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When most business owners think of LinkedIn, they envision corporate giants, recruiters, and professionals in suits seeking to expand their global networks. And yes, LinkedIn is full of those people. But here’s the thing: LinkedIn isn’t just for international networking. It’s one of the most powerful tools that small businesses and their owners should be using to drive their business forward. Using LinkedIn for local leads is the key to business success for many. Whether you’re a recruitment agency, a coach or consultant, a financial advisor or any other type of service-based business, your local community is already on LinkedIn.

The question is: are you showing up in front of them?

If you’re not, you’re leaving money on the table.

Here are 10 straightforward steps for turning LinkedIn into a local lead-generating machine, without needing to spend hours glued to your screen.

Step 1: Optimise Your Profile On LinkedIn for Local LeadsThink of your LinkedIn profile as your digital shopfront. If someone in your town is looking for what you do, will you pop up?

Here’s how to make sure you do:

Headline matters. Don’t just settle for the standard “Title at Company name.” Use keywords people will actually search for. Make it clear who you help, how you help. And why!
Add your location. Sounds obvious, doesn’t it! (You wouldn’t believe how many people skip this.) If you’re targeting “Cambridge accountants,” make sure Cambridge is front and centre on your profile.
Your ‘About’ section = your story. Use it to explain who you help, how you help, and the results you deliver. Make it clear that you work with local businesses. (Make sure the very first sentence includes a powerful hook!
Banner image. Don’t waste the space. A banner that includes your tagline, city, or local landmarks makes you instantly relatable to your target audience. LinkedIn switched things up a little while ago and now allows users with paid profiles to add multiple banners, creating an automatic carousel right at the top of our profiles.

THINK: If someone in your area searched “Your Service + Your Location” on LinkedIn right now, would they find you?

Step 2: Grow a Local Network with IntentionLinkedIn isn’t a numbers game – it isn’t about having the most connections; it’s about having the right ones. If you want local leads, you need to connect with local people. It’s no good boasting about nearly maxing out your 30K connections while complaining you’re not getting leads, if I then dive into the stats and see that 90% of your audience is not even on the same continent as you!

Use LinkedIn’s search filters. Type in your town or county and filter by “People.” You’ll instantly see a list of professionals in your area.
Connect after networking events. Met someone at a local business event? Connect with them the same day – there and then if you can using your LinkedIn QR code which you should always keep handy in your camera roll. If you’re connecting after (or perhaps even before if you have an attendee list) make sure to mention the event in your personalised connection request.
Focus in on “2nd degree” connections. These are friends of friends in your town. Connecting with them expands your network and your reach quickly.
Be selective. If your audience is small-to-medium business owners in your town, don’t accept every random global request. Stay focused.

THINK: Set yourself a target goal: Add 10–20 relevant local connections per week.

Step 3: Show Up in the Feed (and Stay Local) To Use LinkedIn For Local LeadsThis is where most small business owners and entrepreneurs fall short. They connect with people… and then go silent, disappearing into the night! They forget the old adage of ‘Out of sight, out of mind’.

If your goal is to use LinkedIn for local leads, you need to post regularly. Your posts don’t have to be world-class essays. They just need to be authentic and useful.

Here’s what works for local businesses:

Educational content. Share quick tips, how-to advice, or industry insights.
Local commentary. Talk about what’s happening in your town – new developments, local events, or community issues. It shows you’re tuned in. (Just don’t get political and be careful how you handle any potential local scandals!)
Behind-the-scenes posts. Photos of your team, your office, or even your dog under the desk. People buy from people, not faceless businesses.
Case studies. Share success stories of local clients. Tag them wherever possible to increase your visibility and build trust.
Engage with others. Don’t just post your stuff. Comment on other local business owners’ posts to stay on their radar.

THINK: Create a content plan that aims for 3–5 posts a week. Even once a week is better than nothing. Consistency is key.

Step 4: Master the Commenting StrategyHere’s a secret: you don’t always have to create content to get noticed. Commenting can be just as powerful for visibility.

Target your feed. Create a hit list of 20–30 local people you’d love to do business with or you know can refer business to you. Engage with their posts regularly.
Add value in comments. Don’t just write “Great post!” Add helpful thoughts and contributions, a question, or an example. That’s how you stand out.
Be consistent. Ten value-led comments a week can be more effective than one “viral” post.

THINK: Commenting Is mini-marketing. Each comment you make is a chance to show your expertise and build familiarity.

Step 5: Use LinkedIn Search Like a ProOne of LinkedIn’s best-kept secrets is its advanced search. You can literally build a list of potential local leads in minutes.

Here’s how:

Go to the search bar and type your service (e.g., “HR Manager”).
Hit “People” filter.
Narrow by location (your town/city/region).
Click “2nd degree connections”.
Boom! There’s your targeted list of local prospects.

From there:

Send personalised connection requests – without pitching.
Engage with their posts.
After a few interactions, send a message introducing yourself and offering value (NOT a cold sales pitch).

Step 6: LinkedIn Newsletters for Local ReachLinkedIn newsletters are underused, but they’re a fantastic way to build authority and keep in touch with your network.

Start a monthly newsletter. Share practical tips, local news, or industry insights.
Give It A Name That’s Optimised. Give it a title that makes sense to your audience (For example, if I were only focused on local business, I might create a newsletter called “Northampton Marketing Monthly”).
Promote it. Invite your local connections to subscribe and mention it in your posts.
Stay consistent. Even quarterly newsletters can keep you top of mind with your local network.

LinkedIn Newsletters land directly in the email inbox of your subscribers, giving you a front-row seat in their attention span.

Step 7: When to Invest in a Paid ProfileShould you pay for LinkedIn? For many small businesses, the free version is enough – especially when you’re just starting to build a personal brand. However paying for Sales Navigator once your ready is a great way to use LinkedIn for local leads.

Here’s when upgrading makes sense:

You’re actively prospecting. Paid versions let you filter searches more deeply and see everyone who’s viewed your profile.
You want InMail access. This is helpful if you’re reaching out to people you’re not yet connected with.
You’re ready to scale. Sales Navigator, in particular, is powerful if you want to build targeted lists and track decision-makers.

THINK: Are you using the free tools consistently? Paid tools amplify your efforts; they won’t replace them.

Step 8: Convert Conversations into LeadsWhether you’re paying or not, LinkedIn won’t magically drop sales into your inbox. The magic happens when you take online conversations offline.

When someone engages with your post, thank them and start a chat in the comments or DMs.
If a conversation feels warm, invite them for a coffee or a Zoom call to connect further.
Frame it as building relationships, not making a hard sell. People hate being pitched to, but they love opportunities to connect. (FYI – A message using a word like ‘synergy’ may well give your prospect the ick!)

THINK: Add value first. A lead conversation should feel like a natural next step, not a sales ambush.

Step 9: Measure, Tweak, RepeatYou can’t improve what you don’t measure. Keep an eye on:

Profile views. Are more local people checking you out?
Connection acceptance rate. Are people accepting your invites, or ignoring them?
Post engagement. Which types of content resonate the most with your local audience?
Leads generated. Track how many conversations turn into discovery calls or clients.

Then refine. If something isn’t working, try a different approach.

Step 10: Building Social Proof with Recommendations Is A Great Way To Use LinkedIn For Local LeadsOne of the most powerful and overlooked features of LinkedIn is the Recommendations section on your profile. It’s your built-in testimonial wall.

Ask happy clients. After you complete a project, ask your client to write a recommendation. Make it easy by suggesting a few points they might highlight.
Offer to give first. When you recommend someone you’ve worked with, they’ll often return the favour.
Keep it fresh. Don’t just have one glowing testimonial from five years ago. Aim to add a couple every quarter so your profile looks current.
Highlight local wins. A recommendation from a local business carries extra weight in your community.

THINK: People can question what you say about yourself – but they trust what others say about you.

LinkedIn For Local Leads – Why You Need to Start Driving This Platform Now!LinkedIn is no longer just a playground for recruiters and corporates. For small, local businesses, it’s one of the most powerful (and underused) tools to build brand awareness, generate leads, and become known as the go-to person in your town.

Commit to showing up, connecting with intention, commenting with value, sending newsletters, and turning conversations into relationships. You’ll find LinkedIn can deliver a steady flow of local leads without you having to do a hard sell.

People buy from people. And in your local market, being visible, liked, and trusted is the fastest route to growth.

So go ahead and take action now. Optimise your profile, grow your network, and start showing up in your community. Your next client might only be one LinkedIn post away.

The post LinkedIn for Local Leads: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Businesses appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of creating your content calendar? You’re not alone. Finding time to create consistent content can feel impossible if you’re running a business, and many skip social media planning and dive straight into content creation, which can create its own problems. That’s why social media planning changes the game. And the good news is, it can be done in less time than you think! Let me walk you through a time-saving 30-minute weekly workflow that helps you stay visible without burning out. It’s perfect for small business owners who wear all the hats and need their marketing to work smarter, and not harder.

Why You Need To Invest Time In Social Media PlanningHow often have you spent more time than you have trying to figure out what to post, second-guessing your graphics, or staring at a blank screen? That’s the stress of posting reactively because you haven’t got a plan, and it’s where overwhelm creeps in – fast!

A social media plan keeps you grounded. It connects you directly to your broader marketing strategy, and your goals and objectives. Whether that’s increasing brand awareness, building a community, or driving traffic to your website. Without a plan, it’s far too easy to wander off into a world of content creation, for the sake of content creation.

Solid social media planning helps you:

Save time
Reduce decision fatigue
Stay on-brand
Build trust with consistency
Keep your efforts aligned with your objectives
Create breathing space to engage properly

And let’s be honest, showing up sporadically and hoping for results? That’s not a strategy. A proper social media plan is your shortcut to sanity and success.

Your 30-Minute Weekly Workflow For Social Media PlanningThis isn’t some overcomplicated marketing funnel. It’s a practical, doable approach to planning content fast.

Step 1: Choose Your Content Pillars (5 minutes)

Content pillars are the themes you post about regularly. Pick 3–5 that align with your brand, your audience’s needs, and what you enjoy creating.

Example for an independent recruiter:

Industry-specific job market tips
Behind the scenes of the hiring process
Candidate success stories
Employer insights or red flags
Your take on trending recruitment news

Once you’ve got your pillars, keep them somewhere handy. They’ll become the framework for everything you post.

Step 2: Batch Your Ideas (10 minutes)

For each pillar, jot down 2–3 post ideas. These can be:

A question your client asked
A tip you often share
A lesson you’ve learned
A story or photo from your week

Don’t overthink. Get the ideas down. You can refine them later.

Step 3: Draft Captions (5 minutes)

Write short, snappy captions that reflect your voice. Speak like a human, not a marketer.

Pro tip: One idea = one message. Don’t cram too much into a single post.

Include a clear CTA (Call To Action). That could be:

Comment below
Share this with a friend
DM me to chat

Step 4: Design & Schedule (10 minutes)

Use Canva to design your graphics. Stick with 1–2 templates to save time and keep your brand consistent.

When it comes to scheduling, there are loads of options. Meta Business Suite, Hootsuite, Buffer, and Later are fabulous. Don’t forget that LinkedIn now has a native scheduling tool built in. It’s simple to use and ensures your posts go out at optimal times without needing third-party software.

If video is part of your strategy (and it should be!), use a tool like CapCut to edit clips and add captions easily. Captions are essential for accessibility and make your content more watchable in silent scroll mode.

You can also create a manual planner in Google Sheets or Trello – whatever keeps you on track and stress-free.

How to Stick to Your Social Media PlanSocial media planning only works if you stick to the plan! Here’s how to stay consistent:

Block out the same 30-minute slot each week
Create a “content bank” so you’re never starting from scratch
Use scheduling tools to post even on your busiest days
Keep a notes app handy to jot down ideas on the go

And if you’re managing multiple platforms, be strategic. You don’t have to be everywhere to make an impact, but you do need to be intentional with your marketing. Focus your efforts on the platform that will bring you the best ROI. That’s where your time and energy should go. Master one, build momentum, and add another if the strategy calls for it. Spreading yourself too thin rarely delivers consistent results.

Using AI to Support Social Media PlanningAI tools like ChatGPT, Canva Magic Write, or even AI-powered schedulers can be brilliant time-savers when creating content. They can help you brainstorm post ideas, draft engaging captions, and even adapt your tone of voice based on the platform.

Here’s how to make AI work for you:

Use it for content prompts or ideas when you’re stuck
Ask it to rewrite captions in a different tone (e.g. more friendly, more formal)
Generate hashtag suggestions or summarise long posts

BUT… (and this is important!) AI shouldn’t be your strategy. If you’re overly dependent on it, your content can start sounding robotic, generic, or misaligned with your brand.

Your voice. Your values. Your experience. These are what make your brand magnetic. AI doesn’t replace that. It’s just a tool. And when using AI becomes another time-consuming task or creates content you’re not confident in? That’s a sign it’s time to outsource.

That’s exactly why so many clients come to us at Green Umbrella. We know how to blend automation with authenticity, and strategy with substance, so your content doesn’t just sound good. It works.

This social media planning system works – but if you’d rather not DIY it, you don’t have to. At Green Umbrella, we help businesses:

Build tailored content calendars
Craft clear messaging
Stay accountable

Join our marketing mentorship programme if you want us to teach you how to do it confidently yourself. Or choose our done-for-you social media management service, and we’ll take care of everything.

Either way, we’ll help you show up online consistently, clearly, and confidently.

Turn 12 Weeks Into a Rolling Social Media PlanHere’s the beauty of this workflow – if you follow it consistently for 12 weeks, you’ve built a complete three-month content plan. That’s 90 days of strategic, on-brand content aligned with your goals.

But it doesn’t stop there. After week 12, go back to week 1. Tweak what needs updating, refresh your examples, and reuse what worked. You’re not starting from scratch anymore – you’re refining a system that already works.

This is how you shift from reactive content creation to proactive marketing. So much of the work is already done for you. You just keep showing up, making minor improvements, and let your social media plan do the heavy lifting.

Final Thought: Done is Better Than PerfectYou’ll never post consistently if you’re stuck waiting for the perfect photo, caption, or idea.

Your audience doesn’t need perfection. They need presence. They need to see you. A social media plan doesn’t just save time – it protects your energy, your voice, and your ability to connect.

Start simple. Stick with it. And if you want help, you know where to find us.

The post Social Media Planning – The 30-Minute Weekly Workflow appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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You’re investing your time, and having great chats online… but seeing zero results from them? Sound familiar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. That’s where social selling comes in. It’s not about the hard sell. It’s about being helpful, human, and harnessing your online presence to build trust and close sales naturally. The problem is that many business owners are busy being social and not focused enough on how to turn those conversations into sales!

What is Social Selling?Social selling is the art of using social media to find, connect with, understand, and nurture sales prospects. It’s less “buy now!” and more “hey, let’s have a chat.”
Think of it like networking without leaving your desk, coffee shop, or kitchen table. It’s about showing up in conversations that matter, offering value without being pushy, and building a name that people trust. This approach works well in a world saturated with cold messages and hard-pitch DMs. Social selling is the warm alternative.

Why Social Selling Matters for SMEsBig brands have sales teams and flashy ads. SMEs? We have relationships. Social selling plays right into your strength – being personal, approachable, and honest. Investing in conversations over clicks builds loyalty. That means long-term customers and clients, not one-off buyers.

And here’s why the magic of social selling is so important to SME businesses: it doesn’t need a massive budget. You don’t need to go viral. (I’ll be honest, chasing virality will only slow meaningful results.) You need to be visible, valuable, and consistent. If you’re a business owner juggling ten things already, this approach lets you market naturally and builds genuine trust.

The Four Pillars of Social Selling Success1. Optimise Your Profile – Start with LinkedIn, but don’t stop there. Your Instagram bio, Facebook’s ‘About’ section, and even your Twitter/X profile should all be aligned. Make it clear who you help, how you help them, and what action they should take next. Include a friendly and professional headshot, a clear headline, and a strong call to action. 2. Listen First – This is the golden rule of social selling. Don’t dive into pitch mode. Instead, find out what questions your audience is asking by using LinkedIn search results, checking out. Facebook Group feeds, tune into hashtags on Instagram and TikTok, or even track keywords and phrases on Twitter/X. Look at the types of posts that spark conversation. This will guide your content and help you respond in ways that resonate. 3. Engage Authentically – Like and comment on other people’s posts, share insights, and answer questions. Use DMs as a relationship builder, not a cold pitch machine. When someone comments on your post, reply thoughtfully. Every engagement is a chance to be memorable. Show up as yourself, not a corporate robot. 4. Be Smart With Your Follow Up – Had a great exchange in the comments or DMs? Follow up. Share a blog article they’d find helpful. Tag them in a relevant event. Send a message to say you appreciated the conversation. Social selling isn’t about what happens in a single message, so keep the conversation going – it’s about nurturing relationships over time.

10 Social Selling SinsEven though social selling feels more natural, there are still plenty of ways to mess it up. If you’re wondering whether you’re doing things the right way or not, it’s simple. Make sure you’re not guilty of any of the following! These are the awkward blunders I witness daily, especially on Linkedin, most of which are giving your prospects the ick!

Being overly salesy – Jumping straight into the pitch kills trust. (We’ve all had THAT direct message or connection request!)
Using spammy templated messages – People can smell a copy-paste job a mile away just as much as they can recognise unedited AI-generated text!
Ghosting your audience – If someone comments, reply. Don’t disappear.
Automating everything – Bots don’t build relationships. You do. Stop the blanket messages going to unresearched prospects.
Inconsistent posting – One post a month won’t cut it. Stay present.
Ignoring your analytics – Don’t fly blind. Insights guide your improvement.
Talking at people instead of with them – Conversations go two ways. The old adage of two ears, one mouth is just as important online as it is in person.
Failing to follow up – Social selling is a process, not a one-hit wonder.
Sounding robotic or too formal – Speak how you speak. Be human, be unapologetically you!
Trying to be everywhere – Pick your platforms and do them well.

The goal here isn’t just visibility – it’s credibility. Social selling works best when you focus on quality connections, not quantity.

How to Stay Consistent Without Burning OutOne of the biggest hurdles in social selling is consistency. Life gets busy, content gets deprioritised, and you’re back to lurking instead of leading before you know it.

Here’s how you fix it:

Create a simple weekly posting plan
Repurpose existing content
Block out 30 minutes a week for engagement
Use scheduling tools where needed
Or…

Outsource Social SellingYou don’t have to figure it all out alone. At Green Umbrella, we offer two paths to help you make social selling work for your business:

Want to do it yourself with expert guidance? Join our mentorship programme, where we help you build a personalised social selling strategy, develop your content, and grow your confidence.
Prefer to hand it over? Our done-for-you social media management services mean we’ll take care of your strategy, content, and engagement so you can focus on running your business.

Either way, we’re here to help you turn online chats into paying clients, without the cringe factor!

Final Word: Relationships > ReachSocial selling is a mindset shift. It’s not about chasing likes. It’s about building genuine relationships, showing up consistently, backing yourself and your authority, and creating content that resonates.

If you’re ready to turn casual conversations into consistent conversions, now’s the time to start. Think of it as relationship-first marketing – where you show up, add value, and stay front of mind. That’s how trust is built. That’s how businesses grow.

And the best part? You don’t need to be an extrovert, a marketing guru, or glued to your phone. You need a plan, a little support, and the confidence to show up as you.

Let’s make it easier together. We’re only a message away.

The post Your Guide to Social Selling – Turning Conversations into Conversions appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Social media engagement alone isn’t enough. A flurry of likes, comments, and shares can feel like validation that your business is getting noticed. The hard truth is that likes don’t pay the bills. Engagement is important, yes – but only if you know how to turn that attention into action and, ultimately, income. Let’s look at how to turn social media engagement into sales.

The Psychology Behind Social Media Engagement: Why It MattersSocial media engagement indicates how well your brand connects with your audience emotionally. Every like, comment, save, and share signals trust, interest, or curiosity. Understanding what drives this behaviour can help you shape content that not only entertains but also encourages action.

When people engage with your posts, they open the door to further interaction. This is your chance to move them through your marketing funnel – whether that’s downloading your lead magnet, booking a discovery call, or making a purchase. Don’t waste that window of opportunity by leaving the conversation hanging.

Why Social Media Engagement Alone Isn’t EnoughGetting likes on a post is a start — but it’s surface-level. Vanity metrics can feel good but don’t always reflect real business growth. To make social media worth your time, you need to guide your audience beyond passive engagement and into your customer journey.

That means building trust, creating strategic calls to action, and making it easy for your audience to take the next step with you.

Let’s break it down by platform.

LinkedIn: Nurture the Professional Buyer JourneyLinkedIn is ideal for B2B and service-based businesses, but it’s a slow-burn platform – people are rarely in “buy now” mode.

Strategies to Convert on LinkedIn:

Engage with intent. Reply to comments with thoughtful follow-ups. Use DMs to start genuine conversations, not pitch-fests.
Use native content. Polls, carousels, and personal stories told via video or the photos in your camera roll perform well and build credibility.
Create conversion breadcrumbs. Mention your lead magnet or free resource in posts and direct people to your profile, where your featured section should showcase it clearly.
Test call-to-action content. Instead of saying “Buy now,” try “If you’re struggling with X, DM me the word ‘Support’ and I’ll share how I help clients overcome it.”

Key Tip: LinkedIn users value expertise and consistency. Be helpful first and sales will follow.

Facebook: Build A Community That ConvertsFacebook still dominates in local and relationship-driven marketing. Whether through a business page or a group, people engage here expecting connection.

Strategies to Convert on Facebook:

Optimise your business page. Use your pinned post and About section to funnel visitors to your offers or newsletter.
Go live with a purpose. Lives build visibility and trust, especially when used to answer FAQs, introduce new products, or host Q&As.
Use groups strategically. If you have a group, ensure you’re not just entertaining! Post tips, client wins, and links to lead magnets or offers.
Retarget with ads. Facebook’s ad platform is robust. Retarget people who’ve engaged with your content using ads that guide them to your landing pages.

Key Tip: Facebook’s algorithm rewards conversation. Ask questions, run polls, and create space for dialogue.

Instagram: Sell with Story and Save Time with StrategyInstagram is visual, fast-moving, and engagement-rich. But converting here requires more than pretty posts.

Strategies to Convert on Instagram:

Use Stories with links. With the link sticker, every story can drive traffic to your sales page or freebie.
Optimise your bio. A clear call to action (e.g. “Grab my free guide below ”) and a link-in-bio tool like Linktree or Stan Store can make a huge difference.
Turn comments into DMs. Start conversations from your comments section. These one-on-one messages often lead to conversions.
Highlight the right things. Use Highlights for testimonials, offers, FAQs – not just aesthetic reels.

Key Tip: Make sure your content strategy gives value, shows client results, and then pitches your offer clearly.

X (Twitter): Drive Traffic with Clarity and ConsistencyX may be less flashy, but it’s still a powerhouse for driving traffic, especially when used consistently with niche-focused content.

Strategies to Convert on X:

Use threads. Threads allow you to dive deep into a topic and position yourself as a thought leader.
Include a CTA in your last tweet. Always point people somewhere: newsletter, DM, or your latest offer.
Engage in real-time. Jump on trends or conversations that relate to your niche. Use them to segue into sharing your services.

Key Tip: Consistency wins. Don’t post once and disappear – show up, respond, and build visibility over time.

TikTok: Create Fast Trust and Direct ActionTikTok might seem like a Gen Z playground, but SMEs are making serious money by being authentic and strategic on this platform.

Strategies to Convert on TikTok:

Teach something quickly. Bite-sized, helpful videos build trust faster than overproduced promos.
Include a call to action. “DM me the word ‘guide’” or “Grab the link in bio” should be clearly spoken and written on screen.
Pin your best converting videos. This gives new visitors instant insight into what you offer.
Reply with video. Use the reply-to-comment feature to deepen the relationship and provide more value.

Key Tip: TikTok thrives on authenticity. Don’t overthink your content – just show up, back yourself and deliver real value.

YouTube: Educate, Build Authority and Nurture Long-Term LeadsYouTube is a powerful long-game platform because it’s searchable, evergreen, and trust-building.

Strategies to Convert on YouTube:

Create videos that answer real questions. Use SEO tools or “People also ask” sections on Google for content ideas.
Include CTAs throughout. Ask viewers to subscribe, comment, and check out your freebie or product in the description.
Use lead magnets in descriptions. A free checklist, webinar, or guide is perfect for YouTube audiences who love to learn.
Create playlists. Group videos by theme to keep viewers engaged longer and funnel them into deeper learning journeys.

Key Tip: YouTube audiences are serious, but you need to be patient. Build their trust over time and offer next steps that make sense.

Turning Social Media Engagement Into a Revenue StreamYou need the right tools and follow-up processes to transform social media engagement into sales. This might mean integrating your CRM with your social platforms, setting up automated DM responses, or using tracking pixels to retarget warm audiences. The key is to act on engagement quickly and strategically.

For example, if someone regularly comments on your content or replies to your Stories, consider adding them to a custom audience for a low-cost ad campaign promoting your entry-level offer. Engagement means interest – and interest, when nurtured correctly, becomes income.

Sales Come from Strategy, Not Just AttentionLikes are only one metric. The real magic happens when you pair great content with intentional strategy. No matter the platform, ask yourself:

Are you guiding people somewhere useful?
Are you offering value beyond the scroll?
Are your offers visible and easy to act on?

Stop chasing vanity metrics. Start building systems that turn visibility into viability.

The post How to Turn Social Media Engagement into Sales appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Building a personal brand as a small business owner or entrepreneur isn’t just about looking the part – it’s about owning your space, your story, and perhaps most importantly, your strategy. Personal branding for entrepreneurs is a topic that comes around repeatedly, but how do we make it work for us, rather than it just becoming more work to do?

In my world, I stand for three things: marketing, mindset, and mischief. That’s not a gimmick – it’s a framework. Marketing gives you visibility. Mindset gives you power. And mischief? That’s the spark that keeps it all human, joyful, and real.

Whether you’re running a recruitment agency, consultancy, or any other type of business, your personal brand should speak clearly to the people you want to help and unapologetically reflect who you are while doing it. In a crowded marketplace, the strongest brand doesn’t shout the loudest – it resonates the deepest.

Position Yourself as the Secret Weapon Your Clients Didn’t Know They NeededA powerful personal brand makes people think: Where have you been all my life? That’s the energy of being seen as a secret weapon. The person who doesn’t just do the job, but makes the whole business smarter, smoother, and more profitable because you’re in the room.

Our tagline as a business is ‘Helping Your Marketing Stand Out,’ and my personal brand message is ‘Show Up – Back You.’ I help small businesses stand shoulder to shoulder with giants – and that often starts in our very first interaction.

Because more often than not, I’m helping people get out of their own way. Rewiring the beliefs that have been holding them back. Helping them find clarity in their vision. Naming the fear they’ve been pretending isn’t there.

Yes, I bring the marketing plan. But the real value? It’s in helping entrepreneurs stop hiding from their brilliance and start confidently owning their space. That’s what it means to be a secret weapon – you bring more to the table than expected, and it changes the game.

Personal branding for entrepreneurs lives at the Centre of Three ThingsPersonal branding for entrepreneurs needs to be thought of as a Venn diagram with three overlapping circles:

What you specialise in – The work you deliver with confidence and clarity. For me, that’s online marketing that helps service-based businesses cut through the noise and grow with intention.
Who you are – Your personality, values, mindset – your edge. How you show up in the world and why people trust you.
What you love – The parts of your work that energise, challenge, and make you feel most alive. (This is where my ‘mischief’ plays out!)

Where those three circles meet? That’s your superpower.

It’s the part of your story only you can tell. The reason your clients will choose you over someone offering the same service. It’s not just about your skills or your experience. It’s about the magic that happens when they come together.

That intersection is your brand’s heartbeat. It’s where your message should live. The lens through which you create content, pitch your services, and show up in person and online. Because when people connect with that core – your why, your how, and your edge…

You stop being just another service provider.

You become their secret weapon.

Too often, personal branding for entrepreneurs is based on what they think they should say. But the truth? Your power is in what only you can say, do, and deliver. You’re not here to blend in. You’re here to be the person they’re relieved to have finally found.

Use Your Experience to Teach, Not Just TellIf you’re a service-based business owner, your experience is your edge. But storytelling isn’t about listing achievements; it’s about making your lessons land.

When I talk about marketing, I don’t just talk theory. I share the reality of building a business and brand that gets noticed for the right reasons. I’ve created strategies that generated real traction without gimmicks. Built systems that help businesses show up where it counts. And helped founders cut through confusion so they can finally move forward with purpose.

The wins, the pivots, the messy middle… all of it’s fair game if it helps your audience feel seen and supported. That’s when your content moves from noise to need. You stop being another voice online and become the voice in their head saying: ‘Yes. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.’

Speak Their Language – and Be Easy to FindTo be the secret weapon in someone’s business, they need to find you. That’s where clarity and SEO come in.

Speak in the language your clients and prospects are already using. Think about the search terms they’re typing when they’re stuck, frustrated, or ready to scale. For example, I’d use phrases like:

‘How to grow a recruitment agency with limited budget’
‘Marketing that actually converts for coaches’
‘Building a brand that gets high-value clients’
‘Clarifying your business vision when you’re overwhelmed’

Content built on these foundations helps your audience say yes faster because they know you ‘get’ them before they’ve even met you.

My Final Thought on personal branding for entrepreneurs: Being a Secret Weapon Means Backing Yourself FirstHere’s the truth: people can’t see your value if you’re too busy downplaying it.

Personal branding is your chance to show up powerfully, not perform. It’s not about having the biggest following, loudest voice or the fanciest feed – it’s about building a reputation that says, ‘I get results, I care deeply, and I’m someone you want on your team.’

You don’t need permission to take up space. And you certainly don’t need to water yourself down to be accepted.

Show Up. Back You. That’s how you step into the role of a secret weapon – not just for your clients, but for yourself.

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Social media is often seen as overwhelming, time-consuming, or even intimidating. But the truth is, when used correctly, it can be a powerful tool for growth, connection, and success – both personally and professionally. If you’ve been hesitant to dive in, it’s time to shift your mindset and learn how to truly embrace and even love social media. Here’s why and how you can do just that.

Let’s dive in!

The Main Benefits of Social Media for Your Business or Personal Brand1. Boost Your VisibilityThink of social media as your digital shopfront. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a professional looking to build a personal brand, platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok offer an opportunity to showcase your expertise and get noticed by the right people.

Engage With Your Audience in Real-TimeUnlike traditional marketing channels, social media allows for instant engagement. You can talk directly to your audience through comments, DMs, and live streams, creating a more personal connection that builds trust and loyalty.
Establish Authority in Your IndustryBy sharing valuable insights, industry trends, and thought-provoking content, you position yourself as an expert. People look to social media for recommendations and advice – why not be the go-to source in your field?
Drive Sales and GrowthSocial media isn’t just for engagement; it’s also a highly effective sales tool. With features like Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, and LinkedIn lead generation ads, you can turn followers into customers with just a few clicks.
Networking OpportunitiesGone are the days of needing to attend in-person networking events to make valuable connections. Social media makes it easier than ever to meet potential collaborators, mentors, and industry leaders, all from the comfort of your home.
Showcase Your PersonalityPeople connect with people, not just brands. Social media allows you to showcase your personality, values, and behind-the-scenes moments, making your brand more relatable and authentic.

Everyone is Doing It—So Why Shouldn’t You?If you’ve been holding back from embracing social media, it’s time to change that mindset. Here’s why:

Shyness won’t help your brand grow – If you’re hesitant to put yourself out there, remember: everyone starts somewhere! The more you post and engage, the more comfortable you’ll become.
Your competitors are already there – If you’re not online, you’re missing out on potential clients, collaborations, and growth opportunities.
It’s easier than you think – Social media doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small by posting once or twice a week and gradually increase your activity.
There’s a platform for everyone – Whether you love creating video content, writing thoughtful posts, or sharing quick updates, there’s a social media platform that fits your style.

Tips to Fall in Love with Social Media1. Choose the Right Platform – Not all platforms are created equal. Focus on the ones that align with your interests and audience. 2. Create Content That Excites You – If you enjoy making videos, prioritize TikTok or Instagram Reels. If you love writing, LinkedIn or Twitter might be your best bet. 3. Engage Instead of Just Posting – Social media is a two-way street. Respond to comments, join conversations, and build relationships. 4. Set a Schedule – Avoid burnout by planning your content in advance and setting limits on your screen time. 5. Have Fun With It! – The best way to fall in love with social media is to enjoy the process. Experiment with trends, try new formats, and don’t take it too seriously.

So, Are You Ready to Fall in Love with Social Media?Social media is one of the most powerful tools available today. It offers endless opportunities to connect, grow, and thrive – so why not make the most of it? By shifting your perspective and implementing these simple strategies above, you’ll not only fall in love with social media, but you’ll also start seeing real benefits in your personal and professional life. So go ahead, hit that ‘post’ button, and start making an impact!

If you’ve got feedback, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

SocialMedia #DigitalMarketing #PersonalBranding #SocialMediaMarketing #OnlineSuccess #SocialMediaTips

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What’s The Difference Between Social Media Strategy and Social Media Tactics?There’s no denying it: social media is a powerhouse for businesses wanting to connect with their audience in a dynamic and interactive way. Yet, within the realm of social media marketing, it’s crucial to distinguish between the overarching social media strategy and the specific social media tactics you use to achieve the outcomes you desire. I’m asked all the time, ‘Can you develop a strategy for me?’ when what’s really required is a tactical plan for social media success. I also hear from prospects already working with an agency “They just don’t seem to guide the strategy” – There’s a reason for that!

There’s a difference between social media strategy and social media tactics. An awesome strategy will supercharge your tactical efforts. The difference is nuanced, but here it is!

Social Media Strategy: Setting the StageYour social media strategy is your master plan, it sets the stage for your online presence. Your strategy will define your long-term objectives, identify your target audiences, and determine the key messages you want to communicate across your social media platforms. Your strategy lays the groundwork for how you want to be perceived by your adoring public and outlines how you intend to achieve those objectives.

A critical aspect of your social media strategy is identifying which platforms you’ll be active on, and how active you’ll be. Different platforms attract different demographics and the mindset of the users while on the platforms can also mean considering the different behaviours of those users. Understanding this allows you to tailor your approach, ensuring that you choose platforms that align with your audience.

A robust social media strategy also dives into how you tell your story. Your story should resonate with your audience, build community, and foster engagement. This narrative becomes the guiding force behind all content shared online, ensuring your voice is both consistent and authentic. Your brand is a big part of your story!

Social Media Tactics: Crafting the NarrativeSo now you’ve established a kick-ass social media strategy, it’s time to get tactical! Your social media tactics are the hands-on stuff, the implementation that executes your plan. Social media tactics are the specific actions you take to achieve the short-term goals that contribute to the overall strategy. Your tactical plan will likely include content creation, partnerships, paid ads, and community engagement… the list is endless! However, all of these items will be specific to each of your chosen social media platforms.

To give you an example, if your social media strategy aims to position your brand as an authority, your tactical plan would involve activities like creating and sharing informative content, participating in relevant conversations, and leveraging influencers or thought leaders within your niche. Each tactic is carefully chosen to contribute to the narrative crafted by the social media strategy, reinforcing the brand’s desired positioning.

Strategy and Tactics in Social Media MarketingThe relationship between social media strategy and tactics is kind of symbiotic. A well-defined strategy directs the tactical plan, ensuring that every post and interaction, every campaign aligns with the strategic goals. The data and insights gathered from implementing your tactical efforts provide the feedback needed so you can continuously refine, adjust and optimise. Your strategy is your foundation, your constant. Your tactical plan will be ever-changing.

When it comes to making social media marketing work for you, adaptability is key. Trends come and go, algorithms evolve, and audience preferences shift. Your social media strategy provides the framework for navigating these changes, while your tactical plan gives you the flexibility needed to respond in real-time. Get your social media strategy and tactics right, and you’ll ensure that you’ll not only capture attention but also build a genuine and lasting connection with your audience.

In SummaryTo finish off, and to put it bluntly, having a solid social media strategy coupled with intentional tactical implementation is how you get results from social media marketing. Understand the difference between the two, and get these working in tandem so you can thrive online and build a meaningful social media presence.

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Five tips for business videosAt the risk of stating the obvious, companies are constantly looking for ways to talk to their potential clients and customers more effectively, and it’s fair to say that we all now recognise that using video is one of the best ways to reach out in today’s world. If you want proof of this, take a look down your feed on LinkedIn or Facebook and notice how many videos there are these days, pop over to Instagram and see just how many reels are being created, the rise of TikTok… there’s evidence everywhere! Unfortunately, a lot of these videos could be much better if they followed a few simple rules.

