9 Ways to Boost Your Creativity

Many people struggle with finding their creativity and that is okay, you are not alone. It doesn't matter if you don’t think of yourself as an artistic person, everyone has a creative side. There is an actual science behind this and it is the same no matter who you are. However, getting inspired varies from person to person.

When it comes down to it, every job requires creativity in some way or another. With this, we’ve all, including myself, have been stumped at work before. One great example would be “writer’s block” when a novelist gets stuck on a chapter in his or her new book. It happens to the best of us and sometimes getting out of the rut takes longer for those who don’t work on that creativity. But without further ado, I have compiled a list that not only helps me, but will hopefully help you trying to get out of that rut. Here are the top 9 ways to help boost your creativity!

1. Do Something New. Doing the same routine day by day will decrease your creativity drastically, which is why you need to learn how to spark up your life once and awhile. This can compile with anything you’ve always wanted to do. It doesn’t have to be as drastic as skydiving or bungee jumping (although it definitely can be). It could be visiting a new town in your state or trying that new spinning class at the gym, the choices are endless.

2. Read, Read, Read! Reading not only increases your comprehension, but it mentally stimulates your brain to improve memory. If you are looking to relax and stimulate your mind, this is the right step to take. Understandingly, reading is not everyone’s favorite thing to do, so remember, do not force it! Even just spending as little as 30 minutes a day with a book on your favorite topic will do.

3. Journal Daily. Writers are not the only ones who benefit from this. There have been actual studies showing that journaling is a stimulating form of self-expression. No matter what kind of career you have, this can be very calming and is a way for you to unleash your creativity without any judgement. This in return can give you a creative confidence that you have always been lacking. Having confidence is key in just about anything you do.

4. Become One with Nature. Step outside and connect yourself with the beautiful outdoors. Sometimes detaching yourself from the daily activities you consume will help you be in the moment. Have you ever heard of the expression, “stop and smell the roses”?

5. Listen to Music. This is one of my favorite ways to help boost my creativity while at work. It doesn’t matter what genre of music, but try mixing it up with new and old music. With new music, it allows you to feel connected at the moment, where old music can help spark memories and keep you grounded.

6. Be a Fly on the Wall. So what exactly does that mean? Simply just get yourself out there and get inspired by others. Go to a place or multiple places with sights to see and sounds to observe. A few great examples of this would be a shopping mall, park, or even a cafe or art museum. Pick a place where you can observe people and watch their expressions, body language, and maybe even eavesdrop on a couple conversations. Being a fly on the wall will be able to give you a perspective shift that could give you your next big idea.

7. Make Mistakes. Don’t be so hard on yourself all of the time! In life you are constantly learning and you can only learn from your mistakes, they will never define you. With each and every mistake you make, it helps shape yourself into the person you are meant to be. Maybe you will find out what it is that you do not want and it will instead help you figure out what you do what.

8. Remove the Pressure of Expectations. There’s enough stress going around in the world that adding crazy expectations will just make you actually go crazy. Being able to put passion and love into your work without the option of disappointment will only help you in the long run.

9. Practice Makes Perfect! Not only should you take a nice break for yourself once in a while but the more you practice your craft everyday, the more creative you will be. Keep that mind moving!

Developing the creative skill isn’t as difficult as you may think. It is important to challenge yourself and have the will to boost your creativity. Now tell us, What do you do to boost your creativity?

- Courtney, Marketing Associate

Why You Should NOT Wait Until Spring to Sell Your Home!

When it comes to selling your home, we all ask the same question, “When is the best time?” Constantly we see all over the internet that you should wait until the spring to begin the process. I mean, hey, it sounds like the perfect plan. With the crazy holiday season and finally taking the time to relax after seeing your unpredictable in-laws, how do you find the time to also place your home on the market? Many other homeowners have the same predicament and we are here to help.

Here are some reasons why you should NOT wait until spring to sell your home, but if you do, we also have a few quick renovations you should complete before then!

1. There’s less competition in the winter Months!

Houses on the market are traditionally known to shrink around this time of year. With this, many buyers out there have very limited choices and this is where you come in. Competition is your biggest enemy when it comes to trying to sell your home. Ask yourself this: would you rather wait until spring to promote your home against the largest known volume of sellers, or would you rather place your property out on the market where there is less supply and more demand?

