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“89% of consumers will buy from brands they follow on social” Sprout Social

Posted on by Consult CreatEve in Marketing, Social Media
Photo by Adrianna Calvo on Pexels.com

As of January 2020, there are 3.8 billion active social media users. Instagram alone has 1 billion users, 500 million are active users every day. The average internet user spends 6 hours and 43 minutes online each day. Taking into account 8 hours for sleep each day that means that most people spend 40% of their walking lives on the internet. Approximately 50% of that time is spent on mobile phones.

Facebook has 2.5 billion active users, Instagram has 1 billion users with 500 million being active users.  LinkedIn has over 760 million users with 260 million being active. Twitter has 330 million users with 145 million active users. Currently Instagram has the highest engagement of the social media platforms. Whichever platforms you choose to use, these are very powerful marketing tools.

It is no longer enough to just show up on social media occasionally and post when the urge strikes. You need to be there consistently with an identity that is uniquely yours and a plan for growing and engaging your online community.  If you aren’t regularly posting to social media, you are missing out on an inexpensive and effective way of reaching your target audience.

Although social media platforms are free for the taking, that’s not to say there is no cost. There is your time which is valuable and working on your social media platforms may take you away from other aspects of your business. Alternatively, you can pay someone to do your social media for you.   What are the advantages of hiring someone to do your social media for you?

  1. Audience: Helps you target your audience.
  2. Plan: Develops a social media plan tailored to your business.
  3. Content: Creates content which includes written and images.
  4. Consistency: Is consistent with regular social media content.
  5. Engagement: Responds to social media messages. 
  6. Time: Allows you more time to focus on other aspects of your business.
  7. Best Practices: Understands best practices on social media.
  8. Advice: Guides you to platforms that are best for your business.
  9. Leads: Advises you on ways to generate new business.
  10. Analytics: Provides analytics and reports on what’s working and what’s not.

We would be remiss if we didn’t touch on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which everyone is trying to or should be trying to achieve. We won’t go in depth here, but social media brings visibility and traffic to your website. Although social media may not be a ranking factor for Google, it can amplify the ranking factors that Google does consider. 

Now with platforms like LinkTree, you can direct people to numerous locations whether your website, social media channels or e-commerce site. It allows you to channel exactly where you’d like to see people visit you online. These links when shared all help your performance in your SEO efforts and allows more potential customers to find you and what you do.

If you are a small business or artisan looking for help with your social media, we have flexible social media management packages specifically designed for small business. To learn more, contact us to today so we can get you on the right path for your business.

“89% of Consumers Will Buy From Brands They Follow On Social by @consultcreateve

Have you considered etsy as an e-commerce site for your business?

Posted on by Consult CreatEve in Marketing, Web Development

If you are a small business and sell products, you need to be online. There are many ways to sell online, but having an e-commerce site is key. There are a number of options available including Shopify, Wix, Squarespace as well as social media platforms. If you are new to e-commerce, or it’s your first foray into the online selling space, Etsy might be the right fit for you. If your business falls within one of the three categories allowed to sell on Etsy, we suggest that you consider setting up a shop on Etsy. What can you sell on Etsy?

HANDMADE ITEMS
VINTAGE GOODS
CRAFT SUPPLIES

Why Etsy? Outside of the 81.9 million active buyers worldwide, there are a number of other reasons you should consider this platform. First off, the technical infrastructure is already set up for you along with marketing tools, online education and a built in audience that sees Etsy as a trusted platform. Etsy does take 5% of each sale, a 3% transaction fee plus .25 cents and a .20 cents US listing fee. These costs are minimal compared to the monthly costs for hosting an e-commerce website not to mention maintenance and there’s no getting away from transaction fees.

For a new business, it can be daunting and expensive to create an e-commerce site. Depending on your skill set, not everyone is a tech wizard.  If you are an existing business with an e-commerce platform, you can also benefit from hosting an Etsy Shop. It can be a good compliment to your current marketing strategy and allows you to reach a wider audience.   

Wondering what sells best on Etsy? We invite you to check out this list from Life Extension Blog posted February 1, 2022:

  1. Sticker
  2. Notebook and journal
  3. Jewelry
  4. Home decor
  5. Digital designs/Graphic designs
  6. Posters
  7. Toys & baby items
  8. Vintage items
  9. Organic cosmetics
  10. Sewing and Crochet Pattern
  11. Clothing
  12. Bags and purses
  13. Phone case
  14. Papercraft
  15. Candle

Speaking from experience, opening an Etsy Shop is relatively simple. Etsy provides all newcomers with an online Seller’s Handbook which answers many questions about shipping, finances, marketing, legal, taxes, reviews and much more.  As with any platform, there is some time and effort required in the initial set up. You will need to think in advance about your name, branding, social media and how that will all come together just as you would with any business website.

If you are looking to take the leap in setting up an Etsy Shop, we recommend also linking Erank to your Etsy Shop.  This online platform provides listing audits and advice on how to improve your Etsy listings.  This saves much needed time and aids in the learning curve on how best to set up your Etsy listings. Erank provides suggestions on keywords, attributes and tags along with explanations as to the why behind their recommendations. Much of Erank’s recommendations fall under the heading of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which improves people’s ability to find your Etsy Shop when searching on Etsy or Google. No matter what e-commerce platform one uses, SEO helps you be found online.  If you want people to buy your products, you need to be found first. This platform will help you get started on the right foot.

We have suggested Erank as it is a free platform, simple to link to an Etsy Shop and easy to use. If your items are tied to trends, you may benefit from the PRO version ($9.99 US per month). Marmalead is the competitor of Erank and provides a similar service with some variations, but their starting price point is $19.99 US per month. So for those starting out who wish to keep costs to a minimum Erank will do the trick.

