Are YOU showing up in Social Media?

June 10, 2013 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

A key component of success is commitment. Have you committed the time to social media?
Watch this video to find out “Are YOU showing up in Social Media? Click on the blog name if your not seeing the video.

How you show up in social media is how you show up in life. Social media is real life but found online.

What does it take to be successful in all of your social media including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn and YouTube?

Find out why one of my favorite Google+ groups was shut down recently.

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You can subscribe to my YouTube channel here. Get my FREE social media Tips & Tricks here.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Top Five Blog Headlines

April 17, 2013 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

If you’re concerned about search engine optimization and using the proper keywords, I suggest using Google’s Adwords Keyword Tool. It’s free and you can gain insight on the words you should be using.

Spend 50% of your time on your title. Google puts the most weight on the title. In addition with the millions of blogs out there, you have about three seconds to get someone’s attention. So your title better be good. When searching for keywords to really drill down to the title, type in Google’s search bar allintitle: “your keyword in quotes”. Google will then give you the results for titles with this exact keyword or phrase.

There’s a specific formula I use to determine which keywords I want to focus on for my blog and website.

At least 1,000 monthly searches
No more than 30,000 pages in Google “in quotes”
No more than 10,000 results for “allintitle”

If you’re in a competitive industry and you’re relatively new, focus on keywords with low competition. That way you have a chance of ranking. If you try to choose keywords that have hundreds of thousands of results, you will never be found.

Here are the top five blogging headlines:

The truth about ….
Top 10 most …
10 reasons why …
How to …
Wow, these (insert word) then (insert link)

If you want people to be drawn in to read your entire blog post, tell a story. People remember stories much more than they remember facts.

Please share this post with your community by using one of my social share buttons above. Leave me a comment if you have used any other blog titles that you think work well.

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Filed Under: blogging, Blogs, Search Engine Optimization, Uncategorized Tagged With: Blogging, Blogs, Search Engine Optimization

Blog for your Fans – not your Critics!

April 5, 2013 by Julie Musial 3 Comments

You need to blog for your fans and not worry about what your critics are saying. Many times your critics are the most vocal. The more popular you get, the louder your critics will get. Take this as a compliment. If someone criticizes what you’re doing, ask yourself if the intent is to help you. If not, disregard it.

The people that like my writing have asked me for more. Many times I have people that will criticize my writing because they tell me I’m giving too much. If you’re creating value for people who want your product, you’re not creating too much.

Give your fans what they ask you for. Have the courage to shut out the critics. If you worry about what the critics say, you will start conforming your writing to what they want. That doesn’t make any sense. If someone doesn’t like what you’re writing, they don’t have to read it.

Have the courage to be different, to have an opinion, to think outside the box. How many times do you think Steve Jobs was criticized? Do you think he cared? Do you think he BELIEVED in himself and what he was creating?

The most brilliant minds think outside the box. When you do this, you’re going to have critics. If you believe in what you’re doing, do it anyway. Don’t be afraid to have an opinion. Don’t try to just fit in so you’re comfortable. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Believe! That’s what it take to be a success!

“The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expect different results.” Albert Einstein. Do you think Albert Einstein cared what people thought of his work. Many thought he was crazy. Maybe he was, but look what he gave us. If he listened to his critics, we might still be in the dark. What’s your light bulb!

Drop me a note and let me know! Remember, blog for your fans and not your critics.

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Filed Under: blogging, Blogs, content marketing, Uncategorized Tagged With: Blogging, Copywriting, Inbound Marketing, Marketing, Online Marketing, product marketing, Social Media Marketing

Infographics: The latest trend in Internet Communication

August 21, 2012 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

Infographics

A picture is worth a thousand words, as many literature and other sources cite such fact. From a single photo, information can be gathered from it, which happens to explain why photographs are a very effective form of a data bank. From such, the use of pictures or graphics in many information campaigns become widespread and has been used for more than a century: from the signs on the roads, public service announcements, and even advertisements and commercials. Through the years, the use of graphics in many mediums has evolved, from its humble analog beginnings, to the modern digital world of the World Wide Web, which is being extensively used today. Such is the birth of the term: Infographics.

Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data, or knowledge. The graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education. With an information graphic, computer scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, and other scientific and/or communications practitioners and specialists develop and communicate concepts using a single symbol to process information.

