3 Social Media Predictions for 2021

I love predictions!  Here are 3 for Social Media in 2021...I'll check back February 2022:

1. People will continue to spend more time with their devices
2. Trust will be hard to come by
3. Reach and engagement will be an uphill battle

Until next time...

Chris Morales

Lessons from the Renaissance

The original Renaissance was an exciting time.  Scary for a lot of people with new ideas that upturned the status quo.  And at a rapid pace that kept everyone on edge.  This is what we are going through right now and there are lessons we can learn:

Until next time...

10 Small Business Marketing Tactics for 2020

Last week I spoke with a couple of budding business owners.  They are in the planning stages for a new business venture in the food and beverage industry.  This is a crowded field with a high failure rate.  Their business will compete with National Chains and Independent operators.  It will be challenging.  But they have a secret weapon:  They have stories.  Real stories from their travels around the world that they can use to market the uniqueness of their business.  That's an edge...and it may be just what they need as they take the leap of faith to start it up.  

Stories...content...one of the top 10 marketing tactics for small business owners.

Until next time...
Chris Morales

The Pros and Cons of Social Media

We sure love the pros:  Easy to have an opinion, even easier to comment on someone else's post.  The cons are a drag though:  Every post becomes the most important post in the world, People pile on just to be seen as being part of the story.  Still though, for business owners the pros outweigh the cons:  Social Media Marketing is a cost-effective way to promote and grow your business.  Just keep in mind some of these cons:

 

Until next time... 

Chris Morales

Work with the World's Happiest Marathon

Right now there is a unique opportunity to work with the World's Happiest Marathon, the Reggae Marathon running event is Negril, Jamaica.  Full details are available here:  Wanted Social Media Manager.

I've been going to Reggae Marathon every year for the past 10 years.  This December will by my 11th consecutive event.  I've run all three race events, the Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K. Along the way I've made some great friends and had some great experiences:  The Love Bus Bar hopping tour is one of the highlights!

Now it's time to pass on the baton.  And it's your opportunity to become the Reggae Marathon Social Media Manager!  Between now and October 30, 2019, Reggae Marathon is running a blog writing contest to find and select the next Social Media Manager.  Guidelines for entering and deadline dates are included in this blog post:  Wanted, Social Media Manager

So if you love to run, like and use Social Media this could be for you!  And you never know what the next 11 years of your life will bring!

Until next time...

Marketing Tips for Small Business

Creating awareness, building demand, generating leads, growing sales...these are the basics of Marketing.  This applies to all businesses, big or small but is especially crucial for small business owners with limited time, resources and budgets!  Social Media Marketing is a powerful strategy but eMail marketing can be an even more effective strategy.  Those and other marketing tips are included in the Infographic below:

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris Morales

www.chrismorales.ca

7 Social Media Marketing Trends

Not leveraging Social Media in Digital Marketing is an opportunity missed.  Here are 7 Social Media Marketing Trends to focus on:

1. Live video will still dominate.
2. A separate strategy for ephemeral content.
3. Continued rise of messaging apps and chatbots.
4. Social listening for lead generation and social selling.
5. The need for more meaningful content experience.
6. The rise of social TV.
7. Focus on striking balance between personalization and privacy.

For more, here is a handy Infographic with tips on how to execute now:

The Anatomy of Online Reputation Management

'Boys behaving badly' are not the only people who have to worry about their online reputations.  Companies have an even greater risk online with their reputations because consumers make purchase decisions based on what others are saying.  78% of consumers trust peer recommendations when making decisions as noted in the Infographic below.  

 

A basic plan for managing your online reputation involves Listening, Responding, Publishing:

• Listening to the conversations that are already going on.  Wherever they are happening.  Instagram, Facebook, Twitter are the Big 3.  Google and other Review sites are also very important.
• Responding to comments, positive and negative.  More so for the negatives.  In a timely manner using plain language
• Publishing content about your company to generate positive awareness for your products or services.  Company history, new product updates, special offers are just a few of the topics for Blogs, Facebook and Twitter updates.  Sharing stories that help your customers should be your focus.

People want to know they can trust a company to deliver what they promised.  A positive online reputation goes a long way toward building that trust.

How will you be Human?

