Saturday, August 24, 2019
Put On Your School Shoes, because Summer is Almost in the Rearview Mirror
Okay, summer really is almost in the rearview mirror. Trees are about to burst forth with color and leaves fly in the wind.Once the nerdy bunch began to crave plaid along with the aroma of new school supplies as well as sitting in uncomfortable seating while getting to know new people and learn something from a knowledgeable individual. So we thought we'd give you some interesting choices for rocking back into your "school shoes".
SEPTEMBER
Content Marketing World
September 3-6, 2019
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
For Marketing and PR Professionals
This large 4-day conference is right for a lot of people and will help attendees develop content marketing strategies that can propel their business to the next level.Check it out at www.contentmarketingworld.com.
Inbound
September 3-6, 2019
Boston, MA, USA
For Marketers, Salespeople, and Influencers.
INBOUND is a four-day conference where marketers and other sales influencers can learn, connect, and be inspired. Enjoy a variety of guest speakers, attend educational events, and enjoy a variety of entertainment as you make lifelong professional and personal connections. Visit www.inbound.com.
Type-A Parent Annual Conference
September 26-28, 2019
Alexandria, Virginia, USA
For Parent bloggers
This conference is full of motivational speaking, workshops, panel discussions, brand contacts and new technology solutions for building your professional brand in the digital media space. Find details at typeaparent.com.
Find this and more dotbiz blog posts on my website andersonandcompany.com.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Interested In Starting A Blog? Here are Ten Types Of Popular Blogs To Think About
Okay, the First Quarter of 2019 is over and your ideas about starting a blog are still on hold. It happens, because there are always dozens of reasons that you don't have time to begin blogging. And then, even if you have worlds of time, there's still writer's block to fall back on. So, once again make a deadline for yourself: In the fist month of the second quarter of 2019 "I will start my blog!"
Where to start? Pick a topic. The ten best types of blogs to start are the following:
1. Finance
2. Health and Fitness
3. Make money online
4. Beauty and fashion
5. Product reviews
6. Food blogs
7. Travel
8. Lifestyle
9. Wedding blogs
10. Digital marketing
So, think for a second and jot down the four topics that have immediate interest for you based on your own readership of blogs or personal interest.
Second, jot down the four topics in which you have some knowledge base. The topics that get jotted twice are a good place to start, because you will have interest in the blog topic and some basis for developing more curiosity around a topic with which you are already familiar.
Next, do some research, i.e. Google and read blogs in the area that you have chosen. Then write some short posts and start blogging right here on blogger. It's fast and easy.
Where to start? Pick a topic. The ten best types of blogs to start are the following:
1. Finance
2. Health and Fitness
3. Make money online
4. Beauty and fashion
5. Product reviews
6. Food blogs
7. Travel
8. Lifestyle
9. Wedding blogs
10. Digital marketing
So, think for a second and jot down the four topics that have immediate interest for you based on your own readership of blogs or personal interest.
Second, jot down the four topics in which you have some knowledge base. The topics that get jotted twice are a good place to start, because you will have interest in the blog topic and some basis for developing more curiosity around a topic with which you are already familiar.
Next, do some research, i.e. Google and read blogs in the area that you have chosen. Then write some short posts and start blogging right here on blogger. It's fast and easy.
Friday, March 22, 2019
More About Branding and How Not to Waste Money Promoting Your Business Product or Service
Let's first start with the knowledge that in today's fast-paced world filled with busy people you have to not only get people's attention but also deliver a message and visual that they can connect to your product or service or that they can hear and connect to your product or service. This is absolutely necessary particularly with a small budget. Small advertisers won't have the budget to bank-roll a full out multi-media campaign and would be wise to stick to either print, TV or radio in addition to social media.
Furthermore, determine who you are trying to reach, i.e. where will you find most of your customers. Are they readers, watchers or listeners? Each of these particular mediums are segmented, some are absolutely splintered with choices, making it more important to select the right one. If prestige is vital to sales of you product or service and you determine that you have readers as a strong market segment, then you will want to determine which print medium reaches your future customers at the lowest cost. Notice, it is not as important how many people you reach as it is how many of your potential customers that you reach. Circulation is a factor, but so is image and repeat readership by a group of people who might be in the market for what you are offering.
In magazines, if you can afford it, a full page 4-color ad placed on a right-hand page either near the front or within or next to an article or regular feature will be the best choice. If you can't budget a full page, choose a 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 page ad on a right hand facing page. Be sure to use you logo consistently and have a memorable slogan placed beneath it to help the reader remember you company.