You may be using a small mobile phone, but try to use the same rules as big productionsThink about things like your background and lighting as well as where you are positioned on the screen. Take that quick look down your LinkedIn or Facebook feed again, and you will start to see regular, very avoidable, mistakes. From trying to make video with noisy backgrounds to unflattering camera positions, most of these problems can be eradicated. It really is worth the investment to have a little basic training in the first principles. We can do this for you, but there are some great examples online as well. No, you are not a filmmaker, but that doesn’t excuse not putting in a little bit of effort to do it right.

Video can be very time-consuming, particularly if you have big ideas that require a lot of editing. It is much better to do the basics well, keep your titles simple, decide on relevant content, and so on, then you only need to call in the professionals if you want anything more complex. The next tip explains why this is so important.

Don’t just talk, talk in storyHuman beings are the only animal that uses narrative to communicate. Use that unique view of the world when you make your video. The best ‘homemade’ videos have a clear beginning that leads to an easily understood message and wraps up with a call-to-action ending. Every time you step outside this simple formula, you are risking reducing the effectiveness of your video. Once you are used to making your videos, maybe you could think about doing some ‘thought leader’ style content where you discuss relevant issues. Engaging videos need engaging content. Think ‘one story, one video’.
Practice first so you can keep it short and keep it lean if you want attentionAll marketing requires is to have the attention of the target audience, but an overly long or rambling video loses it very quickly. You will see various suggestions about the most effective video run time, and they are probably all correct. There is an old filmmaker’s mantra, which is ‘In late, out early’, and it means get into what you are saying as late as possible and stop as soon as you have said what you need to say. To put it a little more bluntly, ‘don’t waffle, just get on with it, then shut up’. If you do this, your video will usually create the right runtime itself.
Integrate, integrate, integrate, then integrate some moreThe way we use video has and still is, changing. It offers a world of possibilities to integrate into all your practices. How-to videos, general company information, personal recommendations, and meet the team all spring immediately to mind, but there are many others.

Making a good video is not a dark art that can only be mastered by the film-making wizards who are the holders of secret knowledge. Just like any other marketing asset, of course, there is a point where you need to call in people with very specific knowledge and insight, but to get a good, serviceable video that does what you need is a matter of a few simple principles like the above. Which is why it is so frustrating to see so many easily avoided mistakes on social media feeds.

One final thought on video. Of all the above tips, the last one is probably the most important. Integrating video into your wider approach to marketing and the way you present yourself to the world is becoming more important all the time. Many recruitment companies, for example, are turning to tools such as Odro or Hinterview to help them really integrate video into their recruitment practice, and it is paying dividends in both brand awareness and meeting their growth goals.

There really is a lot more to say on the subject of video, so we will come back to it again, but for now, hopefully, these tips will help you improve where you are now!

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As the world around us changes ever more rapidly and our lives become increasingly hectic, it’s hard to find the time to maintain our personal ‘brands’ online. For example, when was the last time you updated your LinkedIn profile? I look at mine quite often, to be fair… LinkedIn phases in and out features regularly, recently adding carousel cover images for premium users, and as video becomes more prominent for everyone, LinkedIn is also making videos its key focus by having them appear larger in the main feed. Some of you may even have had your hard-earned Gold Community Top Voice badges expire, as that feature was removed! Whatever changes are made, tested, kept or removed – the bottom line is that your profile needs to be tip-top!

How appealing is your LinkedIn profile?First impressions count. Your LinkedIn profile is your shop window, and you must ensure it’s current, relevant, and, most importantly, appealing to anyone who may stumble across it. If you’re focused on raising your company profile or building your personal brand, then essentially, your profile is your landing page, so it has to do its job of representing you well!

Here are a few tips to make sure your profile stands out from the rest.

YOUR LinkedIn profile summaryThink of it as an elevator pitch. Who are you, what do you stand for, and why should they ‘Connect’ with you or hit that follow button?

Remember, people buy from people. Show up as who you are. Of all the other people on LinkedIn I could reach out to, what makes you so special? Whether it’s something you say or the tone you use – this is your opportunity to give me a taste of your personality and your values. Depending on your business, this could be light-hearted, professional, or more corporate. Whatever your approach – don’t be afraid to bring your whole self!

As time goes on, you can always update your summary, making it more relevant and more ‘you’. Remember to review it regularly.

YOUR PROFILE PICTUREOne final thing (for now), and this is where the title comes in…Don’t forget your profile picture! This isn’t an online dating profile. It isn’t Facebook. We don’t need selfies. Leave the pouting and the peace signs for other platforms. Choose an image that represents you in a more professional manner. A headshot is ideal, one where we can see your face and make sure it’s a profile view! It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? A previous client of ours whose profile picture (as fab as it was) was side-on had issues when she got caught out using naughty automation tools and lost access to her account. LinkedIn could not recognise her when she needed to confirm her identity! Getting the profile back was a long and painful process!

Other THINGS TO THINK ABOUT when you audit your LinkedIn profile1. If you uploaded an image for your profile header previously, how is it looking now? We have seen several people that needed to reposition theirs or update the photo to something more recent – go take a look, is your profile header working for you?!? Check different screens, desktop and mobile. If you need to rethink your image (or if you need to add one for the first time) we recommend using photographic images or repeating patterns and minimal text. 2. Is your featured section still relevant? You know what it’s like; we live in a busy world, and it’s easy to forget what you’ve put in your featured section. Maybe there was that blog, that course, or an employee post you wanted to shout out. Is it still relevant? Does it need reviewing or replacing? Make it part of your to-do list to check every now and again.

But that’s not all…There are a few things you need to consider when creating or reviewing your LinkedIn profile, but I won’t share them all right now. After all, I’m not about to give all my secrets away – where’s the fun in that?

Download our Personal Profile LinkedIn Checklist.

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There’s no doubt about it. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful social media platforms you can use to drive your business forward in a B2B market. (I’d argue LinkedIn is just as valuable for B2C businesses, but we’ll save that conversation for another day!) You can use LinkedIn to drive your personal brand as well as that of your business, connect with industry leaders on a global scale in a way you might not otherwise be able to, and find conversation with like-minded people in business. The only real issue comes, as it does with most social media platforms, with driving engagement. Making sure you get seen and standing out from the crowd are the things that guarantee success. However, in an overpopulated newsfeed, this can be tricky. Here are a few tips to help you drive engagement on LinkedIn.

Optimise Your LinkedIn ProfileIf you want to stand out – it needs to be easy for people to find you. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date. Everything from an up-to-date professional headshot to an attention-grabbing professional headline, a keyword-rich summary and relevant skills and experiences. Ensuring these things are good to go creates a strong foundation, as you’ll now be discoverable in search. To engage with you, people need to be able to find you first!

If you need help with getting your LinkedIn profile optimised – we put together an on-demand course to walk you through the process. Feel free to check it out.

Post Regular Updates On LinkedInHow many times has a marketer used the words “Consistency is key”?!? In the case of posting updates on LinkedIn, it absolutely is. You should be posting daily; in fact, I’d encourage you to post twice a day. You can sit down on a weekly basis and schedule these posts ahead, or simply block time in your diary to make it happen. You can use an external social media scheduling tool, or LinkedIn now has its own in-platform scheduling feature – so there are no excuses!)

Something that happens from time to time with our clients who outsource LinkedIn to us is they start getting engagement and people telling them they’re seeing them regularly on the platform. The client then worries they’re posting too much. Forgetting that the reason that individual is only being served all that content from them is that they are engaging with it! Remember, LinkedIn shows its users content from people they care about on topics they care about. When you get feedback that says, ‘I see you all the time on LinkedIn…’ it’s a sign you’re doing a great job and getting engagement. Pat yourself on the back, and keep up the good work!

Use Engaging Visuals On LinkedInAs your connections scan through their feeds, it’s the visuals that grab their attention. Bright colours and bold text continue to work well for static imagery. Make sure you’re also using video – horizontal is the standard, but there’s nothing wrong with mixing it up with a vertical video every now and then! Think about how you might post something like an infographic or use the carousel function in a meaningful way. I’m often talking about the fact we all have a favoured way of being communicated with, whether visual, auditory or kinesthetic – the visuals you use can allow you to communicate in all of these ways in one, so take full advantage of the opportunity. Bland stock photos that communicate nothing won’t cut it any longer, I’m afraid.
Only Share Relevant ContentIt’s easy to get caught up in a world of me, me, me and find yourself guilty of only sharing what’s important or relevant to you. If you want real engagement, understand people engage in things that meet their needs and their priorities. This could come in the form of industry news, opinion-led updates (that may or may not be controversial), or insights into your audience – i.e. them! Relevant content is interesting and valuable; it educates, and it has the potential to entertain, too!
Engage with others on LinkedInBeing sociable usually means engaging with other people. LinkedIn is no different. One of the first steps in a sales conversation requires you to build rapport; engaging with your prospects by looking at their content and offering up a cheeky comment of support will help you achieve rapport quickly once you do get into that sales conversation. It’s also an excellent way to build trust, raise your profile and ultimately drive your personal brand. There’s another thing with this, though, you see, if you’re not engaging with others, why on earth should they engage with you?

(Caveat on the last post… please avoid pods where a bunch of people get together, and all engage with each other’s content in order to drive their engagement. It won’t serve you long-term.)

Use Relevant HashtagsUsing hashtags will increase the visibility of your posts and again help you be more discoverable. This, in turn, should increase reach and engagement, but only if the hashtags are both relevant and specific. Think about what hashtags people might be searching for, and also consider how saturated the use of a hashtag might be. We work with a lot of recruitment agencies, and using something like #MarketingJob is more specific than just #Job, but it’s still pretty general. Think how you can drill down another step and use combinations of hashtags to really benefit. (Tip: I’d never suggest going crazy with your hashtags. 3-5 should be enough.)
Invite Engagement On LinkedInIf you don’t ask – you don’t get. Ask for the thoughts and opinions of your audience on your posts, and ask open questions. Tell them to share their experiences with you. You’ll likely have to give yours first, of course – give them something to bounce off, and you’re more likely to get responses.
Driving Engagement On LinkedIn Can Feel Like A Thankless TaskYou will have a bunch of tumbleweed moments, but please don’t let this stop you – it takes time and effort to get engagement going, and not every post will achieve what you want it to. Maintaining the habits I’ve mentioned above will, over time, establish you as a leader in your subject area, so I encourage you to be persistent!

The above tactics are all geared toward increasing your visibility, building trust, and creating meaningful connections to boost your overall engagement on LinkedIn; if you need more help or perhaps you just don’t have the time – you know where we are!

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“I’ve been burnt before…” I hear this phrase far too regularly from prospects looking to work with us. I even read those words on a LinkedIn post this morning from someone looking at hiring a digital marketing agency! Sometimes it feels like Digital Marketing Agencies and Social Media Agencies have become seen as the modern-day double glazing salespeople. (If you’re not old enough to get that reference – please don’t tell me!)

I remember a few years ago when there were only a few options within our niche for specialist agencies, today the marketplace has become oversaturated. If you’re looking to work with a marketing agency, you have copious options but limited budgets. So making the right choice is essential for success.

Recently, we took the decision to decline to work with a company that had a very large budget, despite all the signs pointing to the fact this was going to be profitable for us! They wanted everything from website design and branding to print and email marketing strategies, they wanted content creation in the form of blogs and video and of course, social media management services. After speaking with the business owner, and putting myself in their shoes, I knew that the best solution for them would be to work with a local agency that had local connections and an understanding of the local area. Was this a naive business decision to say no? Possibly. Green Umbrella is in its 14th year of business, I’ve been here for almost 12 years, and over that time we’ve all learnt where we will and potentially won’t be a good fit for our clients and prospects!

The problem is that for most businesses when it comes to selecting an agency, they don’t have 10+ years of experience in getting that match right!

So what do you look for when recruiting a new agency?

Put your marketing brief together in detailBefore you begin your search for marketing support you need to create a full brief. Be clear on what services you require and why, and make sure you have considered your budget.

Are you looking for a new website, if so, do you have an idea of what you would like from that website?
You may have written that you are interested in SEO, but do you have a working understanding of what this means? The marketing agency may be thinking about off-page and on-page SEO or technical SEO or both! Familiarise yourself with this terminology before conversations start.
Social media management – what platforms are you interested in having managed for you? What do you want your platforms to look like? What do you want from them specifically?
PR – do you have goals for winning awards and tenders or require content in trade magazines? Are you looking for placement in local or national press on a regular basis?
Design – do you already have an established brand? What’s your culture? Do you have vision and mission statements or a company ethos that you can share within the brief?
Who is your target audience? Has this been defined? If so, make this part of the brief. (FYI – “Anyone” isn’t a proper answer!)

Research the digital marketing agencyOnce you have your brief then it is time to think about who you need to talk to!

Here’s a quick google tip for you when it comes to your search if you’re starting with Google. Try keywords such as “marketing agency”, “digital marketing”, “social media management”, “Digital Design and Development Agency” and “Online Marketing Agency” making sure to use speech marks around the phrase and follow this with the county you’re in rather than the town. (If you’re looking for an agency that suits your niche, search for that rather than the location of course!)

After a Google search, why not ask your audience? Put a post on LinkedIn (other social media channels are available) asking your connections for a recommendation. Who would they recommend? This is great as you will see names appearing more than once, which instils confidence in the agency.

(Be warned, if you add a post to LinkedIn, then be prepared to be inundated with social media and digital agencies posting “what they can do for you”. You’re looking for recommendations rather than being sold at by an agency). However, if someone is creative and perhaps sends you a message in a unique and different way that makes them stand out from the crowd (rather than just a comment below your thread saying – call me if you want a quote!), then a conversation is certainly warranted!

Now you have your list of agencies, it is time to continue with the research.

Scout their website. Which services are most prominent within the site? This is what they are most confident in implementing – their zone of genius! For example, you will see that we provide websites. However, the social media side of things is at the core of what we do and this oozes throughout the website.
If website build is something that you are looking for, then check the agency’s site for functionality, design and marketing messages. Are they using customer-focused language, or are they using lots of words such as “we”, “our”, “us”.
Online testimonials – do they have a portfolio? Have they got a testimonial or case study page on their website? What about LinkedIn, when was their last recommendation?
It’s time for References! Online reviews are usually very positive, especially if it is on the agency’s website. So now it’s time to pick up the phone and speak to at least two clients. Perhaps someone they started working with a few years ago, and someone they’ve only started working with quite recently. The telephone is the best way to get “real” information as people can be reluctant to put anything negative in writing.
Social Media profiles – if they are a digital marketing agency they should be practising what they preach. Check out their Facebook page. When was the last time they posted? Are they using video and live streaming on their page? LinkedIn – Are they posting regularly on LinkedIn? Remember, their content is a reflection of the quality of content that they will be managing for you, so this is important.
Do they have a blog? When was the last time that they wrote a blog or added news to their website? Was the content customer-focused or were they talking about themselves? A good agency will be leading by example.

Prepare your questionsA good marketing agency will have an experienced salesperson who is focused on selling the benefits of working with their agency. It is important that you do not get sidetracked; have a list of questions to keep you focused on the objective of the meeting. A small list of 4-5 questions will be sufficient. Think of the process in a similar way to hiring someone to join your team. At the end of the day, it is a big investment, take your time and make sure you are selecting the right person.

Questions to consider:-

Can they provide you with a client list?
What type of clients do they work with? Have they experience of working with a client in the same industry as you? Are there any conflicts of interest? (You don’t want to work with an agency that is also managing your biggest competitor!)
Do they outsource their work? This is not a problem, but it is good for you to know and understand how that works. Many agencies outsource their work to designers, content writers, copywriters, SEO experts, etc. – but you need to understand how long they have been working with these people and what happens if that relationship breaks down?
Ask them about their techniques. For example, how often would they post on social media sites and what type of content works well? What is their technique for SEO? How often would they recommend that you produce a blog and how many words? Do they have an understanding of pay per click or social advertising?

Meet your marketing teamAsk to meet the team! You can tell a lot by visiting the offices of a marketing company. What are the people like? What are the offices like? I can not express how important it is that you feel a connection to the company. You will be working with them for a long time, therefore it is important that you like the people that you will be working with. If they annoy you, or something about them just does not feel right then it should be a no. Even if it means going back to the drawing board.

Final negotiationsYou’ve found an agency that you like, they’ve provided great references and you have decided that they are for you. The next step is the small print!

Talk about price ranges. Define what is included and more importantly, what is not included in your marketing package.
Contract terms – how long are you signing up for and what is the termination period if things are not working out? Do you have a break clause?
Negotiate – even if you hate negotiating. If you don’t ask, then you don’t get! There may not be movement on fees but you might be able to gain some additional value.
How open are they about their processes? Ask to see an example of a report that they produce for their clients. What is their process for review meetings, or strategy meetings? How and where will they take place?
NDAs – do they have an NDA? Non-disclosure agreements exist for a reason. How do you know that you are protected? They have a full list of your clients, and your passwords to your social accounts. A professional agency will supply you with an NDA to sign and agree or it will be built into their terms and conditions.

Is that all?..How you go through the process of choosing a digital marketing agency depends on the size and type of your company, the niche you’re active in, your level of competition, what you’re willing to spend on marketing, and what your ultimate goals are.

Taking on the wrong agency can be very costly, so it makes complete sense to protect your investment by either hiring a consultant to help you with the process or thoroughly researching your options.

What other details would you consider when searching for and hiring a digital agency? What would convince you to choose one agency over others?

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You’re not alone if you want to elevate your 2025 marketing strategy. It’s December – and many businesses are re-evaluating their approaches to ensure they stay ahead of the curve from the new year. This isn’t just about jumping on the marketing trends for 2025; it’s about refining the fundamentals and leveraging them in smarter ways to achieve better results. These 2025 marketing strategy tips will help you focus on what truly matters and drive meaningful outcomes for your business. So, with that in mind, what are the major marketing tweaks you need to make to your marketing strategy that will have a real impact in the year ahead.

Start with the marketing strategy BasicsWhen creating your marketing strategy, it’s essential to begin with the fundamentals. Think mission statements, SWOT analyses, goals, objectives – the whole works. A robust strategy includes a well-defined target audience, competitor analysis, clear messaging frameworks, and a content calendar. Ensure your plan also considers audience segmentation and outlines a roadmap for content creation and distribution.

Budget allocation is a crucial part of this process. Be realistic about the resources available within your team to implement the strategy. Do you need to outsource to an agency, or do you have internal resources that simply require additional training or mentorship? Investing in the right support can make a significant difference in executing your strategy effectively. Outsourcing or training may feel like an upfront expense, but it’s often a long-term investment.

Developing a cohesive content roadmap is crucial. This involves clearly defining the type of content you’ll create, its intended purpose, and the channels you’ll use for distribution. A well-thought-out roadmap ensures consistency and aligns your marketing efforts with your broader business objectives. Think about how you’ll map content to different stages of the customer journey (awareness, interest, decision/desire and action) to ensure you’re meeting your audience where they are and guiding them effectively towards conversion. This kind of strategic planning improves engagement and also ensures that your marketing efforts deliver measurable results.

Reassessing your avatars involves digging deeper into their demographics, behaviours, interests and pain points. Look at how they interact with your brand and tailor your messaging to meet their needs. This ongoing refinement keeps your strategy dynamic and ensures you remain relevant. (More on this in a moment!)

Don’t forget to outline key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure your success. Examples include tracking metrics such as lead generation, conversion rates, customer retention, social media engagement, or website traffic growth. These KPIs should be specific, measurable, and aligned with your broader business objectives to ensure your strategy stays on course. Being clear on your marketing goals and objectives is vital for success. The more specific you are, the better! Every piece of content or campaign you create should align with these goals. If something doesn’t fit, it’s time to revisit your strategy and recalibrate.

Refine Your Focus: Reviewing Your AvatarsStaying on target is critical because marketing is about delivering the right message to the right people at the right time. But how can you ensure your efforts are effective without first defining your ideal client? If you have multiple ideal client personas, clarity becomes even more crucial. Without it, you risk talking to the wrong audience on social media – or missing your audience altogether. Remember that if you’re trying to talk to everyone, you’ll end up talking to no one.

It’s also worth noting that audience behaviours have shifted significantly in recent years. If it’s been more than 12 months since you last reviewed your avatars, now is the time. Your ideal clients may have changed in response to broader market trends, or perhaps strategic shifts in your business mean you’re targeting a different segment altogether. Failing to align your avatars with your current goals could mean wasted efforts and missed opportunities.

Take the time to reassess your ideal clients. Understand their current pain points, behaviours, interests and preferences. Doing so ensures that your marketing messages are relevant and impactful.

Once you’ve nailed down who you’re targeting, the next step is listening. Active listening can be transformative, providing insights that lead to high-converting content and even uncovering new opportunities for prospecting. With this clarity, you can dig deeper into your audience’s pain points and start crafting detailed campaign plans – essentially a marketing plan within your broader strategy. Skipping this step can lead to failure due to the lack of a focused plan.

Choosing the Right Social Media ChannelsThe digital landscape is vast, and while it’s tempting to have a presence on every platform, the reality is that not all social media channels are created equal – at least not for your business. The first step in refining your marketing strategy is identifying the platforms that best align with your target audience and business goals.

Ask yourself:

Where does my target audience spend most of their time?
Which platforms suit the type of content I produce?
Where am I seeing the best engagement and ROI?

For example, LinkedIn is a powerhouse for B2B connections, while Instagram’s visual nature is ideal for lifestyle brands. TikTok, on the other hand, continues to dominate among younger demographics with its short, engaging video format. In 2025, omnipresence is still essential; however, narrowing your focus to one or two key platforms rather than spreading yourself too thin will allow you to deliver higher-quality, more targeted content.

The Power of Content Marketing In Your 2025 Marketing StrategyA strategic content marketing plan that prioritises quality over quantity is vital. Instead of churning out generic posts or blogs, focus on creating content that is valuable, relevant, and highly engaging for your audience.

One of the most effective forms of content marketing is video and deserves to be front and centre in your 2025 marketing strategy.

Why Video is EssentialVideo content is no longer optional; it’s essential. Whether it’s short-form content for platforms like Instagram or TikTok, or longer, more in-depth videos for YouTube or LinkedIn, video has become a dominant force in content marketing. Here’s why:

It’s Engaging: Videos capture attention more effectively than text or images.
It Builds Trust: Video gives you visibility. It allows your audience to see the people behind the brand, allowing you to connect with authenticity.
It Drives Action: Studies show that video content is more likely to result in conversions than other formats.
It’s Versatile: From tutorials and behind-the-scenes glimpses to testimonials and live Q&A sessions, the possibilities are endless.

Start small if you’re integrating video into your 2025 marketing strategy for the first time. Test different types of videos to see what resonates with your audience. Using captions and subtitles and optimising videos for mobile viewing will ensure they are accessible and impactful.

Strategic Content DistributionIt’s not just about what you create; it’s also about how you distribute it. Content marketing works best when you have a clear strategy for distribution. Think of it as the rule of thirds:

One-third original content: High-quality posts, videos, or blogs that showcase your expertise.
One-third curated content: Sharing industry news or insights from other credible sources.
One-third promotional content: Calls to action, special offers, or showcasing your products and services.

This balanced approach ensures your audience doesn’t feel like they are being sold to constantly while keeping your brand front of mind.

Data-Driven Decision MakingAnother major tweak for 2025 is embracing a more data-driven approach to your strategy. Analytics tools have come a long way, offering deep insights into your audience’s behaviour. Use these tools to:

Identify which types of content perform best.
Understand the best times to post on different platforms.
Monitor the ROI of your campaigns.

Platforms like Google Analytics or even the built-in insights on social media platforms can provide actionable data. The more you know what works and what doesn’t, the more you can refine your approach.

Building a Stronger ConnectionUltimately, marketing is about building relationships. In your 2025 marketing strategy, focus on creating meaningful interactions with your audience. This means:

Engaging Directly: Responding to comments, starting conversations, and showing genuine interest in your audience.
Personalisation: Tailoring your messages to different segments of your audience.
Community Building: Encouraging user-generated content, hosting live sessions, or creating exclusive groups for your loyal followers.

2025 Marketing strategy Tips – what you should be taking awayMarketing strategies need to be agile to remain effective. In following these 2025 marketing strategy tips, you can position your business for success in the coming year. By choosing the right social media channels, focusing on high-quality content, particularly video, and using data to guide your decisions, you can create a strategy that delivers results in 2025 and beyond. Remember, success isn’t about following every trend; it’s about consistently delivering value and building connections with your audience.

Now is the time to take a closer look at your current strategy. What’s working? What isn’t? By making these major tweaks, you’ll be well-positioned to achieve your marketing goals in the coming year. And remember – if you need someone to come in and help you make your strategy a reality, we’re here to help, whether that’s managing your social media channels for you or working with your internal marketing resource.

The post 2025 Marketing Strategy Tips: Major Tweaks for Success appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Whether it’s the festive season approaching or any other holiday, it’s a good time to review your social media channels to ensure they’re working for you. Whether you’re a small business owner, marketer, or social media manager, these social media housekeeping tips will keep your platforms running smoothly and fully optimised so you can maximise results all year round.

Review and Update Your Social Media ProfilesStart by making sure all your social media profiles are up-to-date. Check:

Contact information: Are your email, phone number, and website links all correct? The links that you’re using to direct your audiences back to your website, are those pages optimised for a seamless user journey on a mobile device?
Profile and cover photos: Are these still on brand? Do they still fit correctly? (Social media channels have a habit of tweaking page designs that might mean things are not displayed the way you thought they were!) You might even consider adding a festive touch to your visuals.
Bios: Update them to reflect any recent changes in your business or services, or add some keywords you might have missed the last time you reviewed them.
Pinned posts: Highlight key messages, holiday opening hours, or a festive offer.

Plan and Schedule Social Media ContentEven though most of your audience is unlikely to be in the office, they’re still likely to spend some time scrolling through their social media channels. This doesn’t mean you have to – I’m an advocate for taking a break if you’re the person whose job it is to look at social media daily as part of your regular responsibilities. However, Taking a break doesn’t mean you need to be silent. Keep your audience engaged by scheduling posts in advance. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or LinkedIn and Meta’s scheduling options can help you stay active while offline.

Festive posts: Share holiday greetings, behind-the-scenes content, or team celebrations.
Value-driven posts: Provide useful tips or inspirational messages for your audience.
Evergreen content: Repurpose your best-performing posts to maintain engagement.

Set Up Automated ResponsesIf you’re using social media channels as a customer service tool, an automated response can manage expectations and keep customer service smooth:

Set up auto-replies for direct messages on Facebook, Instagram. (ManyChat is an excellent tool for this.)
Include information about response times and alternative ways to contact you.

Audit Your Social Media Content and ChannelsTake some time to review what’s been working and what hasn’t:

Insights and analytics: Look at engagement, reach, and audience demographics.
Content Performance: Identify posts that missed the mark and consider why. Also, analyse your best-performing posts from the last year. When you look at the top 5-10 posts, what do you need to build into your social media strategy and content plan to increase success in the future? (This is a useful exercise to run through every three months to ensure content marketing success!)
Channel focus: Decide if all platforms are serving your goals or if it’s time to reallocate your efforts.

Declutter Your Social Media AccountsA tidy feed can make a big difference:

Unfollow inactive or irrelevant accounts: Clean up your following list to keep it focused.
Remove spam comments: Protect your brand’s reputation by keeping your posts professional.
Archive outdated posts: If something no longer reflects your brand, it’s okay to hide it.

Communicate Your Holiday HoursLet your audience know when you’ll be offline:

Post your holiday hours or availability on your profiles. Don’t forget to also do this on Google My Business.
You might want to include this information in your pinned posts, stories, or an email to your mailing list.

Secure Your Social Media AccountsThe holiday season can be a prime time for hackers:

Update passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
Review admin roles to ensure only trusted team members have access.

Create a Crisis PlanPrepare for any unexpected issues that might arise while you’re away:

Identify who will monitor accounts for urgent matters.
Draft templates for quick responses to common questions or complaints.
Set up alerts for brand mentions or high-risk keywords.

Engage Your Audience Before the BreakUse the weeks leading up to Christmas to ramp up engagement:

Run a festive competition or giveaway.
Share user-generated content (UGC) to celebrate your community.
Thank your audience with a heartfelt message of appreciation.

Plan for Your ReturnEase back into your social media routine in January:

Draft your first post of the new year to set a positive tone.
Plan a content calendar for January to maintain momentum.
Reflect on any learnings from your year-end analytics to inform future strategies.

Social media housekeeping is a must!Investing a little time in these social media housekeeping tasks now will allow you to set yourself up for a stress-free holiday season and a strong start on your return. Social media is a powerful tool, but even the best platforms need a little maintenance to keep them running at their best.

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Here we are again, my annual article predicting what are going to be the hot social media marketing trends for 2025. One thing is for sure, your social media marketing activities are primed for significant evolution in 2025! Next year promises exciting opportunities for service-based businesses – Recruitment agencies, consultancies, and other B2B providers will have to adapt to a shift in client and customer expectations if they want to maintain their edge. Marketing technology is advancing at lightning speed, and the competition for attention is fiercer than ever. Staying ahead of these trends is essential if you want to build meaningful connections with your audiences and drive growth.

But the real question for me is: Is marketing truly back on the agenda? Over the past few years, many service-based businesses have scaled back their marketing efforts because of economic challenges and uncertainty in their markets. Marketing, once considered essential, has been treated as a luxury. Will 2025 mark the return of marketing as a non-negotiable investment? Is it still a “nice to have,” or are businesses finally ready to treat it as a must-have for sustainable growth? Are recruitment agencies and other service based businesses prepared to allocate the time, budget, and resources needed to leverage the opportunities ahead?

What’s Going To Be Hot? – The Marketing Trends For 2025There are a number of key trends shaping the future of social media marketing. How will your service-based business, and I’m talking particularly to recruitment agencies here, implement these trends to attract, engage, and convert clients.

Interactive Content Takes Centre StageInteractive content will be a powerful tool for engaging your audience in 2025. For example, recruitment agencies can create LinkedIn polls to gather insights on industry challenges, use quizzes to help businesses determine their hiring needs, or develop interactive case studies that let potential clients explore how they’ve solved recruitment problems in the past.

For B2B brands, your interactive content builds engagement and positions you as a thought leader. It creates a two-way dialogue, allowing you to gather valuable insights while keeping prospects engaged. Tools like LinkedIn’s engagement features or interactive landing pages can help you create memorable, impactful content.

AI-Driven Campaign PlanningAI tools are set to revolutionise how you plan your marketing campaigns. Recruitment agencies can use AI to analyse job market trends, predict hiring surges in specific industries, or target decision-makers at the perfect time. By combining AI insights with human expertise, you can create data-driven campaigns that resonate with all stakeholders.

For example, AI can help craft hyper-personalised email sequences tailored to the needs of Hiring Managers or create programmatic ads targeting specific roles or industries. The result? Campaigns that are smarter, more efficient, and more impactful.

Content That Builds TrustTrust is the cornerstone of successful B2B relationships, and content marketing will play a pivotal role in 2025. You can build trust by sharing insights on market conditions, highlighting your success rates, or demystifying complex processes through simple, transparent content.

Video testimonials from clients, “day in the life” posts showing how you work behind the scenes, and thought leadership articles addressing industry pain points are all excellent ways to build credibility. Trust-building content is about showing, not telling, and brands that prioritise honesty and value creation will earn loyalty.

Raw and Relatable ContentFor B2B brands, raw content doesn’t mean unprofessional – it means real. Recruitment agencies can use unpolished, behind-the-scenes content to show authenticity. Sharing a quick video of a you preparing for a client meeting, showcasing team camaraderie, or even candid clips of your successes can humanise your business and make you more relatable.

On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, you have the opportunity to demonstrate your personality and connect with younger audiences. This content resonates particularly well with companies that value authenticity and transparency.

Innovation in DeliveryYou’re going to have to get creative in how you deliver your content. Recruitment agencies, for example, can experiment with shoppable content by embedding easy links for clients to book consultations directly through social media posts. Gamified content like “How fast can you find your next hire?” calculators or interactive hiring roadmaps can also add a playful, engaging touch.

Innovation is about breaking the mould of what’s expected in B2B marketing. Brands that try new formats will stand out from the crowd.

The ESG ImperativeEnvironmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) concerns are no longer just for global consumer-facing brands. You can demonstrate your ESG commitment by highlighting diversity and inclusion initiatives, supporting social causes, or showcasing sustainable practices.

For example, recruitment agencies can create campaigns focusing on their success in placing diverse candidates, other B2B businesses can highlight their partnership with green companies. Sharing these values authentically can build trust and align with businesses seeking ethical service providers.

What I Want to See From Businesses in 2025I’ve given you the trends, but what is it that I really want to see and will be encouraging the businesses I work with to do? As we step into 2025, here’s what I believe your business should focus on when it comes to social media and online marketing:

More Focus on Strategy: Reactive marketing is out – long-term strategies are the way forward. It’s time to align your marketing efforts with your business objectives, plan your campaigns intentionally, and ensure every post or email contributes to the bigger picture.
Investment in the Process: Marketing is not a one-off effort. It requires consistent investment in processes, tools, and people. Every business should be allocating resources to refine their content creation, campaign management, and audience engagement strategies.
Zero-Click Content: B2B audiences want value upfront, they don’t want to click to access it. You can create insightful LinkedIn posts summarising industry trends, Instagram carousels explaining the your journey, or threads on X offering quick tips—all without requiring the audience to click through. This approach builds authority and keeps your audience engaged on the platforms they’re already using.
Stop Relying on Perfection: Audiences will, and already are, getting weary of over produced video and AI created content. Forget perfection – Shoot that video and share it. It will be raw and real, it will ooze personality and passion, and will be the content that gets the most traction.

By embracing these trends and committing to innovation, your business can build stronger connections, establish trust, and ensure your marketing efforts drive meaningful results in 2025.

Are you ready to elevate your marketing strategy? Let’s make 2025 your bounce back year!

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Social media has transformed how businesses connect with their audience. However, organic reach alone is no longer enough to stand out in an over-saturated online world. This is where sponsored posts come in. That’s paying via Meta ads or LinkedIn Campaign Manager to get your content in front of more people. But are they worth the investment? Should your business “pay to play,” or is it better to stick with organic methods? Let’s explore the truth about sponsored posts in social media marketing.

What Are Sponsored Posts in Social Media Marketing?Sponsored posts are paid advertisements that appear on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X. They look similar to regular posts but are promoted to a targeted audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviours.

Unlike organic posts, which rely on your existing followers and algorithm-driven reach, sponsored posts enable businesses to push their content directly to potential customers who may not already follow them.

The Appeal of Sponsored Posts Extended Reach: Sponsored posts allow you to reach a much larger audience than organic content alone. * Targeting Capabilities: Platforms like Meta and LinkedIn offer sophisticated targeting options, ensuring your content reaches the right people. * Performance Analytics:* Sponsored posts provide detailed metrics, helping businesses refine their strategies and improve ROI.

But does this mean they’re essential for your business?

The Pros and Cons of Sponsored Posts In Social MediaBefore diving into paid social media advertising, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.

Pros of Sponsored Posts1. Boosted Visibility: Paid posts can put your brand in front of thousands, even millions, of potential customers. 2. Enhanced Engagement: With the right creative and targeting, sponsored posts often see higher engagement rates than organic content. 3. Immediate Results: Unlike organic strategies that take time to build momentum, sponsored posts deliver instant exposure.

Cons of Sponsored Posts1. Costs Add Up: While starting budgets can be modest, scaling campaigns can become expensive quickly. 2. Declining Organic Growth: Over-reliance on paid posts can lead to neglect of organic strategies, which build long-term relationships and loyalty. 3. Ad Fatigue: Audiences can become desensitised to paid content, making it harder to capture their attention over time.

Understanding these factors helps you decide if sponsored posts align with your social media marketing goals.

How to Make Sponsored Posts Work for Your BusinessIf you decide to include sponsored posts in your strategy, follow these best practices to maximise success:

1. Define Clear ObjectivesWhat do you want to achieve with your sponsored posts? Common goals include:

Increasing brand awareness
Driving traffic to your website
Generating leads or sales

Setting specific objectives helps shape your campaign strategy and measure its success effectively.

2. Create Scroll-Stopping ContentThe success of your sponsored posts depends heavily on the quality of your content. Use:

High-quality visuals: Eye-catching images or videos that grab attention.
Compelling copy: A headline and description that resonates with your audience.
Strong call-to-action (CTA): Encourage users to take a specific action, such as “Learn More” or “Shop Now.”

Remember, your content needs to stand out in a crowded social feed.

