tools-to-repurpose-your-blog-content

3 Types of Tools to Repurpose Your Blog Content

by BlogEdmiston Group

Now that you have written your blog, you might want some help in repurposing your content. Sometimes, thinking of repurposing your content for distribution can feel a little overwhelming. So where do you start? Have you considered using automation tools? These tools can help you speed up your distribution of content by removing steps in your content marketing process.

Automation tools can also save you time and money by allowing you and members of your team to spend their time concentrating on more important tasks. In turn, your team will be improving their efficiency, increasing revenue for the business while reducing their workload. The more an automation tool can do, the quicker you can promote your blog content. It may sound scary, but it doesn’t have to be that way if you are curious and have the right tools.

There are various types of tools available for repurposing your content into a new format. Here are 4 of them to help:

Images/Graphic/Pictures: There are a variety of simple tools for helping you transform your content into something new and unique. You can repurpose your blogs into images, branded infographics, or a series of images to tell a story. With interactive tools and templates, you can create a template for your specific need. You don’t have to have an art degree for this. Have fun! These tools are designed for anyone to use. Each tool is different but they do deliver similar results. Canva and Adobe Express are two applications that you may want to research further. Canva is a little easier to use if you have never worked with graphics before. Both offer paid and free versions based on your needs and how much flexibility you desire.

Videos: You didn’t think you could be a video producer, did you? Why not transform your blog posts into videos with A.I. According to an article by Chatterblast, did you know that viewers retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video compared to 10% when reading it in a text? Lumen5 which is a video creation software platform can help you get the job done. By deconstructing your blog onto specific statements or topic points, Lumen5 will use A.I. to create a short video. With the drop and drag feature, the Lumen5 media library gives you easy access to millions of photos, video clips, and audio files, so you can change change images and create the perfect video. Creating videos couldn’t be any easier. Lumen5 offers both paid and free versions to accommodate your budget.

Scheduling Tools: Your time is important! How easy would it be to take a blog and through A.I., have all your social media posts created and posted? Sounds too good to be true! Well, it isn’t.  Instead of spending your time creating and scheduling posts, all you need to do is let Lately do the work for you and you can spend your time interacting  with your audience. Lately uses AI to create your social media content and allows you to schedule all your social media posts at the same time. Lately starts at $39/month and offers a 7 day free trial at this time. Why not try it, save time and utilize the advantages of A.I.?

Repurposing your blog content doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, it can become quite easy by using the right tools.

If you’re not sure which automation tool is right for you and your business, let’s talk. You can email me at [email protected].


About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

repurposing-your-blog-content

Repurposing Your Blog Content For Greater Impact

by BlogEdmiston Group

In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about “The Value of Blogging for Your Small Business.” In that blog, I showcased 3 ways blogging can add value to your business. Let’s face it, by publishing more content, you can increase your brand awareness and also your SEO results. This month I would like to take the next step in the blog writing process and explain how to repurpose your blog content.

What Does it Mean to Repurpose a Blog?

Repurposing a blog when you take the content you have assembled into the blog and disassembling it into smaller parts. In this manner, you’re able to elaborate and expand on or to redistribute the content through different social channels.

Why is Repurposing a Blog Important?

Repurposing a blog can help you be more efficient, spend less time and money. It also increases the effectiveness of your content strategy. 

Have you ever sat down to write a blog and experienced writer’s block? Instead of spending time coming up with a new content idea each time you write, you can save the time by focusing on the content you already have. Content repurposing lets you freshen up your blogs and present it to your customers in a new way. It is also a way to reinforce your brand and make you stand out as an industry expert.

Three Ways to Repurpose a Blog.

There are many different ways to repurpose a blog. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Deconstruct your blog. Take individual points from your existing blog and expand those points to create a brand new blog for each one. Once you start writing, you will be amazed at how deep you can expand each point.
  • Update your blog with new information. Your audience and market is constantly changing. Why not reflect those changes in an updated blog, adingd any new content that is still relative to the piece, and present it in a new format? 
  • Take pieces of your blog and post them on your social channels. If you are using Facebook or LinkedIn, think about using other social media channels like LinkedIn or Twitter. This will help you attract different audiences in different market segments and help promote your brand awareness.

