With the ever-growing presence of technology in our world, social media is something that should not be overlooked. It should actually be at the forefront of your business, giving people an idea of what you are all about and hopefully prompting them to become customers! Whether you are skeptical about the use of socials to generate business or have an active presence on all platforms, there is something to be learned for everyone! Here are some ways you can boost your business on social media:

Engage in Comments Timely

Simply put, you want engagement! Facebook and Instagram use this as a primary factor when determining what to display. Posts that have more comments are displayed more prominently within feeds and pages.  Also note that the faster you respond, the more likely others will too, which can spark a conversation and increase engagement. Some companies employ a social media monitor whose primary focus is to react timely to comments.

Measure On-Platform and On-Site Success

Google Analytics is an excellent tool to see if your social media strategy is measuring up. It tracks follower growth, engagement, distribution, and on-site performance. Analytics also measures on-site behavior, so you can see the average time a user spends on your website.

Improve Search Engine Ranking

Good news- social media can improve your search engine ranking! When your social media share rate increases, your domain authority increases! This leads to an improved search engine ranking. Hence, more visits to your socials will also increase your social media page ranking, improving your chances of being one of the top ranked pages.

Drive Traffic

Relying on only your network to drive traffic is completely nonsensical! Social media expands your brand reach and generates traffic organically. If you don’t have a profile yet, create one and use it to share customized content. You want to make sure your audience can seamlessly share your content!

Conclusion

Using social media to boost your business is as important, if not more important, than other business-boosting tasks. Front Porch has provided these tips as a way for you to dive deeper into your social strategy. We want to see you succeed with your socials!

Princess Rock Brianna Slay steps onto the porch to share her ideas on marketing, Porch culture, and a fun fact!

The biggest misconception about marketing today?

It is easy to market.

Best advice to give someone struggling with brand identity creation?

Keep it simple. (KISS) baby steps.

One of the biggest lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?

With my new experience as an intern along with being a student, I’ve learned to always be prepared, involved, and aware.

What is good marketing?

Good marketing is a message that’s clear and concise.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

I would travel to Ireland to visit my cultural roots and enjoy the green scenery!

If you could have dinner with one person living or dead who would it be?

I would love to have dinner with Jesus because he could answer life’s biggest questions, as well as making the food delicious!

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Observant, Trustworthy, Collaborative.

What is your favorite thing about FPM?

I love FPM’s fast-paced workability. The FPM Team can take a client’s vision and quickly make it a reality.

Tell me about a major milestone in your life?

A major milestone in my life was traveling internationally for the first time. It was the summer into my sophomore year, and I stayed with a host family for three weeks. I learned how to communicate with others who don’t speak my native language.

How would you describe the culture at FPM?

FPM’s culture is very optimistic, and they keep an open mindset when working with clients. They are always positive when talking to clients about updates. The team is enthusiastic in their manner, and they give solid opinions that are backed with facts. They never make their clients feel pressured.

Fun Fact?

I’m going to Southern Methodist University in the fall. Go ponies!

Thanks for tuning in to another Rocker Spotlight featuring Princess Rock Brianna Slay!

Recently added to the Front Porch team, New Rocker Allison shares Porch insights on good marketing, life lessons, and an inside view on The Porch.

What is the biggest misconception about marketing today?

Marketing is solely focused on gaining new customers. This is a common misconception because it omits the importance of retaining current customers and misconstrues customers as only a number instead of a respected client. Although getting new customers is important, it is just as important to make sure that current customers are being equally prompted by the benefits of the product/service.

What advice would you give to someone struggling with creating a brand identity?

Believe in your brand and find a way to guide your customers to see the brand through your eyes. Whether it’s a product or a service, show customers how your idea can change their life for the better.

One of the biggest lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?

Your uniqueness is not your weakness. Be proud of what you can bring to the table and always be willing to learn from your mistakes and others.

What does good marketing look like?

Good marketing requires creativity, persistence, and patience. Therefore, by taking the time to set a solid foundation and identify your core values as a company and as a team, you will reap the rewards of gaining loyal customers and positively impacting the world with your product/service.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now where would it be?

I would be in Greece, traveling from coast to coast, with ABBA naturally playing in the background.

If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?

Gregarious, Amiable, and Confident.

What is your favorite thing about FPM?

Working alongside a team of encouraging women who are always ready to take on a challenge.

In what ways does the team at FPM have aligned values?

We all believe in delivering the highest quality of our services and in the fruitfulness of investing in relationships with our clients and our teammates.

Your goals for FPM?

1. Pass on productive nuggets of wisdom to viewers who read my blogs.

2. Help a client’s goals become a reality.

3. Expand my professional network.

How would you describe the culture at FPM?

FPM is truly like a family. For example, no matter where I am working from or what I’m working on, I know I can always count on this team to have my back and help me achieve my goals.