3. Leverage Audience TargetingOne of the biggest advantages of sponsored posts is precise audience targeting. Use platform tools to define:

Demographics: Age, gender, location.
Interests and behaviours: Tailor content to match your audience’s preferences.
Lookalike audiences: Reach people similar to your existing customers, your current following, and those in your database.

Refining your audience ensures you spend your budget on those most likely to engage or convert.

4. Monitor and OptimiseInvesting in paid adverts on social media isn’t a ‘set it and forget it’ activity. Monitor the performance of your sponsored posts and adjust as needed. Key metrics to track include:

Impressions and reach
Click-through rates (CTR)
Engagement (likes, shares, comments)
Conversion rates

Regularly tweaking your campaigns can improve performance and ROI over time. If you’re investing already and want to know more, I previously wrote an article on measuring the effectiveness of Facebook Ads, the content of which is just as applicable if you’re paying to play on other platforms too.

Do You Need Sponsored Posts to Succeed?The answer depends on your business’s goals, your strategey, budget, and audience.

When to Invest in Sponsored Posts:
If your organic reach has plateaued or you want to launch a new product or service, sponsored posts can give your strategy a much-needed boost.
When to Focus on Organic Strategies:
If you’re building brand credibility or have a tight budget, a consistent organic content strategy might be more suitable.

The best approach often involves a mix of both organic and paid tactics, creating a well-rounded strategy.

So, should you be investing in sponsored posts?Yes – with the right strategy and if you have a big enough budget available to drive meaningful results! The truth is, sponsored posts in social media marketing are not a one-size-fits-all solution. They can offer incredible opportunities for growth, but success depends on strategic planning and execution.

By defining clear objectives, creating impactful content, and leveraging the power of audience targeting, you can ensure your sponsored posts deliver maximum value. And remember: whether you choose to pay to play or focus on organic strategies, consistently offering value, showing some personality and showing up regularly are all key to building long-term success in the social media landscape.

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When used correctly, Instagram is a powerhouse platform for recruitment agencies and other service-based businesses. With over a billion active users, it’s a space that offers opportunities to connect with new clients, showcase your brand, and evidence your expertise. That said, gaining followers, increasing engagement, and generating quality leads can be challenging if you are not using clear Instagram Strategies to Boost Followers, Engagement, and Leads. The key lies in consistency and knowing exactly where to focus your efforts each and every day. Here are five essential Instagram strategies you should incorporate daily to achieve meaningful growth and results.

Engage Authentically with Your AudienceInteracting with your audience is one of the most impactful ways to build trust and encourage engagement. Rather than only focusing on posting, adding Reels and updating your stories, make a habit of spending a few minutes each day engaging with comments on your posts, responding to direct messages, and reaching out to those who engage with your Stories. Authentic engagement shows potential clients you care and are invested in your community.
Tips for Effective Engagement
- Personalise responses rather than using generic replies. A simple “Thank you!” could be elevated to “Thank you, [username]! We’re glad you enjoyed this post.”
- Set aside 10-15 minutes daily to respond to DMs and comments promptly.
- Take time to engage with new followers by liking and commenting on their posts. This shows them you’re interested in a two-way relationship.

Remember, genuine engagement creates trust, and trust drives conversions. It’s the heart of building a loyal Instagram following.

Post Content with Purpose and ValuePosting on Instagram regularly is crucial, but quality is always better than quantity. Ensure each post offers value – whether it’s insights into your industry, answers to common questions, or showcasing your work. Aim to make every post intentional, helping followers see the value your business brings.
What Makes Good Content?
- Educational Posts: Share insights, tips, or tutorials that address common challenges and the pains your clients face.
- Behind-the-Scenes Content: Show behind-the-scenes moments that highlight your team, processes, or work environment, giving followers a fly-on-the-wall view of your brand.
- Client Testimonials or Case Studies: Social proof goes a long way. When followers see real-life examples of your service success, they’re more likely to become clients.

Create a mix of content that balances educational, entertaining, and promotional content. When followers find real value in your posts, they’re more likely to engage and return.

Utilise Instagram Stories DailyInstagram Stories are a fantastic opportunity to engage your followers in a more casual, real-time way. Stories are great for updates, promotions, or personal insights into your brand, and the 24-hour format creates a sense of urgency that encourages views and engagement.
Story Ideas for Service-Based Businesses
- Q&A Sessions: Answer questions about your services or industry, showcasing your expertise in an interactive way.
- Polls and Quizzes: Polls, quizzes, and “Yes/No” stickers invite participation and provide feedback on what followers want to see from you.
- Day-in-the-Life: Share your daily routine or showcase client interactions. This gives followers a peek into your business and makes it more relatable.

By consistently using Stories, you create daily touchpoints with your audience, keeping your brand at the top of their minds and building stronger connections.

Optimise Hashtags to Expand Your ReachUsing the right hashtags on each post helps you reach potential followers genuinely interested in your services. While using popular tags is tempting, niche hashtags often lead to higher engagement and a more targeted audience. (And less spam in your inbox!)
Hashtag Tips for Maximum Impact
- Mix broad and niche-specific hashtags. For example, instead of using #Marketing, try #LocalMarketingTips or #MarketingForRecruiters.
- Research trending hashtags in your industry and create a “hashtag bank” to rotate through on different posts.
- Use location-based hashtags if your business serves a particular area. This helps local clients discover you.

Keep an eye on hashtag performance over time. See which ones drive the most engagement and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Analyse Performance and Adapt Your Instagram StrategiesTracking what’s working and what isn’t should be a regular exercise. Reviewing Instagram Insights can provide valuable data on which posts are resonating with your audience and where improvements are needed.
What Metrics to Monitor
- Engagement Rate: Look at likes, comments, shares, and saves to understand which types of posts drive the most interaction.
- Follower Growth: Notice how your follower count fluctuates after certain posts, Stories, or engagement activities.
- Reach and Impressions: High reach but low engagement? It might be time to refine your content to make it more engaging.

Use this data to tailor your strategy continually. A consistent approach to analytics can help you better understand your audience, refine your content, and ultimately drive better results.

Commit to Sustainable Instagram StrategiesBy focusing on these Instagram strategies, your business can create a community of engaged followers, build credibility, and attract new clients. While these tasks take time, they don’t all have to fall on your shoulders. Managing this platform effectively can be a daily commitment, but outsourcing Instagram can free up your time, letting you focus on what you do best while maintaining a strong social media presence. Whether you manage it solo or bring on some help, consistency and strategic action will position your brand for Instagram success.

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Social media is a cornerstone for businesses of all sizes. From increasing brand awareness to driving sales, the right platform can significantly impact your business’s success. However, not every platform will deliver the same results for every business. The key is understanding the nuances of each platform and aligning them with your business goals and audience.

So, let’s look at the most popular social media platforms and their unique benefits so that you can decide which platforms will best serve your business.

Facebook: The All-in-One PowerhouseFacebook remains one of the most influential and versatile social media platforms for businesses. With over 2.9 billion monthly active users globally, it’s an all-in-one platform that suits almost every type of business, regardless of size. Facebook offers various business tools, from community engagement to robust advertising features.

One of the primary reasons Facebook is beneficial for businesses is its advertising platform. Meta Ads allow you to target audiences with precision based on demographics, interests, behaviours, and more. Facebook’s cost-effective ad options are a great way to maximise reach for small businesses with limited marketing budgets.

Additionally, Facebook’s dedicated business Pages provide your business with a space to post content, interact with customers, and showcase products or services. Features like Facebook Groups also allow companies and personal brands to build a community around their brand, encouraging organic interactions between fans and potential customers.

Key Benefits of Facebook for Businesses:

Broad and diverse user base
Powerful and cost-effective advertising tools
Ability to foster community engagement
Integrated e-commerce options for retail businesses

Facebook is the best choice for businesses looking for a versatile platform that offers both organic and paid opportunities to engage a wide audience.

Instagram: A Hub for Visual Storytelling and E-CommerceInstagram is another essential platform for businesses, especially those that rely heavily on visuals to communicate their message. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Instagram is particularly popular among younger audiences, making it an ideal platform for businesses targeting millennials and Gen Z consumers.

Instagram’s focus on visual content allows businesses to use photos, videos, and graphics to create compelling narratives around their brand. Whether you’re a small clothing boutique, a restaurant, or a tech startup, Instagram provides the space to showcase your products or services in creative ways. Instagram Stories and reels are excellent for promoting products, establishing employer brand, and driving sales.

For businesses looking to utilise paid advertising, Instagram’s ad platform offers similar benefits to Facebook’s, with highly targeted ads and a wide range of formats. Video ads, carousel posts, and shoppable posts provide businesses with multiple ways to engage audiences and promote products.

Key Benefits of Instagram for Businesses:

Perfect for businesses reliant on visual content
Popular among younger audiences
Features like Stories and Reels increase engagement

If your business thrives on visuals and creativity, Instagram is one of the most effective platforms for building a brand and converting followers into loyal customers.

LinkedIn: The Go-To Platform for B2B CompaniesFor businesses operating in the B2B space, LinkedIn is, of course, a priority platform. With over 800 million professionals on the platform, LinkedIn allows businesses to connect with other professionals, build relationships, and generate leads in a more business-oriented environment. It’s also the best platform for establishing your business’s credibility and thought leadership through content marketing.

LinkedIn is particularly valuable for service-based businesses, consultants, and companies in the technology or finance industries. LinkedIn Pages allow companies to share updates, articles, and case studies, creating engagement with professionals who are likely to be decision-makers in their companies.

LinkedIn’s advertising options, such as Sponsored Content and LinkedIn InMail, are excellent for targeting high-level executives and professionals in specific industries.

Key Benefits of LinkedIn for Businesses:

Best platform for B2B businesses
Opportunities to establish thought leadership
Targeted advertising options for professionals
Ideal for networking and generating business leads

If your business relies on professional relationships, LinkedIn is the platform to focus on, offering a direct line to decision-makers in industries relevant to your business.

TikTok: Reach and Engage Younger AudiencesTikTok has taken the social media world by storm with its focus on short, viral video content. With over 1 billion active users and a younger user base (primarily Gen Z and millennials), TikTok offers businesses a platform to engage audiences in fun, creative, and trend-focused ways.

Unlike other platforms that prioritise polished and highly curated content, TikTok rewards authenticity and creativity. Even small businesses can go viral by participating in trends, challenges, and using popular sounds. The platform’s unique algorithm also makes it easier for content to gain visibility, even if your business doesn’t have a large following.

TikTok’s advertising options, including In-Feed Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and Branded Effects, offer businesses ways to reach broader audiences. Additionally, TikTok’s focus on entertainment and creativity makes it ideal for businesses looking to humanise their brand and create a deeper connection with younger consumers.

Key Benefits of TikTok for Businesses:

High potential for organic reach and viral content
Popular among younger audiences (Gen Z and millennials)
Ideal for creative and entertainment-focused marketing
Affordable advertising options for businesses of all sizes

If your business targets younger consumers and has the creativity to produce engaging short-form video content, TikTok can provide significant returns in terms of brand exposure and audience engagement.

Pinterest: A Visual Search Engine for E-CommerceBusinesses often overlook Pinterest, but for those in industries like fashion, food, and DIY, Pinterest can be a goldmine. With over 450 million active users, Pinterest acts as a visual search engine, allowing users to discover ideas, products, and services through images and pins.

Pinterest is particularly valuable for e-commerce businesses, as users on the platform are often looking for inspiration and are ready to make purchasing decisions. Features like Rich Pins and Product Pins allow businesses to showcase their products with detailed descriptions, pricing, and availability, driving traffic directly to their websites.

Additionally, Pinterest’s Promoted Pins offer businesses a way to reach new audiences who are actively searching for products and services in their industry. For businesses with visually appealing products, Pinterest can be an effective platform for driving both traffic and sales.

Key Benefits of Pinterest for Businesses:

Great for e-commerce and product discovery
Users are often ready to make purchasing decisions
Ideal for industries like fashion, home decor, food, and DIY
Visual search engine drives traffic to your website

If your business relies on visuals and caters to customers looking for inspiration and products, Pinterest is a great platform for generating leads and driving sales.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your BusinessThe most beneficial social media platform for your business depends on your target audience, industry, and goals. Facebook and Instagram are versatile platforms that cater to a broad audience and offer excellent advertising options. LinkedIn is the best choice for B2B businesses, while TikTok is perfect for engaging younger, creative audiences. Pinterest is ideal for e-commerce businesses that rely on visuals and product discovery.

Choosing the right platform is about understanding where your audience spends their time and how best to engage them. By selecting the platforms that align with your business objectives and customer behaviour, you can maximise your social media efforts and achieve your marketing goals.

The post Which Social Media Platforms Benefit Your Business the Most? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Employer branding on social media has become one of the most powerful ways to attract top talent – and yet, for businesses outside of the world of recruitment, it’s a term that few entrepreneurs have even heard of! Candidates are no longer solely focused on salary and benefits – they want to know what it’s like to work at a company, what values it stands for, and whether it offers a supportive work environment. Social media is the perfect platform for businesses to showcase their Employer Brand and communicate their culture, values, and what it’s really like for their employees working within them.

So, where do you start with building a strong Employer Brand on Social Media? I’ve worked directly with companies and in partnership with recruitment agencies to help end-employers get this right. I’ve learned a few things, and this is probably the most comprehensive list I’ve written publicly on the topic.

Let’s go!

1. Define Your Employer Value Proposition (EVP)Talk to a recruiter about a vacancy – one of the first questions they’ll ask you is ‘What’s your EVP?’! At the core of effective Employer Branding on social media is a strong Employer Value Proposition (EVP). Your EVP defines the unique benefits you offer your employees in exchange for their skills and efforts. This proposition should – no WILL clearly communicate why your business is a great place to work and why someone would choose to work with you versus one of your competitors.

What makes a Strong EVP? Company mission and purpose: What drives your business, and how do employees contribute to that mission? * Workplace culture: What values, behaviours, and norms define your business? * Opportunities for career growth: What professional development, mentorship, and promotion paths are available? * Work-life balance*: How does your company support flexibility, wellness, and a positive work environment?

Once you’ve defined your EVP, work out how to evidence it in all aspects of your social media strategy. Whether it’s a post on LinkedIn or a story on Instagram, your active, passive, and prospective candidates should feel your EVP reflected in every piece of content they see.

Employer Branding Tips:* Share employee stories that highlight the key elements of your EVP. * Post content showcasing your mission and values in practice during your day-to-day operations, projects, or team activities. * Create visuals that evidence the career development paths available within the business.

2. Choose the Right Social Media Platforms for Employer BrandingNot every platform will serve the same purpose when it comes to employer branding on social media. Understanding which platforms are most effective is key to optimising your employer branding strategy, especially when considering that you’re marketing your current roles to a multi-generational audience.

LinkedIn: The Professional NetworkLinkedIn is the most powerful platform for Employer Branding, especially when targeting professionals across pretty much every industry. To make the most of LinkedIn:

Post company updates: Share news, achievements, and insights about your culture and values.
Leverage Personal Branding: Encourage business leaders to publish articles and engage in industry discussions to enhance your brand’s visibility.
Promote job openings: Highlight your vacancies in a way that reflects your EVP.
Outsource: Get Green Umbrella Marketing to do your recruitment marketing for you – sorry. I couldn’t resist a cheeky plug!

Instagram: Visual StorytellingInstagram offers a great way to tell your story through visual content. It’s perfect for showcasing your office environment, employee experiences, and team dynamics.

Behind-the-scenes content: Share day-in-the-life posts, team outings, or events.
Highlight current employees: Use stories and reels to showcase employees talking about their roles and what they love about working for your business.

Facebook: Community BuildingFacebook is ideal for creating a community around your Employer Brand and works particularly well if you need to build talent pools for high-volume and low-skilled workers. Use Facebook to engage with potential candidates through a mix of content and interaction:

Create a company page that regularly updates followers on company news, job postings, and employee experiences.
Host live Q&A sessions: Use Facebook Live to answer questions about your company’s culture or specific job roles.
Leverage Facebook Groups: Build a community of potential candidates and existing and past employees who are interested in following updates on your company’s growth and opportunities.
Invest in paid advertising to reach targeted audiences, ensuring the delivery of your messaging.

X: Real-Time EngagementX is excellent for quick updates and engaging in real-time conversations. Admittedly, it is in decline, and a year from now, I may review this article and delete this section! However, for those who choose to use it, here’s how to make X work for your employer branding:

Share real-time updates: Tweet about industry events, awards, or company news.
Use hashtags: Engage with popular recruitment and industry hashtags to increase visibility.
Highlight company culture: Share short employee testimonials, photos of your office, or updates from company events.

TikTok: Gen Z EngagementTikTok has become a major platform for Employer Branding on social media, especially if you’re targeting talent early in their careers. Using TikTok’s short, engaging video style can humanise you, your brand and show off your company’s fun side:

Participate in viral trends: Join TikTok challenges that align with your culture.
Share employee-generated content: Encourage employees to create TikTok content, sharing their experiences, what makes working with you unique, and what they love most about your workplace.

3. Showcase Your Company CultureI’ve mentioned culture a couple of times already. Showcasing your company’s culture is a significant part of Employer Branding on social media. Candidates focus on finding workplaces that align with their values and lifestyle preferences.

What to Showcase: Daily work life: Post content that shows a typical day in your business, whether in the office or working remotely. Show your workspaces, team collabs, calls, and get-togethers—show it all! * Employee experiences: Celebrate how your employees contribute to your company’s success. Also, celebrate them as individuals – their personal journeys and their growth within the company. * Team building*: Let’s see the team socials, voluntary activities, and celebrations. (Maybe show events before things get too crazy though – ha ha.)

Best Practices: Be authentic: Forget perfection. Overly polished, scripted content may get a message out there. It won’t necessarily be received in the way you need it to be for the purpose of your Employer Brand strategy. Candidates will be attracted to the raw, genuine vibes they see, not a manufactured atmosphere. * Use a variety of formats: Photos, videos, stories, written, podcasts, and live events – mix it all up to showcase every aspect of your people and your culture. * Highlight diversity*: Make sure to represent a variety of voices and experiences across your content to show that your company values inclusion and diversity.

4. Be Consistent in Messaging and VisualsConsistency across all platforms will increase the effectiveness of your employer branding on social media. Candidates should recognise your brand wherever they’re engaging with you online.

Elements of Consistency: Visuals: Use consistent colours, fonts, and imagery across all platforms. This reinforces brand recognition. * Tone of voice: Maintain a voice that reflects your values and culture. Whether your brand is formal, casual, or playful, it should feel the same across all social media platforms. * Post frequency*: Build regular Employer Brand posts into your commercial marketing activity. Theses posts will help keep all of your audience engaged. Build Employer Brand into your content calendar to ensure consistent updates.

Steps to Implement: Create brand guidelines* that cover visual style, tone, and messaging. Share these with your social media team. * Use scheduling tools to manage your content calendar and ensure regular posting across platforms.

5. Engage with Your AudienceEmployer branding on social media isn’t just about broadcasting a few company values; it’s about relationship building. Engaging with your audience (including potential candidates and current employees) creates a sense of community, builds trust and shows you’re more than just a brand.

How to Engage: Respond to comments and messages: Respond quickly and thoughtfully if you’re asked questions or receive engagement on your content – always add value. * Host Q&A sessions: Use Instagram Stories, LinkedIn Lives, or Facebook Lives to host real-time Q&A or AMA (ask me anything) sessions with your recruiting team or employees. Showcase them! * Encourage UGC and EGC*: User-Generated content is awesome, but Employee-Generated Content is next level. Ask your employees and followers to contribute their content and tag you in. (If you’re working on a longer-term campaign, you could also encourage the use of a branded hashtag.) Employee advocacy can amplify your reach and enhance the authenticity of your Employer Brand on social media. Encourage your employees to share their work experiences on social media using a dedicated company hashtag or tagging your company’s profiles.

6. Promote Career Growth and DevelopmentI’ve spoken to the recruiters, read the research, seen the reports and one of the top reasons candidates choose an employer is the opportunity for growth. Highlighting your commitment to employee development as an employer of choice is a crucial aspect of employer branding on social media.

What to Share: Training programs: Post content about workshops, certifications, or internal learning opportunities that your company offers. Include training and development around soft skills as well as the usual more practical, professional training. * Career progression: Tell the stories of those employees who have risen through the ranks within your business. * Mentorship opportunities*: Shine a light on any official (or unofficial) mentorship programs or one-on-one development support that employees can expect.

Ideas for Content: Feature employee stories: Have employees share their personal growth journeys, either through written testimonials or video interviews. * Create posts about internal training programs*: Showcase how your company invests in its employees’ continued education and growth.

7. Leverage Employee-Generated Content (EGC)I’ve mentioned it already, but this one’s important and deserves more attention. Employee-Generated Content (EGC) is one of the most effective tools for employer branding on social media. When the people on your team share their own stories and experiences, it adds credibility and true authenticity to your employer brand.

Encouraging EGC: Create a branded hashtag: Encourage employees to use this hashtag when posting about their work experiences. However, only do this if you are implementing a concentrated campaign. * Offer incentives: Gamify it – think about monthly competitions where employees can share their stories and receive rewards for the best content. This works well for bigger organisations. * Repost employee content*: Feature employee posts on your company’s official social media pages to amplify their voices. It will help them feel more appreciated and encourage them to do more!

Why It Works:In marketing, the truth is that we trust what a stranger says more than what a brand tells us. Therefore, Candidates are more likely to trust employees’ experiences over polished marketing materials. EGC allows potential candidates to get a genuine view of working at your company, making it a powerful recruitment tool.

8. Measure and Adjust Your StrategyYour employer branding on social media efforts should be continuously evaluated and adjusted based on performance. Regularly review your analytics to understand which content resonates best with your audience.

Key Metrics: Engagement: Track likes, shares, comments, and interaction rates on your posts. * Follower growth: Are your social media platforms growing? A steady increase in followers can indicate that your content is reaching the right audience. * Job applications*: Monitor how many applications come through due to your social media efforts.

Tools for Tracking:* Use native analytics on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to gain insights into Employer Brand post performance. * Leverage Google Analytics to track how social media drives traffic to your careers page and vacancy landing pages.

By regularly reviewing these metrics, you can optimise your Employer Branding strategy to ensure it’s both engaging and effective in attracting the right talent.

9. Highlight Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are top priorities for the candidate market. Whether you have a formal DEI strategy in place or not, highlighting your efforts will only positively impact your employer branding on social media, and your overall presence.

Ways to Showcase DEI: Share stories of diverse employees: Feature employees from underrepresented groups and their journeys at your company. * Promote DEI initiatives: Post content about events, training, and initiatives that aim to create an inclusive work environment. * Celebrate diversity*: Share the important cultural and community celebrations you celebrate within your company and how you recognise and support diverse employees.

Content that reflects the reality of your DEI efforts will attract a broader talent pool and build a reputation for inclusivity and fairness.

And they’re just how to get started with employer branding on social media!Building a strong employer brand on social media is an ongoing process. It requires a blend of authenticity, consistency, and engagement. By defining your EVP, showcasing your company culture, and actively engaging with both candidates and employees so that you can create a compelling employer brand that resonates across social media platforms. As you continuously measure and refine your strategy, you’ll strengthen your brand’s ability to attract, engage, and retain top talent, ensuring long-term success in your recruitment practice.

The post Employer Branding on Social Media – What You Need To Get Started! appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to build your business, personal, and employer brand. When done right, it can generate leads and drive sales and conversions. However, many of the business owners I speak to are frustrated with their content marketing efforts because they aren’t seeing the results they expected. Too often, content is created just for the sake of it without aligning it with a clear strategy.

There are a few reasons content marketing fails, why an over-reliance on tools like ChatGPT can hurt your efforts, and why outsourcing your content creation could be the solution to turning things around.

Content Marketing Without Strategy: A Recipe for FailureIt’s easy to fall into the trap of pushing out content just to keep your channels active because you’ve heard people like me talk about the importance of consistency. Consistency IS important; however, many businesses churn out blogs, videos, and social media posts without a clear purpose. Unfortunately, creating content without a strategy behind it leads to a scattergun approach, where you’re just hoping something sticks.

The result? Wasted time and resources with little to show for it, and/or a confused and disconnected audience who don’t understand who you are or why they should care about you.

The Fix: Align Content with Your Strategic PlanBefore you post anything, ask yourself:

What is my main business goal? (Brand awareness, generate leads, drive conversions?)
Who is my target audience, and what pains and problems are they facing?
How does this content serve them, and how does it support my business goals?

If your content isn’t aligned with your goals, it’s just noise. When every piece of content serves a purpose and fits into a larger plan, your efforts will start yielding measurable results.

Identifying Core Messaging: The Foundation of Effective Content MarketingEvery successful content marketing strategy starts with solid core messaging. This is the foundation of your brand’s voice, values, and unique selling points. Without clear, consistent messaging, your content risks being disjointed or confusing.

The Fix: Develop Clear, Consistent MessagingIdentify what sets your business apart. What value do you provide? What problems do you solve for your customers? Once you have these answers, all of your content should reflect these themes, consistently communicating the same key messages across different formats and channels.

Diversify Your Content FormatsAnother reason content marketing often falls short is the reliance on a single format, such as blogs. While written content is essential, sticking to one type can limit your reach and engagement. Content comes in various forms, and to truly capture your audience’s attention, you need to diversify.

Popular content formats include:

Blogs: Great for SEO and establishing authority.
Videos: Perfect for quick engagement and storytelling.
Infographics: Condense complex information into digestible visuals.
Podcasts: Engage audiences looking for in-depth discussions.
Social Media Posts: For quick, shareable interactions.

Each format serves a unique purpose and appeals to different segments of your audience. A well-rounded content strategy uses a mix of these to increase your chances of engagement.

The Fix: Mix Up Your Content FormatsDon’t just rely on one type of content. A successful strategy includes a variety of formats to cater to different preferences and consumption habits. Mix it up with blogs, videos, infographics, and social media posts to keep your audience engaged.

The Over-Reliance on Tools Like ChatGPTWhile AI tools like ChatGPT can be extremely useful for brainstorming ideas and drafting quick content, over-reliance on them can hurt your marketing efforts. Why? Because AI-generated content can often lack the creativity and human touch that truly resonates with your audience. AI is great for speeding up processes, but it should never replace thoughtful, strategic content creation.

The Fix: Use AI Tools as a Supplement, Not a CrutchLeverage AI tools to support your content creation, but always ensure that a human touch is applied. Refine, edit, and personalise AI-generated content to align with your brand’s unique voice and goals.

Why Outsourcing Content Creation Is the Game-Changer You NeedIf content marketing isn’t your area of expertise, or if you simply don’t have the time to develop a strategic plan and execute it consistently, outsourcing your content creation could be the solution. Partnering with a marketing agency that truly understands your business and strategy – like us at Green Umbrella Marketing (wink-wink) can take your content to the next level.

When you outsource to a dedicated team, you benefit from:

Expert Strategy: Professionals who can create a content plan aligned with your goals.
Consistency: Regular, high-quality content that’s on-brand and on-message.
Time Savings: Free up your internal resources so you can focus on running your business.
Creative Insight: Fresh ideas from a team that knows the latest trends and best practices.

At Green Umbrella Marketing, we specialise in creating content that engages your audience and aligns with your strategic goals. We take the time to understand your business, your target market, and your core messaging. We craft tailored content designed to deliver measurable results.

How to Structure Your Content Marketing for Real ResultsReady to see real results from your content marketing efforts? Here’s how to structure a strategy that works:

Set Clear Goals
Identify your key business objectives. Your content should directly support these goals, whether they’re brand awareness, lead generation, or boosting sales and conversions.
Understand Your Audience
Know your target audience inside out. What are their pain points? Where do they spend time online? Tailor your content to address their specific needs and challenges.
Create Consistent Messaging
Ensure that your core messaging is consistent across all channels and formats. This builds brand recognition and trust.
Develop a Content Calendar
Plan your content ahead of time. A well-structured content calendar ensures you stay organised and maintain consistency.
Diversify Your Content
Incorporate different content types (blogs, videos, infographics, podcasts) to engage a wider audience and cater to various preferences.
Measure and Optimise
Track the performance of your content and adjust your strategy accordingly. Use insights and analytics to understand what resonates with your audience and what doesn’t.

Focus on Content Strategy, Not Just Content CreationContent marketing isn’t working for many businesses because they’re focused on producing content without a strategic foundation. By identifying core messaging, diversifying content formats, and avoiding an over-reliance on tools like ChatGPT, you can develop a content strategy that delivers real results.

But if you’re finding it difficult to do this alone, working with a marketing agency like Green Umbrella Marketing can make all the difference. We can help you create a well-structured, targeted content marketing strategy that aligns with your goals and drives measurable outcomes.

The post Why Content Marketing Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It) appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Content that captures attention is crucial when you’re looking to make your business stand out online – and creating engaging reels is a fantastic starting point. Instagram Reels, introduced in 2020, have rapidly become a powerful tool for businesses to build audiences, impact engagement algorithms, and convert followers into actionable leads. They started as a competitive content option to halt users from disappearing to TikTok. They became so successful that Meta introduced them to Facebook. As I type, LinkedIn is rolling out an update that will put short-form vertical video at the top of your feed in the mobile app via a dedicated area. Reels allow you to share short, engaging videos with your audience while taking advantage of expansive reach on whatever social media platform you use.

Creating engaging Reels can lead to more than just social media followers for businesses. When done right, they offer a direct path to increased engagement, better discoverability in the algorithm, and the ability to convert those interactions into leads or sales. Reels provide businesses with a unique platform to tell their story, showcase their products, and connect with customers in a dynamic and immersive way.

Why Are Reels Important for Business Growth?Due to their high visibility and engaging format, reels have become an essential part of a business’s digital marketing strategy. On Instagram in particular, the algorithm prioritises Reels over static content like photos or standard video posts, making them a prime opportunity for businesses to boost their reach. This means your content is more likely to be shown to users not yet following you, increasing the chance of gaining new followers.

Beyond discoverability, Reels offer a format that resonates well with audiences. Video content is one of the most effective formats for engaging users, and with Instagram pushing Reels across its Explore page, businesses can maximise organic engagement. In addition, Reels create a space where you can showcase your creativity and personality, which helps establish brand loyalty.

So the question is, how do you create engaging Reels so you can leverage this tool to build a loyal audience, improve engagement metrics, and convert viewers into leads?1. Engaging Reels Start Strong: Create Attention-Grabbing HooksUsers scroll quickly, so the first few seconds of your Reel are critical. Your audience will likely scroll past if you don’t capture attention immediately. Use this short three-second window to make a lasting impression. This could be a question that sparks curiosity, a solid visual moment that intrigues viewers, an engaging promise, or an eye-catching headline that draws them in.

For example, starting your Reel with an unexpected or bold statement can prompt users to stick around to hear more. I encourage you to use the first frame to preview what they’ll get by watching the video, making viewers curious enough to watch the entire Reel or confident that watching it will be a good use of their time. Engaging openings can significantly increase your watch time, which, in turn, improves your visibility in the algorithm.

Build Emotional Connections With Engaging ReelsStorytelling is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience. Reels allow you to share your brand’s story or message in a fun and memorable way. Whether you showcase a day-in-the-life at your business, featuring behind-the-scenes content, or sharing testimonials, storytelling helps humanise both you and your brand.

By crafting your narrative, you can evoke emotions that inspire viewers to take action. Businesses that weave storytelling into their Reels are more likely to build lasting relationships with their audience. This connection translates into higher trust and loyalty, ultimately resulting in better conversion rates. Your audience should see the heart behind your brand; storytelling is one of the most effective ways to achieve this.

Utilise Transitions and Trends to Boost Engagement With Your ReelsOne key to creating engaging Reels is to take advantage of popular trends and creative transitions. Popular transitions, such as outfit changes, before-and-after comparisons, or seamless scene switches, keep your viewers intrigued and encourage repeat viewership. Reels that are visually dynamic and fast-paced tend to perform better in engagement. Yes, they take time to create – however, it is worth it!

Leveraging Instagram’s trending audio tracks or taking part in viral challenges can also be a great way to increase the reach of your content. When you use trending sounds or themes, the algorithms may prioritise your Reel, exposing it to a broader audience. Just be sure to align trends with your brand’s identity so your content remains authentic. Remember, content for content’s sake isn’t a good move!

Create a Mix of Content TypesWhen developing a Reels strategy, aim for a mix of content types to cater to different audience needs. You can divide your Reels into three main categories:
Promo Reels: These Reels focus on showcasing your product or service. While you don’t want to be overly promotional, you can subtly highlight your offerings and how they solve problems for your audience.
Engagement Reels: This type of content aims to entertain, educate, inspire, or spark a conversation. Reels that show “how-tos,” tips, or answer common questions can drive shares, saves, and comments, all of which are key engagement metrics that positively impact algorithms.
Culture Content: These Reels highlight your values, behind-the-scenes moments, or personal stories. This content humanises your brand, builds trust, and allows your audience to develop deeper connections with you.

A balanced content mix ensures that you’re not just selling; you’re also engaging and building a community around your brand.

Optimise for the AlgorithmUnderstanding how the algorithm works is essential for maximising the impact of your Reels. Instagram’s algorithm prefers content that keeps users on the platform longer, meaning Reels that are rewatched or watched in full are more likely to be promoted. Apply this to all platforms where you’re using Reels or reposting them, and you can’t go wrong. Your Reels should be compelling enough for users to watch until the end – or even replay them. (Hence, one of the reasons faster-moving Reels work well!)

Encourage users to engage with your content by including a call to action at the end of your Reel. This can be as simple as asking viewers to “like, comment, or share” the video or prompting them with a question encouraging comments. The more interactions your Reel receives in the first few minutes after posting, the more likely it will be pushed to a wider audience.

Consistency and Timing Are KeyAs with any social media strategy, consistency is key to success. Posting Reels regularly signals to the Instagram algorithm that you’re an active creator, which can improve your chances of being featured. Instagram recently shared that the best performing influencer accounts post, on average, 10 Reels per month – use this as a guide. Establish a posting schedule that aligns with your audience’s behaviour. Analyse your in-platform Insights to determine when your followers are most active and post your Reels accordingly.

It’s also important to monitor which types of Reels perform best for your business. Track metrics like views, comments, shares, and saves to see which content resonates most with your audience. This data-driven approach allows you to fine-tune your strategy and create more of what works.

Conversion Through Actionable ContentOnce you’ve engaged your audience, converting them into leads is the next step. Reels provide an excellent opportunity to guide users toward actionable steps, whether it’s directing them to your website, encouraging them to sign up for your email list via a lead magnet, or promoting a special offer.

Include clear, concise calls to action (CTAs) within your Reels. CTAs such as “Visit the link in bio” or “DM us for more details” help direct the attention of engaged viewers to the next step. Ensure that your CTA aligns with your overall marketing goals, whether that’s driving traffic, generating leads, or increasing sales.

So, What now?Instagram Reels are a versatile tool for businesses looking to build brand awareness, engage audiences, and drive conversions. By creating captivating hooks, telling compelling stories, leveraging popular trends, and optimising your content for the algorithm, you can harness the power of Reels to grow your business. With a thoughtful approach and consistency, Reels can become a cornerstone of your digital marketing strategy, helping you reach new audiences, increase engagement, and ultimately convert followers into actionable leads.

The post How to Create Engaging Reels to Build an Audience and Convert Followers Into Leads appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Back to business this week with a catch up of all the latest social media news.

Here are the best bits:It’s been a rather slow news week, to be honest. LinkedIn has doubled the number of characters you can use for captions, YouTube has launched the Family Center for parents to monitor usage, engagement and oversight into their kids’ channel activity, and what they’re posting and sharing in the app.

Snapchat launch sponsored adss, much like LinkedIn inMail. Snapchat said “Sponsored Snaps appear in the chat inbox as a new Snap without a push notification, and opening the message is optional. This allows advertisers to engage prospective customers all the way down the funnel all within a single ad unit; raise awareness with broad reach in the chat inbox, improve consideration with people who choose to view the Snap, and drive conversion with an in-message call-to-action.”

See you next week!

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When it comes to getting everything created and out there on social media, having the right tools can significantly enhance your digital strategy and help you stay ahead of the competition. Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or marketer, these ten essential tools will elevate your social media game in 2024.

Social Media Tools for content creation1. Opus.ProBest for: Content creation and video editing

Opus.Pro is a cutting-edge video editing tool that leverages AI to streamline the content creation process. Perfect for influencers, content creators, and marketers, Opus.Pro offers automated features such as intelligent cutting, colour correction, and audio enhancement. This allows you to produce high-quality video content quickly, making it easier to create polished, professional videos that stand out on social media.

Check out Opus.pro here.