2. Serious Buyers Only

At this time of year, only serious buyers are the ones who will be in the marketplace. The winter time is the busiest known season, so you won’t be bothered by what we like to call, “lookers”. In fact, the people who aren’t very interested are the ones still doing their Holiday shopping or baking cookies for the annual office party. Not to mention, what about when you decide to have an open house? The serious buyers are the ones willing to driving through the freezing cold and icy snow storms!

3. Quicker Overall Process

Throughout the years, this environment has become far more competitive than ever before. With the competition being so high, buyers need to find ways to stand out amongst the many other buyers out there. For example, many of them are now getting pre-approved for their mortgage financing. With this, it makes the entire selling process much faster and simpler for both the buyer and seller. This is because the buyer is able to know beforehand exactly what they can afford and you don’t have the problems with not-so serious buyers like mentioned earlier.

Now that we’ve convinced you to try selling your home this winter, we hope this information helped settle your minds. To answer the popular question of, “when is the best time”, the answer is simply not to wait for those warm months. The earlier, the better, as they say.

However, we get it, with winter comes a lot of obligations and it can be quite costly. We are not saying that it is necessarily bad to sell in the spring, but if you must wait, you can read further on as to what kinds of renovations you should complete before listing your home.

1. Minor Bathroom Remodeling

Remodeling your bathroom may sound scary, but we are only talking about some minor fixing. This can include things such as replacing the bathtub, shower, floor, toilet and sink. With these fixes, it can give your outdated bathroom a more contemporary look.

2. Do some minor Kitchen Remodeling

Now we aren’t saying to tear up your entire kitchen for some cosmetic updating, but doing some improvements may be beneficial when selling your home. This includes but is not limited to refacing cabinets, changing the countertops and working with new lighting. Having a beautiful is very crucial to many home buyers and this step is very important when in the process of renovations!

3. Don’t forget about the exterior improvements

The inside of your home may be in perfect shape but the little details on the outside are just as important! Outdoor spaces are what potential buyers first see before even entering the home. If your landscaping is up to date, you must have the same for your exterior because this is where people can enjoy the new and improved landscaping. A few examples would be repainting your home, investing in some potential siding details and even a new front door that welcomes everyone in.

Overall, figuring out when to sell your home can be exhausting, but we hope these reasons can give some insight on not only what to think about, but also what you should be doing in the meantime. If you’re still not sure when the best time is, ask yourself why you thought about selling your home in the first place. Perhaps this is the best time for you to start living the life you always dreamed of!

- Courtney, Marketing Associate

Add Holiday Cheer to Your Inbox

It’s the holiday season! Christmas lights have begun to go up, snow is falling, cookies are baking and Christmas music fills the radios. This time of year is a great time to engage with your client base and spread some holiday cheer while still growing your business. Here are some fun and engaging ways to keep in touch with your clients this holiday season.

Holiday photo contest

If you’re on social media (which we highly encourage you to be), then you know the importance of a photo. Why not take advantage of that and host a holiday photo contest? Ask your clients to send in their best holiday photo - from ugly holiday sweaters to funny family photos! You can even post a few to your social media channels and ask your followers to vote on their favorites. Give out a free prize to those with the best pictures! A simple $5 gift card to a local coffee shop can make someone's day.

Best dressed door

The holiday season is a time for decorating. Start a contest with the neighborhoods in your area and see who can decorate their front door the best! This won’t just provide engagement between you and your clients but it will also bring excitement to your local area (the decorations don’t hurt to look at either). You can offer a prize for the best dressed door as well. Happy decorating!

DIY decorating tips

Aside from holding a decorating contest, you can also give your followers some decorating tips! These tips can be anything from the best ways to strings lights on a tree to ways to decorate your favorite holiday cookies. Create a mini guide with your favorite tips and even include some craft ideas for your local families to do together. Ask your clients to send you photos of their final decorations!

Best Christmas lights in your area

Many towns offer holiday light display such as community tree lightings that are so much fun! If not, there are often individuals who go above and beyond with their holiday decorations. Some even sync their displays to a radio station playing holiday music for an all-out fun viewing experience. Do some research and compile a list of the best places to view Christmas lights in your area. Your followers will appreciate it!

End of the year update

While all of the previous ideas provide helpful and tactical information to your clients, providing them with a recap of your year is a nice touch as well. You are hopefully maintaining contact with these individuals throughout the year and they care about how your business is doing as well. Provide them with a quick update on what you’ve accomplished, your goals for the upcoming year or any fun things you’ve done with your team throughout the year!

Winter fix-it tips

The weather is getting colder.

