ALR Digital Marketing

Scarecity in marketing is the creation of a limited supply.
By having less access to something, it is believed to become more valuable and therefore desirable.

This has been proven time and time again in experiments.

When you go onto websites you will often see countdowns to the end of a sale, or you will get a prompt offering you 30% off during a set period.

Some companies offer a free gift if you buy within a certain time free.

Others capitalise on product/brand launches by offering certain discounts/gifts to the first X number of buyers.

What do all of these examples create? A sense of urgency. A mild subconscious feel of panic that you would not feel if that scarecity wasn't brought to your attention.

Consider adopting limited offers to your business like the examples in this post and measure the difference it makes to your sales.

Just remember!
- it has to contain actual value to interest your customer
- the limitation has to be clear or they won't be pushed to act
- you must advertise this consistently to remind the customer an offer is due to expire

Do you use techniques like the ones above? Let me know in the comments 👇🏻

What does this mean for your business?

It's safe to say that your target is probably using social media

But do they know you exist?

It's a tough time out there. The cost of living is rising. Competition is increasing across each industry. That's why you need to make it easy for your customers to find you.

Some tips:
- Make sure it's extremely obvious what your business is/sells on your page
- Always have an action button to make using your service as easy as possible
- Have reviews/testimonials, FAQs, About Us etc on highlights (Insta) or Services (Facebook)
Are you currently doing the above?

Thank you to Stefan who owns and for using my Profile Audit service and for this beautiful testimonial.
Since we spoke a few weeks ago Stefan has gone full steam ahead implementing my advice and updating all of his accounts.
The smallest changes can make the biggest difference to your business online.

If you'd like to find out more about this service please write AUDIT in the comments and I will DM you further information.

It really is that simple (and sinister?)

The more time a person spends on socials, the more revenue they generate for the platform in the form of paid advertisements.

Why is this important to know?
Because like I say all the time, it's not enough to just post and leave. By actively replying to comments, commenting under other posts and interacting with other pages you're behaving in the algorithms preferred way. Scratch it's back and it'll scratch yours.

Follow this advice:
◇ Make sure your posts are as visually attractive as possible
◇ Post regularly and try to be consistent in the amount and days which you post
◇ Write interesting captions - medium to long in length.
◇ Make a conscious effort within the first hour of any post to reply to comments
◇ Write long replies and if you can, ask them a question in the response to keep the conversation going.
◇ Be brave. Start searching for people within your industry and engage with their content. Share their stories, write under their posts.

Everything I've mentioned above defines ways to keep people engaging with you for longer. Try it for four weeks and feedback your results.

Has this post taught you something you didn't know?

   

Small changes make a big difference to your overall success on social media. Usability and access to information can be a key factor in whether potential customers use you or your competitor.

Location: If you have a physical branch/shop/stall then listing your location in your bio is a no brainer. If a customer is reviewing two similar businesses and one has an obvious location, it means they have an easier choice.

Consumers want everything to be given to them with little effort. Having to search if a potential business is local when other businesses present it easily can sway your customers decision.

Opening hours: this isn’t relevant to all businesses (online only for instance) however if potential customers are interested in visiting your branch/shop/stall then make it easy for them to know when they can do this.

Action button: Both Facebook and Instagram allow you to select an action button for your page. Options include; Book Now, Enquire Now, Contact Us to name a few. These can be link directly to your website or booking system. Encourage maximum opportunity for sale by getting this on your page TODAY!

CTA: Even when you adopt the action button above, having a call to action in your bio/summary is still a valuable addition to your page. For instance, my own page states “Need help? DM me” even though I have a Book Now button. That tells potential customers that they can chat to me about my services or book me right away. These prompts are surprisingly effective at pushing customers into taking action.

Did you find this post valuable? Let me know in the comments if its helped your business.

Quick question for my business owner's...

Do you use content pillars?
Do you know what yours are?
Do you plan your content?

If you're creative and work quickly, you might get away posting on the spot. But really, content takes time and planning. Content pillars ensure you have topics to write about.

