Social media marketing is constantly changing and evolving, which is both good and bad. Keeping up with social media marketing trends is practically a full-time job! And so is figuring out the best social media marketing strategies for your brand.

As businesses are planning for the new year, there are several social media trends that appear to be here to stay (at least for now). You should consider these when putting together a strategy for 2018:

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing has exploded over the past few years and there is no sign of it slowing in the near future. Using social media influencers is an excellent way to expand the reach of your brand messaging when you choose the right partners to work with.

Studies show that 74% of people look to their networks on social media for advice on buying decisions. In addition, 40% of people have bought something because they have seen it being promoted by an influencer on Instagram or Twitter.

Finding the right influencer marketing partnerships can seriously get your brand noticed!

Social Media Advertising Costs

Gone are the days of social media posting generating free organic reach. In order to gain new followers and grow your brand via social media, you must have a social advertising budget. Unfortunately, as the number of advertisers on social media increases, so will the cost of social ads.

As people realize that social media marketing provides an extremely cost-effective way to reach a targeted group of consumers, the competition for social advertising results increases. Therefore, to keep up with the competition, a social media advertising budget is a must for 2018.

You Gotta Have Video

Did you know that social videos generate 1,200% more shares than text and images combined? In addition, viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when they read it in text. It’s estimated that by 2019, video will account for 80% of all consumer internet traffic.

Need I say more? It’s time to take video seriously! Social media video marketing needs to be an integral part of your social content strategy in 2018.

Social media marketing is constantly evolving. You won’t know if something is going to work for your business unless you test it. If you need help navigating the trends and reaching your audience, we on the Porch are here to help!

It’s exciting when strong business and non-profit leaders recognize they need a marketing partner to help them achieve their goals. We love partnering with these leaders on singular campaigns and initiatives that achieve immediate results.

However, these initiatives in and of themselves are not enough to sustain the brand awareness or momentum necessary to meet the larger goals.

These industry leaders often have a strategic plan in place; however, they shrug off the notion that they also need a marketing plan to complement their strategic plan.

What’s the difference?

A Strategic Plan vs. A Marketing Plan

A strategic business plan focuses on the staff, financials and operations of the overall business or non-profit organization. It is operationally-based, and outlines goals for the year. Therefore, the plan helps develop competitive strategies for the business or non-profit organization.

A marketing plan complements the business plan. It details key messages, marketing goals, industry research, competition, target markets, price points, strategies and key tactics. The tactics may include advertising, content marketing, SEO and referral programs. We also consider networking initiatives, social media, website enhancement, direct mail, email marketing and more.

The plans work in conjunction and complement one another. I could drone on for hours about this. Each is essential to a successful business or non-profit — you need both.

A successful marketing plan will build your business, develop your network, create a buzz and pay out. Hence it conveys:

• who you are
• what you are interested in
• that you have an established brand and product suite they must have and will tell all their connections about

Front Porch Marketing will develop a marketing plan that includes an audit of existing marketing efforts and materials and provides specific, recommended marketing tactics and strategies. Our team is driven to define targeted strategies to targeted customers.

We love to be a part of great teams and learn from great leaders. So holler if we can help you!

I don’t mind telling you, friends – the past couple of weeks have been a complete and total exercise in spinning my wheels. I’ve had some big distractions – visiting relatives, a sick child, a big project, some health issues that needed addressing – but honestly I have had a hard time getting back to prime productivity.

Here’s what helps me right the ship when things veer off track:

Make A List 

Writing out a to-do list keeps it all front and center. I always think I will remember everything that needs doing, but the reality is that things will fall through the cracks if it doesn’t get written down. Pen. Paper. Write it out. It’s important! Plus it makes scratching through things as they get done oh so fulfilling!

Set Aside Time to be Productive

If you don’t schedule it, it may not happen. Designate blocks of time to focus and be productive. One thing at a time – get through that list.

Don’t Fall Down the Rabbit Hole

Distractions are the death knell to productivity. A “quick” telephone conversation, “five minutes” of mindless internet surfing, taking a break for a snack – allowing yourself to be distracted in these ways will absolutely sabotage your productive time.

Hold Yourself Accountable

Everyone has to be fluid when things come up, but productivity is a commitment. It doesn’t just happen by accident.

And … Repeat

A system, any system, needs to happen over and over again to be successful. Staying the course and developing good processes is the key to productivity.

