Author: Sam Silvey

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Business Marketing

Get Rid Of Spam Accounts On Your Business Page

It’s time to spring clean! Get rid of spam accounts that follow your page, and make room for REAL followers who actually want to view your content. Fake accounts do not interact with your posts consistently, which hurts your engagement rate, and we all know the algorithm doesn’t like that. Keep reading for tips on how to get rid of spam accounts on your business page. 

 

Manually Remove Bots:

Okay, I know it doesn’t sound fun, but you will need to manually remove bots from your follower list. Don’t download any software to do this for you. Take 5-10 minutes a day and go through your follower list. Does their profile image look suspicious? Click on it and review their profile. If you expect they’re a bot, remove them from your account.

 

How To Remove A Bot:

  • Go to your followers list
  • Click the three dots beside their name
  • Click “Remove”

 

Warning Signs: Could This Be A Bot?

If you expect the account is fake, then it probably is. Here’s a few signs that could indicate your follower is fake:

  • No profile picture
  • They follow a lot of accounts, but have little to no followers
  • Their bio is straight up weird & doesn’t make sense
  • They are from another country and do not speak your native language 
  • They have no posts, or only a few from a long time ago
  • Images look fake or are someone else’s

View Instagram’s article on how to get rid of spam accounts on your business page: https://help.instagram.com/413012278753813

Need Social Media Management? We are here to help! Contact us here: https://spectruss.com/contact/

 

Categories
Business Marketing

Budgeting Your Business For The New Year

Implement Your Business’ New Year Budget

January 1- it’s the perfect time of year to implement your business’ new year budget. We recommend to start thinking about this ahead of the New Year. Early December is the perfect time to sit down and put some thought into your budgeting needs. Below are three tips that you may have not thought of before.

 

  • Ask your employee’s their needs

That’s right. See if they are in need of any new supplies. If your printer is on its last leg, think about incorporating that cost into your new budget. What a great Christmas present for your employees. We all want to be thought of.

  • Plan for the “oopsies”

This one is pretty simple but most people do not implement this concept into their budget. You never know when a camera can break, or you need to call pest control because Sharon keeps leaving her food out.

  • The slow months 

Most businesses have slow months. It’s a normal part of the sales cycle, but this is a great time to utilize a new marketing campaign. Think about your ad dollars here. 

 

Want more tips on this subject? Let us know and we will do a part two! 

Contact us here for further advise on how to implement your business’ new year budget.

@spectrussllc

 

Categories
Digital Marketing Marketing

Improve Your Reach With Search Engine Images

Improve Your Reach With Search Engine Images
Chances are if you have a business, you have it registered on Google and Bing. Did you know that you can upload photos to your business page on these search engines? Choose pictures that showcase your business and add in the keywords that would better help your future customers to find your image. Improve your reach with search engine images. Let’s get started!

 

Here are a few photo categories that you should consider uploading:

 

 

  • Pictures of your business
People want to see the inside and outside of your building! Don’t forget the parking area. 

 

  • Your staff
Mix in a few smiling faces of your staff. Show that you are friendly and welcoming!

 

  • Your business logo
Someone could have seen a vehicle or billboard with your logo. If they are searching for you, this will be an easy way to prove who you are!

 

  • Your products or services
Products: Show them what you sell! Many times when people are shopping, they will simply search for the item on Google. If you sell gym equipment, upload a photo of a basketball goal with the EXACT title of gym goal. 

 

Example: The E715 Adjustable Basketball Goal. Be sure to use the exact title with any supporting keywords such as the color, etc. 

 

Services: If you have a Heating and Air business, show your employees performing these services. Ideas include changing out an AC unit, duct work, etc.

 

Adding photos to your Google or Bing profile is extremely helpful and easy! By doing this, you will improve your image SEO and land more customers. Try this easy tip today!

Find tips directly from Google here.

Need additional help? Contact us today!

Categories
Business Design Marketing

Tips On Designing Your Billboard

Tips On Designing Your Billboard

Are you looking to advertise your business on a billboard? Good idea, it’s reported that over 70% of drivers look at billboard advertisements while driving. That’s a lot of eyes on your ad! Let us give you some tips on designing your billboard. We’re pros at this!

 

Here’s a few beginner’s tips to think about:

 

Keep Your Design Simple

You only have 5-10 seconds to capture your viewer’s attention. If your ad is busy and overcrowded, they will not know where to look. Don’t let your design overpower your brand’s messaging- keep it short and to the point!

 

Your Billboard Colors

Contrasting colors are key to a great billboard. If a billboard has colors that are similar and competing beside one another, they will “wash out” and be hard to view from a distance. For digital billboards, remember to use RGB colors that are bright and bold. 

