SaaS Branding

How a Coworking Space Can Turbocharge Freelancer Branding Efforts

on September 16, 2018

A coworking space is a virtual office space shared by groups of independent freelancers. Utilizing a virtual office gives freelance professionals an instant branding boost. Coworking spaces free freelancers from the high cost of renting and equipping independent office spaces.

What is Coworking & What are the Benefits?

This fall sees the official opening of The Ranch Office in Houston. However, The Ranch is a little different from neighboring offices occupied by top Houston designers and automotive insurers. This is because The Ranch Office is Houston’s hottest new coworking space.

Busy Ranch yes people don’t populate office desks and conference rooms. Instead, every inch of The Ranch is at the disposal of Houstons vibrant freelancer community.

Coworking & Virtual Office Benefits

Gone are the days of freelancers sitting behind dusty typewriters preparing submissions for Readers Digest.

As of 2018, almost 50% of millennial workers freelance professionally. Moreover, according to freelance marketplace UpWork, freelancers are set to become a workforce majority in the United States by 2025. There is just one problem.

  • Freelance clients increasingly prefer to work with individuals backed by a bonafide business address
  • Office set up costs are prohibitive for many freelancers
  • Working as a freelancer can also be socially and emotionally isolating

Coworking spaces like The Ranch, therefore, strive to offer freelancers a solution to each of the above concerns.

Coworking Spaces Boost Brand Visibility & Trust

Affordable coworking spaces like The Ranch, provide individuals and startups with a real-world business address. The result is an instant image boost. However, specialty coworking and virtual office spaces like The Ranch, also go one step further.

  • In Houston, Ranch Office users can take advantage of for-purpose conference rooms
  • High-speed internet and basic IT infrastructure costs (copy, printing, etc) are bundled into monthly price plans
  • Coworking space areas can also host private events and freelancer exhibitions

Increased Productivity Benefits

Being a freelancer is hard. Individuals have to manage their workflow, client accounts, and product marketing 24/7. Thankfully, for-purpose co-working spaces alleviate some of these stresses. Specifically, by allowing freelancers to settle into a daily routine in a real-world office. 

Coworking Networking Benefits

As a freelancer, it can be easy to start living life exclusively via social media. Thankfully, coworking changes this by providing a one of a kind opportunity to network with other freelancers face to face. At the same time, freelancers can also build more meaningful client relationships. Specifically, by scheduling appointments and meeting with real-world clients in person.

Freelancer Bottom Line Benefits

Working from home can be rewarding. However, homeworking also has several limitations. Coworking spaces like The Ranch, therefore, allow freelancers to benefit from access to a centrally located real office. All without having to sign high-cost long-term lease agreements with regular office space providers.

Work From Anywhere

For those freelancers who starting a freelance business, that does decide to take their brand to the next level, coworking doesn’t have to come at the expense of surrendering their mobility. At present, coworking spaces can be found everywhere from the Azores to the furthest reaches of the Australian Outback. The only question, in this case, is where would you like to work today?

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Legal Branding

Houston Drink Driving Penalties – Protecting Your Reputation

on September 15, 2018

Drink driving penalties in Houston vary in accordance with the severity of offenses. Repeat DUI charges are felonies punishable by fines and jail time. Because penalties are severe, it is important to seek legal counsel from a Houston DWI lawyer, as soon as charges are brought forward

Surviving a DWI – Civil & Reputation Consequences

Drink driving penalties in Texas are some of the toughest in the United States. As for why this is, the reason is simple. In 2017, 944 DWI drivers in Texas resulted in 1,018 avoidable road deaths. Those killed in fatal crashes include passengers, other road users, and children.

Legal Advice for a First Drunk Driving Offense

There is a misconception that drink driving penalties for a first DWI offense are minor. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In Texas, even a first offense DWI can result in up to 180 days jail time.

Drink Driving Penalties in Brief

  • First DWI offenses are punishable by $2,000 fines, accompanying jail time and license suspensions
  • Where intoxicated drivers have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15, fines start at $4,000. Jail time is often mandatory, and future driving restrictions may apply
  • Drunk driving while accompanied in a vehicle by a minor is a felony. Penalties include $10,000 fines and up to 2-years state jail time.

