Blog Archives

A picture is worth 1,000 words: How to get more great photos for your website & social media!

22/3/2017

Photos are the easiest and best way to promote your business whether you’re in tourism or sell a physical product. People are ‘visual’; if it looks good, they more likely to buy or book it! In fact, 92% of communication is visual..

I see many businesses struggling to update photos (and video) on their website and social media. It’s easy if you like taking photos yourself (I do!), but can be a hassle if you don’t.

Here are 6 ways and ideas to obtain good photos:

Put some budget aside each year to get professional photos taken. These can be used everywhere: your brochure, website, social media (incl Tripadvisor, your google map listing etc.), ads and media will use professional photos. Also, if your product appears in wholesale brochures, if you have great pics, they will be used to promote the region too.
But not all photos have to be ‘professional’ photos. Photos you take yourself can feel more authentic and spontaneous. Get a good quality late model smartphone. Not only are the cameras very good on them, you can also take some cool little videos!
Take photos every day and upload them on Instagram and Facebook (you can link these so you only have to do it once) and have a live feed on your website. This way, you’ll always have ‘fresh’ photos on your website! Don't forget to put a caption, hashtag or alt-tag on your photo so people know what they're looking at!
If you employ staff, there is bound to be someone who loves photography as a hobby. Make it part of their job description and you’ll have great new photos all the time!
Take a photography course.
Make a ‘shoot list’, a list of topics that would be great to have photos of for your marketing.

Think about the things that your customers tell you they love about what you sell.
Have a look at what other websites, and the type of photos that appeal most.
The type of photos and posts that get shared most are photos that are: funny, inspirational, cute, stunning, surprising, novel.
You could have a ‘theme’. For example, one of our local tabloids has a photo each week of a someone reading the publication in somewhere in the world.
People photos: of your customers enjoying your product/having fun!
Photos of your team (on the ‘About us’ page). Your customers want to see who they're dealing with!
Add text to your photo (great for Facebook ads etc) - see example below.

So, plan how you're going to have fresh photo content on your website on a regular basis.

Till next week, Marijke

0 Comments

4 simple ways to grow your business

17/3/2017

0 Comments

Thanks if you've taken the time to fill in my brief survey (if you haven't click here to do so - it'll help me provide you with the tips you want!).
One of the topics you were interested in most, was how to grow your business. I've developed a simple diagram:

Grow your business by identifying ways to:

Sell more of your existing products to your existing customer groups. So, I can sell my "Starting a tourism business" course to more people in the South Island who want to start a tourism business.
Sell more of your existing products to new customer groups. I could sell this course in Auckland or Australia.
Develop and sell new products to existing customers. I could develop a new course for people that have done one of my other courses.
Develop and sell new products to new customers. I could sell this new course online to people all around the world.

So, how does this diagram apply to your business, customers and products? Where are your opportunities?
Write down all options and then prioritise the actions that will bring you the best results.

When you do your business and marketing planning, you can use this diagram to help you grow your business!

Have a great weekend! Till next week, Marijke
NOTE: Registrations are open for the "Starting a Tourism Business - Hit the ground running" course in Dunedin on 30 March 2017 - see below!

0 Comments

I need your help! And..how to learn more about your customers through surveys

2/3/2017

0 Comments

Surveys can be a powerful way to learn more about your customers and business. Surveymonkey (www.surveymonkey.com) is a user-friendly programme that enables you to create great online surveys. There is a basic free membership, or paid memberships more sophisticated features.

There are several ways to collect responses:

Send the survey via email (send your contacts a link)
Embed the survey on your website (see survey below)
Via Social Media
Via a link on your website

I need your help! I have developed a 2 minute survey in Surveymonkey to find out what marketing topics you're interested in for the Weekly Marketing Tip. Please fill in this brief survey and go in the draw for a mystery prize!
It's also a good way to see how Surveymonkey works. Thank you so much!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MGBPGPT

PS You can also fill out the survey below - it's the same one!

Till next week! Marijke

Create your own user feedback survey

0 Comments

A picture is worth 1,000 words: How to get more great photos for your website & social media!

4 simple ways to grow your business

I need your help! And..how to learn more about your customers through surveys

Categories

Archives

Author