Category: General Interest

29
Jun

Re-purpose Key Twitter Posts

A great way to extend social media efforts is to re-purpose Twitter posts. You can do this on your website by embedding tweets which allows readers to interact with it as if viewing it on Twitter. To do this, find the tweet you want, expand it and click details. You will see the option “Embed this tweet” appear in a new screen. Copy the code and add it to your web page.

8
Jun

Positioning Your Product or Brand

Positioning is a facet of the marketing strategy that aims to give your product or brand a distinct perception—relative to competing brands—in the mind of the customer. An historic campaign for Avis reflects this: “Avis Is Only No. 2, We Try Harder.”

In developmental stages, determine the positioning you intend for your product or brand. Research and market feedback will help you discover if it is aligned with actual consumer attitudes. If not, then marketing messages can help close the gap or change perception.

Positioning is an art. Great positioning tells a compelling, attention grabbing story—a story that resonates with your audience.

Rebel Brown

The positioning process begins with identifying a market problem or opportunity, then developing a solution—often based on market research, segmentation and supporting data. Once positioning is determined, it will help align and guide marketing efforts and business objectives. The perfume I use is the indulgent scent for pleasure seekers. Thus, the tone and manner of messages, images, events and PR are created to consistently express this in all communication.

Again, positioning is the perception of your product or brand in the mind of the customer. Perception is reality. Aim to establish the highest and best use for your brand among your audience. And, be open to emerging alternate audiences, too. Here are some examples of common positioning strategies and how they might translate in the marketplace.

 

2
Nov

GRAMMAR: ME vs I

It is important to use language correctly so not to diminish credibility of your content. Here is a tool to help guide the use of I (noun) versus ME (pronoun). Keep it handy till it becomes a habit.

Guide for the proper use of I vs ME.

Guide for the proper use of I vs ME.

“I” is the noun—refers to oneself as speaker or writer.  “ME” is the pronoun—refers to self as object of a verb or preposition.

RULE: If you can’t replace the “YOU and I” with “WE,” you’ve got it wrong. If you can’t replace “YOU and ME” with “US,” you’ve got it wrong. Tweet: RULE: If you can't replace YOU & I with WE—you've got it wrong. If you can't replace YOU & ME with US—you've got it wrong. @tamaraparisio

Thanks for meeting with HIM AND ME. (Thanks for meeting with ME. Thanks for meeting with HIM. Thanks for meeting with US.) vs HE AND I appreciate your time. (I appreciate your time. HE appreciates your time. WE appreciate your time.)

It is bigger than YOU AND ME combined. (It is bigger than ME. It is bigger than YOU.) vs YOU AND I are smaller than this idea. (I am smaller than this idea. YOU are smaller than this idea. WE are smaller than this idea.)

To YOU AND ME, this idea is big. (To ME, this idea is big. To YOU, this idea is big. To US this idea is big.) vs When YOU AND I succeed (When I succeed … When YOU succeed… When WE succeed…)

They will praise YOU AND ME for this. (They will praise ME for this. They will praise YOU for this. They will praise US for this.) vs The praise YOU AND I receive will be stellar (The praise I receive will be stellar. The praise YOU receive will be stellar. The praise WE receive will be stellar.)

Between HIM AND ME there is chemistry. (Between US there is chemistry. Between HIM & ME. Between ME & YOU. Between ME & HIM.) vs HE AND I share an office. (HE shares an office with me. I share an office with him. She shares and office with HIM AND ME. WE share an office.)

He took a photo of HIMself AND ME. (He took a photo of US. He took a photo of HIMSELF. He took a photo of ME. He took a photo of US.) vs HE AND I posed for a photo. (HE posed for a photo. I posed for a photo. WE posed for a photo.)

8
Sep

Perfecting the Four P’s

Essential to your marketing program success is alignment and integration of the “Four P’s” which are Product, Price, Positioning, Placement.

PRODUCT: It all begins with your product—that which you proffer. It could be a tangible item or it could be a service. Either way, it is important to define your product in terms of the problem it solves. For example, my Parfum lets me express myself in a scent and gives an aromatic influence to my day. It is designed, packaged, and presented to meet tangible and emotional needs.

PRICE: Next it is important to formulate your price. The value of your product to your customer is determined by weighing many variables. In addition to consumer factors, each of these need consideration:

  1. product costs—you will need to cover costs in order to have a viable offer
  2. profit target—what is the desired return you wish to achieve
  3. positioning among competitive options—how your product compares to other choices your customer could make to solve the same problem
  4. place of distribution—where your customer gets your offer is a frame of reference for pricing (i.e. convenience outlet, luxury venue, specialty store, etc.)

PROMOTION: This includes a range of activities to gain awareness for your product, to attract prospects and convert them to customers. This includes efforts at the trade and consumer levels: advertising, public relations, events, sampling, and collaborative offers among the possibilities.

PLACEMENT: Place of distribution can affect your overall marketing efforts. For instance my Parfum is available only via specialty stores so it is more expensive than an option I could find at the discount department store and the marketing message will need to deliver a promise of panache.

To best serve your marketing endeavors, the Four P’s need to be integrated and aligned. This will help focus marketing messages and determine other efforts to augment positioning (sometimes considered the 5th P, we touched on positioning briefly while considering facets of pricing). Positioning is how the customer sees your product among the options or solutions considered. The marketing mix must work to align customer perception with the desired reputation you wish to build for your product, brand or company.

13
Aug

The Top 10 Mistakes Bloggers Make

I love a list. And here in brief is one from a podcast by Michael Hyatt with Michele Cushatt (find it here).

