that Google will be feeding them information based on recent searches and clicks.

Advertising will be available for this feed specifically and they’re currently in beta testing. If you pay big bucks for Google’s machine-powered campaigns, aka Discovery Campaigns, you could land an ad here, maybe, but there’s currently no way to target the automatic Google Discover feed right now.

This means that using keywords in all of your content is more important than ever to take advantage of the organic game while it lasts. Even if someone never searches for you, Google may deem your content as valuable to users and serve it to them on a silver platter for you.

Carpe… umm, Google.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. I use my Google Feed as a resource for my weekly marketing blog. Sign up for weekly tips at RobinSamora.com/blog. Talk tomorrow!

 

So, why isn’t anyone clicking on your links?  Chances are the answer is the headline.

Here are 4 headline tips to get more clicks.

* Create a sense of urgency or scarcity. This will produce FOMO among potential clients. Make the readers think they will be better or more educated in some way.

* Be very specific. Use numbers to give readers a clear picture of what to expect. Use an adjective in the headline to say what it’s all about, like “4 Tips to Write a Clickable Headline.”

* Play on people’s curiosity. Only tell part of the story in the headline. Pose a puzzle or a question, like the headline of this podcast.

* Write headlines that are concise. Use as few words as possible but let your reader know as quickly as possible what you’re trying to say. What’s your main point?

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Make sure your content marketing strategy is well thought out so you can get the clicks you need to build your business. Have a question? Reach out. I’m at [email protected]

What’s the 3 R Formula for Time Management?  Glad you asked.

Reduce the demands on your time. If you’re going to ten networking sessions per month, writing two blogs per week and posting to social three or four times per day on top of all the other things you’re doing, you’re doing too much.

Your time is an investment, so look at the ROI on how you’re spending it.

Reuse what you already have. This can be for simple tasks like meetings and events. Create a recurring task on your calendar, so you aren’t always having to add a new one. If you have a new project, tweak a template from a previous project.

Recycle your content. This is a huge time saver and especially easy to do with your evergreen content. Use it to create a blog. Make an infographic. Create an e-book. Go back and update it with new links and a fresh perspective.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Look in the mirror. You’re your biggest asset. Work it 24/7 by creating an unstoppable brand. Let me know if you want help. I’m at RobinSamora.com  Talk tomorrow!

What’s the AIDI formula and how can it help me get more leads?

“A” is getting your audience’s attention. Appeal to your target market directly. Say something that affects them personally.

“I” is for gaining interest through making an enticing offer. Make the offer something valuable that your target audience would actually want and respond to. What can you provide for free or to build like, know and trust to gain more business in the long run?

“D” is for desire. Give examples of other people’s experiences with your service, so consumers want to be like them.

The last “A” is for action. Of course, all of this means nothing if you don’t ask them to take action.  Lead your prospects to a lead page or encourage them to call you or book a time on your online calendar. Whatever your call-to-action is, make it something that allows you to get their information so you can get prospects into your sales funnel.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. AIDI is all well and good, but if you don’t have a plan in place to get new business, they’re just letters in the alphabet. Download a copy of 10 Strategies to Get New Clients. It’s at RobinSamora.com/jumpstart. Talk tomorrow!

Recently, I talked about how more and more brands are taking a stance on social and political issues.  But what about when employees are becoming activists from within a company to fight against the company’s business dealings? That can be a problem.

Some companies are changing the way they do business based on employee opinions. Google recently backed out of a military drone deal because employees were unsettled by the company bidding on government contracts, but will employee opinions determine your future?

Employees are your strongest brand advocates, so you need to listen to their opinions. But is not recycling going to get you a bad rep? Where do you draw the line?

It’s important to have a policy in place about how your employees can speak about your company publicly, on social media and otherwise. Are you prepared to include repercussions for if they speak about you negatively? Of course, you need to be tolerant of differing opinions and being transparent about your company's stance on issues to create trust within your company and with consumers.

If a disgruntled employee speaks out publicly against your brand and its beliefs, having a policy in place protects your brand.  And if you part ways with that employee, you’ll just be following company policy because they didn’t follow established rules.

Amazon put it best. “If it isn’t happening quickly enough for employees, they should feel empowered to work somewhere else.”

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Employees are brand advocates for your company but they’re not the CEO. Build a strong relationship and show that you care. Listen to the episode, 3 Reasons You Need a Strong Company Culture  and let me know your thoughts. Talk tomorrow!

 

Are you planning a virtual or in-person conference in the near future? Are experts part of your event? If that’s a yes, have you given any thought on how you’ll introduce them? Probably not, but kudos if you have. Introducing a speaker the wrong way can create problems from the get-go.

Here are 6 Secrets to Introducing a Speaker 

* Do some research on your own, other than reading what’s on their bio page. Find out what the speaker is planning to talk about. Get a few key points, so you can incorporate them into your introduction. Look at the speaker’s background, their previous jobs, and accomplishments. What makes this speaker or expert perfect for this event?

* Add a personal anecdote about how you met this speaker or how you came to learn about them. Unless you and the speaker are very close, never use private information or make a joke at their expense. Everybody wants to know how others are connected. Make it brief, but be sure to include a tie in.

* Once you’ve done your research and organized your thoughts, it’s time to start writing. Keep the introduction under 2 -3 minutes. Depending on how fast you talk, two minutes is about 250 words and three minutes is about 350 words. In my world, shorter is better. People want to hear the speaker, not you.

* Now, it’s time to practice. Read your introduction a few times outloud to make sure it sounds conversational. Rehearse until you feel comfortable. It’s ok to take some notes on an index card, but you should know a few key points by heart.

