Tag Archives: social media

4 Tips To Improve Your Customer’s Experience

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4 Tips To Improve Your Customer’s Experience

The comfort of your customers matters, this also goes for your targeted customers as well. Tending to the things that will improve the overall experience of your potential customers and clients will keep people returning to your business. Returning customers will help your business boom as they are also more likely to recommend you to others. Start with the following to make working with you the best experience possible:

Know your target audience:

In any business, it’s important to pick a niche because that’s where the money is at. You need to know exactly who your target audience is. Never try to be broad when targeting your audience. If you’re trying to sell something such as a joint case, then you need to know exactly the type of customer who will buy that. You don’t want to make people, even those who are not your target, uncomfortable as this can damper your business’s reputation. Know your target demographic, understand that niches are fine, and don’t be broad.

As you get to know your target audience better, you will be able to form an idea of where these potential customers are located. You might find that you have a large following in a different time zone, which can make doing business difficult. Solutions like an after hours answering service can be most helpful in making your business accessible no matter the location and can grow your clientele even more.

Have a professional website:

Maybe it’s high time that your business gets a website makeover. Every few years a business should get one in order to combat looking outdated and unused. Even in web design, trends change and it can be a good thing to try out those new ideas. Getting regular updates can also help with keeping your security on your website tight. Many scammers and hackers will target unprotected and even unprofessional websites to leak data or even put up malware. If you are already overwhelmed, fear not as there are plenty of resources to help make your website the best it can be. A great place to start is by checking out this article on phased web design and working on the tasks that you know you can complete on your own.

Have a professional online appearance:

Just like you’ll want to have a professional looking website, you should also look into having a professional appearance online as well. This is going to include creating a LinkedIn account for yourself and your business, and regularly being active on it. This should go for other aspects of social media as well. If you don’t already have a Facebook page for your business, you should do that. The same can be said for Instagram and Twitter. Just make sure that you keep the appearance strictly professional. This means not picking a fight with naysayers!

Part of being professional online means offering excellent customer service on websites and social media platforms. This is crucial for encouraging the loyalty of long-lasting customers as well as attracting new ones. If customer service is something that you wish to improve, you might want to seek help from a CX agency. An agency like this will provide you with tips and tricks to boost your customer service as well as the data to see which techniques are working or need some attention.

Be open to customer testimonials:

Customer reviews and testimonials are how many people will base whether they’ll buy from a business or not. So just make sure that you don’t have this closed off. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and opinions based on their own experiences. Plus, it’s going to look suspicious if you have nothing but perfect reviews. It’s also important to track what people are saying outside of your own website and social media. You can Get the best product insights at Five Star Customer Reviews. From there, you can see the thoughts of other people about your products or similar items so you can constantly be improving.

Help your business reach its potential with the tips above. Making sure the customer experience is excellent is the best way to start.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

All For The Gram

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All For The Gram

Hello! Lil Red is truly skyrocketing into the twenty-first century with my new(ish) smartphone. I have so enjoyed using it to take OOTD pictures for lifewithlilred and *gasp* I have made an Instagram! For the longest time, I avoided making any new social media accounts because between my blog, Facebook (Sarah Mushenheim), and job I have my hands full enough as is.

However, during my little holiday break, I figured that there was no better time than the present to give Instagram a try. I will admit that it is not my favorite form of social media because I am, first and foremost, a word girl. But, if you are interested in exclusive content from yours truly that doesn’t make it onto lifewithlilred or my Facebook page, give me a follow at @lifewithlilred94 . You can also see my Insta posts on the side bar of my blog too!

I would love to have some more followers on THE GRAM and, of course, I’ll follow you back. And, eventually, you will be able to shop my OOTD styles on there so do keep it posted! ❤

What is your favorite social media platform? What is your favorite thing to post pictures of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Using Events As A Powerful Business Tool

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Using Events As A Powerful Business Tool

As a business owner, you always need to concern yourself with how you are going to get your brand in front of others. What can you do to stand out from the crowd and make a real impression? Events are an opportunity for brands to show themselves in the best possible light. You want to make sure that you are networking effectively and giving off the real impression of what your business is all about.

There is a lot that needs to be considered here. You need to start marketing from the office before the event takes place. You also need to think about how you are going to follow up with excellent content after the event too. Soona is a great content creation platform for visual photographs and the like, so it’s worth checking out this Soona Photography review for more information so that you can make your event a massive success.