Here are the top ten mistakes bloggers make:

  1. You don’t post enough.
  2. You post too much.
  3. Your posts are too long.
  4. You don’t invite engagement.
  5. You don’t participate in the conversation.
  6. You don’t make your content accessible.
  7. You don’t create catchy headlines.
  8. Your first paragraph is weak.
  9. Your topic is off brand.
  10. Your post is all about you.

In a nutshell.

3
Jul

Shop the Edit

At times, it all comes together with an image—or five. The EDIT is a great tool for showcasing products, concepts, and how-go’s. Here are some EDIT’s created to showcase bling-around-the-collar BARKTORIALIST charms for pets and people.

magazine EDIT HUMP

HUMP

Yes. It is an animal instinct. Get the message for your pet or for the human who is a heavy petter.

magazine EDIT CALM

CALM

Hey. Many of us know the pet who can get a bit ramped up—and the person who needs to chill.

magazine EDIT DIET

DIET

A nice option for the pup who digs in the trash, or for the person who wants to remember to eat clean.

11
Jun

Content Creation – Magazine Articles

Tamara Parisio for THE BARKTORIALIST

Tamara Parisio writes for THE BARKTORIALIST

Tamara Parisio writes for THE BARKTORIALIST

Tamara Parisio writes for THE BARKTORIALIST

The Barktorialist Magazine

Tamara Parisio writes for THE BARKTORIALIST

9
Jun

TWEET it – increase your social shares

Invite social shares for your next blog post or for a website page by creating a pre-populated tweet link. With this you can generate a hyperlink that automatically posts a twitter message when clicked. Try it!

  1. To create a pre-populated tweet link URL, start with: http://twitter.com/home/?status=
  2. Following the equal sign, add the text tweet message using the plus sign (+) for spaces
  3. Add the URL, bit.ly link, and/or Twitter handle
  4. If you include a hashtag, replace the pound sign (#) with %23.

Here is how the URL would look to add a tweet-it link to this post:

http://twitter.com/home/?status=Just+Tweet+It.+Check+out+this+great+twitter+trick!+http://bit.ly/1uLCiWP+via+@tamaraparisio

Tweet This!

Remember to test the URL in your browser before adding it as a hyperlink to make sure formatting is correct.

12
May

Be Curious.

cu·ri·os·i·ty [kyoor-ee-os-i-tee] noun, plural cu·ri·os·i·ties.
1. the desire to learn or know about anything; inquisitiveness.
2. a curious, rare, or novel thing.
3. a strange, curious, or interesting quality.
4. (archaic) carefulness; fastidiousness.

Curiosity drives us along a path of discovery along the way to discovery.

Tweet This: Curious people tend to embrace life more abundantly, have bigger dreams, and be more successful. #CreateAGreatDay

Ask the questions. What do customers want? What do they need? Success starts and ends with asking the right questions—and then asking more.

Explore relevancy, appeal, motivation, belief systems, trends, tendencies and more. What are people saying about your brand? And why? What is the perception of your industry? Where are the conversations happening? And when? Who is interested in what?

Answer the questions to yield unique messages that set apart your brand in the marketplace, extolling the key differentiating facet that will attract lifelong associations. Establish a meaningful connection. With research and insightful interpretation, determine effective ways to unite a person and your brand by responding to their desires.

Respond with insight, clarity, intention to show your expertise and attract attention. Forge a relationship. Build affinity. Ensure a positively personal brand experience.

Life is meaningful when you do something you love. Look into it.

Tweet This: “The important thing is not to stop questioning; curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein #CreateAGreatDay

10
May

Create Presence & Consistently Present It

Indicative of how an image is planted and then blossoms in the world of your business, here is presented the further evolution of the Logo Design for Elissa Henkin M.A., Advocate and Educational Consultant. In this, the logo is incorporated in the design of business stationery.

Elissa Henkin M.A. | Stationery Suite

Elissa Henkin M.A. | Stationery Suite

Three paper-based items are absolutely crucial to your presence in the marketplace: letterhead, envelopes, and business cards. Along with your logo, these items are the pillars of a well-defined identity.

Though seemingly ephemeral impressions, the subliminal communications value of elegant stationery must not be overestimated. The best stationery works hard to present your image and convey your values in a tangible way.

Traditionally, many of the world’s most successful companies have relied heavily on sharply-focused stationery. Whether you’re starting your business, building your business, or simply trying to stay in business, whatever your field, these three elements of corporate identity are vital for success.

6
May

MARULA Mother’s Day

To honor mom and feature MARULA Facial Oil as a gift option for Mother’s Day, we created this MARULA campaign for April and May asking for shared photos of mom. With this campaign, MARULA created an opportunity for reminiscing and remembering special moments with mom in an unfolding celebration of Mother’s Day.  And we reminded all of the soothing, pampering, protection, and indulgence that comes with a gift of MARULA. Participants are invited to LIKE the MARULABEAUTY Facebook page to enjoy MARULA tips, hints and sharing opportunities.

MARULA celebrates motherhood.

MARULA celebrates motherhood.

Mother's Day Indulgence

Mother’s Day Indulgence

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3
May

A Picture Worth 1000 Words

The right image is worth a thousand words when included to reinforce your brand message. Add a photograph to punctuate your point in a post. Upload an illustration of your topic rather than just talking about it.  Share an example of your work to “show & sell” your expertise. Brand the images and make the photos available for sharing.

When you use compelling images, your message stands out from the rest. In fact, posts with shared images are five times more likely to engage viewers and help build relationships. So post a picture and build a relationship with your ideal clients. Perhaps you’ll find yourself starring on a Pinterest board, and more!