There are even websites that generate FREE content ideas if you put in your pillar. Comment PILLAR and I'll send you some links.

A testimonial from last week's Profile Audit with Puffin Croft Farm. Cara featured on Channel 5's A New Life In The Country and not only runs a successful farm, but also a B&B and a farm shop.
On the audit we did a SWOT analysis of her socials and website. I'm happy to report Cara has already taken my advice on board and is creating amazing content.

If you'd like to find out more about Profile Audits, type AUDIT in the comments now.

Did you see the show?

How does this impact your small business?

Simple. Your website MUST BE mobile friendly. You'd be surprised how many website reviews I've done that don't work well/properly on mobile.
If your potential customers have issues on your website you can wave goodbye to that sale.
Whether you create your own website or someone does it for you. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ask family and friends to check userbility for any glitches etc
It could save you so much money.

I check your website as part of my Profile Audit service. Book a free consultation today to find out more.

This has made my day 🙌🏻

Feedback like this makes me so happy ❤️

Social Media Platforms are no longer ruled by likes.
You will not get significant growth (or business) by simply liking other posts.
Comments > Likes.
Why?
Algorithms are based around engagement and so your popularity (how visible your posts are) is impacted by how much time you take to interact with your followers, peers etc
How can you action this today?
● Include a Call to Action in every single post that encourages your audience to comment. Ask them a question, for their feedback or ask them write a single word in the comments for a free download in their DMs.
● ALWAYS take the time to reply to comments
● Stop aimlessly liking posts. Take 15 minutes out of each day and write meaningful comments on other's posts (see my Power Hour post for further info on this) and watch how many you get back too.
● Commenting is a two way street. When you comment on someone else's post, you're also getting exposure to your business from people that view the comments.

Were you aware of this prior to reading my post?

   

A social media strategy is a plan of action that will deliver results to your company.
Your strategy will include everything from the content you will post over a certain period, to the trends, collaborators and themes you will use.
Why is this important?
○A strategy creates consistency
○It allows you to create batch content for your page (which saves you time)
○It forecasts trends, special events and national days that are crucial for your business to acknowledge.
○It allows you to measure your success
○It makes you look professional

So many small businesses are operating without a strategy.
I work with clients to prepare short and long term social media strategies that enable them to focus on their own business whilst maximising their ROI online.
I discuss what methods will work best for each individual business and what steps to take to get there.
I produce content in both video and written format that saves companies time and hassle whilst ensuring they always have content to post.
If you're interested please DM me STRATEGY today and I will get in touch to discuss.

Social Media Platforms are no longer ruled by likes.
Just giving and receiving likes could be damaging your business.
In 2022 Comments > Likes.
How can you action this today?
● Include a Call to Action in every single post that encourages your audience to comment. Ask them a question, for their feedback or ask them write a single word in the comments for a free download in their DMs
● Stop aimlessly liking posts. Take 15 minutes out of each day and write meaningful comments on other's posts (see my Power Hour post for further info on this) and watch how many you get back too.
Commenting is a two way street. When you comment on someone else's post, you're also getting exposure to your business from people that view the comments.
Its time to change your ways and stop just liking. It's not visible or valuable in comparison to the impact leaving comments has.

Are you a serial liker? Has this post made you change your mind about commenting?

   

More great feedback from last week's client.

If you're unsure about your pages performance then please DM me now or write AUDIT in the comments to discuss using this service.

Manage your page easily over one Instagram Power Hour 📲

Connect - Keep in touch with your current followers, like and comment on posts, share posts and tag people.

Engagement - Use the Explore page, Home page and Hashtag searches to interact with the community and find inspiration, trends etc

Your Page - housekeeping time. Reply to all your DM's. Message new followers with a thanks for support message. Reply to latest comments. Go back and like previous comments.

Outreach - Find people from your industry and network. Follow them, DM & introduce yourself. Comment on their posts. Share and support them.

Are you going to try this today? Save this post to look back on 🔍

Does this resonate with you? Would you say it's true?

There are a great deal of small businesses out there that are trying to offer several different services under the same brand. By not specialising in a niche they are potentially losing out on business (and money).

