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Category Archives: Small Business

Enhance Your Site Security With These Simple Steps

Posted on October 26, 2023 - 12:34 pm by
Security for your business graphic Transcend Ideas

When we think of organizations that need site security we often think of big corporations like Amazon, Target, or Netflix—websites that are visited by millions of people each day and hold important user information. However, small businesses and nonprofits need to take the right steps to help keep confidential data away from hackers.

Smaller organizations also have an obligation to keep clients’ online credit card payments, social security numbers, and other personal data safe. No one wants their personal information to fall into the wrong hands. But smaller organizations sometimes struggle to protect their site because of the complexities of site security. Although you may want to hire someone to help you if online security seems too complicated for you, we thought we’d share some simple ways you can help yourself today!

With or without extra help, a “hacker-free” website is impossible. However, you can improve your website security and follow basic guidelines to deter hacking. Take a look at our guidelines to see where you’re vulnerable and how to fix it.

Create strong passwords and update them regularly

A lot of hacking-related breaches occur because of weak passwords or passwords that are rarely updated. Use a password generator to create a stronger password that is long, uses upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This can sometimes be a pain, but it’s worth it for the extra security!

If you choose a password instead of using a password generator, don’t pick words or numbers that are predictable like your name, phone number, address, or birthday. A hacker could do a quick background check on you and find this information within minutes.

Another pro tip when it comes to passwords? Use a different password for each platform. Your bank, QuickBooks software, Amazon account, Instagram login, and business website should use completely different passwords.

If you aren’t running a business solo, remind your employees to change their passwords every three months or sooner.

Site Security image

Keep Your Software and Plugins Up-To-Date

This is an easy fix and doesn’t require you to be a computer whiz. Updates exist to fix vulnerabilities in the software and therefore enhance security.  

When your website’s software and applications aren’t up-to-date, you leave your whole website at risk. As soon as you see a request for a software or plugin update, don’t ignore it but follow the instructions as soon as you can! Take care of it right away and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your website is more secure.

Be Cautious When Using Public Wifi

Whether you popped into a coffee shop to work remotely for a few minutes, or you’re using the public internet at an airport, use extreme caution and take preventive measures.

  •  Verify that the network you’re connecting to is the public network. Ask someone in charge or look for signs that mention wifi.
  • Don’t enter or access sensitive information. Avoid anything where you need to access bank information, use a username and password, enter a social security number, etc.
  • Never store credit card details to any account—even if it’s the convenient thing to do!

What if you really need to do work on your computer while you’re out and about? Instead of connecting to public wifi, use your hotspot.

Now You Can Take Your Site Security to Another Level

After you’ve completed those simple steps to keep your site secure, you can take it up a notch. You can either educate yourself and implement more security measures on your own, or you can work with a professional to advise you on the latest and most effective security tools.

Want to do everything on your own but don’t know where to start? Make sure you prioritize these security measures

  1. Install Security Socket Layer (SSL) certificates
  2. Back-up Your Website
  3. Use an Effective Anti-Malware Program
  4. Implement the Right Content Management System (CMS)
  5. Use Website Security Testing Tools

Don’t fall prey to hackers this year! Keep your website secure, your clients’ information confidential, and you’ll have more peace of mind while your business thrives.

If thinking about website security sends you into a panic, call Transcend Ideas today! Our team is happy to provide thorough security testing on your site and ensure that you and your customer’s information remain safe from hackers. Let’s get coffee and chat about your options!

Leverage the Power of Email Marketing

Posted on October 2, 2023 - 9:30 am by
Email marketing graphic with a heart over an envelope on an illustrated laptop screen

As a business owner, it’s easy to divert your attention towards the flashy world of social media marketing. However, what if we told you that email marketing not only leaves a more lasting impression on customers but also boasts a high success rate in converting those impressions into sales?

Leverage the Power of Email Marketing to Retain Customers

It can, also, be tempting to put all your energy into acquiring new clients when it’s a better investment to focus on retaining existing ones. According to MailChimp, our email marketing platform of choice, “customer retention is all about ensuring that existing customers continue to choose your products or services.” 

Retention emails, in particular, play a pivotal role in achieving this goal. These targeted communications are designed to reinforce your product or service’s value, nurturing customer loyalty, and promoting continued usage, all while fostering satisfaction and deeper engagement with your brand. According to Heather Devine, the founder of Transcend Ideas, “A well-executed email marketing strategy can tell a story and build lasting relationships between the recipient and the brand. The relationship can be maintained or it can fizzle out, it all depends on utilizing several communication tactics well, including email marketing.”

Ohio voters - email marketing graphic

Why are retention emails so effective?