You have worked hard to create your content to reflect the personality of your brand, establish yourself as an industry leader, and create a loyal audience. Why not use this existing content to your advantage by repurposing it, so you obtain the most value from it?

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

The Value of Blogging for Your Small Business

by BlogEdmiston Group

Blogging has grown exponentially over the years. What is the value of blogging that is driving so much volume? According to Hubspot, consumers want to learn more about brands from content rather than traditional ads. So, let’s talk about why blogging specifically is so valuable.

Blogging is a medium that gives you control as to what information you share about your business and services. Blogging also allows you to share your thoughts, demonstrate your expertise and express your insights and opinions to engage with your audience on just about any topic you wish to cover. Of course, you’ll want to blog about topics relevant to your business and your audience, but as you can see, you have lots of opportunity for various kinds of content. Blogging doesn’t have to be overly hard, and you don’t have to be perfect when writing it. Remember, “Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” – Brian Clark.

Here are 3 ways blogging can add value to your business.

Build Trust

Writing blogs with valuable content will help educate your readers and customers. By educating your audience, the value of your products or services will become more evident, and therefore more desirable. By staying consistent with your messaging and being reliable with your blog content, your audience will learn to trust what you say and see you as an expert and industry leader. In turn, your audience will be more engaged with your products and services, sharing their feedback with their friends and family which will help increase brand awareness.

Residual Content

Now you see it, now you don’t! When you write a blog, that blog will be distributed on the internet for all to see. The content doesn’t just disappear once you write it. Overtime, your content will continue to be seen by new viewers. This content, when not time sensitive, is often referred to as evergreen content. Evergreen content will be available to all your readers on the web with search traffic growing continuously over time. The value is that your content will be fresh to the new readers searching for this content even though the content was written long before. This will help drive traffic to your website and help attract potential new readers and customers. The more frequently your blog, the more power behind exponential growth.

Lead generation

Leads are extremely important to the success and growth of your business. Are you struggling to get qualified leads for your products or services? Blogging may be just the answer you are looking for! One tool to incorporate into your blog is a lead magnet. A lead magnet is a term for a free item or service that is given away for the purpose of gathering contact details such as their  email, address, zip code, and other details in exchange for something of value you’re providing. If the reader is willing to exchange their information for your free item or service, there is a good chance the reader will convert and buy your products or services. 

Blogging is a very valuable and powerful tool. If you want to incorporate blogging in your marketing strategy but are not sure how to get started, send me an email to discuss your next steps.


About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

Why Taking A Vacation from Work is So Important!

by BlogEdmiston Group

Are you having a stressful day? If so, take a moment and think about a place you enjoy… perhaps it’s at the beach with your toes in the sand and the rhythmic sound of the rolling waves. Perhaps, it’s at a cabin deep in the woods with just the sound of mother nature. Ahhhh, sounds great doesn’t it? Now back to reality. Let’s talk about why vacations are so important. 

According to this Inc. article by Ted Callahan, “small business owners work at least 50 hours per week, according to a recent poll — far more than the national average of 33.8 hours per week reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

Working those kinds of hours will take its toll on your health, your relationships and your business. And this is why it is truly important that you take the time to take a vacation. Don’t hold off on scheduling your next vacation. Go ahead and schedule it today.

Here are 3 steps to focus on while away:

1. Focus on Your Well-Being

Well-being encompasses so many things, so let’s focus on your body first. Working excessively puts an enormous amount of stress on your body which could cause health problems over time. Your body needs to relax, unwind, and unstress, so it can recover and feel energized again. Let your body do just that. Relax and unwind.

2. Spend Time With Your Family, Friends, or Loved Ones

How often, when you get home after a long day of work, sit down with your family or loved ones to eat, you receive a phone call, text or email? This is much too common in the business world today and is a distraction to your personal life. When you take a vacation, turn your cell phone off or only check it during certain hours that you and your loved ones agree upon. Remember, this is personal time. It is a time to reconnect, rebond, and just be you. Have fun and enjoy this uninterrupted time. Perhaps this time will even make you appreciate why you have been working so hard. 