Sigh. It’s been a scary week. In fact, it’s just a scary time. Unspeakable violence, natural disasters, discourse and pain and suffering … it’s a lot. A whole lot.

These events have caused me to struggle with feelings of fear and unease, and I have struggled to quell the fear and unease in my children. And although I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, I have looked to others for guidance about how to cope with these feelings, and I thought sharing what I’ve learned might help someone else, as well.

Some Coping Tips:

Acknowledge the Fear. Running from fear is not going to help anyone or anything. Slow down, and let yourself really feel what you’re feeling. It may be intense for a bit, but you will come out the other side and that journey shouldn’t be suppressed.

Offer Help. Tragedies make us feel powerless. Take some of that power back by actively helping those who are affected in any way you are able.

Focus on Your Reality. Yes, what is happening is disturbing. But what is your reality? Don’t overgeneralize threats and allow what is happening elsewhere to affect your day to day movement.

Balance the Negative With the Positive. Tragedies find their way into the news cycle far more often than their more positive counterparts, but there are wonderful things happening everywhere. Seek these stories out. Humanity is a beautiful thing.

Get Help If You Need It. If fear is consuming you, don’t suffer unnecessarily. Reach out for help.

Human life is a precious thing. Hold your loved ones close, friends. This too shall pass.

Hey, business owners, have you ever thought about what the “American Dream” is? Have you ever thought about what it means to you?

Over the weekend, I was honored that my son selected me to interview for an English essay about the American Dream. I am certain that it had absolutely nothing to do with proximity, nor did it matter that I respond very nearly to his beck and call (I know that it comes as a shock to many who know me that I can be a beck and call girl, but I digress).

The interview humbled me, and I found it to be a very thought-provoking exercise. The questions he posed to me:

1. In your own words, what is the American Dream? What does it mean to you?
2. Do you see the American Dream in your own life? Has it motivated you, influenced your decisions?
3. Over the course of your life, have your own dreams changed? In what ways?
4. How would you define a “successful” life? What’s most important?
5. Which generation – yours or your parents’ – has had a better life?

My answers were as follows:

1. The American Dream is the right to freedom, choice, justice and prosperity. For me, the American Dream means living in a place where we are free and are treated fairly. It also means the right to have multiple, differing opinions; and those opinions are respected and acknowledged, and actually make us better and stronger as a nation. Having the opportunity to prosper and start my own business are also part of what the American Dream means to me.
2. I see the American Dream in my life every single day. I am married to the man I chose to be married to and have two healthy, happy, wonderful children who attend schools we selected for them. We practice the faith of our choice. I started and have owned Front Porch Marketing, my business, for almost seven years, which not only helps my family financially prosper, but also helps those that work with me contribute financially to their households. I am also extremely lucky to partner with clients that work for start-ups, small to mid-size businesses, organizations and franchisees who themselves are living the American Dream. Daily, I am inspired by my family, team and clients. Because I am mindful of the fact that in other countries, many people, especially women, are not allowed the opportunities I am, I honestly count my blessings every day.
3. Some of my dreams have not changed, like having a family, giving back to our communities, and being successful professionally. Over the course of my life, others dreams have changed. I dreamed of owning the first company in which I worked. That didn’t happen, because I was hired away from that marketing company by a client that I managed. My dream then became to climb the corporate ladder and become the Vice President of Marketing for that company. Ticked that box. Then, I pivoted and started Front Porch Marketing. And it has been the absolute best part of my professional journey to date.
4. A successful life to me is being happy, healthy, kind, empathetic, resilent and respectful; having a strong sense of self; raising responsible, happy, kind, humble, respectful, empathetic, resilent children; giving back to others in need, and providing for the needs of my family.
5. I really don’t think it is up to me to judge if my generation or my parents’ generation had a better life, because it’s like comparing apples to oranges. And, because our world since 9/11 changes at light speed, in addition to constant emerging technologies today, our generation is more complicated; but I think one could make an argument for either

So why did I ask business owners to answer these five questions?

A perspective check-in is always a good thing, and I hope this exercise inspires you as much as it inspired me. Be well, friends; and keep livin’ the dream.

P.S. We can help you keep livin’ the dream by growing your topline through strategic branding and marketing, so call, email or text us today!

