Since Instagram Stories debuted a few weeks ago, I’ve been testing, watching, and spending wayyy more time on IG than normal.

The truth is, the inception of IG Stories deeply annoyed me – from a personal standpoint. Snapchat is my favorite social platform, and it was irritating to see immediately that I would need to create similar content for a copy & paste feature on another network.

But from a business standpoint, the excitement took over quickly. At ARCH, we’ve grown several IG accounts for our clients into successful and engaging communities, so Snapchat would have been the next logical step. However, with the onset of IG Stories, we were given a way to stay within an active network, and begin incorporating all the raw elements of Snapchat that make it so successful.

To me, the biggest reason Snapchat is successful with personal and business brands is because it provides an opportunity to humanize ANY brand with raw content. Snapchatters aren’t looking for polished content, they’re even perturbed by it. They like the real and sometimes even ugly stuff. They want REAL.

Instagram is different. It’s thought out, structured. It’s perfect and beautiful. To share a raw photo on IG is to commit a social sin. But not anymore. Many argue IG won’t be able to handle the raw Snapchat-ish content due to its perfectionistic nature, however I think they’re wrong.

I believe users are so hungry for the raw stuff that they’ll not only appreciate it on IG, but that Stories could revolutionize the platform and shift it to being a more real place to hang.

Let’s be honest, before IG Stories, it was falling behind in the ranks due to its stagnant culture of ultimate beauty – they had to do something. They had to add an element of fun and give businesses a reason to come back.

Enter IG Stories.

But businesses are having a tough time deciding how to utilize the new feature, so I’m here to help. Between asking my Snapchat and IG audiences to recommend their favorite biz brands and coming across a few on my own – I’ve got a nice, varied list with action steps to inspire you and illustrate what is most important.

1. Decide on your WHY.

As with any social network, this is the first thing to decide before committing to a new platform or content stream. Before we can be purposeful content creators, we must know why we’re there and what the goal is.

If the goal is to showcase products or services, introduce staff – whatever, begin there. It will change in a few months (or should), so don’t get too caught up in the why, but it will keep you focused when it comes to creating strategies for content types, when, how often, etc.

Examples: NASA 

There’s no explanation necessary for who NASA is, but what they’re doing on social media is another story. It was surprising to  a) see NASA creating IG Stories and b) creating so many and so fast! Almost immediately, they jumped on board sharing stories about how they train for missions, gave background and context on the trainings, spotlighted employees by allowing them to speak, and well – got me sucked in quick!

So why? Because NASA needs to make money. NASA needs people to be interested in their missions and goals. NASA needs to humanize the brand. NASA is out to stop hiding behind its mysterious doors and share the cool stuff we don’t get to see. And I can guarantee that it will work.

*IG account shared by Brian Fanzo. Find him on IG at @isocialfanz

2. Get inspired.

Because IG Stories is a new feature, there isn’t a lot of published content explaining how to create IG Stories with success, but we definitely recommend checking out this post to get the low down: Instagram Stories: 6 Things You Need to Know. 

But go a step further and be purposeful about finding inspiration. It’s one of the first things I do whenever starting a new account, whether for myself or an ARCH client.

First, locate similar businesses in your industry who are sharing IG Stories and having fun. Follow them, watch what they’re doing, and figure how how to follow their example for your business. Forget the notion of competition, and draw inspiration from what they share that resonates with you.

Second, sit down with paper and a pen (I suggest multi-colored markers) and write or draw out the different elements of the business. If you’re utilizing Snapchat, what is working? What does your audience enjoy? If you’re on Facebook – what do they like there? Or Instagram! Take those popular content topics and start playing to find out how you can turn them into stories.

Example: DesignLoveFest 

This is one of my favorite IG follows. Love this account – for many reasons.  DesignLoveFest is a branding/design company who continually innovates to offer new services and products. They create free wallpapers to download, design dinnerware sold at Target, style photoshoots for some of the biggest brands in lifestyle industries, travel the world teaching branding/social media, and well – just having a blast (if you ask me).

So following the account is a no brainer for me. I’m constantly inspired by how they style photos, use backdrops, and incorporate the staff into everything that’s posted. And the owner, Bri, took a whole 4 minutes to begin creating IG Stories when the feature was released. She does product reveals that arrive in the mail everyday, gives backstage access to this incredible company, and keeps the audience close with recipes and helpful home design tips.

This is a goldmine for my own geeky obsessions, but mainly because ARCH works with clients in the retail/fashion/jewelry industry, and this account gives me endless ideas for how to showcase products to humanize a brand.

3. Show off the goods.

Showing off the goods is self explanatory. Show off your goods – the products and services that your business offers. Do NOT turn it into a salesy glossary, but practice and excel at the art of showcasing the goods in a fun, interesting and enticing manner. Even better, learn how to do it so that it appears you aren’t.

FOMO (Fear of missing out) is a real thing, and IG Stories offer you the perfect avenue to conjure up that emotion in your audience.

If you’re a restaurant, share mouth-watering specials/ingredients/recipes. If you’ve got a yoga studio, share poses/classes/instructors/retail. If you’re a retail store – psssht, just have fun! Consider the target audience and tease them into having FOMO.

Example: Visit Durango 

The VisitDurango IG offers no shortage of gorgeous photos that will make you want to pack up and travel there ASAP.

The account is an aggregation of content from Durango, Colorado from anyone utilizing the #VisitDurango hashtag when posting on IG. And the result is spectacular.

But even though it’s a crowdfunded account, they go above and beyond with IG Stories. Sit back and get taken on hikes, watch sunsets, and I guarantee it won’t be long before you head to the computer to book a visit yourself. THAT is FOMO done right and in a digestible manner.

*IG account shared by Peter Freeman. Find him on IG at @findpeterfreeman

4. Infuse it with personality.

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many biz accounts I watched fall flat, even when the content was interesting to watch.