This means that home maintenance is more important than ever. Send your client base a list of winter tips to keep their homes in tip top shape. These could include things like cleaning out gutters, checking for drafts from leaky doors or windows, and getting a roof rake to help with snow buildup. These are all things that are important to keep the home that you helped them purchase safe!

Holiday preview

Lastly, a preview of homes hitting the market in the new year is something that your clients may want to know about. If there is a list of homes coming to the market in 2019, share it with them! Who knows, some of them may be looking to buy but are waiting until the new year to do so. Getting a sneak preview of the 2019 market is always an exciting thing!

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The holiday season is coming into full swing, and we want you to engage with your following! Implement some of these email ideas and let us know which you think are the most successful. If you have other ideas that have worked for you in the past, let us know. We’d love to hear what you are doing!

- Alicia, Marketing Assistant

5 steps to the perfect 2019

We’re only 50 days away from 2019. This means that the holiday season is quickly approaching and things are about to get busy. Sometime in the next 50 days, you should be planning for 2019. What will your business look like? What are your goals? There is a lot of important information to figure out! Lucky for you we’re here to help. Here are 5 things that you need to be doing to have a great 2019.

1. Know what happened in 2018

It simply isn’t enough to know what is happening today. It is extremely important to take a look at the past 12 months, both in your own business as well as the real estate industry as a whole. Let’s start with the industry.

Take a look at what the typical seller looked like in 2018:

• 55 years old

• Lived in their home for 9 years before selling

• Most common reason for selling was because the home was too small for their needs

• Their new home purchased was within 20 miles of their last home

How does this information come into play for 2019? If the average home seller is 55 and looking for a bigger home, you can use that information to your advantage when marketing new listings! When creating Facebook ads for example, start the age demographic around 55 when promoting a larger home! You can also target your ad language to speak to someone who has lived in a home for a substantial amount of time and is looking to have more space. Use the information to your advantage!  

Now let’s talk about buyers.

Here is a snapshot of the typical buyer in 2018:

• 46 years old

• 63% were married couples

• 33% were first time homebuyers

• 87% purchased their home through an agent

• 55% looked online at properties as the first step in their search

• Buyers need 7.2 years on average to save a 20% downpayment

Again, this information is so useful. As online home searching becomes more and more prevalent, it is important to you as an agent to make sure that your marketing is up to par! When promoting listings on the market, target them to married couples around the 46 year old age range. Be clear in what the home features, and even gear it more towards things that a newly married couple or first time homebuyer would be interested in (perhaps a 2 car garage or open concept floor plan for entertaining).

Now that we’ve covered the real estate industry in 2018, let’s talk more about your specific business.

Before diving into this, do us a favor and download Jared James’ 2019 business plan here. Take a look at page 5. Here you will see a sheet with a breakdown of your 2018. Fill this out and recap your year. Learn where your business came from – it will be important when planning for 2019! This brings us to our next point: knowing your numbers.

Download Jared James 2019 Business Plan Now!

2. Know your numbers and how to reach them

To help with this, Jared James has also created a digital plan for 2019 that you can download here. This plan breaks down your business from the past 12 months and organizes it into sections based on your source of business. For example, how much did you invest in social media and what was the return on that? How much business are you generating from referrals? It then asks you to create goals for 2019. Based on your GCI and stats from you 2018 year, it will determine what needs to happen in 2019. From how many listings you need to close to how many conversations you need to be having per week, this planner is the perfect tool to get on track.  

3.    Commit to change

What will you commit to in 2019? Will it be more social media use? Focusing more on gaining clients through methods other than referrals? While it’s great to know what you should be doing in 2019, the most important part is committing to it.

Commit to your 2019 action plan.

Figure out what your best uses of time are, what you’ve been doing wrong, and what you’ll commit to changing in the New Year. Lucky for you, there is a section for this in Jared’s business plan as well! Get to it!

4.    Plan your perfect day and perfect week

Now that you know how much work you need to be doing to reach your goals for 2019, it’s time to map it out in the “perfect day” and “perfect week.” Are you sensing a trend here? We want you to be organized and efficient with your time! Putting things into a plan holds you accountable and keeps you on track.

Anyways, back to the perfect day and perfect week. Go ahead and click here to download the great day planner, and click here for the great week planner. When planning a “great day,” this form plans out your listing activity, sales activity, revenue and closings. While it allows you to create goals for each day, it also holds you accountable by requesting that you truthfully input the actual amounts for each of the goals you set for the day. By completing this, you can keep track of your daily tasks and accomplish things that align with your overall 2019 goals.