How does FPM differentiate itself from other marketing companies?

The FPM team is committed to be a helping hand to all who ask. Most importantly, no matter the product or service being sold, FPM will make sure that you are well equipped with the knowledge and assistance you need. Above all, we are here to make your goals a tangible reality.

Fun fact?

I have been to the middle of the world!

Thank you for tuning in as this New Rocker shares her Porch insights!

It is every business owner and leader’s goal to build a company that is both valuable and loved. It’s an easy goal to state; but not necessarily easy to realize.

Let’s take a look at 2019’s most valuable brands according to Forbes:

1. Apple
2. Google
3. Microsoft
4. Amazon
5. Facebook

And now here are the 2019 top five most loved brands according to Morning Consult:

1. Amazon – 4th most valuable
2. Google – 2nd most valuable
3. Netflix – 38th most valuable
4. Facebook – 5th most valuable
5. The Home Depot – 32nd most valuable
   

Note the crossover with the most valuable brands and most loved? That is a result of branding. So how do you create a company that is both valuable and loved?

You create an authentic brand.

Branding can mean different things to different people, so let’s clarify this and the value it can bring to your brand. Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from that of your competitors.

Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be. How clearly and consistently it’s delivered at every point of contact is vital to how strong the brand can become.A strong brand creates brand equity, which is one of the factors that can increase the financial value of a company.  

If your company invests in its brand, you can achieve and enjoy the following benefits, to name a few:

• Higher price points and less pricing pressure

• Greater market value
• Reduced competition

• Increased business opportunities (partnerships, licensing deals, acquisitions)

So how do you get there?

We say it all the time, strong brands don’t happen by accident. Investing in your brand requires taking a close look at who you are and what you stand for, and then committing to delivering on that promise at every touch point.

Your brand must be both differentiating and emotionally relevant. Ask yourself, what do you do? How do you do it? What makes you different? These answers are the seed for your brand story, which becomes the litmus test for everything you say and do as an organization.

If an experience has your company associated with it, then it offers a specific and meaningful promise. It’s what your target audience (both customers and prospects) should expect, and it’s the culmination of feelings they have after an experience with you.

If your brand consistently delivers on its promise, then your target audience will come to trust it, and trusted relationships develop into emotional bonds that are hard to break. This loyalty to your brand means greater business success and reduced competitive threat.

The process we use to draw out and solidify your brand and its story is an extremely valuable effort for stakeholders and employees alike. If your brand needs some direction, we can help!

Contemplating a communication strategy to enact in the event of a company crisis is a cringe-inducing exercise for any business leader. But it’s a necessary exercise.

Considering possible catalysts and consequences allows you to craft contingency plans that will help weather a storm … before the clouds appear on the horizon. The more you plan, the more likely damage control becomes if a crisis strikes. Rapid containment helps prevent catastrophic damage to a brand’s reputation and bottom line.

There are core components of any crisis control plan, regardless of industry, company size, or severity of crisis.

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell, inventor

Before a crisis strikes, create a comprehensive crisis communications plan.

What are elements of a crisis communications plan?

Identify a corps crisis team. Your CEO, COO, Communication Coordinator(s) and Legal Counsel will undoubtedly be part of this group. Consider who else may need to collaborate.

Identify and know your stakeholders. Anyone who could be impacted by what occurs with your brand should go on this list. This includes customers and shareholders.

Identify and train spokespeople. Anyone handling communications with the media and/or on social media should be trained on the dos and don’ts. Train these spokespeople to remember you are never “off the record.” Ingrain in them these three C’s of crisis communications:

1. Be Clear. Concisely communicate the information and the plan as they are established.
2. Be Credible. Communicate only facts and don’t make promises you can’t keep. Authenticity and empathy build credibility. Acknowledge and respond to questions and mistakes quickly.
3. Be Cohesive. Stay on message throughout all communication methods and channels. Confusion breeds conflict.

Establish notification and monitoring systems. Consistent social media monitoring will allow you to watch for the early warning signs of a brewing crisis. Having established notification systems will allow you to quickly coordinate a response to avoid catastrophic damage.

Be proactive with your public relations. This includes having a a solid social media presence. Consistent connection with your audience builds a strong brand. The stronger brand you build before a crisis, the more credibility you will have when weathering one.

When a threat or crisis is identified, immediately implement your plan.

Coordinate Central Command. Establish frequent communications with the crisis team.

Control the Narrative. Crucial to conquering any crisis is controlling the narrative surrounding it. Compose a message establishing what you currently know and what you are doing to counteract the damage. Identify the communication channels you will use to provide future updates.

Communicate. Pause scheduled posts on social media but continue monitoring and responding in real time. Remember the Three C’s when engaging with the media and/or on social media. Every touch point is critical.

Collect Information. Most of the time that means going offline, but it is critical that you continue to monitor and respond.

