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Social Media Trends to Watch For in 2019 by @donnaamos

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Social Media Trends

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor 

Social media is here to stay in a big way. One of the best ways for businesses to connect with a target audience is to maintain an active presence on social media channels. The era of, “My business is open, come and see me” is long over. Now, savvy business owners know they must go where consumers are and establish a relationship. Social media is THE place to do that, easily and relatively cheaply.

Therefore, as you embark on planning your social media marketing strategy for 2019, get on board with these important trends. They either gained popularity or became firmly established during 2018, and will play a vital role in how you connect with your audience in the coming year.

A “Pay to Play” Strategy

In the early days, companies could fully expect that 16% of their followerswould see their Facebook updates. By the end of 2018, that reach had plummeted to about 6% or less. Other social media platforms have followed suit. The day or organic reach has ended. Social media platforms will not give away what they can reap a huge benefit from – your followers. Now, you must pay to play.

Now, in order to reach your target audience on any social media channel, you must invest in sponsored posts, boosted posts, and social media ads. Fortunately, social media advertising is one of the most affordable means of marketing available. If you handle your own keyword research and audience targeting, Social media marketing is much more affordable than pay-per-click advertising.

Video is the Preferred Media of Most Users

Now is the time to get on board with video marketing, if you haven’t already. According to research by Wyzowl, “97% of marketers say that video has helped increase user understanding of their product or service, and 76% indicated that it has helped increase web traffic and sales.”

That is easy to accept when we also realize that 95% of Internet users have watched explainer videos to learn more about a product or service, and 81% have bought a product or service as a result of watching a company’s advertising video. No other form of media can boast these high use and conversion percentages.

Video is the absolute best way for a company to put a face to their business. It enables prospects and customers to get to know who leads and works in a business. Video gives businesses an opportunity to show not only what they do but also “who” they are. In our current climate where users seek a personal connection, this is a critical factor.

The Rise of ‘Live’ Video

Live-streaming will continue to emerge as a powerful way to engage people on social media. According to statistics compiled by Go-Globe, two-thirds of all internet traffic in 2017 was streaming video. By 2020, 82% of internet traffic is expected to be video content. And most of that will be live streaming. The interactivity of live video makes it a powerful tool for marketers to engage with their audience and strengthen the relationship between a brand and its followers.

The authenticity of ‘going live’ is a key factor that audiences want, as it helps build trust and loyalty with your company. Even if problems arise when you are ‘live,’ followers are likely to understand that and it may even further strengthen their trust in your company, as only authentic content leaves room for genuine mistakes.

Quality Long-Form Content

Word count isn’t everything when it comes to ranking high on search engines like Google, but SEO experts agree that long-form content can give you an edge. Users and search engines alike want to see high-quality content of more than 1,000 words, and we see that such content consistently outranks articles with 500 words.

Therefore, more publishers are requiring writers to submit articles over 1,000 or 1,200 words, and more company blogs are beginning to embrace similar long-form content. These comprehensive articles that are rich with information and insight, will go far to both attract readers and give Google and other search engines a reason to rank them more favorably.

Building Community

Building a community in social can help you to build trust with your followers. Groups on LinkedIn and Facebook are being encouraged on both platforms. And once you begin building that following you have to immerse yourself and be engaged.

Using hashtags in Twitter and Instagram can help you to find conversations that your community are having and allow you to join in.

Communities can also help to segment your audiences and customize your messaging. By the way, building community is the perfect way to build your personal brand and can be the beginning of influencer marketing!

Personal Branding

Particularly for small businesses, putting a real, human face to a brand name helps to build loyalty. A brand that’s more relatable, and has the human element, naturally garners more trust, and trust is essential for building relationships. Many companies have used the tactic of promoting their brand by promoting the business owner.

His or her face essentially becomes the brand, closely associated with the company logo. He or she personifies all that the company is about, or at least what they wish to portray. By enabling your audiences to get to know the character and expertise of company leadership, your business can strengthen its brand reputation.

What other important social media trends do you see emerging for 2019? Share your thoughts and insights with our readers in the comments below.

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How to Create A Great Brand and Step Into The Spotlight by @XLConsultingGro

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How to Create A Great Brand and Step Into The Spotlight

by Elaine Slatter | Featured Contributor

I often get asked, “How do I create a great brand?” There isn’t an easy answer to this question, because successful brands spend a lot of time figuring out how to launch and develop their brand.

Uber, Airbnb, Starbucks, Amazon all are fast growing brands worth millions, gazillions or billions.  How did they get to the top of their niche, because quite frankly it’s not all about having a snappy logo!  In the case of the Starbucks logo, I don’t see any relevance to coffee at all!  Don’t put all your time, effort and money on designing your logo before you have a better idea of how your logo could reflect your brand.

How do you create your brand?  It starts with answering these three simple questions

  • Who is my target market?
  • What does this market need, what are they concerned about?
  • What is my unique selling proposition to help solve the problems of my target market?