Television is still a great medium for those who watch live TV, choosing not to record then play back and fast-forward through commercials. News for instance is more likely to be watched live. Generally, people who have more leisure time at home are more likely to watch live. That's why many companies such as home improvement, insurance,etc. run commercials in their local market morning TV programs. People selling cars, phones, etc. are more likely to connect with morning or evening news viewers, because this group includes a broader slice of their market, both the workplace commuters, the retired, semi-retired or homemaker. For small budget TV advertising it is important to pick a slice of time and stick to it until you see results. That's why you should be sure to ask your customers how they heard about you.
Even national TV advertisers with huge budgets often fail to maximize their product or service within their 30-sec. spot. Just because their brand is well known doesn't mean that they should stop showing the name of their product or service on screen and if they have a mascot, a piece of music or color identified with their brand or logo it reinforces their brand if they continue to use these in their spots. Consider Target. Their logo is red, the dominate color in their commercials is red, and their dog mascot is a visual. How can you watch their commercial and not know you have seen a Target commercial?
For radio advertising the same principle of choosing a slice of time when your potential customers are likely to be listening is key. To make the right buy you can't simply choose a radio format that you like, you'll need some research from all of your potential stations.They will have a breakdown by age, male or female [those are still the largest categories] by time slot, etc. Drive time is likely where you will have the ears of more people, but you also have to consider morning, noon or afternoon, i.e. school car-pool time or commute from work to home time. You have to consider what you will say that distinguishes you from your main competitors. To do this you have to know what your competitors are saying and how they are saying it.
For instance, are their commercials too crammed with words to even understand? Are they easy for listeners to "tune out" because they don't know what they're saying anyway. Or, do your competitors that run really boring commercials that are almost generic and like every other company in their same business sector? If so, you have a real advantage to be the new business that knows their market, speaks to their market in an interesting manner, and tells listeners some real benefits about their product or service. If you can afford a few seconds of original music and have a catchy slogan, even better. Marketers are rediscovering that a "jingle" is really memorable decade after decade.
{I blogged earlier about companies such as Nationwide Insurance which in a crowded advertising market was not using their very memorable jingle. Now, they are using it and driving it home in a new way with a star quarterback and a country music star. Good for them! Not only will they reconnect with people who heard that jingle years ago, but they will reach new customers.}
Also, realize that if your customer is likely to be listening to their own play list, fast-forward through recorded TV and not a big reader of mags or newspapers, you will have to rely on product/service brochures, online advertising, blogs, point of sale displays,vehicle wraps, event sponsorships, etc. It will be even more important that your messaging and packaging be distinctive and appealing to your particular market.
Interested in finding out more? Visit Anderson and Company.
Furthermore, determine who you are trying to reach, i.e. where will you find most of your customers. Are they readers, watchers or listeners? Each of these particular mediums are segmented, some are absolutely splintered with choices, making it more important to select the right one. If prestige is vital to sales of you product or service and you determine that you have readers as a strong market segment, then you will want to determine which print medium reaches your future customers at the lowest cost. Notice, it is not as important how many people you reach as it is how many of your potential customers that you reach. Circulation is a factor, but so is image and repeat readership by a group of people who might be in the market for what you are offering.
In magazines, if you can afford it, a full page 4-color ad placed on a right-hand page either near the front or within or next to an article or regular feature will be the best choice. If you can't budget a full page, choose a 1/2, 1/3 or 1/4 page ad on a right hand facing page. Be sure to use you logo consistently and have a memorable slogan placed beneath it to help the reader remember you company.
Television is still a great medium for those who watch live TV, choosing not to record then play back and fast-forward through commercials. News for instance is more likely to be watched live. Generally, people who have more leisure time at home are more likely to watch live. That's why many companies such as home improvement, insurance,etc. run commercials in their local market morning TV programs. People selling cars, phones, etc. are more likely to connect with morning or evening news viewers, because this group includes a broader slice of their market, both the workplace commuters, the retired, semi-retired or homemaker. For small budget TV advertising it is important to pick a slice of time and stick to it until you see results. That's why you should be sure to ask your customers how they heard about you.
Even national TV advertisers with huge budgets often fail to maximize their product or service within their 30-sec. spot. Just because their brand is well known doesn't mean that they should stop showing the name of their product or service on screen and if they have a mascot, a piece of music or color identified with their brand or logo it reinforces their brand if they continue to use these in their spots. Consider Target. Their logo is red, the dominate color in their commercials is red, and their dog mascot is a visual. How can you watch their commercial and not know you have seen a Target commercial?
