Here are 10 lessons I’ve learned over the last decade:

1⃣ The Importance of Giving First Chances
When I graduated, I struggled to find a job in marketing because I had zero experience. But one person gave me a shot, and that chance changed my life. Now, I make it my mission to bet on people. Through internships and entry-level roles, I give others the chance to thrive—with the right mentorship and support.

2⃣ The Importance of Pivoting
Ten years ago, Facebook didn’t really have an algorithm, and organic growth was easy. But as organic reach started to decline, we had to pivot. I didn’t want to trick the algorithm—I wanted to embrace change. Adding Facebook and Instagram ads to our services helped us stay competitive and deliver growth for our clients.

3⃣ Invest in the Right Team Members
Most people try to hire the most experienced candidates they can afford. My approach? I look for people who are coachable, curious, and ambitious. Those are the ones who grow with the company, make their role their own, and bring fresh ideas to the table. I also made a point to invest in their personal growth with courses, conferences, and mentorship opportunities.

4⃣ Always Overdeliver
I learned early on that when my clients succeed, I succeed. Some clients were ready to scale right away; others needed help closing leads. Whether it was adding a free email drip campaign or coaching them through their lead pipeline, we made sure to do what was necessary to push them forward.

5⃣ Ending Bad Relationships is Okay
I once heard that cutting off bad client relationships is the “most millennial thing ever.” And you know what? It’s true. I prioritize my team over clients. Rude, condescending, or aggressive clients? Not a fit for us. I’ve learned that no amount of money is worth a toxic relationship that drains our energy and makes us question our value.

6⃣ Establish SOPs So You Don’t Stop the Show
As my company grew, I realized I couldn’t be everywhere at once. Creating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) allowed me to delegate effectively and continue growing the business without being the bottleneck.

7⃣ Work with Clients Who Value You
If someone doesn’t value your services when they hire you, they won’t value them when the project ends. I’ve learned to set boundaries and only work with clients who respect what we bring to the table.

8⃣ Choose Clients Who Align with Your Values
The first time we made a client $1M in sales, I was thrilled to see the positive impact it had on their business. But it also made me think: What if that success went toward something we didn’t align with, like private prisons? That moment taught me to be more selective about who we work with. We focus on partnering with businesses that pour into resilient communities and provide opportunities for others.

9⃣ Invest in Education and Resources
If you don’t seek knowledge, it won’t fall into your lap. I made a commitment to constantly learn, whether through conferences, courses, or other resources. Staying ahead of industry trends is how we stay innovative and deliver the best results for our clients.

Being an Entrepreneur is About Serving
I gave and gave with what I had. If someone couldn’t afford to hire us, I connected them with resources, encouraged them, and reminded them that they can do this. I truly believe being an entrepreneur is about serving others. I feel closest to God when I’m walking in my purpose—and this journey has been such a blessing.

Looking back, I’m so proud of how far we’ve come and grateful for every lesson along the way. Here’s to the next decade of growth, giving, and serving!

The post 10 Lessons from 10 Years in Business: My Journey with iSocialPR appeared first on iSocialPR.

Instagram continues to add features for its users, making it hard to keep up. Here are some features you can master and use to draw attention to your profile and engage with your followers.

Reels

Reels are Instagram’s version of TikToks. Most Reels you see are recycled TikToks and very few actually originated on Instagram. The reason many users choose to stay on Instagram instead of migrating to TikTok is habit. You can use it to your advantage and speak to your audience through these short videos.

Reels follow the structure of TikTok, meaning they rely on trends. Spend some time every day browsing through Reels to figure out what’s trending this week and what trends you can hop on. The purpose of Reels is to attract attention with fun, 15-second videos rather than share important information. Have fun with it!

Boomerangs

While Reels are a relatively new invention, boomerangs gained popularity a few years ago. This feature allows you to create short video loops. Years later, boomerangs are not only meant for jumping videos or clinking glasses with your friends. You can use these short captivating videos to showcase your products and/or services.

If you want to take it a step further, you can download the Boomerang from Instagram app and create professional boomerangs. This format is especially appealing to millennials. You will rarely see boomerangs as actual posts; they work better with Stories!

Going live

In the age of instant gratification, people want everything now. It all started with Instagram posts. You can make a video and post it immediately, though most people take some time to edit and come up with a witty caption. Stories managed to get closer to real time videos, though they only show a short fragment of your day. With the opportunity to go live on Instagram, you can finally interact with your followers in real time.