Who Is My Target Market?

For example, if you have a business idea to deliver healthy food to offices via a software delivery system, such as the company Feedr , invented by a young entrepreneur, Riya Grover, based in the UK, her target market group could be

  • Businesses in your home town that have 5+ employees
  • Businesses who have young employees (20-35)
  • Co-working spaces with limited kitchen facilities

Once you have figured out the next questions, you will be closer to developing your brand

What Does This Target Market Need, What Are They Concerned About?

Now that you have figured out your target market, the next question is, what do they care about?  Sticking with our business idea example of delivering healthy food to offices, what problems do these young people working in offices or co-working spaces have?  Here are some ideas

  • No time because they are totally immersed in work
  • Odd hours, because they have multiple deadlines
  • Care about healthy eating but don’t have any time to prepare their own meals
  • Like variety, and could be vegan, gluten intolerant etc. and have special dietary needs
  • Work on their phone or laptop and have no designated office space
  • Move around frequently

This profile now gives you a better idea of what brand you can develop and leads you to

Unique Selling Proposition

Understanding your target market and what problems you can solve, helps you come up with your unique selling proposition.  Your solution can now be the foundation to a create a great brand.

To serve a target market of young people, who are totally locked into their devices, are on the go, have very little working space and no time, you can see that your unique selling proposition must solve the problems and serve up solutions to make their lives a lot easier.

In our example, there are a couple of business ways to solve it.

One, you could have a retail space(s) that makes delicious food, delivered to the target market or

Two, you might develop a software system that with the tap on the app you can order up your healthy meal and have it delivered to your designated spot of the day in under an hour.  Perhaps it will be delivered by Uber!

Whether you decide on business model one or two, either one can give you great ideas to create your brand story.

Yes, Your brand Story Is The Base Of How To Create A Great Brand

Show the raw side, inject some personality of how you relate to your target market.  You are probably part of your target market because that’s how you knew there was a problem because you experienced it yourself.  Make a storyboard of your brand.  Include all the touch points and then tell your story.  And more importantly the story of your customers.  How they interact with your brand, how they love your brand because it solved their problems.

Your Customer Must Be At the Forefront of Your Brand

Everything you do to create your brand must relate to your customer.  How do they want to be treated?  How do you create trust and cement trust with your customers?  Over and over again, you must deliver in order to create a great brand that people love.

 

And as you create a brand you will develop a “brand voice”, that will be recognizable to fans of your brand.  The Kardashian clan have that unique “brand voice” that makes them relatable to their audience.  Love it or hate it, it is a unique branding style that they have developed over time. From their popular TV show, “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” the Kardashian brand has many offshoots with lifestyle, fashion and beauty products to create a mega brand and a loyal following.  Kylie Jenner’s lips kits sold out in a matter of minutes and she has propelled herself into Forbes top 30 under 30 list.  Look at the branding!

 

Now, back to your logo.  It’s pretty simple from here.  You decide what kind of brand you want to develop and how can you create a logo that speaks to your brand.   One of my favorite logos is the Tour De France Logo.   The font of the logo on the word “tour” and the sun create a racing bike.  Pretty clever if you ask me.  And because a yellow jersey is awarded at the end of each day of the Tour De France, the yellow sun is very significant on several levels!  This logo is fun, has a subliminal meaning and is relatable.

Once you have created your brand identity and logo, the next step is to incorporate your brand style into everything else you develop, your website, your promotional materials, your advertising, your blog posts, your YouTube videos, Your Instagram,  yes….everything!

If you want to create a brand with impact, we hope these tips will help.  If you are a startup company and would like to read more about branding for startups, check out this Foundr blog post.

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Consumer v. Producer : Which are YOU? by @SBSLEducSoltns

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Stretching your Entrepreneurial Thinking

While entrepreneurs will always consume certain resources, no different from our staff, or other citizens,, we shouldn’t think through a consumer lens nor should we spend precious time being one. So, let’s shake things up!

 

While reading, please invest time to ask yourself some questions. As I often advise mentees, be reflective; forego being reflexive or reactive. The difference is profound.

 

The Consumer

Per Dictionary.com , … origin: 14th C [1375–1425] = “squanderer”

 

What a strong connotation! Do we really desire to have our business(es) associated with this definition, even if its meaning has evolved somewhat over the passage of time?!

 

Why are we ‘encouraged’ , compelled, or even shamed into consuming?

The answer is too complex to address in a blog post, yet, we are able to unravel some characteristics of a consumerist.

 

He/She/They …

 

  • Oft carry a considerable amount of consumer debt
  • Will be watching, listening to, or reading lots of content from the mass media*
  • Quite likely is a side-preneur still receiving a regular paycheck as a W-2’er
  • Fairly often feel uncomfortable discussing economics or talking about money/finances

& …

  • Might use words like ‘retail therapy’, be distressed** , and/or focused on material things

( inc. transactions to make more $ versus building business relationships. )

 

Click to Tweet

 

“Every man is a consumer, and ought to be a producer. He is by constitution expensive, and needs to be rich.”

