Trends – Page 6

December 8, 2016December 23, 2016

The Power of Interviews

Many of you know that when my daughter and I arrived in Salt Lake City 12 years ago we got here with only two bags and a teddy bear. Not long after we started our consulting business in a borrowed office in the back of a print shop, and we went to a lot of networking meetings in town. To leverage the little money we had at the time, we started promoting our new business online since it was a rather inexpensive way to market.

One of the things we did was create a page on our website called “In The News” that featured our media interviews. On there we also feature any podcast that interviewed us, as well as we did our own too, and put it on there.

We knew that at that time traditional media would look online for resources when working on a story. That is how we got our first interview. It was one single question asked, and it was to the Washington Post. After that, many followed!

We still use the page, you can see it here: http://www.buzzbooster.com/press

Today traditional media is online all the time. If you watch the news you can see how many segments have originated online, especially what becomes viral.

Having interviews posted on your site helps a lot in creating credibility for your business, it brings visibility and if you use it well, can make you become the expert and celebrity in your own industry. Yes, because you can use the interview in your blog and in social media too.

I’d like to interview you. It can be an audio podcast which is a long format interview of about 15 minutes. This one can be done no matter where you live. Our launch investment is only $270 (your local news station asks at least double for a 2 min interview)

Or it can also be a video interview if you can come to our studio in Salt Lake City. That would be around 7 minutes and the investment is $270 (still 10 times less than the competition). Why is it so low? We are creating a new portfolio.

We will provide you the file or even help you upload the interview to your YouTube channel or website.

The show is called Business Highlights and is distributed in a multi-platform that includes Roku, car apps and online. Our social media network alone surpasses 100K followers.

You want to start the new year creating something different and reliable that will bring better results. This is it, so call us to schedule your interview. We will create the script that will bring results. All we need is a few questions from you.

Call 801-330-9010 now or write us at buzz@buzzbooster.com

October 11, 2016December 23, 2016

Create content and get ahead in business

A few weeks ago I wrote an article on how every company now needs to be a media company, meaning that we all need to create content in order to get attention to a very Non interested, overwhelmed crowd.

You also need to have in mind that the ultimate goal of creating content is consumption, that over time changes behavior. Hopefully bringing that new person to consume from you. So you get clients that you create or deserve. This gives you control over the outcome.

People today have come to expect to find information about any product, service, company, individual, cause or challenge they face by simply turning to the search engine of their choice. So, if they’re not finding content that you’ve produced that provides them that information, even if someone referred them directly to you, there’s a pretty good chance you won’t be worthy of their trust.

Social media for any size business has always been and shall remain one of the best places to gain exposure for great content.

But how do you create content that engages when you are busy making your business grow?

The fact is you should make some time to create content. It should come from you with your point of view. Not from outsourcing.

Using customers and prospects questions to create content is easy, effective and will help you show better in search engines.

Write down the 10 questions they always ask and the 10 they should ask and you have a lot of seeds for content.

Create a list of keyword phrases that would help your business to be found and insert one of them in each piece of content.

Each term or phrase should be related to your business or industry and represent an important search term or problem that needs solving.

Remember: People always look for a solution to a problem. They don’t look for “bedrails” they look for “How to stop falling out of bed”.

You can create monthly topics which would make the process even easier.

Now that you can create content how to put it out?

Here are a few options: A company’s blog (helps a lot your site to be found by the right customer)

A series of videos.

Those videos everywhere.

There are other options, but see results and then you will be motivated to do more.

Done. Success is next.

If you could use some advice on how to market better your business without spending unnecessary money, we are here for you.

Call for a marketing check up: 801- 680-7220

September 27, 2016December 23, 2016

Are you in?

Through the 20^th century, most brands relied on the creativity and exercise of the media, advertising and entertainment companies to create content and deliver audiences. Mostly in traditional formats

In the 21^st century, however, as consumers have been gradually shifting away from traditional forms of media content and distribution, the media universe has become both fragmented and digital. Consumers can choose from seemingly limitless content on their own terms and on their own devices. At the same time, marketers can connect more directly with users and customers through websites, blogs, apps and social media.

Meanwhile the battle for consumer’s attention has become brutal and requires new strategies and capabilities. This is for all industries.

The conclusion is one: We all have to be in the media business.

Some examples: Nike has become a major presence in social media with a miniseries on YouTube.