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” ~ President John F. Kennedy

After the dust settles, comb through what worked and what didn’t. Change the plan accordingly, and continue to update it on an ongoing basis.

Truth be told, my favorite diamond comes with four bases and a mound. I am always sad when another season of spring baseball is over. With each and every season, lessons and opportunities to grow on and off the field present themselves. Here were our top lessons learned this season:

1. It’s Not Over Until the Last Out – A team in my eldest son’s division had just an “ok” performance in regular season, but took everyone by surprise when they won the championship game. When you talked to the coaches, they credited their success to playing to their strengths, staying positive, never giving up, practicing and sticking to their playbook. Applying strategy and putting in the work paid off for this team.
2. An Ounce of Encouragement Wins Every Time – One of our players was on the receiving end of a lot of negativity from the coaches and teammates. Changing the narrative to encouragement and positive reinforcement instantly improved his play! Inclusion, encouragement and positive reinforcement are game changers. He ended the season by saying it was the best one yet and he didn’t want it to end. Actions and words have tremendous power. Make a difference with both!
3. Know the Rules – Seems to be an obvious statement, but knowing the rules is always important – in business, sports, home and school. Know the rules and play by them. We had teams check us (bat sizes, mound distance, etc.) and, if we had not been following the rules, this might have been an issue. An opposing team jumbled their line-up and it resulted in two automatic outs … they ended up losing the game; and while one can never say for certain, that situation appeared to be the momentum changer.
4. Embrace the Fail – Baseball is a game designed for you to fail. I love that simple fact. Every play there is one win and one fail. There is a tremendous amount of pressure on every player; but if applied correctly, it can result in lifelong lesson. It’s not if you fail, it is how you recover from the failure. So you strike out … what happens next? You hit a two-run homer. Fail. Learn. Progress. On repeat.

We love baseball. It connects our family. We invest our time together because of the lessons learned on and off the field. These lessons are easily adapted into business and life.

What’s your business’ game plan? How can we help you win? Let’s play ball!

It’s the time of year for another Mother’s Day story, this one about a business forgetting their core brand promise and letting me down as a customer and new mother. I missed a mother’s moment when a business failed to deliver on their customer experience promise.

In the early days of managing new parenthood and a corporate career, it was all about completing the day’s responsibilities while making precious time for holding, feeding, and rocking a new baby. Each moment seemed critically important, and a focus on executing one was key to optimizing the next.

I learned that promises delivered are critical for optimizing each moment.

During those years, one of my favorite brands was a luxury car company and dealer known for superior customer service. I appreciated the dealer’s great reputation, professionalism, and attention to detail. Then, on a busy day, a customer experience led me to realize they were beginning to focus on things that had little to do with their core brand promise of superior customer service.

After missing the normal morning time with my son to drop off my car for repairs, I was looking forward to the evening, having returned from days of business travel and ready to get back to maximizing the next moment. When I arrived to pick up my car after work, I noticed a new waiting area for customers with beautiful furnishings, food and drink, and merchandise displays. Fancy!

The waiting process was longer, as the staff spent time offering food, chit-chat, and everything but my car. During the delay, a shift ended as it was late in the day, and no one was available to bring the car. I waited while noticing employees cleaning windows, sweeping, and offering cookies. They had the fancy extras but were late with the delivery and failed to meet their brand promise of great customer service. An hour later, I got stuck in traffic and missed the evening with my son.

Forget fancy! Get me home in time for moments and I am a customer for life.

In our quest to have the best image, be the best known, and achieve the highest ratings, are we forgetting the most critical deliverables? Please don’t let yourself get so sidetracked and focused on a new shiny, sparkly-self as you may end up losing customers. Find your brand promise, stick to it, pinky swear it!

Years ago I left that dealership. My current dealer has some nice perks, but they are obsessed with getting customers in their cars and on the road. They have stayed focused on their brand promise around the driving experience, versus too much focus on a beautiful waiting room space.

I value businesses that help me deliver on my purpose of being a mom, volunteer, and porch rocker. Although my moments are now spent driving to practices and tournaments vs. holding and feeding, and I am rockin’ the front porch vs. a baby and corporate career – every. single. moment. still. counts.

Happy Mother’s Day! It doesn’t have to be fancy for you to enjoy the moment.

I recently read a book entitled “Make Waves” that enlightened me to the perspective that an individual has the power to be a wave maker and spark change in the corporate world and their every day life.

Author Patti Johnson explains that people can make small “waves,” or changes, in their daily life that slowly disrupt the status quo. She breaks the book up into four easy to read sections that teach you how to think and act like a Wave Maker, and then introduces you to inspirational Wave Makers (including our very own Chief Rocker, Julie Porter).

I highlighted some of the key lessons I learned below, and I promise that by the end of the book you will be ready to get up and go chase your dreams.