 

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Sign of a Consumerist

 

Self deception ( vid clip HERE ) is strong; maybe we know in the depths of our soul, by looking at our financial statements, or just in our gut that we are living a consumerist life while building our entrepreneurial venture/s, yet … we outwardly deny it, in our self-talk, our conversations with others, etc.

 

If you do this, you’re not alone. Some signals, both implicit & explicit to home in on & eventually course correct include:

 

  • Not paying off credit cards monthly
  • Driving in a vehicle that you don’t actually own
  • Expensive office space which raises your rates needlessly
  • Not leveraging the countless discount programs/apps/memberships available
  • Buying costly drinks or meals while at events

 

What’ll it Take … a ‘voice of courage’

Laying the groundwork for a major mindset shift will clearly impact all spheres of your business ‘being’ :  heart, mind, spirit/soul, & financial. Yet, it’s still January, and here’s hoping that you invested quality time and treasure creating and then taking action to live out these 2019 mantras, goals, or habit transformations instead.

 

If you’ve not yet carved a line item in your business blueprint for a mentor, a coach, or a niche consultant

( a good friend is ideal for the latter: Cherish Your World/Feng Shui Consultant ),  … now would be a great time!

 

A Producer’s Model

Defined here , with its synonyms including ‘builder’ & ‘creator’; which leads me to ask a few questions:

 

Don’t we all want to be known, in our branding, sales, & marketing, as these things?

Why would we knowingly choose its opposite?

 

Which characteristics might ID this type of business pro?

 

He/She/They …

 

  • Understand Y.D.I.L ***  when it comes to their finances/money ‘mind’.
  • Participate in social capital creating/expanding actions: Connecting others, serving in their communities, & building ‘roots & wings’ in their households.
  • Have eschewed a paycheck from a 3rd party & are sustaining on dollars earned through serving & solving.
  • Understand the value of time > money.  ( read previous post )

& …

  • Oft use words like legacy, leadership, leverage, significance, & value in everyday conversation.

 

Suggested Profiles

 

Brent Wehmeyer

 

Eric Kim

 

Producers Manifesto Poster

 

*** More on Y.D.I.L.

Y = You, Inc. [ ‘investing’ in your mind – trillion $+ ‘real estate’ ]

 

D = {consumer} debt [ pay off, or better yet, bypass proactively ]

 

I = Investments [ mainstream financial vehicles ]

 

L = Lifestyle [ far better to live below or right at par/your means ]

 

By committing to this informal, yet powerful acronym, my entire financial picture & level of consciousness, were shifted, bit by bit.

= I became a producer!

 

You can, too.

Starting, and perhaps expanding,  your business mustn’t originate from the scraps on your monetary table: It should be the main course, growing in parallel with your self-leadership as the “CEO” of You, Inc.

 

Value squared

Many thought leaders have previously opined on similar topic/s; I’m always pleased to cross reference their content & encourage readers in this community to learn more about them.

 

Their specialized knowledge, paired with mine, should generate lots of value for you, the reader.

 

The Producers Manifesto

Consumer v. Producer

Start Every Day as a Producer …

* Infographic – What is the ‘mass media’?

** https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/types-of-stressors-eustress-vs-distress/

 

In short …

 

  • Know the clear differences b/w a consumer(ist) & a producer
  • Click to Tweet the Emerson quote: there’s a very elevated level of consciousness within it.
  • Invest time to click on the links provided to follow the bread crumb trail of wisdom
  • Connect with the suggested social media accounts & thank them for being producers 🙂
  • Paint yourself with a producer’s Picassian flair!  #BeAnExample
  • Y.D.I.L. is very insightful, yet very contrarian.

 

Thank YOU for reading!

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Need Inspiration? Get Outdoors by @relaxedmale

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Need Inspiration? Get Outdoors

by Bryan Goodwin | Featured Contributor 

Well look at that, midweek and your get up and go and has gotten up and left. You are not feeling the drive. That blank Word Document hasn’t sparked any joy and you are ready to scream. You are needing some serious help. How do I know? Well, you are reading this post right now.

We all drift into the inspirational doldrums from time to time. It happens. How you get out of the dry spell is dependant on you. Some people free write while others bounce a racket ball against a wall for hours.

What if you could kill two birds with one stone? What if you could find inspiration and destress your life a little bit and all at the same time? It is possible. Now unless you cheated and looked at the title of this post, this solution will come as a surprise. The solution is to get outdoors. Yeah, that bright space between your front door and your mailbox. You know the one. It has that cacophony of birds chirping and dogs barking.

What? You can’t do that! It because of those deadlines that are approaching? The deadline for the project that you are stuck on? The one you aren’t working on because you don’t have any inspiration on what to do?