Lastly, Etsy has a large online community and there are a host of people’s experiences to drawn on that can help you find your way.  There are many trying to sell their programs that make pie in the sky promises about exponentially increasing your sales, but there are others that provide matter of fact information.  For that we landed on Kara Buntin who has a website and Etsy Shop called A Cake To Remember. Kara posts quite regularly to YouTube about her best practices, changes/updates to the Etsy platform and just general tips and advice.   No big sales tactics, just straight up advice.

Do you need help setting up an Etsy Shop? Contact us today.  We are happy to provide support in getting your Etsy Shop up and running.

Have You Considered Etsy As An E-Commerce Site For Your Business?

Clubhouse The Latest Big Social Networking App

Posted on by Consult CreatEve in Digital Marketing, Social Media

As is the case with the social media, it is an ever evolving landscape.   The latest app that is all the buzz is Clubhouse.    It is a new social media platform that is audio-based in which you have the opportunity to lead or participate in conversations on subject matters that are of interest to you.  Some liken it to networking at a conference or a cocktail party. In the Clubhouse app, you enter into rooms with a conversation in full swing. You can also be notified in advance of upcoming events. When in the room, you have the opportunity to chime in on conversations if the moderator of the room allows, or you can stand by and listen.  It is an opportunity to meet people and make connections from around the world. 

As this app is voice-based, there are no in app messaging options where you can send someone a quick note with a direct message. The app allows everyone to create a bio which has links to your Twitter and Instagram accounts. Thus, if you wish to connect with someone directly outside of Clubhouse, this is where you can reach out to them.

If you want a good general overview of how Clubhouse works, we invite you check out Tasia Custode’s You Tube video. She gives a good overview of the ins and outs of the app.

If are already on Clubhouse and trying to find your way, we invite you to check out Michael Stelzner’s piece Clubhouse App For Business which sets out best practices.

All conversations on Clubhouse are live with no recordings. As such, it has created a Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) on great content and/or connections so people are staying on this app longer. Although it’s new and exciting, we encourage you to think about what you want to get from Clubhouse, and how it can help you achieve your goals in business. Like all social media apps, there is great opportunity, but the key is how you use them to get the biggest benefit.

Clubhouse The Latest Big Social Networking App by @consultcreateve

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7 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Email Marketing

Posted on by Consult CreatEve in Digital Marketing, Marketing, Writing

1. Email is the most powerful form of modern communication.

Email is an effective way to directly communicate and connect with your customers and consistently wins out over other marketing channels. With the prevalence of social media and other forms of messaging, email may seem archaic to some, but email is the most powerful form of modern communication.  No marketing category has the longevity of email marketing.

Email is a communication channel that 99% of consumers check every day. You can go days without checking social media or video chat with friends, but email is checked several times a day.

2. Email marketing has a large reach.

We love social media, but you need to know that although Facebook boasts over 2.89 billion active users, Twitter over 199 million and Instagram approximately 1 billion active users, it is tempting to believe these platforms are the most effective way to reach the masses.  Although these are impressive numbers, there are over 4 billion email accounts worldwide as of March 2021 and 4.6 billion email accounts projected by 2025.

Email is the currency of the web. Just think about when you sign up for all those social media platforms, what do you need? You got it, an email address to create your account. Which then allows you to be notified by email when there is activity on your social media account.

3. Email Gets Delivered.

We can’t overstate this in the context of other avenues of communication in which your message doesn’t always make it to the intended recipient. 90% of email gets delivered whereas only 5%-10% of your Facebook fans will see your post in their news feed.   This is, of course, Facebook’s attempt to drive you to paid advertising.   

If you post an update on Facebook to your 1,000 followers only about 5%-10% or 50-100 of them will have a chance of seeing your post in their news feed. Whereas if you send an email campaign to 1,000 of your subscribers, at least 900 will receive your email in their inbox.  With constantly changing algorithms it is difficult for marketers let alone small business owners to keep up with.

4. Your Email List Is An Asset That Drives Growth And Sales.

Your email list is an asset that you own. It is yours alone, not a third party, no one can take that away. On the other hand with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and other social media platforms, you are at the mercy of their ever changing algorithms.  It should also be noted that your social media account can be suspended or deleted at any time for any reason without notice along with your posts and your fans. We love social media to engage, inform and educate, but your email list is the best way to drive growth and sales.

5. Email Converts Better – 138% More.

When people sign up to receive emails from you, they WANT to hear from you. They are interested in whatever product or service you provide.  People who buy products marketed through email spend 138% more than those that did not receive an email offer. 

6. Good Return On Investment – $1 Spend = $38 ROI.

Did you know that for every $1 spent on email marketing it generates $38 in return on your investment?   Add to that, email marketing is easy on the budget and a cost effective way to reach your target audience.

7. Email Beats Social By 40X For Customer Acquisition.

A report by McKinsey & Co. shows that email is 40 times more effective at acquiring new customers than Facebook or Twitter.

Now for the fine print. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention that you do need people’s permission to email them. There are strict laws and regulations around SPAM and in Canada it is CASL, the Canadian Anti Spam Legislation.  Every business owner should be familiar with the 3 components of CASL – Consent, Identification and Option To Unsubscribe or they can be fined. We’ve included a link for those that wish to delve into a bit further.

Are you ready to ramp up your email marketing? Not sure what to write about? They key is something of value to your subscribers such as a new product or service announcement, expanded hours, online appointment scheduling, an upcoming sale or offering a coupon to your email subscribers.  Not sure where to start?  We can help you get started delivering The Write Content for your business. We invite you book a free consultation with Barbara Borchardt, our Founder and Creative Strategist.

7 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Email Marketing by @ConsultCreatEve