 The first time I was introduced to the symbol “#” was on the push- button phone. I called it a pound sign. If you ever researched it, you would see that in Latin, it literally translates to “pound by weight.” However, in contemporary society ie the information or digital age, we refer to the “#” as a hashtag.
Hashtags are words or multiword phrases that categorize content, track tops and driver conversations on social media. It’s a challenging social media feature to use but once you get the hang of it, you see the results. Check out these #tips on Hashtag Use, Boost Strategy, Reach, Engagement and building brand identity:
How many hashtags should I use for each social media platform? Twitter :- 1-2 Instagram: 3-5 Facebook: 3-5 Youtube: 3-5 LinkedIn: 1-5 Pinterest: 2-5 Tik Tok: 3-5 Now you’re all set to manage your social media presence with hashtags, now go take on the digital world!
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 WhatsApp or What’s Up? This has now become a common question that we, as professionals, have found hard to answer. Where is the line drawn? How do you keep it professional and yet still keep the conversation light?
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, WhatsApp became essential for the workplace as it provided a way for colleagues and clients to communicate while working remotely – to network and to share ideas. Additionally, it's an immediate, free and convenient communication platform. There are no specific laws governing the use of WhatsApp groups in the workplace but here are some tips to ensure your business WhatsApp chats remain professional and keep those work/life boundaries firmly in check.
While these tips are helpful, some companies may prefer a more formal approach. They would add guidelines within their work policy for what is acceptable and what is not when communicating with colleagues or clients via WhatsApp. Written by Amelia Ramjarrie  To remain competitive in the digital landscape, businesses have realized more than ever before, that they must add value to their content marketing toolkit. Insert BLOGS! There are many other great reasons why businesses need a blog.
Here are TEN rock-solid reasons: 1. Blogs Establish Companies As An Authority In Their Field Before purchasing a product, most people will research the product or service. A well-written blog provides the potential buyers with the information they need to make an informed decision. The blog will guide the buyer through uncertainty to help them trust you and your product or service. 2. Blogs Increase Website Traffic If you sell products or services online, then you need a way to attract the right people to your e-commerce website. One proven way to drive traffic to your website is by regularly publishing new content on a blog. The blog of course must be SEO savvy, meaning that they are written so that Google’s AI will identify them and show them in search engine results pages. The higher your website shows up in the search engine results, the better chance you have at getting people to visit your website. 3. Blogs Create A Community Blogging opens up two-way communication with your customers. Interacting with readers in the comments or on social media allows you to exchange ideas and understand them and their needs better than ever before. When people feel like their opinion matters, they tend to stay and support the brand, which in turn generates long-term clients and brand loyalty. 4. Make Great Social Media Content With social media usage on the rise, companies need to make sure that they are consistent in providing fresh content on their social media pages. Blogs make excellent material for these social media pages. The information can then be repurposed into graphics, videos and podcasts. 5. Blogs Can Serve As Effective Customer Service Platforms Blogs that answer frequently asked questions customers may have about things such as products, services, purchasing processes or refund processes, can serve as affordable and effective customer service platforms. 6. Blogs Promote Public Relations In the world of blogging, cross-promotion is invaluable. Blogs that can be promoted by other companies via cross-promotion create more authority and credibility for your business and also benefit your readers with additional value. 7. Blogs Are An Affordable Marketing Tool Content can be created with a minimum of funding and can be used for a variety of promotional purposes. With the blogger’s expertise coupled with tact and skills, blogs can be written about almost anything including the introduction of new products or services, special events, new outlets, or new apps. 8. Blogs Can Generate Helpful Feedback Most blogs have the potential to help generate critical feedback for a business’ service or product which can be helpful when trying to decide how to launch a new product, ways to improve current services, and whether a product has hit its mark. A blog can be used to poll followers or industry fellows to formally solicit input on specific products or services. In addition, the comments section can be a useful tool for collecting qualitative feedback from your clientele and allow you to collect the necessary input to deliver. 9. Your Blog Solidifies Your Company As Industry Experts A blog gives you an opportunity to showcase your knowledge and expertise in every aspect of your business. Once you’ve established yourself as an expert in the field and your business attracts enough attention, other companies in your industry or even related industries will also begin to take notice. Given time and effort, they will begin to generate links to your content on their websites effectively growing your audience exponentially. 10. Blogs Can Help Businesses Grow Their Email Lists When people see the value that your blog provides, it will be much easier to convince them to join your subscriber list. This opens up new leads and potential customers who are interested in your product or service and want to know more. The majority of the emails that you send to these subscribers will be opened and read, resulting in more sales for your company but it is important that you send these emails sparingly so as not to overwhelm them. The types of emails you send can be anything from specialized promotions, exclusive articles, to e-books, to online courses. Written by Amelia Ramjarrie  Food for thought: One in five people will experience a mental illness in their lifetime! This is according to Mental Health America. Now, more than ever, it is becoming more of a “big ugly giant” stomping around many people within your circles. It is important to see the signs and to support one another.
Therefore, it is more than likely that someone in your team has been impacted especially since we are navigating uncharted waters with Covid-19. Many are working remotely full-time, isolated from co-workers, friends and family. Daily lives and routines are disrupted leading to added anxiety, stress and strain—physically, mentally, and financially. It is completely natural for this disruption and uncertainty to lead to anxiety and stress. Now more than ever, mental health must be made a priority. To help remote employees manage stress and maintain good mental health, we're sharing these tips you can implement in their day-to-day life.
