The following articles are created to help you better understand business marketing, planning, tracking and journaling. However, if you find that you need help Email Crystal directly at: [email protected]. We help with strategic planning as well as executing a personalized social media and email marketing campaign. We can create a custom marketing plan that fits your specific needs and your specific target market. Need help with a custom website? We do that too! Contact us today!
Finding The Best Times for Your Social Media Posts
Hey fellow small business owners! Ready to make your social media presence groove? Let's talk about finding the perfect time to hit the virtual dance floor and connect with your [...]
5 P’s of Marketing Strategy: Product, Price, Promotion, Place and People
In the ever-evolving landscape of business, a well-rounded marketing strategy is vital for success. Integrating the core elements of the marketing mix — Product, Price, Promotion, Place, and People (the [...]
A Common Recommended Marketing Budget for Small Businesses
In the dynamic world of small business, where resources are often limited, determining the right budget for marketing is a crucial puzzle piece in achieving success. While there's no one-size-fits-all [...]
Team players a small business should consider having
In a small business setting, where every team member's contribution is crucial, it's important to carefully consider the roles needed for effective operations. While the specific roles can vary based [...]
Building a Winning Team: The Key to Small Business Success
In the fast-paced world of small business, the success of your enterprise often hinges on the strength of your team. Choosing the right individuals who not only get the work [...]
10 Common Persuasive Strategies in Marketing
Sometimes for the right, sometimes for wrong, but in the dynamic world of marketing, the art of persuasion reigns supreme. From catchy slogans to emotionally charged visuals, advertisers employ an [...]
Brand Guidelines – Brand Identity
Ready to take your business to the next level? Let's talk about something game-changing – having a brand identity guideline. It might sound a bit formal, but trust me, it's [...]
How does an author find out who their target market is?
Identifying the target market is a crucial aspect of any author's strategy, requiring a systematic approach. Here are some steps to guide the process: Define Book Genre and Theme: Clearly [...]
1 Week Social Media Schedule – Ideas and Inspiration
Creating a smart social media schedule depends on your goals, target audience, and the platforms you're using. Here's a generic schedule for a week full of ideas of what you [...]
What makes your business stand out?
What is YOUR USP? A USP, or Unique Selling Proposition (essentially what you would find on a "Why Choose Us" page) is a distinctive factor or characteristic that sets a [...]
Holidays, Birthstones, Flowers… Oh My!
In the world of marketing, using holidays, special events, anniversaries, birthstones, and monthly flowers can be a smart way to connect with people. These events happen regularly, and they mean [...]
Why do some Landing Pages leave out their navigation menu?
Companies may choose to remove the navigation menu on landing pages for several reasons: Focus on Conversion: Removing distractions such as navigation menus can help focus visitors' attention on a [...]
From Chaos to Control: Elevate Your Business with a Planner, Tracker and Journal
Running a small business is like juggling a bunch of tasks all at once. It gets chaotic, and in all that mess, staying organized and having a plan becomes super [...]
How to Find Your Website Visitor Stats
Finding your website visitor statistics involves using web analytics tools. Here are general steps to find your website visitor statistics: Google Analytics: Sign in to your Google Analytics account. Select [...]
Why it’s good to always provide a link to your website in your social media posts
Providing a link to your website in your social media posts offers several benefits for individuals and businesses: Increased Traffic: Including a link directs your audience to your website, increasing [...]
Why it’s best to use a website first over social media fan pages
While social media fan pages are valuable for building an online community and engaging with your audience, a website serves as a central hub for your business, offering more control, customization, and ownership over your online presence. Ideally, businesses often use a combination of both social media and a dedicated website for a well-rounded online strategy.
Steps to Converting “Window Shoppers” into Actual Paying Customers
In layman's terms, conversion in the context of a Sales Funnel is like turning window shoppers into actual customers. Imagine you have a store, and people are looking at your [...]
How to Retain Your Customers and Make Them Your Allies and Advocates
Retaining customers and turning them into advocates involves building strong relationships, providing exceptional value, and consistently exceeding customer expectations. Here are some effective strategies to retain customers and foster advocacy: [...]
Lead (Customer) Capture and Lead Nurturing Explained
Lead Capture: Lead capture is the process of collecting information from potential customers (leads) who have shown interest in your products or services. The goal is to obtain their contact [...]