Who cares how awesome your product is, who gets excited about your insane service – unless you do?! Or whoever is managing the account. If personality doesn’t radiate from the stories then you’ll have a tough time getting anyone to watch.

My biggest advice here – have some fun already! Be goofy, be silly, show mistakes, show mishaps, show reality. And if your mellow and sullen and not a big fan of the world, share that because it will draw the audience who best aligns with you.

Bottom line, don’t be afraid to be yourself. EVER. Large businesses can tackle this by humanizing the staff, playing jokes or laughing with upper management, sharing family moments or company events. This is definitely not just a suggestion or possibility for smaller businesses. In fact, its the big businesses who need this the most.

Example: TheDryBar 

One of my favorite businesses out there (WHAT A BRILLIANT IDEA)!! Basically, a blow-dry chain for women that’s taken over cities nationwide, and is my one stop every time I’m traveling (and needing to look killer) for work. It’s a flat $40 per hairstyle, opens at 5am, offers wine and champagne to clients, and gets you out the door in no time. Brilliant.

The IG account boasts pics of gorgeous hairstyles for viewers. The founder is currently focused on selling her product line on QVC and other online shopping networks, so IG Stories is following her around getting behind-the-scenes moments. And let’s face it, Alli (owner) is hilarious! She’s wild, cusses, and has zero issues sharing who she is. And that is the best way to be. She’s adding a personality to the brand by infusing her’s into the IG Stories.

5. Be original, don’t regurgitate content.

While I didn’t want to include any “do NOTs” into this list, I felt this point was imperative after watching accounts for the past few weeks.

Do not, do NOT repurpose content from other social networks UNLESS there is a very specific reason. The funniest thing about this is that marketers are currently the biggest perpetrators and this is one of the oldest no-no’s in the industry!

Why not?  A) It’s lazy. Don’t be lazy. If you’re going to be lazy, fine – but have more respect for the audience who gives you their time and be lazy on your own. B) Why should anyone follow you on both networks if you’re simply reposting stuff? C) Every social network is different, has a unique culture, and expects that you can customize the content for that specific one. What is cool on Facebook isn’t cool on Twitter, etc. And don’t assume just because video is the common denominator that it means re-using is cool. D) If you can’t drum up new content to share on IG Stories then don’t invest in it until you can. It looks bad for your brand and credibility, so wait if need be.

We’re only a few weeks in with IG Stories and it’s going to be interesting to watch how it will play out in the marketing arena, but these are the first steps to ensure a successful start for your business.

Did I leave anything out?? Or have any advice for business owners? Comment below!

This blog topic was requested by Fayann Dsouza (@fayann.loves on Instagram).

Crowdsourcing blog ideas rocks because I know it will make a difference to as least one person. And as my workload increases, finding the time to write a blog is getting tough! But when my community speaks, I listen.

With this topic, I went one step further and asked my Snapchat community to share their number one tip for managing a remote team. I wanted a well-rounded point of view, and the feedback was great! Their Snapchat handles are included in parentheses.

The deal is, and it’s no secret – managing is a not an easy endeavor whether it’s in-house or with contracted/remote workers.

I will outline several strategies to be successful with remote management, but there’s a singular element that MUST be an active part of everything we do – communication.

Tough love time – I believe that communication solves everything, and to bypass it when managing a team (regardless of our busy schedules) is foolish. Teams are a direct reflection of our investment, and if it’s not working then it’s time to take an objective look in the mirror.

As managers, we can’t control everything or everyone, but we can be purposeful about learning to be better at what we do on a consistent basis.

“But how do I manage a team that I can’t see? How do I stay on top of what they’re doing? Or ensure they aren’t off playing video games or shopping at the mall?”

Short answer is – you don’t.

And quite frankly, as long as their work is in process and/or complete, it shouldn’t matter what they’re doing. Your main focus is getting the work done in the most efficient time with the brightest quality. And that comes by respecting the people you work with, giving trust, communicating, and providing systems to grow a happy environment.

Let’s jump into the main components of managing a remote team successfully, and I’ll interweave the wisdom shared via my Snapchat community.

1. Learn how to interact with your team on an individual level.

Personality tests have always been fascinating. I love running them on myself and those in my life, so it was no different when I brought together a team in 2014.

My initial team at ARCH was comprised of people I knew well. They were personal friends and social media colleagues, so trust came innately. But it quickly became obvious that I needed to know them more intimately, i.e. how they work best, what they’re most passionate about, and what they love doing outside of work.

A few years back, I read “The 5 Love Languages,” and it gave me a deeper understanding of my loved ones. Fortunately, the author had just released “The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace,” which was the same book with a business frame of mind.

At ARCH, this test is one of the first introductions to who we are as a team. It’s the first thing a new member does, and their results are posted on the team Slack channel. It generate discussion, and as a manager it helps me to understand all the important things – how to communicate when they mess up, how they communicate best, and how they receive praise.

While some managers may scoff at such an idea, it has been monumental in helping me understand my team, and provide them communication in a manner best suited for them as individuals.

“The key is to earn the trust of those you work with and serve as a leader who motivates and drives the team,” says Morgan Mandriota (@morgmand).

When we take an active interest in the people we work with it sets everyone up for success.

I’ve worked with managers who didn’t give a crap about me unless I performed, which made me feel used. Or didn’t provide me feedback on my work, which left me frustrated and confused about how well I was doing.

As you can imagine, neither one of those scenarios garnered anything close to my best work. Treat your team the way you would want to be treated, and never lose sight of that perspective.

2. Set clear expectations.

This is a biggie.

I’ve worked for companies that didn’t set clear expectations, and it leads to insecurity, doubt, and failure. Also, you can almost guarantee they won’t ever satisfy you.

Setting clear expectations from the start is important because it paves the way for success on both ends of the relationship. When someone knows what they’re responsible for, they have clear guidelines for what must be done and how they will be measured.

