Ah February, the month of love! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I thought it would be interesting to write up a post about love. As a blogger, you hope that all readers will fall in love with your blog and keep coming back for more. However, in order for this to happen it is important that you reciprocate the feeling! It is time to learn how to show your readers some love this V-day!

#1: Always give back. For all those loyal followers and readers, give something back. Perhaps you hold a contest or give away prizes. Whatever you do, a reward will be greatly appreciated and have readers coming back for more.

#2: Comment your way into their heart. If you have readers who write on their own blogs, be sure to read and comment on theirs, too. There is nothing better than two bloggers supporting each other back and forth.

#3: Do not be afraid to get personal. Posts that are geared towards your products and niches are great, but it never hurts to get a little personal. Post about an experience or even a general topic that has been on your mind. This way, you will come off as more human!

#4: Recognize your readers. If you have a few loyal readers who will comment every once in a while, give them a quick shout out! You can do this on Twitter or even Facebook. They are sure to appreciate the recognition!

#5: Ask a reader to guest post. Sure, it is your blog but it does not hurt to have another voice every once in a while! Find a loyal reader and ask if they are interested in writing a guest post. This will not only build on your relationship but show readers that the blog is about them just as much as it is about your company and services.

With these few techniques, you will be able to build stronger relationships with those who check out your blog on the daily- not to mention generate more comments! It is so important that you continue to work on your insurance marketing strategies. If not, your blog will fall behind and soon be forgotten- and no one likes to be forgotten on Valentine’s Day!

You can’t deny it anymore; marketing is not what it used to be. Using traditional tactics like placing print ads in newspapers won’t get you very far these days and certainly is not the most cost-effective way for small businesses to reach potential customers. Where are the majority of consumers looking for products and services? Online, of course! So, if you’re looking for insurance marketing ideas or strategies for any small business, the answer is only a click away.

Press releases have been a staple of marketing and PR for what seems like forever, but the strategies behind crafting press releases have evolved quite a bit. With the advent of PR 2.0, small businesses don’t have to wait until they win an award to send out a press release. Writing for the Web is a whole new ball game, which centers on creating engaging, informative and shareable content. For this reason, new-age press releases may look more like blogs in the sense that they can be about timely tips, a quirky characteristic of your small business or simply a “cutest pet” contest that your business is hosting on Facebook.

As your company begins to navigate the new terrain of PR 2.0, keep these things in mind when it comes to submitting press releases:

• While the focus should be on making content engaging, be sure to answer the key questions who, what, where, when and why.
• Get local by mentioning the city in which your company is located and other surrounding towns. This will help you reach your target audience.
• Include a press release section on your company website so that you can archive copies of your press releases and also help them maintain their SEO value.
• Promote your press releases via your social media accounts.

In order to keep up with the changes in marketing and public relations, small businesses must be flexible with their strategies. Even if you need a little help along the way with Facebook training or a rundown of new PR techniques, you will be successful as long as you stay open-minded!

I am sure that by now you have gathered how important it is to constantly enhance your blog posts. We constantly remind you that CONTENT IS KING, but how should you be writing your content?  As a blogger, I have tested out a few different styles of writing, from paragraph form to bullets, to numbered lists. The results? I found that using numbered and bolded lists receive much more shares than any three-paragraph post.

Structuring your blog post as a list is your next challenge when it comes to your insurance marketing strategies. Here are a few reasons why lists are so great!

#1: Easy to plan. Planning out what you are going to say in a post is much easier when you have headings. First, number your points and then go back to fill in the details.

#2: Easy to scan. It is important that readers will be able to quickly scan over your content. It is also much easier for readers to go back when they go to reference a specific point. Your main points can get lost in a paragraph!

#3: Less intimidating. A bunch of paragraphs are much more intimidating than a simple list. Many readers may actually pass by your post if it seems to be cluttered and lengthy.

#4: Creates a structure. Having a structure to your post will benefit both parties; makes it easier for you to write and easier for your audience to read.

#5: Straight to the point. It is easy to stray while reading a paragraph. With a list, you will be getting right to the point without any useless filler content. Your readers will appreciate that.

#6: More shareable. If your readers enjoy your easy-to-read blog post, they are much more likely to share! It will also be much easier for your readers to say “Check out bullet #5!” then having to scroll around and search.

Once you start writing your posts as numbered lists, you will never go back to paragraphs! Not only is it a much easier way to produce content, but much easier on your readers eyes as well. Once you are done, don’t forget to edit your work. If you need some advice in the editing department, feel free to check out a few editing tips from one of our past posts!