Hiring a Houston DWI lawyer is Not Optional

When charged with drunk driving, you need to hire a Houston DWI lawyer. Without legal representation, the civil and financial consequences of a DWI charge can be devastating.

  • Suspended licenses and jail time result in employment becoming untenable
  • Fines and jail time can devastate families and family finances
  • Many individuals charged with drunk driving, don’t realize what they are up against until it is too late

How a Houston DWI Lawyer can Help

How a Houston DWI lawyer can fight DWI charges, is always case specific. Where arresting officers can’t prove probable cause, DWI charges can be reduced or quashed. When making arrests, Houston police also need to issue sobriety tests following strict guidelines.

A Houston DWI lawyer will check to see that proper procedures have been followed. Lawyers also review evidence of medical conditions which may result in sobriety test false positives.

Can Road Users Decline Police Sobriety Tests?

It is possible for Houston road users to refuse sobriety tests. However, in Texas, implied consent to testing applies to all road users. When drivers refuse to comply with sobriety tests, fines and driving bans are, therefore, applicable.

Roadside Sobriety Tests are Never 100% Accurate

Contrary to what many believe, police issued sobriety tests are rarely 100% accurate. Drink driving penalties can, therefore, be challenged by lawyers, even when evidence seems stacked against defendants. The most important thing for defendants to remember is that legal advice should be sought as soon as possible after DWI charges levied by police.

Legal Branding

Why ICOs Need to Invest in Professional Legal Advice

on September 13, 2018

Startups planning an initial coin offering, need to start investing in professional legal advice. As well as ICO regulation, startups planning an initial coin offering need to be aware of their full tax reporting requirements.

Legal counsel can help legitimize ICOs and increase fundraising success rates. Here’s how:

Tax Law & Legislation – What Do ICOs Need to Know?

Over the past five years, ICOs have transformed the startup business landscape. By using an initial coin offering to raise capital, startups free themselves from having to pitch ideas to conventional lenders. However, ICOs are coming under ever closer scrutiny by regulators.

Legal Challenges Faced by ICOs

There is a misconception that setting up an initial coin offering is easy. In the United States, there are no laws which explicitly ban ICOs. However, as cited by the likes of the ICO Law Group, ICOs are required to comply with U.S. Securities Law.

“It is generally unlawful to raise capital in exchange for your coins or tokens unless you comply with U.S. Securities Law.”

Why Stricter ICO Regulation is a Good Thing

In theory, anyone can set up an initial coin offering. However, as recently cited by Vitalik Buterin, the gold rush days of the cryptocurrency market are over.

“The blockchain space is getting to the point where there’s a ceiling in sight. There isn’t an opportunity for yet another 1,000-times growth in anything in the space anymore.”

As for why growth in the crypto space is slowing, the reason is simple.

In 2017, fewer than 20% of ICOs returned profits to investors. Some startups failed to use raised capital responsibly. Others were outright scams. As a result, all new ICOs are expected to register with the IRS just like regular startups. Much more importantly, if ICO coins can be considered securities, ICOs must register with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Do You Need a Professional Business Attorney?

Does registering as a business seem like too much hassle? If so, you shouldn’t be running an initial coin offering.

When ICOs fail, they do so due to a lack of basic business acumen. Selling ERC20 tokens is easy. Putting funds to work and setting up a successful business, is an entirely different skillset. The good news, though, is that a professional business attorney can help.

  • Hiring a business attorney can help ICOs identify the best structure for their business
  • A business attorney can help startups get to grips with their true cryptocurrency tax reporting requirements
  • ICO specific legal advice can increase fundraising success rates by lending legitimacy to projects

ICO Laws Still Vary State to State

When setting up an initial coin offering, it is important to remember that ICO laws and regulations aren’t universal. Some U.S. States require a special license when engaging in altcoin activities. Others require startups to hold equivocal fiat cash deposits when issuing ERC20 tokens.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

To date, several individuals have been incarcerated in the United States. Specifically, for non-compliance with cryptocurrency specific anti-money laundering laws.

In May, 24-year old Eldon Stone Ross from Pensylvania found himself jailed for selling cryptocurrency without necessary licensing. Moreover, anyone identifiable as operating an ‘illegal money transmission business,’ is liable for prosecution.

Does the Term Illegal Money Transmission Business Apply to ICOs?