But setting clear expectations means you have to slow down to be clear and concise. More than once, I assigned something only to have the person come back with questions or frustrations. And when looking at what was communicated, I shook my head at how poorly it was executed because I didn’t stop and fully explain.

“My #1 tip would be.. you must ensure everyone has a clear understanding of the work they must do and how they will be measured,” says Michael Abrams (@michaeltabrams).

You think setting expectations is a waste of time? Think about ALL the time you’ll lose when they’re baffled and/or try to do it and can’t. Or do it incorrectly.

Bleh, right?!

Save yourself the aggravation.

3. Accountability must occur in front of the team.

This was a huge learn for me.

Not long after launching ARCH, I realized that staying on top of everyone was a major waste of my time, made them feel like I was micro-managing, and created a lot of irritation. These guys were used to working independently, so I needed to come up with a creative solution to allow me to stay on top of what we completed and respect their space.

Thankfully, I found the solution in idongethis, an app that allows employees to record tasks they’ve completed or are in the process of completing for that day. At the end of the day, it sends out an email reminder to update it with any tasks that haven’t been included. And the next morning, it sends out a full report to everyone on progress.

It integrates with Slack (more on that later), incorporates a messaging element (so team members can comment on tasks completed), and is super easy to use.

It saves me time and makes the team happy because I don’t need to constantly check in and find out what is being done. And most importantly, it creates a team vibe because they see what others are accomplishing.

4. Utilize the right tools.

Tools, tools, tools – there are so many! It’s crucial to your the team that the right tools are discovered and put to use. It’s also crucial to not jump around with new tools unless it’s absolutely necessary.

“The vast majority of your communication will take place on email, Slack, calls, etc. You need to be able to communicate what you are working on and what your teammates can help with on a consistent basis,” said Jessica Malnik (@JessicaMalnik).

More tough love – do NOT expect your team to use what you don’t and/or incorporate anything into practice that you don’t. We are the managers, we’re the leaders, and we must always lead by example.

Due to the nature of my agency, I chose to incorporate tools that could be used from anywhere, on any device, and be easily adaptable at any time.

ARCH tools are as follows:

1. Slack. This is our team messaging platform. It integrates with almost everything, namely Google docs, Dropbox, idonethis, etc. They have an excellent iOS app, so it can be used on the go. It allows for public and private discussions, houses projects, and is SEARCHABLE. We need to be able to locate information, files or discussion at any given moment. In addition, and most importantly, Slack GREATLY cuts back on email. You should not use email for anything that isn’t necessary because it can get lost or overlooked. My team knows that virtually all communication is via Slack, unless it’s with a client.

2. Asana. This is our project management platform. Initially, we used Teamwork, but found it to be too bulky and complicated for our projects. I used Asana on a personal basis for a few years, like the simplicity, and for time sake chose to utilize it as the project management platform. I can color code (one of my favorite things in life), assign projects and tasks, easily create team calendars and to-do lists, and house client information.

Bottom line, sometimes the best app isn’t the new, fancy one, but the one you’re used to using – as a manager. It’s important to make a choice that is easy to explain to the team because they’ll have questions on how to use it, and you should know and/or have a quick way to find out. Chances are that if you’re struggling with a tool, they are too.

3. idonethis. Mentioned above in #3, this is a major component to running a successful remote team – the ability to track where folks are at in their workflow and what they’re doing easily.

4. Google docs. This is where the lion-share of our systems and client information is shared. It’s a paid account, so it’s secure. Pro tip: Use it for media instead of Dropbox. It’s crazy cheap, and will give you the same features.

And that’s it!

The best advice I can give you concerning tools is to find what works and stick with it. There’s always going to be a new toy on the market to play with, but it’s not worth your time or your team’s time to learn if it doesn’t fulfill a major need.

5. Create in-house atmospheres by personal interactions.

Have you ever been on a conference call and everyone is trying to speak while also trying to be polite? Have you been working online for so long that you forget who’s on the other side? Do you find yourself communicating too emotionally?

I think the online community suffers from a lack of compassion, and I don’t necessarily think that is our fault. It’s easy to forget we are dealing with legit humans on the other side because our world’s largest mode of operating is via electronic equipment.

“Communication is KEY.. and often. Via video and audio conference calls, we held meetings EVERY week, even if there wasn’t anything significant to discuss. Recognition in front of peers works WONDERS! And builds trust, respect, and appreciation for the supervisor,” said Liz (@lovelycreationz).

To create an in-house atmosphere, meetings should be conducted via video. Why? Because seeing faces will cultivate emotion among the team for one another, makes everyone stay focused on the meeting, makes it easier to share ideas and information without cutting one another off, and keeps frustration to a minimum.

Even though everyone won’t always look nice or have the best background setting, it’s important to find ways to remind one another we are a team, and we’re comprised of real people.

6. Have employees participate in the process.

When people feel like their opinion matters, it will turn the tide of what you get out of them almost immediately.

“Have everyone share their work goals and how they are progressing. Share successes and failures with the group. The group must become vulnerable and transparent with each other to become a cohesive group. When they feel they can freely share where they need help, then others will immediately step in to help them. This breeds an amazing sense of team and not siloed individuals,” says Michael Abrams (@michaeltabrams).

During weekly meetings, ARCH team members are given a chance to air any questions or concerns. In addition, they are constantly asked for their opinions on projects and ideas. My team knows that while I have the ultimate say, their opinion is VERY important to me, even if I disagree.

Allowing disagreement has been one of the hardest things for me to deal with as a manager because my ego doesn’t like to be questioned, haha. But I know it’s an important element in developing a healthy atmosphere for the team. And now I’m much better at dealing with it.

“We use the term RAZZLE DAZZLE when we’re feeling overwhelmed (usually with work stuff) and desperately want a time out! We have LOTS of other fun code words that makes working remotely fun and helps us stay connected,” shared Shanon Whiteswan (@ShanonWhiteswan).