On September 11, 2001 I was a new mother, my daughter having been born just two months earlier. On that morning I woke before her, turned the television on low so as not to wake my sleeping baby, and watched as the tragedy unfolded. Shock as the first plane hit gave way to confusion when the second plane hit, and very very quickly, absolute horror, fear and sorrow lived in my bones.

How could someone, anyone, for any reason, do this? How would people deal with such painful loss? How would New York recover? How would we all recover?

HOW?

Every year at this time, I am plunged back into the voracity of all those feelings, as I”m sure we all are. Today is the 16th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. And the sorrow still lives in my bones.

That perfect, innocent baby girl that I cried over that morning and worried about protecting from the evil in the world is now 16 years old. Last year, she and I visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York.

The somber exterior voids of water that greet you are haunting, yet beautiful. But as you move into the museum, and down into the dark chasms of the exhibits, you are thrown into chaos and heartbreak, and the angst is palpable.

The magnitude of the loss is evident in every inch of the space. It was extremely hard to digest.

It’s uncomfortable to remember what happened on September 11th; but remembering is important. Remembering is all that we have.

So today, September 11, 2017, we remember. We remember all of it.

It’s almost the 4th Quarter, and here on the Porch, it’s all about cooler weather, football, holidays and … 2018 plans. The time is NOW to schedule your 2018 winning game plan. We can help you Play. To. Win.

Here are 6 Things to Think About as we head into Q4:

1. Volunteering.

   Folks, the need for volunteers is going into overtime to help hurricane victims. Our fellow Texans will persevere, but still need our help in Q4 and beyond. Over the last five weeks, the Front Porch Marketing team has donated some serious rocker time to help our clients whose teams were affected and to raise awareness for their fundraising and donation efforts. If you are looking to support hurricane victims in Texas and elsewhere, check out TrustedWorld.org. This fantastic organization based in North Texas helps us all keep on helping.

2. Supporting Women.

   Does your playbook include doing business with and promoting women-owned businesses? Look for WBE certified businesses by visiting Women’s Business Council-Southwest. Consider joining this great organization, and if eligible, get certified. Front Porch is proudly certified WBE, HUB, SBE and WOSB and recently attended the WBCS Business Works Expo in Arlington, Texas. We will gladly answer your questions!

3. Working Social Media.

   Are your fans crazy about your brand? Are they visiting your sites, watching you play and win the social media game, reading your blogs and newsletters and wanting more? It just takes one good quarter to make some great plays. Start now.

4. Celebrations.

   4th Q wouldn’t be 4th Q without events that celebrate family, friends and don’t forget – your team. We love it when our clients such as Mister Sweeper celebrate the team and let us help them plan it. Hint: Cinemark. Star Wars. Private Screenings. Make sure you have plans in place now to thank your team for 2017.

5. New Clients.

   Now that the Back to School huddle is over and everyone is settled into the new routine, we want to take a moment to shout out to two new clients who spend every day helping teachers do a great job of educating the children in our communities. Faith Family Academy and Catch Up & Read are North Texas organizations that demonstrate it’s all about having a passion for what you do.

6. and lastly …

   Friends, if you have to pick one of six things to do in the 4th quarter, pick this – Find. Your. Purpose. Like this one.

Our purpose at Front Porch is to rock your world and help you play to win. See you on the field.

It’s Monday, you’ve likely got the kids back to school and if you’re like us on the Front Porch, you are fired up! By the time mid-August rolls around we begin dreaming of routine, organization and a more productive schedule for everyone in the family. It takes a bit of focus, energy, a Lil’ shopping, and just like that, the kiddos are back in school. Should we do the same for our business and get fired up about bringing back a sales culture? Yes, it’s time to go back to Sales School!

Back to Sales School

Need a jump-start? Make a decision right now to have a renewed focus on attitudes and behaviors that will help your business get back to a successful sales culture. These three things will help you get on the right track.

Sales School Lesson #1. Be curious about others

Those who are deeply curious about the people, businesses and the world around them tend to be more successful. As Albert Einstein said, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” For salespeople, an ability to think of oneself as an extension of their customers’ businesses, an intense desire to solve problems by fully understanding their needs, and the skill to ask more questions before jumping to solutions are important skills that are rooted in curiosity. Want to know more? Check out the ever curious Seth Godin and start learning from his brief but interesting blogs, including several on the topic of curiosity.