Anyone who raises funds via an initial coin offering without proper licensing can be charged under different State anti-money laundering laws. This being the case, never risk launching an initial coin offering, before understanding your full regulatory responsibilities. Moreover, when in doubt, always make sure to seek out ICO specific legal advise from groups like the aforementioned ICO Law Group.

Local Branding

Sign Advice for Businesses

on September 11, 2018

We often are asked to help a business in making new shop signs for their advertising needs. Since this is the case, here is a list we have compiled at our headquarters in Mansfield that will help you get a great looking sign that attracts clients.

Give The Sign Some Life

You will want to make sure your sign has some life and will draw in people who are looking for your company. You probably have a lot of personality in your shop, but you need to make sure the sign you are using is going to reflect this personality as well. You just want to think about the impression you are going to make to your customers. Is the shop a fun place to be or is it one that has a more professional setting? No matter what, you will want to make sure the sign you are getting is going to give the visitors an idea on the type of things they can expect to see in the shop.

Remember: Good signs are going to tell the clients what they can see in the business and know what kind of line is in the brand.

Do Not Overdo It

You will want to make sure your signs are short and to the point. You just want to make sure your sign does not fail. You want o make sure you get your key point across quickly, not have multiple points on a single sign. By getting the main point listed, it will attract potential customers, but it will also make it easier for people to know more about what they can expect to see when they are here.

You will want to be to the point, but you need to remember that you can still be funny if you want to be.

Fonts

You will find that the first step is to find the best font for your sign – your sign company can help you here You will notice that quite a few sign shops have been ruined because they did not properly pick their logos. The shop sign is going to need to get the attention of people who are driving or walking by, so you need to make sure the letters are big and easy to see. Remember: People typically will not take the time out of their business to read what your handwritten script is going to say.

Colors

You will want to consider a variety of colors for your sign. Will they look good in the sunlight or when it is evening? What color pattern is going to make the shop sign look great and standout from the rest of the place. To really look at the colors you may want to look at the other signs in the area. You will think about the red ads in the paper, if it has other red ads it can be hard to see, but you will want to check out the how your sign can stand out. You will want to find colors that are going to look great, but also think about the people who have vision problems when looking at the sign and suffering from color blindness.

Design

You will notice that one thing that is going to really bring the sign together is the brand that you are going to present with the sign and how everything is tied together. You do not want to change things simply because you can, but you will want to make sure you have a uniform brand across the platform. Remember when you are launching your business you want to make sure it is going to look great and have an amazing feel.

Materials

Now that you have a great design in mind, you should know how to bring your signs to life. When are you going to be opening and what time frame as well? Are you going to need to have lights installed on the sign to make it easier for you to see the sign? Is the brand more of a high end location or a mass market place? What types of materials would you need to get to reach your target area? You want the sign to look great and not make your customers think you are cheap.

You will find that you have multiple choices of materials, which is why you need to find a material that will suit you best.

Size

You will want to know more about the amount of space you have available for the sign and how you can use this space properly. You will notice that signs can go on brick, hang out front, or even be above the windows to draw in attention. So you will want to know more about how to use the most of the space to get the attention you need to have.

SaaS Branding

How To Stay Focused And Energized At Work

on September 7, 2018

Do you need to stay focused and energised at work – these tips will help you do just that.

Good Sleep

Get a good night’s rest before you go to work. The best way to achieve this is to have a comfortable sleep setup and this can be achieved with a great mattress. The mattress one mattress is meant to be great and can really be the foundation of better sleep and more energy.

Workout In The Morning Before Heading To Work

Taking on regular body workouts moments after waking up does more than warm you up. It helps keep the blood pumping making you feel refreshed. Just remember to take a shower and a good breakfast to push you through the day.

Take A Power Nap (20-Minute Nap)

While sleeping on a job isn’t recommended, studies show that taking a 20-minute power nap helps to rejuvenate body processes for the rest of the day. The power nap enables brain muscles to relax thus improving your concentration – especially in the afternoon.

Don’t Hold Grudges

Anger and emotions can affect your performance and output at work. Holding grudges with coworkers and even people outside the workplace takes up lots of energy in the process, and can be distracting as well. Most people only mask the emotional baggage they have on their coworkers, a habit that only drains their energy even farther. The best way to remove personal grudge is by reconciling with the persons you have wronged (or vice versa). This eases pressure on your mind.

