Connect
Social media continues to change how people are communicating and doing business. Marketing is no longer a one-way conversation. The beauty of social media marketing is how it lets people engage with brands, and then share their passion for the brand with others online. It is my role to help companies and brands succeed by not only creating a social media and content strategy, but also by putting the plan into action and getting results. By nurturing your online communities and creating stories and content your customers want to read, prospects turn into leads – leads turn into customers – and your customers can turn into your biggest advocates.
“Start Small. Think Big. But do it now.”
Last week, marketers, business owners, and social media managers from around the state of Minnesota and beyond came to the Social Media Rockstar Event in Willmar. It
Harmony Enterprises, Inc. has been a family-run business for over fifty years. Based in Harmony, Minnesota, near Rochester (with a branch office in Toulouse, France)
Facebook has been changing the layout of their Pages for business again - this time on the desktop version. It sounds likes the new Facebook Page design has rolled
If you use Constant Contact and Google Analytics, I have a simple tip that will help you to see the results of your email initiatives. This step will automatically
My husband and I recently returned from an awesome vacation in California. We had a friend from High School who got married in the Los Angeles area, and decided that
Hootsuite is a tool used to manage your social media marketing. It is one of the many tools referred to as a “Social Media Management” Tool or System (others include
If your company’s Linkedin profile is collecting dust or feeling lonely from a lack of visitors and interaction, it is time to breathe some creative energy into it!
If you feel like you should be doing more on social media with your business, but are not sure how to go about it, you are not alone. Many small businesses are not
Keeping on top of what is new and changing with Facebook is like trying to find where a rainbow starts. As soon as it is in sight, you realize that you are farther
Each year, we take a look back at the most popular blog posts from the Vivid Image blog of the year. Here is a look at the most viewed and most shared blog posts on
If next year’s marketing plan doesn’t feel like it has the ideas or action plan to reach your goals, it’s time to take another look! Here are some tips for marketing
Facebook Advertising is becoming an important part of most brands' Facebook Marketing Plans. If you have not yet tried Facebook Advertising, or are overwhelmed by
Earlier this fall I had the pleasure of going to a Content Rules Workshop put on by Marketing Profs. The workshop was based on the book by the same name, co-authored
Don't be surprised, Facebook is making more changes! Mari Smith announced at the “Boost your Business” seminar this summer, that there were updates coming to Facebook
Shannon Streich, Graphic Designer at Vivid Image, has been helping her son's Boy Scout Troop clean up after the Relay for Life of McLeod County for the past couple of
The Social Media Rockstar Event returned to Morton, Minnesota this year and I was eager to attend for the third consultive year. With a few returning speakers, but
We all know the benefits of blogging, right? If you are still in the dark as to why you would want to blog on your website, review this blog post. With Linkedin's
Last week, Beth and I went to to the “Boost your Business with Facebook” half-day conference at the beautiful Aria in Minneapolis. It was a great morning of learning
Keeping up with Facebook changes can be a big task. It seems they are always making updates to their algorithm and layout, and adding new features behind the scenes.
Why Blog? Blogging is not just for college students, DIY Mom's, or tech-savvy people. Blogging is for business owners, entrepreneurs, and marketers like you! In a
Tradeshows are a fantastic way of marketing because you can meet your customers and prospects face-to-face to kindle a real relationship. When coupled with social
Do you ever feel like your “blogging tap” has run dry? Or maybe you have a lot of ideas, but no time to write about them? Well, you are not alone! Writing is not
Beth Holm, Administrative Assistant at Vivid Image (also known as the Administrative Super Hero) just recently got involved with the Crow River Habitat for Humanity.