Bottom line, we will NEVER get someone’s best when they don’t feel necessary or needed, and when they can’t be honest. It’s just not possible.

When I ask for the best from the team, it means I have to be willing to hear things I don’t want to in order to create what I do.

7. Be transparent.

This should be a no-brainer, but isn’t. Over the years, I worked with businesses who opened themselves up to their employees, so they could see what was happening. And I worked for those who didn’t. The difference in team atmosphere is enormous.

As Peter Freeman (@peterfreeman) said, “Be open and transparent, and build relationships with your people as it’s often easier for staff (and bosses) to hide their issues/feelings without the benefit of face to face interaction.”

If you want loyalty and trust, you’ve got to earn it. Just because we’re managers or business owners doesn’t entitle us to anything besides the bare minimum. We have to show our team that we are worth being followed, that we know what we’re talking about, lead by example, allow open discussion, and continually be cultivating an environment that brings out the strengths of each individual.

It is up to us to do the right thing and treat people with respect.

Overall:

Everything on this list goes back to healthy communication. If we maintain this priority in all of our decisions, managing a remote team will be an enriching and enjoyable experience.

Have anything to add? Leave it in the comments below!

Snapchat, Snapchat – current owner of my social media heart. I love Snapchat. It’s the social network I’ve been spending the most time on, and not just because it’s fun.

But because the community is second to none.

A recent study said that Snapchat users aren’t buying anything, but I disagree wholeheartedly.

Several of my #SnapchatFam followers became NutriBullet users after watching me churn mine after morning workouts, influencer personalities have become the go-to way to promote for brands, and well, there’s no shortage of these stories.

Why? Because people buy based on recommendations from friends and family they know and trust.

That’s difficult when you’re a business. You have a service or product to sell, but want it come off as authentic and trustworthy. And that’s why it’s so crucial to build a community.

Think about it.

If you go to a restaurant and have a spectacular experience, how many people do you tell? And who are your friends going to listen to – you or a review from a random source?

That’s why building communities online is so important on every social network you invest in, but especially on Snapchat.

I’ve been hanging out on Snapchat for over 3 years now – waiting and watching for the world to catch on, and the end of 2015 belonged to Snapchat. It grew from 2 million uploads per day in October to 2 BILLION by December.

Talk about an explosion!

What’s so different about Snapchat? It’s raw, real, and ultra personal. It allows any and every brand the opportunity to tell a backstory with minimal exertion, and without fancy equipment. And the millennials are ALL over it.

So how do you build a community on such a cool platform? 

Simply follow my fives ways to build an engaging community on Snapchat. Promise I won’t steer you wrong.

1. Be yourself

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s not. While there are many ways to hide yourself and/or your brand on other social networks, it’s going to be a tough sell on Snapchat.

Why? Because Snapchat isn’t the environment for portraying anything false. It’s authentic and raw, and will require those traits from you.

But (as with all things related to social and your business) this is an area where you’ll want to pay special attention to ensure the content you or someone on your team produces aligns with your brand.

Take the time to write out what you will and won’t do on Snapchat, the things you will and won’t share, and be concise. Being purposeful about how you share yourself or your brand is everything because it creates boundaries for the type of content that can be shared.

And believe me, that’s a blessing.

My Snapchat fam knows what I’m all about: encouragement, motivation, food, travel, social media, salsa dancing, yoga, healthy eating, #AhnaAsks, and LOTS of laughing. They know I let my dorky side out on Snapchat and even though it makes me feel vulnerable at times, it’s the realest I’ve ever been on social media. I share my work, talk about projects and clients, but that isn’t my main priority.

It’s about sharing myself, and it’s created an engaging and personal community.

2. Post consistently

Consistency is the #1 ingredient to social media success across the board, and Snapchat is no different.

Don’t think it’s okay to bounce in and out of this network if you want to build a solid following and community. But don’t let that overwhelm you because it’s a huge undertaking.

More so, don’t spend several days Snapping like a crazy person and then disappear for a few weeks only to return to sporadic snaps.

Why not? It looks bad for the credibility and reliability of your brand. Have you ever seen a Twitter handle tweet 20 times within an hour and then not again until a month later? What do you think when you see that? Whatever it is, it probably isn’t so great.

Snapchat is raw and real, so you’re allowed to let followers know you’ll be MIA for a few days or so busy that snapping isn’t possible, but do your best to maintain a consistent schedule.

My Snapchat fam knows that I’m on almost everyday, multiple times a day, unless I’m bogged down with work. But even then, I usually pop in to tell them how busy I am or at least share my yoga happenings for the day. It’s important to me to do my best to maintain consistency on SC because it’s only going to continue to blossom.

3. Incorporate fun themes/activities

If there’s anything my Snapchat fam can count on when they follow me, it’s FUN. I do my best to incorporate silliness, jokes, music, contests, and themes to keep them entertained. Mind you, these are things for THEM, not me.

But that’s how I do social. By focusing on creating content for my audience instead of using a channel to broadcast my own supposed wisdom, quality folks come my way naturally.

I held a very successful AMA that resulted in over 47 minutes of content (and serious brain fuzz), and I made sure to answer EVERY question that came in. Another time, I asked folks to share their favorite song with me, and used those to make a public playlist for everyone to enjoy. And more than anything, my #AhnaAsks questions are a major hit. I ask a simple question and reply to every answer. Followers love them because they have a dedicated reason to interact, and it helps me to get to know them in a digestible way.

The bottom line, your Snapchat fam isn’t there just to absorb everything you put out, they want to be engaged and involved. So how are you going to make that happen?

Come up with your own games, activities, and make sure to tie it all in with your brand. I typically ask questions covered in the topics outlined in #1 above or those relating to a topic I’m discussing that day. For instance, when I was headed out on a work trip, I asked folks where they would travel if they could go anywhere.