  1. Existing Customers Buy More Frequently 📈

    Market Metric’s data reveals a striking fact: your chances of successfully selling to an existing customer range from 60% to 70%. In contrast, the success rate of closing a new customer hovers much lower, at just 5% to 20%.
  2. Cost-Efficiency 📉

    Marketing to existing customers is not only more effective but also lighter on your budget. According to MailChimp, a mere 10% increase in customer retention rates can boost profits by a remarkable 30%.
  3. Freshness and Relevance for Your Brand

    By staying in touch with your customers through retention emails, your brand remains top-of-mind. This not only ensures their ongoing satisfaction but also increases the likelihood of satisfied customers recommending your brand to potential new customers.

Prioritizing customer retention is a vital component of running a successful business. One way to achieve this is through a well-structured email marketing strategy that maintains a consistent relationship with your existing customers. While organizing such a campaign might seem daunting, it doesn’t need to be complicated. Embrace your brand’s unique personality and the relationships you’ve cultivated. A customer communication calendar can help streamline your efforts throughout the year.

Retention emails come in various forms, and the right approach depends on factors such as your unique business, objectives, and the time of year.

Types of Retention Emails

  1. Welcome Emails

    When a new customer inquires about your business or subscribes to your newsletter, use this opportunity to introduce yourself and showcase the value you offer. Plus, welcome emails often enjoy an above-average open rate.
  2. Announcements and Product Updates

    When you release a new product or service, share the exciting news with your existing clients. They deserve to be the first to know!
  3. Promotional Emails

    Reward loyal customers with discounts or promotions, demonstrating your appreciation for their continued support.
  4. Reminder Emails

    Help customers keep track of important dates and ensure time-sensitive information stays fresh in their minds. For instance, many non-profits benefit from countdown emails leading to fundraising deadlines, like the Old Bill’s Fun Run giving period in Jackson Hole every fall.
  5. Customer Engagement Emails

    Customer engagement emails encourage active participation from your customers, inviting them to share feedback, take surveys, or interact with your brand directly. These interactions foster a sense of community and strengthen customer loyalty.
  6. Special Occasion Emails

    Recognize holidays or specific seasons with tailored retention emails that align with your brand identity. Be cautious not to get lost in the holiday email clutter; make it work for your brand.
  7. Thank You and Acknowledgment Emails

     Take a moment to express gratitude to your customers. ❤️

These are just a handful of examples of retention email types. You know your business best, so get creative and stay consistent!

Is email marketing a foreign territory you don’t want to explore? Let Transcend Ideas fill you in on how we can make email marketing work for your business. We will work with you on the email marketing strategy to best fit your audience and bring great results for your business.

Create Your Holiday Marketing Plan

Posted on September 20, 2023 - 5:16 pm by
Holiday Marketing Plan with holiday decor

Summer’s come to an end and shorts and sandals are being replaced with jeans and boots. It may seem a little silly to already be thinking about a holiday marketing plan— didn’t summer JUST end? But believe it or not, now is the PERFECT time to get ahead when it comes to the holidays. 

Holiday season has a tendency to sneak up on you. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years seem so far in the future. Before you know it, snowflakes will be falling and the busyness of the holidays will be in full swing. Want to avoid unnecessary stress and burnout this holiday season? Check out our helpful holiday marketing tips and get ahead of the game!

Prioritize Your Holiday Marketing Plan

Brainstorm: Start as soon as you can to brainstorm a holiday marketing plan and put it into place. Holiday sales tend to bring in about 20% of annual sales across most industries. It’s the time of year where a strong marketing plan can bring your business to the top of the competition. Plus, who doesn’t want to end 2023 with a bang?

Your brainstorming session should be where you bring efficiency and creativity together. 

Ask for help: Seek out innovative yet reliable marketing plans. Your employees as well as other experts in your industry may have some insight that you didn’t realize you need. Or perhaps you’re friends with an owner of a business very different from yours. You can still bounce ideas off of each other.

Reflect on Your Past Marketing Plans

One of the first steps of an effective marketing plan is to research your own company. Sounds weird? It’s not! 

Use historical data to determine if you overspent or underspent on anything last year (we’re talking money or time).

  • Did you host an event? If so, how effective was it? 
  • Did you create a coupon? If so, how many coupons were used?
  • Did you write a blog? If so, how many people read it?
  • Did you update your website? If so, how much more traffic is it seeing?
  • Did you use social media last year? If so, have your followers increased/do they engage with your material?

Take a closer look at how you’ve been conducting your previous holidays marketing strategies and see what really worked and what could use some extra TLC.