Time heals and we must stay close to our inner self, ensuring that we stay connected, stay alert and create a well-balanced lifestyle. The following numbers are listed to provide you with additional online mental health care information: Alive (Suicide Hotline): – 688-8525, 650-5270 Lifeline (24 hour hotline):645-2800 Families in Action: 628-2333 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-7283 Rape Crisis Society of Trinidad & Tobago: North 627-7273; South 657-5355 Children’s Authority: 800-2014 or 996 Legal Aid: 625-0454 Family Court: 627-8716/623-2631/624-1307 Victim and Witness Support: 624-8853 Child Guidance Clinic : 726-1324 National Family Services Division: 624-8218 or 627-1163  Would you ever visit the supermarket, fill your trolley with items and then ask to leave the store without paying? Would you visit a restaurant, eat your steak and expect it to be on the house? The answer to both questions, is no! So why would you think, it’s ok to ask a creative to offer their services for FREE? In the advertising industry, creatives often encounter prospective clients who would approach them or the agency they work for to work at a reduced rate or for free. As a professional, your time is money, and you should always charge for your work. There’s nothing wrong with helping out a non-profit you care about or a friend you owe a favor or even giving your client a freebie but it becomes problematic when it's expected. Worst yet, it will not be appreciated because it costs them nothing and may even demand a bunch of revisions. If this didn’t deter you from not working for for free, here are some other reasons:
 It is precisely what it sounds like; someone trying to personally control and monitor everything in a team, situation, or place. The person who carries out the micro-managing is called a micromanager. These individuals needlessly and unnecessarily complicate and lengthen tasks while at the same time often frustrating team members because of their over-management and over-scrutinization. This often happens when the person feels as if their job is on the line or a perfectionist. According to the Journal of Experimental Psychology, employees who feel that they are being micromanaged perform at a much lower level. In another study, published in the “Progress Principle,” by Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile and psychologist Steven Kramer, micromanagement “stifles creativity and productivity in the long run.” While micromanagement may not seem like a big deal as individual instances, it can become extremely toxic and it’s important that managers at all levels understand just how bad it really is. Here is a closer look at the top three negative impacts on employees:
Written by Amelia Ramjarrie  In part one of “Vlogging During Covid-19” we outlined the benefits of vlogging. These included personalizing customers' experience, reaching wider targeted audiences and showing your expertise. With benefits like these, it’s recommended that businesses integrate vlogs in your digital marketing initiative. Vlogs aren’t expensive You don’t need to invest a huge amount in vlogging but it’s success relies on the time and commitment you place into developing engaging content. How to create a successful blog?
Written by Amelia Ramjarrie
 With 44% of global Internet users now watching vlogs every month, it’s clear it is increasingly becoming a dominant online force. It is also one of the strategies that businesses across the world are using to educate consumers, inform, entertain, and market their products and services while simultaneously protecting their brand during Covid-19. But how does vlogging help your business?
Written by Amelia Ramjarrie
 A microblog is one of the latest and most effective ways to support your business’s website, digital identity and customer communication. In fact, it was listed as one of the Social Media Trends to look out for in 2020. While traditional blogs can be lengthy, a microblog introduces topics or messages that are conversational in less than 1000 words. Marketers describe it as a cross between instant messaging, blogging and social networking. Daily, a consumer is swamped with marketing messages. Usually businesses will post content that is product centered. Consumers don’t want "Buy! Buy! Buy!' being shouted at them all the time. So as a result, the majority of those businesses fail to get through to them. However, according to Target Marketing Magazine, microblogging is showing massive appeal and is getting through to the coveted 18- to 35-year-old demographic. Why? It’s allowing businesses to relate on a more human and personal level with their target audiences and connect consumers to the goods and services that they are offering. Another advantage of microblogging is that it can also be easily found by search engines. That’s because search engines are prone to finding new and fresh content and posting from time to time will mark your blog as active for all the search engines. It’s also a popular medium, from customers’ point of view, as they get the necessary information with a relevant message, instead of reading an entire article. Written by Amelia Ramjarrie
 COVID-19 is an unprecedented situation and as a business owner, it’s a challenging time. In addition to trying to run your business, you are concerned about your staff and providing value with your marketing and advertising during this volatile time. You need to protect your brand and be present with your audience, so that when life gets back to normal, they won’t forget about you. Here are some tips on protecting your brand: 1. Evaluate Your Current Marketing and Advertising strategy: People will be spending their time indoors and are more likely to be on social media. Essentially, you should be looking towards digital advertising, as radio and other outdoor media will not reach your audience. 2. Create content that garners engagement: What can you do to entertain them but provide future value for your business? Vlogs, tutorials, virtual consultations and online competitions are some of the ways to give your audience something out of the ordinary. 3. Get Social: Social media is your greatest tool. Whether you run ads, boost posts or post organically, keep on top of the conversation, so your brand is still in the minds of customers when we get through this. 4. Use your email database: Let them know what you’re doing and updates about your business. It’’s important at this time to keep your loyal customers informed rather than chasing new business. The worst thing you can do for your business during this time is stop advertising. Rather, take a step back, work with your team and discuss ideas to move away from traditional advertising and towards online and social media advertising. Strategically, digital advertising maximizes exposure while reducing expense. Written by Amelia Ramjarrie |