After all the discussions about your Social Media Objectives, Strategies and Tactics, the one thing that is often overlooked is, 'How will you be human?".  It's Social...People talking to People!  This and 7 other steps to build your Social Media Strategy:

2019 Social Media Trends

Be transparent!  Also known as being 'honest'.  This should be self evident but often is not.  Here are some other trends in social media for 2019

Using Social Media to Boost your Event

Give a boost to your Event by using these 4 Social Media strategies:

1. Organizing the Event
2. Promoting the Event
3. Enhancing the Live Experience
4. Extending the Lifetime Value of the Event

Influencer Marketing Dos and Dont's

The Anatomy of Online Reputation Management

We love those '5 Star' Ratings.  Happy, happy customers relaying their positive experience with your event/store/purchase. Thank them.  Sincerely!

We hate the '1 Stars', especially the ones with no comments.  Often these customers are unconsolable with their experience with you.  Respond. But don't expect miracles.  

The mid-pack '3 Star' Reviews are Gold!  These are the experiences of real customers and can lead to the kind of insights that can improve your business.  Take the time, listen, respond...it's your reputation!

Chris M Morales
chris.morales@bell.net
@ChrisMoralesTO
647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

The Ultimate Social Media Marketing Guide

There's been a lot of chatter recently about how Social Media Marketing is a waste of time. "What's the ROI?" is a question I get asked a lot.  I answer with "It depends...!" and follow up with two additional questions:

1. What are your Objectives of Social Media Marketing?
2. What are your Strategies?

The momentary blank stare answers the questions:  There is no plan for Social Media Marketing;  no way to measure success.

Social Media Marketing, the collective voices of individuals talking about their experiences with your brand is an important strategy within any marketing plan.  Here are the basic strategies for developing a successful social media marketing plan:

Chris M Morales
chris.morales@bell.net
@ChrisMoralesTO
647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

B2B Marketing...Hungry For Content

Content, content, content...If you've heard it once...

The appetite for content is unending especially in Social Selling.  Showing thought leadership and sharing content relevant to prospects is at the core of helping prospects navigate the buying process.  Professional selling gets a boost when sales people leverage content about their products and services that differentiates them from competitors.  White Papers, Articles, Blogs, Webinars, Product Demos...Content!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Content Marketing to grow your Business

What is Content Marketing? 

Content Marketing:  "A type of marketing that involves the creation and sharing of online material (such as videos, blogs, and social media posts) that does not explicitly promote a brand but is intended to stimulate interest in its products or services. Social media is an integral part of content marketing".  "Stimulate interest in a product or service" is the key to understanding the power of Content Marketing:

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Social Media Reputation Management for Auto Dealers

Social Media Reputation Management leverages word-of-mouth to 'get found'.  I'm a big believer in Social Media Marketing as an important component of a Digital Marketing Strategy.  In the highly competitive retail automotive space, Reputation is everything!

Dealeradar provides the most advanced Online Presence, Reputation Management & Social Media Marketing solution in the automotive industry. We deploy an intelligent digital engagement platform essential for auto dealers and OEMs that desire measurable increases in Google organic search relevancy, reputation engagement, review solicitation and the ability to communicate through all social channels with a single platform.

Dealeradar provides essential enterprise optics into all online presence, social and review activity for dealer groups rolled up into a single, user -friendly dashboard. This innovative platform also provides critical, real time insight into your competitor's share of voice in your market and competitive social footprint.

Dealeradar provides operational efficiency by monitoring every social media channel and online review site 24/7 providing actionable information along with 'in-market' leads to your dealership. Our revolutionary Social Marketing and Response Solution allows single point online Social Media and Review engagement all from the convenience of a single interface. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The above is courtesy of Dealeradar, an innovative Social Media Reputation Management solution focused on Automotive Reputation Management.  

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Social Media Marketing: Word Of Mouth On Steroids

Word of mouth is still responsible for small business growth.  A satisfied customer who shares her experience is gold!  And when she shares her experience via a Google or Facebook Review, Social Media Marketing proves its ROI.

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

The ROI of Social Media Marketing

What is the ROI of Social Media? What are the KPI's?  How do you measure them?

Those are the questions that occupy Marketing.  Much ink has been spilled in the answers. Back in the day I asked an early Social Media practioner for his definition of Social Media. His response resonated:  'Individuals having the power (channels) to tell their stories directly'.  Unfiltered, unedited, raw...for good or bad...an individual opinion.

Fast forward to Social Media Marketing and the kernel of that definition still holds true. Marketers today look to individuals to tell the brand story via their social media channels. Word-of-mouth on steroids!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Social Media Trends in 2017

Love it or hate it, Social Media continues to evolve.  There is no end game.  Winners and losers are determined by their speed in adapting to the rapid changes.  Here's a look at social media trends at the half way mark of 2017:

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855
  

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization