Blog Marketing 2 - Taylor Reaume - Marketing Automation Consultant

How Do I Automate My Social Media Marketing?

19 August 2020 by Taylor Reaume

Nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide use social media. That is almost half of the people on the planet.

No business can afford to do without a strong presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other popular social media sites.

If you are an entrepreneur or an executive at a large and established company, you should leverage the power of social media to promote your brand and your product.

What is Social Media Marketing Automation?

Engaging people on social media is time-consuming. According to a recent survey, marketing teams spend 16 hours a week on tasks involving social media.

You can save your team and company time and money by installing special tools that will do the work of monitoring and managing social media.

Social media marketing automation consists of a set of tools that are designed to decrease your workload and enhance your social media marketing campaign.

The three most popular automation devices are:

Scheduling tools

Content curation tools

Social listening tools

Social Media Scheduling Tools

Members of your executive team have more important things to do than update your company’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

A scheduling tool relieves them of this burden by posting valuable content on your social media accounts automatically.

The posts will be sent out at optimal times so that you get maximum engagement with your audience.

Here are some of the more popular scheduling devices available on the market:

1. Buffer

Buffer allows you to schedule posts and tailor the content to each social media account. Buffer also has a calendar feature that allows you to review what you have already posted. This gives you the ability to organize, manage, and rearrange your posts as you like.

2. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is known for its elegant and accessible design, which makes it easy to automate your posts. It offers a bulk scheduling option. It also gives you the ability to schedule content you see while surfing the web.

3. Sendible

There are 3 main features that stand out in this tool. First, there is a content recommendation device. If you want to send a post with a news article link, you can conduct a search by topic and it will give you a long list of trending articles to share.

Second, Sendible has a built-in CRM. The latter presents background information on anyone you interact with. This will enable you to send customized content to whomever you are in conversation with.

Third and finally, Sendible can monitor Twitter for certain keywords and phrases and send an automatic reply.

Content Curation Tools

Content curation tools allow you to easily find content that you can share with your social media followers through your posts.

According to one recent study, companies that share curated content receive 33% more clicks than those without it.

Here are a few of the top tools available on the market:

1. Feedly

This tool analyses the topics that interest you and your target audience and shows you related content. The tool comes with an AI research assistant named Leo who helps declutter the information so that you are able to share the best pieces with your followers.

2. Socialinsider

Socialinsider.io is one of the most comprehensive social media analytics and reporting tools. It is perfect for digital agencies and companies that employ digital technology extensively. You can track your company’s level of engagement on different social media pages and compare them. You can also compare these numbers with your competitors and industry benchmarks.

The site makes it easy to build a large report and to download it as a PDF and PPT file.

3. Curata

This tool will automatically search thousands of web sources to find content related to your keywords. You will then be able to approve or reject the suggestions that are to be shared on your social media sites.

Curata also allows you to edit the text and alter the images in the content that you share. You can also add notes and comments to each piece.

Social Listening Tools

These devices help you monitor all online chatter about your company and brand. They help you identify influencers who may be praising and promoting your products.

They can also inform you of any negative reviews of your products or company online.

Social listening tools provide great insight into how consumers are interacting with your company and its products in real-time.

Social listening sites will help you discern trends that drive your highest performing posts. They also help companies build better relationships with followers and identify profitable gaps in the market.

You need not track down every single comment and critique that is made about your company. You can have this done for you with social listening software.

Here are some of the sites that offer social listening solutions:

1. Mention

This tool sifts through billions of sources each day and informs you when and on what site your company’s name has appeared in conversation. You can also set up alerts that inform you when the names of your competitors are mentioned, which can help you analyze social discussions they are involved in.

Mention can be especially helpful to large companies with well-known brands.

2. Sprout Social

This social media management tool was designed with businesses in mind. The team at Social Sprout has identified 5 key pieces of information that are gained from social listening: brand health, industry insight, competitive analysis, campaign analysis, event monitoring. The software allows you to tailor your social listening experience to fit one or more of these categories.

Sprout Social also has tools that allow you to go beyond the mere mention of your company to figure out the sentiment behind it. Your company can be talked about in a positive or negative context. Sprout Social helps you determine which.

In summary, there are plenty of ways to automate your social media marketing operations. Using one or more of the sites discussed above can help your company punch above its weight.

Using social media marketing automation tools can give you deep insights into your target market and help you build better relationships with customers.

Best Life Hacks | Blog Marketing | Reputation Marketing | Web Marketing

Amazon Air Purifier Cured My Allergies

3 May 2020 by Taylor Reaume

I spend way too much time indoors…

But I’m gonna look like I’m 30 when I’m 60, so it’s worth it. 😉

As a web strategist, much of my time is spent indoors building websites and tending to an avalanche of emails. Hence, the quality of the air matters big time for me.

Did you know that indoor air is five times more polluted than the air outside?

I have always wanted to get an air purifer, but when I looked on Amazon, they all looked so friggin expensive, and I just couldn’t justify spending that much money on it.

After a conversation with a comedian friend of mine, who swore by the effectiveness of his Alen air purifier, I started researching about HEPA filters last month, more seriously in a buying mindset.

My friend said he researched air purifiers and the best one was the Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier. He said to check out the reviews on Amazon, and not to take his word for it.

So I did just that. I researched various air purifiers, and my friend Andrey was totally right about the reviews. The one that I kept coming across with the best reviews was the Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier.

The price? Not so great. >> $349

However, if you are truly interested in obtaining optimal health, and maximizing your energy levels, crushing it with your productivity, then that one-time cost might just be worth it. I went for it, and I am so glad I did!

I took my friend’s recommendation, and bought the Alen BreatheSmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier which had the most positive, genuine sounding reviews.

…and I am so glad I did!

This air purifier has made a significant improvement in my overall energy levels and health.

Within a couple days of using the air purifier, I found myself breathing better, feeling better and generally very happy about the purchase.