You have time. The benefits that will be poured upon your head by getting outside, will surprise you. So let us look at some of these glorious benefits I’m talking about.

Fresh Air

Nothing better than fresh air in your lungs to help clear out the cobwebs. Your brain needs the oxygen, nitrogen and other elements floating around in the air to function properly. Combine that with a well-balanced meal. Especially when you have all the proper animal-based fats and proteins. Alongside eating those needed plant-based nutrients. You have a high octane mix that is perfect for rattling loose brilliant ideas and opportunities.

What you live in the city? There’s pollution in the air? There is more pollution indoors than there is outdoors. Everything is hermetically sealed these days. With no air flow, you have more chemical elements and other nasties indoors than outside. That air is dirtier than the outdoors. That is unless you are living in Zabol, Iran which has the air quality of Boise City, OK during the dust bowl.

Also, the quality of our air has been improving generation by generation. The difference between 1970 and today is astronomical. You are breathing cleaner air than most people like to believe so don’t fear the outdoors. The air is clean. The air is fresh from the trees and other plants.

So step outdoors and take a deep breath. If you cough, don’t worry, you are forcing that bad indoor air from your lungs. So breathe deep and get to thinking.

Exercise

While you are outdoors taking deep healthy breaths. You have a choice. You can stand in the front door and inhale deeply enjoying the light headed feeling you get. Yet you can also add two benefits together and get to walking. Walking isn’t only good for your body but it also has other mental benefits. Specifically when you are needing some inspiration.

Remember when I said fresh air has oxygen for your brain. Well, there is a way to get that oxygen to your brain faster. That is by getting your heart rate up. Which causes your blood to flow faster. This, in turn, delivers more oxygen to your brain. More oxygen your brain gets the more efficient it can think.

So get out breath deep and start hoofing it around. A small tip for you as you go walking. You may try going without your phone or other electronic devices. Walk without music or podcasts. Let your brain just chew on the dead air. I call this free thinking. Much like free writing you just let your brain work on the task at hand. Your brain will piece weird ends together. This will jumpstart a wacky idea. Which may lead to a good idea that then morphs into an incredible idea. Let your thoughts work themselves out.

Change of Scenery

Another benefit to getting outdoors is that you change your scenery. Your mind can and often gets bored when it is faced with the same thing day in and day out. Even though we are creatures of habit. We get up and commute to our desk in the living room and proceed to most of the time wow people with our inspiring prose. There are times that your brain says I got nothing and will keep that up till it gets new stimuli. Best way to do that is go walking. Walk around the block you may get an idea as you see a random squirrel play hide and seek from a dog.

You may see an example of a point you are trying to make play itself out at an intersection. As you walk don’t keep your head down. Bring it up. Look around take in the city or the countryside as you are plodding down the road, breathing deep.

You get some sunshine

Whether it is cloudy or a bright sunny day. The last benefit I would like to point out is that you get some sunshine. The sun though it received some bad rap recently. People are starting to come around and realized that you as a person need to have the sun shine on you. Your body needs to have sun rays strike your skin and actually have a slight tan.

Getting outdoors can help you find the missing creative spark

Photo by Havilah Galaxy on Unsplash

The largest amount of Vitamin D is produced by your body. Your body produces vitamin D by absorbing ultraviolet light. Vitamin D complex does a multitude of good for your body and is an essential vitamin. That is why they put it in Milk. Vitamin D help your bone stay strong and healthy. Vitamin D is also needed for mental health. Your brain needs that vitamin. The key is moderation. Don’t spend 12 continuous hours in the sun, but several hours a week can make a huge change in your mental health.

The bright healthy sun also improves your attitude. You don’t need to look any further than in the winter time. When people get the winter blues or Seasonal Affected Disorder. Many believe this happens because you are not getting enough of a specific spectrum of light. This light is found in sunshine. Either way, way you work better when you are in a good and positive mood. The best way to get that happy mood is to get out in the sun see the scenery and breathe deep as you walk.

There you go slap your tennis shoes on. Get up and take a brisk walk around the block a few times. Set aside an hour to just stroll around. Look at what is around you. You can and will find surprise inspirations all over the place. Also as Mr. Miagi said Breath deep, Breathing very important.

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5 Reasons Why Supporting Other Women is the Smartest Move You’ll Make in Business (and Life) in 2019 by @andrea_schroll8

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5 Reasons Why Supporting Other Women is the Smartest Move You’ll Make in Business (and Life) in 2019

Photo by ELEVATE from Pexels

by Andrea Schroll

As driven, ambitious women, we want nothing more than to create a life of fulfillment and freedom, but let’s face it – we all have our hot mess moments. Moments we are trying to pour from that empty cup, rushing around trying to get it all done and still maintain some level of sanity to be a good mom, spouse, partner, friend…a functioning human being.