Sales School Lesson #2. Commit to your industry

Businesses that want a successful sales culture need to commit to their industry. Joining associations, chambers of commerce, and other networking groups requires going above and beyond, and that commitment demonstrates to everyone on the team that the leadership team wants to continue to learn, network, and give back. Get back to having a passion for your industry.

Sales School Lesson #3. Engage your entire team

We tend to focus on the individual salespeople that close the deals, win the awards and earn the big bonuses as the heart of sales success, and they certainly are a critical piece to the puzzle. But the entire business needs to be part of the sales culture. This requires engaging everyone on the team in promoting the brand, understanding the goals, and being part of the rewards of sales success. Need ideas or assistance? Call Us! We can help you engage.

Curiosity about others. Commitment to others. Engagement with others. All three remove the self from the equation and put the focus and energy on everyone else – customers, industry, and team. Now that the kids are back in school, it’s time to be insatiably curious, commit, and engage at a higher level to get your business back to a rockin’ sales culture again.

Here’s a final lesson for the day. What we want from our children, we must demand of ourselves. Make it a great week, friends!

This week, my last year of high school will begin, which brings up a lot of talk about college. Aside from being asked where I want to go, the second most popular question is, “What do you want to study?” Now, let’s be realistic. How many teenagers actually know what they want to do for the rest of their lives? Before my internship at Front Porch, this question really made me think.

I started by investigating general areas of study: business, law, medicine, psychology, etc. While  thinking about business, I considered what I would want to do in the business world, and marketing stood out to me.

Why Marketing?

Marketing interests me because you are in control of your messaging and you can be creative. To sell your product or business to others, you get to highlight your product or business’ best qualities, defining it and what it stands for. Marketing allows you to showcase your business as an artist: you “paint” your vision of your business on a canvas, display it in the best light, and then watch the painting come to life as you strive to meet your customers’ demands.

Additionally, there are numerous channels you can pursue in marketing. For instance, you could work for a marketing agency, where the focus is solely on helping others market their “paintings.” Front Porch has given me the opportunity to learn how these “paintings” are created and built to produce success.

All in all, I feel that marketing is a great career for me to strive for in college. It will allow me to put my creative juices to work to promote or help others promote their businesses, leaving me with the satisfaction of having created many rewarding tales of triumph.

This past weekend we took a quick, three-day weekend jaunt with friends. It was an ambitious endeavor: we had limited time, a long list of fun to be had, a necessary hotel change mid-way through, and 6 people (including 4 teenagers) to make happy in the process.

I would love to be able to tell you that it went off without a hitch, but alas, it did not.

We left too late to fully enjoy Friday. We didn’t plan our morning well enough to enjoy the entirety of the day on Saturday. Our second hotel reservation inadvertently got canceled which caused us to have to find a new hotel and lose several hours in the process. And although we were with very good friends and we managed to have lots of fun regardless, as I look back on it now, it was a bit of a debacle.

We were a tad loose and made some planning mistakes – it was a familiar locale, we assumed that we knew enough to wing some of it, and we weren’t as careful with our timing as we should have been.

Have you found yourself in this position with your marketing? Are you operating loosely and making these easily avoidable mistakes?

1. Operating Without a Marketing Plan

   Perhaps the worst mistake you can make is to just blindly spend valuable marketing time and money with no rhyme or reason attached to it. A good marketing plan is essential – absolutely essential. Take time to develop a plan whereby each thoughtful piece links with the next to serve the greater purpose.

2. Not Understanding Your Audience

   Do you know your people? You must educate, entertain, and inspire your audience. See things through their eyes and speak their language on channels that they frequent.

3. Getting Stuck in an Overly-Promotional Rut

   We get it, you want to promote your product or service; but your marketing can’t just be about your products. Touch on topics that are useful and interesting to your audience through your blogs, newsletters, social media posts, and videos. It can’t be all promotion.

4. Quitting Too Soon

   Good marketing doesn’t always yield immediately identifiable results; however, that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Establish your branding and marketing consistently, dependably, over time. Patience, grasshopper.

5. Picking the Wrong Marketing Partner

   We see it all too often – agencies who attach a high dollar price tag to programs that they don’t explain or support. Ensure you understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Your brand won’t be supported and your plan isn’t going to work unless everyone understands its importance and buys into it. Everyone.

We managed to have a fantastic time with our friends, despite our planning mis-steps. You, too, can have a fantastic marketing experience, even if you have made some mistakes.

We here on the Porch can help you right the ship. Come see us.