The Magic of HEPA

HEPA is a word that stands for high-efficiency particulate air. It is a mechanical filter that forces air to trap those things that make your allergies go bonkers. It catches all those pollen particles, pet dander, dust, and even cigarette smoke.

My research showed that 99.7 percent of those particles can be trapped by a HEPA filter. Further research from the EPA shows that indoor air is five times more polluted than the air outside. That wasn’t hard for me to believe. That’s where most of my problems are from an allergens perspective.

That magic with HEPA is enough to produce long-term health benefits, or for me, relief from all kinds of indoor allergies.

The Alen Breathe Smart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier

The Alen BreatheSmart is described as the granddaddy of air purifiers in many reviews.

Its performance is exceptional, and its size is just perfect. It purifies large rooms but is very small. It also comes with a lifetime warranty which made me feel better about the cost. That feature alone is considered a big one for this air purifier. A lifetime warranty is not something you are going to find anywhere.

As far as how it is in your room, it’s so quiet that you hardly even know that it is there. This is a purifier that is easy to use and can handle a room up to 1,300 square feet. Yes, a room that size. It is said to remove 99.9 percent of allergens and has additional options for removing smoke and other odors. If it matters to you, it comes in a wide range of colors to accommodate any decor.

Features of the Alen BreatheSmart

The product itself is approximately two feet high and weighs 27 pounds. You will find the air intake vents on the sides of the unit so that you can put it against any wall when it is in use, and even when it isn’t. It comes with wheels so that you can roll it where you need to, as it is fairly heavy.

On the front, you have a panel that is customizable to meet your needs so that you can tell the purifier how much you want it to clean today. The noise level is rated at an amazing 25 decibels which is comparable to a whisper. Even at its highest speed, you may hear your refrigerator more than this purifier. This noise level is referred to as pink noise, which will also help you to sleep better.

Energy-wise you are looking at a purifier that only consumes 45 watts. Yes, that means you have light bulbs that are more energy-costly. Even so, there are features that allow you to adjust the power modes to auto to save even more power. A timer is also added into this model, which allows you to set it and forget it, or have it turn on when you are cooking.

Another feature I loved included the intuitive interface. This had seven buttons that could easily be programmed. Turn it on or off with a single button, or put it on auto. On auto, it cycles through all five settings without you having to think about it.

Other buttons included are a child lock button, which helps if you have little ones around. They won’t be able to play with its pretty interface. The power switch is right in the center, with a circular indicator letting you know how clean the air is as it is in use. Blue means the air is clean or of excellent quality, purple is not a great color. You may even turn it on and realize that the air is already clean enough, or that it really needs a good clean based on this color.

As far as filters are concerned you have the true HEPA filter, the Fresh filter for extra absorption, and the pet and heavy filters for allergens, odors, and pathogens. You’re never going to be confused about whether this purifier is working.

To add to it, you have a lifetime warranty and excellent customer service. As intuitive as this purifier is, I still called the customer service line for help setting it up and understanding the filters and the call was quick and easy.

Start Purifying With BreatheSmart

I love that this is a smart product in that this makes it all very easy to figure out. I can easily see why this is the purifier that everybody is raving about online.

Every purifier wants to be this one. This is why it is so expensive, not because it is popular, but because it is an excellent product. Not many will tell you in advance whether the room even needs to be purified or not.

It blends in any room, and it works very quietly. And it works amazing! I’ve already started to notice a difference in my energy levels. The air in my room smells like fresh outdoor air you would smell when you are camping in the wilderness.

If you work inside like me, it’s time to start purifying! It makes a big difference with your energy levels and will make you more productive. It did for me! : )

Hope you enjoyed geeking out on air purifiers with me in this post. Tell me in the comments which air purifier you’ve found to be the best one? I’d love to hear your comments.

Blog Marketing | Email Marketing | Web Marketing

How To Write The Perfect Email Subject Line

3 January 2019 by Taylor Reaume

Email subject lines make or break your campaign open rate. Learn how to write email subject lines, and how to write them efficiently.

How many emails are sent to your inbox every day? 100+ maybe 500+? If you’re like me (and many more people), you probably have hundreds lying in your inbox unread. About 105 billion emails are sent daily, and in this time of countless information and mailing lists, one thing stands out: the subject line.

The subject line is what lies between an email being opened and being ignored. It is what helps you click on a particular email and perhaps overlook the rest. So much so that 47% of marketers assess email subject line to improve the email’s performance.

So, whether you’re a sales team trying to capture a potential client’s attention, a regular blogger trying to get more clicks, or want your email to have that extra kick, here are ten tips to help guide you on how to write the perfect subject line.

1. Write the Subject Email First

Although most people compose their subject email right before hitting send, the subject line is the first thing a reader comes across in their inbox. So contrary to most practices, start with your subject line. Beginning with the subject line puts you in your reader’s point of view and also helps with the layout of the rest of the email.

2. Start With Action-Oriented Verbs

Subject lines are similar to calls to action in that the wording used should entice readers to click. Subject lines that begin with action verbs are much more appealing, and adding a lively verb to the beginning of your emails will make them much more clickable.

People would be more likely to click on your email if the subject line conveys urgency and enthusiasm. For example, ‘Bend it like Beckham this Saturday’ instead of ‘Play football with us this weekend.’ The first subject line places the reader in that position where their skills might even be at a professional level instead of a more common and less actionable email.

3. Create an Overview of What’s Inside

A subject line can also be just like the blurb of a book. It gives a summary of what to expect but also entices the reader to keep reading. Therefore, creating a brief overview of what the reader will expect when reading the subject line is important because the chances are higher if they have been on the lookout for something in particular.

A great way to do this is when delivering promises via email. If your visitor has downloaded an offer and you’re sending it to them by email, it’s a good idea to use a subject line that says something like, ‘Your new e-book inside!’ or ‘Your guide is waiting for you!’ This is preferable to a plain “thank you” in the subject line because it indicates that something is waiting inside the email.