Hopefully this isnt you but lets explore why this is:
- customers are confused when they view their page due to no clear niche/service/product
- customers go elsewhere because they want a specialist or expert in that field
- not enough content is created for each business sector/product/service because there are too many to fully invest time in

If this is you, I would highly suggest:
- having separate a separate online presence for each different offering (if they don't integrate)
- create specific and clear brand names for each
- drop your least successful services/products etc and focus on your best sellers

Tag someone who needs to see this 👇🏻

I love receiving feedback like this. Thank you Somerset Blooms it was lovely working with you.

I'm taking a few days off as my daughter has a stomach bug but will reply to messages from Monday.

I've just finished an audit with a client and this is something we discussed in a lot of detail. As a new business owner she thought that she simply had to post her products to build a following.
This is not the case. Algorithms favour those who are actively interacting with others on their platforms.
Thats why it's so important to comment on posts and use CTA's to encourage discussion.
If you start implementing these practices today your engagement will improve.

Invest 15 minutes each day to reply to comments and post comments on others feeds to boost your page.

Let me know if you found this useful 👇🏻

Hashtags...they're a bit of a minefield
Trending hashtags change all the time.
If you use too many or wrongly hashtag your posts you can annoy and deter followers or potential customers.
Despite this, they are FREE exposure for your business so they should not be ignored.

Are you currently using hashtags? Do they overwhelm you?

I can provide your business with the most relevant and effective hashtags to save you all the hassle. Drop me a comment now and I'll DM you how it works

I hope everyone is having a great Friday!

I wanted to introduce myself and the reason behind my business.

I know so many small business owner's have left full time employment to work for themselves and I truly admire and support everyone of you. It's not easy and we can't simply clock off at 5pm.

It would make my day if you would share your reasons for starting your own business in the comments. Let me know below 👇🏻

Happy International Women's Day!

I'm going to take this opportunity to discuss why National Days can be beneficial for your digital marketing.

There are National Days every single day of the annual calender. If you want to really organise your content creation then I would advise preplanning ahead. This isn't a quick exercise but ensures you always know when the next relevant day is coming up.

If you'd like to know how to get a calender that lists all of these days then write NATIONAL DAYS in the comments now and I will send you a free link.

Managing social media and your small business is an exhausting task. National Days give you an easy reason to post content. Combine that with questions, sales or competitions and you could really see your engagement soar.

Make sure the days that you celebrate are RELEVANT to your company and your values. Your customers will know if you're posting for the sake of it.

Are you posting about today?

It's a fact that people buy from people.

Look at the power the influencer movement has right now! A lot of people are making five and six figure salaries off socials alone because they successfully influence people into buying products.

How?
- they allow the public into their lives
- they often show vulnerability and honesty to their followers
- they share special moments
- theyre likeable

How can this work for the small business owner?

You don't need to turn your social platforms into a reality show, in fact you don't have to appear at all if you don't feel comfortable but here are some content suggestions to build a relationship with your followers:
- do a live Q&A
- story/reel/highlights revealing who you are and why you started your company
- film yourself talking about a relevant topic or a tutorial on how to do/make something related to your brand or industry
- a day in the life of a small business owner (you can film this with your face in or completely with the camera facing frontwards)
- tell your followers what your biggest challenges have been as a small business. This shows your human side
- create an attractive post or video with your values as a business and why they matter to you

Do you currently create personal content to show your followers? If not, are you considering it now? Let me know in the comments 👇🏻

For some people, the tips and advice I provide on this page may be all they need to boost their small business sales.
For others, help is available.
I offer a range of services to help you boost your following, engagement and ultimately sales. A brief summary is below:
Profile Audits - a review of your profiles strengths, weaknesses and where and how to improve.

Social Media Management Plans - I manage one or all of your socials so you don't have to.

One to One Training- a sit down/phone conference teaching you everything you need to know in order to manage your business online.

Strategy & Content Creation - a deeper look into different types of content thats best suited for your business. I provide you with a planned list of content and guide you on how to do it.