Create a Holiday Offer

Pick a campaign theme and run with it! Each year you should reflect on what you want this holiday season and what your organization or business can provide people. Each year may be drastically different or have subtle nuances. Either way, your holiday campaign should be designed with flavor! Have fun with it. Your campaign is designed around your holiday offer.

Establish a Goal for the Holiday Season

A clear and attainable goal is one of the cornerstones of a great marketing strategy. A goal is not a hope. It’s an objective that you’ve written down and will pursue. Writing down your goal keeps you accountable to it in the future.

Your goals should be SMART – Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. 

Collect $75,000 in donations for ____ charity by December 25, 2023.

Generate 2,000 leads who are interested in our black friday sale by November 22, 2023.

Host 250 participants at the annual _____ event on December 31st, 2023. 

You goals could focus on one or multiple categories:

  • Revenue
  • Awareness
  • Leads
  • Shares
  • Conversion

Define Your Target Audience

Who are you trying to attract and who do you already attract? Gather as much information about your target audience as possible. 

Reflect on your target audience:

  • Do they like to shop in stores or online?
  • Do they consume social media on instagram or facebook?
  • What’s their age demographic?
  • Are you catering to a high-end consumer or more of the middle class?
  • Are they locals, tourists, or a mix of both?

When you truly understand your target audience, you understand the best ways to engage them.

Leverage the Right Marketing Channels

After looking at your target audience and writing down your goals this holiday season, you need to determine which marketing channels are best for you. 

Marketing is EVERYWHERE these days. Make sure that you’re emphasizing quality over quantity. (Quantity isn’t bad, just make sure that the quality is the priority!) Ask industry experts what they use, take a short class on the latest marketing channels, and be creative.

You may want to optimize these marketing channels:

  • Website
  • Email 
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • Newspaper Ads
  • Online Reviews
  • Word of mouth
  • Paid Advertising 
  • Radio
  • Chamber of Commerce listing
  • Sponsorships
  • Community calendars
  • Flyers/Posters

 Create Your Marketing Calendar

This is an exciting new step! All of your planning and preparation come together in your marketing calendar. 

This calendar reminds you of holidays and important nation-wide events such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday. You can even include other celebrations or noteworthy days like Native American Heritage Month, World Mental Health Day, Daylight Savings, World Coffee Day, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, Winter Solstice, or a sporting event.  

Plus, this calendar reminds you to release a new promotional video, run a new ad, print and hang a community flier, or post a story on instagram.

No matter what industry you’re in, you NEED a marketing calendar to keep everything straight.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

Delegate tasks to keep everything organized and running smoothly. Most of the time, you can’t do everything—and that’s okay!

If an employee is extremely detail oriented and good with numbers—have them order merchandise or supplies.

Do you have an employee is a social butterfly? Encourage them to meet with your advertisers or plan a social event.

Is there an employee who loves to read—have them research your target audience.

Optimize the strengths of others! 

Avoid the Biggest Holiday Marketing Plan Mistakes

Now that we’ve discussed what you SHOULD do, let’s quickly go over what you SHOULDN’T. 

  1. Only focus on one marketing strategy – this will drastically limit your reach. It’s okay to have one larger marketing strategy but just make sure that it’s not your only one.
  2. Last minute planning – start early! Last minute planning will stress you out and hurt your outcomes.
  3. Not optimizing your mobile site – You need to be accessible online. Like it or not, that’s how the world runs these days. Focus on your online presence and you will reap the rewards.
  4. Ineffective customer service – Be available and fully staffed during the busy holiday season. Customer service can make or break any business. Monitor social media engagement and consider implementing a live chat feature on your website.
  5. Not staying local – One way to stand out is to have a personalized touch to your organization—don’t underestimate the power of your local audience.

The Bottom Line

Design your holiday marketing plan to boost your brand awareness and meet your goals. It’s that simple. Position your brand above others, attract new customers, and keep your loyal ones. Make it great, make it you!

Do you need holiday marketing solutions and don’t know where to start? Schedule a time to grab a coffee and learn how Transcend Ideas can help take the load off this holiday season and provide marketing solutions for your company.

Meet Brennan Hussey, Content Creator

Posted on July 19, 2023 - 2:04 pm by
Brennan Hussey

Meet Brennan Hussey, who has joined the Transcend Ideas team offering her copywriting and illustration skills. Brennan helps amplify our client’s messaging through thorough extensive research, curiosity, and thoughtful writing. Her illustrations bring a new flavor to our client’s marketing campaigns and for that we are grateful. She shared a bit about herself in this Q and A so you may get to know Brennan in her own words.