4. Personalize it and Keep it Special

Everyone likes to feel special, and this applies to emails as well. You must know who you’re emailing, and so they will realize that it’s about them or a topic that piques their interest. One way to do this is by using their name or company name. For example, ‘Increase your online traffic Company X.’

The correct phrasing also gives that extra personalized feel as they will feel like you wrote the email with them in mind. A few generalized phrases that are not specific but will make your reader feel special are:

“Only for our esteemed clients.”
“A special deal for you”
“This is my gift to you.”
“You are cordially invited!”

5. Be Clear and Specific

The subject line should clearly state the purpose of the email so that the recipient can prioritize its importance without having to open it. Please don’t keep the reader guessing what the email could be about because chances are, they won’t assume and will probably leave your email unread. Avoid subject lines like, ‘Give us a second of your time to let you know…’. Instead, specify what the email entails. For example, if your email pertains to applying for a new job, include your name and the position you are applying to be considered.

6. Keep it Short and Sweet

Approximately 77% of emails are opened via mobile email apps, so chances are the subject line is cut off often. It is recommended to keep your subject line to fewer than 50 characters to avoid this.

Avoid phrases that the reader might also not find helpful. These include numbers and letters that may not make sense, like ‘Order 5467463 is ready for collection.’ The reader may not understand the numbers and may find it hard to distinguish one order from another. Instead, a subject line like ‘Your package is ready for collection from Address X.’

7. Create Importance

When phrased creatively and strategically, communicating urgency and scarcity in an email subject line will help motivate readers to click (or act). However, it is essential to use this kind of subject line sparingly as you don’t want to be known as the brand or person that raises people’s anxiety levels all the time by using phrases like ‘Act Now!’

8. Use Keywords

You may feel that using fewer than 50 characters and keeping it clear and specific might narrow down what you may want to express in your email. A tactic that you may want to implement is keywords. Keywords efficiently convey what points you need to put across without being too wordy and still capturing the reader’s attention at the same time.

9. Avoid capitalization of words and exclamation points

Email subject lines that overuse caps and exclamation points are frequently seen as spam mail and are often overlooked or even blatantly ignored. An example of such is ‘OPEN NOW AND GET A FREE GIFT!!!!!!’. Although there is a promise of a gift by opening the email, chances are the reader will not take it seriously and might think that the email belongs in the junk mail folder. Use lower-case in your subject lines. Chances are, your email will be taken seriously.

10. Use this inbox preview tool

Use this free tool that I created. I personally scripted an email subject line visualization tool to give both myself, and my clients a better idea of how the email subject line will look on mobile phones.

In mobile view, less characters are visible on the screen, hence, consider using that virtual real estate wisely!

Click the banner below to use the tool.

Finally, if your emails aren’t being opened, they aren’t being used. You’ve got great material to share; now it’s up to you to prove it in the subject line!

Best Life Hacks | Blog Marketing | Reputation Marketing | Web Marketing

Best Probiotic Pills On Earth

3 May 2018 by Taylor Reaume

As an entrepreneur, I work long hours and my energy is constantly being tapped out. Running out of energy is no fun.

Hence, finding ways to “BIOHACK” is a big key to success.

Biohacking essentially means carefully choosing everything that you put into your body with the awareness that it will either help or hurt my energy levels.

Since I am constantly stuffing my face with gummy bears, twinkies and bon bons, I really need a good probiotic.

I’m kidding, I eat pretty healthy, but honestly I am one of the lucky ones who can eat whatever they want and stay the same weight. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Regardless of your diet, a good probiotic is key.

It is estimated that there are 100 trillion micro-organisms from approximately 500 different species living in our stomachs. These micro-organisms contribute to approximately 70 percent of the body’s immune response. Most of them help us to digest food and keep our immune system in check.

Man-made chemicals from our modern day diets can sometimes prevent our digestive tracts from working like a well-oiled machine.

Cue the probiotics treatments.

Studies have been showing for decades that probiotics can treat and prevent gastrointestinal problems when that happens. That’s why I love them, and I finally found the one that works for me.

Studies on Probiotics

One study indicated that probiotics helped 60 percent of participants with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Probiotics help with constipation as well and have been shown to slow the transit time of food by 12.4 hours. In these studies, probiotics increased the number of weekly bowel movements by 1.3 bowel movements, allowing patients to feel better about their digestion within hours.

This is just the start of the magic of probiotics. There are a ton of benefits to them, and I’ve been using them for years. There’s one I want to tell you about. It’s called Restore3. You hardly even know you are taking it, but you definitely feel better and healthier overall when you do.

In Native Formulas, I trust…

I take these Restore 3 supplements every day, and they have a noticeable affect on my vitality and energy.

The founder of Restore 3 have vast experience in the area of digestive health. They have done some really amazing research on gut health. The story of how they created these supplements came from decades of trial and error, searching for solutions to digestive tract issues. Check out their website, they have a ton of great info on there related to gut health.

What are the benefits of taking probiotics?

There are a number of benefits of taking probiotics. They are most known for helping with digestion, and any problems you may have with your gut. They are very popular with certain intestinal disorders, but they also help with almost any acute or mild digestion problem. Probiotics provide many benefits to the following conditions, just to start:

• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• Colitis
• H. pylori
• Urinary tract infections
• Digestive infections

Healthy digestion is the primary benefit of probiotics. They also help to relieve gas and bloating, or any kind of digestive discomfort at all.

How do I choose a probiotic?

When you are looking at different probiotics to choose from, it is going to be overwhelming because it feels like they all look the same. There are certain natural chemicals that are sometimes added to probiotics, and this is often where you will find the differences with most brands. Read the labels carefully.