*GDS Info graphics. licensed under Attribution License

Information graphics now surround us in the media, in published works both pedestrian and scientific, in road signs and manuals. They illustrate information that would be bulky in text form, and act as a visual shorthand for everyday concepts such as stop and go. In newspapers, infographics are commonly used to show the weather, as well as maps and site plans for newsworthy events, and graphs for statistical data.

Some books are almost entirely made up of information graphics, such as David Macaulay‘s The Way Things Work. Although they are used heavily in children’s books, they are also common in scientific literature, where they illustrate physical systems, especially ones that cannot be photographed (such as cutaway diagrams, astronomical diagrams, and images of microscopic or sub-microscopic systems).

So what comprises the elements of Information graphics? The basic material of information graphic is the data, information, or knowledge that the graphic presents. The information graphic might also feature a key which defines the visual elements in plain English. Scale and labels are also common. These elements of info-graphics do not have to be an exact or realistic representation of the data, but can be a simplified version. You can see a lot of this now to represent various data in social media.

*GDS Info graphics. licensed under Attribution License

So what makes Infographics effective? The first thing to consider: Simplicity. It has to be simple, that even an ordinary person would understand the message being relayed. Secondly, it should be direct to the point. The shortest way between two points is to go directly using a straight line; same goes with relaying Infographics. Thirdly, all the necessary information should be readily available. Having sources listed at the bottom of the page, a direct URL on the graphic, the proper color schematics, font usage, proper use of icons/graphs, etc. Lastly, with the influx of internet use in almost all aspect of life today, the Infographics should be “interactive”; which would add to the utility facet, to add more public appeal and usability for the general viewers.

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Filed Under: Digital Media, Marketing, Social Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: Digital Media, Marketing, Newspaper Advertising, Social Media

How to Advertise Using the Proper Medium

April 20, 2012 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

If you’re using traditional media such as television, newspaper or radio, it’s critical to learn how to advertise through the use of the proper media channels.

Once you have determined WHO you want your target audience to be, you must now determine which medium(s) to use in order to reach them. There are many different options. Each medium has their own unique set of pros and cons. Different ads will work differently depending on the medium you choose.

Learning how to advertise using the correct medium is critical to the success of your campaign.

I also suggest researching what your competition is doing. But don’t ASSUME that the mediums they are using are the right ones for your product or service. I have worked with many clients who just by changing their medium or medium mix shot straight to the top in their industry. Don’t be afraid to be a pioneer if it’s the right thing to do.

After you have figured out your primary target audience you must think about where you are trying to reach them, in a county, city, state, multi-state, national or inter-nationally. You have a lot of choices and each medium is priced differently. There are many different buying strategies to lower your cost. Learning how to advertise using these buying strategies can save you a lot of money.

There have also been many changes in the advertising world since the invention of cable, satellite radio, digital TV and that little thing called the internet. Even though the mediums have changed as the world has changed, most options still work, just a little differently. The one exception is print. The newspaper is indeed a dying medium. People no longer need to get their news in print form. Too many other options exist. However, the elderly still like their newspapers. Learning how to advertise your product or service using the different mediums will drastically change how you orchestrate your campaign.

The other thing you want to take into consideration is will you be using one or multiple mediums. The rule of thumb is to use your first medium effectively before adding a second medium. If you can afford to use multiple mediums, your results will be greater. But keep in mind; you must always sacrifice reach in order to obtain an effective frequency. Do not go into that second medium until you are effective in the first. Learning how to advertise using the correct reach and frequency is very important to the success of your advertising. I have seen far too many advertisers sprinkle a little investment into multiple mediums. By doing this you will never reach an effective frequency to get your buyer to act and your advertising will fail.

In my next blog I will describe how to advertise using each medium in terms of their Reach. Remember, there are effective ways to buy each medium at a lower cost which I will go into detail in future blog posts as well.

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Filed Under: How to Advertise, Media Planning, Uncategorized Tagged With: Advertising, Cable Televsion, Media Planning, Newspaper Advertising, Radio Advertising, Television Advertising

Social Media

February 21, 2012 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

You must use Social Media correctly in order to attract people to your brand by offering valuable magnetic content. Be genuine and transparent in what you have to give.

Social Media should not be used as a sales pitch. If you use social media like traditional media, your fans will most likely “unlike” you. Unlike traditional media which interrupts great content with an unsolicited ad, social media attracts fans through the use of free valuable magnetic content.

Supply your Social Media fans with Tips, Information, Entertainment, Contests and Polls. Leave them wanting to come back for more.