CanvaBest for: Graphic design and visual content creation

Canva is a versatile graphic design tool that makes creating visually appealing social media graphics, banners, and ads easy. With its drag-and-drop interface and thousands of templates, anyone can create professional-quality visuals, regardless of design experience. Canva is especially valuable for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs who must produce high-quality visuals on a budget.

Go to canva.com and give it a whirl!

CapCutBest for: Mobile video editing and TikTok content

CapCut is a versatile mobile video editing app that has become incredibly popular among TikTok creators and other short-form video enthusiasts. It offers a wide range of features, including filters, transitions, text overlays, and music integration, all within an easy-to-use interface. CapCut is perfect for anyone looking to create engaging, professional-quality videos directly from their smartphone, making it an essential tool for modern content creators.

Download the CapCut App

StreamYardBest for: Live streaming and virtual events

StreamYard is a powerful live-streaming tool that allows users to broadcast live across multiple platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It’s perfect for businesses, influencers, and content creators who want to host webinars, interviews, and live events easily. StreamYard’s user-friendly interface, customizable branding options, and guest integration features make it a top choice for professional-quality live streaming without complex software.

Start using Streamyard now.

GrammarlyBest for: Writing assistance and content optimization

Grammarly is an essential tool for anyone producing written content for social media. It checks for grammar and spelling errors and provides suggestions for improving clarity, tone, and engagement. Whether you’re writing captions, blog posts, or social media ads, Grammarly helps ensure your content is polished and professional, making it a must-have tool for content creators and marketers alike.

Get checking your copy now.

Social media tools for Content Curation6. BuzzSumoBest for: Content research and influencer marketing

BuzzSumo is an essential tool for content marketers, helping you discover the most shared content across social media platforms and identify key influencers in your industry. By analyzing what type of content performs best in your niche, BuzzSumo helps you craft more effective social media strategies. It’s also a valuable tool for monitoring your brand’s online presence and managing your reputation.

Go find some articles to share!

Social Media Tools To Manage Your Presence7. A Solid Social Media Scheduler (Hootsuite, Buffer, or Later)Best for: Streamlined social media management and scheduling

A robust social media scheduler is crucial for managing multiple social media accounts and ensuring consistent posting. Hootsuite is a comprehensive platform that allows you to schedule posts, monitor social media activity, and analyze performance across various networks. Buffer offers a simple yet powerful scheduling tool that integrates with many social networks, providing detailed analytics and an intuitive interface. Later is another popular choice, particularly for Instagram and Pinterest users, offering a visual content calendar and post-scheduling features that simplify social media management.

TrelloBest for: Content planning and team collaboration

Trello is an intuitive project management tool that helps teams plan, organize, and collaborate on content creation. Its flexible board and card system allows you to easily manage social media calendars, brainstorm ideas, and track project progress. Trello’s integrations with other tools and its user-friendly interface make it a valuable tool for content creators and marketers who need to keep their workflows organized and efficient.

Start your first Trello board

Social Media tools for Lead generation and Lead Management9. ScoreappBest for: Lead generation and audience engagement

Scoreapp is a powerful tool that helps businesses create interactive quizzes and assessments to engage users while collecting valuable data. By offering personalized results, Scoreapp can boost lead generation, enabling businesses to capture and qualify leads more effectively. It also provides detailed analytics to help you understand your audience better, making it indispensable for marketers looking to enhance customer engagement.

Start creating your first scorecard now.

A Solid CRM (Mailchimp, Keap, ActiveCampaign, or Go High Level)Best for: Customer relationship management and email marketing

A robust CRM is crucial for managing your customer interactions and marketing campaigns. Whether you choose Mailchimp, Keap, ActiveCampaign, or Go High Level, these platforms offer powerful features for automating emails, segmenting audiences, and tracking customer engagement. Integrating a CRM with your social media strategy helps you nurture leads, build stronger relationships, and convert followers into customers.

And they’re just to get you started!With the right tools, you can significantly enhance your social media strategy and achieve your goals more effectively. Whether you’re looking to generate leads with Scoreapp, create stunning visuals with Canva, or manage customer relationships with a solid CRM, these ten tools are essential for anyone serious about succeeding in the digital world in 2024. Embrace these technologies to optimise your social media efforts and stay ahead of the competition.

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The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed numerous industries, including content creation. AI tools can now generate articles, optimise SEO, and even predict trends. Mainstream thinking suggests that search behaviour is also shifting, with users increasingly turning to AI engines for answers rather than conducting traditional Google searches. This implies that in the future, the answers to the questions your audience is asking might be found directly through AI responses rather than through your website articles. This technological advancement has sparked a debate: Does AI mean you should stop blogging?

The Role of AI in Content CreationAI offers several benefits for you as a content creator. Tools like Chat GPT can draft articles, create outlines, and suggest keywords, making content creation more efficient. However, AI-generated content often lacks your unique voice and personal touch. Authenticity and originality are elements that all readers value, and AI struggles to replicate them.

Why Blogging Should Continue1. Human Connection: Blogs are more than just information; they are about sharing your experiences, stories, and emotions. Your articles can connect you personally with your audience, creating a loyal readership that AI cannot replicate. 2. Creativity and Originality: While AI can generate content based on existing data, it lacks the creativity and originality you possess as a human blogger. You can introduce fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and unique storytelling techniques that set your content apart. 3. Adaptability: You can quickly adapt to new trends, audience preferences, and feedback changes. You can engage in real-time conversations, respond to comments, and build a community, which is essential for a successful blog. Put simply, AI can’t.

Blogs and SEO: Building BacklinksBlogs are crucial in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), particularly in building backlinks. High-quality, authoritative content attracts other websites to link to your blog, a significant factor in SEO ranking. Backlinks act as votes of confidence from other sites, signalling to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. AI can assist in creating content that is optimised for SEO, but identifying and reaching out to potential sites for backlinks remains a manual task. However, AI can suggest potential sites based on relevance and authority, making the process more efficient.

Integrating AI with BloggingRather than viewing AI as a threat (or a get-out-of-jail-free card for those who see writing blogs as a chore), you should see it as a tool to enhance your work. Here are some ways to integrate AI into your blogging strategy:

Content Ideation: Use AI tools to generate topic ideas and research trends. This can save time and help you stay ahead of the curve.
SEO Optimisation: AI can help identify the best keywords, optimise headlines, and improve meta descriptions to boost your blog’s visibility on search engines.
Editing and Proofreading: AI-powered grammar and spell-check tools can help polish your drafts, ensuring they are error-free and professional.
Analytics and Insights: Use AI analytics to better understand your audience, track engagement, and measure the success of your content.
Backlink Suggestions: While manual identification and outreach for backlinks are essential, AI can suggest relevant sites for backlinking based on content relevance and site authority, streamlining the process.

AI is a powerful ally, providing tools to streamline and enhance your content creation process. However, the essence of blogging lies in human connection, creativity, and adaptability – qualities that AI cannot fully replicate. Integrating AI with traditional blogging allows you to leverage the best of both worlds, ensuring your blogs remain relevant, engaging, and impactful.

FAQs1. Can AI completely replace human bloggers? No, while AI can assist in content creation, it lacks the personal touch, creativity, and adaptability you provide.

2. How can bloggers use AI to improve their content? AI can be used for content ideation, SEO optimisation, editing, and gaining insights through analytics.

3. Is AI-generated content reliable? AI-generated content can be accurate, but it may lack depth and originality. It’s best used as a supplementary tool rather than a complete replacement for human-written content.

4. What is the future of blogging with AI? The future of blogging involves a symbiotic relationship between AI and human bloggers, where AI tools enhance but do not replace the creative and personal aspects of blogging.

5. How do blogs support SEO? Blogs support SEO by providing high-quality content that attracts backlinks, which is crucial for search engine ranking. Regularly updated blogs also help keep your website relevant in search engines.

6. Can AI help build backlinks? AI can suggest potential sites for backlinks based on content relevance and authority, but the actual outreach and relationship-building are best handled manually.

7. Why are backlinks important for SEO? Backlinks act as votes of confidence from other websites, signalling to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy, which improves your SEO ranking.

8. How can AI optimise my blog for SEO? AI can identify the best keywords, optimise headlines, improve meta descriptions, and analyse competitor strategies to boost your blog’s SEO performance.

9. Can AI tools help with content promotion? AI tools can suggest optimal posting times, identify key trends, and recommend channels for promoting content to maximise reach and engagement.

10. What are AI’s limitations in blogging? AI lacks the human touch, creativity, and adaptability. It can generate and optimise content but cannot replace the personal connection and originality that you bring to your audience.

By understanding AI’s strengths and limitations, your blog can continue to thrive as part of your digital marketing strategy, creating content that resonates with your audience while leveraging the efficiency of AI tools.

The post Does AI Mean You Should Stop Blogging? Exploring the Future of Content Creation appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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The summer holidays are in full swing & we’ve been out and about, enjoying the weather and juggling marketing & parenting! We catch up on the social media news, and there’s HUGE Christina Talks news…

Here are the best bits: It’s been a bit of a slow news week, but we are seeing lots of guides and tips being released. TikTok has launched a new App Center to connect SMBs with helpful tools, new custom thumbnails & video strategy tips.

LinkedIn has reported “record numbers” of users (but when don’t they!)

We chat about fake news and how we all play a part in reducing its spread.

The big news for this week is that the Christina Talks podcast is BACK – Monday, August 5th, with an incredible guest.

See you next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 210 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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The way you communicate online plays a pivotal role in connecting with your audiences, the language you use is a crucial element that can significantly impact engagement and understanding of who you are as a business, why you do what you do and most importantly whether or not you’re the one a prospect might want to do business with. This is especially true when it comes to your website copy. We’re constantly writing new social media content so this is naturally being reviewed, but when did you last update your website copy? A better question may even be when did you last read the copy that’s on your website? For many, this hasn’t happened since their website first went live!

If those two questions have left you thinking ‘Uh-oh’ and shifting uncomfortably in your chair then I suggest you get this task on your to-do list right now. As you review your website copy there are a few strategies you can implement that will help you improve language on your website and enhance overall communication, some of which you can do as you go. (Assuming you have access to make these kinds of updates!)

Know Your Audience – Who are you communicating with?Understanding your target audience is the first step in improving your website copy. What are their preferences, interests, behaviours, their level of expertise. Tailor your language to resonate with your audience by using the language they use. This will all help you to create a connection and make you and your brand more relatable. If you’re thinking ‘Ok Christina, but how do I know what their preferences are?’ Take a look at your website analytics to see where you currently get most engagement on your website, social media interactions can also provide valuable insights into your audience’s preferences. Also think about how inbound enquiries communicate with you – what language is being used in the emails you receive and the conversations you have!

Focus on clarity – Keep it ConciseIn theory, each webpage should have a minimum of 300 words of website copy to help Google (other search engines are available) understand what the page is about. This is a guideline – not a hard rule. Clarity is paramount when it comes to website language and less is more!

Users of your website will more likely scan over your website copy rather than read it beginning to end so make it easy for them to quickly grasp the purpose of your content. Do not over complicate it! Avoid industry jargon and technical language unless you’re confident your audience is using these terms themselves. Shorter sentences and paragraphs will improve readability and understanding as it will help break down complex information into easy to digest chunks. Use headings, bullet points, and visuals to enhance the overall structure and clarity of your website copy.

Write with an Active VoiceWant your content to be more engaging? Use Active voice! It will also enhance clarity of the points you are raising. To try and explain, passive voice is where something is acted upon, active voice highlight who’s carrying out the action. For example, “Our team write compelling website copy” is more direct and engaging than “Compelling website copy is written by our team.”

Be Consistent in language and toneConsistency in language and tone across your online presence creates a cohesive brand identity. Your brand guidelines should ideally include tone, language style, and specific terms to be used. Using consistent language helps you build trust and reinforces your brand’s personality. This is where using AI to write your copy can be an issue as often what is produced isn’t in alignment with your brand voice. If you’re using a copywriter, make sure you communicate how the copy needs to sound!

How accessible is your website copy?Can you be understood by a diverse audience? Think about those with different levels of literacy coming to your website as well as individuals with disabilities. Use clear and simple language, add alternative text for images, and ensure that your website can be navigated using screen readers.

Does your website copy tell a Story?Stories sell! Engage your audience by incorporating storytelling into your website copy and overall content. Stories create connection and make information more memorable. Share success stories, case studies, or anecdotes that resonate with your audience. Storytelling adds a human touch to your website and makes things more personal, creating a deeper emotional connection with your website visitors.

Please remember to keep checking!Improving your website copy is a continuous process that requires attention to detail and a commitment to effective communication. It’s something that should be diarised and looked at, not just written, and forgotten about. By understanding your audience and their changing needs, prioritising clarity, and engagement, maintaining consistency, and incorporating storytelling, you can create a compelling online presence that engages and resonates with your prospects. Language is a powerful tool, and using it strategically will not only enhance the overall user experience on your website, it will also take your brand to new heights.

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LinkedIn outreach is an activity nobody likes doing. It’s a prospecting tactic that is essential for social selling, yet we are all so uncomfortable with it. When we receive messages on LinkedIn, that wave of dread comes over us – we’re about to be sold to. It’s mostly this that makes us shy away for sending messages to our connections on LinkedIn – we don’t want them to feel the same when they go to open messages from us. We manage LinkedIn accounts for our clients but when it comes to the actual outreach – it has to come from them rather than us to make sure it’s directed at relevant individuals and in a way that is completely natural.

Don’t be coldYou’ve seen the crappy cold sales messages that come through, ‘Hey Christina, I’m just reaching out to you because I’ve . You’ve probably had the automated messages that just don’t hit the mark. ‘Hi Christina, How’s business? Are you having a busy day?…’ which arrives on a Sunday morning. But you have a choice when it comes to sending your own prospecting messages – they don’t have to be cold and crappy! I’m hoping that isn’t a huge revelation if I’m honest – but if it was, we definitely need to talk!

These cold messages are massively unnatural – they’re not organic. So, how can you make sure your LinkedIn outreach comes across as being warm, natural and organic conversation starters?

Here are some tips:1. Be interesting – Your general LinkedIn presence should be consistent and contain items of interest for your ideal client. That’s your profile as well as your general content. Posting interesting content consistently will attract engagement. Those who engage with you deserve to hear from you. Reach out to them and start a conversation. 2. Be interested – Engage in the content shared by those who have already gained the attention of your prospects. Be part of the conversation, part of the community. Be a regular face that offers value to conversations. You’ll soon see members of that community reaching out to you through connection requests – they’ve started the conversation, now it’s up to you to keep it going. 3. Less is more – War and peace messages are BANNED! Gone are the days when LinkedIn messages echoed email communications. Think SMS/Whatsapp/Messenger in style and length. That’s the tone and language of the functionality so use it that way! 4. Ban closed questions – If you don’t invite a reply that gives you the opportunity to continue conversations, then you’re not going to get very far with your prospecting communications. Ask something that allows the prospect to talk about themselves a little – who doesn’t like doing that?! Suggesting coffee so your prospect can tell you more is probably going to get you more yeses. (Plus if you use this as a filtering tactic you’ll probably have less pointless coffee meetings!) 5. Change it up – Remember I said earlier that LinkedIn Messenger was more like WhatsApp/Messenger, etc… use the functionalities you have, like voice notes and uploading video clips, to your advantage. If you say you’re ‘excited to hear more’, or ‘can’t wait to talk to’ the person you’re messaging let them hear it in your voice or see it in your eyes! 6. Don’t send it to randoms – Of course, you need to send a volume of messages to get enough responses that in turn get you enough meetings. But please, for the love of god, don’t take a spray and pray approach! Your outreach activity needs to be targeted, send your messages to those most in need of your product or service. Be selective – the more targeted you can be the better. 7. Get personal – make it about them, not about you or what you’ve got to sell. 8. Don’t go in for the kill – Do not, under any circumstances, start your message selling your wares. (OK – I know, that’s an obvious one!) 9. Give – What do you have to offer that is of value? True, “nothing in it for you”, value. Is it a shoulder to cry on? Is it a resource? Is it a link to something form a third party that could be of use? Give something. 10. Don’t forget to ask – There always needs to be an ask, in the early days it might be for a response but when the time is right, ask for the opportunity to pitch. Don’t word it that way – but remember if you don’t ask, you don’t get!

I see far too many business owners complaining that they don’t get leads from LinkedIn. Half of them don’t follow up; the other half follow up too aggressively. Hopefully, as you navigate LinkedIn, you can use the information here to ensure you are doing the prospecting and following up – but in the right way. The right way will produce leads and sales I guarantee it.

The post LinkedIn Outreach – Are You Getting It Wrong? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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The boss is away, so the girls will play! Kim & Debs discuss the latest social media news.

There are new YouTube Shorts features, new Instagram Reel cover options for brands, we swap stories on our favourite and most used Emojis and a great conversation about branding and rebrands. See you next week!

See you next week!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 209 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Recruitment has become digitally connected, so staying ahead of the curve is essential. Traditional platforms like LinkedIn and job boards remain vital, but an emerging player in the recruitment marketing landscape is TikTok. With its massive user base and unique content format, TikTok offers recruiters a dynamic and engaging way to connect with potential candidates. Here’s why, and how to use TikTok as a recruitment tool.

Reach a Younger AudienceTikTok’s demographic skews younger, with many of its users being Gen Z and Millennials. According to HR Review, 68% of Gen Zs now use TikTok to find their dream job. These generations are entering the workforce in droves, bringing fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a firm grasp of digital technologies. By utilising TikTok, recruiters can tap into this pool of early career talent who might not be as active on traditional job platforms.
Showcase Company CultureCompany Culture is a crucial factor for many candidates today. TikTok’s video format allows companies to showcase their culture in a lively and authentic way. Through behind-the-scenes clips, employee testimonials, and day-in-the-life videos, recruiters can give candidates a real sense of what it’s like to work at a company. This can attract candidates who align well with the company’s values and work environment.
Highlight Employer BrandBuilding a strong employer brand is crucial in attracting top talent, and TikTok provides a platform to highlight your brand creatively. From participating in trending challenges to creating branded content, companies can enhance their visibility and appeal. A strong, recognisable employer brand on a popular platform like TikTok can set you apart from competitors.
Innovative Recruitment CampaignsTikTok’s interactive features allow for innovative recruitment campaigns. Recruiters can create challenges by encouraging user-generated content, hosting Q&A sessions, or running live video interviews. These interactive elements engage potential candidates and give them a unique and memorable experience with your company.
Showcase Job Opportunities CreativelyEven the best written job ads can often feel dry and uninviting. TikTok allows recruiters to present job opportunities more engagingly and creatively. Short videos highlighting the role, team members, and work environment can make the job more attractive and give candidates a better understanding of what to expect.
Leverage Influencers for Wider ReachCollaborating with influencers can significantly extend your reach. Influencers with a large following can help promote your brand and vacancies to a broader audience. This can be especially useful for reaching passive candidates who might not be actively looking for a job but could be interested in new opportunities if presented in an appealing way.
Access to Analytical InsightsTikTok provides a range of analytical tools that can help recruiters understand the effectiveness of their campaigns. Metrics such as views, likes, shares, and engagement rates provide valuable insights into what content resonates with potential candidates. This data can inform future recruitment strategies, making them more effective.
Stand Out in a Crowded MarketIn a competitive job market, standing out is crucial. By embracing TikTok, recruiters can differentiate themselves from those relying solely on traditional methods. A presence on a popular and rapidly growing platform like TikTok signals that your company is innovative and forward-thinking.

Conclusion – Use TikTok as a recruitment tool!Integrating TikTok into your recruitment strategy can provide numerous benefits, from reaching a younger, tech-savvy audience to showcasing your company culture in an engaging way. With 68% of Gen Zs using TikTok to find their dream job, it’s clear that this platform is becoming a crucial tool for connecting with the next generation of talent. While it’s essential to continue using traditional recruitment platforms, deciding to leverage and use TikTok as a recruitment tool can give you a competitive edge in attracting and engaging talent. So, get creative, start exploring TikTok’s potential, and watch your recruitment efforts soar.

The post How To Use TikTok As A Recruitment Tool appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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It’s been a rather slow week for social media news, so this is a short and sweet one for us.

We chat about creating authentic video content and where to get your inspiration from, there’s content ideas for leveraging the Euro’s Final (come on England!!), and an interesting discussion around Canva image rights.

See you next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 208 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Why is it, we all find it so hard to ask for praise? Even in a professional capacity? Gathering online recommendations is an ideal way to create social proof that can exhibit just how good you are delivering your services.

In today’s world, we’re more inclined to trust the word of whoever we meet in the pub over what is presented to us by a brand online. Realistically though, who can blame us? There are several websites out there that proudly boast testimonials they’ve received from clients without any information on who may have left those complimentary words.

Social Proof is highly valuable, but it’s hard to getThere is little more valuable to a brand than social proof. In order to receive it unsolicited, you have to really, really wow a customer or client. That customer also needs to be aware that it’s possible to do more than just tell their friends about it too. And, although they may have decided that they’ll leave you a review, it’s not going to be high on their priority list. So, without a little encouragement, you’ll probably find that they’re few and far between.

If you’re offering a product or service, you might be able to incentivise your clients to leave you reviews. If you’re in a business to consumer business, it is, in my opinion, easier to do this. Offering discounts, entry into competitions or free ‘stuff’ to customers who leave reviews and or feedback works nicely.

However, for a Business to Business organisation, it is often not quite as simple. You need to build habits to ensure you are asking often, monitoring your requests – while also keeping your expectations low! You’ll likely ask a lot of people before you receive a response. You’ll get promises from them too, many of which will then not come to fruition. You will need to be hard-skinned and not take it personally when you receive silence in response too!

Where is the best place to receive a review for my business?Tough question to answer in a blog because it really depends on where your target audience is most likely to hang out! There is a whole range of options too. But if I focus on social media review platforms, from a brand perspective – Google and Facebook are excellent places to receive reviews. From a personal brand perspective, you can’t beat LinkedIn recommendations. You really need to gather a number of reviews everywhere – so be focused. Work on receiving them on one platform at a time – and be careful not to keep asking the same people to review you in different places all the time!

In each of these cases, you can click through to the individual leaving the review and get an understanding of who they are and how genuine (or not) the review actually is. (Of course, you never know, so there is a certain amount of being totally ‘judgy’ involved!)

Why are Google Reviews hard to get?This question is easy – you can only leave a Google review if you have a Google account. Most people don’t realise they have one (even though most of us do!). It isn’t totally obvious how to do it either so without some direction – it’s not the place you’re most likely to receive them. Especially if the demographic you serve isn’t particularly tech-savvy!

Is it rude to ask for LinkedIn recommendations?Depends on how you ask! If you don’t ask you don’t get. As an individual, you can reach out to your connections on LinkedIn and request a recommendation from them. LinkedIn takes you through a ‘wizard’, which makes you identify the relationship you had with that individual for the period they are recommending you for. (Things like they were my client, I was their client, they worked for me, etc.).

You then get the opportunity to personalise the request. I highly recommend doing this, the text you can enter is limited, so greet them, acknowledge their time is limited but how important this is for you, and tell them what you want recommending for! Yep – spell it out if you can! I wouldn’t ask you to simply recommend me. I’d ask you to leave a few words about how you found working with us during the launch of your social media management account. Or ask you to leave me a few words in regard to the seminar I delivered at your event.

If you don’t spell it out – you’ll get recommendations that just say you’re great… Awesome. But what are you great at? Who knows? Context is everything.

I would recommend that you diarise and ask for LinkedIn recommendations on a regular basis (either weekly or monthly depending on your business). As part of that process, you can look at the requests you have out there already, perhaps send some reminders. Or, if you think you’ve asked and chased and the recommendation still hasn’t appeared you can revoke the request too. (You can always ask them again in the future – Maybe asking now was just a bad time?)

Are LinkedIn Recommendations public?The one thing I LOVE about LinkedIn recommendations is that you have the option of publishing them or keeping them private. You also have the option of requesting edits! So, if you do receive one that is a little limited (i.e. Christina was great.) you can respond and ask for some context to be added. (i.e. Christina was great at delivering a clear and concise social media strategy plan for my team.) Equally, if you are asking a client for a recommendation but you don’t really want to publicise who that client is – just don’t publish it online. You have it – and you can use it throughout your marketing while still protecting the identity of that client in the public domain.

I just realised there’s a second thing I love too about LinkedIn recommendations. You can screenshot them and use them as social media posts on any of your social media platforms. They’ll display the name of the individual who left the review along with their headshot, so it’s nice and personable too.

So, online recommendations… where do I end this? Be brave and ask for them. It’s not rude to suggest someone put a few words together to describe their experience of working with you. Make it a habit, and do not take it personally when they don’t all suddenly arrive within 24 hours!

The post How To Get Reviews And Recommendations For Your Business appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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The week the tech fails us!

A short & sweet Live Lunch where we discuss what’s new this week in social media.

There’s an Instagram DM update, Twitter is downgrading posts with downvotes, and Kim shares some VERY exciting news!

We’ll be back next week with better wifi!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 207 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Christina and Kim are back to discuss what’s been trending in social media marketing.

There are Google Analytics AI updates, Facebook broadcast channels, LinkedIn newsletters, Instagram carousel updates, and loads more!

See you next week!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 205 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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The social media landscape is competitive. The platforms on offer rival each other in terms of where you should invest your time and efforts, and once you’ve made that choice you’re competing with everyone else to ensure you get seen. As a business owner, you think you’ve got your strategy sorted then all of a sudden TikTok rises to fame and becomes a formidable platform for businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and now you’re wondering if you should be dropping something and switching over, or do you simply add TikTok to your current strategy? If you’re a business owner or marketer looking to expand your digital presence, here are five reasons why you should be using TikTok as a key component of your marketing strategy.

1. Boost Brand Awareness with TikTok’s Unprecedented ReachTikTok’s algorithm is designed to showcase content based on user preferences, enabling even new accounts to achieve significant reach quickly. For SMEs, this means your content can be seen by a vast audience without needing a large follower base. The potential for virality is high, making TikTok an excellent platform for boosting brand awareness and reaching new customers globally. Leveraging trending hashtags and engaging content can amplify your visibility far beyond your current marketing methods.

2. Create Engaging Content with TikTok’s Creative ToolsTikTok thrives on creativity, offering a unique space for you to engage with your audience in innovative ways. With an array of tools for video editing, sound integration, and effects, you can produce captivating content that resonates with users. This creativity can differentiate your brand, making your marketing campaigns more memorable and effective. Whether showcasing ‘how to’ style tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, or customer testimonials, TikTok provides the perfect medium to highlight your brand’s personality.

3. Build a Loyal Community through Customer Engagement on TikTokTikTok offers a sense of community and interaction, which is invaluable for any business looking to build a loyal customer base. By participating in trends and challenges and responding to comments, you have the opportunity to engage with your audience on a personal level. This interaction strengthens customer relationships and provides valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviours. Engaging content can encourage user-generated content, further promoting your brand organically.

4. Maximize ROI with Cost-Effective TikTok AdvertisingFor SMEs, budget constraints can be a significant challenge. TikTok offers cost-effective advertising options that can deliver substantial returns on investment. In-Feed Ads, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and Branded Effects are tailored to drive engagement and conversions without requiring a large budget. I’ve described this as cost-effective; however, I’ll admit you’re looking at committing a larger budget than you might do for Meta Ads. Although, from what I’ve seen, depending on your sectors, you’ll likely get more valuable results here.) In addition, collaborating with TikTok influencers can amplify your reach and credibility. These influencers can introduce your products to their followers in a genuine, relatable manner, driving brand loyalty and sales.

5. Enhance Your Skills with TikTok’s Educational ContentTrain TikTok the right way, and your feed will soon show you that TikTok serves as an educational platform where businesses can learn and grow. Many users share valuable content on digital marketing, business strategies, and industry-specific tips. SMEs can leverage this knowledge to refine their own operation and stay ahead of the competition. Additionally, creating TikTok content helps businesses develop essential skills in video production, storytelling, and audience engagement, which are critical in the digital marketing landscape and skills that can be utilised on all social media platforms.

So, are you convinced?Before launching your TikTok account, you need to conduct some fairly thorough research. Look for your target audience and understand their preferences by exploring relevant hashtags and popular content within your industry. What’s eliciting a response? Is it specific hashtags or a combination of hashtags? Is there a style to the content that’s being engaged with the most? Analyze your competitors’ TikTok presence to identify what works and what doesn’t. Develop your content plan ensuring it aligns with your brand’s voice, style and objectives, remember consistency and relevance are always the keys to success. By strategically planning your approach, you can create impactful content that resonates with your audience and maximises your reach on TikTok. The one thing I’d suggest that is different about this platform is the need for continuous research here, trends change all the time due to the level of creativity it offers.

TikTok is more than just another social media platform; it’s a powerful marketing tool that can significantly benefit SMEs. By harnessing its reach, creativity, community engagement, cost-effective advertising, and educational potential, you can achieve growth and visibility for your audience. Don’t miss out on the opportunities TikTok offers – integrate it into your marketing strategy. If you need some help getting started, we’re here for you.

The post 5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using TikTok appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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In this week’s episode of Live Lunch, we’re joined by Debs, our design guru, to talk about all things branding and marketing

See you next week!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 205 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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You can hack the algorithm as much as you like on LinkedIn; however bad content is just bad content.

With so many posting options available it’s important to know what to use when, and how best to present your key messages in a compelling way that reaches your audience, captures their attention, creates impact and brings results.

We’re partnering with TEAM Network to bring you a free online event we delivered at last week’s epic TEAM Conference.

WHEN’S IT HAPPENING?Friday 21st June

13:00 – 14:00

You can register right here.This went down a storm and the room was packed so it’s only right we share it with everyone who couldn’t make it. Just look at that turnout…

WHAT WE’LL COVERIn session, we’ll also give you some easy-to-implement content ideas so that you can develop a content strategy for LinkedIn that aligns with you and your brand – without you getting a content creating headache!

You might not go viral. (The truth is you don’t need to in order to get the results you want.)

However, with the right approach, you can get noticed by the right people, for the right reasons.

WHO’S IT FOR? TEAM MEMBERS * RECRUITERS WHO ARE NOT TEAM MEMBERS (NOT YET, ANYWAY!) * A BUSINESS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY SUPPLY TO THE RECRUITMENT INDUSTRY * ANYONE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR LINKEDIN PRESENCE*

So do us a favour, do yourself a favour and click that register button below.

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A week after the 10th annual TEAM Conference, we reflect on our favourite moments and share a story we know you’ll love.

See you next week!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 204 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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There I am, standing on a stage after delivering what I believe to be the most important thing people need to know or understand when it comes to social media marketing today, and I’m asking if anyone has any questions. What is it I get asked? “When’s the best time to post on social media?” It’s a question that, although important, isn’t the be-all and end-all of a strong social media strategy. It’s not as vital to success as creating compelling content or implementing an engagement strategy and I wish more people understood that! However, this is the question I get asked so here I am answering it for you!

Posting at optimal times can enhance engagement, reach, and overall performance of your social media efforts. As there are trends and patterns in user behaviour across various platforms, we need to recognise them to ensure we’re not only posting during what I’ll liken to ‘the graveyard shift’.

For those of you reading this, a high percentage (if not all of you) will be UK-based. There are a plethora of articles out there already shouting about the best times to post and they’re often authored by the companies offering scheduling software. The data being shared is taken from the analytics they’re gathering via their users; however, this information is global and very rarely localised. What I’m offering you here is a guide on the best times to post on social media platforms taking what I see in these articles and what we see from our clients here in the UK. My suggestion is that you compare these timings with what you know to be true based on the performance of your own content. Experiment with timings to understand what works for you. What I’m sharing here is just a starting point for those of you too nervous in case you’re posting at the ‘wrong’ time.

Best time to post on FacebookFacebook remains a social media marketing staple with its vast user base and diverse demographics. To maximise engagement on Facebook, consider these peak times:

Weekdays: 10 AM – 12 PM
Wednesday: Peak engagement day, especially around 11 AM
Evening Hours: Secondary peak around 7 PM – 9 PM on weekdays

Posts during late mornings and early afternoons tend to capture both casual scrollers and active users, while evenings can attract those winding down from their day.

Best time to post on InstagramInstagram, with its visually driven content, thrives on regular posting. Here’s when to post for the best results:

Weekdays: 9 AM – 11 AM
Wednesday and Thursday: Highest engagement, particularly at 10 AM and around 2 PM
Weekends: Saturday mornings around 10 AM can also be effective

Mid-morning posts cater to users checking their feeds during breaks, while slightly later in the day aligns with post-lunch scrolling.

Best time to post on XFor those of you still using this platform, X’s fast-paced environment necessitates frequent posting. The best times are:

Weekdays: 8 AM – 10 AM
Wednesday and Friday: Optimal days with peak times around 9 AM
Late Afternoons: Secondary peak around 4 PM – 5 PM on weekdays

Morning tweets catch users during their commute or start-of-day routine, while late afternoon tweets engage those wrapping up their workday.

Best time to post on LinkedInLinkedIn, the social home of the professional, has its own rhythm. Posting during business hours is key:

Tuesday to Thursday: 10 AM – 12 PM
Wednesday: Most effective day with peak times around 10 AM
Evenings: 5 PM – 6 PM can also see good engagement as professionals reflect on their day

Mid-morning posts target users settling into their workday, and early-evening posts reach those reviewing their network post-work.

Best time to post on TikTokTikTok’s algorithm-driven platform values consistency and quality. Consider these times:

Tuesday to Friday: 6 PM – 9 PM
Saturday: Early afternoon around 1 PM – 3 PM
Sunday: Evenings around 7 PM

Late afternoons and evenings are prime times when users are most active, particularly during the weekend.

Best time to post on YouTubeFor video content on YouTube, timing is everything:

Thursday and Friday: 12 PM – 3 PM
Saturday and Sunday: Early afternoons around 9 AM – 11 AM
Weekdays: Post-work hours around 5 PM – 6 PM

Posting just before the weekend captures users as they’re winding, while early afternoons on weekends engage those with more free time.

So, when is the best time to post on social media?While these times provide a general guideline, it’s essential to consider your specific audience and their habits. Use the analytics tools provided by each platform to refine your strategy and identify the best times for you and your audience. By aligning your posting schedule with peak user activity, you can significantly boost your social media presence and engagement. As long as what you’re posting is good, engaging content. Remember, consistency and quality content are the things that make the difference so ensure your posts resonate whenever they’re seen. Timing is just a bonus and posting at the wrong time is so much better than not posting at all!

The post The Best Time to Post on Social Media in 2024 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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We are so excited to be joined by none other than Andy Dunne from the TEAM Network to talk about the upcoming TEAM Conference, mental health & more!

See you next week!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 203 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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If standing out marketing-wise when you’re going up against coverage of the UEFA Euros 2024 and Wimbledon this summer weren’t enough, we’ve now also got a general election in the UK to contend with! Businesses will find themselves navigating not only the intricacies of political discourse but also the passionate outpouring of these popular sporting events. With audiences divided between political engagement and sports enthusiasm, we face the challenge of standing out while most social media feeds are being flooded with even more information than usual. Here’s how your social media marketing strategies for UK businesses can be tweaked to thrive this summer.

Understanding the Landscape: Political and Sporting FrenzyAs the UK gears up for the general election, political discussions will dominate both online and offline spaces. Simultaneously, the nation’s passion for football and Wimbledon will reach its peak, captivating audiences across demographics. Marketers must recognise the diverse interests of their target audience and tailor their messaging accordingly.

Action: Review the content you have planned already, everything from visuals to email subject lines to ensure you’re on message.

Capitalise on Shared Values: Bridging Politics and SportsIncorporate themes that resonate with both political enthusiasts and sports fans. Highlight values like unity, perseverance, and teamwork that have relevance in both domains. By aligning your brand with these shared values, you can appeal to a broader audience base and create a sense of camaraderie.

Action: What are the values of your business that relate most? Focus on these during this period.

Leverage Social Media Trends: Stay Relevant and EngagingMonitor trending topics on social media related to the general election and sporting events. Engage with your audience by participating in relevant conversations and leveraging popular hashtags where you feel this is appropriate. What I mean by that is that if it’s relevant to your business, the sector you serve, or you know it will be of high interest to your avatar – use the opportunity. If not, however, be careful not to get pulled into political debates or conversations around sporting events that could alienate your audience or compromise you. Remaining aware of the tone of online conversation can help you position your brand as current, relatable, and in tune with the interests of your audience.

Action: Make a decision now as to what is and isn’t relevant, and set your boundaries.

Timing is Key: Strategic Content DeploymentIf, after following the previous point, you’ve decided there are content opportunities you’ll be using, coordinate your marketing campaigns to coincide with key moments during the general election and sporting events. Whether it’s releasing a themed ad during halftime, scheduling social media posts during peak engagement hours, or hitting send on that email marketing campaign with the tasty subject line, strategic timing can significantly enhance the impact of your efforts.