ANZ bank in Australia built a financial news portal

Marriot has created a content studio to develop videos for social media.

FairPrice a supermarket in Singapore has a food content platform called Food for Life with 2,000 videos in different languages.

Your company cannot ignore this trend and needs to choose a clear “way to play”. Despite the size of your company or budget, you should be aware and active in new media platforms.

As marketing consultants, that is what we’ve done for the past 12 years. Help companies create the right type of approach and content to get attention from their customers and prospects.

You cannot ignore the need to create specific strategies and media to reach people in a way they will pay attention to your message and take action.

It is a survival game, so are you in?

July 26, 2016December 23, 2016

Marketing to Baby Boomers on their own terms

Baby boomers grew up learning how to consume. They grew up in front of the TV and commercials. They like to buy and many businesses fail to see this and don’t market to them. HomeCare included. Baby boomers are still the decision makers when it comes to buying solutions to their aging parents but they are also the end users now.

Trying to market to them the same way you market to their parents is a sure way to fail.

Here are a few ways to hit a home run when marketing to Baby Boomers:

Don’t mention age.They don’t want to be reminded of their age, but of their accomplishments and of their future. Think more about the Bucket list idea, they may have to buy diapers but they want to hear about where to go in Oregon in their next bike trip. They don’t grow old, they move into different experience phases.
Go where they are. They still have a house in the suburb. They may be moving to a bigger one soon since they plan to age in place. Home Depot HD -0.15% and Ace Hardware know this very well, and take advantage of it by locating their box stores where baby boomers can get to them easily.
They are online and so should you. “They do their homework online. Baby Boomers know their stuff … so you better too.” Instead of retiring to rocking chairs on the front porch, they are actively looking for newly constructed homes where they can continue to pursue an active lifestyle surrounded by the latest amenities and HME solutions that don’t get in the way of their decor. “Invisible and useful” is what they are looking for.
Yes, they are on social media. As you develop your social media strategy for baby boomers, be aware that while a 20-year old is posting photos of their night out on Instagram or Snapchat, a baby boomer is more likely to post a photograph of a new grandbaby or the new RV they just purchased on Facebook. It’s the more ‘traditional’ venues such as Facebook and Twitter that are used by baby boomers; so keep your focus there. (Who would have thought we would ever call Facebook traditional).
Difficult topics. Many times issues like incontinence will not be discussed on Facebook but boomers may look for forums or ask questions in places like Quora.com
Fun first. Remember what can touch an emotional cord with boomers. They love nostalgia. The Woodstock Festival was much more than a concert featuring the likes of Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix; it was a countercultural event which symbolized, among other things, that the baby boomers were not going to be trussed up by their parent’s morals and lifestyle. They would think and act for themselves – and they still want to be thought of that way. The least hint of patronizing the baby boomers will flatten any marketing campaign, just as Wile E. Coyote was flattened by the Road Runner.Marketing to Baby Boomers is different than marketing to other generations.We specialize in consulting on behavioral marketing for boomers for the HME industry.
Give us a call and let’s work together. 801-8429765 buzz@buzzbooster.com

July 17, 2016December 23, 2016

Marketing using the Pokemon Go craze

Here is a guerrilla strategy we used to create local awareness to our new venture of online courses called Curious Mondo. We made tons of handmade Pokeballs and left at Pokestops around town. (Balls are used in the Pokemon Go craze). These balls lead them to a free online course on Pokemon Go where we capture leads.

I think this was pretty clever, I’ll keep you updated on the results. It is usually a clever marketing strategy when you piggy back on something the media is talking about. You get attention easier and of course, depending on how you are marketing you can get a lot of traffic too.

Our focus was to get attention locally right now, while the topic is on top. This is the reason we went with handmade Pokeballs. If we had the time we would find a way to make the balls with another material and in a larger number. But sometimes you just need to act fast!

July 14, 2016December 23, 2016

How to Attract clients with Pokemon Go

Yes, Pokemon Go is not just a game for kids, your business can benefit from this craze.

The speed at which Pokemon Go has spread is unprecedented. Less than a week after launch, this augmented reality mobile exploration game has been installed on twice as many phones as Tinder, it has double the engagement of Snapchat, and it is eclipsing Twitter in its percentage of daily active users.

source: Inc magazine

For those not yet in the know, Pokémon GO uses your phone’s GPS and camera to turn the real world into a massive hunting ground for the iconic creatures, but it also transforms local landmarks and businesses into Pokémon Gyms (where trainers go to train their Pokémon and battle other teams) and PokéStops, which players can physically visit to stock up on free accessories and items like PokéBalls.