• Finding your wave and accomplishing your goals always begins with asking questions of yourself. When you come home at the end of the day, how do you finish the statement, “If only I could…”? The answer is your wave. Any passion or inspiration, no matter how small, can start a wave of change that can impact more people than you ever imagined.
• According to Patti, every successful wave has these three qualities: impact, purpose, and credibility. Since a wave’s “goal is to make your organization, community, or market better with tangible results,” it makes sense that a Wave Maker must be knowledgeable about the subject and passionate about the results. So ask yourself, will my wave create “undeniable impact? Does it have a bigger purpose that engages others? And lastly, is my wave built upon knowledge and credibility?”
• After you have identified your wave, you must apply the most important chapter in the book, which addresses how to think like a Wave Maker. Just as every wave has certain qualities necessary to succeed, Patti notes that every successful Wave Maker she interviewed had very similar traits and thought processes. Going back to how important it is to always ask questions and be curious, Patti notes that Wave Makers typically “see the unseen, think progress not perfection, and most importantly ask ‘what can I do’ before they take action.”
• It’s important to note that being a creative and innovative thinker doesn’t necessarily come naturally. The most important thing is to foster your curiosity, because constantly asking , “why is it done that way?” or “what if…?” can lead you to a solution to a problem that you didn’t even realize existed before.

If learning how to become a disrupter and Wave Maker lights a fire inside you, then I highly suggest reading “Make Waves” in its entirety. I truly think this book is relevant and helpful for everyone; but I think it is particularly good reading for recent college graduates entering the corporate world, or those who may feel stuck or in a rut at their current job.

Always remember, “those crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”

Folks, it’s 2nd quarter. If you haven’t finalized the strategy, written the plan or started the project, it’s time. No need to agonize or over-think it, just get started and take a small step forward.

• Do you still need to define or revise that strategy?
• Are you not executing on a plan, or haven’t written one for the year?
• Is the project behind schedule, or not started yet?

The reality is we are all behind on something and you’re not alone here, but maybe it’s time to leave team belated and start something right now that needs to get done and can help you produce great results. This year is still young – bring on your second quarter by ringing that opening bell, firing the starting pistol, waving the green flag and get yourself going on something that can no longer wait.

“But …”

If this is what you are thinking right now, you are going to need assistance to get started! Start small with a phone call or e-mail to that person or company that will follow-up with you and make absolutely sure you are doing what needs to be done and begin executing. Find a partner internally or externally who helps you define, decide, plan, execute and grow.

“I need to …”

You already know what you need to start that has been on the back burner but you just haven’t done it? Write it down immediately, in a place where you can look back on it and add future notes. Ask that partner to capture it for you. The best execution starts with clarifying the need(s), then defining the strategy and executing a plan based on the need(s). Write it all down.

You don’t need a lot of time, this isn’t like writing a blog or book. Remember, you are starting small. Make a list of needs. It’s a simple process. Determine a few important ones followed with a one-page plan of attack is enough to get going and help you define a process to move forward, quarter by quarter. Write it down. Find a partner. Set the plan. Start executing. Plan to Win.

Q2 has started friends. It’s time to tackle that need that is just waiting for the right plan. If you need a little help, you can find us on the Porch.

Every morning, I wake up, brush my teeth, make a pot of coffee, shower, and get ready to start my day. I do it in that order, every single day. It is my routine. Now, think about your daily routine. Do you check your phone first? Wake up your children? Make breakfast? We all have routines, and I think it is what keeps me grounded. As human beings in the twenty-first century, we do everything at a very fast pace. Our brains encode the things we do each day into something referred to as habits. We get tangled into the cycle of habits, and it hinders us from noticing what is going on around us and it puts our imagination on time out. Now you’re probably thinking, “Well, I like my routine.” And trust me, so do I, but I think we get a little too caught up in them.

Recently I watched a TED talk with Tony Fadell where he dove deep into this “routine talk,” which he refers to as a process called “Habituation.” He gives an insightful talk about how we need to fight back the human tendency of transforming our patterns and day-to-day behaviors into habits, and recognizing the “little idiotic details” we encounter every day. He explains how as a designer he is always trying to improve the everyday things he sees, and encourages the audience to do the same.

Tony Fadell gives 3 tips on how to fight habituation:

1. Look Broader: look at all the steps forward and backward and identify problems that need solutions!

2. Look Closer: the smallest details give us the greatest meaning

3. Think Younger: have young minds! We get use to the things we are exposed often. As Tony mentions, we need to be as kids in which they haven’t been around much and question everything.

I think Tony makes an excellent point. We need to look beyond our habits to truly experience the world better. Therefore, I challenge you to open your eyes, pay attention to what is going on around you, and break out of your everyday routine. Try to see the world as it really is, not just through our lens we put on each morning.

You can watch Tony Fadell’s TED talk here.