Think about how you can add value to your audience by engaging them and not just preaching at them. I’m seeing a lot of folks become blasting speakers for their own agendas on Snapchat, and it’s sad because I used to enjoy watching their snaps. But I don’t watch anymore.

The audience wants in, wants to interact and be a part of the conversation. So get creative and figure out ways to do that.

4. Give shoutouts and promote others

I’m a big fan of the “all boats rise” philosophy because it relates to ALL aspects of life, even Snapchat.

When we take the time to show love to others we admire or see doing awesome things, that love always circles back. And the cool thing is, even if you aren’t genuine about doing it at first or have to remind yourself – once you start, you’ll be so overjoyed by the appreciation of others that you’ll start doing it organically.

Share your favorite follows on Friday or throughout the week, call out someone who’s really doing a great job of interacting with you, tell your followers about an awesome story someone you follow posted for the day or simply thank your followers on a consistent basis for sharing their time with your goofy self.

Gratitude never loses, especially not in Snapchat-landia!

5. Ask for feedback

The best way to grow to get creative is always to ask. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. And if you’re wondering why no one interacts with you, grab a few of your closest followers and ask for feedback.

But don’t do it if you aren’t prepared to hear something you may not like.

There are people I don’t follow because they simply preach on their snaps, others I don’t follow because it’s quite obvious they’re only out to get a large number of followers, and even more because they are simply rude.

How we present ourselves online is VERY important and shouldn’t be taken lightly. But we are all guilty of forgetting that sometimes and going off on a rant, sharing negative info or stepping outside the lines of simply politeness.

Post. With. Purpose. It’s one of my biggest social media mottos, and it’s something I live by.

The flip-side of that is getting feedback is a great tool for learning what your audience wants, so you can create content they will be interested to watch. That doesn’t mean you do whatever they want, it simply means that maybe they want more variety or more of you.

Either way, you don’t know until you ask.

I hope this has helped you learn more about how to grow a quality community on Snapchat. It has been such a joy watching this network explode over the past year and being partial to the communities flourishing everyday. Real people congregate on Snapchat, and I dig that.

Did I miss anything? Post your recommendations below!!

Click HERE to listen in!!

Tired of Googling for content only to find the same old boring stuff?

We can help!

I confess, I used to use Google to search for images to post on my Facebook page.

I would search for keyword phrases like “motivational quotes” or “motivational quotes for Facebook.”

It’s an easy way to go about it. After all, you only have to wait a few seconds and then voila… Google does the work and shows you what to post.

Here’s the problem…

It’s time consuming to come up with new phrases to type in — and worse yet — the content is repetitive.

Pretty soon, the same old stuff keeps coming up. Plus, since that content is SEO optimized, other people will be searching and posting the same exact thing.

My desktop got very MESSY when I was doing this. At one point, I had over 20 different images I had saved to post.

Finally, I realized there had to be a better way. All that was too much work!

Does any of this sound familiar? I bet some of you have gone through the same thing too.

These days, Facebook is putting more weight on quality content.

Will your posts pass the Facebook quality content test? Ask yourself these 5 questions:

• Is it timely and relevant content?
• Does it come from a trustworthy source
• Would you share it with friends or recommend it to others?
• Would you call this a low quality post or meme?
• Would you complain about seeing this content in your news feed?

Facebook also has an algorithm that determines:

• The time people spend reading an article
• The time people spend looking at a Facebook post

There are just so many factors to consider when choosing what to post on Facebook.

Today, I thought it would be fun to find out how the experts find great Facebook content to post.

These experts share amazing Facebook content on a daily basis. It would be fantastic to learn from them as they share the tips and tricks up their sleeves.

This post includes tips from:

• Peg Fitzpatrick
• Neil Patel
• Dave Kerpen
• Ahna Hendrix
• Jonha Richman
• Glen Gilmore
• Lucy Rendler-Kaplan
• Ravi Shukle
• Pam Moore

This is going to be great! Let’s get started. To read more, click HERE.

Marketers and business owners are increasingly going overboard with sending out one message to a whole group or tagging folks in updates that they might like to see.

But that’s the whole point – updates “they might like to see.”

Before I get into why group messaging and group tagging is a buzz kill, and why it’s killing your brand – I want you to know that I am old school. The way I do business is old school. The way I conduct myself in business relationships is old school. “My word is my bond” old school.

So how I view this practice is old school.

And what I mean by that is simply that RESPECT is a part of every strategy I utilize online and in my personal life. I do not believe in tagging someone or messaging them if they did not personally opt in or it doesn’t directly relate to them. And I think brands should do the same.

Why?

There’s several reasons.

1. Lack of personalization.

We are in the midst of the biggest wave of personalized popularity there has ever been online. People want to feel special, to feel unique, and that all the messaging heading their way was tailored to them.

Remember when email marketing incorporated the ability to insert someone’s first name into the header? Like, WOW, right? All of a sudden it looked like your emails were meant for that very specific person when they opened it up.

And they LOVED it. And why shouldn’t they? We all want to feel like our opinion, participation or reference is valuable, and we appreciate it when brands give us that opportunity.

2. It’s disrespectful.

If I asked you whether or not you appreciate telemarketing calls, you’d probably shake your head side-to-side emphatically. Then you’d fill me in on the latest one who called or who had the nerve to call your cellphone.

Why do we dislike telemarketers so much? Because they invade our personal space. They invade our personal time. And their messages are meant for the masses.

It’s the same with sending group messages or tagging groups of people. It’s disrespectful. Thankfully, Facebook now offers the ability to turn it off or untag yourself, but what about on Twitter or Snapchat? There’s nothing you can do and that can become maddening.

It is not a respectful use of someone’s time to send them something simply with the hopes of getting more eyeballs on it or pushing your message in front of people it has nothing to do with.

For example, one of my least favorite ways of group messaging is the dreaded auto DM on Twitter. I don’t read my DM’s for this reason, but every once in a while I’ll see one fly in that says something like “Does your business need social media? We can help!” blah, blah. And I roll my eyes, make a puking gesture, and unfollow sooo fast. I own a social media marketing agency, why would I need their help!?