 

Incorporate Your Business Branding

The ad should tie in to your brand. Don’t forget to add your business logo, URL, or social media handle. To note, you do not need to do all three. Depending on your ad, how long your URL is, etc. will depend on what you should put on your billboard. If you need further help with your billboard advertising, contact Spectruss today!

Trying to find available billboards near you? Insert your zip code here to find your next advertising location!

Categories
Business Digital Marketing Marketing

Cultivate Your Blog Strategy

Cultivate Your Blog Strategy

Ah, what to blog about? The task can seem daunting to some. Let’s cultivate your blog strategy and start driving more traffic to your site!

To start, let’s view this like we would a business plan. Think about your niche and what your business has to offer. You will want to write blog topics that go hand-in-hand with your business. Random topics that have nothing to do with your line of work should be avoided.

 

Let’s say you are a General Contractor. You will need to write about topics that go along with your trade. Here are some ideas:

  • What To Look For When Selecting a General Contractor
  • Five Crucial Things To Consider When Selecting A House Plan
  • The Best Time To Start Building Your Dream Home

 

Do Some Research!

See what your local and national competitors are writing about. It is important to research both as your local competitors are who you are challenged by on a daily basis. National leaders can help paint a bigger picture- it’s always important to aim high with your goals!

 

Implement SEO

This is a biggie. Without good SEO, your blog will not reach your intended audience. It’s ok if this is over your head. You can always hire help!

 

Add Visuals

Break up your text with engaging visuals. Bonus points if this is your own imagery! Stock photos are acceptable, but your viewers want to see the real, raw content!

 

Scheduling Your Blog

If you are just starting out, plan to write two blog posts a month. Once every other week is perfectly fine and will give you adequate time to write an exceptional blog post!

Some find in hard to get good imagery for their blog, especially when starting out.  Find free blog images here.

Needing further help? Contact us today!

Categories
Business Events Marketing

October Marketing Ideas

October marketing ideas

Spooky season has arrived! Do you have a case of the October Marketing Scaries? We’re here to help! Keep reading to learn more about some of our favorite October marketing ideas. 

FOR ONLINE BUSINESSES 

Social Media:

Get people active on social media by engaging and having fun with your business page. Give out some kind of recognition or prize for these ideas:

  • BLAST FROM THE PAST: Tag us in your favorite Halloween Costume
  • Kid’s Edition: Share your child’s costume and receive a $10 gift card
  • Best Halloween Decorations: Tag us for a chance to win our Halloween Giveaway Basket!

 

Marketing Campaigns: 

At least once in October, send out a festive Halloween email campaign. This can be light-hearted and fun. Fill your email with all the fun graphics… Think jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, goblins, vampires – all the fun stuff!

 

Share a fun photo of your employees dressed up the year prior. People want to get to know you better!

 

FOR BRICK & MORTAR STORES

Storefronts:

Make your storefront a beautiful background for passerby’s to take family photos. Make sure your brand name is noticeable at all angles of where the photo may be taken. When people share their photos on social media, that’s free marketing for you! 

 

Trick-or-Treat:

Schedule a Halloween open-house and give away candy to the kiddos! If your store is targeted more towards adults, host a fall open-house with a unique autumn twist like “Boos and Brews”.

 

Fall Festivals:

This time of year we have many fall festivals, cake walks, barn sales and so on. Plan in advance and sign-up for a booth to showcase your business! 

Do you need help finding promotional images for the fall season? Click here to download free fall images from Pexels. 

We’re here to help up your marketing and advertising game. Contact us here for more info.

Categories
Business Events Marketing

Preparing Your Business For The Holidays

Preparing Your Business For The Holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… until you’re stressed! In this article we share five tips to keep your business organized and running smoothly throughout the holiday season. Start preparing your business for the holidays now!

 

Start a checklist:

Have a lot on your plate? We all know it’s hard to get much accomplished around the holidays. Start ahead of time and make a checklist of the things you need to accomplish before the end of the year. Seeing it on paper makes it real! 

 

Plan your advertising & promotions now:

You’re probably thinking, “But Christmas isn’t here yet!” You’re right, but it approaches quickly! Plan your advertising now. Set realistic goals of when you want to start your paid ads by thinking about what makes the most sense for your company. 

 

Bonus points: Plan your entire advertising campaign now. This will give you enough time to tweak anything before it’s live. You can even schedule your Facebook and Instagram ads for a later date. No sweat off your brow!