The same cycle; over and over again. Rinse and repeat.

And we keep going. One foot in front of the other, with the occasional stumble over our own two feet.

Welcome to the everyday grind and hustle of a determined, empowered woman. Am I right?

The truth is, at some point along your journey, this very same cycle may get the best of you, making it a challenge to maintain a positive, motivated, entrepreneurial spirit. This is the primary reason why supporting other women is the smartest move you’ll make in business and life in 2019.

Let me break it down for you.

1. Entrepreneurship can get lonely.

If you don’t engage or network with like-minded entrepreneurs, don’t have many social connections with people who understand your entrepreneurial mindset or lifestyle and/or you don’t totally have support network of people who have your back no matter how many times your business goals change, things can get pretty lonely as a boss babe. One sure shot way of making sure you’re not living la vida lonely is to start connecting and supporting other women – in business and in life. Real, authentic connections can totally change the game and make for a more positive, fruitful business experience. Invest the time in supporting and empowering other women who are on the same path as you. And one of the best things about this is that you can do it for free.

2. It is easy to isolate, get lost on social media and breed inaction.

Going down the rabbit hole of scrolling social media, comparing yourself to other women, online shopping as a coping mechanism or distraction and not being productive are just a few of the primary barriers to getting things done and building your empire. The thing is, all of these things are easier – a whole lot easier than stepping out of your comfort zone and taking a leap of faith toward building your social network within your business. While all of the shiny distractions can offer instant gratification and secondary gain (avoidance, excuses, etc), they will not benefit your business or your life. So break the cycle, create a game plan, build your squad and be on your way to a more fulfilling year in business.

3. Building relationships and community will increase confidence.

Remember your last hot mess moment? Well, what good is it if you don’t have other women to share it with. If you think you’re alone in whatever struggle you may be facing from time to time, you’re not. There are millions of women just like you waiting to connect with someone who is also perfectly imperfect. I encourage you to reach out and connect with others in a way that feels good to you. A strong community of women who build each other up may likely be the confidence boost you’ve been searching for, and exactly what you need to crush your goals this year.

4. You’ll be happier and more productive.

Supporting other women actually does have the power to transform your life. When you’re kind to someone else, you’re also being kind to yourself. Being mean or judgmental expels a great deal of negative energy, and rarely works in your favor (if ever). That negative energy can be completely exhausting, but most people don’t even realize it. Having the certainty to pay someone else a compliment is a huge testament to your character. At the end of the day, there is no competition. Once you see this, harness your strengths and support others, you can truly allow yourself to grow into your happiness. Your motivation will increase and you will become more productive; ultimately tackling your personal and professional goals with more enjoyment and less stress.

5. Personal growth, awareness and inspiration.

When you connect, collaborate and support other women, you begin to recognize your own strengths and quickly learn about what motivates you. This internal revelation will be so powerful and will highlight your true, authentic qualities, giving you the perfect opportunity for personal development and growth. There is so much to learn from one another. Letting go of your ego and having an open mind can open up monumental possibilities. Be open to learning from others’ and their experiences, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness — quite the opposite, in fact. Show your inner strength and reach out for support when you need it. So often, we are clouded by external validation, judgment, opinions, etc. Now is your chance to step into your light as an empowered, supportive woman. Put forth your positive characteristics and you’ll inspire others to do the same — it really is contagious.

 

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Andrea Schroll is a licensed psychotherapist, business mentor and the founder of Soul-Hustle™. As a spiritual entrepreneur, Andrea blends cognitive psychology, intuition, mindfulness practices, linguistic finesse, and heart and soul into her work to help people shift their habits, energy and success with life changing results.

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3 Ways to Get Into Conferences for Free by @Marcie_Hill

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by Marcie Hill, M.S.

Conferences are expensive. Registration fees can range from $99 to well above $2,000. That’s just to get into the event.

Depending on the location of the event, you may have to pay for transportation, lodging, meals and other conference activities. Essentially, a conference with starting costs of $99 could cost an extra $200 for local events and over $500 for away events.

This could be cost-prohibitive for professionals who need continuing education and in-person networking opportunities to stay abreast of new developments in their industries, professions and businesses.

What’s a professional to do?

Chuck those exorbitant conference registration costs and get into conferences for free. Read on to find out how.

Get into Conferences for Free

1. Volunteer

If you have more time than cash, volunteering is the best way to save on entry costs. There are opportunities to work before and during the event.

Pre-conference tasks include promoting the event and activities on social networks, assembling swag bags, preparing name badges and anything else needed to provide an amazing experience for attendees.

During the conference, you work one- to four-hour shifts performing a variety a roles. These roles include, but are not limited to: greeting attendees, distributing handouts during sessions, introducing speakers, registering guests, vendors and speakers, or serving as concierge.

Complimentary entry is not the only perk to volunteering. You may get complimentary meals, access to most sessions and attendee-only activities, and free parking.