Of course, you need to consider the room itself when branding any sort of corporate event. You will want it to have excellent styling and to represent your brand well. To do this, you will need to incorporate your corporate color and you should make sure that you have posters and other forms of advertising hanging up, as well.

In some cases, you may even use catering services to provide refreshments or a fantastic business lunch. This can work well at award shows, upscale client meetings, or even professional events such as when you bring all of the district managers together for the yearly ball. There’s nothing like food to bring people together.

You will want to consider the venue that you select for the occasion. There are a lot of quirky venues, which are different from the norm. This gives you a unique way of marketing effectively and making a lasting impression. After all, this is the sort of thing that people are going to be talking about for a long time, which is exactly what you want. Feeling overwhelmed yet? It’s understandable! There’s a lot that goes into creating a successful event. Should you need an extra hand when it comes to selecting a venue or decorating and preparing the space, it is worth looking into an event design company to assist. Then, you can focus on other priorities knowing you have a great team behind you.

In addition to the points that have been mentioned so far, think about the different ways that you can go that extra mile to make the guests feel special and hammer home the point that your business is a professional one. Little touches can go a long way in this regard, so it is something you should think about carefully. From the food you serve to the way the venue is decorated, think about what this says about your brand.

Of course, you may also want to spend a little bit of time online looking for ideas and inspiration. Social media is a great tool because you can learn about the things that people did wrong and the mistakes they made, as well as the things they got right. You can also use the likes of Pinterest and Instagram for image inspiration on how to make your venue look incredible too. Pay close attention to the lighting in your inspiration pictures and use it to your advantage. Do you want bold and bright for a business conference? Or atmospheric for a Black Tie event? Then, you can consult with a professional team for staging and lighting Hawaii (or your local area) to create your vision. The right lighting can really elevate the entire event!

Remember that a business event should have some fun involved and that means having some fun with the planning process too. If you find yourself feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or crunched for time, it might be a good time to call in an assist to ensure the event’s success. Look into a team for event production in Denver (or your local area) and make some calls to see if they can help you achieve what you can’t do alone. This could be as simple as having an A/V expert step in or as involved as restaging your chosen venue. When everyone is having a great time networking and enjoying the company, you will be so glad you got some extra help!

Planning a business event is a lot of work and you might not be interested in creating one yourself. That’s okay too! Your employees can always go on wellness retreats, team building workshops, or educational events and Q&As like those hosted by Elegance Group events. As long as your team is together, it doesn’t matter where the event takes place or who it is run by. The purpose of events is to network, learn something new, and grow together.

As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when it comes to branding your business through events. We hope that the ideas we have mentioned above will be a great helping hand for you. Events can be powerful but only if you approach them correctly!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Easy Ways To Start Elevating Your Confidence

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Easy Ways To Start Elevating Your Confidence

If you haven’t been feeling like yourself recently, you aren’t alone. In fact, 85% of adults deal with low-self esteem or confidence in their daily lives. While these figures are high, they are hardly surprising due to the fact that there are so many different factors that can inhibit our confidence. This could include societal pressures, the expectations of our peers or loved ones, or even a setback at work.

While so much of our confidence is impacted by external forces, it’s important to remember that true confidence comes from within. Furthermore, when you start to feel good about yourself, confidence will come naturally as you will no longer care about what other people may think. That being said, confidence is a lifelong journey – it’s not something that you can obtain overnight.

So, if you’ve decided that it’s time to get your confidence back, here are some top tips to get you started:

Start taking better care of yourself:

Our confidence levels are often greatly impacted by how we look (or rather, the way we feel about how we look). While it’s important to remember that beauty comes in many different shapes and sizes, taking better care of yourself can help you look and feel better in your daily life. For example, putting together a beauty routine can help to clear your skin. Additionally, making the most of dental services available to you can help you learn to love your smile once again, meaning that it will be impossible to keep a grin off of your face.

Start working out:

Exercising more frequently is a great way to boost your body confidence. However, it’s important that you don’t work out with the intention to lose weight but rather to change your relationship with your body for the better. To achieve this goal, you should not base your success on the scale or the size of clothing you are wearing but on your capabilities. If you were to start running every day, set yourself the goal of running a bit further each day and note how your body changes as you get stronger, faster, and more capable. Setting yourself small fitness goals will also help boost your confidence as they’ll show you that you can achieve whatever you set your mind to.

Take a break from social media:

In a world where we spend so much time on our phones, it’s no wonder that social media can significantly impact our confidence. Social media constantly encourages us to compare ourselves to others, whether that’s due to the fact that every picture that your friends post looks perfect or they get a lot more likes on their latest upload than we do. If you want to challenge how you perceive yourself, it’s time to give yourself a break from the socials. Log out, deactivate, or even delete the apps from your phone, if only temporarily. When you return, you should ensure that you unfollow (or mute) any accounts that do not make you feel good about yourself.

