Live Tweet Your Next Event to Kick It Up a Notch!

Whether your event is a small local business meeting or a large conference, live tweeting will help to publicize your event, extend your reach and get more followers. Live tweeting at an event is a way to convey minute-by-minute activities as they are happening. It's a great way to communicate what's going on and being said at an event as it unfolds. Live tweeting allows people at the event to really engage and those who aren't there to feel like they are.

Quite a bit of work goes into preparing for live tweeting. Here are a few tips to help you with your next live tweet experience:

Preparation

Create an event hashtag to help attendees and others track conversations and the event's activities. Do your research to be sure the hashtag you pick is not already being used! Then use the hashtag with every tweet, before, during and after the event. Use the hashtag on pre-event promotional materials and be sure to announce it at the event so people can follow along or post using it.

Pull together a list of the Twitter handles of all the key people associated with the event(speakers, presenters, journalists, influential attendees, etc.).  Save this list to a document that you can easily reference during the event.

Prepare tweets and branded visuals ahead of time. Based on your event schedule and planned content, create tweet drafts so that you aren't scrambling to create all your tweets from scratch during the event.

Make sure you have strong Wi-Fi access and a mobile hotspot to use as backup. Be sure your phone, laptop and all device are charged and bring your chargers.

Live-Tweeting

Provide a tweet narrative that keeps your audience interested in following the action!  Make your tweets concise. Each tweet should make sense out of context.  Focus on quotes, brief sound bites of information, calls for action, photos and videos.

Engage with people who are using your hashtag. Respond to their tweets and retweet them. Start conversations to enhance your event and to get other people interested. Tag the people in all the photos you post to bring even more attention to your tweets.

After the Event

Continue to monitor your hashtag. Days later, your audience could be posting images and feedback that you'll want to respond to or take note of!

What other ways has live tweeting enhanced your events?  Please share by commenting below!

Local Marketing: How to Get your Business Displayed in the Google 3 Pack

When you do a Google search, have you ever noticed the business listings that show at the top of the page? The top three local listings that appear are called the Google 3 Pack.

As a business owner, you understand how vital it is to show up at the top of the first page when people are searching for your products or services in your area. Increasing your visibility via local search results can help you be more competitive. Being in the Google 3 Pack can drive traffic to your website and increase your SEO rankings.

           

How to Get Your Business in the 3 Pack

The following are some methods for increasing your ranking within a local search:

Local Reviews

            Google’s algorithm is tailored to rank local results, and it’s especially favorable to businesses that have online reviews, as this helps with decision making for buyers. Make sure to encourage your customers to give your business feedback on Google and other sites like Angie’s List, Bing and Yahoo, for example.

Links

            Links to your website can optimize your chances of ranking in the 3 Pack. For every guest blog or blog comment that you write, include a link to your website.  Link to your site from your published articles, interviews, press release and directory listings.

Google My Business

            Manage your online presence in Google Search and Maps by using Google My Business. This is a free tool that allows you to post all your relevant business information to help customers find you more easily in a Google Search.

Other Directory Listings

           

            Add your business to additional directories like Yelp and YP.com. Find out which listings are critical for your industry and location. Gradually add your listing to these sites and be sure all information is consistent across the board.

Upcoming Changes in the 3 Pack

            Will the 3 Pack soon be including ads? It looks like this isn’t just a rumor; indeed, the ad will soon show up above two other organic, local listings. This change will likely add financial strains to businesses that haven’t relied on pay per click in the past.

The new phase is still being tested, so it is unclear exactly how this change will appear when Google implements it. However, speculation has shown that paid ads could cause organic listings to have a weaker ranking.

            Appearing in the Google 3 Pack is valuable way to gain local attention. Keep these tips in mind and your chances of appearing in this coveted list will increase.

Save Time and Improve Results with Social Media Scheduling

Local Marketing Musts for your Small Business

If much of your business comes from local customers, then local marketing should be a priority. Even on a limited budget, targeted local marketing initiatives can be some of the best ways to maximize your marketing dollars. Here are five marketing ideas to increase your local presence:

Online Business Listings

Make it easy for people to find you by listing your business with Google My Business. Then you're sure to be located when people search for you on Google Search or Maps. According to ComScore, 78% of local mobile searches resulted in a offline purchase(usually within a few hours). Appearing in a local search can have a direct impact on your business.

In addition to Google, be sure you're listed in all of the other significant online directories including Yahoo, Bing, Yelp and YellowPages (to name a few). Make sure your business listings are complete, correct and consistent on all these major sites.

Also, join your local chamber of commerce to ensure that your business is included in their online directory.

Facebook Local Advertising

Local ads can help you reach your nearby target audiences. Hyper local Facebook advertising is an easy and affordable way to get in front of people in your neighborhood, city or county. Facebook ads ask you to simply enter your business address and the area you want to reach around your business. Your ad featuring a photo and message will be routed to people in that vicinity. Your ad will show up in the Facebook newsfeed of people near your business at any time, on any device.

Ask for Reviews

Let your fans sing your praises- they're your best local advertisement. According to BrightLocal, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Encourage happy customers to review you on sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yahoo!Local or Angie's List. 

Participate in Community Events

Local events can be a worthwhile way to meet potential customers and introduce them to your business offerings.Be sure that your target audience will be in attendance at any events you commit to. Plan out  your marketing strategy ahead of time and ensure proper event staffing, brochures, product samples, ways to capture leads and take payment.