To find volunteer opportunities, go to the conference website and look for a request for volunteers or contact the volunteer coordinator.

2. Request a media pass

Hopefully, you have a website featuring your portfolio of published articles. Or, maybe you have a blog that shows your writing skills and style; topics you cover; and consistency in publishing. These bodies of published works are your keys to free conference entry via media passes.

Each conference has different requirements for these passes. Sometimes you just have to link to your website, blog or other sites where you’ve published articles. Other conferences require you to blog about a certain topic or to provide proof that you work with specific publications. Some organizers want to see that you’ve been published recently or write consistently.

To request media passes, you can search “media pass” on the site if it isn’t one of the topics in the navigation bar. You can also contact the conference’s media department to request one.

Re sure to write the promised article about the conference and send a link to the media contact via email.

3. Be a Presenter

Being a presenter requires more work than the previous two options but it’s worth it.

To find opportunities, conduct an internet search on “Call for presenters” or “Call for speakers” and include the name of the conference or the city. For writing conferences, you would type “Call for presenters at writing conferences in Philadelphia” or “Call for speakers at 2019 conferences”. Be specific in your search.

After finding the opportunities, you have to submit a proposal by a deadline date. You will be notified if your proposal is approved. If it isn’t, ask for feedback so you can 1) improve future proposals and 2) increase the likelihood of your proposals being accepted.

If there is a conference you really want to attend, you can get in for free. Save on conference registrations by volunteering, requesting media passes and being a presenter. In addition to saving money, you will learn new things, meet new people and stay on top of trends in your career, industry or business.

What About You?

Have you ever gotten into conferences for free? How did you do it? Let us know in the comment box below.

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Marcie Hill, M.S., is a freelance writer, blogger, trainer and author who left her job and 12-year career in human resources to pursue her dream of writing.

She has written over 3,000 blog posts and nearly 1,000 articles in international, national, and local print and online publications. Her interview with Dr. Maya Angelou is her greatest accomplishment. She has owns three sites; has authored and self-published eight books; and has presented at national and local writing, blogging and social media conferences.

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Three Ways To Create Media Pitches Journalists Want by @ChristyALaverty

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by Christy Laverty | Featured Contributor

Story is king when it comes to the media.

Journalists want to tell good stories that entertain, educate and enlighten the audience. So if you are looking for media mentions, coverage and attention you need to give journalists good stories they can share with the audience that will entertain, educate and enlighten.

How do you do that?

Well, it’s all about knowing what people want to know, the problems that need to be solved, and the issues people are talking about. You need to find simple ways to get plugged in and stay plugged into what people are talking about, including journalists. Once you have a beat on the topics that most interest people you can better craft story ideas and then story pitches for journalists that resonate, and, of course, entertain, educate and enlighten.

There are a number of ways you can go about crafting media pitches that get a yes but I am going to share three simple and effective ways to help you tune into what educates, entertains and enlightens an audience.

1.Google Alerts: Setting up Google Alerts will help you see what is happening in the world and in your area of expertise. Head over to  https://www.google.ca/alerts and start setting up the alerts based on topics and themes you want to keep an eye on. Once you have set up your alerts, you will get emails with articles and links of all the articles. For example, I have several Google Alerts set up for a number of topics, including media, public relations, and communications. The alerts will allow you to stay on top of the news and information that is important to you and your business but it also gives you the content you need to create story pitches that resonate not just with a journalist but with an audience too!

2. Twitter Trends and Hashtags: Twitter is a wealth of knowledge. While I have always found a great community on Twitter but it is the added bonus of information that I really love. It is an absolute must for anyone looking to earn media mentions, coverage and attention. Just about every journalist has a presence on Twitter and they are very accessible on the social platform. The other great thing about Twitter is that you can see what those journalists are interested in and the kind of content they are producing! But back to the Twitter Trends. When you are logged into the desktop version of Twitter you can see what is trending on the left-hand side of the screen. You can set the location of the trends or select tailored trends. Why bother with trends? Well, journalists are going be paying attention to what is trending on Twitter and so you should be looking at the trends to see if there is a story worth pitching to a journalist. Think about Twitter trends like the water cooler. Trends are things that people are talking about and clearly interested in and that is the kind of stuff that helps to entertain, educate and enlighten an audience. And we can’t talk Twiter without talking about hashtags. Paying attention to hashtags are also a great way to follow what people are talking about. Hashtags are often listed in the trending topics. You can use hashtags as columns in a third party platform like Hootsuite.