As mentioned above, confidence is a lifelong journey and the tips above can help you get started on the right foot!

Featured Image By: Jordan Donaldson | @jordi.d on Unsplash

Level Up: Improve Your Lifestyle & Mindset In 2021

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Level Up: Improve Your Lifestyle & Mindset In 2021

Do you ever feel like you are stagnating in life? Do you want more out of your daily routine but don’t know where to start? It is time for a change. This blog post will help guide you through the process of improving your lifestyle and mindset as we draw closer to another new year:

Eliminate Instant Gratification:

The phrase ‘instant gratification’ is so prevalent in society that you don’t even recognize it, so you’re quick to want the short term payoff. But, what would happen if you slowed down, took your time with life, and savored every moment? Start living your life intentionally this year by being mindful of what matters to you the most in all areas- health, relationships, work, money. Don’t let instant gratification get the better of you. Instead, take time to think about all of the wonderful things in your life.

Reduce Codependency:

Codependency is a natural part of life and healthy relationships are full of it. But too much dependency can be damaging, especially if you get used to relying on others for everything in your life. The best way to avoid codependency is by taking care of you first, before thinking about others (or even worse, always putting them first). This shift will not only benefit you but your loved ones, as well.

Even if it’s just for a few minutes every day or week, spend some time alone. The time spent alone does not need to be boring; it can be fun and fulfilling. For example, you can care for your pet and give him his veterinarian prescriptions treatment. Afterwards, a trip to the park is definitely in order!

Exercise:

What is your exercise routine? What do you think it takes to be fit and healthy? Exercise has a significant impact on your quality of life. Exercise benefits include increased muscle tone, improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, and decreased stress levels. Exercising can also help improve your mood by releasing endorphins into the bloodstream.

Don’t Take Things Personally:

The first step to change your mindset is not taking things personally. It also helps to have a positive outlook on life, no matter what you face. To get there, start by not taking anything too seriously and avoid over-thinking everything that happens to you. Unfortunately, it’s so easy to take loved ones’ actions personally and get frustrated or even angry with them. However, learn how to let things go when this happens by detaching from your feelings and knowing that it isn’t about you.

Eliminate Distractions:

The first step to a better life is eliminating distractions. Frequently, you get so caught up in the day-to-day that you don’t notice how much time and effort your routine is costing you. To eliminate distractions, try minimizing your time on social media accounts. When you delete or limit these distractions from your life, you have more time to do other things like tending to your own self care.

Successful people don’t just reach their goals, they exceed them. So can you! Set higher standards for yourself and use the tips in this article to achieve those increased expectations. The last essential direction of succeeding is never to forget to have fun! You should enjoy life so go out there and take on the world!

Featured Image By: Los Muertos Crew from Pexels

Dry Goods Haul: Thread & Supply Knit Tank Edition

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Dry Goods Haul: Thread & Supply Knit Tank Edition

Hello! When it comes to Facebook ads, all of the ones that show up on my newsfeed are from different clothing websites – some of which I’ve never even heard of. Unfortunately, my awful experience with my wedding heels has completely turned me off from shopping with Facebook ad sites again. That doesn’t mean I can’t look, though, and I always find myself scrolling through the ads anyways for fashion inspo.

One website’s ads (Which I couldn’t tell you the name of now) featured a ton of cute knit tanks and sweater vest style tops. I loved all of them and was so happy to have found a similar knit tank in Dry Goods when I went to Summit Mall. Check it out:

When shopping in Dry Goods, I immediately noticed this tank on an end cap. It was paired over a T-shirt and it was just what I had been wanting so into the try on pile it went. While there were a ton of clothes I liked to try on, I was really hoping that this Thread & Supply tank would work well. I had been picturing something like it in my wardrobe for at least a month now and was insanely relieved when I knew it was a for sure purchase as soon as it was on.

My new top is, of course, totally charming with the multicolored pastel stripes but its versatility it what makes it the most appealing to me. During the summertime, wearing your arms bare is perfectly acceptable. However, it can be used in every season thanks to the possibility of layering. Throwing this over a form fitting sweater and pairing with a mini skirt and knit tights will, without a doubt, be the move in the winter.