What does it take to successfully market your business or service? A hefty online marketing budget? A larger marketing staff? Or maybe a boss that approves of all
Anyone who gets Exhibitor Magazine, has seen the retro photo that is in the back of each issue, showing a tradeshow image from what seems like a century ago (and
Growing up in the 80’s, Madonna was the center of my pop music world. Her songs truly inspired me to follow my dreams and lifted me up when I was feeling down. I
Pinterest is the fastest growing social media site in history, so there is no doubt that many of our clients are wondering if they should be spending time pinning for
If there is one thing that is critical to success with social media, it is using images to engage your audience. Since not everyone has access to stock photography, a
Content marketing is creating information that your potential customers will find value in, with the intention of promoting a product or service. Content marketers
Determining the best social media strategy isn't always easy. Often companies have several goals they want to meet, different social networks they want to be on, and
If you haven’t created a Social Media Marketing Plan for your company yet, now is a perfect time to start. Here is a simple method that I use for creating a marketing
If you manage your company's Facebook Page, you have probably come to expect a declined organic newsfeed reach by now, especially with overly-promotional posts. A
For a while we were all trained by Facebook that contest and giveaways had to be done via a third party app on Facebook. Now that those contest rules are more
Last week at Vivid Image, I held a class on Social Media Changes and Trends. We talked mostly about some recent changes in Facebook and also some social media trends
Writing a compelling and click-worthy headline for a blog post is a fine art. As a blogger, I feel torn between making the headline compelling and clickable, while
Social Media Rockstars from around Minnesota gathered in Willmar, MN last week to talk about content and social, and do some old-fashioned face-to-face networking as
Photo-editing tools like PhotoShop are too expensive and complex for part-time use by the everyday marketer. Community Managers today need to be able to make original
Integrating social media into your tradeshow and event marketing plan is a great way to enhance your company’s next tradeshow presence. As a Certified Tradeshow
Brands that consider Facebook an important part of their marketing need to create a new social media strategy that includes innovative ways to get organic reach, as
Kids love technology, often times even more than their adult counterparts (which can make it hard to stay on top of what kids are doing online). My kids are still
By now, you have probably noticed that your Facebook posts have not been getting the reach that they used to a year ago. Or maybe you have wondered why you haven’t
As a marketer or business owner, Google Alerts are essential - especially for content marketing. Google Alerts is a free Google tool that sends you email alerts of
It is easy to remember to do some spring cleaning to our home, office, and even our cars. But what about doing some spring cleaning to your digital life too? Just
Getting your brand to stand out on Facebook takes some planning, consistency, and creativity (here is a helpful blog post about getting seen in the Facebook
If you are a writer or blogger, you have probably experienced it. Sitting in front of your computer with the blank stare and motionless hands. Yes, most of us have
In your marketing toolbox, you probably have some customer testimonials – maybe some that you received by email, through your social media sites, or a review site. If
With the constant changes in Facebook, marketers must be constantly changing too. Even if you have a great community of Facebook fans, it is important that you are
The social media world has been talking in recent months about the update that Facebook made that has decreased the reach for some pages. The updates seem to be a
It is hard to believe that another year is coming to an end. For many bloggers, it can be a challenge to think of a blog post to write during the last weeks of the
Who would have guessed that the pound sign symbol (#) would become so popular as the “hashtag” we know today? It has become part of many of our daily online
There are many different types of content you can publish on your blog, such as newsworthy or timely content. But, evergreen content will work the hardest for you,
A few weeks ago, I shared the four steps to choosing the right social network and the social media prism. Then we talked about a few of the most commonly used
The Social Media RockStar Event at Jackpot Junction put on by Sarah Kuglin and her posse was inspiring. With amazing speakers such as Jason Falls and Minnesota’s own
Your marketing team has decided to take the plunge into social media. But with hundreds of social networks to choose from, where do you start? We can help - first
Now that you know that social media is right for your business, you may be a little overwhelmed by which social networks to promote your company on. Although many
There are so many ways to integrate your blog content with your social media initiatives. Most blogs have some type of social media sharing built-in to make it easy
Facebook has launched the new Page Insights with analytics, graphs and well-organized data that Community Managers can actually use. I am thrilled to see this, as it
Do you use Gmail? Do your customers use Gmail? Recently, Google made some changes to the Gmail layout, which automatically filters some of your emails into
Even though social media, blogs, and mobile have totally changed the marketing world in the last 5+ years, I have found that a lot of people still have no idea what a
Now 225 million members strong with 2 new members signing up every second, Linkedin has become far more than just a place to look for your next career. Linkedin helps
It is always fun to talk to other people who work in the same industry as you do. Sharing stories, challenges, and ideas can create awesome collaboration and mutual
Often our customers ask us how they can post a social media update in just one place, and have it go to all their social media channels. Typically we advise against
It is time to clean house, get organized, and freshen up your social media profiles! Now that the first quarter is behind us, take a look at how each of your social
With every blog post you publish, there are vast ways to promote it. In a perfectly SEO'd world, the search engines would always find your posts and place them on
We all have those projects that are difficult to tackle– maybe because we are not sure where to start or it just seems too complicated. This could be true for some of
At Vivid Image, a question we hear often is about the difference between a mobile app and a mobile website. You have probably heard us talk about the importance of a
If your company is marketing with social media, but does not have a social media policy in place, you are not alone. To create a social media policy, you need to ask
One of the key benefits of the WordPress platform is that once the foundation of your WordPress site is developed, you can easily add new content as a blog post,
Most bloggers will tell you one of their biggest challenges is coming up with engaging blog content on a regular basis. If you have plans for increasing your blog
How important is it to shop locally? Does it really make a difference if you support the small business down the road? Living in a small town most of my life, I