Meet Brennan

1. Where do you hail from? where do you live now? and how did you come to be there?

I grew up in Kansas City & Savannah GA, respectively. So therefore I’m a Southerner without a Southern accent. I still say Y’ALL because ‘Y’ALL means ALL’ 🌈

After college, studying Advertising and Communications at UGA, in the best music town in the country, Athens, GA – I migrated out west to be in the mountains. ⛰️ I’ve since lived in Jackson Hole, Idaho, Alaska, and now call Denver home. <3

Brennan and Reed mountain bike together
Brennan and Reed mountain bike together

2. What do you like to do for fun?

FUN?! Oh yeah, I have it.

I live to cook & eat and especially love spending way too much on ingredients for an elaborate meal that will take me over 4 hours to complete. This, friends, and a nice bottle of Chenin Blanc is my idea of the perfect night.

I make an effort to spend as much time outdoors as possible – snowboarding, hiking, biking, playing tennis, & going on hot girl walks around the neighborhood. Cue Tina Turner in the Airpods -may she rest in power.

As a Sagittarius Sun – I’m an absolute walking cliché because I’m a travel addict. The minute I was able to make my own money, I started collecting stamps in my passport. I value how much understanding it has given me about the world around me.

And I LOVE anything to do with art whether that’s creating my own, listening to music, reading books, or indulging in tv and film. Give me all the art. Above anything else. Always.

3. What do you do in your role with Transcend Ideas? do you like knowing your work helps others? and what areas are you most passionate about?

I wear a few different hats for Transcend Ideas as a Content Creator.

First and foremost, I do work as a Content Writer which is a little more in-depth than it sounds. For blog posts and other content, I conduct detailed research, interview experts when needed, draft concise articles, carefully edit, upload it to the client’s CMS, arrange the layout, and amplify the SEO for maximum visibility. There’s a lot to it!

I also work as an Illustrator and Designer which includes drawing custom illustrations, designing event posters, visual content for social media, logo design, and even entire branding campaigns.

I also help collaborate and brainstorm with Heather on working concepts for clients and coming up with new marketing ideas and strategies. We work and communicate really well together and share healthy constructive feedback with one another. I really value her voice and appreciate that she also values mine.

And of course, I like knowing my work helps others. It’s one of the reasons I do what I do. As a writer, I cannot fathom doing anything but speaking my truth and sharing that with others.

My passion burns for a variety of topics. Cross-country skiing, yes. Girl empowerment, absolutely. Renewable energy, but of course. How to identify noxious weeds, bring it on. That’s one of the reasons I make a marvelous content writer, I can get excited about pretty much anything. And we all know excitement can be contagious.

4. What are you grateful for? Big or small?

BIG: The past year has been a year of asking for help. I’m so grateful that my requests have been answered. I feel so supported by my partner, friends, and family. I will always be grateful for that.

Small: ice water, tinted SPF moisturizer, Spindrift seltzer, boiled peanuts, T-Swift, vibe lights, Squishmallows TM, TikTok

5. If your house was on fire and you could save 3 things, what would they be?

Let me preface this by saying, I don’t have any pets (yet). I’d probably grab my Monstera plant, a piece of framed art, and the box of cards & memories I keep under my bed.

Brennan Hussey Quote

I also help collaborate and brainstorm with Heather on working concepts for clients and coming up with new marketing ideas and strategies. We work and communicate really well together and share healthy constructive feedback with one another. I really value her voice and appreciate that she also values mine.

6. What are you looking forward to this summer?

Getting out into the mountains and seeing some live music outdoors. Oooh, also seeing the Barbie Movie that comes out in a few weeks. But would you hate me if I admitted I’m secretly pining for fall? 🍂

7. Do you have advice to a business or organization that wants to connect with their community and customers these days?

I think something that is oftentimes overlooked is not engaging with community members of all ages and demographics. I think we, as a society, can get locked into our own little bubbles and echo chambers. As a millennial, I’ve often felt overlooked by older generations. I don’t want to do this to the younger generations. I want them to know that their opinions matter. So to businesses and organizations, I advise you to cast a wider net and stay open-minded. The wisest among us know they don’t know everything.

8. What can you not stop talking about right now?

Station Eleven. I’m obsessed. It’s a limited series on HBO MAX. After I watched the show, I gobbled up the book it’s based on. It’s a post-apocalyptic story done differently than anything I’ve ever seen in that genre.

9. What are you hopeful for this year?

I’m on a journey of building upon my portfolio and building up my self-confidence. These two things are interconnected and I’m putting the needed work into nurturing them both. And, yes I’m feeling hopeful about it. I’m trying to remind myself to stay hopeful on down days as growth is not linear.