3. New Perspectives, New Directions

Let’s face it, most business owners are afraid to leave their business unattended. If you are fortunate enough to have someone stepping in to fill your role, this affords you the opportunity to see them shine. If you don’t have someone to step in, consider hiring a virtual assistant or temporary employee to attend to the urgent daily needs in your absence, only reaching out to you for true emergencies. Knowing that your business communications are covered will help take the day-to-day operating decisions off of your mind so you can be open to new ideas, new perspectives and perhaps even a new direction for your business. How excited would you be to just let your mind be open to any and/or all possibilities?

Taking a vacation isn’t meant to be stressful. It is a chance for you to refresh your mind and body, regroup with your family or loved ones, and energize your business with fresh thoughts and ideas. The less you think about work, the more benefits your vacation will bring!

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

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3 Ways to Boost Your Next Marketing Campaign

by BlogEdmiston Group

Marketing is one of the most important things for the growth of any business. It helps to build brand awareness, increase sales, and engage current and potential customers. Underneath the umbrella of marketing, you have Marketing Campaigns. Marketing campaigns center around a certain new idea or product you are promoting with a new message that you have not yet shared with your audience. 

In order to give your business the best chance of success and to distinguish itself amongst your competitors, you will want to put together a marketing campaign that effectively communicates all the necessary information. With the right planning and concept, you can create a campaign that will stay with your target audience for years to come. A marketing campaign takes some work, but can pay off in increased brand awareness and revenue.

Are you ready for the 3 key points to keep in mind when launching your next marketing campaign?

1. Keep The Message Simple

The most successful marketing campaigns are often the simplest. Your marketing campaign will benefit greatly from being as focused as possible, otherwise consumers can’t easily identify who you are and what you do. Let’s take Nike for example. If you look at Nike’s marketing campaigns, many of their campaigns are vague but create curiosity and interest with consumers. It is the simplicity of their messaging that attracts their audience. As the largest seller of athletic apparel and footwear, most businesses do not have the brand recognition that Nike has, so it is important to keep the campaign message for your product or service as simple and direct as possible. The audience will only be exposed to your marketing materials for a short amount of time and in turn, they need to be able to process information and your messaging as quickly as possible. Ideally, you want your audience to resonate with your message and react with an “aha” moment.

2. Know Your Audience

Ask yourself, “Who are my customers?” What are their personality traits, their interests, and values? When creating a marketing campaign, keep these 3 traits in mind. A major marketing mistake is thinking that everyone is a potential customer. Don’t waste time trying to convert people who you think may be interested in your product/service.

Instead, focus your efforts on the people you know for a fact are already interested in your product or service and who fit your audience criteria. You have to speak the language of your audience. Here’s an obvious example to demonstrate the point. If you created a marketing campaign around a portable music playing device (some of you are old enough to remember “The Walkman”… and yes I am showing my age!) to the Generation Z crowd, you may not be very successful. “The Walkman” was long ago replaced by digital MP3 Players, IPods and now, today’s mobile phones. If you relate to your audience and speak their language, you would have known not to market your current product. They would not be interested. By listening to your customer wants and needs, your products will be much better received and your campaign can be a success!

3. Give Your Campaign a Call to Action

Marketing campaigns are about getting people to buy your product or service or to take some other action. Your Call to Action needs to be clear and concise. By using emotionally charged or enthusiastic words in your Call to Action, you will initiate the same response from your audience. Fear of missing out, otherwise known as FOMO, is an extremely effective motivator. When people think they might lose out on an opportunity that might not come around again, they’ll be quicker to purchase your product or services.  

Creating a successful marketing campaign is vital for the success of any business. By using these 3 tips, you are well on your way to boosting your next Marketing Campaign!

If you are interested in discussing a strategy for your next marketing campaign, send me an email to discuss your next steps.

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

Brand Awareness: How to Know If You’re Being Seen by Your Audience?

by BlogEdmiston Group

How do you know if your brand is actually being seen? Brand awareness represents how well an audience base recognizes a brand or a product. Once a consumer is aware of a brand, they start to recognize it without assistance, set out to make a purchase, begin to prefer it over other similar brands, and establish a loyalty that spurs other purchases and also inspires recommendations to family and friends. This awareness is instrumental in your business success!

So how do you know if your brand is being seen by your audience? There are a variety of ways in which to measure if your brand is being seen. Here are a few:

1. Social Media Metrics

Your social media following gives you a sense of how broad your reach is and how many people are familiar with your brand.  Your metrics also keep you aware of your general social profile and brand health. Every social media platform has its own native analytics for you to dive into.