People of all ages are spending a lot of time playing this game. Just walk around your local park and you will get an idea. Total addiction and we are talking about a very buggy app.

Smart businesses are taking advantage of this Pokemon Go craze too. You should too! You just need to be a little creative and read this article to learn a few tips. If you own a retail place, a restaurant, coffee shop you can get a lot of foot traffic.

If you are in another type of business you can also get more attention and create awareness in your local community.

Even if you have a lemonade stand, you can set it under a gym and have a lot of quarters coming to you.

Here are a few examples of what is being done:

A local brew house is a Pokémon Gym, and they are offering discounted drinks for members of the team that holds the gym.

A pizza place where you get a free drink if you own the gym

L’inizio’s pizza had business go up 75 per cent after paying $10 to continue to put up Lures connected to the store.

Smoketown Helicopters in Lancaster County started offering aerial Pokémon Tours as a way to “Get one up on your competition and catch them in the air!

One business was advertising $4 off your meal if you used your own lure.

A lot of businesses adding lures, which I’ll explain in a second.

Here are a few things you need to do:

1. Find Out if Your Business Is a Gym or PokeStop

What makes Pokemon Go different from many other games is that it doesn’t keep people shut up in their rooms. The game runs off an augmented reality HUD, or heads-up display, of the real world. Players’ avatars explore with them as they catch Pokemon, collect rewards from PokeStops, battle other users at Gyms, and team up to defend their territory.

Figuring out whether your business is a PokeStop or Gym is the first thing you should do. PokeStops and Gyms attract foot traffic without any effort-players flock to them for rewards and to battle other players-and they can be leveraged for massive sales if you know how.

According to the company, at this point you cannot add your business as a gym or Pokestop. My feeling is that this will change very soon.

2. Throw Down a Lure, and Enjoy the Show

Pokemon Go offers a range of in-app purchases. The one that is most important for your small business is Lures.

Lures increase the rate of Pokemon generation in the area around the PokeStop where they’re placed for one half hour. That may not sound that powerful, but Pokemon are scarcer than you think.

What’s even more incredible is just how affordable luring is. Let’s do the math. With $100 netting you 14,500 Pokecoins and an eight-pack of Lures costing 680 Pokecoins:

14,500 Pokecoins / 680 = 21 eight-packs of lures
(21 * 8)/2 = 84 hours
$100/84 hours = $1.19 per hour

All you have to do is:

Tap the red Pokeball at the bottom of your HUD
Tap “Shop”
Scroll down and tap the purple, box-shaped Lures to purchase. You’ll re-direct to your app store’s payment system
Once back in-app, tap the red Pokeball again, then tap “Items”
Tap the purple Lure to activate!

For a little more than a dollar an hour, you can bring virtually guaranteed crowds to your business. The ROI here is ridiculous, so if your business is anywhere near a PokeStop, this is something you absolutely have to try.

Capitalize on Your Business Being Near a Pokemon Gym

Gyms are a separate kind of animal entirely from PokeStops. You can’t put down Lures, but you don’t have to either, because users are converging on Gyms day and night to face off with other users and “take control” of the gym for either team Mystic, Valor, or Instinct.

To see if your business is near a gym, you can check the Ingress map, or just open Pokemon Go on your phone and look for the tall structures with little Pokemon near the top. They’re not hard to spot-they’re the biggest structures on the in-game map.

Capitalizing on your proximity to a gym is more about creative marketing in real life than anything else. Here are some ideas for ways to engage with the droves of people standing near your business with their eyes glued to their phones:

3. Move too

You can go to Pokestops with lures of Gyms and distribute your promotional material, coupons etc.

Not a bad idea for a food truck to go to Pokestops with lures. People get hungry when they walk a lot.

4. Social Media

Did you get a Pokemon near your office?

Post on Social Media and blog about it.

Is it a rare one? Post more pics of it.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. When they discovered that Pokémon and PokéStops were scattered across their grounds, they got creative and photographed them next to various displays and pieces of art, then blogged about it on their site.

If you have a coffee shop or local restaurant that doubles as a PokeStop. Create a Pokémon-inspired drink or dish and offer customers who show you the game on their phone a discount! Announce that on social media.