In regards to a “great week”, this is all about time management. Take a look at the weekly planner. While it does mention completing and showing to your coach, that applies to those individuals who are enrolled in Jared’s One on One Coaching program (if you’re curious about this click here). Those of you not enrolled in this can still determine how much time each week you will dedicate to things like follow up, exercise, family time, prospecting and things of the like. By blocking out your time for these things, you can again hold yourself accountable to get tasks completed.  

5. Follow changing trends and know what is happening in the market

While we touched upon what happened in the market during 2018, 2019 could be an entirely different scenario. It is important to stay up to date with things trending in the industry. There are likely going to be changed in the social media area as video continues to make an impact on the market.

Don’t lose track of these things! Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @jarja_media as we post real estate stats and news trends to keep you in the game.

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You have 50 days to plan – take advantage of them! Start practicing time blocking now and figure out how you want to implement it into your 2019 plan.

It’s not too late to make a change and commit to changing your business. Questions about any of this? Comment below and reach out! We’re always happy to help.  

- Alicia, Marketing Assistant

Jarja Media + Jared James Enterprises are Growing!

This week on our blog, we are going to try doing something a little different. Aside from providing you with business tactics, we also want you to stay in the loop on whats going on in our office! Last week, we had the pleasure of welcome a new team member. Red, who will be manning sales for Jarja Media and Jared James Enterprises, wanted to share a little bit about himself. So, read on and learn more about the newest member of our sales team!

Q: First and foremost, do you prefer "Mike" or "Red"?

A: I usually go by "Red". Everywhere I ever worked there have been a handful of people named "Mike". I have usually been the only ginger. Plus people remember my name a lot easier when I go by "Red". If they don't remember right away, the big red beard is usually a pretty good hint. 

Q: What is your position at Jared James and Jarja Media? 

A: I don't know what the exact title is or will be called, and whatever we decide to call it down the road is fine by me. If everyone decided "Big furry orange guy" should be an official job title, that is fine by me. "It is not titles that make men illustrious". 

I am still training and learning all the systems, but soon I will be handling a lot of the consultations for coaching and marketing. I am currently working closely with both Jared and Donna to learn more about the programs that Jared James offers. 

Q: So tell us a little about your background. 

A: I have done sales for the last 12 years or so. I have sold stocks, bonds, vacuums, electricity, cable subscriptions, cars, and credit cards. I have sold over the phone, face-to-face, door-to-door and business to business. I have sold on carpet, hardwood, asphalt on concrete, and feel like I can help understand the difficulty many sales people go through every day. 

Q: So what brought you to Jared James Enterprises and Jarja Media? 

A: It was a few things. First, I am a dinosaur compared to what Jared and everyone else here is doing. I have ignored social media for far too long, and can safely say it has hurt my income. Jarja Media and Jared James Enterprises is the best place to learn the skills that are relevant now and 5 years from now. The fact they are the first coaching company to embrace video on a nearly company-wide basis shows how far ahead of the curve they are. The second reason is the culture.

There is an energy and enthusiasm here that you don't get many other places.

Like Jared says, the biggest reason a salesperson succeeds is because they are able to control their mindset. This is the kind of environment where a positive mindset is significantly easier to keep.

The last thing is Jared himself. I have been around the block in terms of sales, but I have never been number one in a field as competitive as Real Estate. This is a place where I can learn from one of the masters of his craft. That is not the kind of opportunity that should be turned down. 

Q: What are you excited about in the future here at JARJA?

A: The CRM is going to be huge. I have used a number of CRMs in the past, and from what I have seen and heard JARJA will be a significant competitor very quickly.  It is exciting to be in the chair when it goes finally goes live. 

Most of all, I am excited to be in a place that is proactive when it comes to technology. Too many businesses wait until there is no other choice but adopt a new technology. If you are not proficient with modern technology, you are a dinosaur risking extinction. I have always believed the worst phrase to hear from a business is "we have always done it this way". Past success is not always indicative of future results. Fax machines should have been gone decades ago, the fact they are still holding on is an anomaly. Jared does not rest on what got him to #1 when he was purely selling real estate. He is focused on what would work today, tomorrow, and next year. 

Q: So what are your hobbies outside of work?

A: I like to build and fix things. You often find me under my truck or covered in sawdust. There is something so satisfying about taking a bunch of raw wood and making it something you can use everyday. There is no feeling like it. I also love stand-up and actually did it for about a year in NYC. I like video games, audiobooks and bar trivia as well. 