To start, you want a product that contains Lactobacillus, in a quantity of at least 1 billion units. You are also going to want to look for Saccharomyces boulardii, Bifidobacterium. Most probiotics on the market contain at least Lactobaccillus. If you only get one of these chemicals in your probiotic, be sure that it is that one. Yogurt contains Lactobacillus for example. On their own, these chemicals will often be eliminated by your stomach acid and won’t produce the benefits you are looking for from a probiotic. This is why so many people supplement with probiotics.

Other ingredients to look for include natural herbal additions, which you will see often in probiotics. Herbal supplements can help to relieve abdominal discomfort considerably.

The ingredients used in Restore 3 include:

Proteolytic Enzymes
Magnesium Malate
Cellulase And Hemicellulase
Glucoamylase And Amylase
Lipase
Bacillus Coagulans
Bacillus Subtilis

Restore 3 is a powerful dietary supplement, which delivers essential nutrients, enzymes and probiotics in your body. It is made using high potency ingredients, which are safe and highly effective. Using this formula will improve your body health and make you feel strong. It improves digestive health, relief you from pains, boost body immunity and raise energy levels.

It is very essential for people suffering from fibromyalgia, as it reliefs from pain and make you feel refreshed.

It also eliminates other health issues like gas, bloating and heartburn. This formula is designed for daily use for you to obtain optimum results.

The Restore 3 probiotic delivers the most essential bacteria strains in your intestines, leading to an improved digestive health.

You won’t have to buy multiple products to get them all included in your diet.

Are Probiotics Safe?

Yes, for most people probiotics are safe because they contain things that our body already has. For some people, there might be some allergic reactions. Those allergic reactions may include the very symptoms you are trying to alleviate, like bloating, diarrhea, stomach upset, and gas. If you are concerned at all, talk to your doctor about taking probiotics.

There are some conditions that should avoid probiotics. Those conditions include the following:

• Weakened immune systems
• Critical or terminal illnesses
• Post-surgical patients
• Infants that are ill

Probiotics are considered to be safe for children, but sometimes that is a no. When they are already ill, or being treated for something, they should be avoided until the doctor gives the green light.

Why Restore 3?

Restore 3 offers all of the ingredients that you need in a good probiotic.

Along with all of the immune-boosting properties that you get from your own intestinal micro-organisms, Restore 3 features the proprietary DE111 that enhances immune response above what other probiotics can do for you.

The support team is very responsive too if you have questions. My questions were answered the same day.

Bottom line

I am always looking for ways to keep my body running at maximum efficiency. The “master key” to vibrant health IS IN YOUR GUT! Your gut is the gatekeeper to so many microorganisms and your gut is the one that unlocks so many doors which need to be opened to reach optimal health.

My advice is not to spend a lot of money getting supplements to cross every mineral off of your list. Restore 3 is one is all-in-one solution, meaning you can get everything you need from one dosage.

Try Restore3 today at a very affordable cost, and I have a gut feeling that you’ll be glad you did! 😉

Best Life Hacks | Blog Marketing | Web Marketing

Why I Bought My Ojo Electric Scooters

23 November 2017 by Taylor Reaume

Maintaining my “cool uncle” status was not the only reason I bought my OJO scooters, although it was indeed a factor for sure. ; )

I recently bought two OjO electric scooters from Electric Bikes of California, and I’ve had so much fun that I’m actually a little sorry I waited this long. When I asked Electric Bikes to help me find the best electric scooter, they pointed me in the direction of the OjO (pronounced Oh-Joe) Commuter Scooter. It’s all-electric and has a lot of nifty features which have transformed it into a smart electric scooter, or e-scooter.

Convinced that this was the best electric scooter on the market, I got two OjOs from Electric Bikes for just under $2000 each. I’ve been using them to run my errands like going to the post office, eating at my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara, checking out the beach, and meeting with clients. I’m really enjoying life in the bike lane, and the savings on gas are a big plus.

I love to update my readers on products and services available here in California that I think are perfect for our area. With the beautiful climate and easy terrain of Santa Barbara, this is a great location to scoot around and enjoy our sunny weather and warm breezes. And there is no better way to do that than with an electric scooter.

My OjO Commuter Scooters are very sturdy, and provide quite a safe and comfortable ride. I even had my niece and nephew check them out – helmets are required for riders under 12 – and they gave the official kids’ seal of approval by saying they “had a blast.”

I’m not alone in enjoying the benefits of this form of transportation. In fact, Statista reports that by 2024 the projected global market for people who want to buy electric scooters will be well over 4.4 million. This could be attributable to their low cost and eco-efficiencies, but I think the growing popularity is all about the fun.

When you compare electric scooters to electric bikes, you’ll see they have similarities and differences. Electric Bikes says their eBikes are a bit larger and are based off of traditional bike designs. They feature a battery pack, controller, and an electric hub motor. Their OjO electric scooters, on the other hand, have smaller tires which make them very maneuverable. Riders can stand or comfortably sit on the ergonomically designed OjO, which makes it perfect for the commuter or outdoor enthusiast. Whatever your outdoor riding needs may be, Electric Bikes can help you find the ride that is best for you.

The Benefits of the OjO Electric Commuter Scooter

If you want to buy an electric scooter, now is the time to take the leap. They’re perfect for personal use, or make a great holiday gift idea. Here are just a few of the things I love about my OjO e-scooters:

Durability: This isn’t your kid’s Razor Scooter, by a long stretch. The OjO is designed for comfort, security and agility, making it the perfect ride for kids AND adults. A fully-welded lightweight aluminum frame and durable integrated ABS automotive grade plastic fairings create a combination of strength and beauty. Best of all, the aluminum design means it’s weatherproof, waterproof, and rustproof. I feel safe and secure riding on this luxurious mode of electric transportation.

Stability: Good-sized, treaded, all-weather tires provide maximum grip for turning, in case I get caught in a California shower. Protective mud flaps help maintain peak performance. The front and rear disc brakes provide a safe, quick and controlled stop.