Laugh

Laughing at anything funny, jokes included, helps the body produce endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good hormones that make someone happy and have a jovial mood.  You can either look for friends to crack jokes and have fun conversations with or even make YouTube your friend. There are plenty of humorous and funny video clips on YouTube that can make you laugh even if you are not in the mood to. Consider having your dose of laughter a few minutes after lunchtime when everyone goes into the afternoon slumber mode.

Take A 15-Minute Brief Walk

Taking some time away from your station/office can be a great way to re energize. Take a few minutes’ walk outside, in the streets, or even the park to breathe the fresh air. Don’t bring your smartphone along, as this could be distracting. A 5-minute walk outside the workplace is good for your heart and helps keep the blood moving. Doing this keeps you feeling energized and sharp through the remaining hours at work.

Have a Good Read

Reading an exciting novel or even a storybook not only helps clear the mind but resets your energy as well. Reading one story or a chapter after lunch gives you a sense of completion is entertaining, and helps bring the confidence and drive you had in the morning. If you however aren’t sure where to start, you could try Rudyard Kipling or even Mark Twain for inspiration.

Resolve Disagreements with Colleagues or the Boss

Running away from conflicts and disagreements will only put more weight on your shoulders, which can be tiring at times. Instead of running away, confront any issues you might have head-on, but in a diplomatic, empathetic and open manner. How you approach some of these disagreements will determine how well you will relate with the colleague or the boss. Some of the strongest relationships and friendships out there started out with a challenge or a disagreement.

Lend a Hand or Ear to Someone or Even a Colleague

Although most people walk with their heads held high, many of these are hurting inside. Lending a listening ear or a helping hand can help put a smile on their faces. Positive energy can be transmitted from one person to another, doing something nice for a friend, colleague, or even your boss will not only light up their hearts but also give you a gratifying feeling. This trick works wonders in helping you remain focused and energized through the day.

Legal Branding

VAT Tips for Small Online Businesses

on September 3, 2018

If your taxable turnover exceeds £85,000 you are required to register for VAT. If your turnover is less than this amount, you can voluntarily register for VAT. Sales relating to goods and services that are not VAT exempt are referred to as taxable turnover. Health services, postage, and insurance are some of the exempt supplies. 

It’s important for you to think about the schedule of your VAT quarters before registering for VAT. Lining up the end of your VAT quarter to be on the same date as your year-end will make your accountant’s work much easier.   

Since there are several VAT schemes available, you need to take the time to pick the perfect fit for your business:

  • Standard VAT
  • Flat Rate Scheme
  • Cash Accounting Scheme
  • Annual Accounting Scheme

The cash accounting scheme may be better suited to your cash flow if your customers take longer to pay invoices.  In this scheme, you are only required to pay VAT after customers pay the invoices; while you reclaim VAT after you pay your suppliers.

Businesses with an annual sales turnover under £150, 000 a simplified scheme, flat rate accounting, is a better match. You are only required to cover a flat Value Added Tax rate on the market sector you operate in. However, you do not qualify for any VAT reclaim.

After VAT registration

It’s upon you to maintain accurate purchases and sales records. Investing in a computerized might be worthwhile for you if you have a huge number of transactions to process. You may be charged with a penalty by the HMRC if they find that your records are lacking when they carry out a routine inspection at your business. 

It’s upon you to ensure that each sales invoice you issue should have a unique number. Furthermore, each invoice should come with your VAT number.

You are also required to maintain VAT return copies and proof to back it up. In the event of an inspection, these documents will be checked according to VATGlobal.

If you have any purchases that you will be claiming VAT on, be sure to request for VAT receipts on them. However, you may not be able to claim VAT on some businesses as they might not be registered.

It’s worth noting that you have to abide by a set of special rules for determining the amount of VAT to be reclaimed on staff travel and motor vehicle expenditure, in addition to the fact that you cannot claim VAT entertainment-related expenses.

HMRC payments covering PAYE, Corporation Tax, NIC, and VAT as well as staff wages are all outside the scope of the VAT. As such, they should be excluded from your VAT return form. Other expenses that should not be in the VAT return include MOT costs, road tax, loan repayments, rates, dividends and drawings paid. 