Q: And lastly, if you could let people know one thing about yourself, what is it? 

A: I have a tough time holding in jokes when they cross my mind. I try hard not to take myself seriously, and want people to have fun when we speak. If I could not get you to smile at least a little bit, I don't feel like I am doing my job. 

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- Red, Sales Associate

Time for an Instagram Revamp

In a day and age where a strong social media presence can make or break your business, it is important to be active and consistent on all of your social platforms. However, there is one platform in particular where a lot of people struggle: Instagram (IG). With its endless option for filters, hashtags and adding emojis to your captions, it can be a lot to manage. Lucky for you, we have a cheat sheet for making your IG profile shine.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A NEW AND IMPROVED INSTAGRAM PROFILE

1. Choose a layout

Choosing a layout for your IG profile can be such a helpful trick. Essentially, the layout is how your photos will be positioned on your profile. This gives you the ability to plan out your content and know which types of photos will look good next to each other. Sound tricky? Luckily there’s an app for that! (Because isn’t there always). Check out the app Preview. This app allows you to drag and drop your photos to see what your IG profile would look like if you chose to lay it out a certain way. Here are a few ideas of ways you can layout your grid:

Tiles

Borders

Row by Row

Puzzle

2. Choose a Theme

Choosing a theme is almost as important as choosing your layout. A theme can be anything from the color scheme you are using (warm colors vs. cool colors), or the overall “vibe” of your page. This theme aligns directly with content that you are choosing to post. Are your photos more bright and happy? Or are they darker and more serious? This all plays into your overall theme.

3. Content

Speaking of content, what are you posting about? Be consistent! Is your profile mostly tropical photos? Interior design photos? Inspirational quotes? Sure it can be a mix of things, but try to hone in on 3-5 main ideas and keep your posts consistent around that.

If you are struggling to think of content ideas, here are a few things you can try:

• Ask your audience a question in your post - get them to comment and engage.

• Create a fill in the black post. (Ex: The one thing that motivates me the most is ___). This will also give your audience an opportunity to engage with you.

• Give advice/motivation to your audience.

• User generated content - this is such a big trend right now. Consumers love to see what their peers are interested in and how they use certain products.

• Videos

• Nostalgia - who doesn’t want to engage with a post that reminds them of their childhood?

4. Stick to ONE filter!

This tip relates right back to your overall theme. Choose one filter that aligns with your vision (perhaps making your colors more cool or more warm toned). By being consistent with this filter, it will help your overall feed to look more unified and relatable to your brand. Also, take a look at the background colors in the majority of your photos. Try to aim to keep these consistent. Perhaps the backgrounds are mostly white, or a tan color, this will help with the overall appearance of your feed!

Cool Colors vs. Warm Colors

5. Bio + Profile Photo

This is a topic that isn’t covered nearly as much as it should be. Your IG profile photo should reflect either yourself (if you are the face behind the business) or your brand. For example, a logo or a branded icon is a photo that will let people know that this is your brands account.

In terms of your bio, it should say something about you or your brand, and lead to an action. You may include your company website or a branded hashtag that you want your followers to use. This will incentivize them to interact with your brand. Make it fun! Some examples are:

6. Last but not least, BE CONSISTENT!

Consistency is such a large part of social media success. Your followers have chosen to follow you based on the content that you put out, so don’t stop posting! Create a schedule using a program like Airtable and keep track of your posts so you don’t lose track.

There is a lot that can be done within Instagram to grow your brand and your business, so why not implement something today! Comment below and let us know what the most useful tip was for you, and be sure to tag @jarja_media on Instagram if you implement anything. Happy ‘gramming!

- Alicia, Marketing Assistant

Your Questions Answered with Jared James

In an entrepreneurial industry such as real estate, we often receive a lot of questions about how agents can be doing things better. How can they keep up with social media trends? How can they best follow up with their leads? Well, we've gathered some of your challenges/questions and have brought them to the attention of real estate expert Jared James and are here to present you with his advice, tips and tricks. Read on! 

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Q: I struggle with understanding Instagram and all of its features.
 

JARED: I did in the beginning as well but like anything you want to learn... you just have to start using it and put repetition to work. When you start using it constantly and asking questions from others that do as well, you'll probably screw up a couple of times but that's ok. The only way to really get a feel for a platform and get to know it's culture and what belongs on it is to be on it consistently engaging with others. All the platforms have different feels to them but you can't have the "feel" of a platform taught to you; You can only gain it through your own exposure and usage. The first step is always to start, so get started and message me on there once you do with any additional questions! 