For radio advertising the same principle of choosing a slice of time when your potential customers are likely to be listening is key. To make the right buy you can't simply choose a radio format that you like, you'll need some research from all of your potential stations.They will have a breakdown by age, male or female [those are still the largest categories] by time slot, etc. Drive time is likely where you will have the ears of more people, but you also have to consider morning, noon or afternoon, i.e. school car-pool time or commute from work to home time. You have to consider what you will say that distinguishes you from your main competitors. To do this you have to know what your competitors are saying and how they are saying it.
For instance, are their commercials too crammed with words to even understand? Are they easy for listeners to "tune out" because they don't know what they're saying anyway. Or, do your competitors that run really boring commercials that are almost generic and like every other company in their same business sector? If so, you have a real advantage to be the new business that knows their market, speaks to their market in an interesting manner, and tells listeners some real benefits about their product or service. If you can afford a few seconds of original music and have a catchy slogan, even better. Marketers are rediscovering that a "jingle" is really memorable decade after decade.
{I blogged earlier about companies such as Nationwide Insurance which in a crowded advertising market was not using their very memorable jingle. Now, they are using it and driving it home in a new way with a star quarterback and a country music star. Good for them! Not only will they reconnect with people who heard that jingle years ago, but they will reach new customers.}
Also, realize that if your customer is likely to be listening to their own play list, fast-forward through recorded TV and not a big reader of mags or newspapers, you will have to rely on product/service brochures, online advertising, blogs, point of sale displays,vehicle wraps, event sponsorships, etc. It will be even more important that your messaging and packaging be distinctive and appealing to your particular market.
Interested in finding out more? Visit Anderson and Company.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Brands Sure Can Waste Some Money on Super Bowl Commercials
Okay, I want to weigh in on the Super Bowl commercials and I always like to give a bit of time to reflect. My main take away this year was the dominance of beer commercials and not what I would have expected. These were the "greening" of the genre with brands touting their natural and organic qualities.
Bud placed a major communication on their lack of corn syrup in their Lite Beer, which was a well placed slap at their lite beer competitors. The famous Budweiser Clydesdale's even galloped into the wind against a backdrop of wind turbines. Again, Bud sent out a timely message to a growing market of eco-conscious and health-conscious consumers.
KIA? "What was KIA thinking" when they filmed their new large 8-passenger Telluride slogging through muddy water. Why not have shown it off in high end advantage against the ski slopes of Telluride for a little extra name impression.
Pepsi's "Just Okay" commercial certainly wasted big dollars selling the lack luster "We're okay" message. What smart company spends millions to do that? The same company that spent a million or so to tweak its classic logo into a "smile". Just saying, isn't there something about the product that is better than just okay? If not why not co-brand it with something else like your KFC or Taco Bell brands. Or, you could have jumped on the Super Bowl's health train and touted your Quaker Oat brand.
Olay's "Killer Skin" was another "why did they do that moment? Who wants to buy a product that gives them dead skin. I mean vampires are dead and that was their pay off visual. A shame that a well respected product line aimed at an older women had to fast forward to death.
Really, Hyundai spent how much for their Super Bowl viewing audience watch an elevator go up and down. Some advertising has complete lost track for trying to promote their product as part of their brand. Should I just ride an elevator and call Uber or Lyft? Why buy a Hyundai?
Bon & Viv's Spiked Seltzer was a complete waste. For what to me was a new product, I learned nothing. Why the under water tank setting? Why not some more emphasis on what they heck it is and what I should look for in a store.
The game was more riveting than the commercials.
Bud placed a major communication on their lack of corn syrup in their Lite Beer, which was a well placed slap at their lite beer competitors. The famous Budweiser Clydesdale's even galloped into the wind against a backdrop of wind turbines. Again, Bud sent out a timely message to a growing market of eco-conscious and health-conscious consumers.
KIA? "What was KIA thinking" when they filmed their new large 8-passenger Telluride slogging through muddy water. Why not have shown it off in high end advantage against the ski slopes of Telluride for a little extra name impression.
Pepsi's "Just Okay" commercial certainly wasted big dollars selling the lack luster "We're okay" message. What smart company spends millions to do that? The same company that spent a million or so to tweak its classic logo into a "smile". Just saying, isn't there something about the product that is better than just okay? If not why not co-brand it with something else like your KFC or Taco Bell brands. Or, you could have jumped on the Super Bowl's health train and touted your Quaker Oat brand.
Olay's "Killer Skin" was another "why did they do that moment? Who wants to buy a product that gives them dead skin. I mean vampires are dead and that was their pay off visual. A shame that a well respected product line aimed at an older women had to fast forward to death.