After my shopping session in Dry Goods, I walked away with this tank and the Blu Pepper sweater featured yesterday. I also just had to grab one more little treat at the cash wrap:

There was a jar of computer and bumper stickers at the cash register for a dollar and when I saw the “Darlin'” one, I couldn’t say no because it’s my husband’s pet name for me! I stuck it onto my laptop as soon as I got home and it makes me smile every time I see it. 🙂

I am very pleased with all of my purchases from Dry Goods and definitely plan on shopping there in the future for a fall wardrobe refresh!

Have you ever ordered anything off of social media ads before? What was your experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

This Old Thing

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This Old Thing

Hello!! A fun fact about me that shocks many people is that, at almost twenty-seven years old, I have never owned a smartphone. Rather, I have been steadily rocking a slide up or flip phone for the past thirteen or so years. This is pretty uncommon for someone who works in the social media field but I have stood by my signature catchphrase of “when keyboard phones are no longer made, you can call me on the landline” for over a decade. As you can see, I am pretty old school and this is my current model:

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My whole reasoning behind never owning a smartphone is that I fail to see the point of having immediate internet access wherever I go. Pre-pandemic, I would gain inspiration for my daily blog posts by being out and about and seeing what catches my eye and that would be hard to do if I were scrolling through social media instead of observing and enjoying my surroundings. I also never want to be the friend who is constantly on my phone when I am hanging out with someone. My phone allows me to call and text and that is really all I have ever needed especially because all of my blog pictures are just taken using my iPod Touch.

I have always had a low maintenance “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” approach to technology. However, I’m not saying that it wouldn’t be nice to have a better camera and an Instagram! I just discovered that if I wanted to use the Like To Know It program for my viewers to shop my outfits that I would need an Insta if I don’t want to upgrade to a business plan on WordPress. I am super interested in Like To Know It and don’t necessarily want to change my current plan on WordPress so a smartphone might be the next logical move.

For now, I am fine with the phone that I have had since I was like fourteen lol and I enjoy the novelty of having an actual keyboard to text with. It’s actually a major step for me to even consider wanting a smartphone but I will definitely think more about it if any of you would be interested in shopping my style! So please let me know in the comments and I will stay using Johnny’s phone for OOTD pictures in the meantime. 🙂

What kind of phone do you have? What is your approach when it comes to technology? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Guide To Social Media Etiquette

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A Guide To Social Media Etiquette

Over one billion people use social media daily, mostly for entertainment or business. For this reason, most people consider social media to be part of their daily life. Some users generate a lot of income and survive entirely on the money made from social media platforms. However, not everyone uses social media correctly as intended by the developers.

Over the years, employers have increasingly found it necessary to see if their candidate conducts themselves professionally on these platforms. With that said, here are the most common social media dos and don’ts:

Do – Spread positive ideas:

Social media never forgets. Have you ever seen posts that you deleted ages ago from the search results? It is difficult to wipe out everything about you on the internet. Therefore, whenever you feel like sharing your negative opinion, think twice. The consequences that come after may not be worth it.

Do – Have a visually appealing profile:

You need to complete your profile as required and update it frequently. Along with that, choose a theme for every one of your posts. You should also have a unique pattern that demonstrates your personality. Your personality and appearance can help you stand out among the millions of users. You can edit your photos, but don’t overdo it. You should also consider retouching jewelry to enhance the sparkle and help you demonstrate your sense of style.

Do – Post relevant content regularly:

Social networks are known to favoring active users’ accounts. Such accounts get more exposure than others. Their posts go viral and get more engagement in terms of comments, likes, and shares. While this may be tempting, resist the urge to post too much content. For some reason, some users might hate reading tens of posts from a single user in a day. It shows that you have nothing else to do even when you do.

Don’t – Spam:

Various social networks like Facebook have algorithms set up to flag spamming accounts. With all the privileges of an active account, you may not like yours to have any restrictions. Imagine being an influencer and missing out on huge deals just because you did not abide by simple rules!

Don’t – Repeatedly share posts:

Sharing a post multiple times can come off as a bit excessive. Solely focus on new content before sharing something already published again.

Don’t – Ignore your followers:

While it is humanly impossible to respond to every question and comment, try your best to respond to a few every time you log on. You may never know what you miss out on unless you spare some time and interact with your followers. Even worse off is setting up an auto-responding bot that lacks the special touch of your own personality!

Like every other activity in life, social media requires self-discipline for the best results. Most importantly, share content that you will look back and be proud of in the future.

Is It Time To Get Your Confidence Back?

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Is It Time To Get Your Confidence Back?