10. What are you proud of right now? Could be a personal accomplishment, big or small.

Learning how to say NO and protect my peace. I don’t feel like our society values this as much as it should. Looking out for your health and well-being is important. Learning to say no to things that will not serve us can sometimes feel counterintuitive. But always listen to your gut. The Olsen twins say it best, “NO, is a full sentence.”

Contact Transcend Ideas today to get Brennan busy working on an illustration or design project for your company!

Dear Canva, I LOVE you!

Posted on July 6, 2023 - 11:07 am by

A quick geek out over Canva!

This is a geek out blog post about Canva. If you haven’t guessed, I love the platform and what they provide businesses. Their platform continues to amaze me and what you can do with it. How may I count the ways.. I love you, Canva!

SVG Magic in Branding Your Business

DeLacy Tea Company – SVG rosehips

Let’s begin with SVGs, which stands for: Scalable Vector Graphics.
This handy-dandy format allows for your vector files to be colorized before your eyes. That’s right. Exactly how you can pull an element from Canva and change out a color to your liking? I recently designed something for Mariel’s DeLacy Tea Company. Delacy Tea Company wanted to utilize the rosehips element on different tea labels. Each label needing to be a different color, so making a couple of elements she can then colorize in Canva was huge! An important tip for Illustrator/vector designers: make sure the vector is completely closed so the element can be colorized effectively in Canva. For this sample of their rosehips (right), I had the lines in the leaves transparent and not white so that the rosy color or any color of their choosing can stand out on a contrasting background.

There are some smaller businesses that need to be able to “play” with their logo and with this versatility it allows for a business owner to take it upon themselves to make necessary changes on their own.

From now on, when I package my client’s graphics and hand them over, SVGs will be on that checklist of elements that are an absolute must. Exporting elements for your clients that can be the most useful allows them to move freely in their brand without constraints. All too often clients have shared stories where they are left hopeless with ownership over their own logo files, domain names, hosting for their website, access to their social media platforms, etc. All forthcoming topics I will happily share in our blog.

Some Canva templates provided for marketing campaigns:

Happy Holidays from JH Fire/EMS
People Spread Love Old Bill’s Fun Run (Insta Square)
TCWP Spray Days (Email Newsletter header)
People Spread Love Old Bill’s Fun Run (Insta Square)

Bravo goes back to Canva, an Australia-women owned business. Canva has revolutionized graphic design for so many ambitious dreamers. Now design is accessible to anyone that wants to build a business with the help of their design platform. I couldn’t be more excited to recommend them to anyone who works in design or wants to dabble in it.

Canva Custom Template Offerings

Forbes: Empathy Is the Most Important Leadership Skill

Posted on July 1, 2023 - 11:24 am by

Empathy Is the Most Important Leadership Skill

I knew Empathy was a trait that helped better more relationships in all aspects of life. I’ve seen the difference it makes in mine. When the pandemic hit in 2020-21 I felt disconnection and I needed a periodic check-in with my team. A “how are you?” rather than diving right into work stuff became critical. I personally wanted my colleagues to care about me as I cared for them and their well-being.

Forbes recognizes the positive impact of empathy on innovation and retention. Studies show that empathetic leaders create engaged and productive teams. By considering others’ thoughts and feelings, leaders can connect on a deeper level, foster trust, and inspire empathy in return. This leads to a more compassionate and successful work environment.

“Leaders don’t have to be experts in mental health in order to demonstrate they care and are paying attention. It’s enough to check in, ask questions and take cues from the employee about how much they want to share.”

Forbes article on Leading with Empathy by Tracy Brower, PhD.*

Stress is a pervasive state and data suggests it is an affect by the pandemic and the ways our lives have been turned upside down.*

Empathy by the Numbers

  • 42% of people have experienced a decline in mental health
    • 67% of people are experiencing increases in stress while 57% have increased anxiety, and 54% are emotionally exhausted, 53% of people are sad, 50% are irritable, 28% are having trouble concentrating, 20% are taking longer to finish tasks, 15% are having trouble thinking and 20% are challenging to juggle their responsibilities
  • 61% of employees reported with empathy leaders were able to be innovative, compared to 13% of employees with less empathic leaders
  • 76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders reported they were engaged, compared to 32% who experienced less empathy
  • 57% of white women and 62% of women of color said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies

As a leader in the community I know how important it is to engage in empathy. From the receiving end it feels good to be seen and heard. On a Board of Directors we engage in similar behavior with a check-in before we begin to discuss anything on the agenda. If any of us are feeling low or drained, the camera doesn’t need to be on when we meet virtually and if they need to leave early we honor that with understanding and compassion for one another.