But most importantly, that message isn’t for me, doesn’t apply to me, and that’s irritating.

Being rude online is something people overlook because they aren’t looking at everyone they interact with in the eyes. But we are highly mistaken to ever treat our online audiences as anything but real.

Online audiences are not just numbers, they are people – real people just like you and I, and it’s time to treat them that way.

3. It makes it hard for the marketing industry.

You know what burns me up the most about these practices are that they ruin it for the rest of us.

Those of us that want to offer a genuine solution to the customer’s problem or need. This inundation of sending out throngs of messages at any and everyone who looks our way only makes it that much harder for the real ones to get through.

When I first got into sales back in 2003/04, something like that – I worked for Cingular. My coworkers were a bunch of hoodlums who liked selling people phones they didn’t need, adding on features they didn’t ask for, and basically doing every unethical thing they could to rack in numbers. I was disgusted and appalled, and didn’t think I could make it in that environment.

But something happened one day. A woman came in who needed help, and I spent time with her finding out what she needed and why. I learned why one device would be better than the other, and which features could make her life easier. I spent too much time with her according to the sales floor standards, but when she walked out I felt amazing because I solved a problem. That was it for me.

She ended up sending me TONS of referral traffic, and I went from being the newbie salesgirl to being the top salesperson among the three area stores.

This is a philosophy I have utilize everyday, and it’s one that serves me and my clients greatly when growing their brand because we don’t take advantage of the relationships built online or the overlook the honor of having a place in their inbox.

Marketing is marketing, and we all have to make money or want to make money for our clients. But we are only making it harder for ourselves in the long run by pushing the wrong angle in the short run.

Growing good things takes time.

4. It’s the lazy way to create engagement.

It baffles me to get a notification on Facebook that someone has tagged me along with 30+ other people to get an answer to a question or to show off their latest blog. I’ve even gotten so irritated that I went to the Facebook parents and told on them.

Folks, this is a lazy practice. Downright lazy.

And maybe you don’t know that – in fact, that’s what I’m guessing.

You probably say another marketer or business person doing the same, and thought, “hey, that’s a great idea.” And in theory, it is! When it’s directed correctly or utilized in the right way, it can be powerful.

But few to none know how to do that. Instead, whenever they do something new – they throw in a bunch of names they think might share it or comment, and it becomes a free for all.

Again, this might work in the SHORT run, but if you’re looking to build genuine relationships, if you want to show your audience they can trust you, if you want to be different – think about from their perspective.

Stop being a marketer or a business owner for a moment – throw that mindset AWAY. Look at it from the perspective of the consumer, of the person receiving the message or tag. Would you appreciate it? Would it add value to your life? Would it be worth your time?

When we focus solely on the dollar bill signs or traffic numbers we forget that our practices might be ones that we wouldn’t appreciate either. And that’s a PRICELESS viewpoint to take into consideration.

5. It doesn’t say much for YOUR brand.

And one of the biggest reasons if not THE biggest is that it reflects poorly on your brand, your integrity, and the credibility of it.

I received a Snapchat message from someone the other night that said “Hey, sorry I don’t get a chance to interact personally very often, but I wanted you to know I appreciate you and thanks for following me.”

Guess what? I’m not following him.

FAIL.

Not only does that make him look like a fool, but it reinforces the reason I unfollowed him to begin with.

If you want to build a trustworthy, genuine, and human brand – make sure to infuse everything you do with integrity. And integrity doesn’t take advantage of it’s online audience or treat them like a big general mass of folks stacked on top of one another.

Yes, it will take longer to grow an audience.
Yes, it will take more time to cultivate.
Yes, you will need to be patient and go the extra mile.

BUT it will all be worth it because the audience you grow will love you, look forward to hearing from you, and sound your marketing message across the Internet-scape whenever you ask becauseeeee they know you only ask when it’s of value.

Do NOT go the easy route and focus on numbers or engagement with caddy practices – have substance, respect, and integrity, and they will fall in love with you.

Guaranteed.

HOW?

So now that we’ve discuss why you shouldn’t take advantage of group messaging or tagging, let’s talk about what to do instead because I know you have a brand to grow! I get it.

1. Build brand ambassadors.

Find out who your greatest champions are – they ones who love your brand, and I mean reallyyyy love your brand, and ask them to partner with you.

Their audience size is important, but it’s not everything. What’s most important is that they represent your target audience, the ones you want to bring to your business because it’s highly probable they knows others who are also a part of your target audience.

There’s a podcast I won’t name who used brand ambassadors to grow the brand. When it first started out, the ambassadors weren’t very well known online, and didn’t have big audiences. But they loved the podcast and shared it continually when new episodes came out or when the brand shared snippets of the podcast. Fast forward 8 months, and it’s becoming a well known podcast for the exact audience it wanted to reach.

Why? It chose people who are passionate about it and who fit their demographic. Then they partnered up, and worked together.

2. Tag the right people.

If you want to utilize tagging, make sure they are the right people.

Don’t tag people because you want them to see your latest blog or video or whatever. Tag people who are involved, people who are directly partaking in the content.

And no one else.

3. If you want it shared – ask.

What happened to being straightforward and asking people to share your content, if that’s what you want?

Be honest, be direct, and ask for the share. BUT before you do, make sure they will find value in what you created, and that it will resonate with their audience.

Furthermore, I would suggest saying something like – “If you find this to be valuable , please share, I would love your support as I am growing my brand.”

Be human because you’re asking a human, and if you ask politely and in a straightforward manner, they’re likely to do it with an open heart.

Finally, and this is a HUGE finally – make sure YOU are sharing or engaging with their content. If you aren’t doing your part to interact and support your community then asking will be tough. Or maybe you don’t care and will ask anyway. But the bottom line is that if you are supporting your community then they’ll be happy to support you.