Action: Make your plan, diarise key dates and times and prepare content for all outcomes so you’re not rushing around at the last minute before hitting the send button. You may also need to think about what happens next – does someone need to be immediately available to monitor or manage any responses?

Embrace Creativity: Stand Out in a Crowded SpaceIncorporate creative elements to capture the attention of your audience. Whether it’s through engaging visuals, funny stories, cheeky memes, or interactive content, your creativity can set your brand apart and leave a lasting impression, cutting through the noise of the general election and sporting events.

Action: Think! What can you create that will help you stand out in a way you’ve never done before? Use your tools, whether it be a Canva creation or a live stream using Streamyard!

Diversify Your Marketing Channels: Reach Audiences Across PlatformsAre you using all your available marketing channels to maximise your reach and engagement? Now might be the time to implement an old-school traditional print campaign. Perhaps you have an underutilised social media channel that would be perfect for being part of this conversation, or maybe those occasional email marketing campaigns have the opportunity of now becoming more frequent!

Action: Review your current marketing channels to identify opportunities to connect with your target audience more effectively.

Monitor and Adapt: Agility in Response to TrendsStay agile and adapt your marketing approach by continuously monitoring the evolving news cycles of the general election, the Euros, Wimbledon, and everything else that starts to kick off when the time comes! Analyse audience feedback, track campaign performance metrics, watch your engagement and reach and be prepared to make real-time adjustments to optimise your marketing strategies for maximum impact.

Action: If you’re scheduling your content ahead, you may choose to temporarily work a little differently. Leaving some empty slots will give you the flexibility you need should you need to post something extra – or avoid any embarrassment along the way! Still, plan content, though; I’m not letting you off that easily!

Seizing Opportunities Amidst the Chaos – Marketing StrategiesforUK BusinessAs we experience the convergence of a general election and popular sporting events, UK businesses have a unique opportunity to elevate their marketing efforts and connect with audiences on multiple levels. By understanding the landscape, capitalising on shared values, leveraging social media trends, strategic timing, embracing creativity, diversifying marketing channels, and staying agile we can all get through the next couple of months with confidence and grab a few opportunities amidst the chaos!

The post Navigating a General Election – Marketing Strategies for UK Business appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Christina and Kim chat about the latest social media news, including a welcome LinkedIn DM update, YouTube Shorts quality changes, and AI regulations.

We also get excited about a very special guest next week!

See you next week!The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 202 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Christina and Kim chat about the last social media news including a VERY exciting Google/AI update!

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWSIt’s been one of those weeks where the social media platforms appear to have woken up! There’s tons of news out this week so we’ve picked our favourites.

Here are the snippets:

02:06 – WhatsApp has updated its UI (User Interface) a separate coloured header bar at the top of the app is now gone, while the search icon has been replaced with a larger prompt for Meta’s new AI chatbot. Notifications are now green instead of blue and you can filter by All, Unread & Group chats – we like a lot!

05:09 -Meta has confirmed that it’s shutting down its Workplace platform, which is essentially a version of Facebook built for internal communications, and sealed off from the wider web. Think Meta’s version of Teams/Slack. Originally launched in 2015 as “Facebook at Work”, Workplace provides all of the usual Facebook functions on an internal system, with the idea being that it can reduce the training time for internal collaboration tools, by providing professionals with the Facebook interface that they’re already familiar with.

10:43 – TikTok announced it’s testing the option for creators to collaborate on their posts. Similar to the Instagram feature, TikTok users will have the ability to invite 4 accounts to collaborate with on one post.

11:57 – The big news of the week is Google have announced Generative AI in Search; Let Google Do The Search For You. Instead of trawling through hundreds of links to find the correct answer for your search, Google will tell you exactly which one is correct and will even let you take a video and do a search based on what’s in the video – perfect for when that bit of tech or product is broken and you haven’t a clue how to fix it. Simply take a video of the issue and let Google do the work for you! WOW! Full details:https://blog.google/products/search/g…

31:36 – Small Instagram updates include Notes For Reel and “just seen” on grid posts.

33:05 – Are you recording videos on Instagram? (If not, why not!?) Instagram are using videos under 90 seconds higher in the algorithm.

42:42 – Edutainment is the content marketers need to be creating. That’s educational content that is also entertaining. Think about this when you next create a video. Deliver your message, but make it entertaining.

See you next week!

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Let’s face it – businesses are constantly vying for attention and engagement on social media platforms, so the question of how to effectively manage content creation arises again, and again. Given that’s the case, the real question is should you outsource your social media marketing to specialist agencies like us, or just rely on AI (artificial intelligence) to create content? Obviously, I have an opinion; but let’s try and take a look at this without bias.

Outsourcing Social Media Marketing to an AgencyThe Pros:

Expertise and Experience: Social media marketing agencies have a wealth of experience and expertise in navigating the intricacies of various platforms. Our day job is, quite literally, to create and craft content that resonates with target audiences while aligning with a brand’s overall marketing objectives – across a number of industries and sectors.
Personalised Strategy: One of the key advantages of working with a social media agency is the personalised approach we offer. By understanding the unique needs and goals of both you and your business as a client, social media marketing agencies tailor strategies to maximise effectiveness and achieve real results.
Human Touch: Agencies bring a human element to content creation, infusing posts with creativity, emotion, and storytelling. This human touch can create deeper connections with audiences and increase brand loyalty over time.
Comprehensive Services: Beyond content creation, social media marketing agencies often provide a suite of services including community management, analytics, and strategy refinement. This holistic approach ensures that all aspects of the social media presence are optimised for success. In short, you’re investing in the management of your social media presence which is far more than simply content creation.

Cons:

Cost: While the expertise and comprehensive services offered by social media agencies are valuable, it requires investment. For small businesses or startups with limited marketing budgets, this may seem prohibitive. However, since I started doing this work in 2011, I can tell you first-hand that more often than not that belief is based on the assumption that the investment is much higher than it is in reality. Conversations cost nothing so I would encourage you to make enquiries in terms of investment before writing it off as an impossibility for your business.
Communication Challenges: Effective collaboration between a client and an agency relies on clear communication and mutual understanding. Misalignment in expectations or delays in feedback can hinder the success of social media campaigns. Or at least that’s the fear! So ask your agency how they counteract this and, more specifically, ask what they need from you to avoid this happening. Again, experience has shown that the biggest cause for this is a lack of response or action from client-side. The outcomes of this issue will still be intact if you don’t outsource.
Dependency on External Factors: Businesses that outsource their social media marketing are inherently reliant on the performance and availability of the agency. Any fluctuations in performance, changes in personnel, or shifts in strategy can impact the outcomes of marketing efforts. This is probably the only con that I would struggle to answer. It’s a thing. However there is always a protocol in place to deal with this. For us, it’s the way we handover and control our internal communications, and the way we ensure multiple people have knowledge of our accounts.

Using AI Content Creation Instead Of A specialist Marketing agencyPros:

Efficiency and Scalability: AI-powered tools excel in generating content quickly and at scale, enabling businesses to maintain a consistent presence across multiple platforms. This efficiency frees up time and resources that can be allocated to other aspects of the business.
Data-Driven Insights: AI algorithms have the capability to analyse vast amounts of data to uncover trends, preferences, and engagement patterns. Armed with actionable insights, businesses can fine-tune their content strategy for optimal performance.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to the ongoing costs associated with outsourcing social media marketing, investing in AI content creation tools can be cost-effective. This is particularly appealing for budget-conscious businesses seeking to maximise their return on investment.
Consistency: AI-generated content maintains a consistent tone and style, ensuring coherence across all social media channels. This consistency reinforces brand identity and messaging, familiarity and trust among followers.

Cons:

Lack of Creativity: While AI algorithms give you efficiency and scalability, they fall short when it comes to creativity and originality. Automated content runs the risk of feeling robotic or impersonal, reducing engagement and authenticity. You want people to buy into you. Not a filtered, soulless, robotic version of you.
Limited Adaptability: AI relies on existing data to generate content, this limits its ability to respond to real-time events and adapt to changing trends. Human intuition and creativity need to be applied to ensure you send the right message at the right time.
Quality Concerns: Despite advancements in AI tech, there is still a risk of producing low-quality or irrelevant content. You need to ensure you are reading and reviewing the content created by AI so that you are confident it meets your standards, your tone, and speaks to your audience.

So what’s the answer – Marketing Agency or Ai?The decision to outsource social media marketing to an agency or leverage AI for content creation is a complex one that depends on a variety of factors including budget, goals, and the resources you have available. While social media agencies like us offer expertise, strategies personalised to your business, and a human touch, they also come with a commitment to invest. On the other hand, AI content creation tools offer efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, but lacks the creativity and adaptability of human-driven approaches.

Here’s something you probably haven’t considered when it comes to outsourcing to a marketing agency vs using AISince the likes of ChatGPT became mainstream, in order to survive, social media marketing agencies have had to continuously adapt and innovate. By honing their expertise and leveraging the latest AI tools, agencies are uniquely positioned to optimise the benefits while minimising the drawbacks. With an understanding of both human creativity and technological efficiency, agencies support businesses in harnessing the best of both worlds. By partnering with an agency, you can streamline your social media efforts, reduce the investment required to achieve success and capitalise on all the opportunities without the burden of excessive time and resources.

Ultimately, finding the right balance between human creativity and technological innovation is key to achieving success in social media marketing. And today, in what has become a competitive landscape, I can assure you that it’s marketing agencies that have this in hand.

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Dear Nicole,

I love TikTok and have started posting content more regularly but I don’t seem to be getting much engagement, have you got any tips to help my videos reach more audience?

Ella, Scotland

Dear Ella,

As we all may know TikTok as a social media platform has taken the world by storm, even if you aren’t on TikTok, I can guarantee you’ll see TikTok content on other platforms or you’ll notice other platforms have followed in TikTok’s steps with a similar feature, for example, Instagram Reels.

TikTok currently has 1.1 Billion Users, so the question is how do we reach a percentage of this billion?

TikTok is incredibly engaging, a study in 2022 revealed a good engagement rate can be anywhere from 4.5% to 18%. Now we have an idea of the statistics you want to be aiming for, I have shared three top tips to help improve your TikTok engagement. Remember increasing engagement can be tricky but TikTok is thriving with active users, engaged consumers, and creative content so try these below and see how it improves.

Engage with other users - This will help you build relationships with the community and create a personal connection with your followers.
Reply to comments with video content - Users will appreciate that you are personally responding to them but in a different way than just text.
Stitch and Duet features - The best way to use this feature is to ask a question in your video that will encourage people to Stitch with you. This will start conversations with other users.

I hope this comes in use Ella and I look forward to seeing TikTok fly.

Nicole

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Join Christina, Kim, Nicole and Mark as they take you through this week's Social Media news and updates.

Here are the snippets:

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Join Nicole and Mark as they take you through this weeks Social Media news and updates on episode 169 of Live Lunch!

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See what news and updates in the world of online marketing have caught the team's eye in this month's Social Snippet!

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As we prepare to get back into things following the summer holiday period and we're seeing all those back-to-school messages, the astute marketer in you is probably realising that there isn't long before you start thinking about your 2024 marketing plans - I know, scary, isn't it? The first step in doing that really is to review the current landscape and where you are right now.

The post Is it time you had a Digital Health Check? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Just like you, I'm living in a world that's constantly online, where every second is potentially shared, liked, or retweeted. Where the constant notifications mean having the opportunity to switch off fully feels at times impossible. It's a world where the idea of "JOMO" - the Joy of Missing Out - brings a much-needed breath of fresh air.

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Do you feel like you’re implementing your strategy but still not getting the results you deserve? It could be that you have fallen into a few bad habits without even knowing, it’s possible that the game changing strategy that worked wonders a couple of years ago has now become a social media no-no.

Let’s work through the mistakes we see on social media and learn how to avoid them. Book your FREE place now!

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Email marketing is something we've always encouraged clients to do as it's massively effective. Reaching your database in their inboxes is powerful and something to be leveraged. I was talking to a client earlier this week and the response I received was ' Yeah, I'm not sure email marketing's for us.' - That's what sparked this article. Email marketing is for all businesses, there are no two ways around it.

The post Email Marketing Creates Sales appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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We're all here this week! Join Christina, Mark, Kim and Nicole as they talk about what has caught their eye in Social Media and the online world! This episode includes more updates to X, changes to LinkedIn and Instagram as well as talk of a GU Jingle!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 167 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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When is the best time to post on Instagram? Nicole gives us the low down on the best times to post on Instagram in this month's "Dear Nicole"

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Social media is a great tool to attract a following, but unless you get those followers onto your email list, you're going to miss out on the opportunity to turn them into subscribers and customers. Book your FREE place now!

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Join Christina, Mark and Kim this week as they talk about what has caught their eye in Social Media and the online world! This episode includes more updates to threads, changes to WhatsApp and Instagram as well as a new social media app for kids!

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Facebook marketing strategies that catapult success. If you're using Facebook for business purposes, here are some critical do's and don'ts!

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See what has caught the attention of the GU team this month in the world of Social Media and Marketing in this month's Social Snippet

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Join Christina, Mark and Nicole as they talk about what has caught their eye in the world of Social Media and marketing this week including what's happening with Threads and X.

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Are you looking to build a thriving online community and cultivate meaningful connections with your audience? Join us for this online event where we'll unveil the secrets to successfully leveraging Facebook groups for community growth.

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Here are five tips for non-designers to help you present your brand correctly and make your marketing stand out...for the right reasons!

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Join Christina, Nicole and Charles Jones from JPad Media as they talk about photography, video, and podcast tips, plus a little social media news.

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Ready to elevate your digital marketing game? Join our power-packed online event, "Level Up Your Presence: Tips, Tricks, and Content Planning Hacks."

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Will Threads be the new kid on the block that wipes Twitter out? I have my thoughts as you'd expect! It certainly has the potential!

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If you're thinking about running a webinar or wondering how you can improve the results your getting for webinars you run already, here are some quick points to show you how to effectively market your webinar.

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Join Christina, Mark, Nicole and Molly as they talk about what has caught their eye in the world of Social Media and marketing this week.

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When is the best time to post on Instagram? Nicole gives us the low down on the best times to post on Instagram in this month's "Dear Nicole".

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Stay ahead of the game with LinkedIn's latest algorithm updates! Join us where we’ll dive deep into the newest insights and changes happening on LinkedIn. Whether you're a marketer, a recruiter, business professional, or a job seeker, understanding how the LinkedIn algorithm works is crucial to maximise your presence and reach on the platform.

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When you made a plan to jump in the deep end and take your digital marketing to the next level - you probably didn't expect to have to start learning the lingo!

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Join Christina, Mark, Kim, Nicole and Molly as they talk about what has caught their eye in the world of Social Media and marketing this week.

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Join us for a free online event where we'll discuss what the top marketers are doing right now to stay ahead of the game. Co-hosted by Darin Adams from Keap - the marketing automation platform.

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Check out what has caught the eye of the Green Umbrella team this month in the world of Social Media and Online Marketing.

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Social Media Day was launched on 30th June 2010 by Mashable as a way to celebrate all things social media. It could be easy to fall into the trap of posting for the sake of posting on a day like today, but remember – make sure when posting on social media from a business perspective you are adding value, otherwise – what’s point? Here are my tips to ensure you are creating good value content.

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Join us for a free online event where we'll discuss what the top marketers are doing right now to stay ahead of the game. Co-hosted by Darin Adams from Keap - the marketing automation platform.

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Join Christina, Mark, Kim and Molly as they talk about what has caught their eye in the world of Social Media and marketing this week.

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How appealing is your LinkedIn profile? Is the information & content still relevant and engaging? Here's some tips to get it looking tip top!

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It's been a busy couple of weeks with events and holidays for the GU Team. Join Mark, Molly and Kim to hear what we've found interesting in this weeks social media and marketing news!

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With the team super busy preparing for upcoming events, Christina & Kim have been left to their own devices this week....you have been warned!

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Do you host webinars or events? If so, then using social media, online marketing techniques, and good old fashioned print are essential if you are looking to get bums on seats!

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Check out June's Social Media news in the Social Snippet from Green Umbrella. We look at the latest updates from LinkedIn, Youtube and more!

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Getting started, or rejuvenating your group, means understanding a few things to use Facebook Groups to build an engaged community, here are some of my thoughts.

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Join Nicole, Kim and Mark for this weeks episode as we talk Photoshop AI, Elon Musk, LinkedIn messaging and more!

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Join Christina, Nicole, Kim & Molly who are joined by Kate Swaby from Urban Martial Arts Schools to talk all things Marketing Mastery Catalyst

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It's no secret that one of the most important elements of a social media marketing plan is getting your audience off a platform and into your email list. That's a challenge in itself and something I've discussed in previous articles over the years. The issue is that even when you've cracked that one, you're presented with a new challenge – getting your email list converting! There are a lot of things that can affect how well your email list converts. Here are a few points for you to consider and take action on.

Offer valuable content – regularly!Do you know how often I come across a business that has started building a list and hasn't ever used it? It happens most weeks! Even if your list has minimum numbers, use it. From the second a subscriber is added, that data is slowly dying so make use of it. Your subscribers have no idea how many people your emailing so don't get hung up on numbers.

Send valuable content so your subscribers are trained to know that when they see you in their inbox, it's something for them and not just another sales message. I'd aim to send an email at least once a week and apply the 80-20 rule. 20% of your emails are sales messages, 80% are value-based communications.

If you don't use it, or you spam it – you'll stop your email list converting.

Direct email subscribers to Landing Pages In the emails you send to your list, you'll likely include a call to action. Many of these will direct people back to a webpage. Personally, I promote making the most use of your actual website and directing your clicks there; for some of you, this might not be the best option. If you've got a busy website, it can be a distraction from the subscriber making the conversion you wanted them to! Stand-alone landing pages are simple and distraction-free.

If you want to increase conversions from your list, follow the journey through click by click. What's the experience for the user? (Make sure to check this on mobile too!)

Get your subscribers together!Hosting an event, whether online or offline, is a great way to get your subscribers into a different environment. It could be as simple as a webinar-style event; it doesn't have to be a huge investment. Bringing your audience closer to you allows you to develop stronger relationships with them. Building rapport is key in the art of sales and conversions!

Personalise and segment your email communicationsThere's sometimes a belief that the more emails you send, the more likely you are to convert. That isn't the case I'm afraid. You're more likely to get the conversions you're looking for when you send fewer emails to specific subscribers. Knowing your data allows you to send emails that are personalised and, therefore, relevant to the person receiving the email. This will also help with the deliverability of your marketing emails too as your recipients will be far more likely to open them!

What else can I do to keep my email list converting?I've given you a few ideas, and these are things I'd love to dig into with you! In addition, you may want to look at how you're getting people onto your list, who you're getting, how your social media campaigns align with your email marketing campaigns and how you optimise your landing pages. The main thing will always be to ensure you're using the list and keeping it clean and tidy!

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Join Christina, Nicole, Kim, Molly and Mark for your weekly update of social media news, find out what we've been up to, and what we've got to look forward to!

Join us for this week's instalment of social media news and general mischievousness!

Here are the snippets:

02:50 – WhatsApp has announced a handy new feature allowing users to edit messages up to 15 minutes after they hit send.

08:00 – Meta has added new tools that aim to help brands make more direct contact with their consumers through new tools that will make it easier for users to connect with businesses. Examples include automatically applying advertised discount codes to checkout or having updating lead adverts with a new dynamic question flow.

13:27 – Meta's rival app, Barcelona is set to be launched next month and will be a text-based app like Instagram

16:16 – Meta has agreed to sell Giphy to Shutterstock for a massive $347 million loss after a long-running legal battle.

22:27 – YouTube is expanding access to its Community Posts feature, allowing all creators to activate the option, allowing your audience another way to interact with your YouTube content.

24:00 – YouTube will be introducing 30-second unskippable ads on connected TVs, which will replace the two 15-second consecutive ads that run today when advertisers target top videos through the YouTube Select program.

29:38 – iPhone has launched an app for ChatGPT. Unfortunately, this isn't available for Android users just yet.

32:22 – Twitter has confirmed that Twitter Blue subscribers – all 650k of them – can now upload videos up to two hours long in the app.

37:30 – SEO seems to be the hot topic at the moment. What can we do to improve our SEO rating (you'll have to watch to find out!)

45:46 – The next cohort of the Green Umbrella Catalyst course starts on Monday 5th of June!

See you all next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 156 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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What is Twitter used for?Twitter seems to be one of those social media platforms that people have abandoned, you might think nobody is using it, but in reality, they are.

So, let’s talk about how to get the most out of it. Twitter tends to attract more political, highly educated conversations, usually around things like industry practices or changes in legislation and the like.

Twitter is a good broadcasting network that is very fast-paced and can give you the latest news and updates on businesses and all things surrounding it at a quick glance. It’s also a good place for people who want to be seen as experts in their field to tweet and share the things they know are happening in the industries they serve. So, let’s think about it that way… if we want to target high-level professionals, Twitter can be the place to do that.

Traditionally, you’ll notice a more masculine communication, and the age range of twitter is usually 30 +.

Why is Twitter good for your business?Every tweet is indexed by google, so sometimes, if you search for something specific, you’ll notice the results shown in the google listings will include tweets found through keywords. We’ve noticed that if a business’s organic traffic on their website is at a certain level, they might stop using Twitter with the thought that it’s not naturally driving traffic itself, and they quickly see a big drop in their organic impressions. Once they go back to using their Twitter account again, we again notice a rise in organic impressions. This observation was made from the google analytics of our own clients over the last 5+ years!

Making your Twitter distinctiveWhere will you appear in search results? Everyone wants to be top of google, and these things will affect it…

1. Let’s look at search engine optimisation (SEO). So, your traditional SEO – This is the smallest margin of your SEO and only covers 20% of your algorithm. This is basically just the juicy keywords on your website, which, whilst they’re needed, won’t place you higher on anybody’s feed. The thing that will boost your SEO the most is your ‘buzz’ online, covering about 27% of your SEO. This is exactly where Twitter fits in – creating that buzz online and getting people talking about you and your business outside of your website. Making sure people have something to talk about will help push your overall SEO!

2. To be seen as an expert in your field. Make sure you are sharing stories to show you know what’s happening in your industry/sector. For example, what are the latest figures from ONS? Latest articles from ‘thought leaders’ in your particular world? Be really clear that this is YOUR area of expertise, and you really do know what you’re talking about.

3. If you’re looking at Twitter to drive traffic or gain leads, it’s not likely that will happen. So just be clear on what you want to get out of it, then you can make sure the effort you put in is in ratio to that. No more than two hashtags per tweet, and incorporate your hashtags into your text rather than piling them all at the end of your tweet. Word it carefully, but don’t make it too busy or crowded, so people struggle to read through it. Remember – Twitter is fast and convenient. People want to be able to easily process information as quickly as possible.

4. We are now able to share longer content on Twitter in an easier way through using ‘threads’. So, as well as being able to keep our tweets from being so loaded with hashtags, making it difficult to read, we can add more content to one tweet and make it more to engage with for our target audience.

5. Followers and Following! Always look at your suggestions for ideas of people you may want to target, allies, and competitors, etc. Proving alliance with other Twitter users in your sector will show expertise and knowledge. Also, make sure to follow those who may keep you up to date in your sector or show new information and helpful news. Make sure your followers vs following ratio are in range with each other. You should eventually have more followers than following, which is great but make sure it isn’t too weighted the other way, otherwise, it can make it seem like maybe you’re a spam account (Or that you’re not very interesting!)

On the subject of being up to date… hashtags!!! Keep a lookout for quick and easy content on your ‘trending’ page. For example, “National days”, ‘#MondayMotivation’ and things like that.

7. Make sure your header and avatar stand out – even if someone has their settings on dark mode. This can draw a lot of attention to your page! Add on a bio – remember, it’s indexed by google! Inject a short and sweet few sentences about you and your work. Add a bit of personality in there!

8. Make sure to post regular content with lots of variety. Try and inject lots of personality through your posts, as well as professionalism and knowledge. Check on your feed, as other users will as a point of due diligence. So, look at your feed and ask yourself, without scrolling too far, does your Twitter cover your branding, show what you’re about, and who is behind your company? ‘Continuity’ is key!

9. One of the biggest things I feel like we can make use of is the ‘lists’ feature. Say you follow 500 + people on Twitter, if I was only to scroll through my newsfeed, I’m probably only going to miss out on a lot of the things I might find important, and basically wasting what could be valuable time on Twitter!

For specific interests, making lists is a good idea to keep things organised. By doing this, you can scan through your feed very specifically in order of importance to you and your business personally. This is a good way to keep groups of people, similar businesses, competitors and specific targets together, meaning you can compare content and pick out trends. Who’s tweeting most? Who is getting the most engagement, and what are they posting in order to do so? What content should you be putting out there, and who should you target to engage more with to attract attention?

Your lists are public by default, meaning people will get notifications to tell them you’ve added them to a list. Make sure you make your list ‘private’ if you don’t want them to be notified and see this!

A ‘hit list’ is a great idea, too! Who do you want to be grabbing the attention of? Your hit list should have 10 to a maximum of 20, to make sure you’re connecting with the right people you want to notice you. You can use public lists to your advantage – let’s say you create a list and call it “Masterminds.” And fill the description to say something along the lines of “These people are fantastic, well-driven people who I believe can take my business to the next level.” You’re already making your name memorable when they see this and stroking their ego a little, which is a good way to get in their good books and help create or boost that relationship you want to build.

Tip: You don’t need to follow people to add them to your lists.

So this will keep your following number down but keep you up to date with who you want to keep an eye on.

10. Always ask yourself, “What can I like?” “What can I retweet?” “What can I engage with?” so that you aren’t just mindlessly scrolling and you’re using Twitter as efficiently as possible – even if it’s just a quick, 5-minute lunchtime scroll! Adding onto this, make sure your content isn’t faceless. Think about it from a personal and business brand perspective.

So, Twitter is a powerful social media platform if used correctly and efficiently. It is valuable from an organic SEO perspective, and not enough people are using it to achieve their full potential or making use of it as part of their strategy to get in front of the people that can give them the opportunities to build those partnerships to get that extra, valuable attention for them and their brand. For further help or information, check out our YouTube channel, our other blog posts or join our coaching club to delve into more depth about SEO and other key strategies!

The post How to Get the Most Out of Twitter appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Join Nicole, Kim, Molly and Mark for your weekly update of social media news, find out what we've been up to, and what we've got to look forward to!

Here are the snippets:

03:00 – Instagram has added a new feature allowing users to add GIFs to comments. This feature is available in the latest version of the app.

07:21 – We reflect back to the time Instagram had the “Dislike” button

09:28 – Meta is currently working on a new text-based social networking app designed to directly compete with Twitter. The aim is to create a space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about interests. But this is very different from meta. It will be a decentralized platform. So whereas Instagram and Facebook are very linked, this is going to be completely separate. We have no official name or launch date, but stay tuned!

12:25 – Stats show a huge 60% of Twitter users have taken a break from the app since Elon Musk bought the business, and it's estimated that 25% of users will no longer be active at all in the next 12 months!

18:16 – As Elon looks to make Twitter an ‘everything app', parent company X Corp has acquired a job-matching start-up app called Laskie. Elon's long-term plan is to create a platform that mirrors WeChat in China (like WhatsApp) The concept is to have a social platform that would also facilitate simple, in-stream payments and then incorporate additional functionalities from there.

24:28 – Twitter will now allow you choose/change the playback speed option in video.

25:25 – Sprout Social has published its latest report, and the data on when the best time to post has changed somewhat. (Check out the stats!) See you next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 155 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Let me set the scene, I'm stood in front of a bunch of businesses who are sending 100s of 1000s of emails to their databases on a daily basis – probably millions between them. I'm running an open discussion around how they can improve their email marketing strategies at scale. We're talking tech, everything from automation to AI. We're talking about the sexy-cool stuff that is the new and next when it comes to email marketing – the stuff only I geek out over. We're talking deliverability, re-engagement, activation and… well, let's just say I was in my happy place!

Then I get asked (because we had covered so much) “What are your top three takeaways when it comes to email marketing?”

Crap… how do I only pick three?Then it dawned on me… You see, my immediate response was ‘panic stations' because I was trying to choose between the super-sexy-shiny stuff… however, that's not where the success really is email marketing-wise. You see, you can invest in the tech, and implement complex campaigns; however, if you don't get the following three things right your email marketing campaigns will likely fail.

Content – Don't Send Email Marketing Content That Has Zero Value!There must be a purpose, a use, or a value in every single email campaign you send, for the recipient more so than you. Nobody wants to receive pointless emails – they're annoying and uninspiring. And that's the last thing you want your audience thinking about you and your brand!

When I say the value should be for the recipient and not you, yes, the content you send should add a next logical step; a thing that takes that recipient a step further through your marketing funnel towards your ultimate objective – but make sure what you're sending is something they'll feel is the most important, the most worthwhile email they will have read that day.

I wrote an article somewhere way back that had a title along the lines of ‘Everything is Content'. From an email marketing perspective, that includes your subject line and preview text! I see a huge amount of work going into what will be seen once an email has been opened and far less on what's going to make someone open it!

Don't Blast your list – Spray and pray email campaigns are just not cool!You need to understand your avatars; as your email list grows, you can segment your data. Most businesses have more than one avatar and so it makes sense to divide the database up by the features you've identified. It could be demographic information you hold, or it could be more related to the behaviours and interests that have been shown through their interaction with your previous email campaigns. Perhaps even something around where they are in their journey to becoming your best-ever client or customer! Segmenting your data gives you the power to send the right emails to the right people, increasing their engagement which in turn increases your ability to actually land in someone's inbox vs their junk folder vs not making it through firewalls at all!

Essentially, I'm talking about your ability to ensure the communication you send is personalised. Perhaps the message of your email needs to be positioned for the more mature lady; perhaps it's only relevant to people who have shown a preference for a certain product or service. Sending irrelevant information to your subscribers will only serve to make them feel that they're just another entry in your database. They won't feel that you care, and so they won't feel connected to your brand… that isn't something that's going to drive your ROI, that's for sure!

Email Marketing Reports – Don't just look at them, READ them!Alright, so we've come up with what we believe to be the best content and put it in the hands of the right people. Job done, right? Duh… NO! We need to see what happens next. Who opens, who doesn't, who clicks, when, what they did next… there are a bunch of different ways to measure success when it comes to email marketing. Looking at the numbers and patting yourself on the back for maintaining that open rate percentage is merely scratching the surface. We need to understand the trends. Does the open rate dip when the subject line makes it obvious the content relates to a YouTube Video? Does it increase or decrease when your subject lines are longer or shorter, if they use emojis or don't, if they use merge tags or not… Reading the data and translating it into clear observations and actions that then get implemented – that's what's essential for success.

Why?Because that data will drive your decision when it comes to creating your email marketing content. And it will also help you understand your database so you can send more personalised emails. See how these three things together can make or break your email marketing success.

The post Three Email Marketing Rules To Follow For Campaign Success appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Join the team for your weekly dose of social media news, find out what we've been up to, and what we've got to look forward to!

08:56 – Google’s implementing its own blue checkmark system, with Gmail users now set to see new blue ticks appearing next to approved brand profiles in their inbox – of course, this comes with a cost!

17:43 – YouTube launched a new experiment that would block ad blocking apps that are active in the browser.

21:20 – LinkedIn is testing an AI update assistant that will prompt you to share your ideas with the system to then get a suggested first draft of a post.

29:31 – Twitter is testing a new ‘highlights' tab on profiles to show your best tweets. Users will see the additional tab soon – we don't know when the full roll out will be, but it looks like it's coming very, very soon!

See you next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 154 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Dear Nicole,

I don’t post a lot on social media, but I will potentially have to post more often, and there is one platform, which is Instagram, that I’m interested in knowing more about. If I were to post and get myself out there, how often should I be posting on Instagram to try and attract engagement?

Meg, Oxfordshire

Dear Meg,

Good to hear you want to have a more active social media presence Meg, and in this modern world, it’s one of the best ways to promote yourself and be seen.

It is a vital tool that enables you to build relationships, share your expertise, increase visibility, educate yourself and connect at any time.

If you are aiming for Instagram, this is not a bad place to start; this platform has hundreds of millions of daily active users and is a social media platform based on sharing photos and videos with your followers, which they can view, like, comment, and share across their own platforms. If it’s a lot of visuals you’ll be sharing; then this platform is definitely the one for you!

According to research, you should be posting at least once a week but even better, three times a week. If you are really trying to take it to the next level, Instagram recommends once a day, but this depends on how strong the content is and what you are trying to achieve when posting.

I hope this is valuable to you, and I can’t wait to see what amazing content you’ll be posting!

Nicole

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Launch a product or service using social mediaYou won't believe how many questions I've had over the last few weeks about launching a product, service or App using social media! (There's usually some inspiration from the last few weeks when I sit down to write these articles). On reflection, there are a few essential ingredients for an optimal launch, whatever it is we're launching on social media and so I figured I'd note these things down for you!

Remember, however, this is general information, and as much as this is essential for all launches, in my opinion, you really need to think about how to make it relevant for you, your business, and most importantly your ideal clients and customers.

Before your launch, build an audienceIf you're going to stand in a room and shout, announcing that your new thing is here… you need to make sure there are a few people in it to listen first!

If your thing is top secret, you need a reason to attract those people. This isn't a chicken and egg scenario, so don't fool yourself into thinking that's the case. In the run-up to your launch you can post around the pain your product, service or app is addressing. People feeling that pain will want to engage in finding out about the solution. As people engage with that content you can then signpost them to a Facebook group, a resource that builds your email list, or perhaps your Facebook or LinkedIn page. (Maybe even your Instagram account if you're using automated messaging tools.)

If you have an existing audience this is a little easier, but continue to build posts into your messaging that plant a seed of interest in the minds of your audience. Get them to start thinking your way! FYI, when you look at the engagement on these posts, it can be quite a good indicator as to how well received your new thing will be. I'd suggest doing this in the early stages of development just to test the waters. You don't want to spend time working on something for months that nobody wants!

If you're starting from zero, be prepared to have to spend some money on social ads to create a bit of awareness. You can do it organically but it will take time, time you might not have!

Plan a prelaunch campaignOne mistake we've seen is people starting here. Spending lots of time agonising over a prelaunch plan without doing step one first, and without doing any of the follow-up steps! Your prelaunch campaign is simply a series of posts that act as teasers, giving more a hint of what's to come to start off with, then more information as the launch continues.

In the early stages, you might post images or videos revealing colours, or parts of the product at a weird angle that doesn't give anything away. Then you start to release the logo, perhaps the name and talk about the pain. If you have a strapline this is a good time to release this. We now know what it's called, why it's here but still not WHAT it is. Remember, throughout this, it's all about teasers – don't reveal too much until the last week of. campaign or perhaps even the last few days

FInal stages tell us all, gives us the what, and if you have testimonials from those who have tested the product or service, then use those.

I know what you're thinking… How long should my prelaunch campaign be? I'd suggest a prelaunch campaign lasting anything from one week up to six weeks. The higher value of your product, the longer the launch. Many launches work really well when they are one to two weeks in length. Tip: Remember you can launch more than once!!!

Launch with an irresistible offerOption 1: You – “Ta-dah! Here's my thing, buy it.”

Option 2: You – “Ta-dah! Here's my thing, and if you buy it now you'll also get….”

Option 3: Them – “Is it open yet? How do I get to the front of the queue?”

We have to ensure that the perception of value is at the highest possible level when we launch your product or service. With an effective launch, you will have created a world where people are waiting and hounding you so they can buy! For something of high value, it might be that you need to build a package for early adopters to sweeten the deal. This is about over-delivering on expectation.

Don't lose momentumHurrah! You've launched. Do not take your foot off the gas now – keep your social media content going.

Continue to add value, talk about the pain or problem you're addressing. Keep giving people the what in terms of resolving things and pointing out that the how lies in your offering. Don't oversell, though, and don't be too blatant or aggressive with this either.

There are a bunch of other tips I can give you – and many of these relate to things I've written about previously. Have a look at the list below and let me know if you'd like me to go into more depth on any of these in a future article!

Be really clear on who you should be targeting, and choose your social media channels based on this
Be really clear what you want from the launch – set some clear objectives
Use Hashtags – just research them first and look at them to ensure they don't spell out anything they shouldn't!
Think about offline tactics that could help increase success of the overall campaign
Create relationships with influencers within the community you'll be serving. Get them on board as part of your launch to extend your message.
Run competititons and challenges ahead of your launch – these can offer a fantastic taster of what you have to offer. Only do these in the final stages of launch, and launch during the very last phases of your challenge or competition
Measure results – and start to plan your next launch! I'd suggest having some sort of launch campaign (or relaunch) at least once a year for most businesses.