You may be thinking: “This is just another fad” and you are probably totally right. But this is when smart marketing comes in. You embrace the fad, use the keywords like Pokemon Go and Catch them all in your blog etc, get creative and find a way to promote your business linking to this fad and benefit from the fad by spending no or very little money.

Or you keep doing what you are doing and getting the results you are getting.

If you need instructions on how to play the game, Curious Mondo offers a free training on Pokemon Go. So you don’t have to spend hours watching weird videos on YouTube.

If it is time for your business to reach the next level, you might want to have a marketing advisor by your side. Then, just contact us for a marketing check up!

July 11, 2016December 23, 2016

Life by design when aging

Let’s discuss Life by design when aging.

Baby Boomers want to have a say in every aspect, they want to have their individual choice and decide how things are going to happen. Very different than their parents specially because they don’t accept: “This is the way it has always being done”. Baby Boomers don’t stick to the script!

They will be active and independent for as long as possible and then more.

So when it comes to aging in place and how they are treated, things must be in their own terms.

Are all Boomers making the most prudent housing decisions as they approach retirement? Not necessarily. Regardless, their decisions will have important implications as this generation, once again, does it their way.

While many Boomers are planning major home improvements in the next three years, a significant number will make style and value a priority over aging-friendly features. In fact, the top Boomer reasons to renovate are similar to those of younger generations:

39% plan for major home improvements in the next 3 years

Top reasons for that:

78% increase home value
78% make repairs
66% energy efficiency
65% update home style

Aging related reasons:

58% easier to maintain
44% easier for aging
23% health needs

Note: major home improvement is defined as spending $2,000 or more on the job.

Source: 2013 Demand institute housing & community survey.

In some instances, baby boomers will move, but they still want to be close to home. When Baby Boomers do move, they don’t intend to go very far. Only one-third will move out of state, with the lure of “wanting to be closer to family” being just as strong as a “change of climate.” Indeed, more than half of Boomers will move within 30 miles of their current home. Further, only one in five Boomer movers wants to relocate to senior-related housing or active adult communities. For many Boomers, maintaining a connection to their communities and families is an important consideration as they decide where to live.

The population is aging, but Boomers are not necessarily looking for “senior” products and solutions. While there is limited interest in aging- and health-specific home improvements, those that make the home easier and less costly to maintain do resonate with Boomers. Among those moving, the majority will seek single-story homes, and subtle touches that make aging in the home easier without sacrificing style, like smaller yards and universal design elements, will appeal to Boomers.

As long as our homes are our private retreats, we will want them as comfortable as possible. As our needs for what is comfortable change, we will adapt our homes to those needs.

June 9, 2016December 23, 2016

Do you have what it takes to succeed online?

Online shoppers in the United States will spend $327 billion in 2016, up 45% from $226 billion this year and 62% from $202 billion in 2011, according to a projection released today by Forrester Research Inc.

Are you really ready to get a piece of this pie? Is your website ready and following current trends? Read this post and don’t skip the last praragraph.

Can people easily navigate and take action on your site no matter which type of device they are using?

4 out of 5 consumers use a Smartphone to shop. If you don’t have a responsive website, you are losing sales.

Forrester says that 192 million U.S. consumers will shop online in 2016, up 15% from 167 million in 2012. But the bigger factor in driving e-commerce growth is that each shopper will spend more on average, the report says. U.S. consumers in 2016 will each spend an average of $1,738 online, up 44% from $1,207 in 2012.

People are spending more time online because of their mobile devices and because they do expect better deals than brick and mortar stores.

So it really does not matter if you are an online business, a brick and mortar store or a manufacturer. For you to keep being competitive you need to improve your skills online and have a website that performs according to what people want. Brochure websites telling how great your company is are dead.

Here are a few points to consider related to your site:

1. Clean Design

A quality design is attractive and easy to read with intuitive navigation. Most importantly, a clean design helps viewers focus on the value of your brand and content instead of distracting graphics and large amounts of text. Often, customers associate website designs with the quality of a particular company or product. Hence, a clean design is vital to providing a positive user experience that encourages customers to return.

2.Effective Color Scheme

Color schemes are more important than customers realize. Different colors have the ability to evoke emotional responses, such as calm, happiness, or frustration. When it comes to using colors in your website design, it’s essential to consider your company’s niche, target audience, branding, and the elements of color theory.