Email Marketing - in terms of ROI (return on investment) email marketing is GOLD for your business. I can help you set this up and write your email content on a regular basis.

Small Business Start Up - if you're thinking about or have just started a new business and want a helping hand then I can guide you through everything from your logo and colours to who your target market is.

Free Phone Consultation- if you're interested in any of the above or want to pick my brain then this is the place to start. Message me now to book and start the process of transforming your small business ☎️

Small business owner's please read 🙏🏻

If you're not using CTA's you could be missing out on considerable business.

You could use a different call to action on EVERY post. The possibilities are endless and the benefits will be obvious in your engagement

Do you currently use CTA's? (Clue: this question is one) let me know in the comments (also one...) but seriously let me know below 👇🏻

Good morning everyone.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now. I wanted to take a moment to find out how your week is going and if you're managing to stay focused?

The scary thing about running a small business is that it's very hard to take time for yourself. As I previously shared, we lost our family pet which combined with the tragedy on the news has definitely slowed my workplace down. However I'm now back and feeling focused.

How are you all doing? 🌌

When I ask small business owner's what are their biggest challenges with social media, one of the most common answers is "a lack of support from friends and followers".

There are many reasons why this could be the case. Some examples are:
1. They haven't seen your post in their feed (algorithms)
2. They've scrolled past you (your content doesn't stand out)
3. They don't understand the importance of engaging with you as a business.

When someone likes, comments and shares your posts, it tells the algorithms that your page is interesting and worth viewing. This then increases the visibility of your page to other users which is why it's extremely important to request the help of your followers when building a brand.

Share my post today and show your following how to support your small business. You may be surprised how many people begin to start acting on it. And remember to support them back. Engagement is a two way street.

Whats the biggest challenge your small business has faced? Have you experienced the same problem? I'd love to know in the comments 🌌

Although I've not officially launched as a brand, I am working behind the scenes. This is my first testimonial from who used my auditing and coaching services. In a matter of days their following and requests for services has increased significantly. This type of feedback reminds me that I'm right for taking the risk and pursuing my passion 🙏🏻

Good morning everyone.
Quick food for thought for business owners.

1. Do you really know what you offer? I've came across so many small business pages that don't clearly state what they offer. This is losing you valuable business. If you do anything today, make sure you have this clearly defined.

2. Who is your customer? Is it the person you want to sell to or the person who actually buys your product. Rule number one before opening your business - know your target audience! This can be make or break for you.

3. Your brand is what people think of when they picture your small business. If this isn't consistent you are confusing your customer and confused people don't purchase. Get your brand right and your engagement and sales will follow.

4. Do your socials clearly state where and how to get in touch with you? You'd be surprised how many small business pages miss this out. Again, if someone is considering buying from you, not being able to reach you simply could sway their decision completely to your competition.

5. Engagement is your relationship with your followers. It's a two way street and has a massive impact on how many views your page will get. I will posting more about this very soon.

If you've read all this and think you need help with your marketing then please DM today. I offer coaching to help you manage your own profiles and a social media management subscription to take all the hassle away from you 🌌

This photo was taken a few days ago. Before Storm Frank arrived. The sentiment is still the same despite the raging weather. I hope everyone has a wonderful, positive week!

You can't scroll past a competition or an Influencer's page now without them asking a question or seeing a poll. This isn't accidental! The more you engage with them, the more people their page will reach. This is why it's important for small businesses to interact with their audience.

This was another design I made but decided it didn't make the final cut. However many are now saying its their favourite out of the three. Do you prefer it? I still have some time before my official page launch to make a decision...thankfully. I love them all so it's really hard to choose.

Good morning to my followers and thank you so much for supporting my page before I've even posted anything. I've been busy running around after my daughter, attending my course and then finding the time to focus on my new business.
I thought I'd get some engagement going with my first post but I need your help.
I got carried away designing my logo last night and have whittled it down to four designs. They all incorporate the Northern Lights which is my daughters namesake (Aurora).
Please could you write your favorite number in the comments please; and if you're feeling very kind (go on its the weekend) even give the post a like.
Thank you for following me on the start of this journey 🌌