Really, Hyundai spent how much for their Super Bowl viewing audience watch an elevator go up and down. Some advertising has complete lost track for trying to promote their product as part of their brand. Should I just ride an elevator and call Uber or Lyft? Why buy a Hyundai?
Bon & Viv's Spiked Seltzer was a complete waste. For what to me was a new product, I learned nothing. Why the under water tank setting? Why not some more emphasis on what they heck it is and what I should look for in a store.
The game was more riveting than the commercials.
Friday, February 1, 2019
Have Wellness On Your Mind? Why Not Begin Sharing Your Knowledge, Insights and Inspirations With Others?
If you want to start your own blog, but keep thinking that there are already too many blogs on the topic. Think, again! Wellness is a great general topic to begin thinking about if you have a personal interest in health. Decide what particular group of readers that you would relate to best. Narrow it further by deciding if if you want to reach men, women or both. Do you have a knack for talking with teens, young moms, retirees?
From nutrition and fitness to spiritual and mental health, the range of topics in the wellness genre is broad. So, ask yourself, "Do I prefer to write about healthy recipes, organic foods, exercise, diets, safety, etc? After you've decided what aspect of the topic most interests you, then do some more research.
Google those various segments of your interest and see what comes up. For instance, search organic food blogs and get an idea for the number of bloggers engaged in this topic. Review how they have sliced and diced the topic: what are their writing styles, do they follow their topic farm to table, do they include recipes, shopping tips, etc. Then google another wellness topic, etc.
Start your own wellness blog by deciding what you want to say. How might that be similar to or very different from the blogs already online. With a clear vision of what to say, it's time to pick a domain name. Remember you can attract readers by including a term that they might be searching if they are interested in your topic. Next, choose where your blog will be hosted. Sites such as Blogger are free.
If you choose a wellness blog, congratulations because your own blog will help you stay informed and be inspired to continue maintainong a healthy lifestyle. these websites are full of useful resources to help boost your well being.
This is Go Red Day so show your support for the American Heart Association!
From nutrition and fitness to spiritual and mental health, the range of topics in the wellness genre is broad. So, ask yourself, "Do I prefer to write about healthy recipes, organic foods, exercise, diets, safety, etc? After you've decided what aspect of the topic most interests you, then do some more research.
Google those various segments of your interest and see what comes up. For instance, search organic food blogs and get an idea for the number of bloggers engaged in this topic. Review how they have sliced and diced the topic: what are their writing styles, do they follow their topic farm to table, do they include recipes, shopping tips, etc. Then google another wellness topic, etc.
Start your own wellness blog by deciding what you want to say. How might that be similar to or very different from the blogs already online. With a clear vision of what to say, it's time to pick a domain name. Remember you can attract readers by including a term that they might be searching if they are interested in your topic. Next, choose where your blog will be hosted. Sites such as Blogger are free.
If you choose a wellness blog, congratulations because your own blog will help you stay informed and be inspired to continue maintainong a healthy lifestyle. these websites are full of useful resources to help boost your well being.
This is Go Red Day so show your support for the American Heart Association!
Sunday, January 27, 2019
March 2019 Conferences That Can Benefit Any Blogger No Matter What Your Area of Blogging Expertise
Okay, in Feburary you may be chilling on a cruise or partying down at Mardi Gras, but in March you may need a reason to get out. For bloggers, a blog conference is that reason. They feature leaders in the field which allows you to network and exchange ideas with fellow bloggers and learn from those who have already succeeded.
Not only will you have exposure to a wealth of content and marketing ideas, but you may also have the opportunity to come face to face with sponsors who will find value in affiliating with your blog. You may also meet other bloggers with whom you can network to exchange guest posts to grow your traffic.
SXSW - Texas, March 8-17,2019
Unless you are a music or tech blogger, you may not have SXSW on your radar, but consider the benefits of networking at the SXSW Trade Show which is the epicenter of business at SXSW. In no other place at SXSW will you find this many creative businesses and organizations together. Last year it brought together more than 250 exhibitors from 27 countries with an incredibly diverse range of businesses from all industries and sectors, including health and medtech, marketing, music and film equipment, robotics, aerospace, mobile apps, 3D printing, and more.
If you run a fledgling business looking to showcase your innovations or possibly acquire seed funding from new investors? SXSW Startup Village and Startup Spotlight are great platforms to launch a new product and promote your startup.