The only way to really get a feel for a platform and get to know it's culture and what belongs on it is to be on it consistently engaging with others

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Q: I need help with lead follow up in an organized and intentional way and balance with my kids. What can I be doing differently?

JARED: Organized lead follow up only comes when you finally commit to two things; Having and utilizing a CRM and following a schedule. The funny thing is that this is how you find balance with your kids on some level too. When you don't follow a schedule and you don't know your numbers for how many contacts and appointments you need to hit your goals then you don't really ever know where you are in your business.

That feeling of uncertainty will cause you to always feel like you have to work because of your inner need to succeed.

But when you know your numbers and the schedule that goes with it to hit your numbers, the beauty is that you not only know when you're working... but also when you are not working! Bit the bullet and just get organized. If you don't trust yourself then hire a coach to help you and hold you accountable. I know a good company... ;) 

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Q: I am struggling with live interactive sales scripts practice. What advice do you have?

JARED: There are many reasons why agents avoid live interactive training but the main one is their fear of looking stupid or saying the wrong thing.

That's never going to go away until you put yourself out there. And quite frankly, you have to decide which end of the teeter totter you want to win. The side that represents fear or the side that represents financial freedom and overcoming fear. Until you prioritize financial freedom over your fear of looking stupid, you'll never take the step to practice live with another individual. You have to look at it this plainly.  

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Q: How can I leave more effective voicemails?

JARED:  Leaving effective voicemails comes down to a few things; Always dangle a carrot and leave a deadline for getting back to you. If it's a buyer lead then tell them that you have some amazing information on the home they asked about that you can't find online and you can be reached in the next 35 minutes at this number before you have to go to appointments and won't be available. You always need to have something they want and can't get without you and a timeframe for when you will no longer be available to give it to them. Those two things will change how you leave messages.

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Q: How I can stay top of mind with content on social media? I want to prevail this ever changing market and still be in business in 10 years. How do I do this with our current market and competition to be successful?

JARED: Get active and engaged! Read up online on what updates have happened and are coming and then execute on what you've learned without any fear of doing something wrong. The only thing you could ultimately do wrong is to stay on the sidelines knowing that you have much to learn when your clients expect it of you. The good news is that much of your peers are doing the same thing so by making the scary choice to execute you are automatically separating yourself from the crowd and positioning yourself as the best option for your clients. 

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Have these questions sparked anything in your business? Let us know if there is something you need help with or other questions that you have. We are always happy to give you some advice!

- Alicia, Marketing Assistant

Facebook: Advertising Updates

Facebook’s targeting options are getting a face-lift and everyone is talking about it! The changes may sound scary, but things really won’t be changing too much for you if you have been using Facebook correctly and for the right reasons.

There’s probably a lot of features within Facebook ads manager that you might not be utilizing - don’t wait any longer!

WHAT IS BEING REMOVED

The big kahuna that is being removed from Facebook is the partner categories. These categories made it possible to target frequent buyers who are in the market for things like: new cars, specific job roles, and who were likely to move (a huge demographic to the real estate world). Behavioral data like this is EXTREMELY critical when trying to present consumers with the best marketing message at the perfect time during the consideration period. For brands and businesses that rely on this kind of information, this change is a huge hit- but don’t get too discouraged just yet. Facebook offers TONS of effective advertising options that will help you reach your market effectively.

HOW TO USE WHAT IS STICKING AROUND

Location

Location is a popular option used to target audiences in certain zip codes, cities, states, or countries, but make sure you utilize the options in this category. You can target location by everyone in this location, people recently in this location, people who live in this location, and people traveling in this location. These are great tools for making your audience more specific or a little broader depending on whatever tickles your fancy – (or works with your marketing budget).

Interest Targeting

This is Facebook's most basic way of targeting users. Anything you interact with on Facebook is considered an interested party, and that goes for all other Facebook users out there.  This makes it ridiculously easy for Facebook to be able to collect data based on what users are interacting with on the platform. To tap into this source, simply browse through the categories and subcategories of the hundreds of interests that Facebook stores. Using interest targeting is a great starting point when developing audiences because the categories are based on ACTUAL user behavior.

By picking specific interests you will narrow your audience. This is important for reaching the right kind of audience for your business and not wasting your ad budget. You can also choose keywords in the interest field to create a perfect audience, but be mindful of getting too specific, this will limit your reach. Make sure to keep an eye on your cost per click; this will help you monitor your performance.