Listen to a two part Podcast on How Empathy Can Bridge Connection

Empathy Fosters More Empathy

I’m a cheerleader for empathy marketing. When we engage with our audience in a way that they need and want, you are likely to be more engaged with us.

It’s clear that empathy should be a trait intertwined with leadership. It starts with caring about your team, and your community.

Cognitive empathy – Consider someone elses’ thoughts  (“If I were in his/her position, what would I be thinking right now?”)

Emotional empathy – Consider someone elses’ feelings (“Being in his/her position would make me feel ___”)

Empathy is the most important leadership skill because it enables leaders to connect with their team members on a deeper level. Strong leaders understand and share the feelings and perspectives of their employees. They can make more informed decisions and create a supportive work environment. By demonstrating empathy, leaders foster trust, enhance collaboration, and inspire loyalty among their team. Ultimately, this drives higher levels of productivity and success.

Empathy fosters more empathy.

Master CTA’s (Call to Actions) with Empathy Marketing

Posted on April 20, 2023 - 2:34 pm by

How can you master CTA’s (Call to Actions) with empathy marketing? What are CTAs you ask?

It’s the acronym for call-to-action, like:

Donate Now

Learn More

Buy Now

Register Now

… and so on!

CTA is giving the audience direction and an actionable to take

When we market to our audience we are looking to add value and we are asking them to engage with us with curiosity. With my approach to empathy marketing I empathize with my audience and where they are. Here are some things to think about when you are generating your content and your CTAs when you write a newsletter, blog post, or a social media post.

When using empathy marketing, ask these questions:

  • What does the consumer feel?
  • What is the consumer facing right now?
  • How can we connect as a business?

Our content can shape the relationship

Our content can shape the relationship we have with our consumers. We use tone and personality and the consumer then responds to it. It’s important to:

  • stay relavant, stay informed (webinars, workshops, networking events, speak to your audience)
  • humanize your business
  • ask questions (use surveys – this will eliminate assumptions)
  • answer questions (use real Q&A here to share with the community)
  • share how you can help meet a need – *** Keep your content digestable info, bullet points will help led the reader, if they are curious about more they can contact you (DM or E-mail)
  • use clean graphics and nice photography to help compliment your message – this anchors those topics into your website and your social media feed
  • try an A/B testing to see what’s the most effective approach – look at the data and compare and try it again, see if it still works

Consider These Shifted Verbal Cues to Master CTA’s (Call to Actions) with Empathy Marketing:

Let’s Try Something New

Say YES!

Let’s Get Curious

Join the Conversation

Share Your Story

Are you interested to learn more?

let’s get coffee

Short Form Video – Right for Your Business?

Posted on April 19, 2023 - 3:10 pm by

Short-form video dominates with the Gen Z crowd. From dance-off competitions to popular music covers, and now how users discover products and services. What’s the best way to step into this trend? Can it work for your small business? Short-form videos prove to work for marketing many businesses.

What is a Short-Form Video?

Short-form video is being used across a variety of platforms. It all began with TikTok and spread quickly to Instagram (Reels) and YouTube (Shorts). User-friendly with a low barrier to entry and engagement, short-form video showcases instant and short videos that give a snapshot into the creator’s life. This teen-savvy engagement opportunity may be the golden ticket for your small business ‘word of mouth’ promotion. Tap into your preferred audience and tell your story on this new platform. Small business owners can give potential customers a look behind the scenes at operations, a day in the life of product design or food creation, and interview customers that are raving about their products and why. The opportunities are endless to catch a user’s eye and potentially make a repeat customer. 

Short-form provides a “short” between a 30 – 60 seconds in duration. With those parameters, you have to get creative and concise with what you are sharing. You’ve seen it, text overlaying the video/photos of step-by-step directions on how to make the best frittata, a trending dance move, or a quickened-paced story to tell a story, make a point, or share a laugh. It’s an entertaining way to capture your younger audience. Still, images are not always going to be cut to capture the younger demographic.

Short Form Video – Right for Your Business?

Short-Form Video and Small Business

Still skeptical about how short-form video could work for your business? According to USA Today, 81% of users use short-form video clips. This type of engaging content, utilized across all social media platforms, helps users discover new products and brands. This shows just one example of a short-form video being a marketing professional’s dream. This type of exposure is critical for small businesses that want to tap into and influence specific demographics that are looking for the content you have to offer.

With the onslaught of content available with short-form videos and reels on social media, find what items are providing the most hits in search results. By doing this, you can cater your marketing to those items. If you are targeting a certain age group, you can discover trending audio/music clips and tack them onto those trends to capture your audience. There is a low cost for starting ads on Instagram, Facebook, and Youtube, as well. They can be catered to your location, a perfect solution for the young crowd that constantly surfs the web looking for something new and interesting to try out. 