Engagement is a measure of how people are resonating and interacting with your social media content. It is important to know whether people are actively reading your content or rather watching it slip by in their feeds. Keep in mind that without engagement, social media is just media!

Social Media Metrics can tell you whether a product or service is meeting your customer’s requirements or whether it needs to be improved. The story is the numbers, but you have to know how to analyze them. If you’re new to measuring your social media metrics, learn more in this article 11 Top Social Media Metrics to Track in 2022 by Rock Content Writer. 

2. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a free web analytics tool offered by Google to help you analyze your website traffic. It provides you with important information, numbers, and statistics to maximize your site’s performance and obtain important information about your audience, visitor behavior, what potential customers are looking for and more. 

Simply put, Google Analytics puts several lines of tracking code into the code of your website. The code records various activities of your users when they visit your website, along with the attributes (such as age, gender, and interests) of those users. This information can be incorporated into reports within Google Analytics to accomplish things such as evaluating the performance of your marketing campaigns.

You’ll also know which pages are performing the best and whether or not readers are returning, staying on your site or leaving after a quick glance. Want to learn more? Here’s a Getting Started Video by Google.

3. Trade Shows/Conferences

Exhibiting at industry events is a great way to generate brand awareness. Taking a stand at an event gives you a way to interact with industry contacts on a personal level.  There are usually advertising and sponsorship opportunities to help build a stronger awareness for your brand and solidify your products or services. 

A good example of knowing that your brand is being seen could be how many people approached you and introduced themselves to you at your booth and say, “Hey, I’m so and so and I follow your company on Social Media” or “Hey, I would love to connect for a chat”. This is a great indicator that your brand is being seen. Take these opportunities to highlight your brand further and create even more excitement so that they would purchase your product or service.

Brand awareness is a powerful concept that can have a major impact on your marketing efforts, audience perception, and revenue. If you take the time to use the right tools, you’ll find yourself with a loyal audience that recognizes your brand, chooses your products time and time again, and recommends your business to their friends and family.

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

business-spring-cleaning

4 Business Spring Cleaning Tips for Renewed Success

by BlogEdmiston Group

Spring is filled with ideas of rebirth, renewal, and regrowth. It is the perfect time to review your marketing strategy and business achievements against your goals. It’s also a great time to refresh your branding to ensure your company remains relevant and fresh. 

business-spring-cleaning

Follow these 4 Spring cleaning tips to grow your business:

1. Refresh Your Website.

Are your website pictures and content showing their age? Incorporate updated images to your site that show visitors who you are, what you do, and what you offer. Updating core pages, rewriting with more colorful descriptions, and fresh images or videos can help make a bigger, more lasting impression with your readers about the products and services you offer and the solutions you provide.

2. Spice Up Your Social Media Posts.

Test your social media to see if it reflects your brand. Does it align with your intended messaging? Does it portray the voice of your products and services? Review your metrics and analytics to see how well social media is working for you. What’s working well? What isn’t receiving the engagement you had hoped for? Then spice your posts up with new images, gifs, videos, stories… use a variety of content that will engage your viewers. You want your posts to grab their attention.

3. Review Your Client Base.

Spring is a great time to touch base with your clients – past, present, and potential. The simple gesture of a phone call or sincere, personal email to check in and say hi can make a world of difference for your business’s success and client retention. This simple action allows your clients to feel comfortable calling you for help, and it is a great motivator for you to ask your clients for referrals, especially if they are impressed with your products and services.

4. Renew Your Business Goals.

Take a look at your original goals and vision to see if your business is still on track to meet them. What did you ultimately want to accomplish? What kind of projects did you want to take on? If you are off track, it’s time to update your goals to reflect your current business operations and pace of growth.  

This Spring could be the push that drives your business to success for the remainder of the year. By refreshing your website, spicing up your social media, re-engaging with your customer base, and renewing your goals, you’ll be refreshed, more energized, and ready to take your business to a whole new level. 