* This may sound silly, but practice the pronunciation of the speaker’s name a bunch of times. Write it phonetically. The worst thing you could do is say the speaker’s name wrong. Most professional speakers provide an introduction in advance of the event, with a phonetic pronunciation. For my last name Samora, it’s “Some - MORE - ah."

* When you give the introduction, do it with confidence. Speak loudly and clearly. If you’re at a conference, lead the applause and angle your body toward the speaker. If this were pre-COVID19, you’d shake hands on stage. For online events, show equal sincerity.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. I help experts and speakers build a strong online brand and marketing strategy. Want more info? Visit my website and let’s start a conversation. I’m at RobinSamora.com. Talk tomorrow!

If you’re in business, you need to protect your brand’s reputation and your company from financial and legal risks.

Here are 5 Key Ways to Protect Your Brand and Reputation 

* Register your trademarks and get patents. It seems obvious, but if you’re offering something unique to your customers, you need to protect it. There are people out there who will steal what you’ve worked hard to create or accomplish. Bite the bullet and hire professionals to help you. Not sure who to contact? Ask your inner circle or your community on social media.

* Monitor your brand. Sure there are tools you can subscribe to that help you do this. Another option is to create Google Alerts for brand mentions and check in with simple searches on social media. Create a checklist and look at each platform every day, so you're not missing anything. If you want to get a service, check out a handful of popular ones; Brandwatch, TalkWalker, Reddit Keyword Monitor Pro which is an app on Hootsuite or Reputology.

* Protect your intellectual property by utilizing antivirus software and creating a firewall on your network -- or at least on your laptop. Consider using cloud storage for all your content, so if something happens to your computer, you don’t lose everything. Cybersecurity is a huge issue in today’s environment so please, talk to an IT pro to see that you’re protected.

* Have a privacy policy on your website that clearly explains how you use your visitors’ information. If you’re using cookies to collect data, make sure there’s a notice explaining this on your website. Your website should be secured as well.

* And lastly, get a background check done on all your employees -- and not the $5 one you found on the internet. First of all, a background check will protect you from dangerous individuals and fraud. Second, your employees are your brand ambassadors. You should know who’s representing you.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. Reach out to me if you’d like to work 1-2-1 to build your business and credibility. You’ve worked hard for it -- and there’s so much more you can do. Go to RobinSamora.com/contact and let’s set up a Zoom call. Talk tomorrow!

Every promotion or marketing effort involves 3 M’s. Do you know what they are?

Back to the Basics: The 3 M’s of Marketing

First is your MARKET. These are the people you want to influence to take a specific course of action. You may want them to buy, click, download, call, or visit a website. Or maybe it’s something else?

Your target market should be the core of all your marketing. In fact, everything you do should be based on the research you have about your target audience.  Not just who they are, like middle-aged moms. What are their challenges? What's important to them? What motivates them? Where do they hang out online? What other products and services do they look at and buy? And why?

Once you understand your target market, you can craft your MESSAGE to reach them. Remember, any time you communicate with your audience, you’re marketing.  Even if it’s in a comment on someone else’s photo. Always keep your business, marketing and sales goals in mind. Before you hit post or publish, think “how will this message help me meet my goals?” Those goals could be to create brand awareness, respond to a call-to-action, download a checklist or whatever you want your target market to do. Your end goal is driving the show.

Then you need to consider what MEDIA you’ll choose. There are hundreds of options here. Print ads, social media, email, direct mail, text message campaigns, TV, digital signage or transit advertising like plastering your face or brand on the side of a bus. And these are really just a handful of media options available. Each media has its own rules and rhetoric. You need to decide which media channel is best to use to reach your target market and is the most effective in delivering your message.

You probably know that I’m also really big on developing your own media channels, like blogs, podcasts, videos, articles, graphics and more. No one can take your own media from you. Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other major platforms can take you down in a flash.

Your audience might be primarily on Instagram, but that’s not the appropriate place for a press release.  Instead you might do a story or IGTV telling people about your announcement. There’s always an option if you think it through.

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. If you're looking to build your business, download my report, 10 Strategies to Get New Clients. It’s at RobinSamora.com/jumpstart. It’s about the 3M’s of marketing and so much more. Talk tomorrow!

Do you know about MessageTribes? It’s a text subscription service. Influencers can create a group and invite their followers who have to pay to subscribe to the group. The owner has a private text channel and receives monthly subscription fees, less a cut that the platform takes

So why would anyone sign up for Message Tribe? Because it’s like an exclusive club. Influencers text their subscriber’s exclusive content, inside scoops and maybe even special sales that only subscribers can get access to.

You can post things directly, send texts, images, or even a spreadsheet with MessageTribes. It’s easy to upload information and MessageTribes will schedule the texts for you, even months in advance. The important thing is that you’re texting valuable content often, so that you don’t lose subscribers because you’re keeping them engaged.

If you have a personal brand with a large following, you can use this service to help create another revenue stream. You can tweak and customize what you’re already posting on social to provide a higher value to text subscribers. You have a captive audience who is paying to receive your information, so make sure that you understand what they want -- and deliver it.

If Message Tribes doesn’t fit your brand, there’s still something to learn from this idea. Getting someone to follow you on social media or sign up for your mailing list requires a personal time investment from them. They think you’re worth their time, so you need to create valuable content to share with them, so they don’t hit the “unfollow” or “unsubscribe” button.

In a nutshell, Message Tribes is a platform to create your own messaging service. It gives you an opportunity to create a steady stream of income. You can manage the service yourself or have a VA help you. And, you can submit posts via a webform or a spreadsheet template and edit posts, up to 24 hours before posting time.

Sounds interesting, right?

I’m Robin Samora with the Fast Marketing Minute. If you’d like fresh marketing insight weekly, sign up for Robin’s Rainmakers, my top 40 marketing blog. It’s at RobinSamora.com/blog. Talk tomorrow!