Are Short-Form Videos Right For Your Business?

I always want to insert the skeptic into trends. Ask yourself: does short-form video suit my business? There are downsides to jumping in feet first with just about any new trend. Much of what short-form video drains time and energy from running your business. If you are small enough and curious about specific trends like this one, consider recruiting help in this department like a social media marketing expert.

Watch some videos that your competitors and allies are threading together. Observe for yourself if this is the platform/method for your business. Also, remember that followers and/or likes don’t equal sales/revenue stream. However, some of the most successful videos are informing, educating, and entertaining. Viral videos follow similar formulas to grab attention and evoke an emotional response that does spark more interest that generates more clicks, more followers, and more shares.

When using new techniques, you want to align with your messaging, stay consistent and sustain the activity. I say, stay curious, try it, and see if you like it and if it aligns with your vision for your business.

Conclusion

In summary, short-form videos can help small businesses increase engagement, promote their products or services, increase brand awareness, and create a connection with their customers.

Overall, the mystery behind the short-form video trend is starting to fade. This type of engagement is here to stay and continues to influence consumer behavior every day. Keep in mind those that will do business with you will come through trust they have in your expertise. Trust can be built in many ways and that doesn’t necessary mean short-form video but it sure draws more eyes to your content and that’s not a bad thing.

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Contact Transcend Ideas today to discuss how we can make short-form video work for you!

How Empathy can Bridge Connection

Posted on April 15, 2023 - 9:05 pm by

Listen to my interview with Kaeyy Noella on her The Love Talk Wall podcast. I introduce her to “empathy marketing” and how I show up with Transcend Ideas. I introduce (in Part 2) how “empathy” makes up the key ingredient of People Spread Love.

How Empathy can Bridge Connection

Part 1: Empathy marketing can be a powerful tool for small businesses looking to build stronger relationships with their customers and differentiate themselves from competitors. By putting the needs and emotions of customers first, small businesses can create a more loyal customer base and drive long-term growth.

“Empathy” is a key component to how I show up in many places in my life. I recognize human connection is what we all strive for in this life. When we feel heard and understood we can profoundly connect.

“The Clubhouse app helped me find my voice.” I jumped on the app with curiosity and met these strong women entrepreneurs. They encouraged me to step into Transcend Ideas. And I’m eternally grateful for their strength in their belief in me. And made me believe in myself.

Part 2: My audio cut off as I began introducing the brand. I continued the introduction of People Spread Love in Part 2. I introduce People Spread Love and my journey starting a movement in 2015. First, with becoming a 501c3 non-profit organization. The organization empowers community members to write notes of love to those facing adversity all over the country and world. This brings us back full circle to the power of empathy and how it can facilitate human connection.

Kaeyy asked me about self-love and I told her a story about how I recently fractured my knee skiing. I touched on how grateful I am, even more so after getting hurt.

Listen to Part 1 & 2 of the podcast interview and let’s connect!

ChatGPT can Help Small Business

Posted on April 4, 2023 - 8:50 am by

ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot, could resolves your questions or prompts faster than current technology. Did you know ChatGPT can help small business? The technology gained more than 1 million subscribers in less than 5 days. ChatGPT wants to revolutionize the way users answer questions, and could make Googling questions a thing of the past.

Uncovering the Power of Artifical Intelligence

There are many unknowns about the potential of the technology. Could you utilize this new AI technology on your website to reduce the significant load by fielding commonly asked questions about your business operations, hours, and the general scope of the work you provide? Open up your time from responding to redundant questions that don’t necessarily turn into leads. Your time opened up equals more money. Not sold on artificial intelligence yet? You’ll find the technology all around us, from Amazon Alexa speakers, Google Home, and even on your cell phone with Siri.

So, how does ChatGPT play into all of this and could it really replace Google? The logistics of how the ChatGPT model could work for the end user proves relatively simple. Create an account with OpenAI and use the search bar within the chat box for your questions. If a simple resolution can be provided to any question, ChatGPT would prove invaluable. If the bulk of users to your site bring complex needs and quotes, the technology could, over time, garner results that would align with more informed responses.

ChatGPT – Inherent Security Risks to AI Technology

Accuracy brings this technology under fire, especially since its launch in November of 2022. It is wise to use discernment from a distance as inaccuracies get siphoned out over time. Make smart decisions with all technology you incorporate into your daily life, as these “smart” devices continue to saturate your local big box stores. The paradigm shift ChatGPT could bring into business operations and their efficiency could be phenomenal if the technology stands alone.