Using interest targeting is a great starting point when developing audiences because the categories are based on ACTUAL user behavior.

Audience Insights

One of the most important things in interest targeting is to understand your audience. This is where Audience Insights come in handy. This feature allows you to learn more about your targeted audience by discovering interests and finding new audiences that could potentially be interested in your business.

CUSTOM AUDIENCES

Website Custom Audience

Bite the bullet and install the Facebook pixel (you won’t regret it) so you can start retargeting people. And while you’re trying new things you should go ahead and take the next step by creating a Lookalike Audience from that retargeted group. By using a Facebook pixel you can match your website visitors with people on Facebook and create ads to show to that particular audience. Another plus about Lookalike Audiences is that they’re a targeted (and money-efficient) way to prospect for more business. Any group of visitors from your website can be created into a Custom Audience and reached with targeted Facebook ads. Do you want to target anyone who has been to your website in the last 30 days with a swanky ad for your business? You can do exactly that with a Facebook Pixel!

Any group of visitors from your website can be created into a Custom Audience and reached with targeted Facebook ads.

E-mail Custom Audience

Yup, it is exactly what it sounds like. You can upload your e-mail list to Facebook and match your leads to their Facebook accounts to target them with your fancy ads. This option is a fantastic way to simultaneously use the data you already have and  broaden your ad reach by building a Lookalike Audience from this list.

Engagement Custom Audience

This custom audience is the definition of working smarter. By targeting users who have already engaged with your content you are moving the process along by nudging them closer to conversion. You know all of those users who have watched your videos and interacted with your page, Instagram profile, and your events? Yup you guessed it, you can create a custom audience off of those users and by doing so you have a highly targeted group of people who are already interested in your brand… YAY YOU!!

So, while Facebook may be removing some demographics that have been beneficial to us as marketers, it is important to remember that there are so many other options within the platform. Try out some of these targeting options and let us know how your ads perform. Creativity is key, so always be trying new things when it comes to your business.

- Brittany, Marketing and Customer Support Associate

Social Media is Changing...Again

In a world that is constantly changing, we know that it can be hard to keep up- especially when it comes to social media. So consider us your source for all of the latest and greatest updates to your favorite social networks. Let’s start with Facebook.

Facebook Wants you to get a Mentor

Introducing: a new mentorship program for Facebook groups. Are you part of a Facebook group where you feel you would benefit from starting a private conversation with someone in the group? Perhaps there is a member who has insight into a business problem you have been trying to solve.

Facebook groups now allow admins to create mentorship programs within their groups, allowing members to be paired up with mentors on topics such as career advancement, skill development, or engagement and support. How does it work? Once the program is created, members can sign up to be matched with a mentor, or can register as a mentee. Admins will be in charge of the pairing.  Let the coaching begin!

Business Pages get a Face-Lift

Since Facebook introduced its new algorithm in January, business page content has seen a dramatic decrease in engagement. Cue the face-lift. The goal with these changes is to prioritize word of mouth marketing, and increase brand exposure on the platform.

First up: business page recommendations. Consider this a revamped version of reviews on Facebook. You can now leave a review for a business, and the keywords that you use to describe your experience will become “tags” on that business page. This makes it easier for users to quickly get a glimpse of what people think of your business. These recommendations must be at least 25 characters long and will be featured on each page.

Next we have action buttons. These have been added to let customers quickly accomplish certain tasks while on a company’s business page. For example you will be able to easily book a reservation or appointment, or even place an online order! (Hello 21st century). The action buttons will directly correlate with the type of business page template you choose to use.

That’s not all. Facebook has also revamped business page stories, making them available to watch by simply clicking on the page profile (yes, just like Instagram!). The platform is also rolling out new options for selling event tickets through business pages. They will even be creating an event-specific ad option to give you an extra boost in ticket sales.

Oh, and if your business page has a large following, Facebook will be reaching out to have you verify your page by providing your location. 

This is in attempt to avoid fake pages creating a business page.

The requirements for verification will be that admins provide proof of location via location services on their phones, or enable a two-factor authentication on the account. Security at an all time high, and we’re glad!

That’s not all for Facebook

Facebook will also be rolling out two more features. The first: removing the “share” option on posts. Instead, they will try replacing this with a “message” option to help users get in touch with one another. Lastly, they have introduced a time management feature to tell users how much of their day they spend on the network (eye opening data for sure). Chances are you spend more time surfing the web than you realize.