3. Health Studies: Health stories are very popular. These are stories that affect all of us and add a human element to every show or publication. Journalists really like health stories because there is always lots to a health story that educates and enlightens. Health stories can be very personal and that is key to crafting a media pitch that will resonate with a journalist. Just think about stories of ground-breaking research that affect people battling cancer, ALS or MS for example. People care greatly about these kinds of stories because were are all impacted in some way. Collecting a file of links to recent articles on recent health studies can help you generate endless story ideas. For each relevant health study, think about how you could speak to the story, what expertise or know-how could you draw on to add value to the story. Check out this site to help you stay on top of studies and health and science news http://www.eurekalert.org

All these will help you craft media pitches that deliver stories that journalists and their audiences care about and will allow you to share your message and expertise with a bigger audience. You will be plugged into the news and information related to what you do and understand the problems and issues of the audience so you can offer solutions to help people like happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. It is about finding the topics, themes, and issues that allow you to use your expertise to help people.

Getting the attention of the media isn’t about reinventing the media pitch but rather is about using what is around you to create story ideas and pitches that jump on the back of what people are already talking about. You are able to offer your expertise and knowledge to advance and enhance the story.

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The Benefits of Being Bold

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Photo by Rebrand Cities from Pexels

by Tara Eggenspiller

For years I struggled to have a certain confidence I saw in my closest friend – I’ll call her Katie (her name really is Katie!) when she sang karaoke and made friends everywhere we went. Somewhere along the lines I had branded myself as ‘someone with social anxiety’. Looking back I don’t think this was a legitimate issue. Still, I sure wasn’t singing show tunes in front of a group of strangers.

This internal fear also stopped me from putting my authentic self out there when it came to executing business ideas. I was under the incorrect assumption that things needed to be perfect before I could reveal them to the world. I had set myself up for failure by not showing people what I was working on and allowing myself to be seen. I think many people struggle with perfectionism and it both handicaps and serves as an excuse when they fail to take action.

I thought of the kind of person I aspired to be. What would she do? How could I pick up her confidence and use it as if it were mine? When I started creating a handbag line I realized I would have to start putting myself out there if I wanted a successful launch. I started reaching out to strangers for feedback on designs, writing about my experiences, and basically not caring if anyone thought my ideas were stupid or not. The dividends of being bold have paid off in numerous ways personally and in my handbag business.

1. It Builds Confidence
Once I started being authentic my confidence in ALL areas rose. I realized I wouldn’t die and that most people are too busy thinking about themselves anyway. It’s true as well that others will only believe in your idea if you do. When I started believing my business and its mission were worthwhile others believed it too. It’s all perception.

2. You’ll Get Feedback
When you share your ideas and allow yourself to be vulnerable you open up your self to valuable feedback you wouldn’t have been otherwise able to obtain. People will appreciate you being real and in turn give you advice you might have otherwise had to pay for.

3. You Make Connections
Most the time people will either a) support you or b) not care. By being authentic I met many people in category a. I’ve had people come out of the woodwork and help me with logos, branding, and connecting with boutiques simply because I told them what I was up to.

4. You Help Others
This should probably go first. You never know who you empower when you’re authentic. You could miss out on opportunities to show others how you made it to where you are if you keep everything to yourself. You might be the shot of hope they need to pursue their dream.

Something to say about keeping to yourself through beginning hurdles.

So should you tell the world every new venture you’re working on; every new idea that comes to mind? Well, I do think there’s something to be said about the positive momentum that builds up in the silence. I think it’s more about not letting fear be the reason you hold things back so that when you’re ready you don’t launch to crickets.

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Tara Eggenspiller is an accountant who decided to pursue her long time passion of launching a fashion line. She designs Angela Mariah handbags for artistic and adventurous professional women.

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The Importance of “Unplugging” By @DrRKayGreen

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by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

In today’s society, there is a pressure to always be “on” that simply did not exist when most of us started business.

The rise of social media and remote work has been incredibly beneficial in a lot of ways. It has given entrepreneurs a chance to be heard and found by people who would not have heard of their services otherwise. It has leveled the playing field, in a sense, so that people have a chance of being heard regardless of how much they have to invest in that. It also helps to reach clients that are in other states or even other countries.

But there are also drawbacks. While before, most clients could only reach you during office hours, now there is more of a pressure to be available at all hours of the day. Especially if you have international clients that are not in the same time zone as you, you might be compelled to answer your phone no matter what hour of the day it is. And, yes, they can reach you no matter where you are, because chances are that they have your cell number.

It can be tempting to constantly check your email all the time. For many of us, it is probably the first thing we do when we wake up and the last thing we do before going to bed. It is easy to do, because after all, we love our jobs and our clients and want to be the best at it. That requires a certain degree of dedication.

But too much of a good thing can turn bad, and focusing too much on work can be incredibly detrimental. It can lead to us neglecting both our mental and physical health. It can take us away from our family and friends. It can burn us out entirely, so we cannot even do the job that we are sacrificing all of this for.

Finally, it can ruin our ability to engage with the world on a meaningful level.

Consider this: when was the last time you felt truly present in the moment? The last time that you focused on something without having the back of your mind focused on emails or social media notifications? Maybe you do not have this problem, and you have found the perfect work-life balance. But I am willing to state that for most of us, these moments of peace and quiet and connection are few and far between.