One of the most frustrating things about living in the modern world is the fact that, for many of us, it seems dedicated to making us feel as bad about ourselves as possible. The world sets such incredibly high standards for many of us that it’s unlikely any of us could live up to them. Because of that, developing any kind of self-confidence can be a real challenge. Of course, just because something is a challenge doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. With that in mind, here are some things that you can do to bring up your confidence levels, even just a little:

Take care of yourself:

If you want to start feeling better about yourself, then one of the first things that you’re going to want to do is to start taking better care of yourself. After all, if you don’t feel good physically, then your perception of yourself is going to end up pretty skewed. This could involve anything from eating better and sleeping more to treating yourself to some pampering with a spa day or a treatment to remove body hair with lasers. Whatever you do to look after yourself, not only are you going to feel better physically, but it’s a good reminder that you deserve a treat from time to time.

Self care can come in many different forms and what makes you feel good could be the polar opposite from your best friend. That’s okay and is why it’s called self care – it’s completely up to you! Perhaps this means scheduling an appointment with a therapist. Or maybe it’s scheduling a consultation for cosmetic surgery with beautybybuford.com (or a similar practice in your local area). If cosmetic surgery has been on your mind, make smart decisions and wait for surgery until you find a surgeon you are fully confident in.

Get off social media for a while:

Social media can be a really amazing thing. After all, it gives us the chance to connect with one another no matter where we are and keeps us up to date on the current goings-on of the world. However, it can also be a pretty negative influence on many of our lives. Seeing the carefully curated images that people put of themselves on social media, it’s easy to start feeling somewhat inferior. But the truth is that these images simply aren’t a reflection of the real world. Getting away from social media from time to time is one of the best things that you can do to start feeling better about yourself.

Get used to your body:

One of the things that far too few of us actually take the time to do is to look at ourselves in the mirror. Many of us have some kind of perception about our bodies that so heavily colors what we think that we don’t pay attention to the reality of how we look. Taking the time to actually look at yourself and get used to your body can help to remind you that you likely look totally normal and that there’s nothing wrong with how you look.

The reality is, that a lot of aspects of the modern world are built around making you think that there’s something wrong with feeling confident about yourself. This is often because it’s a whole lot easier to sell you stuff when you feel miserable about yourself. Remember that you’re not doing anyone any harm by feeling good about yourself and, in a world that is designed to profit from making you feel as bad about yourself as possible, there’s something pretty radical about loving yourself.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Community Fun In Self-Isolation

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Community Fun In Self-Isolation

Hello! While all of us are basking in the boredom of self-isolation, I am sure that those who were active members in the community are itching to get back to planning and participating in events for all to enjoy. Although seeing each other from a distance is the standard now, there are still plenty of ways for us to come together as a community and make the best of a difficult situation. Perhaps with some of the following ideas:

Parking Lot Events:

The inspiration from this post actually came from a client’s mom who told me her family attended Easter mass from a broadcast in the church parking lot. What a great idea! Just like at the drive in movies, people filed in with their windows up and were instructed by signs to tune into a radio station for the mass. She said it was such an amazing, refreshing, safe community event and it sure sounds like it.

If attending a parking lot religious ceremony isn’t your thing, how about a neighborhood drive in movie night, instead? I could definitely go for that one!

Social Media Groups:

My city in Ohio has a Facebook “talk of the town” group where people can post news and chit chat with each other. If your area doesn’t have such a page, why not create one yourself? Have everyone vote on a different show to watch in unison from the comfort of their home so all of you can discuss it later. Or how about a neighborhood book club? As long as everyone is communicating with each other, that’s all that matters.

Neighborhood Games:

On your neighborhood social media group, you could post the rules for a neighborhood participation game. You could try something like I Spy for people to walk or drive around and find the clues. Maybe you could encourage everyone to put their dog in a Halloween costume if they are going out for a stroll. Or how about a quarantine edition of Bingo to play from the porch? There are tons of possibilities if you get creative!

Decorate Your Yard:

Something fun for your neighborhood to participate in could be a yard decorating extravaganza for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps you could plant beautiful flowers in your yard? Or what about putting some of your holiday themed inflatables or lights back on display? You could even do something totally random like a snowman made out of tires if you feel like it! Get inspired and create a lawn display for all of your neighbors to be proud of when they walk or drive by.

It’s hard not being able to see each other traditionally but it’s important to still enjoy your friends and neighborhood even if it is from a distance. Use the ideas above and have some fun!

How have you been interacting with people from a distance? Has your community done any social distancing activities like the ones above? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah