Last week we talked about User-Generated Content. This week we’re covering influencer marketing and how the two differ.

UGC is where you get a third-party user to create video/images for your products marketing. You provide an outline of what you’d like covered and you get the video back to post as your own company’s content… like it’s a customer review.

Influencer marketing is where an influencer of some kind gets your products and showcases them to their audience and they influence them to look into them/buy them. If their idol likes it and wears it, then they might too. Influencers can be famous celebrities, YouTubers, Authority figures.

User generated content in social media is on the rise in the UK. You’ll have probably seen it in your feed without even knowing.

So, what is it and why is it important for you to know about it as a small business owner?

It’s a form of social media content, generally in video form that’s created by ‘users’ and shared on the brands social media channels as a customer review.

It can be a paid for service or a free gifted collaboration.

UGC can help newly formed companies to quickly add an element of social proof and credibility. For example, if you’re launching a new product that has no pre-existing customer reviews, it can be a great starting point.

We’d love to hear if you’d tried UGC, or want to know how to get started.

Content marketing is in a word B R O A D.

In this week’s podcast we focus in on ‘Video’ and why it should be a core part of your content marketing strategy.

So, why is video so important?

· It’s the preferred medium by the majority audience

· It gets the attention

· It hits people on an emotional level

· And the list goes on…

… and they’re great to use for a number of different types of posts, like behind the scenes, events, how to videos, vlogs, customer reviews, webinars, LIVE’s.

You don’t need fancy video equipment to create videos, maybe start with your smartphone or look at Canva. Canva provide thousands of stock video for you to use and you can drop on your text & logo

Otherwise known as CSR

It’s not just for big companies, we can all get involved, and it’s never been easier.

We both get involved in different way’s, to name a few:

🍊Create free social media infographics for a local community cafe

🍊Give away free marketing time

🍊Volunteer for charities

So, do you any CSR as a small business owner?

Maybe you do and don’t even know it!

If not here are a few ideas to get started:

· Firstly, listen to our podcast 

· Try and collaborate with a local cause that aligns with your values

· Get in touch to see how you can help

· Make it part of your 2023 plan

We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast. We’d love it if you, our listeners, would tell us the topics you’d like us to cover

🍊🎙 In November we started to see the big brands' Christmas Ads trickle through onto our TV screens and you’ve probably had a belly full of them by now!

Do you have a favourite one or two? What is it that you like about these certain ads?

For us, our firm favourite is the much-talked-about John Lewis advert. Their agency has got the messaging right this year. It’s a family comes first message, with a harsh reality fact of how many children are in the care system.

No massive spread of food, and they haven’t thrown a massive guilt bomb of Christmas gift-giving down our throats, which makes a refreshing change. 🎙🍊

🍊🎙 We get it, winter isn’t the best time and people's moods dip as the nights draw in.

However, when you’re the face of your own company you have to rely on yourself to keep your spirits up, keep work flowing, get out there networking and so on.

But how do you keep your chin up?

We talk through our tips, a few of which are listed below:

🍊Switch off the depressing news

🍊Network and get out of the office/house

🍊Take regular breaks and switch off all your notifications

🍊Go out for a daily walk, get away from your screens and get some fresh air

We’d love to hear if you have other coping mechanisms maybe listening to our weekly podcast is one of them! 🎙🍊

🍊🎙 For anyone who works alone you’ll understand the rollercoaster of a journey it is.

One minute you’re really busy thinking it’s amazing, then you have a few knocks and you’re considering looking for a ‘proper job’, then next you like the flexibility of having a day off without asking someone’s permission then the next day you’re unsure how you’re going to pay your bills.

Keeping all the plates spinning, while keeping your customers happy, whilst prospecting, and networking is a whole lot more enjoyable when your momentum is high.

So how do we do this when we work for ourselves?

Well, we talk about how we do it, so pop the kettle on and have a listen 🎙🍊

Are you still going at it strong or have you started winding down now for the festive break?

We’ve heard it too many times to count on one hand… we’ll look at this early next year.

It might be our offering isn’t a priority or is it what everyone is saying at the moment as they can’t think about next year – just yet!

With the economy as it is business owners might be more froogle with their business buying decisions than normal. But just make sure the decisions are right for the business.

🍊Get ahead for 2023 now while everyone around you is at a standstill

🍊Aim high and don’t forget your goals

🍊Create a mood board and focus on it

Being visible is all about showing up in your business.

There is a way of showing up without feeling like you’re showing off.

As no one likes a show-off!

By showing the real you, whether it’s in photos, audio, or video it helps speed up the know, like and trust. As your audience get to know and (hopefully) like you quicker. How can they start to do this without seeing and hearing the real you.

This is also the only way you can stand out from your competition.

Today we are talking about why it’s a good idea to set time aside to create your content.

Content batching is an efficient way to create valuable and engaging content for your audience.

By doing it in bulk it not only saves you time in the long run, but you’ll find you’ll get so much more done in such a short space of time, the flow of your posts will be better and it’ll start t become second nature to you making it easier and easier every month.

Our tips for successful content batching:

🍊Do it t the best time of the day for you and your concentration – first thing/last thing?

🍊Have the month’s goals and objectives in mind before you start.

🍊Switch everything off, WhatsApp groups, email, turn your phone volume down etc

🍊Class it as essential business 'me' time