A C79 form will be sent to you on a monthly basis if you are involved in the importation of goods from a country outside the EU and hire the services of an agent when it comes to handling import duty, VAT payments, and declarations. The form captures the VAT paid on the imports, on a monthly basis, that should be included in the VAT return. These forms are used as proof during VAT reclaim and must, therefore, be maintained.

The VAT return form can be used to record purchase and sales figures when it comes to dealing with goods moving within the EU.

Digital Branding

Office Tips for a More Relaxing Atmosphere

on August 31, 2018

For a lot of people in America, the office is an iconic place. Most people actually spend more waking time there than in their homes, but only a handful take the time to make the space that they work in work for them.

Today, there are many workers that work virtually, but there are still millions that come to an office each working day. While work can be stressful, the office needn’t be. Creating an oasis of calmness in your immediate workspace has the potential to make your entire life healthier: here is how.

1. Declutter the Immediate Work Space

Surprisingly, some people find things much better in a mess, but if you are always pushing things aside to find your keyboard or balancing your keyboard on your lap due to the lack of space on your desk, you need to take a few minutes of your time to clear out that stuff. The area 6 inches to the side as well as in front of your computer should be clear to allow for comfortable movement.

The small aggravation of being unable to move freely can greatly add to your mental stress. The same goes for the chair, which should freely move in and out so that you never feel “chained” to your workstation or desk. People organize their paperwork in different ways, and that’s okay, but you always should have enough space for moving and working.

2. Hang an Inspiring/Beautiful Image in Your Direct Line of Sight

The eyes need regular breaks from whatever work you are doing. A simple painting, photograph, print, or any other image that strongly resonates with you should go up in your line of sight, so that you can daydream a bit (which is great for productivity) and take eye-strain breaks too.

If your job is a means to an end, you must never forget what that end is and an image can do a great job of reminding you. Avoid pictures of family since your everyday stresses with them can become triggered if you use them as your focus image.

For instance, if you are working a job to provide for your family, your focus image should be one of places that you wish to vacation with them or even a home that you would love to live in with them.

3. Bring in a Plant or Add Water Features

You can find numerous plants capable of surviving and even thriving in office environments. Greenery has been shown to lower both stress and blood-pressure levels as well as clean the air. A plant will also give you something to tend/water when you need a break rather than hitting the snack bar or coffee machine again. A lot of people like a water feature in their space too, it provides a relaxing feel like a plant. The water fountains at the Soothing Company are a very popular addition as they add a stylish and relaxing touch to the area.

4. Install a Sound Blocker/Muffler

The noise from your fellow workers can be quite distracting. The clattering of the Xerox machine, the loud phone chatter, and the squeak of office chairs are quite bothersome.

A small desk fan can provide a layer of white noise and a nice breeze while a small water feature can be turned on whenever you wish to concentrate. The sound of water flowing is both meditative and relaxing, and has the potential to screen out other sounds.

5. Keep a Large Bottle or Glass Full of Water at Your Desk

Sip from this bottle or glass all day. Dehydration can be incredibly stressful for the body. It stresses the kidneys and liver, amps up existent irritations, all which lead to you feeling sluggish.

Everyone’s been there: Coffee for breakfast, juice with lunch, and it is now 4 p.m. and you feel crummy, have a headache, and your feel tired too and its all because you never had enough water throughout the day. Then you drink several large glasses and you have to use the bathroom 4 times before the end of the day.

If you drink water throughout the day, you will feel better and will not have to use the bathroom so many times in succession.

The final piece of advice is that you need to take a look at your office and your life there. What things do you find more aggravating on a day-to-day basis? Can you do anything to change or modify them? Perhaps there’s a simple solution to something that’s been bothering you.

Digital BrandingLegal Branding

Technology Disrupts the Legal Industry

on August 28, 2018

Technology is no doubt disrupting several industries, the most affected being banking and finance. While all this was going on, we sort of forgot the legal system. It has seemed invincible for the longest time now but it seems likely that the next time you seek notary services near you, you could be served by a robot. How’s that for progress? Okay, that may not be happening in a long time, but law students and lawyers are already seeing some changes in their area.

– Legal Research

Lawyers spend lots of time in their desks and libraries looking up legal documents and reading up on whatever they can find to attach to a case, but that is being made easy by technology. Instead of spending all this time in actual libraries, they can now access most legal write-up including submissions and judgments online. The only problems with this flexibility are that it strains work-life balance for these professionals even more.