Social Media Marketing World - California, March 20-22, 2019
Join 3,000 fellow marketers at a mega-conference designed to inspire and empower you with social media marketing ideas brought to you by Social Media Examiner. Gain actionable tips from more than 100 of the world’s top pros who specialize in marketing with Facebook, Instagram, Messenger bots, live video, social strategy, content marketing, analytics, video creation, YouTube for business, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, and more.
This conference exists to give marketers like you the ability to get all the information you need in one place, personally connect with the top experts in the world, form lifetime relationships that’ll help you year-round, and gain the confidence you need to succeed in your job.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
New Year, New Opportunity for Bloggers, Knowledge Geeks and Others Who Can Write
Hey, the Biofortified Blog is seeking articles written by scientists, doctors, farmers, chefs, and anyone who eats food. This opportunity is open to anyone, no matter your views. The public needs people with first-hand knowledge and this gives people the opportunity to write about what they know, engage in a moderated discussion, and be part of a community of writers and readers that want to give these topics the attention they deserve.
We have a wide reach, with a network of scientists, science enthusiasts, and more who seek out our content. We will post and promote your work on social media and can help you build your personal brand as a writer while you write with us. Some of our writers have gone on to start their own successful projects and organizations.
Here are some of the topics that the Biofortified Blog is seeking:
*Plants, genetics, biotechnology. If you are a plant scientist, geneticist, breeder, or other scientist with expertise in this area, you could talk about the science, or one of the many issues that intersect the science.
*Agriculture. Cover crops, fertilizers, pesticides, organic, environmental impact, climate change, land use, farmer’s markets, and more! We want to hear diverse voices and first person accounts.
*Food. Who doesn’t love talking about food? Nutrition, culture and traditions, modernization, world hunger, food distribution, even recipes are welcome!
*Ethics. What are the ethical implications of new innovations in crops, food, or production practices? Help our readers consider important issues in bioethics.
*Education and science communication. Are students learning enough about where their food comes from? What are innovative ways to reach more people?
Law and regulations. Are you a lawyer, policy geek, or someone who thinks about the consequences of current or future policies and laws? Is there a better way to regulate new technologies?
*News and media. How is the media covering science, ag, and food? You could write a short summary of some interesting news, or comment on the media’s coverage of important issues.
*Interviews. Interviews with scientists and others are a great way to contribute. We can help put together questions, and so can our readers. If you have an idea about someone to interview, check with us first. We can also contact your interviewee for you, which might make it more likely that you will get the interview.
*Art, music, video. We invite all types of communication methods. Feel like videotaping yourself with your plants and telling us something cool about them? We can feature it on the blog, and upload it to our YouTube channel.
If there is something you want to contribute to the blog, please ask the Biofortified Blog before you put a lot of work into it. We can provide advice and make sure that your work is a great success! Find full contact information on biofortified.org
We have a wide reach, with a network of scientists, science enthusiasts, and more who seek out our content. We will post and promote your work on social media and can help you build your personal brand as a writer while you write with us. Some of our writers have gone on to start their own successful projects and organizations.
Here are some of the topics that the Biofortified Blog is seeking:
*Plants, genetics, biotechnology. If you are a plant scientist, geneticist, breeder, or other scientist with expertise in this area, you could talk about the science, or one of the many issues that intersect the science.
*Agriculture. Cover crops, fertilizers, pesticides, organic, environmental impact, climate change, land use, farmer’s markets, and more! We want to hear diverse voices and first person accounts.
*Food. Who doesn’t love talking about food? Nutrition, culture and traditions, modernization, world hunger, food distribution, even recipes are welcome!
*Ethics. What are the ethical implications of new innovations in crops, food, or production practices? Help our readers consider important issues in bioethics.
*Education and science communication. Are students learning enough about where their food comes from? What are innovative ways to reach more people?
Law and regulations. Are you a lawyer, policy geek, or someone who thinks about the consequences of current or future policies and laws? Is there a better way to regulate new technologies?
*News and media. How is the media covering science, ag, and food? You could write a short summary of some interesting news, or comment on the media’s coverage of important issues.
*Interviews. Interviews with scientists and others are a great way to contribute. We can help put together questions, and so can our readers. If you have an idea about someone to interview, check with us first. We can also contact your interviewee for you, which might make it more likely that you will get the interview.
*Art, music, video. We invite all types of communication methods. Feel like videotaping yourself with your plants and telling us something cool about them? We can feature it on the blog, and upload it to our YouTube channel.
If there is something you want to contribute to the blog, please ask the Biofortified Blog before you put a lot of work into it. We can provide advice and make sure that your work is a great success! Find full contact information on biofortified.org
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