Everyone knows that good public relations is essential for any business, regardless of how large or small it may be. Public relations plays a role in how the public perceives your company, whether or not people find your business to be reputable and the level of expertise your employees are believed to possess. While big corporations may have an entire team of PR experts working on their behalf, smaller companies do not have to forgo some of the most effective PR and insurance marketing strategies just because they think that they do not have room in their budget.

Here are some of the low-cost, yet highly effective PR tips for small businesses:

• Write articles on industry-related topics and submit them to online services like ezinearticles.com. This will help establish your credibility as an expert and help drive traffic to your company’s website if you use back links within the article.
• Submit press releases on new initiatives that your business has taken on, charities that you are involved with or simple current events that relate to your company.
• Profile your company on Wikipedia so that when potential customers want to get more information on your company, they can find it on multiple sites.
• Get active within your industry by attending trade shows. This can be a great opportunity for networking.
• Use social media to help brand your company and reach out to other businesses and potential customers. Not only is it free, but it gives companies the chance to show their office culture and make their employees more relatable.

Good PR doesn’t require a fancy agency or lots of money. Whether you just want to get your company’s name out there or put your insurance marketing ideas into action, it’s all possible with a little dedication and with the power of the internet. Take some time today to think of creative ways to execute PR strategies for your small business and you may be surprised by the results!

Turning a blogging tutorial into a recipe is only appropriate for holiday season! With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, it is important to prepare for the upcoming festivities. However, don’t let it put a hold on your blogging efforts. Blogging at least once a week is so important when it comes to your insurance marketing efforts!

Ingredients:

1 search engine

2 cups of fresh content

1 cup of creativity

A sprinkling of humor

A dash of SEO

1 appealing image

1 catchy title

Directions:

#1: Research. To start, make sure you do your research. Use your choice search engine to generate ideas and make sure whatever you are reading is true. Your readers will take everything you say to be true, so do not let them down by offering false information.

#2: Choose a format. Formatting is everything in a blog post- which makes this is a necessary step in the recipe! Are you looking to give your readers tips? A bulleted or bolded list is a great way to do so (much like this one!) If you blogging about a current event or re-telling a news article, paragraph form is a better option.

#3: Start writing. This part of the recipe calls for your 2 cups of fresh content, 1 cup of creativity and a sprinkling of humor. Your blog post should be original and interesting. The internet is full of blogs and yours could easily get lost if it does not scream creativity! You want your readers to share your blog and keep coming back for more. A great recipe does both of those things; keep that in mind when you are writing. If you constantly blog about the same content, your blog will get stale. No one likes a stale baked good!

#4: Add in your keywords. After the bulk of your blog is written, you must add a dash of SEO. This means adding in your best keywords and linking to your website. Be careful though- any more than a dash could be SEO-overkill and will destroy the end result.

#5: Give your post a catchy title. The title can be compared to the first bite. This is the first part of your blog post that your readers will see, so luring them in is a must.

#6: Add your image. In order to make your final product appealing to the eye, and well, appetizing, you should add an image. This image should go hand-in-hand with the content in your post.

#7: Edit before you post. Your final product should not have any flaws, which makes editing a must. This is the finishing touch- the cherry to the ice cream! Once you feel that your final product is good to go- it is time to post!

The holidays are a great time to be blogging; there are so many great topics to write about.  So once you are done baking that pumpkin pie, be sure to come back to this recipe, take notes, and write that perfect blog post!

Traffic is an interesting term. Many American’s may think of traffic in a negative way- no one likes being stuck in rush hour traffic! However, in the world of SEO, traffic is AWESOME- especially when it comes to your blogging efforts. You want your blog to be a high-traffic website. If it already is, that is proof that your insurance marketing strategies are working. If not, there are always ways to increase your traffic.

Here are a few tips from the experts:

#1: Title tag it. The title of your post is not only the first thing your readers will see, but also the search engines. So make it a good one! Keep it short, sweet and be sure to get your keyword in there! Yes, it can be difficult but it is not impossible.

#2: Be social. Wrote a blog post? Tweet about it! You can put it up on your Facebook wall or even post the link on Twitter or LinkedIn. The use of social media is a great way to get your friends, family and community involved in your blogging efforts.

#3: Make your posts shareable. Make sure you write posts that others will want to share. Posts that include current events and pop culture references are usually the most viewed. Lists are also a great way to grab people’s attention as well as “how-to” guides. These are the things that people want to read!

#4: Bookmark, bookmark, bookmark. As soon as you write a post, bookmark it. Then bookmark it again and again and again. Use bookmarking sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Blink List, Delicious, and Jumptags. Believe us- these are not your only options! The more you bookmark a site, the more exposure it will get.