20 Ideas for Marketing (Examples of Lead Generation)
Content Marketing: Creating and sharing blog posts, articles, videos, and infographics to attract and engage your target audience. Social Media Contests: Running contests on social media platforms to encourage participation, [...]
Lead Generation is Like Fishing (Marketing to Potential Customers)
Lead Generation is like fishing for potential customers. Imagine you have a business, and you want to find people who might be interested in what you offer. Lead generation is [...]
What is a Sales Funnel and How Does it Work?
A sales funnel is a visual representation of the customer journey from the initial awareness of a product or service to the final purchase. It's called a "funnel" because, similar [...]
Sales Funnel or ClickFunnels, What’s the Difference?
Sales Funnel: A sales funnel is a marketing model that represents the journey a potential customer takes from the initial awareness of a product or service to making a purchase. [...]
Helpful Information Authors Should Provide with Their Events
When creating an event post as an author, it's important to include essential information that provides potential attendees with all the details they need to know about the event. Here [...]
Step-by-Step Guide for Using SWOT Analysis and SMART Goals
1. Conduct a SWOT Analysis: a. Internal Analysis (Strengths and Weaknesses): Gather Stakeholders: Involve key team members and stakeholders in the SWOT analysis process. Identify Strengths: Assess internal capabilities, unique [...]
Tips for Building a Successful Website
Building a successful website involves incorporating various best practices to enhance user experience, improve functionality, and achieve your business goals. Here are some common best practices for creating a successful [...]
Research Your Competitors with these Helpful Tools & Apps
There are various tools and applications available that can aid in conducting competitor analysis by providing data, insights, and analytics. Here are some commonly used tools across different aspects of [...]
How to Gather Information About Your Competitors
Gathering information about your competitors involves a combination of research methods and tools. Here are some effective ways to collect data on your competitors: Online Research: Website Analysis: Explore your [...]
12 Tips to Help You Conduct a Competitor Analysis
Conducting a competitor analysis is a crucial part of strategic planning for businesses. It helps you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors, identify opportunities and threats in the [...]
A Winning Marketing Strategy: Educate, Engage, Inspire, Promote or Entertain
In the ever-evolving landscape of business and marketing, a well-defined strategy serves as the compass that guides organizations toward success. Much like preparing a delectable dish, a successful marketing strategy [...]
What is S.M.A.R.T. Goals and How to Set Them.
Welcome to the SMARTy Party In a land of dreams, where goals reside, Lived a bunch of letters, full of pride. S, M, A, R, and T they were named, [...]
12 Questions that will help you find your target market (fan base)
Identifying your target market is crucial for effective marketing and business strategies. Here is a list of questions to guide you in figuring out your target market: Demographic Questions: What [...]
20 Ideas Businesses Can Post About on Their Websites and Social Media
Your website and social media platforms are powerful tools for connecting with your fans. Always be sure to post first on your website, and then share that or duplicate it [...]
What to Do After You Complete a SWOT Analysis
So, you've just completed a SWOT analysis for your business, examining its Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Now what? How do you turn that pile of notes into actionable steps [...]
Discovering Your Fans: A Simple Guide to Finding Your Target Market
So, you've got this fantastic idea or product, and now you're ready to share it with the world. But wait, who exactly is your product meant for? This is where [...]
10 Steps to Build and Market Your Online Business Successfully
Embarking on the journey of building an online business is an exciting endeavor filled with opportunities and challenges. To navigate the digital landscape and establish a strong online presence, a [...]
Hashtags: A Guide to Good vs. Bad Practices
In the vast landscape of social media, hashtags have become powerful tools for content discovery, engagement, and community building. However, not all hashtags are created equal. Understanding the distinction between [...]
Examples of Good and Bad Keywords
Poor keyword usage can have detrimental effects on the visibility and effectiveness of online content. Here are some examples of bad keyword usage verses good keyword usage. Bad Keyword Usage [...]
Understanding Hashtags vs. Keywords
In the ever-expanding realm of digital communication, the terms "hashtags" and "keywords" have become integral tools for enhancing online visibility and reaching target audiences. While both serve the purpose of [...]
The ABCs of SWOT Analysis: A Simple Guide
Have you ever wondered how businesses figure out what they're good at, where they need to improve, and what challenges or opportunities they might face? Well, they often use something [...]
The Crucial Role of Marketing Plans for Small Businesses
In the dynamic and competitive landscape of today's business world, establishing and maintaining a small business can be a challenging endeavor. One key element that can significantly contribute to the [...]