4. Utilize private messaging.

Some folks online want to get feedback on new branding or business ideas or possibly just insights on a question they have.

That’s cool.

What’s not cool is tagging a bunch of people to find out who will be looped into the never-ending conversation of that subject and inevitably get irritated with you when you were simply curious and wanted their feedback.

Hey, I’m not dissing you – you really want to know. But think about others before yourself. Take a step back and narrow down those numbers to a golden few who you know can offer solid feedback, and then message them privately.

Why? I can guarantee you’ll get much better feedback this way.

Not only will someone feel special because they know their opinion is valuable to you, but in that emotion – they’ll go the extra mile to please you and give you solid insight.

You’re only shorting yourself by going to quantity versus quality – I promise.

5. Be tactful with group messaging or tagging.

The thing is, group messaging or tagging isn’t bad by nature, but the action of how it’s used can be detrimental to your brand and even to your friendships if it’s not used correctly.

If you’re going to use these practices, make sure you use them in accordance with what I’ve outlined above – to people that are directly involved in the content or who have opted in to be.

Otherwise, segment out your messaging to be personal to the folks receiving it.

I promiseeeee you that taking the extra time to nurture your audience, to grow it in a personal manner, and to cultivate trusting relationships will return you wayyyyy more than marketing to the masses ever could.

Not only because it will give your brand the longevity it needs to sustain, but because you’ll know you are treating your audience – the people who know, love, and trust you – with respect.

Let’s do marketing right, folks.

Your turn:

Disagree? Please share why – I’d love to know.

Take a listen as we talk about my (current) favorite social network, Snapchat, my days as an editorial writer for the Tar Heel Press, and why I love social media so much.

Take a listen on these 3 links:

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-58-ahna-hendrix-ahnahendrix/id957216146?i=360932467&mt=2

 
Sound Cloud:
https://soundcloud.com/why-i-social-podcast/episode-58-ahna-hendrix

Stitcher:
http://www.stitcher.com/s?eid=42147527

Thanks so much for a great interview, Chris!

Last year, I wrote 3 MUSTS for Social Media in 2015 because everyone writes a “trends for the upcoming year” post, but looking back – I really called it!

So why not continue the tradition this year?

Making predictions for an upcoming year is a tough call with social media because our industry trends shift so quickly, but I’m convinced that even my 2015 predictions will continue to hold true this year.

Before we jump into 2016, here’s a 2015 prediction review:

1. Personal Connection
This was definitely a major key in constructing messages and curating content in 2015, and will continue to be this year.

In fact, we’ll begin seeing personalization take on a whole new meaning as apps and tech create devices and services that match up with users. And as these products grow, so will the need for targeted promotions.

2. Video
I was a bit ahead of this prediction last year – not in the world of marketing, but with business owners and brands.

They began engaging with video regularly in 2015, but hadn’t allocated budget for it or sewn it into the content marketing strategies.

However, moving forward this year, brands small and large know that video will be a necessary part of every content marketing strategy.

3. Ad Spend
Ad spend increased monumentally in 2015, but it’s going to be the heaviest portion of budget in 2016.

With the death of most organic reach across social networks, and the inundation of ads, we’re seeing more and more companies work harder and spend more to make their ads stand out.

We may even see interactive ads this year.

Now, let’s cover the 3 MUSTS for Social Media in 2016.

To read more, click HERE.

I didn’t intend to write about why email marketing is still a necessity for 2016 marketing strategies, but people keep asking me about its relevance.

Yes, email marketing is still very, very important. And that’s no exaggeration.

But the typical business owner gets distracted by all the new shiny social networks. And I get it – there’s so many.

However, it will be a long time before email marketing is replaced, if ever. I think our current process, tools, and apps will change, but we’ll always have an “inbox” to receive messages from the outside world that isn’t connected to a social network.

Can you imagine a world without email? And before you say, heck yes – I’d love it! Think about how you would reach out professionally or share intimate letters with someone. Or promote to them.

My inbox is magical for me. It’s the singular place someone can reach me without my getting distracted by a bajillion other things. It’s crazy how calm I feel when checking email versus going to reply to a Facebook Message or Twitter DM.

Emails still have their own place, and when it comes to marketing – there’s no difference. Even though some marketers or biz owners talk down about email marketing, the power hasn’t waned.

The biggest reason it gets so much pushback is that it’s hard. Because most email marketers don’t respect the person who signed up, and consumers are being more protective with their email accounts.

Can you blame them? A few weeks ago, I signed up for a newsletter, but was hounded by so many emails within the first week that I hit the Unsubscribed button with exertion!

But that’s another subject.

Today, we’re going to talk about WHY Email Marketing Is Still KEY in your marketing efforts. And why it’s worth the time investment.

1. There’s nothing more intimate than the inbox.

Besides getting someone’s phone number, what is more intimate than their email address? Especially as a business owner or marketing professional.

When you give someone a reason to pass along their email address, you’re in. And I mean IN. You’ve got a one way ticket to their heart, a direct line to their time, and that’s valuable.

But you’ve got to prove your emails are worth it! You’ve got to provide value, at the right time, and at the right frequency.

Don’t downplay the fact that getting a new email subscriber is a major deal, and should be regarded with honor. It’s not to be taken advantage of with constant promotion, and it’s wise to segment your subscribers so you’re able to speak directly to the reader.

Understand who your subscribers are, make sure to segment out lists, and craft emails for each one.

2. You can say whatever you’d like.

Once you’re IN, then you’ve got the opportunity to say whatever you’d like!

Now that doesn’t mean you should, in fact – don’t. But my point is that you’re given the reins to tell stories, share information, provide excerpts to new blogs, promotions or even pictures of your kids/family.

Bottom line, you can start building relationships. You can start communicating one on one, and sharing yourself or your brand with the reader.

3. Subscribers actually want to hear from you.

If I give out my email address, I want to hear from you!

