Christmas into the New Year
Today, we start the week between Christmas and New Year. It is often a period of downtime and celebration with family and friends. In addition to that, it is a time when businesses and brands finalize strategic plans for the upcoming year.
After the disruption and change that we have experienced with Covid-19 in 2020, many are excitedly awaiting the arrival of 2021 to “put 2020 behind us”. As vaccines for Covid-19 are getting approved (and now dispensed), that excitement grows.
However, I do recommend caution as we prepare for the passing of this year.
- We are concluding an especially painful election and it is likely that the outcome will not be pleasing to either “side”.
- While vaccines are being delivered, infection rates are rising in these cold-weather months & opposition (and outright disregard) for additional shutdowns continues to grow.
- There is a growing problem of non-payment of mortgages & rents that will at some point have to be addressed.
For all of these reasons, I do not think that the changing of the year will greatly “change” our reality. I think it is wrong to “wish one’s life away” hoping for some better day tomorrow. It is wrong because it ignores the blessing and opportunity that is Today!
If God blessed us with Life today, we do a disservice to ourselves (and Him) if we do not make the most of it. Pinning our time wishing for something else in the future is a waste of the gifts (and responsibilities) you have today.
What is something that you can do RIGHT NOW that uses what you already have? My challenge for you is to do it!
Check out the replay from The Round Table Talk Show where I was a guest panelist. I had a great time and enjoyed interacting with what quickly became five new friends! Enjoy!
This quote was shared as a part of a recent post highlighting the definition and importance of an Audience.
What is an Audience and Why is it important?
Building a group of engaging users on a platform you control is as important as it has ever been. Not only do platforms grow and wane, but platforms more actively police (and often restrict) accounts than they ever have.
It is simply too risky for businesses and brands to allow themselves to become too strategically dependent upon any single platform or technology. Diversity of communication path must be an active decision that we make in light of the eventual learning/training costs and evolution of the platforms themselves.
Other Links
The linked posts/articles section of this newsletter is going to be adapted as we near the end of 2020. Instead of a topic-based section, it will be focusing more closely on strategy topics as we approach 2021. It will include general business/marketing strategy as well as more-detailed topics targeting the niche groups that Sirus Digital serves.
Time-saving Tips, Checklists, and Templates for Content Marketing in 2021
Content Marketing Institute (CMI) has been a leader in content marketing for years. Going back to Joe Pulizzi’s book Content, Inc, they have been at the forefront of developing organic & greenfield business strategies based on publishing content of value to your prospects & customers.
Don’t miss checking out this post to review their tips, checklists, and templates that will guide your 2021 strategic plans.
3 Tips for SEO in 2021
SearchEngineJournal are experts in SEO. Be sure to review their three tips that will be relevant in 2021 (especially in light of Google’s recent December Core algorithm update).
Getting Started with Instagram Stories for Business
Instagram continues to grow (especially within younger demographics) and its Stories feature is a key area for businesses to put their message in front of potential prospects and customers. As IGs organic reach within the Feed continues to track toward Facebook’s approximate 6%, businesses have to evolve and adapt their techniques to attract attention within the platform.
Free Tools to Check Website Traffic
It pays to monitor your website traffic as well as that of your competitors. ReliableSoft shares a set of free tools allowing you to keep up-to-date on traffic metrics.
Niche-focused
Best Law Firm SEO Services & Agency reviews
If you are a legal firm or attorney, this link shares reviews of major SEO service providers. In the face of stiff competition for billboards, TV/Radio advertising, and other interrupt-based techniques, lead generation by search engine optimization and content development is a practice differentiator and can generate strong returns. If your advertising costs (or lead costs from aggregators like LeadsForLawyers) continue to rise relative to quality, you should look into search-targeting options.
Note:
While Sirus Digital has not yet made the reviewer’s list, I’d love the opportunity to listen to your needs to see how we might work together.
Until that time be sure to check out this post with details of How to create a Content Marketing Strategy for your Legal Firm. (While it specifically highlights Bankruptcy Attorneys, the fundamental principles apply across legal niches.)
For those checking out the book reviews, I finished The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes. My post of notes from the book is complete. You can check it out on my blog at this link.
If you would like to read along, I will be starting Content Inc. by Joe Pulizzi soon.
Note: Book links are Amazon affiliate links.