– Artificial Intelligence and Decision making

These days, cases where facts are right there and stakes aren’t so high are decided by software to save time for more emotive cases. Traffic offences where the offender has been to court before are quite easy to decide after looking at the trend. However, murder cases and such that need the presence of a human being to reason and adjudicate are left to human judges. There is still the fact that coders need the help of legal professionals to come up with some of these statistics that enable the software to make its decision.

– Data Mining

Being as the data is available to any lawyer, they can now look up a judge’s reputation and judgments and be able to – almost confidently – predict his or her style and likely outcome if they are presented with a certain case. This knowledge leads to that particular lawyer pushing their case to the judge they believe would be lenient. Data mining is certainly working in favour of lawyers.

– Value Creation with Smart Contracts

78507412 – digital handshake on city background. 3d rendering

Some contracts don’t need too much time to create as they are quite repetitive and so they can be automated. Artists are already making use of smart contracts by automating repetitive services and in the process saving lots of money in legal and accounting fees. Think of a lease document or an affidavit. The message in one is the same as the other with the only difference being the figures and names of parties to the contract. These are being automated to spare time and money.

– Telecommuting

This has been working well for a while now and the future presents even more telecommuting. Law professionals travel so much most of the time but technology has made it such that people holding meetings in different continents feel like they are in the same room. This trend is breaking boundaries – where a lawyer in Africa can represent a client in Europe and vice versa. Less air travel means more work is done and less air pollution. Win-win!

These changes are not all negative. They will add value to the profession and create opportunities for those willing to jump right in.

Digital Branding

How To Get The Media To Notice You

on August 22, 2018

Do you want more media attention for your business? Read on, here are some great ideas to do so.

1. Know What The Outlet Covers

Although most media outlets seem to cover the same publication, each outlet uses a different approach/angle for the same. For this reason, you need to identify whatever angle or approach the outlet uses in the content and news they air. It is after you have identified their ‘beat’ that you can start working on producing the same quality and matching news as theirs. You may however have to watch, read, or even listen to their broadcast severally to get the ‘beat’ right.

2. Use Email Instead Of  Calling

Unless you have a burning question, always use email for media pitches instead of the phone. One of the reasons why you need to avoid calling is the fact that most calls go to voicemail. Listening to a voicemail message takes a lot longer than reading the text. It is even harder to forward the same, with most editors choosing to delete long voice messages if it isn’t direct to the point.

3. Try Reaching the Right Person

Media outlets like this have dozens of people working on different content each day. Sending your content to the wrong person means you won’t be ‘heard.’ With multiple writers and editors, you need to identify the specific person you wish to reach out to or contact. Many media outlets today have a desk software that helps route communications to the right person. All you need to do is identify the contact or use words that the software can understand to route your message to him/her.

4. Target The Outlet’s Regular/Main Feature

Take some time to learn/discover the outlet’s features, then identify where your story would fit perfectly. Most media outlets are always looking for stories and subjects to add to their features. It is after identifying the specific feature that you can schedule your story for online publication or in print. You may, however, have to follow the media outlet on Twitter to be able to see their feeds, as well as the editorial calendars to spot recurring features that may be of interest.

You, however, need to follow all instructions outlined for that specific feature to stand a chance. One of the best ways to have your business considered in the feature is by submitting the same to the right person. For instance, looking at the Contact page can give you a direct contact of the person/editor responsible for that specific feature. Sending a generic email pitch to the outlet only reduces the probability of getting to the said editor.

5. Let Your Expertise Known

Media editors receive tons of emails from people who want their businesses featured. While they cannot publish/air all these features at once, most editors save the emails for future reference/use should they need a source.  For this reason, it would be advisable to send the editor an email every 3 months indicating your expertise and availability for an interview. Make your expertise known and especially the specific topic. Your business should also have an online presence where these editors can find it on Google. Journos are similar to employers, they want the right people and those that show their expertise – check out this post from nPower to see the similarities.

6. Make Yourself Available

Journalist work on tight schedules whereby they may want to call you for an interview. Make the process easy by providing your phone number and other contact details in all emails and company website. You also need to make yourself reachable and respond to any attempts to reach you on time. Returning calls and responding to requests sent makes it easier for the PR rep to reach you. You may also want to keep your phone close each time – you never know when the PR rep will call.