So that's it… that's all you need to know! #Joking. Obviously, as I said above this is all general stuff. Use what's in this blog and think about how you can apply it to whatever it is you're launching. If you have questions… there's a live chat button here so you can talk to us, or, of course, hop on to any of our social media channels and drop us a message there!

The post How to Launch Anything Using Social Media appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Live lunch – special guest, Harj GahleyJoin us with our special guest, Harj Gahley. Harj is a multi award-winning international speaker and entrepreneur, who has an inspiring story of transformation. From a gambling addiction that nearly destroyed his life to a thriving business that he built from the ground up, he is proof that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and the right mindset.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 153 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to the new online version of the Social Snippet!Each month you will find the latest news and updates in the world of Social Media and Online Marketing that have caught the GU Team's eye!

TikTok is getting on the AI trend!They’ve been developing a new process that would enable you to create your own custom AI-generated profile images in-stream.How does it work?
TikTok’s generative avatar process requires users to upload between 3 and 10 photos of themselves so TikTok’s system can then generate a range of variations and styles of avatar image.

The process walks you through how to upload your selfie images, including notes on how TikTok will use, and delete, any pictures that you send it.

Click here to read more:
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/TikTok-Tests-Generative-AI-Profile-Images/648619/

YouTube announces new options to enable advertisers to tap into emerging music trendsYouTube has announced two new add options that will better enable advertisers to tap into emerging music trends by placing your ads alongside popular music clips.The first is titled ‘Gen Z Music’ which will enable brands to show their promotions alongside the latest trending music clips.
Basically, it’s a trending music placement option, which will make it easier for brands to showcase their promotions in connection to the latest trending music clips.

YouTube’s also developing a new ‘Trending Music on Shorts’ offering, which will essentially provide the same placement opportunity within Shorts clips.

Click here for more:
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-announces-new-opportunities-to-place-your-ads-alongside-popular-mus/648741/

Instagram makes changes to how many links you can have in your bioDo you get frustrated that you can only add one link to your bio?

Well, this is all about to change!

Instagram has launched one of its most requested feature updates, giving users the ability to add up to not one, not two but FIVE links in their IG bio, expanding on its capacity to drive traffic.

Check out how you can add links to your bio here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-adds-capacity-to-display-5-links-in-profile-bio/647995/

TikTok’s looking to take a stronger stance against climate change misinformation...with the platform banning all content that undermines climate change!

The update moves the app into line with Pinterest and Twitter in outlawing climate change denial, as social media platforms look to do their part to maximise awareness and action.

TikTok explained that as of the 21st of April…

“They will begin to ramp up enforcement of a new climate change misinformation policy which removes climate change misinformation that undermines well-established scientific consensus, such as content denying the existence of climate change or the factors that contribute to it. As we do for all misinformation policies, we will work with independent fact-checking partners when applying this policy to help assess the accuracy of the content.”

Read more here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-moves-to-ban-all-climate-change-denial-content/648140/

The demise of BeReal?The new kid on the block last year with a staggering 7.3 million active monthly users, it appear the hype around the one time photo sharing platform is slowing down. Currently the functionality is limited. You get a notification once per day to share what you’re doing, and outside of that, there’s not a heap of things you can do in the app – there are no enhanced engagement or usage features, or importantly, any significant opportunities for advertisers. But the platform are working on a “"Bonus BeReal.": where you can share 2 more BeReal a day when you post on time. Will this be enough to keep users engaged?

Source: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/bereal-adds-new-elements-as-it-struggles-to-maintain-user-interest/648487/

AI updates in SnappchatFollowing reports from Snapchat that users are trying to “trick the chatbot into providing responses that do not conform to our guidelines,” the Social Media giant is introducing new tools that are meant to keep the AI’s responses in check. Most notably - an age filter and insights for parents.

The new age filter tells the chatbot its users’ birth dates and ensures it responds according to their age, the company said.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/05/snapchat-adds-new-safeguards-around-its-ai-chatbot/

Are you fed up with hearing about Twitter Blue? Us too, but here is another update!Although there has been a significant amount of criticism directed towards Twitter for their decision to remove blue checkmarks from verified profiles in the app, it appears that Elon Musk and his team are still moving forward with their subscription plans.

However, despite the change, the number of Twitter Blue subscribers hasn't risen as anticipated. Twitter has decided to prioritize tweets from paid profiles in both the primary 'For You' feed and tweet replies. Consequently, Twitter Blue subscribers, who make up just 0.26% of the platform's total user base, will now enjoy greater exposure for their tweets within the app.

Click here for more information about the update: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/twitter-implements-prioritized-display-of-tweets-from-twitter-blue-subscrib/648610/

Whatsapp adds new option for users to keep disappearing messageWhatsApp’s rolling out a new option that will enable users to keep disappearing messages in a chat thread, if the message sender approves.

Which seems to defeat the purpose – but maybe, there are times where something you send as a disappearing DM is of significant value to the recipient, and it’s fine if they keep it.

To learn more about Whatsapp’s new option, click here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/whatsapp-adds-new-option-for-users-to-keep-disappearing-messages/648353/

LinkedIn Adds New ID Confirmation ElementsUsers are now more worried about identity theft and bot or cloned profiles across social media. With this in mind, LinkedIn is a looking to add more identity features, giving more ways for people to prove that they are who they claim, including ID verification, workplace confirmation, and more.

To find out more visit: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/LinkedIn-Adds-New-ID-Confirmation-Elements/647543/

Facebook’s Retiring its ‘Code Generator’ Authentication ElementAs part of changes to its user security settings, Meta is retiring the Facebook Code Generator, which enables users to log in on another device by using a code from your phone, tablet etc. to authenticate their secondary session. Users will now need to switch to an alternative method of authentication.

To find out more: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebooks-retiring-its-code-generator-authentication-element/646720/

The post Social Snippet May 2023 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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I don’t think that telling you that video dominates the world of social media. It’s one of the most popular forms of content, and on many social media platforms, the thing that the algorithms love most. However, creating videos for social media requires a different approach than creating traditional videos for other mediums. Understanding how best to structure your video so you can create compelling and engaging content that resonates with your audience and keeps the algorithms happy is key to success.

Start your video with a hookIt seems obvious that you’d start a video introducing yourself – but nope! Keep that for the end of the video! (Your name will be there anyway somewhere around your video!) You need to start with a hook that captures your audience's attention within the first few seconds, milliseconds, in fact! Plus, the hook needs to be visual rather than auditory, as it’s most likely those first few seconds will be seen minus any sound. If we’re grabbing attention as we’re in the feed, our audiences will click to watch and listen. The truth is with so much content flying by in our social media feeds, audiences have short attention spans, so making an impact in the first few seconds of your video is key. Consider how you can use attention-grabbing visuals and props, and also how you use captions to create an opening that leaves your audience clicking to watch more.

Keep your social media video short and sweetI’m always asked how long a video should be for Social media. My answer is always don’t worry about the length! Your video should be as long as it needs to deliver the information you’re sharing! That said, from time to time, information is released from various social media platforms that describe their preferences. If we take all these preferences and generalise them, then videos that are 90 seconds or less tend to perform the best. If you record a video and it’s much longer, that’s cool – you can still use it. I would, however, also consider repurposing it and creating shorter cuts of 60-90 seconds you can share too to help promote the longer video.

Think mobile first when it comes to video contentMore than 90% of social media users access their accounts via their mobile phones, so think mobile first when you create your video content. Record your video in a vertical format, or if you can edit your videos into a square format, that also works. Also, ensure that your video has clear visuals and easy-to-read text that's legible on small screens. If we’re struggling to read your captions as your video plays – it will be a point of frustration. Think captions rather than subtitles; we probably don’t need to have every word you say appear on screen!

Tell us your storyPeople connect with stories, so focus on telling a compelling story with your video. I teach a variety of storytelling formats as part of the ‘Tell’ step in the Marketing Mastery Framework that makes it super simple to record a video unscripted. (If you want to find out more about this, check out the Marketing Mastery Academy or Catalyst course we offer!) Your story should be relatable, create some emotion in the viewer, and of course, be informative to keep your audience engaged.

End with a call-to-action and a sign-offEnd your video with a clear call to action. This could be anything from asking people to drop a comment on your video or directing them to your website or landing page. A call-to-action not only encourages your audience to take action and engage with your brand, which can help increase your social media reach and engagement but also helps you to see who has been watching. Are they the right kind of people? Are they people you should now be following up with? And, of course, make sure you sign off. This is where you remind people who you are!

As I said in the beginning, structuring your video for social media requires a different approach than creating traditional videos. If you feel your video content hasn’t been performing as you expect, take a look and see what needs to change based on the points above. Let us know what changes you make and what impact it has on performance – I’d love to know!

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Live lunch – Social Media NewsJoin Nicole, Molly and Mark as they discuss the latest social media news

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 152 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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“I've been burnt before…” I hear this phrase far too regularly from prospects looking to work with us. I even read those words on a LinkedIn post this morning from someone looking at hiring a digital marketing agency! Sometimes it feels like Digital Marketing Agencies and Social Media Agencies have become seen as the modern-day double glazing salespeople. (If you're not old enough to get that reference – please don't tell me!)

I remember a few years ago when there were only a few options within our niche for specialist agencies, today the marketplace has become oversaturated. If you're looking to work with a marketing agency, you have copious options but limited budgets. So making the right choice is essential for success.

Recently, we took the decision to decline to work with a company that had a very large budget, despite all the signs pointing to the fact this was going to be profitable for us! They wanted everything from website design and branding to print and email marketing strategies, they wanted content creation in the form of blogs and video and of course, social media management services. After speaking with the business owner, and putting myself in their shoes, I knew that the best solution for them would be to work with a local agency that had local connections and an understanding of the local area. Was this a naive business decision to say no? Possibly. Green Umbrella is in its 12th year of business, I've been here for almost 10 years, and over that time we've all learnt where we will and potentially won't be a good fit for our clients and prospects!

The problem is that for most businesses when it comes to selecting an agency, they don't have 10+ years of experience in getting that match right!

So what do you look for when recruiting a new agency?

Are you looking for a new website, if so, do you have an idea of what you would like from that website?
You may have written that you are interested in SEO, but do you have a working understanding of what this means? The marketing agency may be thinking about off-page and on-page SEO or technical SEO or both! Familiarise yourself with this terminology before conversations start.
Social media management – what platforms are you interested in having managed for you? What do you want your platforms to look like? What do you want from them specifically?
PR – do you have goals for winning awards and tenders or require content in trade magazines? Are you looking for placement in local or national press on a regular basis?
Design – do you already have an established brand? What's your culture? Do you have vision and mission statements or a company ethos that you can share within the brief?
Who is your target audience? Has this been defined? If so, make this part of the brief. (FYI – “Anyone” isn't a proper answer!)

Research the digital marketing agencyOnce you have your brief then it is time to think about who you need to talk to!

Here's a quick google tip for you when it comes to your search if you're starting with Google. Try keywords such as “marketing agency”, “digital marketing”, “social media management”, “Digital Design and Development Agency” and “Online Marketing Agency” making sure to use speech marks around the phrase and follow this with the county you're in rather than the town. (If you're looking for an agency that suits your niche, search for that rather than the location of course!)

(Be warned, if you add a post to LinkedIn, then be prepared to be inundated with social media and digital agencies posting “what they can do for you”. You're looking for recommendations rather than being sold at by an agency). However, if someone is creative and perhaps sends you a message in a unique and different way that makes them stand out from the crowd (rather than just a comment below your thread saying – call me if you want a quote!), then a conversation is certainly warranted!

Now you have your list of agencies, it is time to continue with the research.

Scout their website. Which services are most prominent within the site? This is what they are most confident in implementing – their zone of genius! For example, you will see that we provide websites. However, the social media side of things is at the core of what we do and this oozes throughout the website.
If website build is something that you are looking for, then check the agency's site for functionality, design and marketing messages. Are they using customer-focused language, or are they using lots of words such as “we”, “our”, “us”.
Online testimonials – do they have a portfolio? Have they got a testimonial or case study page on their website? What about LinkedIn, when was their last recommendation?
It's time for References! Online reviews are usually very positive, especially if it is on the agency's website. So now it's time to pick up the phone and speak to at least two clients. Perhaps someone they started working with a few years ago, and someone they've only started working with quite recently. The telephone is the best way to get “real” information as people can be reluctant to put anything negative in writing.
Social Media profiles – if they are a digital marketing agency they should be practising what they preach. Check out their Facebook page. When was the last time they posted? Are they using video and live streaming on their page? LinkedIn – Are they posting regularly on LinkedIn? Remember, their content is a reflection of the quality of content that they will be managing for you, so this is important.
Do they have a blog? When was the last time that they wrote a blog or added news to their website? Was the content customer-focused or were they talking about themselves? A good agency will be leading by example.

Questions to consider:-

Can they provide you with a client list?
What type of clients do they work with? Have they experience of working with a client in the same industry as you? Are there any conflicts of interest? (You don't want to work with an agency that is also managing your biggest competitor!)
Do they outsource their work? This is not a problem, but it is good for you to know and understand how that works. Many agencies outsource their work to designers, content writers, copywriters, SEO experts, etc. – but you need to understand how long they have been working with these people and what happens if that relationship breaks down?
Ask them about their techniques. For example, how often would they post on social media sites and what type of content works well? What is their technique for SEO? How often would they recommend that you produce a blog and how many words? Do they have an understanding of pay per click or social advertising?

Final negotiationsYou've found an agency that you like, they've provided great references and you have decided that they are for you. The next step is the small print!

Talk about price ranges. Define what is included and more importantly, what is not included in your marketing package.
Contract terms – how long are you signing up for and what is the termination period if things are not working out? Do you have a break clause?
Negotiate – even if you hate negotiating. If you don't ask, then you don't get! There may not be movement on fees but you might be able to gain some additional value.
How open are they about their processes? Ask to see an example of a report that they produce for their clients. What is their process for review meetings, or strategy meetings? How and where will they take place?
NDAs – do they have an NDA? Non-disclosure agreements exist for a reason. How do you know that you are protected? They have a full list of your clients, and your passwords to your social accounts. A professional agency will supply you with an NDA to sign and agree or it will be built into their terms and conditions.

Is that all?..How you go through the process of choosing a digital marketing agency depends on the size and type of your company, the niche you're active in, your level of competition, what you’re willing to spend on marketing, and what your ultimate goals are.

Taking on the wrong agency can be very costly, so it makes complete sense to protect your investment by either hiring a consultant to help you with the process or thoroughly researching your options.

What other details would you consider when searching for and hiring a digital agency? What would convince you to choose one agency over others?

The post Five Steps to Getting It Right When Hiring a Digital Marketing Agency appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Live lunch – Social Media NewsJoin Nicole, Kim, Molly and Mark as they discuss the latest social media news including updates to TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

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FREE ONLINE EVENTTuesday 25 Apr 2023 19:30Using social media has the potential to bring you the greatest results – but only with the right strategy! Perhaps you're looking to grow your team, or launch that new product or service – this event is for you.

Who is this for?Businesses who want to stand out on social media for the right reasons and generate leads that will grow their business.

What will we cover?The core elements of a successful social media marketing strategy that is designed to bring results

Tactics that will allow you to create even more results from social media while spending less time creating content.

Current trends that are increasing results for our clients across all social media channels and the expected trends you can leverage this year.

What will I achieve from joining this live session?After watching, and more importantly, taking action on what we'll share with you, you'll achieve the following:

You will have a clear idea of what your social media marketing strategy should include
You will feel confident with the knowledge that you gain and have practical steps for what to implement next
You will have certainty over your ability to generate leads from social media and know what to do in order to improve on your previous results

Reserve your FREE space now!The post How to build a social media strategy that guarantees success! appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! We're back from the Easter break and raring to go! In this episode, we are joined by an impromptu guest – Stephen O'Donnell. We chat about all things branding.

Whether it be personal branding or branding for your business, we do a deep dive into what makes good branding and talk about the sensory aspect. Have you ever thought about how your brand feels or even what smells come to mind when you look at it? This episode unpacks a lot in terms of what you need to consider when deciding on your brand or thinking about a rebrand. See you next week!

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Dear Nicole,

I have a recruitment business and I’m just getting used to social media, I have to be honest I’m not very confident with the world of social media. I have just about set up accounts across most platforms on my own but I’m not sure which one I should be putting my time into the most to receive the best impact. Can you help?

Brian, Warrington.

Dear Brian,

Thanks for your question - it’s a fantastic question as there is probably a lot of people who understand how you feel and are in your situation.

It’s also great to hear that you have set up your accounts even this alone can’t be the easiest task especially if you are not very tech- savvy. It’s a process and if you trust the process, put the time, energy and patience in to see results and the benefits that come with advertising your brand online.

In terms of what social media platforms are the most effective in terms of putting your time into, I’ll be honest this is different for everyone as you might have the audience you're aiming for primarily on one platform or three. Following your question I have decided to look into this for you and have broken this down for you…so let’s get started!

Facebook:

Monthly Active Users: 2.9 billion
Ideal for B2C Companies
Most Active Demographic: Ages 35-44
Facebook is the most popular social media platform across all age groups

LinkedIn:

Monthly Active Users: 310 million
Ideal for B2B Companies
Most Active Demographic: Ages 25-34
LinkedIn is considered the top social channel for lead generation

Twitter:

Active Monthly Users: 436 million
Ideal for B2B Companies
Most Active Demographic: Ages 18-29
More than 500 million tweets are shared each day

Instagram:

Monthly Active Users: 2 billion
Ideal for B2C Companies
Most Active Demographic: Ages 18-34
500 million+ users are active on Instagram every day

I hope this breakdown is useful for you Brian and you are able to get an idea of what platform would be best for you. I look forward to seeing your socials shine!

Best Wishes,

Nicole

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the team talked about the latest Twitter updates, what's going on with ChatGPT and of all things….Scampi Fries!

Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free to ask us any questions that you may have, or if you would like to join us, then please get in touch!

Here are the snippets:

02:47 – Users have been noticing a new Twitter logo this week – a dog!? Could it be Elon Musk's idea of an April Fools, or another unpredictable move by the Twitter owner? Twitter’s homepage and loading screen had been replaced with the shiba inu image associated with the Dogecoin memecoin cryptocurrency.

12:28 – Elon Musk has announced Twitter will be releasing details of what makes the algorithm tick using Open Source. Not all details have been released but it looks as though previously we thought engagement it what boosted posts, but actually it's favourites, rather than replies. Of course media along with Tweets is valuable.

15:08 – Twitter follows to follower ratio will now looked at by the algorithm, for example, if you follow 500 accounts but only have 3 followers yourself, Twitter will rank your content lower as it looks like you're just not interesting enough – sorry!

19:30 – Christina discusses the importance of showing up on video, online, or public speaking. How to get in to the right state and prepare yourself for how you show up.

24:04 – Instagram is rolling out the option to celebrate your birthday a bit more with new special effects and avatars.

30:35 – ChatGPT has been banned in Italy over privacy concerns, they are concerned it doesn't confirm to GDPR and also the potential for misinformtion. This follows on from the open letter by Elon Musk and other asking for Chat GPT development to be paused for six months. Actually, what we should be doing is more educating on how to use it better, how to structure a request etc. Samsung finds chip-related data leak due to use of ChatGPT which also contribute to the privacy concerns.

39:34 – Instagram will be testing the option for users to download and save reels to their devices – much like TikTok now.

41:41 – Facebook is testing the ability for users to be invited to follow a page they have engaged with by reacting to posts, not just comment.

43:01 – LinkedIn is rolling out suggested content to your feed based on your interest and other content you have engaged with.

See you next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 149 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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There's no doubt about it, LinkedIn is one of the most powerful social media platforms you can use when it comes to driving your business forward in a B2B market. (I'd argue LinkedIn is just as valuable for B2C businesses, but we'll save that conversation for another day!) You can use LinkedIn to drive your personal brand as well as that of your business, connect with industry leaders on a global scale in a way you might not otherwise be able to, and find conversation with like-minded people in business. The only real issue comes, as it does with most social media platforms, with driving engagement. Making sure you get seen and standing out from the crowd are the things that guarantee success. However, in an overpopulated newsfeed, this can be tricky. Here are a few tips to help you drive engagement on LinkedIn.

Optimise Your LinkedIn ProfileIf you want to stand out – it needs to be easy for people to find you. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and up to date. Everything from an up-to-date professional headshot to an attention-grabbing professional headline, a keyword-rich summary and relevant skills and experiences. Making sure these things are good to go creates a strong foundation, as you'll now be discoverable in search. To engage with you, people need to be able to find you first!

If you need help with getting your LinkedIn profile optimised – we put together an on-demand course to walk you through the process. Feel free to check it out.

Post regular updates on LinkedInHow many times has a marketer used the words “Consistency is key”?!? In the case of posting updates on LinkedIn, it absolutely is. You should be posting daily; in fact, I'd encourage you to post twice a day. You can sit down on a weekly basis and schedule these posts ahead, or simply block time in your diary to make it happen. You can use an external social media scheduling tool, or LinkedIn now has its own in-platform scheduling feature – so there are no excuses!)

Something that happens from time to time with our clients who outsource LinkedIn to us is they start getting engagement and people telling them they're seeing them regularly on the platform. The client then worries they're posting too much. Forgetting that the reason that individual is only being served all that content from them is that they are engaging with it! Remember, LinkedIn shows its users content from people they care about on topics they care about. When you get feedback that says, ‘I see you all the time on LinkedIn…' it's a sign you're doing a great job and getting engagement. Pat yourself on the back, and keep up the good work!

Use Engaging Visuals On LinkedInAs your connections scan through their feeds, it's the visuals that grab their attention. Bright colours and bold text continue to work well for static imagery. Make sure you're also using video – horizontal is the standard, but there's nothing wrong with mixing it up with a vertical video every now and then! Think about how you might post something like an infographic or use the carousel function in a meaningful way. I'm often talking about the fact we all have a favoured way of being communicated with, we're visual, auditory or kinesthetic – the visuals you use can allow you to communicate in all of these ways in one, so take full advantage of the opportunity. Bland stock photos that communicate nothing won't cut it any longer, I'm afraid.

Only Share Relevant ContentIt's easy to get caught up in a world of me, me, me and find yourself guilty of only sharing what's important or relevant to you. If you want real engagement, understand people engage in things that meet their needs and their priorities. This could come in the form of industry news, opinion-led updates (that may or not be controversial), or insights into your audience – i.e. them! Relevant content is interesting and valuable, it educates, and it has the potential to entertain too!

Engage with others on LinkedInBeing sociable usually means engaging with other people. Linkedin is no different. One of the first steps in a sales conversation requires you to build rapport; engaging with your prospects by looking at their content and offering up a cheeky comment of support will help you achieve rapport quickly once you do get into that sales conversation. It's also an excellent way to build trust, raise your profile and ultimately drive your personal brand. There's another thing with this, though, you see, if you're not engaging with others, why on earth should they engage with you?

(Caveat on the last post… please avoid pods where a bunch of people get together and all engage with each other's content in order to drive their engagement. It won't serve you long-term.)

Use Relevant HashtagsUsing hashtags will increase the visibility of your posts and again help you be more discoverable. This, in turn, should increase reach and engagement, but only if the hashtags are both relevant and specific. Think about what hashtags people might be searching for, and also consider how saturated the use of a hashtag might be. We work with a lot of recruitment agencies, and using something like #MarketingJob is more specific than just #Job, but it's still pretty general. Think how you can drill down another step and use combinations of hashtags to really benefit. (Tip: I'd never suggest going crazy with your hashtags. 3-5 should be enough.)

Invite Engagement On LinkedInIf you don't ask – you don't get. Ask for the thoughts and opinions of your audience on your posts, and ask open questions. Tell them to share their experiences with you. You'll likely have to give yours first, of course – give them something to bounce off, and you're more likely to get responses.

Driving Engagement On LinkedIn Can Feel Like A Thankless TaskYou will have a bunch of tumbleweed moments, but please don't let this stop you – it takes time and effort to get engagement going, and not every post will achieve what you want it to. Maintaining the habits I've mentioned above will, over time, establish you as a leader in your subject area, so I encourage you to be persistent!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Twitter updates, what's going on with AI, updates to Meta ads and new platform Lemon8.

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Welcome to the new online version of the Social Snippet!Each month you will find the latest news and updates in the world of Social Media and Online Marketing that have caught the GU Team's eye!

Instagram is testing the ability to share full Reel video in the story, 60 seconds maxHow frustrating is it when you share a reel to your Instagram story and it cut’s off before the end? Grr!! This could soon be a thing of the past – for 60 second reels at least.

Source: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagrams-testing-full-length-reels-replays-within-stories/645758/

Youtube adds more posdcast toolsIt seems that everyone has a podcast these days! Watching podcasts is becoming ever more popular, particularly on YouTube. The platform is rolling out new options for podcast creators, these include new video download options, hashtag recommendations, and the ability to create content directly in Creator Studio.

Source: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-adds-podcast-analytics-new-hashtag-recommendations-for-long-form-c/645752/

TIKTOK WILL ALLOW USERS TO REST ‘FOR YOU’ PAGEWhen your TikTok feed starts to get stale or boring, or even repetitive, you will now be able to use the ‘refresh’ feature to reset your feed.

This aims to make the platform healthier, happier and hopefully boost engagement.

For more information on TikTok’s newest feature, click here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/TikTok-Will-Enable-You-to-Refresh-Your-Algorithmic-Recommendations/645260/

YOUTUBE WILL NOW LET ADVERTISERS TARGET GEN Z BASED ON TRENDING MUSICYouTube’s latest ad offering will enable brands to target Gen Zers based on the songs that are most popular with them at the moment.

Keep your eyes peeled for this feature that will roll out later this summer.

Click here to learn more about how it will work: https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2023/03/24/youtube-to-let-advertisers-target-gen-z-based-on-trending-music

If you are a TikTok creator listen up!TikTok’s new 'Series' enables creators to charge for exclusive content, in order to boost revenue potential in the app.

Get more on this here https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/TikTok-Launches-Series-Creator-Monetization-Option/644365/

Are you a Twitter Blue Subscriber?With Twitter Blue failing to reach expectations, Elon Musk is taking action announcing that, as of April 15th, the only Twitter Blue tweets will be displayed in the ‘For You’ tab – i.e. the main tab of the app.

Read more here https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/musk-says-that-as-of-april-15th-only-tweets-from-twitter-blue-subscribers/646121/

Mozilla invests in new AI company to challenge ChatGPT and BardMozilla is to invest $30 million to create a new, non-profit AI company as a challenger to OpenAI ChatGPT and Google Bard.

This new open source initiative for developing AI will put transparency, accountability and trustworthiness at the forefront of the open source AI products they will build to challenge Microsoft, OpenAI and Google.

Read more here: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/mozilla-open-source-ai/482981/#close

Google Introduces Updated Desktop Search DesignGoogle has updated it's desktop search results so they now display favicons and site names. This should make it easier for users to identify websites listed in search results and ads.

Read more here: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-introduces-updated-desktop-search-design/481871/#close

LinkedIn is adding a new GPT-powered tool that will provide personalised writing suggestions for creating your LinkedIn profileWhile we think this a good idea to help people improve their profiles, it is important to make sure you put a bit of your personality into it too, so you don’t sound like a robot.

Read more about it here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-adds-ai-generated-profile-summaries-and-job-listings/645136/

Twitter is working on a new option that would enable users to opt out of ads in certain sensitive categories, in order to better customise the promotions that you see in the appCurrently, ‘Gambling’ is the only option available at this stage, but it’ll likely eventually be expanded to include alcohol, guns, etc.

More info: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/Twitter-Will-Let-Users-Opt-Out-of-Gambling-ads/645161/

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Social media has changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. It's a place where businesses can connect with each other and share their ideas, products, and services with the world. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and there any many no-nos people often make on social media, which can negatively impact your reputation and brand.

Now, if I was to list all the social media mistakes we see, we'd be here all day – it's Friday, and we're all on a bit of a RecExpo come down, so I won't take up too much of your time here. We often get asked, “what shouldn't I be doing online?”, which seems to be a pain point for many people, so we're hosting an online event next week to go through it – if you're free, jump on! It's a freebie, so why not? The link is here to book.

Here are just a few of the things we'll be sharing:Posting offensive or insensitive contentOne of the biggest social media mistakes is posting offensive or insensitive content. Just remember, what you post is out there for all to see! Posting insensitive or offensive content can harm your reputation and brand and may even result in legal trouble! Before posting anything, it is important to think about how it may be perceived by others and whether it is appropriate to post.

Not engaging with your audienceDo not be a broadcaster! Another common mistake is not engaging with your audience. Social media is all about building relationships with your followers and connections, and if you don't engage with them, they may lose interest in your brand. Make sure you're engaging with your online communities, groups, etc. This will position you as the expert in your field, and you want people to remember you for being the go-to person.

Posting too much or too littlePosting too much or too little can also harm your social media presence. If you post too much, your followers may feel overwhelmed and may unfollow you. On the other hand, if you post too little, your followers may lose interest in you and your brand. It is important to find a balance and post consistently without being a spammy tammy!

We'd love to see you next week, where we'll work through the most common mistakes we see on social media and how to avoid them.

Save your spot here for our FREE online event.

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

It's been a busy week for GU, Mark, Nicole, and Molly have been to RecExpo and we're all a little bit giddy! The beauty of live lunch is anything can happen…and it does. Here are the social media news snippets:

10:05 – YouTube has now added podcast analytics and you'll now be able to create podcasts directly in YouTube.

12:28 – TikTok now allows users to ‘reset' their For You page to clear the algorithm and essentially offer up new content.

17:11 – Mozilla invests $30 million to create a non-profit AI company to challenge OpenAI ChatGPT and Google Bard.

22:22 – YouTube has launched hashtag recommendations to give you inspiration to help your content get recognised.

24:05 – Elon Musk announced ‘blue tick' accounts tweet replies will appear higher in the thread.

27:38 – Instagram reels will no longer be cut short when shared to Instagram Stories.

See you next week!

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 147 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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There's a day for everything isn't there! We just had Valentine's Day, then International Women's Day, and I'm writing this expecting a stream of posts about St Patrick's day! There are other things that happen over the year, too – hug a plumber day, talk like a pirate day and many, many more. Some of these give you an amazing opportunity to market your business on social media (some not so much), but how can you leverage these occasions?

How to choose which national day to celebrate your business using social mediaI'm like a broken record when it comes to discussing how we should not be jumping on bandwagons and how we should all only be celebrating the holidays and events that are aligned with our businesses and the people within them. However, I also think that the level of importance of the day matters too. St. Paddy's day is the inspiration for this article, so let's use that as an example.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on a global scale in many countries where English is the first language (and in others, too, of course!). It represents Irish culture, traditions, and heritage and is used as an opportunity by many to simply have fun! As a business owner or marketer, this one day presents several opportunities to use social media marketing to create affinity and essentially celebrate alongside your audience.

Social media marketing is an essential element of any marketing strategy. One of the key benefits is the ability to reach larger audiences and engage with them in a personal and meaningful way. Using something like St. Patrick's Day to connect with your audience and show some brand personality is most definitely a positive – when used in an intentional way!

How to market your brand on a national dayHere are five ways you can use social media to market your brand using a national day as a vehicle.

Create specific graphics, videos, or blogs that carry the theme of the National day. (Again, no bandwagonitis here – Make sure your content is relevant to your brand and your audience.)
Using relevant hashtags can help your content reach a larger audience – so research the best ones to use and make sure you use them! As an example, thinking of St. Patrick's Day specifically, I'd look to use #StPatricksDay or #LuckOfTheIrish.
Use the theme of the day to create a competition or giveaway to increase audience and develop brand awareness. Make sure the prize is relevant to both the day itself and what you have to offer!
Limited-time offers can work to promote your product or service – and can help increase sales in product businesses. Just remember to keep things relevant and in line with what you're celebrating.
Look to share UGC (user-generated content). I don't talk about this even nearly enough – but it's a fantastic way to show your audience that you care about them and that you're present and listening to them. Again, to use St Paddy's day, you can ask people to share how they're celebrating it. They can comment on your post, sharing how they're doing it, and you can post again using the best responses!

St. Patrick's Day is a great opportunity to connect with your audience, and it's one of many that could be right for your business to use! Go take a look and see what the next most relevant national day will be for you, and consider how you can leverage it for your brand and your audience. Make a plan and be ready to celebrate it!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about our Marketing Mastery Catalyst Course, events we're going to, Twitter updates, Meta changes, new apps and TikTok.

Here are the snippets:

01:52 – The Marketing Mastery Catalyst course has launched. An 8 week marketing course from Green Umbrella. More info at https://www.green-umbrella.biz/market…

09:41 – The team are looking forward to the Recruitment Agency Expo next week at ExCel, London. More info at https://recruitmentagencyexpo.com/lon…

17:32 – A new anonymous messaging app has launched. Ghost allows users to message without revealing their identity and has ChatCPT built in.

21:06 – Meta is creating a Twitter-type app – codename P92. This is a standalone decentralised social network for sharing text updates.

25:12 – Twitter is working to give users more information on why they are seeing the content in their feed and why they're seeing certain ads.

29:56 – Meta is removing their audio channels. From this week, you will no longer be able to access them.

30:35 – Twitter is working on a new option that would enable users to opt out of ads in certain sensitive categories.

31:40 – Version 4 of ChatGPT has launched this week. One feature introduced is the ability to upload a drawing, and chatCPT will create and code a website!

35:08 – Christina gives an update on her latest venture; The Breakthrough Experience – Emotional Change Therapy. Full details https://bit.ly/Breakthrough-May

47:41 – TikTok is now banned on all UK government employee devices as of today (16th March 2023).

51:05 – TiKTok has announced a new partnership with Dentsu, which will provide alternative web tracking via Dentsu’s ‘Digital X’ process.

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Tuesday 28th March 7.00pmAre you trying to stay ahead of the game when it comes to your social media presence – and yet feel like you’re only falling further behind?

Let’s work through the mistakes we see on social media and learn how to avoid them.

Who is this for?Businesses who want to stand out on social media for the right reasons and deliver high value content

What will we cover?The most common mistakes that businesses make on social media, as well as how to avoid them. From posting too much (or too little) to failing to engage with your audience, we'll cover all the essential topics you need to know to create a successful social media strategy.

What will I achieve from joining this live session?After watching, and more importantly, taking action on what we'll share with you, you'll achieve the following:

You will have a clear understanding of what works on social media
You will be clear on what mistakes to avoid
You will have certainty over your ability to create high value content on social media

To find out more, join Christina on this FREE online event!

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Dear Nicole,

I’ve recently started a TikTok account to get more marketing coverage for my stationery business but I wouldn’t call myself a professional on this app and have no idea where to start. I’m also on Instagram and have made some Reels to promote my page but I was wondering if you have any tips on how I can get the most out of TikTok to try and gain attraction towards my page on this platform.

Lucy, Brighton

Dear Lucy,

Firstly, welcome to the world of TikTok…it’s an adventure but it gives you an amazing opportunity to be creative. Also, the fact you have made Reels for Instagram is a step in the right direction, as Reels and TikTok videos are similar in terms of how you put them together. Below I have put together 5 top tips on how you can get seen on TikTok. What are we waiting for? Let’s jump straight in!

Start with a hook - TikTok moves fast. If you don’t grab a viewer’s attention, you risk losing them to whoever is next on the endless scroll. When creating a video on TikTok, start with a hook, ideally in the first second or two of the video; you can do this through audio or visual means. This is also a great way to promote you and your business as you are showing your face and your product. For example, say you are promoting a new planner, drop some text onto your video along the lines of “The 5 Tops Tips Why You Need This Planner In Your Life.”

Make TikToks from your comments - Listen to your viewers! If you receive a comment on one of your videos asking for you to make a certain type of video - DO IT! Also, tag the comment onto TikTok so they, as a viewer, feel recognised. This means you are listening to the audience and also encouraging more people to comment, which will result in you gaining attraction.

Use trending sounds - The best way to get inspiration for new content is to scroll through the platform yourself. See what sounds are trending and who is using them, and what for, and think about how you can put your own twist on them.

Jump on trends - Not all trends are based on audio — there are game-based trends or voiceover trends, which are a great way to incorporate some lighthearted fun into your content. To find these trends, simply have a scroll through and see what people are using, or you can visit the search bar, which will share all the latest trends people are using.

Use popular hashtags - Make yourself easier to find on TikTok by using trending hashtags that relate to your content. This helps the platform understand what kinds of videos you are making and what kinds of users to show those videos to.

I hope you find these tips useful, Lucy! I think my overall tip for anyone using TikTok is try not take yourself too seriously, make sure to have fun and let the creative waves flow and try to post regularly. I look forward to seeing your TikToks - good luck!