Sturdy: The OjO features a wing-shaped body and an all-welded heavy gauge extruded aluminum under-chassis for optimal strength and stability. It can easily hold up to 300 pounds, but it only weighs 65 pounds itself. I can throw it in the back of the car and take it anywhere around Santa Barbara for a day of outdoor fun.

Range: The removable 48V Lithium Ion battery provides a range of up to 25 miles when fully charged, depending on the terrain and speed. A patented on-board charger with retractable cord plugs into any 110V wall outlet, so you can recharge while enjoying lunch at our Santa Barbara restaurants.

Speedy: There are three speed modes – easy, economy, and sport – with a top speed of 20 mph. The OjO also has the power to climb hills up to 12-15 degree grades.

Comfort: The OjO was ergonomically designed, and features heavy-duty mono-front and double-rear shocks, so it’s really comfortable to ride, even for the longer distances.

Tech-Friendly: You know I love my gadgets, and the OjO completely satisfies this need. A special capacitive, non-glare touchscreen allows me to choose from the three speed modes, review current and historical distance information, and control the e-scooter’s lighting and sound features. It has a Bluetooth-enabled sound system with high-fidelity, dual waterproof integrated speakers, so I can enjoy my tunes. There is even a convenient USB port for charging my phone while I’m on the go.

Safety: Front and rear LED lighting maximizes my vision and makes the e-scooter easier for others to see. An electric safety horn lets them know where I am. I have a secure key fob for starting it up, locating it if I forget, and activating the security system. The motion-activated alarm serves as a reliable theft deterrent.

There are no harmful emissions because it is electric, and it’s incredibly easy to maintain. You can choose from a variety of colors including gloss white, matte black, sky blue, rose gold, graphite, orange and the way-cool street art. Available accessories are a handy basket for holding your necessaries, mirrors, additional battery, replacement tire, and optional battery charger.

The OjO Commuter Scooter was developed at the company’s headquarters in Santa Monica, California. It is available at Electric Bikes shops in Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Corona Del Mar and Malibu. If you’re looking for a fun, safe form of transportation in Santa Barbara, compare the OjO electric scooter to other options and you’ll see that it can make a great choice for you and your family.

The Internet, And The Future Of Bumper Stickers

18 April 2015 by Taylor Reaume

Oh where, oh where have the corporate bumper stickers gone?

It used to be that in the good old days of marketing, not so very long ago, businesses could simply go to any trade show and hand out bumper stickers with their name and corporate logo on them, and that would be about it for any outbound marketing effort. Add on some type of contest like the radio stations did, and you were really going above and beyond.

But look around these days and you don’t see anything near the proliferation of bumper stickers that there used to be.

Oh sure, you can still find witty and religious sayings, magnetic ribbons for various diseases, words of support for politicians and sports teams, “my child is an honor student” and those omnipresent stick figure families.

But when was the last time you saw a bumper sticker with the name of a local business on it? If you have seen one, odds are that it was probably on an older vehicle and had a purpose of helping to keep the bumper on the car!

Well, times have changed, bumpers have changed and the marketer’s idea of only using bumper stickers to attract prospects and customers will have to change, too.

Those once-plentiful signs of company pride used to be a popular form of traditional — or push — marketing. The objective was to push information, the company’s name or branding statements out to consumers, and they would be more inclined to frequent your business.

Now it’s a much more in-depth and delicate wooing process for companies to capture the attention of prospects and win their consumer hearts. It demands the strategic use of Internet marketing.

The good news is that businesses of every size can utilize Internet marketing. The bad news is that businesses of every size have to utilize Internet marketing, or they will simply lose out to their much more aggressive and Internet-savvy competitors.

This form of marketing is known as pull marketing. It’s a little similar to fishing, where you put something of interest out there to attract some attention, and let it slowly lure in a prospect. The differences here are that you have to use lots of lures and you sometimes have to gain the fish’s permission to participate in the process.

The Move to Social Media and Online Marketing

One similarity between bumper stickers and pull marketing is that you have a very short period of time to garner some attention. Just like passing another car and noticing what the slogan is, your online communications have to be sharp, focused and consistent.

Get to the top of the search engine rankings or nobody can find you, have a succinct Facebook message or it’s gone in 60 seconds as new posts appear, catch attention in six seconds with a blog title or your prospect moves on. It’s a fast and furious world, and you’ve got to be on the top of your game.

Here are just some of the amazing statistics about the opportunity represented by social media and online marketing:

» Social media is huge and it’s still growing: In January, ClickZ highlighted a report from eMarketer that found that social media will have 5.4 million more users by 2016, on top of the 180 million Americans who already rely on it for social interaction and information.

The top five social media outlets are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Tumblr. If your business doesn’t have a presence on these five as a minimum, you could be missing out on customers, regardless of your target age group.

Amazingly enough, there will be 4.9 million social network users younger than 12 and 21.1 million teenagers engrossed in social media. Older Millennials are the most active social networkers, and even 17.1 million 55-64 year olds frequent Facebook.

No matter who you need to communicate to in order to present your features and benefits, you had better include social media if you plan to accomplish that goal.

» Young adults are watching less TV: According to Nielsen’s 2014 fourth-quarter analysis of television viewing habits, young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 are actually watching less television.

If this is your target group, it’s going to be harder and harder to find them without incorporating an Internet element to your marketing strategy.

The primary reason for their decreased interest in traditional television is their increased interest in digital devices. They are surfing the web, using social media, and Googling answers to every question that comes up in conversation. They use their mobile devices and smartphones extensively and, if they want information on a product or company, they want it now. If it’s not easily available, they are more than willing to move on.

» Social media is the new “back fence”: If people wanted to communicate with their neighbors just a few years ago, they could simply walk to the back fence and exchange information. They might ask about local businesses, relate good and bad experiences, or even provide a referral.