And that’s pure gold. It’s not Facebook or Instagram or other social networks where people just want to hang out, but have to constantly duck the ads. It’s their inbox.

And if people sign up for your newsletter then they’re saying yes, email me – BUT make sure it’s good. They don’t want to receive content that won’t help them or their business life in some way. So adding value should always be your main priority – not sales.

Those come after people fall in love with you.

4. Your email list is YOURS.

Probably one of the biggest arguments for email marketing is that regardless of what any social network decides to do in the future, your email list won’t be affected.

That means if Facebook decides to pack up and head home for good, you won’t lose your audience or your dedicated marketing place. Or if Twitter wants to start charging, you can roll your eyes and walk away.

Building an email list is the smartest and fastest way to build a legit audience that wants to hear from you and will be open to what you have to say in an intimate setting.

And that’s priceless.

5. It’s part of the 3 core strategies.

Email marketing plays a crucial part in the success of true social media marketing. That secret formula includes content creation (blogging, videos), email marketing, and social media marketing.

These three combined can slaughter any social strategy because they’re working in conjunction with each other to create a major power punch.

You can’t just market to people on social media because you don’t own those networks, they have no loyalty to you. You can’t utilize social networks without native content. And you can’t push both the social networks and the native content to a more direct place than the inbox.

Boom.

Final thoughts

Email marketing is DEFINITELY a weapon you want in your marketing arsenal. So build a list, develop a community, and rock it out!

Sometimes it’s easy to get annoyed with social media, and yes, I’m guilty of being irritable with the constant interaction and/or notifications.

But the truth is that if we step back, social media is a blessing in MANY way.

It gives us multiple channels to keep in touch, locate old friends, and hey – it’s full of cute kitties and sweet puppies, which everyone needs more of in life.

Don’t you dare roll your eyes!

There’s plenty who say that social media ruins our life, hurts our relationships, and destroys our self-esteem.

But there’s so many ways that social media makes our lives better, especially during the holiday season, and I want to share them with you.

Why? Because we should focus on the positive effects of social media, and see all the ways it helps us to do things we’ve never done simply by logging onto Facebook or Instagram.

So let’s walk through 5 reasons to be thankful for social media this holiday season.

1. Social media makes it easy to connect with loved ones.

Let’s be honest – how easy is it for grandma to log on and see the latest pictures of her grandchildren? Or talk with your gypsy of a friend living across the world? Or plan holidays events with online invitations – all the while saving trees and being kind to the environment?

Super easy with social media!

I remember the days when I had to be home when someone was going to call me, when staying in touch meant swiping my tongue across lots of stamps (ew!), and when I didn’t know how long it would be before I was able to see family members again.

And yes, I’m showing my age.

But still.. You remember it, too!

And while there are fond things I miss like handwritten notes, letters in the mail, and that concern I won’t be home when someone cute is going to call me. But.

Times have changed, and that is exciting because it offers us more opportunities to connect with loved ones over the holidays, regardless of where they are, what they’re doing, and loveeee all over them.

2. Social media makes it simple to let your fans, followers, and customers know how much they mean to you.

Back in the day, it was pretty tough to let ALL your customers or clients know how important they are to you.

Maybe it was because you didn’t have everyone’s address or weren’t able to pinpoint every person who appreciated your products or service.

But these days, you can share how thankful you are for your customers and online audiences easily and often.

You can put together quote cards, photos or videos, and get as personal as you want.

However, if you only do it once, it will be tough to reach everyone, so use the holidays as an opportunity to be overly thankful and say it as much as possible. And from every angle.

Send out email newsletters, write a blog, tweet it, update your Facebook, share pics on Instagram, videos on Snapchat, or put together a Periscope or Blab that you can share again and again.

It’s a luxury to be able to thank everyone so effortlessly, but we must not take advantage of that.

3. Social media allows us to spread love and positive messages to those who may not get to hear it during the holidays.

If you’ve ever served in a soup kitchen or volunteered on a holiday, you’re more than aware there are thousands of people out there who don’t have anyone to share the holidays with, and it can be a hard time for them.

That’s where you and social media can make a positive impact!

Not only do you want to thank the people who support you online, but take the time to do so because there’s many out there who won’t hear it from other people.

The holidays can be a rough time, so spread as much cheer as you possible can! Go overboard!

Utilize your social networks to share heartwarming content, useful articles, fun videos, and as much ooey-gooey goodness as you can possibly muster.

4. Social media allows us to easily find fun things to do locally.

If you haven’t tapped into the power of social media for finding awesome things to do during the holiday season, then you’re missing out!

Last week, I came across a Facebook update explaining the candle lighting ceremonies in downtown Wilmington (where I recently moved to), so I was able to join in.

In fact, I’ve done nothing but use social media to tap into the local scene since I moved here for restaurants, events, grocery stores, yoga studios, and places to run.

Search your social channels for local listings, events, and be sure to support local businesses as much as you can during the holiday season.

Especially if you’re alone or have recently moved, jumping on social can provide ample opportunities to find events you wouldn’t never found out about.

And the same goes for locals! You never know what you’ll find until you start looking.

5. Social media reminds us that while it’s easy to stay connected, what really matters is in front of us.

And finally, while social media is awesome, and provides us ample channels to communicate easily with loved ones from every walk of life, it’s a reminder that life doesn’t exist online.

The holidays are for family and friends, not being glued to our phones, laptops, or tablets.

It’s the time to put these things aside and enjoy the tender moments, the ones we’ll miss one day or call memories.

So take lots of pictures, but don’t get stuck behind the camera.

Shoot videos of funny or endearing moments, but make sure there’s a purpose behind them.

And don’t feel the need to updated everyone and their Mom about every single little thing that makes your holiday wonderful.

Enjoy it.

Here’s to YOU, a wonderful supporter of my business and brand. Thank YOU! I wish you and yours a spectacular and loving holiday spent with those you love most.