Going live can be challenging, as it requires a constant stream of entertainment for a certain amount of time. You have to be quick on your feet and be able to react to comments in seconds. We recommend you to go live when you have a specific topic in mind. You can also use this feature for direct interaction with your followers, like a Q&A session. Be sure to never start your live unprepared!

IGTV

What is IGTV and how is it different from Reels and Stories? There is a clear distinction between Reels and IGTV. Reels focus on shorter videos that are made for entertainment purposes. IGTV, on the other hand, favors longer videos. If you’re going to use Reels to attract your viewers’ attention, you can then use IGTV to talk about your product and offer value to the viewers.

Since IGTV provides a longer viewing experience, it makes sense to invest a bit more into the video and create a high-quality product. You have to catch the attention of the viewer and keep it throughout the whole video, so make sure it’s worth it!

Highlights

We all know Stories; they are little pictures and videos you post that can only be viewed for 24 hours after posting. Sometimes throwing these pieces of multimedia away after a day is a real shame. That’s why Instagram created Highlights! You can add any story you’ve ever posted to Highlights and keep it there forever (or until you feel like deleting it from your Highlights).

Your Highlights will be visible in a line above your posts. You can create different Highlights based on themes, events, dates, or any other criteria. Add as many as 100 photos or videos to one Highlight. Use Highlights for Stories that deserve to be viewed again and again. For instance, you can create a Highlight for an event that you organized or a new product that you’ve been advertising. Make a separate Highlight for all the customer reviews you’ve reposted.

To make your Highlight reel look more organized, choose a cover image for each Highlight. You can do that by selecting the Highlight, clicking on the three dots in the bottom right corner, and selecting Edit Highlight. If you click on Edit Cover, you can choose an image from the Highlight to be on the cover, or go to your phone’s gallery and choose an image from there. If you want to take it a step further and stay consistent with your brand, keep all the Highlight covers in the same design and/or color scheme.

Have you been getting full use out of these Instagram features? If not, you are missing out! Your audience would love to be entertained and simple pictures are not cutting it anymore. Have a look at our services and contact us today if you would like to add these elements to your toolbox!

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1) Don’t fear failure. – Entrepreneurship in and of itself is a risk, so congrats on being a risk-taker! Whenever you do something new, there will always be a learning curve, and failure can make a great teacher. Some of my best lessons have come because of failures, and those lessons taught me how to bounce back stronger and better, so don’t be afraid to fail.

2) Don’t undersell yourself. – When starting a business, it can be very hard to know how to price your products or services. So many people just want ANY sell, so they may be willing to undervalue or undersell themselves and their offerings. Don’t be that person!! Know your target market, and priced accordingly. If your friends and family think your prices are too high, they may not be your target. Know your worth… and add tax!

3) Don’t throw money away. – In business, you can feel pressure to look like you “have it all together”. You want the logo, the website, the branding, the merchandise, the team, etc. and all these things cost money. It’s important to do your research to know what you need and WHEN. In technology, they have a term called a Minimal Viable Product, or MVP, which basically strips things down to the ESSENTIALS. Ask yourself, have you wasted money by putting the cart before the horse?

4) Don’t avoid contracts. – Contracts can be intimidating and feel overly “official,” especially when working with people you know, but money can ruin relationships. By not having contracts and accepting someone’s word, you’re putting yourself and your business at risk. I have learned this lesson the hard way, so please take my word, and get it IN WRITING.

5) Don’t try to do everything yourself. –  When you first start a business, you’re usually wearing all the hats. You’re the CEO, marketing team, design team, shipping and handling, customer service, etc. As your business progresses, it’s important to focus your energy on your area of expertise and outsource to experts to focus on their areas of expertise. This may cost more, but the right professionals on your team will help expand your profit with their professional knowledge.

Avoiding these 5 common business mistakes will make your life easier and prevent you from faltering at important steps in your budding business. 

Thanks to the team at iSocialPR, you don’t have to make these same mistakes in 2021. We have a dedicated knowledgeable team of professionals ready to help you take your business to the next level. Let us help you develop a digital marketing plan that’s built to last!