Now all of that is accomplished online through social media networks, bloggers and influencers. Consumers are now in the habit of searching online for answers and information first before making decisions from where to eat to where to have surgery.

In fact, Power Reviews found that 86 percent of consumers say reviews are an essential resource when making purchasing decisions. They trust peer recommendations more than they trust advertising and, if they do have a question or concern for a business, they want to be able to get a response quickly.

Does it seem like too much effort to learn about the new “pull” marketing? The return on investment for the time and energy needed is that you get to stay in business and keep attracting customers. Not such a bad return.

So, are bumper stickers totally useless now? Well, not exactly. But I’d recommend adding your web site with a call to action and a coupon code.

— Taylor Reaume is an e-Business coach and founder of Search Engine Pros. He can be contacted at taylor@thesearchenginepros.com, or 1.800.605.4988. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.

Blog Marketing | Web Marketing

Facebook Marketing Power Tips For Santa Barbara Businesses

28 March 2015 by Taylor Reaume

Are you marketing your business effectively on Facebook? There are so many ways your company can use social media to build awareness with a target audience. It may seem like Facebook is all about cat videos and selfies, but don’t be fooled. Facebook is a powerful marketing opportunity that can build your business when used properly.

One reason for Facebook’s effectiveness is that consumers now want to be more involved in creating the brand story. While business marketers used to be able to “push” information out to consumers on a need-to-know basis, consumers now want to “pull” information in and make decisions based on what they find.

The first place they are likely to look for information, whether it’s deciding on a restaurant or looking for a doctor, is online. And they’ll use their social media circle of friends as part of the research process, too.

Since the conversation can no longer be one-sided, social media is also used to create a dialog. There is no better, faster or more cost-effective way to reach prospects and customers than online.

While Facebook is one of the older forms of social media, it is also one of the most effective and widely accepted. Here are a few recent — and stunning — Facebook statistics that should capture your attention:

» Monthly active Facebook users: 1,310,000,000 — That’s a lot of opportunity!

» Mobile Facebook users: 680,000,000 — Plenty of reason to make sure your Facebook page is mobile-friendly.

» Increase in Facebook users from 2012 to 2013: 22 percent — It’s still growing.

» Total number of minutes spent on Facebook each month: 640,000,000 — It’s engaging.

» Percent of all Facebook users who log on in any given day: 48 percent — People are involved.

» Average time spent on Facebook per visit: 18 minutes — Once they visit, they stick around.

Facebook is so ubiquitous that many Millennials check their FB page before they even get out of bed, but it’s not just for use by businesses that target a younger audience. The fastest-growing demographic on Facebook is 40-60 years old.

In the old days, we used to keep in touch with friends via phone or letters; now we use social media to say hello, share information and build relationships.

It’s Not Just for Cat Videos

Did you know that Google “crawls” the Facebook Fan pages to look for indicators that could propel your business to the top of its search engine results? The same rules apply here as they do for website pages — content must be optimized, engaging, relevant and shareable. The good news is that these strategies don’t just build rankings; they also build relationships.

Let’s say you’ve started a Facebook page, added some nice photos, wrote an “about us” piece, included location and contact information, and have links to your website and other social media pages. So how do you garner likes and build a community?

First, make sure you promote your page everywhere and ask people to like it. Recommend that they share information with friends who might be interested in what you offer.

Your page needs to be dynamic, with new information added on a consistent basis. The social media world moves quickly. Information only stays at the top of the page for a few minutes. Unless you have said something that catches consumers’ attention and makes them stop, they move on to the next item. That’s why it’s important to be on Facebook every day with something new.

Constant reminders about your company, products and services, and the benefits you offer will start to build top-of-mind awareness. If you don’t think you can find the time to interact every day, take some time at the beginning of every month to outline thirty ideas or points you want to make. Some can be seasonal or talk about sales items, but most should just be a way of engaging your audience.

Here are a few power tips that can make your Facebook page sing:

» Consistency: Your message needs to be consistent across all online platforms. Have a marketing strategy with the “talking points” or main issues you want to present to your audience and stick to them. Don’t assume that one or two sentences every day is enough to form a complete impression. You might need to think of 10 different ways to say the same thing so that your audience can understand.

» Content: Content for Facebook must be optimized the same way your website is. What are the keywords your audience searches for, and how can they be included? Don’t just sell, sell, sell — use your Facebook posts to educate, engage and entertain. Ask for “likes,” tell a few jokes, post interesting tidbits they might want to share.

» Drive Traffic: Invite your community to click through to your website on a consistent basis. Tell them about your newsletter, a complimentary PDF you offer, or the latest blog article.

» Contests: These can be a good way to generate attention and gather leads. But don’t just spend money on a contest and move on. You must have a plan in place to use those leads, and try to convert them to a sale.

Above all, remember that this is a two-way street. You must also monitor your Facebook page on a regular basis. React if someone makes a comment, respond if there is a question, and say thanks if you get a compliment.

For a good example of a Facebook page that works, check out GoGoleta. Note the use of attractive photos, regular updates and posts that provide helpful information.

If you’d like more Facebook and online marketing tips, be sure to click LIKE on Search Engine Pros Facebook Fan Page.

Make Facebook a central part of your online marketing strategy. Boost your “likes” and your “followers,” and you’ll boost your sales and profits.

How to Get the Most Out of the Internet Marketing Maze

12 March 2015 by Taylor Reaume

The way companies market their products and services has changed over the last decade. To keep up with competitors in your industry, you need to figure out how to use cost-effective online marketing methods.

To someone who is just looking at online marketing for the first time, it may appear to be an overwhelming and confusing maze. There are plenty of wrong turns you can make, many of which lead to a scary place with your online marketing strategy. The good news is that the Internet marketing maze is something you can perfect over time.

Here are some simple ways to maximize your Internet marketing strategy. The Internet marketing campaign tips below will help build your online presence.