Nicole

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LinkedIn is the ultimate tool when it comes to building and nurturing business relationships – and as we all know first impressions really do count! So let me ask you a question… When did you last take the time to look at your LinkedIn profile? In this course, you'll be shown how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile.

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Twitter changes, how Spotify is becoming more social, the latest Meta updates, changes to Google and the ongoing legal troubles with TikTok.

Here are the snippets:

3:00 – Google's desktop search results will now display favicons (website icons/pictures) and site names, making it easier for users to identify websites listed in search results and ads. The changes were made to make them visually distinct, and clear labelling of ads will now be displayed to differentiate them from organic search results.

7:15 – TikTok is inching closer and closer to bans in the US and Europe due to ongoing security concerns, but Rishi Sunak has said he will not ban the platform in the UK.

14:20 – Facebook is introducing Contributor badges for groups. Badges can be earned by members who share, comment, react, and engage consistently within a group, which will encourage quality participation within them. Admins can turn off the ability for members to earn badges, and group members will be able to see other members' badges.

17:30 – Spotify is revamping the mobile app. Users and subscribers will gain access to a handful of new features, including the vertically scrolling “discovery” feeds, a new “Smart Shuffle” mode for playlist recommendations, and a new podcast auto-play feature. Other updates include; Spotify clips – short-form videos, under-30-second vertical videos that allow you to invite fans into your creative process – think of this as Spotify Stories.

20:15 – Twitter has announced a 10,000 character limit – currently only available to Twitter Blue users, but this could soon roll out further to non-paid accounts.

23:00 – Reports suggest Meta is cutting another 10,000 jobs to reduce costs. This comes after the considerable cull of 11,000 employees just last November.

24:15 – New apps are on the market which allows users to have a bot “accompany you in your hard times” or to help you decide what you should have for breakfast – yes, really! The ‘AI friends' are chatbot companions powered by artificial intelligence. Scary or useful?

25:33 – Twitter is rolling out direct message updates, including full encryption and the ability to reply to individual DM's in a chain message. You can also use any emoji as a reaction rather than the seven pre-sets.

26:20 – Twitter is removing all live recordings stored in Periscope to cut costs. If you have anything archived – download them now, or it will be lost forever.

35:15 – LinkedIn has rolled out its Collaborative Articles – AI-generated articles, which you can contribute to, although we're not sure how the selection of who is invited to contribute works – but keep an eye on those notifications!

42:00 – Huge Facebook update; Messenger will no longer be a separate app. This comes from the shift towards private messaging, so re-integrating the two after seven years could be a great way to get users back to seeing Facebook feed content and ads!

46:45 – Facebook community chats have rolled out to more and more groups. Admins can start a direct message to all members of a group. Also, there is no limit to the number of separate chats they can create, eek!

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Breaking through the noise online – marketing mindsetI've been talking a lot about marketing mindset recently, it's even the theme of the first module in our online marketing training course. When I discuss this, it isn't just about the mindset of the audience we're trying to reach but also about ensuring we have the right mindset that sets us up for success in everything we do when marketing our businesses.

Let's focus in this article, however, on the mindset of the audience you're trying to curate – how do you ensure your message lands with them? That when they see your posts on their various social media feeds that they actually take a moment to engage?

Delete, Distort, GeneraliseAs human beings, our brains are processing a crazy amount of information at any one time, and much of that is being done subconsciously. So how do we decide what to pay attention to? Essentially, we are immediately deleting, distorting or generalising what we see, feel and hear at all times. To bring it back to a social media example, imagine you're scrolling through Instagram or Facebook. All these posts whizzing by, some you don't notice, some stand out to you, and as you pause on them, within milliseconds you think, “They're ALWAYS complaining about something.” or “EVERYONE on Facebook is just…”. Those are generalisations we're making. Sometimes we'll see those same posts and make assumptions, essentially distorting what we're seeing by looking at the message being delivered via our own individual view of the world.

Interestingly, there are some things we're instantly deleting too. For example, it's possible that before you started reading this blog you scrolled up and down to see how long the article was and what the subheadings were so you could decide if it was going to be worth your time. But perhaps you deleted the banner advert halfway through – you just didn't see it. But, now that I'm talking about it, it's now front and centre in your mind!

Breaking through the noise onlineI have written previously about what it takes to stand out online and how to get seen. I've also talked and written at length about how to identify your ideal client. So in this article, I'm going to give you some very specific tips on how to position your message and your content. I'm going to keep these tips simple, and then if you want to, invite you to reach out so we can have a more detailed conversation about how this applies to you and your business!

ValuesUnderstand the values that are most important to your prospects and build these into your content. Make sure it's apparent at first glance. We're drawn to anything that is in alignment with our personal values and repelled by the things that reflect values we find abhorrent. Use this to attract the right people into your audience and through your marketing funnel.

BeliefsThe people that are not using your product or service and should be, what do they believe to be true? It's your job to either evidence that you are working in a way that reflects their positive beliefs, or challenges the negative beliefs they have that are potentially based on previous bad experiences or assumptions.

ImageryYour prospects may have an idea of what it looks like to work with you; the way they see that can be imagined, so show them the reality! Using your social media channels to do this is an obvious move, whether it's through photos or video.

LanguageLinguistics is an interesting topic when it comes to marketing! I would encourage you to really think about the language you use. Firstly, make sure you're speaking their language – not yours. You're knowledgeable and passionate about your subject, and so will talk about your area of expertise at a level that likely needs simplifying for someone for whom this isn't a passion. Secondly, remember, we all have different ways of communicating. Some of us are more visual, some more auditory, and others more kinesthetic. Even in your written language, think about the words you use that create communications that sit under these three categories. (There's actually more than just these three… again, tell me if you want to know more!)

It's not just about their mindset – it's about yours tooI said I was going to focus on mindset from the perspective of the audience you're trying to reach, but I can't not say at least one little thing here! In order to make the changes that allow you to break through the filters I've mentioned above, you might need to step up more so than you have been doing. For some, it's just about prioritising and scheduling time. For others, the idea of recording that video fills them with dread. They'll write that LinkedIn post and look at it for five minutes before hitting delete instead of post. If that sounds like you or if you see yourself stopping you from doing what you need to, if you feel that this is where you'll need the most support… I want to help you.

If you want to find out more about mindset and to find out Christina's big news, check out this episode of live lunch!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week we welcomed very special guests Imran Ahmed, Jen Roblin, and Lewis Dutson, where we'll touch on everything from human psychology, anxiety, how we all have a story, and so much more!

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Welcome to the new online version of the Social Snippet!Each month you will find the latest news and updates in the world of Social Media and Online Marketing that have caught the GU Team's eye!

Are you a podcaster or thinking about starting a podcast?Well, this could be just the thing for you!

Podcasts have taken the world by storm, particularly in the last 2-3 years, and YouTube is now potentially joining the club and creating a gap market to support podcasters.

It's currently in testing, but YouTube is taking its next steps into podcasting, with the option to upload and manage podcasts in the YouTube Studio app. In addition to this, YouTube’s also testing new podcast analytics, which will provide podcast-specific performance insights.

Would you use this new feature?

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-tests-podcast-management-options-in-youtube-studio/643129/

Are you someone that uses the Instagram feature, Live Stream Shopping?Listen up users, because Instagram has announced the removal of Live Stream Shopping Elements within the app.

It seems that live shopping has been a huge success in Asian markets but it's not caught on, as many had hoped it would, for key revenue growth within western audiences.

As of the 16th of March 2023, Instagram users will no longer be able to tag products while live streaming.

If you use this feature, what are you going to do going forward?

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-announces-removal-of-live-stream-shopping-elements/642754/

INSTAGRAM TESTS NEW MEMORIES PROMPT TO RE-IGNITE USER ENGAGEMENTInstagram's new ‘memories’, prompts users to re-share old posts to encourage them to look back at previous memories and years.

The new addition will show up at the top next to ‘your story’.

To learn more about the new feature, click here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-tests-new-memories-prompts-to-re-ignite-user-engagement/642550/

TIKTOK PROVIDES 70,000 NEW DATA INSIGHTSTikTok is aiming to help marketers maximise their in-app efforts by introducing thousands of new insights.

The insights should help users get a better handle on key trends and usage shifts to maximise their in-app experience.

Click here for more information: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/TikTok-Adds-New-Data-Insights-for-Marketers/642868/

New Subscription Bundle for Facebook & InstagramMeta has launched a "Meta Verified" bundle offering users account verification, protection, support, and visibility for a monthly subscription. It seems very similar to Twitter Blue and has been seen as "unoriginal" - what do you think? Would you sign up?

To find out more visit: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/meta-verified-new-subscription-bundle-on-facebook-instagram/480406/

How is Google Bard trained?Bard is Google's new Ai tool to rival ChatGPT (which you have probably heard a lot about recently). Bard is trained by website data, but little is known about how that information was collected and whose content was used.

This article delves into what we do know... https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-bard-training-data/478941/

Instagram Launches ‘Channels’ Broadcast Chat Feature Instagram is rolling out a new feature called ‘Instagram Channels’, which is essentially a group messaging function within the app where you can stay up to date on specific topics, brands, people, etc. We think this could be a good idea if you want to find out what a specific brand or influencer is saying, but like big groups on Whatsapp, it could soon become overwhelming if too much is posted each day.

To find out more, visit this link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-launches-channels-broadcast-chat-feature/642969/

Instagram now lets you express yourself with GIFs in comments Instagram is showing some love to the good-old photo sharing side of the app with a new option to reply with GIFs in comments. We think this is a great addition to Instagram as only replying with text and emojis doesn’t always convey what you want to say. Hopefully it’s only a matter of time before you can reply with your own photo.

Find out more here: https://www.androidpolice.com/instagram-gifs-comments/

TikTok in your car?Yes, really! TikTok has announced a new partnership with Mercedes Benz which will see TikTok content directly into your car via their “superscreen” of the new E-Class. You’ll be pleased to know that the car must be stationary! Not only that, passengers can join in too, with two independent screens.Find out more at: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-announces-new-integration-with-mercedes-benz-to-display-tiktok-conte/643322/

Ever wondered who’s not watching your content on YouTube?YouTube is adding new metrics to shorts, one of which being the ability to see who has not only viewed your content but also those who have swiped on past. The new metric, ‘Shown in feed’ and ‘Viewed vs swiped away’, will take data from within the YouTube Studio Display.For more info, visit: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-adds-more-shorts-performance-insights-updated-chat-moderation-role/643311/

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Are you using WhatsApp? I imagine most of you are, given that it is now one of the most used social apps across the world (and here in the UK especially)! Are you using WhatsApp to market your brand? Most of you will probably immediately say no, but I'd like to challenge that and get you using WhatsApp as a marketing tool!

Over the last couple of years especially, we've seen real growth in how WhatsApp is used, from increased use in 121 communications to the plethora of group conversations that exist around a specific topic and the use of it as a live chat feature on websites or a destination in Facebook Ads!

It's always missed a few core features that would make it a better user experience, but over the last few weeks, features have been announced and even started to roll out that will improve user experience on the platform.

If you're not using WhatsApp as a marketing tool, now is the time to start!The current trends show that WhatsApp use is growing rapidly and has done over the last few years. Users are using the App daily, and messages sent via the platform have a much higher open rate than average email open rates. In a world where we look for more ways to create 1-2-Many communications, WhatsApp gives us the option to achieve this in a way that feels 1-2-1. Because of this, it's possible to build relationships with people without the worry of algorithms limiting your reach, and of course, the cost of using WhatsApp is your time rather than your money!

I could go on, but in that paragraph alone there are, in my opinion, enough reasons to take the plunge if you haven't already or have a more considered approach on the platform.

What does a WhatsApp marketing strategy look like?It's not that much different to your other platform, in honesty!

Decide what you want from it – What's the goal/objective?
Decide where in your funnel you should be using WhatsApp. (Tip: Use it at the points where you know people are taking longer to move through.)
Consider who exactly you want to be talking to over the platform. As with everything else, success will come down to targeting.
Build your platform – you have the option of a regular WhatsApp number or using a Business account. I would suggest the latter as you'll be able to use out of office messages and get some insights into how you're performing. There's nothing wrong with using a regular account per see, but as your WhatsApp strategy starts to pay off, I promise you you'll start to get frustrated with the many many notifications that will come your way!
Build your contacts! Traditionally, your social media marketing strategy would include building your email list – now we want numbers too, so go back to the things you're already doing and add a way of capturing numbers now too.

Three WhatsApp Tactics You Should Be Using1. Groups 2. Broadcast Lists 3. Status Updates

WhatsApp groupsWhatsApp groups are limited when it comes to member numbers to just over 1000. Think of it as a big group chat with admins who can control who is in the group and moderate conversation, and regular members who can post and engage in conversation. Groups are created around shared interests, and the best examples of these are designed as safe spaces for professionals to share best practice.

Broadcast listsBroadcast lists allow you to write one message and send it to multiple contacts at once, delivering a 121 message experience. It's like doing a mailshot – only it's a WhatsAppShot! This is great for offers or reminders to people who have already signed up for an event. Use them wisely, and don't overdo it – my advice is to send broadcasts that are high value – Think what's in it for them.

Status updatesDid you know you have the option of adding a WhatsApp status? Think of it as a Stories feature on WhatsApp. You add text, images or short video updates that can be viewed by your contacts. I have to admit I don't use this often myself – but I should be!

So… remember at the beginning I asked you two questions? Are you using WhatsApp, and are you using WhatsApp to market your brand? You might have said no to the latter when you started reading, and now you're thinking, ‘actually, yes I do!'. If that's the case, consider the things I've said above, and with a renewed mindset, see what results you can now get from WhatsApp!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest updates to Twitter, Tiktok collaborating with Mercedes, changes to Instagram and Meta's version of the blue tick verification.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 143 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Over the past few weeks, I have been feeling as if I am getting nowhere fast, not getting things done that I needed to, and at the end of each day feeling tired, frustrated and a bit of a failure, if I’m honest. I felt as if I had lost my ‘mojo’ a bit!

Extrovert or Introvert?Don’t get me wrong, our business is doing well, I love my job in recruitment, and all the fundamentals have got my full attention, but other projects, networking and some of my planning have gone out of the window for some reason! I put it down to a lot going on at home at the moment, then, a couple of weeks ago, at a fabulous women’s networking meeting I have been part of for many years, the presenter talked to us about energy, and a pair of psychological preferences called Extroversion and Introversion. If you have heard of the Myers Brigg Type Indicator, then you may already know what I am talking about.

Now I learnt that I am introvert in type, which doesn’t mean that I am shy or reclusive; in fact, I enjoy presenting to large groups and guest speaking, but it does influence where I get and how I use my energy.

Let me explain!In psychology, Extroversion and Introversion explain different attitudes people use to direct their energy. We all have times when we are more introverted than extroverted and vice versa.

If you are naturally extroverted, your energy builds as your day progresses and as you start interacting with others. Attending events or meetings and having a lot of different activities going on helps your energy levels rise. You love meeting people, being right at the heart of what’s going on and talking about your ideas as they come into your head. Introverts, on the other hand, get their energy from being alone with their ideas or being with just one or two people, and start the day full of energy after a restful, thoughtful evening. As the day goes on, they start to use up their energy as they work with larger groups, attend meetings and get involved in activities such as networking or even enjoying social events. By the end of the day, they are spent, whilst the extroverts amongst us are ready to carry on the party!

Knowing this explained a lot! So, I have been making some changes to ensure my energy stays high throughout the day and that I fully recharge before the start of the next one.

Self-ReflectionKnowing what drains your energy is key, so think about a day that went well, one where your energy lasted all day. Keeping a journal can help to remember those sorts of days and also pinpoint any weaknesses – times where your energy was zapped much sooner than you wanted it to be. I am a morning person, there is no doubt about that, and so for me, scheduling meetings and networking for the morning whenever possible has made a big difference. I have got back to my normal habit of planning ahead – writing a list is no bad thing – I love lists!

Having “recharge” time built into my diary has also really helped. If I have a really full day planned, for example, a day conference, or a whole morning of networking, making sure I have prepared and have some relevant things in my mind to talk about stops me having to do as much on the spot thinking – something that as an introvert type drains my energy quickly. I also make sure I get out for a walk in the fresh air during the day, even if it’s for ten minutes or so. That gives me time to recharge my batteries a little. I also resist the urge to work late into the evening. It’s easy to try and catch up on things you might ordinarily be doing back at the office, but plan for that and build those tasks into your schedule for another day.

Some Tips for ExtrovertsIn meetings and at networking events, make sure you listen to others. Try and assess people’s communication style so that you can adapt and tone down your natural extraverted approach as needed. Speak to people one at a time if you can so that you can focus on the person who is speaking to you, and try to avoid interrupting. Use your personality to get to know people and engage quieter introverts. Understand that some people need to think and reflect on things, and allowing comfortable pauses will give people time to respond.

Remember, there is no right or wrong – some of us are just more Extrovert or Introvert, and to perform at your best it’s about recognising which one you are and getting back in control of how you fill up with energy and the way that you expend it.

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Instagram changes, updates to TikTok, the latest on ChatGPT, Google Bard and Bing AI, and content writing for clients.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 142 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Tuesday, 21 February 2023, 19.30 – 21.00 GMTYou’re probably using social media with the intention of driving leads into your business; one of the best ways to do this is to create high-value assets in the form of a lead magnet. The problem for many, however, is not only what form that lead magnet will take but also how to stand out from the crowd by delivering something different!

To find out more, join Christina on this FREE online event!

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The last couple of weeks has to go down as being record-breaking when it comes to the number of new business conversations I've been having! One of the things I love about these kinds of conversations is that it often flags up topics that I need to write about in order to A: feed the Google algorithm and B: create some content we own here at GU that can be shared across our social media channels. There's usually a specific topic – something niche but this week, I've been hearing all kinds of things that are all specific signals that explain just why these businesses have failed to get results from their social media efforts.

The crazy thing is they all map directly into seven categories. The exact seven categories that are in my Marketing Mastery Framework! Now obviously, I reckon I'm pretty good at what I do, I've been at it a while (5 times longer than any job I've had before, in fact!), and I like to think I pay attention and get things right more often than not but it's still surprising when things are, well… let's use the word congruent!

Why social media fails to bring in business…So what are these signals? The seven ‘things' that are stopping businesses (that may well look just like your own business) from getting results from social media?

Marketing Mindset – Or rather, a lack of it!I'm always going on about the need to get in the heads of your prospects but if you're not ready to seize the day yourself, I'm sorry, but your content just isn't going to land! You'll always be holding back and not quite serving your audience in the way you should. What's stopping you? A lack of self-belief? Imposter syndrome, perhaps? if you're not flying your flag – why would anyone else fly it for you? Getting your head in the game has often been the turning point for my mentorship clients when it comes to getting results!

Targeting… Everyone!I have sent our ideal client guide to so many people this week with the instruction, “Here… read it, print it off and do it!” If you describe your ideal client as “Everyone who…” you are not really being targeted enough. Get specific about who you are writing each and every social media post. If you target everyone – you'll reach no one.

Structure? What structure!Have you ever met a marketer that didn't say consistency was key to success? Nope, I didn't think so! If you have no structure and no plan, how will you ever be consistent? A common conversation goes, “we don't get anything from LinkedIn!” I then look at LinkedIn and say, “Um… doesn't look like you've posted for a few months?” Only to get the response, “Yep, well, things are busy and so I don't get time for it.” Being on a social media platform is not the same as being active! Being active is what brings results, my friends!

Cool story, bro… needs more dragonsStories sell. That isn't breaking news, FYI! We have to be able to tell a story through our content, whether it's a single post or a story that's communicated across the whole of your presence. Let's be honest, telling your personal story publicly is hard – I find it excruciatingly difficult, and it's something I'm currently working hard on myself. However, not every story we tell is a personal one. There are the little stories of client wins, of what happened in the office – the fly-on-the-wall stories that we should be telling that let our audiences get to know us on a deeper level and offer an element of transparency. They're the stories we can tell each and every day that will bring business.

Your execution sucksNot yours literally! I'm suddenly aware I might offend someone! I was researching some client completion to get a feel for the market, and WOW. There are a bunch of ways to approach social media when it comes to executing a strategy, tools to help you with ideation, and tools to help you with automation. Please, please be careful what you use and how you use it. Protect your brand always and ensure there's a human check somewhere along the way – 100% reliance on tech is not the best strategy here!

Interesting I just used the word strategy there – that's another thing; I often see people getting frustrated with a lack of results because they've developed the perfect strategy but they've neglected to break that down into a specific tactical and repeatable plan. You can't have one without the other, and one won't work without the other!

You're lacking lead generation because you have no way to generate leads!“What does a lead look like to you?” I love asking that question! Sometimes the answer describes a persona. Simple, I can do a quick search on LinkedIn, turn the screen around and show you a list of 1000s of leads! Sometimes the answer is that a lead looks like contact details, name, email, and phone number. That's cool, but what mechanism do we have in place to capture this? How does that mechanism help qualify those leads? If we don't have a way to generate leads that match our definition of a lead… then we're marketing for the purposes of brand awareness, not lead generation, and should not get frustrated about a lack of results!

It's not that you're not driving business – you just don't know where you're benefitting!Measuring things from a social media perspective is like mission impossible. When it's really working for you you're too busy to worry about reach and impressions and all those vanity metrics you obsessed over to begin with! Many business owners are measuring success by looking for someone saying they've been in contact because they saw a Facebook post. That rarely happens, I'm afraid, so we need to measure in different ways. I would love to give you a specific here but each and every business is different and that will really come down to a 121 conversation or you'll have to hang out with me at the Marketing mastery academy or join the Catalyst program, I'm afraid. (Oof… that was a subtle plug, wasn't it!)

I have written so many articles over the years on each of these topics it's unreal! Just take one of these points and do a search on this site, and you'll see them! Unfortunately, whether I describe these things as deadly sins or just bad habits, my view is they're unlikely to ever go away in full. We all get caught up and busy in what we love doing and if marketing isn't that for you, then you're always going to be in danger of falling foul to one of the above signals… unless you get someone or something on your team who loves it!

And, of course, if you're still reading, you know I'd love that something to be team GU!

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Marketing Mastery CatalystAre you ready to learn the exact framework that will allow you to create a marketing presence that stands out, impacts, and influences, whether you are online, offline, face to face, one to one, or one to many?

Marketing Mastery Catalyst - Starting March 2023£2497 + Vat £497 + vat* 8 week Programme Delivering The Marketing Mastery Framework * 8 Modules Delivered In A Dedicated Learning Hub * 8 Live Group Sessions Hosted By Christina Pay in Full NowOne payment of £497 + VAT

Pay Now in FullPay in InstallmentsTwo payments of £357 (£595 + VAT)

Pay in installmentsOver a period of 8 weeks, you will learn the art of implementing a marketing strategy that works so you can generate more leads and more revenue for your business. Delivered online with both pre-recorded and live sessions, you will be expected to start implementing what you’re learning right from week one.

Multi-Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Marketer, Public Speaker and Podcaster Christina Robinson will guide you through the exact framework that has helped her generate multiple 6 and 7-Figure revenues for Green Umbrella as well as those of her students, clients and mentees.

Week 1: ‌Get your head in the marketing gameWe'll look at the mindset you need to make sure you are ready to engage in marketing your business without the typical blocks we see that stop business owners in their tracks! We'll also look at the mindset of the people you're trying to reach and how they receive messages before moving on to identifying profitable audiences you should be targeting.

WEEK 2 : Ensure you're working with solid foundationsWhat channels are you using? What should you be using? Are there any you should ditch!?! Have you got things set up correctly? We'll cover all of this in this module.

WEEK 3 : Create and perfect your brand and message What are you communicating, and how are you communicating? We'll address this by looking at your message and how you are positioning your brand.

WEEK 4 : Online marketing strategies that workWe'll share the strategies that we know will work - you'll understand how to tweak and implement these, so they work for your business.

WEEK 5 : Work on your content planNever get caught out again with blank-page-itis! We'll give you everything you need to devise a content plan that keeps you creating with minimal effort.

WEEK 6: Implementation Week This is the week to catch up with everything you've learned but have perhaps got stuck implementing.

WEEK 7 : Create a system for generating Leads Now you're up and running and building your audience, it's time to put mechanisms in place to ensure we're taking leads from your platforms and into your CRM, where you can monitor and convert them.

WEEK 8 : Understand how to measure results and ROIEverything you have learned over the past seven modules is worthless if it isn't driving tangible results - you need to know what to measure and what to do with that data to improve things.

Pay in Full NowOne payment of £497 + VAT

Pay Now in FullPay in InstallmentsTwo payments of £357 (£595 + VAT)

Pay in installments“For the last 18 months, Christina has helped our business with our digital marketing. She is extremely efficient, highly organised and full of good ideas. We love working with her and find her coaching sessions particularly helpful.

I cannot recommend her and the team at Green Umbrella enough. She has made a huge difference to our business and has become an extremely important part of Susan Rose China.”

Susan RoseOwner, Susan Rose China

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Instagram updates, some we like, some we hate, new buy-by-the-hour masthead adverts on Youtube, and all the latest releases and legal pitfalls with AI.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 141 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Dear Nicole,

I’ve been hearing a lot about Chat GPT but not sure I fully understand what it is and what it does. I own a recruitment business and from what I’ve seen I feel it could be a useful tool but before I go ahead with Chat GPT I thought it was worth asking you what it is and it’s probably many useful features. Can you help?

Steve, Yorkshire

Dear Steve,

Firstly, what a fantastic question; it’s always good to do the research on these things before jumping ahead - seeing if it’s useful and how it can benefit you. You are not wrong about hearing lots about Chat GPT - I think it could be the next big thing that many use to support their businesses, etc. So, let’s get started; I’ve looked into this for you and summarised the main key points you need to know.

Chat GPT was created by Open AI and is an AI-based chatbot program that people use to generate dialogues using Natural Language Processing. The source of its data is textbooks, websites and various articles, which it uses its own language for responding to human interaction.

Chat GPT’s main features are writing code, articles, stories or poems, translating and debugging. To carry out one of these demands, all you need to do is type the key phrases into the chatbot.

To register with Chat GPT, you can use one of your existing email or mobile number via Open AI. And the final thing you are probably wondering is, is it free? As it currently stands, you can use the Chat GPT chatbot for free straight from Open AI’s website. But there is also a paid version, which costs around $20 per month, but this is only available in the US currently. If you are interested it’s probably worth testing it out now as you don’t not how long until this becomes a viral sensation, and in the future, we might find it is no longer a free tool.

I hope you found this useful, Steve and I'm interested to hear your thoughts on what you think of Chat GPT after this summary, if you use it and if so, how you found your experience.

Nicole

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Twitter changes, all the AI and ChatGPT news, Instagram's new app and Snapchat updates.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 140 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to the new online version of the Social Snippet!Each month you will find the latest news and updates in the world of Social Media and Online Marketing that have caught the GU Team's eye!

TikTok Quietly Expands Direct MessagingSome users have received emails this week (w/c 23rd Jan) to highlight changes made in November 2022 regarding the expansion of direct messages. By doing this, the platform can compete with the likes of Instagram to keep users spending more time in their app.

Source: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/tiktok-expands-direct-messaging-twitch-pens-letter-to-creators

900 Million Members - WOW!LinkedIn has again reported record levels of in-app engagement in the most recent quarter...900 million members. Just let that sink in. 900 million members! LinkedIn sessions also rose by a whopping 18% and revenue by an impressive 10% and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

Source: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/LinkedIn-Up-To-900-Million-Members-Record-Engagement/641215/

YOUTUBE ADDS NEW ANALYTICS WITH A FOCUS ON ‘SHORTS’ The analytics updates include new data on subscriber growth, ‘Shorts’ thumbnails and new subscriber recognition options. The new element to YouTube Studio is to display a breakdown of subscribers gained by each content type to help explain the video performance

For more information on updates to YouTube analytics, click here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-adds-new-analytics-updates-with-a-focus-on-shorts-content/640194/

META QUEST INTRODUCING NEW ‘TRACK YOUR FITNESS FEATURE’* New heart rate monitoring feature and Health Connect by Android makes tracking your fitness easier * With the immersive virtual reality (VR) fitness apps on Meta Quest, users can break a sweat whenever and wherever they want. * Users can attend immersive VR classes and download apps to participate in their favourite sports including boxing, basketball and tennis.

To learn about the ‘track your fitness feature’, click here: https://about.fb.com/news/2023/01/track-fitness-stats-on-quest-heart-rate-monitoring-android-integration/

Have you heard of the new social media app 'Gas'?Discord announced the rise of 'Gas', which enables teens to send anonymous compliments to their friends or people in their circle. All you have to do is sign up, join your school and then participate in positive polls and activities with the rest of your classmates. The main thing you need to know is this is a positive app ONLY!

Now, this app might not be hugely relevant from a social media marketing perspective, but it's definitely worth noting and getting ahead with all you need to know about the app, as you never know where it could go.

Could this be a new take on changing negativity within the digital world?

For more information, check out this Social Media Today Article here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/Discord-Acquires-Teen-App-Gas/640574/

New profile pic, who dis?Instagram has updated the app, merging users into its own metaverse experience with a new feature that lets you add an alternative avatar profile photo, which can be flipped to view.

You might have already seen the app promoting the use of avatars in more places; for example, commenting on someone's story using your own avatar reaction, etc. This is to encourage people to create their very own avatars.

The question is, will you be jumping on this new feature and creating your own avatar?

Check out what the new update looks like right here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/Instagram-Adds-Avatar-Profile-Photos/641095/

ChatGPT Pro is launchedWe've spoken a lot on Live Lunch over the past month about AI and, in particular, ChatGPT. The new ChatGPT Pro offers faster speeds, reliable access, and priority to new features for $42/mo. Currently in the early access phase, though, so not yet widely available.

To find out more, visit: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/chatgpt-pro-early-access-users-share-their-thoughts/477073/

Yoast introduces major interface changesPopular WordPress SEO plugin Yoast has released version 20.0 with major changes to the interface.

The new version of Yoast does away with previous method of users having to click on multiple tabs to access pages with numerous choices in favour of a more sleek, card style system.

To find out more visit: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/yoast-seo-20/477153/

Facebook Creator Studio shuts down, rebrands as Meta Business SuiteMeta is in the process of shutting down its Facebook Creator Studio in a move that will see its offerings become more streamlined.

We think this is a good move from Meta, as it feels a bit disjointed at the moment, so having page admin tools, analytics, content creation, and scheduling all in one place will make management and reporting a lot easier.

Read more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/facebook-creator-studio-shuts-down-rebrands-as-meta-business-suite

LinkedIn Looks to Boost Newsletter Discovery by Showcasing Which Newsletters Users are Subscribed toLinkedIn’s looking to make it easier to find relevant newsletters in your niche, by adding a new option that will enable members to view what newsletters another member is subscribed to in the app.

We think this is a useful addition because it’s not always easy to know what newsletters exist, so being able to see what your connections are subscribed to will make it much easier to find relevant content.

Read more here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/LinkedIn-Adds-Newsletter-Subscription-Info-on-Profiles/640992/

The post Social Snippet February 2023 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Here at Green Umbrella, we are coming back into events season, with one of our main events that we exhibit at – Recruitment Agency Expo - coming up in March. Shows and exhibitions are a great way to get your product or service in front of potential customers and business partners. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, make sure that you’re ready for an exhibition that will leave a lasting impression on your target audience and be beneficial to your business, so plan ahead and maximise your exhibition presence!

Preparing for an exhibition: What to Consider?When you’re preparing for an exhibition or trade show, there are several things that you need to consider. First, you need to ask yourself what your goals are. Are you looking to generate leads? Are you hoping to build brand awareness? Or are you looking to showcase a particular product or service? Once you’ve answered these questions, you can start to plan your exhibition stand accordingly.

What type of stand will you be having? Do you need to book furniture or power sockets? What about marketing collateral like brochures, leaflets, business cards, and promotional items? Do you need to have laptops, tablets or screens to showcase products or services? How are you going to record leads? Larger exhibitions may have things like badge scanning to help you record everyone who visits your stand or for smaller events, you might go down the “old fashioned” route of collecting business cards or simply writing down contact details.

Finally, you need to think about how you’re going to staff your exhibition stand. Are you going to need a team of people to manage the stand, or will one person be enough? It’s important to make sure that whoever you choose is trained in customer service and can answer any questions that your visitors may have.

Create a checklist to ensure your exhibition runs smoothly and to ensure you have enough time to plan what you need to do and implement beforehand. If you are working with a team, you should also include a list of tasks for each team member - thinking about what will be happening before, during and after the event.

Designing Your Exhibition StandWhen it comes to designing your exhibition stand, there are several things to consider. First, you need to think about the overall look and feel of the stand. Do you need to have a bespoke stand designed, or will you be using more modular components such as roller banners and fabric stands? When it comes to the actual design, ensure your message and branding are clear and impactful – you need to stand out in a crowded space!

Once you’ve decided on the overall look and feel of the stand, you need to think about the layout of the space itself. Where and how will you display any leaflets, brochures or giveaways? How will you arrange any furniture? It’s important to think about how you will be interacting with your visitors, so make it engaging and inviting – don’t just sit behind a table and expect people to come to you!

Printed marketing colateralLeaflets, brochures and business cards are essential for any exhibition or trade show...make sure they are well-designed, eye-catching and, of course, on-brand!

Leaflets or flyers should include information about your product, service or special offer, as well as contact information and, of course, a call to action. Be specific about what you want people to do – Do you want them to call you? Visit a web address? Sign up for a webinar? Maybe think about using QR codes as well so that people can take action there and then or adding a shaped cut out to make them stand out!

The humble business card can still be an important part of your exhibition toolkit. They should include all your key contact information and a brief description of your product or service. It’s important to make sure that your business cards are professional and memorable, as they could be the first and last thing a potential client will see of you and your brand. Again, you can think about the use of QR codes for such things as directing prospects to your LinkedIn profile so they can connect with you.

Giveaways and Promotional ItemsGiveaways and promotional items are a great way to engage with your visitors and generate leads by encouraging people to visit your stand. When choosing giveaways and promotional items, make sure it’s something memorable or useful that will get your brand noticed.

Sometimes you might be able to tie in the giveaway to a theme associated with the event. For example, last year at the TEAM Conference, there was a festival theme, so we had bright green sunglasses as our giveaway – perfect for the festival-themed evening dinner as well as perhaps hiding away with a sore head the morning after!

We even managed to persuade keynote speaker, Rugby Referee Nigel Owens to grab a pair of GU sunnies and pose for a pic!

Staff and trainingWhen you’re preparing for a trade show, it’s important to make sure that your staff are trained and ready to go. Make sure that all of your team are knowledgeable about your product or service and are able to answer any questions that your visitors may have. It’s also important to make sure that your staff are friendly and approachable. This will ensure that your visitors feel comfortable and are more likely to engage with you on your stand.

Planning For After the ShowOnce the show is over, it’s important to plan for what comes next. Make sure that you have a system in place for collecting leads and contact information and ensure that you follow up with your visitors in a timely manner to maximise your leads and opportunities.

Plan ahead and maximise your exhibition presence!Preparing for a trade show or exhibition can seem daunting, but if you take the time to plan ahead, you can ensure that your exhibition or trade show is a successful one!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Instagram updates, changes to Yoast, the latest in the AI world and Twitter.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 139 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week the team talked about the latest Twitter news and updates, the new Gas platform, design trends for 2023 and Facebook stars.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 138 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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How much is too much on social media? I’m often asked if it’s possible to post too much on social media. Does it affect algorithms? Does it impact reach? Won’t you just annoy people by posting too often? The questions comes in a variety of guises, but essentially, what people are really asking me is how often they should be posting or what’s the maximum they should set.

How to keep social media socialImagine you’re in conversation with someone at a business networking event. If they’re constantly talking and don’t let you get a word in edgeways. If they don’t actively listen to you. If they only talk about themselves or their business… well, you’d probably look for the nearest exit opportunity wouldn’t you? Or, try and send some ‘save me’ signals to any partners in crime who might be in the room with you! Just because it’s online – doesn’t mean it’s any different. Be careful not to overshare or post for posting’s sake. Every piece of content you share, every update should have purpose, meaning and/or value.

Posting cadence and the algorithmsIt is true that if you don’t post enough you may get penalised in some social algorithms – however, posting too often can also see your reach suffer. There’s lots of guidance out there, lots of data that suggests a set figure. However, there are a huge range of markers that can affect optimal posting cadence. How big your audience is, and how engaged they are with you, how aggressive your paid social advertising strategy is and the budget or targeting options you are using. Also, your audience in terms of sector or geography can have an effect, and finally, how committed your interaction and engagement strategy is.