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Do Things That Relax You

Some of the greatest innovations in history have been made while strolling along a hiking trail or taking a relaxing bath.  When you relax, your mind is able to make unexpected connections that you might not be able to perceive when you are straining for a breakthrough. This fall and winter find time to do activities that you enjoy and let your mind wander freely. You will probably end up making connections that you never would have made if you’d kept your nose to the grindstone.

Switch Up Your Routine

If you do the same exact thing every day for too long, it can start to feel like a rut and impact your creativity. You may find yourself doing work that feels lazy because you lose the willpower to care. But some adjustments to your routine can help you get your mojo back. Go to a different place for lunch, or try taking a few days off to rejuvenate yourself. You may end up finding fresh inspiration. Working hard is important but if you never take a break and allow your mind to relax there are parts of your brain, such as your subconscious, that will never get to take a whack at finding creative solutions that will help you reach your goals.

Meet Like-minded People

Sometimes all you need to find creative inspiration is having the right conversation with the right person. Trade shows are a great way to meet other entrepreneurs that are passionate and excited about what they are doing. Meeting and talking with these people could help you reach a breakthrough. At the very least, you will be reminded of all the reasons you love doing what you do.

No matter what happens this fall and winter, remember that you don’t have to slow down or stop pushing your business in new directions during the coming months. Even though winter can sometimes be discouraging, it is also a great time to learn and have new experiences that will provide unique perspectives and help you find creative ideas to innovate your business and overcome obstacles.

These three ways to find inspiration during fall and winter will help you keep your creativity flowing through these colder month!

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be a bit challenging to get the right picture when you are going to post on social media. As a novice, you might be shy about using your phone for social media pictures, but you absolutely can do it successfully without hiring a professional. I was able to take photos with my client, and they came out great! Here are a few tips we learned that can help you take quality pictures with your phone for social media. 

Use Props

Props can be a way for you to make your brand stand out. What does your brand represent?  Find ways to incorporate the colors of your company’s brand or logo into the picture. You might be able to photograph flowers or other peaceful images that have the same colors as the logo, which can appeal to people on social media. Walking through my client’s garden really helped us find flowers and rocks that had beautiful colors, which stood out on social media.

Take advantage of natural lighting

Light can have more of an effect on your photograph than any other element. If you have the chance, it is always easier to take quality pictures using natural sunlight than it is with the flash on your phone. Consider taking the picture by placing your object between yourself and the sun. Or, if you are taking pictures of a building or something in nature, you could take the photograph while the sun shines off of your object, creating a nice reflection. If the sun is bright and it’s difficult to get the right photo, consider finding a shady spot, which will be out of the direct light but still provide enough natural light to create a great photograph.

Use different layouts

You will want all words and motifs to be clearly seen in your photograph. If the photos come out blurry, that could look sloppy and negatively affect your brand. Make sure everything is crisp and clear. You want your brand to be seen as professional, so just by making sure your images are crisp, clean, and sharp could go a long way towards making your brand stand out from the crowd.

With all the filters and gadgets available to upgrade photos, there is no reason you cannot take social media pictures from your phone! Start where you are by creating great content with your iPhone! Don’t wait for a professional!

The post Start Where You’re At With Creating Great Content With Your iPhone appeared first on iSocialPR.

Posting, posting, and more posting

It may seem obvious to keep posting content on the regular, however, there is a bit of a science to it. While it may seem like spamming your stuff is a great idea, you may want to back up a bit first. What do most people rely on? Consistency! That’s right, people love having something on the regular, so it’s not about spamming your posts, it’s about maintaining a consistent schedule to boost meaningful content. Try posting once every day to maintain that connection with your audience. 

Communication is a two-way street

Now that you’ve started a consistent posting schedule, what’s next? Well, we have a few suggestions. First and foremost we all want genuine engagement in our social media; Actively engaging your audience is the best way to do that. Ask them questions and use thought-provoking content to get your followers feeling like they are part of something. Most importantly continue the conversation in the comments.

Use Instagram features to your advantage

Stories are a great feature to use and can further enhance your follower’s experience. They will want to see you and hear what you have to say. People always value what feels genuine and who better to show them who you are than yourself!

Host a Giveaway!

This is a win-win for your popularity growing on Instagram, hosting a giveaway is a great way to garner more followers. By hosting a giveaway you’ll ask your followers to tag their friends, putting more eyes on your page!