This feature will also allow users to set a limit for the amount of time they spend online in hopes of increasing users overall wellbeing.

Enough with Facebook, what About Instagram?

Do you remember the good old days of AIM? When you could chat with your friends online and you always knew who was online and who was away? Well, Instagram has channeled their inner 90’s and graced us with a very similar feature.

Instagram’s new status feature tells you which of your followers are online, or when they last were using the app. No more hiding! Unless you want to of course, there is an option to turn off this setting and remain secretive.

Oh, Snapchat Wants to talk too

Most people are familiar with the dog filter on Snapchat along with many other facial recognition filters. But now, Snapchat is rolling out a feature that will let you talk to the camera and watch the new filter lens’ appear. This filter brings the meaning of “say cheese!” to a whole new level. Check out this video if you don’t believe us.

We know that seems like a lot, but we wanted to make sure you weren’t missing out on anything! Which new feature are you most excited for?

Let us know in the comments and we’ll be sure to update you in a few months once these features have had time to roll out.

- Alicia, Marketing Assistant

Hey MTV, Welcome to Our Crib

It was about a year ago that our CEO took a look at our office space and realized we needed a change.  While we sat in a collaborative, open environment, the design of the space was dull and much too small for the rate that we were growing.  After many floor plan drawings and probably too many Pinterest boards, we finally have the pleasure of introducing you to our new space! This is a place for our employees to collaborate, grow, and flourish (and of course play some ping pong). However, this is more than just a workspace. It is a story of how we as a company, understood our need to grow.

Once we knew we needed to move into a new office, we truly wanted to find a space that we could make our own. We did some searching, took tours of some potential locations, and finally settled on an unfinished section of the current building we were in. When we first viewed the space, it was a mess – the floors were concrete, the old school tile ceiling was in the midst of being torn down, it was not a workable space. 

However, we had a vision.

Behold – our office build-out begins! 

Do you know what your preferred workspace is? For example, do you prefer to work at a desk? Or to stand? Or do you feel the most productive when you sit on a couch or a bean bag? These were the types of things we considered when we designed the different spaces in the office. We also wanted to create dimension by offering workspace options that vary in heights, such as high top tables and low beanbag chairs.

For me, I am an advocate for standing desks. My legs and my mind get restless when I sit in a chair for long periods of time. That’s why you can find me here most of the time:

This is a central point to our space, and also the place that we do all of our eating (almost equally as important as our work). You can stand or sit at the high top table, and also jot down your creative thoughts on the kitchen white board. When it comes time to hold a quick meeting, we will often opt to gather in the kitchen so we can all sit together in one space to brainstorm.

If you’re more of a casual lounge worker then we would most likely find you cuddled up in one of these spots:

This area represents the “chill” vibes in the office. Equipped with two beanbags, a couch, and a TV, we often choose to work from this area after a big lunch (can you tell we love eating?), or if there is some sort of sports competition on TV. The TV also allows us to watch webinars or share our projects with the team while being in a comfortable setting. Sometimes if we are feeling a lack of creativity, the fun of sitting in the beanbags helps to spark new ideas.

Our most traditional space would be our office conference room. It's perfect for weekly recap meetings, or for those who need to sit in a quiet space.

This is where you can find our team every Monday morning as we go over our goals and projects for the week. This space helps us to fully collaborate as a team and allows us to refocus after the weekend is over. We also gather here when we join in on webinars with our whole team and can’t all fit in beanbags around the lounge TV.  If you need somewhere to sit alone and get your work done with no distractions, you would probably enjoy the quietness of the conference room as well.

If you happen to be more productive in your own personal space, we have our workspace area where we get to put ourselves in our own little bubbles and check things off of our to-do lists.

Having our own desk space to put things like plants, photos of dogs and extra sweatshirts when it’s chilly helps us stay independent and organized. When designing the space, we also kept in mind that these groups of desks should be specific to the department of the business such as sales and support, marketing, and social media. We chose to group together the sales and customer support associates in one area of the office and separate them from the marketing associates. This was a decision that influenced the layout of our space as well.

Overall, our office build out was an exciting project that spanned over the course of the last year. We spent countless hours carefully selecting furniture, snacks for the kitchen, and made collaborative workspaces a priority. We now have communal spaces for meetings, brainstorms and our weekly happy hour!

Where do you feel the most productive? Comment below and let us know! 

- Alicia, Marketing Assistant