About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

4-ways-to-promote-your-brick-mortar-retail-store

4 Ways to Promote Your Brick & Mortar Retail Store

by BlogEdmiston Group

With today’s technology, it seems that a lot of people prefer to shop from the comfort of their homes. However, as a brick & mortar retail store owner, you can take advantage of this trend by letting your customers know online that their products are available locally. Remind them of the benefits of buying locally, so they can help support the local economy while keeping it viable.

Make a trip to your retail store worthwhile, even enjoyable for your customers. As you read these suggestions, keep in mind the customer experience that you want to share with your customers.

So let’s get started. Here are 4 ways to help you promote your brick & mortar business:

Promote In-Store-Only Deals and Excellent Service

Make the customer feel that the offerings in the store are exclusively for them. Make your customers feel special. Go out of your way to assist them with any questions, offer advice, share insights. Create an experience that is so great that they will want to shop in your store time and time again. Create an environment that is relaxing. You want to encourage customers to linger long enough to make a purchase. 

Offer Samples or Demonstrations

Demonstrations of your products are extremely valuable. You can showcase the features and benefits of your product in a way that allows your customers to physically see, hear and touch the product. If applicable, you can show how the product functions. Once a product is experienced, the product can sell itself. 

Add Extra Value With In-Store Services

Extra value or perks are very important in the sales process. When customers are looking for retailers, the best price is not always the best option. The extra conveniences you offer can be very important. For example: if you own a clothing shop, you can offer tailoring at no extra charge. This perk can set you apart from a large online retail store where you purchase a piece of clothing that may or may not fit. Online stores don’t offer custom altering to ensure the customer with the best fit. You can! Like this clothing store example, think about what special service you can provide to your customers.

If the customer knows and feels great after your services are performed, the customer will purchase again. And they’ll likely tell a friend, or two. So don’t be afraid to set your products and services apart. Make it a pleasant experience with great results and will see as they will be sure to pay off.

Create a Loyalty Program

Customer loyalty programs are programs that reward loyal customers who frequently engage with your business’s products and services. By offering a Loyalty Program, you create an effective way to increase your customer retention. A Loyalty Program can help:

  • Attract new customers.
  • Retain existing customers.
  • Reactivate dormant customers.

Spice up your loyalty programs by giving members unexpected perks like a free cup of coffee or perhaps sending a handwritten note thanking them for their purchase and being such a loyal customer. Remember that surprising and delighting your customers is an effective way to boost spending, engagement, and word-of-mouth referrals.

With the pandemic now 2+ years in the making, it is time to bring customers back to your brick and mortar store. People are eager to re-engage with everything they’ve missed, especially going to brick-and-mortar stores to make purchases. It’s time to roll out the red carpet and invite them back. You’ll be glad you did!

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

business-growth

3 Tactics for Business Growth This Spring

by BlogEdmiston Group
business-growth

Spring! What a wonderful time of year. Even amid very challenging times, there’s growth. The trees will fill in once again with green, flowers will bloom, and the air will be filled with the fresh scent of spring. So how can you focus on business growth to bring this same freshness to your business this spring?

1. Know Your Audience

There’s more to knowing your audience than filling in an avatar sheet. If it’s been a while since you have sat down and defined your audience, from their age, socioeconomic status, to their basic beliefs and interests, start there. But that’s only the start. If you want to focus on business growth this spring, what do your target audience and customers need right now? Is it better customer service, a new product, a phone call to see how they are doing, or even a word of encouragement? Maybe your audience is more financially motivated. What type of spring sale would be most aligned with their current needs?

The key is to know where your customers have the most needs right now, what will motivate them the most, and how you can serve those two needs.

2. Freshen Up Your Email Marketing

There’s no doubt you’ve noticed the ever-changing algorithms on social media, as well as more and more competition in your industry. While it’s important to be present on social media and to understand your competition, your email list is your one and only way to directly communicate with YOUR audience in the digital world.

LinkedIn newsletters are all the rage right now, but remember, LinkedIn can at any time stop or change how they distribute these newsletters. If you are not yet sending emails to your audience, now is the time to start! If you’re already communicating via email marketing, congratulations! Now take a fresh look at your email. How does it feel? Is it aligned with your current brand tone, your messaging, and your goals? Is it serving your customers? Look for ways to freshen your email communications to bring more engagement, more value and ideally, one-to-one communications as a result of your efforts. This is how you bring about business growth.