Consider the Bigger Picture

As you start to build your online marketing approach, it’s very important that you consider the bigger picture and your extended plans. This is vital because your entire online presence needs to be cohesive and symmetrical. If you lack cohesiveness between different parts of your online presence, you’ll have a very difficult time trying to maximize your efforts.

Keep in mind that to truly dominate the Internet marketing maze, you’ll want to gear your approach in a way that will accommodate Google search engine algorithms. In being search engine optimized, otherwise known as SEO, with Google, you’ll greatly increase the likelihood of your customers and prospective clients coming across your online networks.

So how does the bigger picture and SEO come together? It’s quite simple.

SEO is measured through a variety of factors. Some of the most important elements include:

» Keywords placed throughout the website

» The name of the website

» Name, address and phone number of the business

» Social media accounts

» How polished the website coding is

When you consider all of these factors, you can see why it’s very important that you avoid switching around the name of your business. The more that you consider the bigger picture and plan for the future, the easier of a time you’ll have when it comes to navigating through the Internet marketing maze.

See What Others Are Doing

Another great way to find out what you should do for your Internet marketing campaign is to look to others and see what they’re doing. This will work if you have competition in your niche market that is successfully implementing its own Internet marketing campaign.

Some of your competitors’ online marketing techniques to observe include:

» How their website looks and is presented

» Which online resources they use, ie. Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.

» How they interact with their clients online

By seeing what works for your competition, you can narrow down the efforts that you effectively put in place for your own marketing approach. There is no time to waste when it comes to being a small business, so learning from the mistakes of your competition will help increase the likelihood of success.

Tailor Your Approach to Your Market

Keep in mind that every company is different. Even though it’s a great idea for you to look at your competition to see what they’re doing, that doesn’t mean this should be something that you settle on. In other words, you may need to tailor your online networking approach to more directly market your clientele.

A prime example of this can be seen between two shoe companies. While both companies may borrow ideas from one another for most of their marketing techniques, the approach may change for Company A if they sell flip-flops, whereas Company B sells winter snow boots.

Another reason that you’ll want to tailor your approach for your specific market is because it will keep you and your audience more interested. Although you might come across, and want to share, a picture of a cute cat that has been shared a million times online, that doesn’t mean it’s something that your target market will take interest in. That’s why the companies that are most effective with the Internet marketing maze know exactly what it is that their audience wants to see. If you can do this, too, then you’ll notice much better results.

Track Your Results

One of the biggest mistakes that companies make with their online marketing includes the failure to observe and track results. Some businesses will just put their market approach in place and assume that things will work. Even some companies that find success will fail to realize that they can change other parts of their approach to try to maximize things in the best way possible. The truth is that you will need to observe your efforts and track your results throughout the lifetime of your online marketing approach.

Change As Necessary

As you track your results, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t for your online marketing campaign. For the things that work, consider keeping them in place to get the most results possible. However, you’ll want to change things that do not work in hopes of making them better. The more effective that you are with tweaking your system, the higher probability it is that you’ll have an inclusive Internet marketing approach that is successful.

If you’ve heard that marketing online is difficult, you aren’t totally off. But while it may be difficult to navigate your way through what seems like a hopeless maze, stay confident that there are certainly ways to be successful with enough hard work and effort. By following the tips mentioned here, you’ll be able to successfully start your approach at online marketing.

Blog Marketing | Reputation Marketing | Web Marketing

Can I Sue Someone for Leaving a Bad Yelp Review?

24 January 2015 by Taylor Reaume

For a small business, Yelp reviews can have a huge impact on your local reputation. In a world where everything is sociable and shareable, many people look to Yelp to find out information about the quality of small businesses in their neighborhood.

For those that have a bevy of positive reviews, this can build confidence among consumers and lead to an abundance of new sales. However, for a business that has bad reviews on Yelp, the results can be disastrous for their reputation.

When small business owners see that a person has left a negative review on Yelp, a variety of different emotions are likely going to run through their minds. Thoughts that range from “That person doesn’t know what they’re talking about” to “It must be one of my competitors trying to slander my company” — they are all likely.

As your blood starts to boil and you only get more angry, it’s also likely that you consider what sort of legal action you can take against the person who has left a negative review.

One of the first reactions is to take the reviewer to court and sue them for leaving a bad Yelp review.

Cases like this are popping up all over America, with mixed results for both business owners and reviewers. Here is a look into whether a business can sue someone for leaving a bad review on Yelp, and what is needed on behalf of each party to stay legally protected.

Reviewer Is Protected Under the First Amendment

It’s important to understand that, under the First Amendment, a customer does have the right to leave a review based on his or her experience at a particular business. The First Amendment protects citizens and allows them to speak freely, which can include both positive and negative experiences.

While the First Amendment does ensure free speech, it doesn’t prevent false or untruthful comments that hurt a company’s reputation. This means that the comments made by a reviewer on Yelp must be proven as truthful or honest, based off their experience with a particular business.

For example, in the Arizona case above, a woman went online to share her experience with a vehicle repair company. Kendra McConnell claimed that after leaving her Jeep with Premier Coach Works in El Mirage, they failed to do an adequate job of repairing her vehicle. In her review, she stated that the company failed to return phone calls, overcharged for services and did not properly repair the vehicle as promised.

This sort of situation can certainly be a challenge for both parties. For the consumers, they feel as if they’ve been cheated and have the right to leave a review based on their experience. But for Premier Coach Works, the company feels victimized by the impact that a negative Yelp review can have on its business.

Business Must Provide the Burden of Proof

In deciding whether a company can sue reviewers for their negative comments online, it comes down to the ability of that company to prove the statements made were untrue. For example, in the Premier Coach Works case, it was up to the company to prove that McConnell was not being factual in the comments she made.

As a consumer, knowing that you can be taken advantage of by a company can be a scary thought. Luckily, we now live in a time in which nearly everything can be recorded and used as justification for improper services. For example, a customer can use emails, text messages and legal tender to prove the commitments were not upheld by the company they used.