Getting a social media audit

So you’ve followed all these tips and are still looking for more ways to attract interest? A social media audit can help you focus in on what you’re missing. You can end up missing something small that you haven’t thought of and having that second party reviewing your content will make all the difference. Many successful professionals pay someone else to review their products, why not join them?

Want more help? Contact us to get your free social media audit today and start getting more traffic tomorrow! Connect with your Instagram followers better by hiring iSocial PR, the best content and digital marketing agency!

The post How to Connect With Your Instagram Followers With These 5 Simple Tips appeared first on iSocialPR.

Lean In: How To Build Engagement on Social Media

1.  Analytics: Find out what people want and when they want it
2. A/B Testing: Finding the right content to post
3. Fun and Games: Using Contests to Build Engagement
4. Post Consistently: Showing Up is Half The Job
5. Generating Awareness: Building Awareness Online and Offline

Need help? Contact iSocial PR, the best content and digital marketing agency in the Detroit Area.

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The post How to be Fun, Sexy and Authentic to Promote Your Business appeared first on iSocialPR.

 Here are a few tips on ways you can learn more about your potential clients:

Engage with your clientele.

Engage with them one on one when they subscribe, follow, or inquire about your product or service. By doing this, your clients will feel catered too because you show that you care about their input. It’s also beneficial to you because you can improve your business based off of their feedback.

Send out a survey to your clients.

You can do this by sending out emails to your direct mailing list or providing a direct link on your business page. This will help you to understand what your clients/customers want and need specifically.

Study your competition.

In business, there will always be someone offering similar products or services.  As you study your competition, take notes on what they’re missing from their business and try to fill the void within yours. Also, see what’s working for them and try it in your company. 

Pay attention to your likes and interactions.

Constantly look at your likes, interactions, and engagements when posting on your social media business page or business website. This will keep you updated on what your clients/customers are looking for specifically. Do more of what they like and less of what they don’t want.

Successful businesses are built around what customers need. Use these strategies to help you to improve your business by understanding who you’re marketing too. Also, it is important that you continue to do your own research as well when trying to understand your customers.

How do you get to know your potential customers?

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What You Should Post

One way to make sure your followers are seeing and actually paying attention to your story is by posting content consistently. This does not mean you need to post every hour of every day, but sticking to a schedule such as every Monday, Wednesday and Friday will allow your followers to know what to expect from you. You could also do a weekly series that fits within the context of your business such as tips for success in your industry. People enjoy learning new tips, tricks, and facts, so this will have your followers returning to your story each week to learn more. Other content that will engage your followers is posts about promotions you are having that are exclusively found on your story and posts giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at your business, so they know what it is about.

Ways to Gain More Views

There are a lot of users posting to their stories daily, so people do not want to sit through 20 different posts on your Story alone when they are viewing so many others. Keeping your Stories short will make sure people don’t just skip over yours. Posting 10 stories at a time is a good way to make sure you say everything you want to while keeping your followers’ attention the whole time. A good way to make sure your followers see that you have posted to your story is to post all of your stories at once, so they appear and expire at the same time, then posting something about every 4 hours to keep your story at the front of the news feed. 

What Makes a Story Good

People are not going to sit through a boring Instagram story when they could just swipe to the next account’s story, so what makes an Instagram story a good one? Users enjoy watching an entertaining story arc. Your posts should connect and not just be random and unrelated to one another. The final post of the day could be a summary of everything you have posted throughout the day because everything will flow together. Your stories should also stand out from others, so users stop to look at yours if they are simply clicking through the stories in their feed. An easy way to do this is by making sure your followers can recognize that it is you posting such as by seeing your branding if you use a certain color scheme or font in every post. You should also add captions to your stories, because not everyone is watching stories with the volume up. Take the time to carefully pick different elements to add to your post such as stickers or colors to make your story look good.

Ways to Use Stories for Engagement

There are many different ways to get your audience to engage with you via Instagram stories. Instagram offers the option of creating polls, quizzes, or asking questions directly on your story.  Followers can respond to these by clicking on them in your story and you can easily respond to them. This and all of the tips above can allow you to connect with your audience and make your Instagram stories engaging for your audience. 

Need help creating engaging Instagram stories or other digital media? Contact iSocial PR, the best content and digital marketing agency in the Detroit Area. 

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