There are two other options for direct communication. They are direct mail and phone calls. Consider springtime campaigns that align your email, phone communications and email marketing for the trifecta approach.

3. Implement a Referral Program

Referral programs, when done correctly, can give bursts of business growth to any business. Depending on how you implement your program, your referral program can also provide long-term sustainable growth.

Referral programs can run the gamut of loyalty cards, discounts or gifts for both the referring party and the individual being referred, or even affiliate programs for strategic partners.

Loyalty cards are great for product-based businesses. If you use a loyalty program, be sure to include your branding, your messaging and above all, bring a sense of gratitude, fun or excitement to the program. Your loyalty program needs to have an emotional element for it to be successful.

Referral programs work well for service-based businesses. Before launching a new program, be sure your onboarding and all areas of your service are smooth and efficient. Find and improve any gaps. Your referral program need not be complicated, it just needs to benefit both the person doing the referring and the person they are referring.

Affiliate partnerships are an excellent option for those in the online space. The key here is to focus on the relationships, building partnerships with those with whom you share an audience and with whom you are aligned, and then using systems to manage the affiliate partnership. Too often, the focus is on using the system first, and not on the relationship.

So, if you are ready to grow your business this spring, take action right now. Pull out your calendar and schedule time within the next 10 days to review your audience, freshen up your email marketing, and implement a referral program. Then schedule time or hire assistance to implement your changes. Do this, and you will bring new life to your business and set the stage for business growth. And I can think of no better time to do this, than the springtime.

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.

march-madness

March Madness: Your Business is Your Game!

by BlogEdmiston Group
march-madness

There is a buzz in the air, and it’s called March Madness. For many people, March Madness is defined as the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. Each team participating in this tournament has built strategies that they hope will help them succeed… and give them an opportunity to win. So, what can we learn from watching these teams in this tournament to help us with our business?

What makes a winning team? The winning team needs to have the right strategies. Strategies that are aligned with the team’s goals, skills and team members. The winning team also needs to be flexible. They need to be able to pivot and adapt to the changing game.

Think of your business as a game. How can you adapt your strategies and bring flexibility to your business game for long-term success and impact?

Changing Your Marketing and Business Strategies

Not all marketing and business strategies will achieve the outcome you desire. Therefore, it is important to reevaluate and change them as the business environment changes, your customer expectations change, and the economy shifts. It’s okay to shake things up. Just like in the NCAA Basketball Tournament, making adjustments is the key to winning. What adjustments can you make to your business to increase your success?

Start by evaluating these key areas to ensure your marketing efforts stay aligned with your business strategy.

  • Research marketing trends. Has it been a while since you’ve taken a look at trends in your industry and what’s working best for marketing? If you want to stay relevant, it’s important to stay up to date in what’s happening in the current environment.
  • Invest in social media. A strong social presence is essential for most all businesses. Has your target audience shifted where they spend their time? If so, it’s time for you to pivot and shift where you invest in your presence.
  • Refresh your website. It’s more important than ever to have a crisp website that is very mobile friendly. Just like March Madness, customers expect a fast game. If your site is slow or outdated, you’re missing out on business.

Bring Flexibility and Adaptability to Your Business Game

In the tournament, each team is pivoting and adapting to the specific moment during the game. The business plan you are implementing is the foundation of your business. It too, will need to be flexible to react to the changes and developments in the ever-changing environment and landscape surrounding your business. It is necessary to adapt to this changing landscape including changes in your client’s needs, expectations, and/or market conditions.

Consider these three areas to bring flexibility to your business.

  • Create new products and services. Would your business benefit from adding a new product or service? If so, what do your customers need right now?
  • Make improvements to existing products and services. Maybe you have a great product or service, but the maturity and/or expectations of your customers has shifted. How can you take an existing product and make it more desirable to your audience?
  • Market Segment: Would your business benefit from expanding into a new market segment? You could be missing key opportunities by not shifting your business to meet changing needs.

We can learn so much from March Madness. By running your business as a game, executing your business strategies, and pivoting when need be, you can achieve much success.

About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh-based marketing consulting firm providing senior-level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long-term basis. Core areas of service are business development strategies, website creation and management, social media management, marketing, strategic planning, and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business.