Additionally, there are some inherent security risks to artificial intelligence technology, such as sometimes inaccurate or unrelated answers, but the AI can adjust for these mistakes moving forward. Security vulnerabilities can be exploited. Research results are still being conducted on the viability of ChatGPT to protect against the exposure of vulnerable information.

Answering Questions with ChatGPT

P.S. We polished this blog post (written by a human by the way) however we wanted to also ask ChatGPT directly these questions and see what they came up with. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the AI-powered tool. If we are going to write about this technology, why not use the tool? So here we go!

ChatGPT can help small business. Graphic of Heather at Transcend Ideas asking a question to the AI Chatbot. "What are advantages of using ChatGPT as a tool for small business?" Answer: "As a language model, ChatGPT can be a powerful tool for small businesses. Here are some advantages: 1. Customer service, 2. 24/7 availability, 3. Cost-effective, 4. Personalization, 5. Data Analysis"
ChatGPT can help small business, here are some advantages

ChatGPT represents a large language model created by OpenAI. This software, based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, allows the generation of human-like responses to a wide range of queries and topics. Essentially, this technology provides an AI-powered chatbot that can engage in natural language conversations with users.

As for the advantages for one to use ChatGPT for their small businesses, there are several:

Advantages of ChatGPT
  1. Customer Service: ChatGPT could spotlight as a virtual customer service representative. The service answers customer questions and addresses concerns in real-time. This helps reduce the workload of human customer service agents and improve customer satisfaction.
  2. 24/7 Availability: ChatGPT can operate 24/7, providing support to customers even outside of business hours. This ensures that customers can always get the help they need, which can lead to increased customer loyalty.
  3. Cost-effective: ChatGPT provides a cost-effective solution for small businesses, as the need for hiring additional customer service representatives disappears or investing in expensive software. ChatGPT integrates into existing communication channels, such as websites or social media platforms, with minimal setup and maintenance costs.
  4. Personalization: ChatGPT could be trained to recognize customers and personalize responses based on their preferences and purchase history. This can help improve customer engagement and lead to increased sales.
  5. Data Analysis: Analyze customer data and provide insights to improve marketing strategies and customer experiences. This can help small businesses make informed decisions and stay competitive in their industry.

Overall, ChatGPT could be a powerful tool that can help small businesses! Improve your customer service, increase efficiency, and save costs with ChatGPT. This solution could be worth considering as part of your overall business strategy!

ChatGPT can help small business. Graphic of Heather at Transcend Ideas asking a question to the AI Chatbot. "What are disadvantages of using ChatGPT as a tool for small business?" Answer: "While ChatGPT can be a powerful tool for small businesses, there are also some potential disadvantages to consider: 1. Lack of Human Touch, 2. Limited Contextual Understanding, 3. Training and Maintenance, 4. Data Security, 5. Technical Issues"
ChatGPT can help small business, but there are some disadvantages
Disadvantages of ChatGPT

Here are a few:

  1. Lack of Human Touch: While ChatGPT can provide quick and efficient support, some customers may still prefer speaking with a human representative for more complex issues or emotional support. Depending on your business model and customer base, relying solely on ChatGPT may not be the best option.
  2. Limited Contextual Understanding: ChatGPT may not always fully understand the context of a customer’s question or request, which could result in inaccurate or irrelevant responses. ChatGPT lacks the ability to understand nuances in language, social cues, and emotional tone that human representatives pick up on.
  3. Training and Maintenance: While ChatGPT remains a cost-effective solution. It requires significant investment in training and maintenance to ensure the software operates at optimal performance. This includes regular updates to the training data, monitoring for accuracy, and making adjustments as necessary.
  4. Data Security: Since ChatGPT, an AI-powered tool, poses a significant risk of data breaches or unauthorized access to customer information exists. Small businesses must ensure they have proper security protocols in place to protect customer data and privacy.
  5. Technical Issues: Like any technology, ChatGPT remains subject to technical glitches and malfunctions. This can result in delays or downtime, which could negatively impact customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Overall, while ChatGPT can provide many benefits. It’s important to weigh the potential disadvantages and ensure that it aligns with your business goals and customer needs. It’s important to carefully consider whether ChatGPT proves to be the right tool for your business and to invest in the necessary resources to ensure its success.

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Would you use the new AI-powered ChatGPT? We don’t know where the future of AI will take us in the marketing world, but we are here for it! Impressed with how ChatGPT can help small business? Contact Transcend Ideas to discuss if ChatGPT is an option that could benefit your professional goals. Let’s stay curious, together.