7. Create a Resource Center for your Media

The press/journalist may want to grab a few things about your business before running your story. These include images of your top products, black-and-white and color logo, as well as headshots of the business executives. Creating a resource center for this, and in high resolution makes it easier for the media to cover your business well. It would also be advisable to include figures and basic facts about the company, which the editor can sieve through when running the story. Making these pieces of information readily available without the editor having to contact you makes their job easier.

Digital Branding

Creating a Customer Journey Using a Marketing Automation Software

on August 22, 2018

Everything in life unfolds at different stages. From physical maturity, career growth, to education. Each phase has its unique needs and should be confronted as such. It’s the same with customer journeys, there are different stages that should be dealt with accordingly. With the aid of an email marketing automation software, it’s easy to identify your customer journeys and manage them properly. A well-defined customer journey allows marketers to target and personalize their messages better. You can serve your clients better if you know what they are going through. The three common stages of customer journey are awareness, consideration and decision stages. Knowing at which stage at this journey a particular client is in will help you calibrate your marketing tactics. But how could you identify your client’s stage? The answer is marketing automation. This tool collects data, places triggers, and sends an appropriate response based on triggers. In one study, 45.9% of marketers said the marketing automation has enhanced customer experience, 37.7 % have developed quality leads and 34.9% have boosted their volume of leads. Now let’s get on to the nitty-gritty of the three stages:

The Awareness Stage

In the awareness stage, customers are not yet aware of their problems and they have not interacted with your brand yet. Your goal for this stage is to reach out to your potential customers and increase brand awareness. You must also find a way to establish communication with your potential clients. That is, by them liking your social media page, subscribing to your channel, or subscribing to your email list. To do this, you have to generate a massive amount of valuable content to reach as many people as possible. But, your effort would be useless if it doesn’t get in front of your audience. SEO is king when it comes to making sure that your message is heard. You don’t have to scavenge the World Wide Web to learn about SEO. You can use an SEO Management tool such as Linkio. Combine SEO with marketing automation to spread your message efficiently and effectively. To champion the awareness stage, create useful and attractive contents like blogs, videos, and infographics, and even create buyer personas. Ask visitors to subscribe so that you can continue nurturing them on the next stage.

Consideration Stage

At this point, the potential customers are already aware of their problems and are already aware of your brand. They are just checking out different options. Your goal is to win the trust of your customers and convince them that you are the best option. Winning trust is all about building relationships. Establish your expertise to help clients decide that your brand is a good fit for their needs. As with the first stage, marketing automation is also helpful by identifying which visitors are in this stage and sending out relevant content. Webinars, feedback from previous customers, and courses are the types of content ideal for consideration stage.

Decision Stage

During this stage, the potential clients should be ready to convert. They have recognized their problems and they have looked at all their options. They’re just one step closer to making a purchase. Your goal is to ensure that they buy your course, book, product or service. You want them to focus on that and just that. Examples of contents you can use for this stage is a free trial and a live demo. For instance, a client goes to the purchase page of your website after visiting other pages. The client will then be offered a free trial just in case he or she still has some reservations. Just in case the client leaves without making a purchase, you can still retarget the client using marketing automation. Visiting your product page is a strong indication of his or her interest in your brand. Through marketing automation, you can set triggers so that the client will still be reminded of your products even if he or she is on a different website. Automation also allows you to keep the cycle going even after the client has completed a purchase. You can keep a lifelong customer as long as you continue to provide valuable content and valuable products.

Conclusion

Awareness stage is all about reaching out to your customers. Consideration is letting them know that you’re the right fit. Decision stage is the time when they’re ready to purchase. The different stages of a customer’s journey are all important in the growth of your business. There is no one size fits all for the entire journey. Fortunately, you do not need to be manually checking on each client. Marketing automation can do that. All you have to do is lay out your plan, set it up, and let the software do the rest. You still have to generate high quality and useful contents. You need your entire mental prowess to create all these so don’t waste it on the mundane and let marketing automation do it for you.

Author Bio:

Kimberly Maceda is a Content Writer for ActiveTrail. She writes for some top online marketing sites and blogging advice on email marketing and marketing automation. The active trail is a leading provider of professional-grade email marketing and automation software for growing businesses.

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