Use Social Media once everyday. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Digg etc. But don’t overuse it. If you do, again your fans may “unlike” you. Make sure your Social Media posts are keyword rich.

Once or twice a month I recommend directing your fans to something you have available for sale on your website. It could be a new book launch, CD’s, seminars, DVD’s, webinars etc. Give something away free on your website in order to capture their contact information. Clearly let them know what they will be getting and how often. Do not abuse their trust in Social Media or again they may just “unlike” you.

I also suggest blogging three times a week giving valuable magnetic content as well. Make sure your blog is keyword rich. Use an opt in to giveaway something free in order to collect their contact information. Be sure to post what they will get, how often and your privacy policy.

Take a look at the Social Media sites that have a huge number of fans. Starbucks is a good example. Starbucks is always giving away something free and running contests. Then take a look at sites that sell all too often. Sites that sell too often will never gain the huge number of fans that sites like Starbucks have.

Search engines like social media sites that post regularly with fresh content. Your post should also be 80 characters or less. Search engines like short posts and online videos.

Use Social Media correctly and you will be surprised at how many raving fans you will attract!

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Filed Under: Advertising Mistakes, How to Advertise, Social Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: Social Media

Advertising Budget

January 12, 2012 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

Advertising Budget

In my opinion there is no right or wrong way to come up with your advertising budget. I have seen advertisers come up with budgets in all different ways. The key is to find the number that works for your business and is effective. Advertising media salespeople will tell you to take a flat percent of your gross sales. Anywhere from 1-10% but typically 5-7%. I’m not so sure that’s the best scenario. This figure could give you a starting point but you really need to take your markup on your sales and your rent into consideration.

Advertising Budget

I have also seen many advertising agencies poll the media to do a competitive spending analysis in order to come up with the Advertising Budget. Keep in mind the media will inflate competitive spending by about 15-30%.

If you work with an advertising agency or an experienced buyer who has access to research data; you can compute how many GRP’s you want to buy in a market by the cost per rating point published. This is getting much more technical and a business owner would most likely not be able to do this on their own the first time. Keep in mind that the research numbers are always skewed to the high end because the numbers come directly from the media. The media wants you to think they are charging more than they really are; therefore they inflate their reported numbers. Any research you use should be brought down a minimum of 15%. (more…)

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Filed Under: Advertising Costs, Advertising Mistakes, Advertising Rates, How to Advertise, How to Buy Advertising, How to Buy Media, Media Planning, Uncategorized Tagged With: Media Planning

Digital Media and Television Advertising

January 10, 2012 by Julie Musial Leave a Comment

Digital Media and traditional forms of media such as Television Advertising work very well together. If you’re not using Digital Media currently you should start. But don’t abandon your traditional forms of media and replace it with Digital Media 100%. Most likely you still watch television, listen to the radio, read a magazine and you still go out to the mailbox to collect your mail. If your still using traditional media, so is everyone else.

In the 1960′s television was the new kid on the block. It was entertaining and informative. Advertising worked extremely well for 30+ years. Now the internet is the new kid on the block and traditional forms of media don’t work as well as they once did. The difference between the two is that television was not nearly as complicated as Digital Media in the form of the internet.

Traditional forms of media such as television advertising and radio advertising work differently than Digital Media, however they work well together. (more…)

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Filed Under: Advertising Mistakes, Digital Media, How to Advertise, How to Buy Advertising, How to Buy Media, Social Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: Digital Media, Social Media, Television Advertising

There’s a specific formula I use to determine which keywords I want to focus on for my blog and website.

Here are the top five blogging headlines:

Infographics

Learning how to advertise using the correct medium is critical to the success of your campaign.

Supply your Social Media fans with Tips, Information, Entertainment, Contests and Polls. Leave them wanting to come back for more.

Use Social Media once everyday. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Digg etc. But don’t overuse it. If you do, again your fans may “unlike” you. Make sure your Social Media posts are keyword rich.

Search engines like social media sites that post regularly with fresh content. Your post should also be 80 characters or less. Search engines like short posts and online videos.

Social Media began as a social networking form of communication. It has evolved very quickly to include business application in a big way. If you use Social Media for your business you cannot use it like traditional forms of media. If you do, you will turn off your prospects very quickly. (more…)

I have also seen many advertising agencies poll the media to do a competitive spending analysis in order to come up with the Advertising Budget. Keep in mind the media will inflate competitive spending by about 15-30%.

Traditional forms of media such as television advertising and radio advertising work differently than Digital Media, however they work well together. (more…)