 

Vacation time:

Everyone wants to take off work at the same time. It’s inevitable. If you wish to make all of your coworkers happy, make them aware that everyone needs to plan ahead for time off. Try putting up a calendar in the breakroom or send out virtual calendar invites. Once all employees have their off-time scheduled, send out a calendar with who is off each day. 

 

Office Parties:

Yay… another office party. Kidding! These can be fun. Ask your co-workers to vote on a “theme” for your office party. That way everyone feels like they get a say in the event.

 

Idea: Instead of a gift swap, schedule a fun time out on the town. We’re thinking, paintball wars, renting out an entire movie theater, axe throwing- you know, all the fun stuff. 

 

Website Updates:

If your business has an e-commerce site, do all of your updates now. Do you have new products coming? Try and upload as many as you can before the “rush of the holidays” arrives. 

 

Remember that the New Year will bring new things! After Christmas is the perfect time to update your website. If you are needing new imagery for your website, here is a great site to download free images!

Now, are you ready to start preparing your business for the holidays?

If you need further help growing your business, we are here to help. Contact us today to learn more!

Categories
Business Digital Marketing Marketing

Three Reasons You Should Refresh Your Website

Three reasons you should refresh your website

Three Reasons You Should Refresh Your Website

It shows your customers that you care. We know, the easy thing to do is to let your website sit and not deal with it. We get it – sometimes you just don’t have the time to take on an additional task. It is important though to show your customers that you put time and effort into your business. If you have an outdated site, this can be viewed as the company being lazy. Keep reading to learn more about the three reasons you should refresh your website.

 

You’ve adapted – show the world the new you!

Through the years you have grown and changed! Update your old employee photos and add in new company videos. Freshen up the “about” page by adding in recent accomplishments that you have achieved. 

 

Tech is always changing

The world of tech is always evolving. Many companies are now using TikTok to advertise. Use this type of cheap marketing to your advantage by adding these updates to your site. Make an announcement and link your new social media pages! 

 

Note: Make sure your website is device-friendly for all computers, cell phones and tablets. 

Need help revamping your website? We’re pros at this! Contact us today to learn more.

Categories
Business Design Digital Marketing

Adding Brand Colors In Your Photoshoot

Adding Brand Colors In Your Photoshoot

If you’ve stumbled across this article, it may be because you are planning an upcoming photoshoot for your brand. How exciting! Adding brand colors in your photoshoot can seem like a big task. Let us show you how in this article! 

 

Your Background

 

Let’s say your brand colors are black, grey, and light blue. You will want your backdrop to be styled in a way that complements those colors. Use mostly neutrals with no other bright colors that will compete with your brand. A white background is always a safe bet if you are unsure. 

 

Your Outfit

 

While using the brand color selection of black, grey, and light blue, let’s continue talking about what you are going to wear. 

Your background matters- so try to think about what your clothes will look like in comparison to your photo’s background.

 

For example:

If the photos are being shot on a neutral background, you could wear a fun light blue suit as shown below. If your background is light blue, wear a neutral.

Accessories

 

Your clothes do not always have to be your statement piece. If you want to utilize your pop of color in a fun way, try doing so with jewelry, a coffee mug, or some type of stationary product. 

Fun Edits

 

Do special effects or an overlay with your “pop of color”. This could simply be done with a flat lay photo. Add a transparent overlay with one of you branding colors.

Do you need to find images that matches your brand? Try searching here!

Needing help cultivating your brand strategy? Contact us here!

Categories
Digital Marketing Marketing

Lighting Tips For Photoshoots

Lighting Tips For Photoshoots

We live in a world where anyone can take great photos with their cellphones! Luckily, mobile devices have come a long way in recent years, allowing you to take magazine-worthy images. Here are a few lighting tips for photoshoots.

  1. 1. Take photos by a window

Taking photos by a window on a nice, sunny day always yields great results! This will allow you to get the soft glow of natural lighting. You can also play up the lines from the shadows of your blinds. Here is an example:

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  1. 2. Avoid the harsh, direct sunlight 

Are you shooting outside? The best lighting tends to be in the morning and late afternoon hours before sunset. If you are in the hot sun, make sure the person or product you are capturing ARE facing the sun. If the sun is behind the individual it will cast a shadow over their face. 

  1. 3. Edit your photos

If the coloring is a little off, use the auto-correct feature on the Adobe Lightroom app. You can play around with the hue and saturation further if needed. Editing the white and black balances can also make your photo lighter and more alive! 

We recommend using Adobe Lightroom to edit your photos. Download the software here. 

Now, go take those magazine-worthy photos, friends! 

Need further help with your photoshoots? Contact us today!