If the evidence proves that the comments on Yelp were factual and honest, there are no grounds for the reviewer to have to remove the post. In addition, the business cannot sue the reviewer for those comments.

While businesses may hear this and think they are now at the mercy of their customers, this isn’t necessarily the case. Just as consumers can use evidence to argue their reasoning for a negative review, the company can use the same information to defend the reputation of their business. In the event that the case moves to a courtroom, the same information can be used to persuade a judge to have the review on Yelp removed if the post is not truthful.

Both Parties Can Come to an Agreement

Yelp was created with the intention of being a platform on which consumers could state their insight and experiences with local businesses. The truth is that this helps to protect consumers, and it also holds businesses to a higher standard to ensure that they’re providing the best service possible to their customers.

Because of the damage that negative Yelp reviews can cause, however, there is now concern for customers making untruthful comments about their experiences at a given business.

In the case of McConnell and Premier Coach Works, the two sides came to an agreement outside of court. In many instances, this could be what ideally occurs for businesses and Yelp reviewers.

If you want to prevent the headache that comes from a negative Yelp review, there is a simple solution: Make sure you give great service to every customer who walks through the door. However, if you’ve done all you can and you still feel you’re receiving unjustified negative reviews on Yelp, it’s important to know that your business is protected.

Evidence is everything when it comes to these sorts of cases on Yelp. So whether you are a business or a customer, make sure you are prepared to defend yourself and the actions you take online.

Blog Marketing | Event Marketing | Web Marketing

Event Marketing and Event Promotion Ideas

23 December 2014 by Taylor Reaume

Think back about 10 years and try to remember how you used to garner interest about an event that you were throwing in Santa Barbara.

How would you get people’s attention? How would you maximize the number of people who knew about the event? Would you be able to easily track attendees? Could you easily let people know of changes if something came up?

Chances are that these hypothetical questions gave you some real-life headaches.

Luckily, planning and promoting events has completely changed thanks to the help of social media and the Internet in its entirety. If you’re a savvy with your Internet promoting methods, you can track, measure and inform your audience with up-to-the-minute results in ways like never before.

As you read through this insight on how to promote your Santa Barbara event on the web, a few parameters that you should consider are:

» Keeping your target audience in mind

» Knowing who your sponsors are

» Determining the best outlets for reaching your audience

» Understanding how to handle issues or concerns that may come up along the way.

As you make note of these considerations, here are some tips for promoting your Santa Barbara event on the web, and utilizing all of the resources at your disposal.

Do Some Preliminary Research

Before you begin your marketing efforts, it’s important that you first do a bit of research to determine where your efforts will be best spent. After all, it’s pointless if you put all of your efforts into marketing something that other people will never take interest in.

While you’re doing your preliminary research, find keywords that you can target and use online. If you are able to link keywords with a “Santa Barbara” tag, then your event will be much more easily discoverable by users who are looking for it. Those keywords will be influential throughout the rest of your campaign, so understanding how to use them is worth the time investment in the first steps of online promotion.

Build Your Presence

Once you have your keywords figured out, where do you use them? This is where you are also going to want to find out where your online presence is best met with your typical users.

For example, you may notice that most of your users are on a social media site like Facebook or Twitter. You might also recognize that having a website or blog is better for reaching people who are not familiar with social media. Or you may even want to consider an email list to directly reach people on a regular basis.

Whatever your potential market is, this is where you should build your online presence.

The great news is that building your online presence isn’t going to dig deep into your budget. Social media accounts can be set up for free, and a website or email client is something that will be very cost-efficient. Not only is online promotion more convenient that more traditional methods, but it’s also cheaper as well.

Start Networking

Once you have everything in place, it’s time to start networking with people and building your online promotion. The best way to start with this is to connect with people who you know personally. Inform them of the event in Santa Barbara and ask them to share with others who may be interested. You will be surprised to see how quickly this can spread, which will make your networking efforts incredibly worthwhile.

Keep Things Fresh

To make sure you are staying at the top of search engine results, your promotional efforts should also be geared toward keeping things fresh and updated throughout all of your online networks. You will need to consistently update your social media posts and add new content to your website. Not only does this keep people interested in the event that you are promoting in Santa Barbara, but it’ll also help you increase your wherewithal in SEO results.

If you’re having a hard time finding content to continually update, consider a news release to get people excited. There is plenty of viral content that consists of, “Top 10” lists or photos of cats eating cheeseburgers, so having something that is relevant to Santa Barbara will really interest your audience and grab their attention.

And if you need help with creating this new and exciting content, you can also consider hiring someone to manage this task for you.

Implement Media

People want to see what it is that you are putting together for your Santa Barbara event. With the Internet, you can provide media that will give them exactly what it is that they want.

For example, you can provide insider photos or videos of the process that it takes to put together your event. By showing people the process, they will take more interest, but the event will remain in the person’s mind. And if this media goes viral, it could mean getting thousands of views in a short period of time.

Instant Communication

In the event that someone has a question about your Santa Barbara event, it’s vital that you respond and communicate with them as quickly as possible. This can be done through automatic email responses, RSS feeds or even instant messenger services. It’s also important that you respond to social media posts and comments quickly as well.

By communicating with your audience quickly, they will see that you are attentive and interested. It will also help to generate a positive vibe about your event, which will work in your favor as you try and draw in more people to the event.

Provide Easy Access

Finally, you need to ensure that the online promotion of your Santa Barbara event includes easy resources for people to find out more information. This should include an email address, links to other online networks, as well time and date information regarding the event.

The easier that you make it for people to find out information about your event, the less likely it is that there will be confusion during the process.

The way that you prepare for your event in Santa Barbara has changed. Instead of relying on outdated techniques and methods, consider the tips here for promoting your Santa Barbara event on the web.

1 2 3