Connect with Local Journalists

If you regularly read the local newspapers, you're probably familiar with the reporters that cover your city or industry.  Make an effort to form professional relationships with these journalists and they may end up reporting positive things about your business. Start by following local reporters on social media including Twitter. Comment on their articles, Retweet or Share their posts/articles and ask questions.  If you periodically provide these journalists with credible, helpful or newsworthy information, you're likely to see the fruits of your labor.

What free or paid methods do you implement in your local marketing efforts? Please share below.

Why Your Business or Nonprofit Needs Email Marketing Now

You've probably heard that email is an inexpensive marketing tool that should be part of your marketing plan and strategy, but maybe you're still on the fence about giving it a try.  Here are some key benefits and statistics that might convince you to include email in your marketing:

Benefits

Minimal Investment

Email marketing tools, like Constant Contact, provide robust solutions including pre-designed email templates with high functionality built in for an affordable monthly cost.  They offer small businesses the ideal solution for creating professional looking email communications to help you meet your marketing goals.

High ROI

Email offers the highest return in comparison to other marketing channels.  This makes sense because email marketing reaches consumers where they spend much of their time-- looking at their inbox! According to the Direct Marketing Association(DMA), email marketing's return on investment almost $41 per dollar spent compared to social media's ROI of $12.71.  

Easy to Execute

With little design and technical knowledge, creating and sending engaging email campaigns is simple. Intuitive email builders guide you through the creation process so you can produce customized communications to attract new clients and retain your existing ones.

Email Statistics

91% of US adults like to receive promotional emails from companies they do business with.

                                                                                                          Marketing Sherpa, 2015

Email is almost 40 times more effective than Facebook and Twitter combined in helping  businesses acquire new customers.        

                                                                                                                McKinsey, 2014

66% of consumers have made a purchase as a result of an email marketing message.

                                                                                                                DMA, 2013

If you're still not sure whether or not to invest part of your marketing budget in email, check out what other small business owners are saying about email. Many have experienced great success. And if your're interested in seeing how it works for yourself, you can try it for free! Start your free 60-day trial of Constant Contact today!

Marketing & Event Resources Named a Constant Contact Certified Solution Provider

Local marketing expert to help small businesses and nonprofits
achieve meaningful marketing results

Marketing & Event Resources in Stratford has been named a Certified Solution Provider by Constant Contact^®, Inc., the trusted marketing advisor to more than 650,000 small organizations worldwide.

As a Certified Solution Provider, Marketing & Event Resources has completed the Constant Contact Certification Program which provides training on Constant Contact tools, marketing best practices, and business development. This training imparts industry-leading knowhow on marketing and services to create meaningful results for program participants and the clients that they serve.

"As a longtime Constant Contact Solutions Provider, this new certification will allow my organization to offer additional best practices and knowledge to make the marketing and email campaigns we develop for our clients more productive," said Jocelyn Murray, principal consultant and owner of Marketing & Event Resources. "Email can deliver highly effective results in any organizations' sales, client retention or fundraising efforts."

Marketing & Event Resources helps nonprofit organizations and small and medium size businesses realize the full potential of their online marketing efforts. The company's services include marketing strategy and planning, email marketing, social media and public relations.

“The certification program gives our Solution Providers access to the education that keeps them on the leading edge of marketing best practices,” said Catherine Kniker, chief channel officer and vice president, international, Constant Contact. “By becoming a Certified Solution Provider, Jocelyn has demonstrated her commitment to helping clients succeed by taking proactive steps to grow her marketing skill set.”’

About Marketing & Event Resources

Marketing & Event Resources is a full-service marketing agency founded in 1999. MER works with nonprofits and businesses to help them increase their visibility and revenue through a variety of marketing channels. Clients include Beth-El Center, Junior Achievement of Western CT, Easter Seals Goodwill Industries and many local small businesses. Visit the MER website for more details.

About Constant Contact®, Inc.

Constant Contact introduced the first email marketing tool for small businesses, nonprofits, and associations in 1998.  Today, the company helps more than 650,000 customers worldwide find marketing success through the only all-in-one online marketing platform for small organizations.  Anchored by our world-class email marketing tool, Constant Contact helps small businesses drive repeat business and find new customers. It features multi-channel marketing campaigns (newsletters/announcements, offers/promotions, online listings, events/registration, and feedback) combined with shared content, contacts, and reporting; free award-winning coaching and product support; and integrations with critical business tools – all from a single login. The company’s extensive network of educators, consultants/resellers, technology providers, franchises, and national associations offer further support to help small organizations succeed and grow. Through its Innovation Loft, Constant Contact is fueling the next generation of small business technology.

Constant Contact and the Constant Contact Logo are registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

                                                                                                                                        

Speaking Opportunities Increase as Events Become the Future of Publishing

Many business leaders speak at targeted events to increase their visibility and credibility in their industry. It's a smart strategy as more and more speaking opportunities appear to be available.

According to HubSpot's Digital Publishing Benchmarks report on the publishing industry, events will play a bigger role in driving their revenue in the near future. With decreasing ad revenues, media companies are shifting their business models. The report says that over one-third of publishers believe events as a revenue stream will increase in value in the next two years.

With these new publisher produced events, comes a plethora of speaking opportunities.  If you're a blogger, contribute to industry publications, or if you're know as an expert in your industry,  this could be an opportunity.  Those with an existing reputation in their industry will definitely have an advantage.

Check out the industry publications and magazines that you read and seek out all the upcoming conferences associated with each. Strong content including information on industry trends will be in demand.

Raise your profile: prepare and seek out the many speaking opportunities opening up in the media world.