Creating relevant and useful blog content takes not just a good chunk of time, but also an equal amount of creative effort. But there are some effective blogging
Many nonprofit organizations understand that a strong web presence is vital to their ongoing success. The content they share on their website tells their story and
Technology is changing at such a rapid pace. My parents didn’t have smart phones growing up, and my kids have no idea what a phone booth is! But today, most of us
As marketers, we are always aiming to create remarkable content that is trusted, valued and shared. We write attention getting headlines, helpful blog posts, and
You have a great-looking store front with eye-catching signage, ample parking, a welcoming staff, and maybe even an attractive window display. But how do you
When the Minnesota Public Health Association (MPHA) was ready to redesign their website, they knew they needed to make a major change, but had no idea how to get
You have a personal profile on LinkedIn and it is 110% complete. You are building connections, engaging in groups, and if you are a power networker or sales person,
You are not alone if Twitter makes you feel a bit overwhelmed, fatigued, and wondering where the time went. Twitter time management could almost be an oxymoron. It is
As marketers or small business owners, it is easy to look at Search Engine Optimization and see it as being complex compared to the other projects we are doing to get
In Minnesota, the name “Runnings” used to make us think of a farm store. But that perception is evolving, just like their name and marketing. “Runnings Farm and
One of the most frequent challenges that our customers face revolves around creating consistent content for their website. Sure, getting your new website live is a
For the past 6 months or so, I have been "checking in" to many local businesses (big and small) using Foursquare and Facebook on my iPhone. I have been anxious to
The Pinterest craze has officially hit, making it one of the most heavily visited and top 10 social media networks of 2011. As a “visual” person, I find Pinterest to
Naturally, this is the most common time for reviewing the last year and looking towards the next year for goal setting or "New Year Resolutions" as some people call
Making pottery may sound like a hobby, but for Tom and Betsy it is their business and passion. Between them and another potter, they produce nearly 5000 pots per
It looks like Santa already got his techy Christmas present. You may have seen the newest Apple iPhone 4S commercials with Siri. You see, Santa uses Siri (the voice
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Seasons Greetings! Happy New Year! There are lots of ways to say “Merry Christmas” to your customers and partners as a business
Whether you take part in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday, there are some great deals that you can find from local businesses both online and
There are so many different ways to leverage Facebook marketing, including through Facebook Events. Depending on the nature of your business and your marketing
To help people who may have the unofficial title of “webmaster” somewhere in their job description, we have come up with a very basic webmaster checklist to help you
Often running a small company or start-up business means you have to market your products or services on a smaller budget for longer than you would like. With today's
Twitter is probably one of the most misunderstood of all the social media tools. It is very different from Facebook, YouTube or blogging, even though it once called
Even as a “seasoned” Facebook marketer, I will be one of the first to admit that Facebook marketing isn’t rocket science. But if you want to effectively promote your
Earlier this week, we introduced you to a long-time friend of Vivid Image, named “SEO”, also known as Search Engine Optimization, in her blog post, Hello,
Litchfield Chamber of Commerce Website is Hub for Members Website: www.litch.com The Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce is an organization of over 250 business
After getting over the initial shock and sadness of hearing about the death of Steve Jobs, I am trying to figure out how to describe the impact that he has had on my
Website turns big dreams into small business for Heirlooms Website: www.HeirloomsTea.com Facebook: Heirlooms Tea Room on Facebook Written by Audrey Hollatz,
As a small business with a limited budget, you are probably looking for the best way to stretch you marketing dollars. Your online marketing plan needs to include
We don't need to tell you that Facebook is making more changes. If you have logged in to Facebook in the last week you have noticed them, either by the changed news
Put your webmaster hat back on! Last week we talked about the daily and weekly webmaster tasks for small business owners. Were you able to complete the tasks for the
Larson Builders Using Social Media Tools for Web Success Website: www.larsonbuilders.com Facebook: Larson Builders on Facebook The Larson Family of Companies has
Often in small business, employees (and owners) wear many hats. A person who is in customer service may handle customer inquiries from the website. Another person who
Although Facebook announced over a dozen changes last week, many of us are just noticing some of the differences now as they roll out. Facebook made some
Any experienced sales person knows that they have to “ask for the sale”. But for those of us who are not in sales, this concept is a little bit harder to practice.
Today, having a website viewable on your desktop computer isn’t enough. Millions of people are now using their mobile phones to surf the internet and look for
Looking for that catchy, unique domain name for your business? Be prepared to look long and hard. Finding the perfect domain name to become your brand identity is
As a small town girl almost all my life, I am used to wide open spaces, corn fields, and black dirt. But it is no wonder, that when people come to my hometown of
Unless you have been spending your July living on a remote island, you have probably heard all the hype about the giant of the tech world, Google, launching it’s own
As a new iPhone 4 user, I have been blown away by its ease of use and functionality. This cute little phone must be made for people like me – the
Even if you have a rocking website, you may want to consider driving some targeted web traffic to a landing page instead of always to your homepage. A landing page
Social applications can make a marketer’s job easier! By automating some things, and enhancing others, the right apps can make the customer experience more rewarding,
Did you know that the Banking industry is the #3 most active industry that uses social media falling behind only Search Engine Portals and Advertising/Marketing? We
Marketers need to be awesome writers in order to get their message communicated. Whether you are doing traditional marketing like print brochures or direct mail, or
Many companies, both large and small, in both the metro and rural communities, are seeing the far-reaching positive effects of social media for their business. It
It doesn’t matter what business you are in – relationships are what make sales happen. People want to buy from their friends! It is more important than ever to
Something I hear often while having a conversation about social media, is an overall confusion about Twitter, how it works, and why someone would want to type 140
We all know that social marketing is much more then marketing. It is customer service. It is sales. It is your brand and your voice. And if you are lucky, it is the
As a marketer for 13 years, and a mom for 5, I have learned a lot by experience. Many of the same basic principles apply to both my titles, as Marketing Manager, and