And that simply is not healthy. It is admirable to be so dedicated to your work, but that does not mean that it should be the only thing in your life. You can and should take time for family, and friends, and even just to spend some time by yourself.

But in today’s interconnected world, how can you do that? There are a few options.

Enforcing regular office hours is a great way to make sure that you will not be too tempted to check work email after hours. If your clients know that they can only reach you from nine to five, there is less pressure to answer that email right away. Of course, sometimes work or extenuating circumstances will demand that you work later, but at least you can have some days where you do not answer.

Try to have at least one day a week where you do not look at your inbox at all. Saturdays or Sundays are good options for this.

After that, take it even further. On that weekend, try to turn off your phone for an hour or avoid looking at screens. Let yourself forget about twitter notifications and emails. Instead, go take a walk, or meet a friend for coffee. And instead of constantly looking to your device, just be in the moment.

You will be surprised by how much healthier you feel — and how much renewed focus you have when you are actually at work.

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Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

Twitter – Facebook – LinkedIn

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Entrepreneurship After 50: Courage or Insanity? by @wendykrichards

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If you want someone to hire you after your 50th birthday, you may need look no further than the reflection in the mirror.

The smile on my face was beginning to head south and I knew it was time to make a run for the door. I was attending a luncheon with a large group of women 50+ whose lighthearted conversation was totally out of my comfort zone. About to make my excuses, someone finally asked a question that caught my attention and deserved an honest answer. Sitting back down and rubbing my hands together to dive into an interesting debate, I was in the mood to be the nay in a room full of yeas.

The Question

I decided raising my family was more important than a career. So I temporarily put my plans on hold until the kids were old enough to fend for themselves. Is it too late to go back to school, complete my education and apply for work?

This woman did what many of our generation were told we were supposed to do. Her question was relevant and to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, what she received were platitudes.

Of course! You’re never too old to educate yourself or start a new career. What a great idea!

The Bad News – Ageism

I decided to play the devil’s advocate and tell this woman the truth. No, it was not a good idea. Not if that education was in order to get hired. Face it lady, you are too old. Take a look around at job sites such as Indeed, Glassdoor and Workopolis and sift through jobs for older workers. It shouldn’t take long to find that Walmart greeter position.

Age discrimination is alive and well in North America. No one is going to hire you. You will hear excuses such as: you are over-qualified, you’re not a good fit, we’ll get back to you. Hilarious – they won’t. Take a look on LinkedIn for photos of “meet our new team”. How many faces do you see over 45 besides the owner?

What those HR recruiting algorithms are telling you is that you are over the hill and too much money. They are looking for two 20-somethings at half your expected salary.

The Good News – Why are You Applying for Jobs to Make Someone Else Rich?

Are you feeling brave? Have you considered taking all that life experience and work ethic and employing yourself? If so, consider joining the club of crazy entrepreneurs! At your age, you probably have a pretty good idea of what you want to do (baker, home stager, barber, dog trainer) and willingness to pore yourself into your passion.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~ C.S. Lewis

I’m a Late Bloomer. Until I was in my 50s, I worked at jobs I had no passion for but paid well enough to raise my kids. When the time came for them to fly the coop, I did too. I disengaged my life’s autopilot and decided it was time. There was no shortage of well-meaning friends telling me I might be a touch too old as they looked forward to retirement in warm places. What they didn’t know is I’d spent all my money raising kids and didn’t have two cents to rub together. So ignoring their kind advice, I formed a plan.

“…Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

~ Robert Frost

With one credit card to my name, I borrowed money to go back to school to become certified in tourism, took every available free and not so free on-line course, researched destinations, tours, hotels and suppliers, and reached out to anyone who could help me get into the business. I attended networking events, spent my own money to travel to trade shows, and read industry magazines on the bus to and from work.

There were days I thought I was out of my mind. So I would ask myself this question: If I don’t do this, what were my options?

  1. I live no better than I am today, keep buying lottery tickets and eventually die.
  2. I keep going and see if I can create some magic. What did I have to lose?

Fast forward 10 years and I now consider myself pretty successful as an independent  Virtuoso luxury travel consultant. Over time, I narrowed down my niche and love what I do. I also find time to write articles, blogs and get started on my book. But more importantly, I work for and love my boss – me, myself and I. The sounds emanating from my home office consist of chirping birds in the tree outside my open window. What a life!

The Bottom Line

I recommend you start by reading Jane Park’s insightful article published in Forbes.com Are Entrepreneurs Really the Happiest People on Earth? It might help you decide if you’re up to the task.

So how much do you really want success after 50? It can take a year or 10 before things click. Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. Be careful – you are about to find out the stuff you are made of. For me, I learned more under pressure about courage, people, business and what I am capable of. My life is still an adventure in progress but it sure beats busting my butt making someone else rich.

 

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