3. Usability

Websites that are easy to use are more likely to garner customer interest and encourage business. Usability can be increased by displaying product and service information in a clear, concise manner. Make sure your website has all the features a customer would need for the site to be easily accessible.

4. Call to Action

Placing calls to action on your website encourages customers to contact your business. A friendly suggestion, such as “Contact us today!” demonstrates that your business wants to develop a relationship with its customers. It’s important that calls to action are appropriate for a visitor’s level of engagement with your company.

5. Active Blog

Featuring a blog on your website is a great way to connect with them, especially if your posts encourage readers to interact with your brand. By regularly providing readers with fresh, helpful, engaging content, your brand becomes a trusted resource and an industry authority.

6. Responsive Sites

95% of mobile device users count on their devices to search for local products and services. To effectively reach this growing population of mobile users, businesses need to be sure that their websites are available from any device. Business planning the launch of a website would be better served by choosing a responsive design capable of adapting to any device.

15. Integration with Social Media

Integration with social media is no longer a novelty – it’s a requirement. As technology makes information sharing more convenient, businesses lacking social media integration fail to take advantage of what has been likened to modern day word-of-mouth advertising. Social media provides a venue in which customers can promote your brand, provide reviews, and stay in-the-know about your company’s latest news.

Yes, there is a lot involved in a good website. We’ve been building websites for 12 years and as online consultants we know what makes a site work.

For only 3 days we have a super offer for you: We will build a responsive website, migrate all content you have on your existing site, add an on-site blog and train you or your team members to update the site. All for only $950. Call us ASAP to get started: 801-842-9765

April 12, 2016December 23, 2016

How your business can benefit from Live Streaming

2016 is the year of Live Streaming. 2014 was the year of mobile, 2015 the year of video and now we have the perfect storm.

Live streaming is nothing new but now it is simple, can be used on mobiles and immediate connects you to an audience, plus this audience can interact with you.

Live streaming is all about making your business up close and personal for your audience.

Connecting with your audience always adds to your reputation as a company that cares about its customers.

Live streaming is also about getting attention in a moment. Attention is currency to the human brain, it is not easy to get and can be very expensive when you resist adopting new opportunities.

Here are a few ways your business can benefit from Live Streaming:

Brand equity: Be there when they look for you. Engage on a more personal level
Q&A for customers and prospects– Invite them to ask. Have different team members answer.
Product or service education – Is there a learning curve to start using your products or service? Here is the perfect way to show how they work
Broadcast events– Ribbon cuttings, anniversaries, special company events, parties
Discuss new developments and company news– New website, people in the company moving places, exciting news? Keep your people in the loop.
Introducing new employees– Some team members coming in, others going out. Talk about this with your customers
Release of new products– How cool it is to show an interested audience what is coming up?
Information product creation free during live– Online courses, training programs can be created live.
Behind the scenes– Show us what happens behind those doors
How-tos– Cooking, crafts, how to install
Donor Research Connect with donors by showing them how their donations get put to use. Or use it to solicit donations online by live streaming a fund raising event.
Restaurants. Show your specials! Live stream it! Show your audience how popular you are by the long lines.
Public Relations. Create a live streaming press release or announcement. Invite journalist, local influencers and prospects.
Research. Ask customers for immediate feedback on a product, idea, person, new menu item, etc.
Creating Podcasts
Tip of the Day. Industry specific news piece that would interest your customers.
Special Offers. Create limited special offer opportunities to drive in-store or online traffic.
Consider Timing: Don’t go too long.

What are some best practices I should follow?
Respond to comments live: People who are watching your stream will have the option to comment.
Rehearse: Test your equipment and do a bit of planning when creating your first live stream just to get used to the experience.
High-speed connection: Since it is a live stream, having a powerful internet connection is a must for the best viewer experience
Charge your device: You don’t want your device to die in the middle of the conversation.
Hold your device vertically: Most apps don’t calibrate for the landscape view. This will change soon
Have a call-to-action in the title: Direct your viewers to what you want them to do next.

Live streaming today can be done from any phone. Not much to invest to get started.

We’ve been working with Live Streaming for many years. Training, creating products, creating online courses.

When you decide to start using live streaming in your business, we can consult with you, show you how to do it and even create a complete strategy. Just contact us!