#5: Be a human. It’s important that you connect with your readers. Don’t just write blog post after blog post. It’s important that you ask your readers questions and try to engage conversation.

#6: SEO strategy. If you are not using keywords, it is time to start. Be sure to choose the best keywords, typically those with high search volume and low competition. Insert them into your blog post naturally to avoid sounding like spam.

#7: Comment to connect. It’s time to enter the realm of blogging. Finding other blog posts and commenting will not only show others that you are social, but will allow you to build back links. If you write something insightful, be sure to link to your own blog- readers will most likely click your link!

#8: Imagery. Adding images or some sort of creative flair to your posts are sure to grab your readers’ attention.

Your blog traffic may not increase overnight because everything takes time. However, with the right strategy you will begin to see results gradually. If not, it may be time to think about your actual blog posts. Believe it or not, blogging mistakes are actually common and you may not even realize that you are making them.

Hopefully these few tips have helped and if you have any questions or anything to add, feel free to do so!

Many people live by a set of standards- and that is what makes a person who they are. Your blogs are the same way! Each and every post should follow a set of standards. This way, your posts will not only be credible and informative, but also give your company a voice. This is an important part of your insurance marketing efforts; you will be rewarded for great content!

I present to you, The 10 Blogging Commandments:

#1: Thou shall not plagiarize. The worst thing that any blogger can do is use someone else’s words. The purpose of your blog is to show readers the company’s voice. Using others’ work is a sure way to ruin your reputation.

#2: Thou shall keep posts positive. No one wants to feel sad after reading a blog post. Insurance may seem like a drag but it does not have to be! Yes, life insurance is a somber topic, but it’s simple to turn it into something positive: give health tips or even ways to zap stress.

#3: Thou shall keep content fresh. Re-using the same blogging topics over and over again? Spend an hour brainstorming topics that work for the season, or even current events. Stale content is sure to keep your readers from coming back for more.

#4: You shall edit all your work. There is nothing worse than reading a blog with grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Very unprofessional!

#5: Thou shall not link profusely. Too many links in your post will not only look spammy, but it really IS spammy. Keep the links to a minimum (2-3).

#6: Thou shall bookmark every post. Your posts deserve to be read, and not just from your website! Bookmark your posts on sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit, and Delicious.

#7: You shall accept all feedback. Receive a negative comment? Don’t start an internet war! Be sure to address the comment in a professional manner.

#8: Thou shall show love. Find other bloggers and comment! If you do not put yourself out there as a human being, people will not bother to give you feedback. It’s important to reciprocate.

#9: Thou shall respect a day of rest. No need to be excessive about blogging. Three times a week is usually a good place to be, once a day at most. Take weekends off!

#10: Thou shall not give false facts. All your information and posts should be backed by credible sources. Your words are powerful and your readers will take them seriously. Any false information that you post will be held against you!

If you follow these simple guidelines, your blogging efforts will take off, and pay off! Any questions or comments, please feel free to ask. We are always here to help- now go spread your words!

Think about your favorite band- why is it that they are so successful? Is it their cool hair or their killer vocals? It is probably a mix of both- but there is a lot more to it! Now think about YOUR business. Of course you have been working on your insurance marketing strategies and incorporating social media into your marketing plan. However, are you truly using social media to its fullest potential? Believe it or not- but a good social media strategy is a lot like your favorite band’s strategy.

#1: Patience. Do you think that U2 just became famous over night? No way! Having patience is key in the social media world. You may not have many fans and followers in the first few weeks but if you keep posting, interacting and searching- you will grow!

#2: Originality. Like 311 says, you have to “Come Original” if you want to be heard. In your case, this will mean having an original site, slogan and even original blog posts! If your business is different from the rest, people will remember you and be intrigued.

#3: Time. If you do not have time to update your social sites, it may be time to hire someone who does, or even hire an intern. You need time to build relationships, connect and communicate. Logging on for 10 minutes every morning is not going to cut it. Busy bands do not have the time to promote, so they hire someone!

#4: Open. Show your followers what is going on in your company. Post pictures of company events or blog about future plans. It’s important to keep them involved! Take a lesson from blink-182; every hour or so they update their Twitter AND Facebook with pictures from the tour, their bus and current status. Fans love it!

#5: Visual. What is one of the best parts of a rock show? The light show! You need to WOW your clients with your social site presentation. Use colors that represent your company on Twitter. For Facebook, be sure to add your favorite pages and show the world that you are much more than a business page…you are a real person and a friend!