My advice, split test and see for yourself. Make sure you post or tweet an update daily, five days out of seven in the first instance, then increase this and monitor the changes in your reach.

I’d suggest starting with the following:

· Facebook – 1 per day, rising to a maximum 4 a day

· Twitter – 2 per day, rising to a maximum 8 per day

· Instagram – 1 post per day, rising to a maximum 3 per day

· Instagram Stories – 1 per day, rising to a maximum of 6 per day

· LinkedIn Company Page – 1 per day, rising to a max of 10 per week

· LinkedIn Personal profile – 1 per day, rising to a max of 10 per week (Posts you share from other individuals or companies are included in this number)

Feel free to test posting less often too – especially on LinkedIn. For users with smaller networks, especially (500 or less) keeping posts to a max of 3 or 4 a week may yield better results. With that in mind, make it part of your strategy to test and test again as your audience grows. How often you post when you have 500 likes versus when you have 5000 may also see a need to change your posting cadence.

There’s more to social media than just posting updates – Interaction and engagement strategy There is so much more to running a social media channel than just simply posting and tweeting! You should be going out and engaging with other members of the online community too.

As a Facebook page, you can engage with other pages. So head to the pages with larger audiences and find the posts that you can see have gained attention – then say something! Join the conversation.

On Twitter and Instagram, you can engage with all users irrespective of whether they are individuals or businesses, so again use this opportunity. Look for the hashtags and engage with relevant content that will also be attracting your audience. Be part of the community!

On LinkedIn as an individual, you have the biggest opportunity – discussions are business-orientated, and there is always something going on in every industry. Whether it’s IR35 in the contractor market, HMRC changes relating to Tax, mergers and acquisitions or the latest innovations – there will be something you can make a valuable comment on or something you can share with your audience to ask for their opinions on!

It’s a bit trickier on LinkedIn company pages to reach out in honesty, but over the last year we’ve been given a voice, and I can only imagine further opportunity to be in the pipeline on that front. (Especially when social media trends are leaning towards more 121 communications and use of ephemeral content!).

SO how often should you post? Unless I’m running your accounts – I can’t tell you with 100% confidence, but I can show you and help you find out what your cadence should be!

The post How do I know if I’m Posting too Often on Social Media? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest Twitter updates, Changes to Meta, including notifications, business suite and VR, AI tools and ChatGPT and some stats for 2022.

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 137 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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This virtual event will help recruitment marketers focus their time, energy, and resources on the activities that really make a difference.

Over an afternoon of fast-paced, and content-rich sessions, you’ll hear from innovative marketing experts and insightful marketing thought leaders. This event will help you make more effective decisions, maximise opportunities, and more accurately measure success within your business.

If you are buying a number of tickets for your team we will happily invoice you. Email louise@ukrecruiter.co.uk

Recruitment Marketing Congress
23rd February 2023
12.30 pm to 5.30 pm

Tickets £80+VAT (£96)

Early Bird Tickets – available until 21 Jan. Use promo code “EarlyBird” to get 15% off

Agenda* Building and refining your Recruitment Marketing strategy (panel session with Q&A) * Automation (& building your tech stack) * Channel focus masterclass – LinkedIn * Create Content that converts – Email, Video & Audio * Channel focus masterclass – the usual suspects; Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube * SEO for Recruitment * Channel focus masterclass – “new” channels; Snapchat, Tiktok and whatever is NEW! * Advertising online – Paid Search, Paid Social & Sponsored Ads * Reporting and ROI * Future of Recruitment Marketing and trends (panel session with Q&A)

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Dear Nicole,

I run a recruitment business, and I’ll be honest, I’m not very ‘tech savvy’. Social media is still a bit of a mystery to me, but I’m getting more to grips with it as time goes on. I’m currently active on LinkedIn and Facebook, but I keep seeing lots of stuff about Twitter. Do you think it’s worth setting up an account on Twitter? What are the benefits?

John, Southampton

Dear John,

It’s great to hear you are expanding into the world of social media, and your confidence with it is beginning to grow. The fact you have business pages or an online presence on Facebook and LinkedIn is fantastic and something to be proud of within itself, but your question about Twitter is brilliant. So, the question is, is Twitter worth using? I’ve done some research, and I’ve collected four advantages to using Twitter to represent your online brand for you to go away and have a think about. Let’s get started!

Is Your Audience on Twitter - Part of choosing which social media platforms you’ll invest time and effort into is knowing where your audience spends the most time online. If your audience is on Twitter, there is a potential market opportunity there for you!
There Are a Variety of Ways to Create Twitter Content - One of the advantages of Twitter is that we get to experiment with how we share content on the platform. Whatever you are comfortable with, roll with it!
The Networking Is Incredible - You never know when you’ll make a new friend or land your next client. Not only that, but they are fantastic opportunities to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, through Twitter.
You’ll Easily Discover What Everyone is Talking About - Twitter’s trending topics make it easy to see what’s going on in the world and what everyone is discussing at that moment. Also, by using Twitter's Advanced Search, you can dig even deeper to find the conversations they’re having, which means there are opportunities for you to engage and make those connections.

I hope this was of use, John - I’ll keep an eye out for your Twitter account. Good Luck!

Nicole

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AI CopywritingIf you're in marketing, or it's a subject that you are keeping updated on, you will have probably heard plenty of excited chatter about a tool called Chat GPT, which launched in the autumn of 2023. It's an AI tool that can offer a whole host of things, including copywriting. Now, it's not the first time a tool has been built that allows AI to write copy for you, and it won't be the last. However, this tool in itself offers something that I've not found before. It's an excellent sounding board if you're a lone marketer in your business!

What do you need to know about AI Copywriting tools…You know what – how about I ask Chat GPT to explain this for you…

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant advances in recent years, and one area where it has shown a lot of promise is in the field of copywriting. AI copywriters use machine learning algorithms to generate high-quality, engaging content that is designed to appeal to a specific audience.

There are many AI copywriting tools on the market today, so it can be tough to determine which ones are the best. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the top AI copywriters, including Copy.ai and Chat GPT.

Copy.ai: This AI copywriting platform uses advanced machine learning algorithms to generate unique, high-quality content on a wide range of topics. It is particularly useful for creating SEO-friendly content that is designed to rank well in search engines.
Chat GPT: Developed by OpenAI, Chat GPT is a powerful AI copywriting tool that can generate personalized content for a variety of purposes, including social media posts, emails, and marketing materials. It is known for its ability to generate content that is tailored to specific audiences.
Articoolo: This AI copywriting platform uses machine learning algorithms to generate unique, high-quality content on a wide range of topics. It is particularly useful for creating SEO-friendly content that is designed to rank well in search engines.
Wordsmith: Developed by Automated Insights, Wordsmith is a powerful AI copywriting tool that can generate content for a variety of purposes, including social media posts, emails, and marketing materials. It is known for its ability to generate personalized content that is tailored to specific audiences.
Persado: This AI copywriting platform uses machine learning algorithms to analyze the language and emotions of your target audience and generate copy that is designed to maximize engagement. It has been used by some of the world's biggest brands, including eBay and Expedia. Overall, these are some of the best AI copywriters on the market today. They use advanced machine learning algorithms to generate high-quality, engaging content that is designed to appeal to a specific audience. Whether you are looking to create content for your website, social media, or marketing materials, these AI copywriters can help you get the job done.

How can I use AI copywriting tools in my business?There are a few do's and dont's…

DO – Upload copy you've written asking the tool to suggest improvements. The tools will essentially rewrite the copy for you, reflecting tone, etc., so you'll need to pay attention to see what's been omitted or detailed further.

DO NOT – Ask the tool to write something and use it in a copy/paste fashion. Edit the content to ensure your tone is present and that you have included your opinion. This is what makes your content unique – you and your voice.

DO – Ask the tool to write paragraphs on topics that are more technical or that are more research-based to save time. However, anything you're not sure of should still be fact-checked.

DO NOT – Assume you have copyright over anything you use from an AI writing tool. This is one of those things that I'm sure will come up in the future especially given that a lot of these tools offer free or freemium options.

DO – Use these tools as an assistant. Remember that things like Chat GPT are conversational. You can ask questions. For example, I could add this blog and ask what tone is this written in? How can I make this blog more engaging? What calls to action could I use for this article? etc.

If you can promise to use these AI tools as something that makes you more efficient but not something that takes over as your voice when it comes to your marketing activities, I'd say go for it! However, that is going to be tricky for many as the temptation will be high to just hit copy/paste. There is no replacement for human connection; however smart artificial intelligence gets! Your thoughts and opinions are still yours, and that's what people want to see and hear from you so that they may build trust and ultimately buy from you.

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This time, the team were joined by special guest Julie Fitzpatrick. Julie is a Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT), Hypnotherapist, Master NLP Coach, and the Founder of Millieside Therapy and Coaching. Julie’s mission is to support women to become unstoppable in the prime of their lives so that they can find their true purpose and passion, without being fearful of making life changes.

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Welcome to the new online version of the Social Snippet!Each month you will find the latest news and updates in the world of Social Media and Online Marketing that have caught the GU Team's eye!

WHATSAPP ROLLS OUT ‘MESSAGE YOURSELF’ FEATUREWhatsApp has officially rolled out a feature that allows users to message themselves after being tested since October. This will enable users to send themselves notes, links, appointments, voice notes and general messages meaning you always have a log of relevant information for yourself.

Here at Green Umbrella, we think this will be especially useful for logging information for yourself that you are likely to forget. For example, recording a voice message for yourself after a meeting of action points.

For more information, click here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/whatsapps-adding-a-new-option-to-send-a-message-to-yourself/637426/

YOUNGER USERS USING TIKTOK FOR ADVICE ON HEALTH TOPICS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTA large proportion of young users on TikTok are searching mental health for support and advice, but is the information being monitored?

A survey was carried out of 500 videos supposedly offering viewers support and advice, however, the findings highlighted that:

83.7% of the information was misleading
14.2% of the content was potentially damaging
Only 9% of people offering advice had relevant qualifications.

To learn more about the survey, click here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/how-accurate-is-mental-health-advice-on-tiktok-infographic/637540/

AI will officially be having a much bigger influence over online communication in 2023...in many good ways but also in bad ways.

It is an exciting time for what AI has in store for us, and living in such a tech world as we know it, this is going to be a huge development on what we already know. Our brains are probably filled with lots of questions about how to make this work in terms of creation, engagement and interaction, and it is worth noting how these tools can be both beneficial and impactful in your digital marketing efforts.

For more info, check out this Social Media Today Article here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/AI-creation-tools-or-social-media-marketers/639247/

Have you noticed your view counts on Twitter?The majority of people have noticed this, and there doesn't seem to be many fans, especially with the way that it is displayed on a Tweet!

It has been bought to Elon Musk's attention, who has openly admitted to not being a fan himself, saying, "it's not great'.

But not to fear, the improvements are here...well, in testing currently, for an updated Tweet view format.

Check out what the new update could look like right here: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/twitter-tests-updated-format-for-tweet-view-count-display/639470/

Twitter Rolls Out 3 New Ways To AdvertiseTwitter rolls out new ad units that allow businesses to optimise campaigns for website clicks and sales. While we don't really use Twitter Ads ourselves at the moment, I do have a lot of contacts that this could be really useful for.

Twitter’s new ad products include:

Website Conversions Optimisation
Dynamic Product Ads
Collection Ads

To find out more visit: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/twitter-rolls-out-3-new-ways-to-advertise/

Google reveals its year in search for 2022Google has revealed its year in search for 2022 giving us insights to what has been searched for around the globe and in specific countries. There's lots of data for everything from people to news to film, but can you guess what was the most searched for word in the UK and Worldwide during 2022? Have a look on the link below.

https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2022/GB/

META ADDS INSTAGRAM AUDIENCE TARGETING FOR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM ADSMeta is introducing the ability to run ads on Facebook and Instagram that target Instagram followers. Up until now, advertisers have been able to create custom audiences of their Facebook followers but not their Instagram audience, which has limited a lot of brands whose main audiences are Instagram based.

At Green Umbrella, we think this will be a very welcome update that will enable us to offer our clients better, more detailed targeting options when we run ads for them that are aimed at the demographic of their Instagram followers or at people with similar interests to them.

To find out more, visit this link: https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/Meta-Adds-Instagram-Audience-Targeting-for-Ads/638249/

SNAPCHAT’S NEW AR FEATURES WILL ALLOW CREATORS TO MAKE MONEYAt its annual Lens Fest event, Snapchat announced that it is experimenting with a small group of AR creators and developers to build Lenses with digital goods that can be purchased with Snap Tokens. These will include things like in-game items, upgraded lens control, Power-ups, etc.

Snapchat is one of those platforms that often gets forgotten among the bigger players, but in terms of R&D, they are well ahead of the game, and here at Green Umbrella, we are always excited to see what they will roll out next, as where they lead, the other platforms will surely follow.

Find out more here: https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/7/23496982/snapchat-ar-lens-purchases-creator-monetization-lensfest

TikTok tests full width display videos to maximise engagementTikTok are testing and rolling out other ways to share content in an effort to keep users from drifting to other platforms. The latest update is full width video, much like YouTube. Other updates include:

Still image carousel posts, similar to Instagram’s main feed post tools
Longer video uploads, bringing it more into line with YouTube’s posting options
‘TikTok Now’, which replicates the BeReal style approach to posting

Find out more at https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/TikTok-Tests-Horizontal-Full-Width-Video-Display/638786/

“Why am I seeing this?” – now TikTok will tell you why certain content appears in your FYP (For You Page)The new tool will provide an insight into some of the potential reasons that guide it’s algorithm decisions. To find this feature, simply:

Hit ‘Share’ > ‘Why This Video’ > here you’ll see why.

Reasons include where the video is popular, because who you follow also likes it, and many more.

For more info, visit https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/TikTok-Adds-Algorithm-Explainer-Notes-on-Clips/639230/

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What have you got planned for next year? I have been asked this question so many times in the last few weeks – And I'm sure you have too! For those who have been part of the Green Umbrella tribe for some time, you'll be expecting the annual article where I lay out our goals for the year in public. Some of you tell me it's inspiring to read, some say they love the transparency. There are even a few of you who have started the same tradition in your own businesses! It will be interesting to see what the response is this year for sure!

“2022 – The year it all comes together”

That was the title of last year's blog. On reflection, I feel good about what I set out to do. We'd had a crazy 2021 with lots of creating going on and this year was about ensuring what we'd built was solid. We absolutely needed that, and as we enter the end of the year with talks of economic situations making the next couple of years tough for many businesses, I'm glad this was the path we took!

When I look through the goals I set, the objectives and individual tasks, there really isn't much that didn't happen in one form or another. There are a few things that got struck off the list because successes meant they were no longer necessary, or there was a change in strategy that made those tasks redundant. The core things all happened, which I'm delighted about!

What did we achieve in 2022?“The team will be showcased more, you'll see them across our social media activity, and you'll hear from them more…” The team essentially run live lunch without me; when we head to events, the team come and has their own networks because of the visibility they've embraced.

One of the goals was to ensure we lived by our values – I love that the values are referenced again and again just in normal office communications. I'm delighted that when we receive feedback from clients, I can see that they've experienced our values in what they've written. Most of all, I love that the values are used as leverage when, as a team, we need to call each other out on something or push each other to accept help. Having your values on the wall is one thing – living and breathing them is quite another!

I was perhaps a little cryptic in the way I expressed some of the goals I set in last year's blog. We needed to really tighten up systems and processes and create some efficiencies to ensure we were all only working on things that were a good use of our time – especially me! This has been done – a big tick here! I think at times I've frustrated the team with the phrase, “Can we do a one-pager on that” but it has been worth it to build clarity and certainty across a bunch of things we do. In achieving this goal, we also had to make big changes to our coaching club offering. That was like turning the titanic! Mostly because of my mindset around it – it felt like my baby, and I did not want to let it go. But the plaster has well and truly come off now, and the changes have been for the better.

I needed to focus on being innovative and spending time with my peers, but not getting distracted with new shiny stuff. I feel a great big tick here! There are tons of things that I've tried and tested this year marketing-wise, and my circle of industry friends has certainly grown and strengthened. What I'm most pleased with is the fact that I really didn't start anything new and instead was able to develop and perfect so many things that were in existence already. (Or at least I didn't start anything new until the Christmas break, but that's pre-work for 2023, so it doesn't count!)

Here's the secret – the plan is there's no 2023 plan!This might be a shock to you. I have agonised over 2023 and what I want to do next; what's the big plan, the big goal? What needs to change etc. In business and in my personal life, the last few years have been huge. Personally, I nailed a goal that has been years reaching completion, and so trying to create a vision that is bigger has been overwhelmingly difficult. In talking with one of my peers, and someone who has become a friend, it became clear that my one goal right now is to enjoy the fruits of our labour! Just do more of what we've been doing but do it better. So what does that mean for team GU?

The 2022 plan was solid – it's our duty to see it completed in full.

Having been through the full breakdown of tasks, there are just over 70 things that still need to be done. Only two of these are big projects, monetising the Christina Talks Podcast and something else that I've started working on over the Christmas period that will come into fruition in Q1 2023! Many of the tasks are those 5-minute jobs that, although important, never quite make it to the top of the to-do list. These will all be completed before we reach week 12 of 2023.

I know my limits – I will not over-commit in 2023

One thing that became abundantly clear was that, as a business, I was guilty of over-committing myself, which meant I was less available for the team and, at times, let people down (externally as well as internally). I'm not proud of this, but it is an important lesson to take forward and do better.

We know what my capacity is when it comes to speaking at events, attending things that take me out of the office etc. For example, in 2022, I delivered bang on 100 speaking events. These were face to face, online, some were paid some were without a fee but for the purposes of generating leads. Repeating this again in 2023 only works if I am more organised and smarter about the events I commit to. I have a limit for how many days per month I can be out of the office in 2023. My intention is to book no more than 100 speaker opportunities this year but to have reached a wider audience over the course of the year, to increase the number of paid opportunities and to have leveraged the opportunities I say yes to further. Essentially, I'll do the same as I did in 2022 – just better!

In 2023 we will enjoy and celebrate our successes

In the last 12 months as a business, we've gone from zero awards to having eight of them! We've had some fabulous PR opportunities, delivered guest content left, right and centre, and met financial targets, and as a team, several of us have developed and met personal goals too.

But we've been shockingly rubbish at celebrating them. The most we've done is a few social media posts and maybe the odd blog. That's me being a poor leader, and I need to do better.

2023 sees a personal milestone in that it will be 10 years since I first joined Green Umbrella. My personal journey from then till now is something I am hugely proud of, and so I have a couple of things planned to allow me to celebrate the milestone. Believe it or not, celebrating my own success is not something that comes naturally – it will 100% put me outside of my comfort zone, but we'll get it done anyway!

In 2023 we will renew focus on the strategies and tactics that got us to where we are

This is the exciting bit of the plan! Let me ask you, what is it you've done previously that worked for yu in business or in your personal life that you somehow have stopped doing? It's crazy, but there are so many things that work; we take a little break from them but then never pick up again! As we move into year 13 of business, there are a few things that have popped up! Look out for more opportunities to join us for in-person training events and workshops, and webinars. Over the course of 2022, I got as much of what was in my head as I could out and organised it into a system, The Marketing Mastery Framework. This has now become a three-day course and has reignited some of the workshops we used to offer and so we'll be offering more opportunities to work with us in this capacity in 2023.

In 2023, we refuse to be complacent

As I said earlier, I'm not making huge plans for 2023, as I want us to enjoy things for the moment instead of simply chasing the next big thing. That doesn't mean there's no progress in 2023 – complacency is not an option! At the end of Q1, I'll be looking at things again, and if it's time to shift gears, of course, we'll be doing it, and of course, I'll update you!

What about your personal goals Christina?I usually share a few of my personal goals as well when I put this together but again, my personal goals are not crazy! In 2022 I developed habits I want to maintain. I found a circle of people I want to ensure I always protect energy for.

In 2022 I achieved some amazing personal milestones, but they are all related to business. So I'd like to end 2023 reflecting on some milestones that are not business related! There are a bunch of everyday things that ‘everyone' has done that I never have, and so I'm planning on knocking a few of those off the list! Random things like learning how to roller skate, maybe…

There are a couple of projects I'm working on outside of the business that also excites me – they are of an entrepreneurial nature, but they're my fun stuff, my social stuff, and the stuff that helps me further in my personal mission. In 2023 I want to make sure I'm exploring more of this stuff, and I know I'm already on track for success on that front!

Not the usual plan, is it?!?There you have it! The plan for 2023 is essentially no plan. Roll the old one forward and regroup in March! If you had asked me a month ago, on the inside, I would have been having a meltdown, thinking ‘crap, I've got no plan'! The truth is, there's always a plan, it's yours, and you get to define it! Once I realised that – I just got to work.

2023 is already in progress, and it has been for a few weeks – I feel like I've arrived early, so I guess I'll see you when you get here!

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We would like to wish all of our clients and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See you all in 2023!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team were joined by Stephen O'Donnell. They talked about the highlights of 2022 and had a little Christmas quiz.

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It's the penultimate Friday before Christmas, and many of you will be disappearing already to spend a few extra days taking a well-earned break. So rather than sharing a new idea that you potentially won't have time to get excited about, I thought I'd share with you some of the reflections I've been doing on what's worked this year. Knowing what to put into our content strategy next year means understanding what you, our audience, have found most useful this year, what was most searched for, most viewed, and most read - so here you go! The top 10 most-read marketing articles from the Green Umbrella blog are...

(click a blog title below to read the full article)

THE FIVE MAIN KEY ELEMENTS OF CREATING VIDEO FOR SOCIAL MEDIAThere aren't many brands these days that aren't using video - but if you're only just getting started, this is one with reading!

25 CONTENT IDEAS FOR YOUR FACEBOOK PAGEOk, this is an old blog! Evidence that your articles aren't always one-hit wonders! If you're using Facebook, this is for you. However, the ideas translate well on other platforms too.

10 POSITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW RIGHT NOWIn a world where social media is constantly being slated for its negative impacts, let's just take a moment to appreciate some of the positivity that's out there as well! Again, this probably needs an update as it's a couple of years old, but it will certainly get you thinking and hunting down some lighter content for your feeds!

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M POSTING TOO OFTEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA?One of the most asked questions... how often should I be posting? And this article answers it for you!

TONE OF VOICE IN MARKETINGHow you say what you say matters! I believe that we're all a bit more aware now that tone of voice is a big part of brand, so I'm not surprised to see this in the 2022 top 10 articles!

CREATE 30 DAYS OF INSTAGRAM CONTENT IN JUST ONE DAYWith so many different options on Instagram, of course people are looking for ways to speed up planning and creation for this platform! Look out for an update on this article next year!

NEWSJACKING VS KNOWING WHEN TO SHUT THE HELL UP!I remember the day I wrote this... it was around the time of black lives matter, and so it's a more personal article in terms of what I deliver. The message, however, is just as relevant today as it was then from a marketing perspective.

OVERWHELMED BY SOCIAL MEDIA? YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE!Of course this is on the list! We now have so many options when it comes to social media channels! And in a world where people like me are encouraging you to be present on more than just one channel and still crack on with the day job, of course there's some overwhelm. Luckily there are also ways to combat it!

FIVE ACTIVITIES YOU SHOULD BE COMPLETING ON TWITTER EVERY DAYI'm shocked - I don't think there's been anything on Twitter in the top 10 for years! Perhaps the Musk dynasty has sparked some interest in this platform after all! This is why we look at this stuff!

HOW TO USE WHATSAPP AS A MARKETING TOOLI could cheat and skip this one and just share the next article on the list instead, but we all know that's not how I work! Why would I have wanted to skip it, you ask? Everything I say in the article is still relevant, but in the last few weeks, I've seen some developments that mean this article is only really telling you half the story! Again, one to update in 2023 for you!

So there you have it - the most read marketing articles from the blog this year! What does it tell me? Firstly, the questions we've always been asked are always going to be circulating. What do I post? How often? etc., and so these need to be consistent themes in what we put together for you next year.

Secondly, I'm seeing people wanting to make sure they're feeding their minds with positivity and not getting caught in the overwhelm of being online - which is only a good thing!

And lastly, as I look at these (and further down the list beyond the top 10), it's obvious we're all looking for ways to stand out and be a little different. Jump on trends in a way that works and gets us that early adopter advantage - but most importantly, how to do it the right way!

In January, I'll be celebrating 10 years of helping you all do just that!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week the team talked about the latest changes and stats on Tiktok, the most searched terms on Google in 2022, some stats from Green Umbrella, Twitter updates and Youtube changes.

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Last week I wrote about the trends I predicted would be big for 2023 and that would bring you the leads you need to take your business and your brand beyond the goals you're setting. At the end of the article, I mentioned that there was one big thing that deserved its own article – so here I am. Let me introduce you to the concept of intentional marketing.

What is intentional marketing?In a world filled with blogs, vlogs and podcasts telling you what the next big hack is from a marketing perspective (especially from a social media marketing perspective), we can all be excused for jumping on the next thing and losing focus and finding ourselves committing an act of “spray and pray”, marketing wise!

Intentional marketing is all about ensuring everything we do is with the intention of getting to our end goal, whether that's the end goal of the campaign we're running or the end goal being the overarching business goal – and by the way, both of those two things should be aligned!

The word intentional itself is an adjective meaning “done on purpose”, “deliberate”, “planned or intended”, “or purposeful”. So here's my question for you: on a scale of 1-10, how purposeful were the last few posts you shared on social media? How planned were they? I've asked a few people that question, and most of the time, there's an instant look of discomfort on their faces and in their body language. Is that you right now?

How to implement Intentional marketing in 2023Everything you do marketing-wise needs to have a purpose. It should all have its place in your marketing funnel, and you should be clear on it. That's a top-level answer, though – as you break things down and start to look campaign by campaign and post by post, it's important we take the same view. Be super-clear on the purpose of each piece of content before you create it. If you're not clear, you probably don't need it!

Ask yourself, ‘What is it there to do?' then make sure the content does it and that there's something measurable you can identify from it.

Ask yourself, ‘what's the next logical step?' and make sure the call to action, however obvious or subtle, is included. (Quite often, this call to action will lead to things we can measure.)

Throughout your marketing and sales funnels, there should be some KPIs (Key performance indicators) you can measure; tracking these will allow you to understand where things are working well and where you need to be more efficient – where the opportunities are to tighten things up is where you get to implement some intentional marketing tactics!

What if I ignore this?This one strategy, if implemented, can save you money and time. Ignore it, and you'll find yourself doing things because it's marketing, not because it's going to bring you a result.

For example, boosting posts so that more new people see your brand is not necessarily intentional marketing, not if what you really need is people buying. This would be a waste of money, but if we ran an ad targeted to people who have engaged with us or who are on our mailing list, it would be intentional.

If you're flat-out creating content, reel after reel, blog after blog, because you need to get something out there – you're not being intentional. You're being a slave to content. Don't get me wrong – content is important. It's how we put our message out into the world. However, we have to be clear on the purpose of each item we're creating so that we're not wasting time!

Who is intentional marketing for?You know what? Usually, when I'm writing these articles, I'm writing for the masses, knowing what I'm sharing is going to be more relevant for some than others. When it comes to intentional marketing, it is probably one of the very few strategies that everyone should be deploying. It doesn't matter whether you're a product or service-based business, B2B or B2C, whether you're reading this on behalf of a company brand or reading it as an individual wanting to grow their personal brand. This is wholly relevant to you.

So think – how can you be more intentional with your marketing in 2023? Where are you throwing stuff at a wall right now, hoping it will stick? What can you change to ensure you get the results you deserve? And most importantly… how can I help you make it happen?!

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Welcome to Live Lunch!

This week, the team talked about the latest updates to Meta's ad tools, selling digital products on TikTok, updates to Meta avatars, Google search improvements and BeReal.

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Dear Nicole,

This year I decided to use my creative skills to run my own Esty business in my spare time selling arts and crafts whilst studying art at university. I have an Instagram account and a Facebook page as a good percentage of my business comes through Facebook. From this I have been thinking about setting up a Facebook group with other like-minded businesses and get a community going for further advertising as I think it could be good to branch out and start taking my business to stalls at markets, but I don’t know much about Facebook Groups, can you help me.

Wing – Brighton.

Dear Wing,

Well, this sounds like a fantastic business, and I personally think you can’t beat getting your business know with face-to-face interaction, so I think you are onto something here by setting up a Facebook group, getting that community going and then branching out to markets but where to start? Facebook groups are a great way of building connections with other like-minded people, engaging with a community of your ideal target audience, gain free market research and boost your credibility to make into a money machine. I have put 4 top tips below to help you get started.

Determine your group’s purpose - What’s the purpose of the group. Sit back and think about it honestly. The purpose of your group should benefit the members first and foremost!
Ask Questions - To stop spammers from joining your group, ask qualifying questions. Make it a requirement that they must answer the questions to join.
Promote your group to the right people - Make sure that when growing your group, you’re focusing on your target audience. There are a few ways to get your group in front of the right people. For example: If you already have a page for your business, then use that page to advertise your new community or sending a simple invite and finally link it everywhere – put it in your email newsletters, icon bars, email signatures, bios etc.
Engage DAILY - Relationships take work. Find out what the best content for you is and the best time to engage with your group. Try to post your best content at that time but make sure you’re available to respond to comments to really start building that community.

I hope these top tips can help you and all the best with your Facebook Group Wing!

Nicole

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There are a bunch of traditions here at Green Umbrella Marketing, and they all appear this time of year! There's the article I write as we begin the final quarter saying, c'mon guys… it's time for the last push. The article that says if you haven't got your Christmas campaign sorted, you're falling behind, and…

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the team talked about the ongoing Twitter saga, the latest changes on Linkedin, Facebook updates and new functions in WhatsApp. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free to ask…

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“Hey Christina – What does success look like on social media?’ I get questions like these all the time! There isn’t a straightforward answer, however, as it’s different for everyone. There are a whole host of factors that affect success when it comes to your online presence. Ultimately – your success is what you make…

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the team talked about the latest Instagram updates, new features coming to Linkedin ads, Twitter changes (if they happen), Facebook updates and new Tiktok features. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown…

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Content. If you’re responsible for marketing in your business that one word is probably responsible for more than a few sleepless nights. Defining what ‘Content’ is in your business is one thing, coming up with the ideas and actually working on content creation for a content strategy is quite another! If you’re looking to move…

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week the team discussed the latest updates to Instagram, the latest Twitter changes, the Shuffles collage app for Pinterest and the World Cup updates on Snapchat. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown…

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It's great sitting at my desk staring out of the window. I have a lovely view of the local allotments and I have often been amused by passers-by who do not realise I'm watching. I'm usually looking out while I wait for inspiration for my next witty and engaging Facebook post. Then the phone goes……

The post I Don’t Do Social – But I’ve Looked You Up On LinkedIn, Facebook And Twitter appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the team talked about Google, Snapchat, Youtube and more. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free to ask us any questions that you may have, or if you would…

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These 5 Things Will Help You Create An Instagram Feed That Is Distinctive Let’s face it, like it or love it, Instagram is an important marketing tool that you should be taking advantage of. Not only can it help you to increase the reach of your business, but it’s also a social platform where more…

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the team were discussing changes to TikTok and their new marketing courses, Snapchat's new AR eyewear collab with Amazon, how much money Meta is losing, Google products that are ending and more! Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a…

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week we were joined by Property Investor and Entrepreneur Ibrahim Braimah. Ibrahim talks us through his story from being homeless, sleeping in a garage to building a thriving property business. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and…

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It would be far too obvious for me to kick this blog off by saying that ‘everyone' uses Instagram – that would be an absolute generalisation, and I'm sure a few of you would be shaking your head saying, “Not me!” indignantly. But the fact of the matter is that globally, this is one of…

The post How to use Instagram and Get the Results that Matter! appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the GU gang talked about Pinterest idea pins, Instagram scheduling, TikTok updates and stats and Twitter analytics updates. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free to ask us any…

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Having spent most of the last few weeks hanging out at events and with various groups of aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, both within the recruitment industry and in other sectors, one thing is clear. One of the first questions that come from the audience is, ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ Now, I’ve…

The post Content Ideas and Where to Find Them appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, it was Mark, Nicole and Jane chatting about updates to TikTok and Twitter, Reels, Facebook algorithm changes and another of Nicole's funny stories! Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel…

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What if I told you there was an opportunity to hang out with me where I'd show you how you can find easy-to-convert social media leads without getting caught in a trap of never-ending content creation? Would that sound good to you? On Tuesday 11th October, just a few days from now, I'll be hosting…

The post How to Generate Social Media Leads without becoming a Slave to Content! appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week the team came to you live from the Recruitment Agency Expo at the NEC in Birmingham. They were joined by special guest Stephen O'Donnell. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in…

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First of all, I swear I write this article earlier and earlier each and every year! No one – and I mean no one, wants to be the first person to talk about Christmas, and as usual, I will kick this off by making comments on the Christmas paraphernalia that will be appearing in the…

The post Shh! …Holidays are Coming – What’s on your Christmas Marketing List? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week the team talked about TikTok becoming a popular search engine, Google search, WordPress updates, changes to Meta accounts, Instagram video story updates, the Twitter advertising boycott and new linkedin features. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs…

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Effective Email Marketing Campaign After years of split testing and experimenting with layouts and key features, we are able to share with you our recipe for success when it comes to the anatomy of an effective email marketing campaign. #1 – Send your message from an actual person Back in the day, we experimented with…

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, Jane, Mark and Nicole discussed changes to Snapchat, TikTok updates, WordPress problems, Adobe's new acquisitions, new products from Canva, changes seen in iOS 16 and the latest video stats. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and…

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Each week, I think through all the conversations I’ve had over the previous seven days and decide which of these have been the most useful and therefore most relevant to the Green Umbrella audience as a whole. I identify, what I believe, the key nugget of information that came out of that conversation was and…

The post “What Do I Need to Know About Social Media Marketing?” appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Wind back a few years to 2009, Green Umbrella was the name given to a new brand that was about to launch a social media workshop, or rather a series of them! At that time, interactive workshops or courses on how to use social media for business were few and far between. Over the following…

The post How do you Stay Ahead of the Game? Social Media Workshops Versus a Social Media Coach appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week it was the GU gang talking about Twitter updates, Linkedin changes, TikTok shopping, censorship online, and meta descriptions for SEO. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free to ask…

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 121 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Be warned – this article may come across as a bit shouty at times. I may veer off into a rant here and there. BUT this is something I feel incredibly passionate about. (Fingers crossed it will all get toned down in the edit!) Ok. YES. When you compare the approach of a digital marketing…

The post A big SEO to-do – When SEO and Social Media Meet appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week we were discussing changes to Google SEO and what that means for websites and content within them, Video playback speeds and subtitles Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free…

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3 Days of Expert Marketing Training 3 Days of expert Marketing Training teaching the exact framework that will allow you to create a presence that generates leads and sales! You’ll learn how to create a marketing presence that stands out, impacts and influences; whether you are online, offline, face to face one to one, or…

The post Marketing Mastery Academy appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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It's approaching Friday; I need to write an article for the Green Umbrella blog. Cue that sick feeling in the bottom of my stomach. Yep – palms are sweaty and my heart’s racing. I am going to have to actually write something. I am going to have to practice what I preach….from a blogging perspective.…

The post Are You A Reluctant Blog Writer Too? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Maintain Access to your Social Media Accounts Not a week goes by without me being asked how a company can try and reclaim a Facebook page, gain access to an Instagram or Twitter account or get admin rights back for a LinkedIn company page. The truth is – if you really don’t know who set…

The post How to Maintain Access to your Social Media Accounts as a Business appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! Today it was just the GU gang talking about the latest changes to LinkedIn, TikTok shopping and advertising, and the difference between a leaflet and a flyer. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown…

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 119 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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If you’re launching a new business, budgets are tight, and costs need to be kept low. You look at the basic requirements a business needs and invest in the must-haves; the nice to haves are agonised over and probably end up on a list of planned purchases that can be worked through as the money…

The post Do I Need a Website? appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week we were joined by our special guest Paul Green from Buscomm who was chatting to us about the Ethical Awards he has recently founded. Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in…

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 118 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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If you have not yet embraced the world of video for social media, then please consider this as part of your social media strategy. If you choose not to do this, then I guarantee that you will be forever playing catch up. It is estimated that 85% of businesses now use video as a marketing…

The post The Five Main Key Elements of Creating Video for Social Media appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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Welcome to Live Lunch! This week, the GU crew talked about changes to Instagram, top social media earners, Facebook group changes and more… Join us for our live lunch break on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn every Thursday at 12:00 pm for a few laughs and some useful tips thrown in too! Feel free to ask us any questions…

The post GU Live Lunch – Ep 117 appeared first on Green Umbrella Marketing.

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