#6: Consistent. If a band does not put out music every few years, they may fall off the radar. Same with your company! If you tweet once a month, you are going to fall off your follower’s radar. It’s important to update daily and keep content fresh.

These few tips are sure to lead to success. The main goal for a band is to build an audience- and that is exactly what you have to do on your social media accounts. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+…whatever you use- they are sure to boost your business. But without an audience, there would be no show. So keep your audiences coming back for more!  Once you have done that, then you are a true social media rock star!

Okay- so you have been blogging for months now and you still don’t seem to have many readers. What gives? There are a number of reasons why your blog may not be doing very well. Sometimes it takes time to gain a good audience and you need to be patient. But many times, you could actually be the problem. But have no fear! I am here to help with you with your insurance marketing strategies and find the core issue.

Here are 10 blogging mistakes you may not know you are making:

#1: Boring content. This is the number one killer in the world of blogging. Boring and dry content will never get you readers. Don’t be afraid to incorporate some humor in your posts, or even pop culture. Write about things that people WANT to read. Tips & advice are always good go-to topics as well.

#2: Too personal. Your business blog is not a place for you to vent about the fight you and your spouse had last night. This is a place to build relationships with clients! And please, stop blogging about your dog.

#3: Poor grammar. There is nothing worse than looking like a 7-year old wrote your blog. Always go through and make sure all your words are spelled correctly- spell check doesn’t always catch mistakes!

#4: Title lacks creativity. If your title is boring, why would anyone want to click your link? This is your chance to grab your readers’ attention- so don’t mess it up!

#5: Not replying to comments. If your readers comment, it’s time to be social. You can’t just hide behind your blogs…come out and play. Engage with your readers and you will be rewarded with followers.

#6: Repetition. If you have recently blogged about car tips, then lay off the car tips for a week or so. If you do not switch up your content, readers will get bored.

#7: No SEO efforts. There is a fine line between too much and too little. Of course you do not want to seem spammy, so it is best to link only a few keywords (2-3 at the most). But not linking at all is sure to hurt your blog efforts.

#8: Not blogging enough. Not blogging enough is a sure way to lose followers. People will become disinterested in your once a month post.

#9: Blogging too much. Ha! See that? Blogging too much is also an issue. You need to find a happy-medium. Blogging 5 times a day is only going to look like spam. Three times a week should be fine…once a day at the most.

#10: All about you. If you constantly blog about your business and how great your business is, people are going to stop reading. You must blog for your readers, and incorporate your company in subtly. So keep it interesting!

Blogging should be fun for you and fun for your audience to read. If you do not keep content fresh and interesting, your audience is never going to grow. I promise, if you take in these blogging mistakes and re-evaluated your efforts, you will be sure to see an improvement. Just don’t give up! Now go forth and blog your little hearts out (but don’t overdo it!)

Of course you are part of the social media world- you know how important it is! So you comment, post and interact with others and their positive comments, posts, re-tweets, and “likes” always make your day at work worth it! Now think for a second- what would you do if suddenly your audience was gone? Suddenly, there is no one following you and no one is interested in what you have to say. There is no doubt that would be devastating!

If you do not take the time to interact with your clients, this will happen! It’s time to embrace your followers. These are the people who are hearing you out. They are there for encouragement and support and they deserve to be recognized. Whether you are on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, there are so many ways to show your appreciation. Here a few ideas from to get you started—think of it as a quick social network training tutorial!

On Facebook:

-Send an inbox to a client you haven’t heard from in a while

-Comment on a client’s victory or “like” it

-Give your opinion when a client asks for one via status

-Share a funny Youtube video and watch everyone’s reactions

-Share a link to someone you know will appreciate it. Put it on their wall!

-Start a poke war with a good friend! (Hey- it’s there. Let’s use it folks)

On Twitter:

-Send a personal “thank you” in a direct message

-RT a follower’s post that you found funny or interesting

-Start a random conversation with a @follower you haven’t heard from in a while

-Ask a question to generate conversation- serious or silly. Example: “Who watched last night’s episode of Family Guy??”

-Ask your followers for advice. Example: “What book should I read next?”

On LinkedIn:

-Send an inbox over to a new connection saying hello

-Work with one of your connections? Give them a great recommendation for their page

-Refer a friend to one of your connections

-Like/Comment on an update in your feed that speaks to you

It’s clear that there are many ways to show your appreciation to your social sphere. Now, do it! They do not call it SOCIAL MEDIA for nothing! Your audience will appreciate your gestures and will be sure to reciprocate. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how you grow in the world of marketing. You may not see results over night, but the more involved you are with your audience, the more people will respect you and your business. Ready, set, grow!