Blog

10 Ways to Get Started with Social Media

by Mistina Picciano  ||   No Comments

Still trying to make sense of social media? You’re not alone. So Facebook has more than 175 200 million active users. And more than six million people are microblogging through Twitter. Many businesses and organizations are taking a “watch-and-see” approach to social media marketing.

For those who want to join the online conversation, two words of advice: strategy and patience.

The Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society (HPRMS) helped demystify social media at this morning’s networking event, held at the New York Times building. Attending via WebEx from Chicago, Scott Meis, senior project & social media director at Carolyn Grisko & Associates, offered a brief, but useful overview of social media. He not only shared several online resources specific to the healthcare sector, but he also gave attendees a 10-step checklist for getting started:

  1. Listen to the conversation. Meis recommends subscribing to news feeds like Google Alerts to keep up with blogs and news on topics relevant to you (or your organization).
  2. Assess your needs. What do you want to accomplish? Are you interested in generating leads? Engaging customers? Identify your goals and develop a social media strategy.
  3. Establish your target audience. We can’t be all things to all people. By speaking to a specific audience and meeting their needs, you increase your chances of making real connections.
  4. Join the conversation. Find three personal blogs and three professional blogs that interest you. Follow them and comment on them. Remember: Social media is about dialogue and interaction.
  5. Create a Facebook profile. In addition to your personal page, start a page for your organization, and update it regularly with interesting, engaging information.
  6. Enter the blogosphere. Blogs offer an easy way to publish information that’s relevant to your audience, and they invite engagement. The best blogs build community by sparking thoughtful conversation.
  7. Share with tools like Twitter and Flickr. Find an interesting resource? Share it with your Twitter followers. Retweet useful information. Post photos on Flickr, and bring your organization to life.
  8. Sign up for YouTube’s Nonprofit Program. Buy a shoot-and-share camcorder, and use video to share your message and build awareness for your cause. The website has excellent advice on customizing your channel and developing content.
  9. Protect your brand and username. Not ready to take the plunge? Reserve your brand’s URL and usernames to prevent brandjacking.
  10. Get going and stay active. Social media boils down to building relationships. Just as in the offline world, online connections take time to develop. Start out slowly, and be consistent. Follow the same social rules that you would in the “real” world, and you’ll see results.
Tags: , , , | Posted in Social Media Marketing

Spam Squared

by Mistina Picciano  ||   No Comments

If you’ve sent me an email in the last few months, you’ve received an auto-reply message with instructions on how to reach me immediately. This auto-email irritates some (including my husband), but I’ve found the service (AwayFind) helpful in identifying urgent messages.

Basically, if you need to reach me, you fill out an online form that sends me a text message and an email message. It’s very handy for those occasions when I’m out of the office and not tethered to my computer.

This evening, I received a message from a certain individual whose name looked familiar. I recognized it because this same person had just sent me an unsolicited email promoting translation services. By taking the time to fill out the “urgent” form, I gave the original email a second look, wondering if I actually knew him.

Nope. This persistent sales person followed up an unwanted solicitation with an urgent message that I needed to check out his company’s services.

On occasion, we have been asked to recommend translation services. After this blatant disregard of my time, I will never recommend this firm. I won’t even check out the website.

When it comes to marketing, are you persistent or a pest? Do you go out of your way to show value? Or are you simply trying to close a sale?

And how would you respond in the above situation?

Tags: , | Posted in Business Development, Marketing

Copyediting vs. Copywriting

by Mistina Picciano  ||   No Comments

Sometimes clients don’t have the budget to hire a writer to handle a project from start to finish. In these cases, it often makes sense to use copyediting services, where a professional editor reviews and cleans up work produced by the client.

We offer different levels of copyediting, depending on a client’s needs and budget.

At its most basic, we scrub the text and clean up spelling, grammar, and punctuation. We also review the copy for stylistic consistency and check basic facts.

In some instances, we recommend more extensive revisions, during which we rewrite the text to improve flow and reduce jargon. We also add our marketing expertise to the mix and recast information to appeal to the target audience.

When it comes to suggesting marketing strategy and strengthening the copy with juicy, convincing proof, the project moves into the realm of copywriting. Here, we take over the project and apply our full creative faculties to help clients increase revenue through profitable persuasion. It’s a different level of help – with an entirely different pricing structure.

If you need help but aren’t sure what type, give us a shout. We’re happy to discuss the project and your goals at no cost. And if we’re not a good fit, we’ll recommend someone who can better meet your needs.

Tags: , , , | Posted in Editing, Writing

Inspiration, please?

by Mistina Picciano  ||   No Comments

Want people to read your marketing material?

First, make that material about them – not you. And make it useful. Show your target audience that you understand their challenges, and share some ways to make their lives easier.

Per John C. Maxwell, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Helpful, informational vehicles like newsletters, blogs and white papers get better results than standard brochures and websites. Done correctly, these tools build rapport, develop trust, and set you apart from all the self-centered would-be competition.

But these marketing devices do require thought. And many companies become paralyzed by the idea of having to come up with valuable content on a regular basis.

If you’re good at what you do, and you’re doing the right things, coming up with ideas should be a snap. Consider the following:

  • What problems do you help clients solve? Don’t air anyone’s dirty laundry here, but it’s fairly safe to assume that other people and businesses face similar challenges. Write an article or a blog post.
  • What’s going on in your industry? Or your client’s industry? As you learn about new developments that can affect your clients, share the information. Explain the significance. The connection between the news item and their daily lives may not be apparent. This is a great opportunity to show some value.
  • What do you struggle with? You’re probably not alone. Share your solutions, and save others from having to repeat your mistakes. You don’t have to come across as incompetent, but this type of article or post can position you as both human (depending on how you position it) and resourceful.

There are just a few ideas to get started. If you have more, please comment below. We’re always looking for great suggestions – and guest bloggers.

Tags: , , , | Posted in Marketing, Writing

How many teapots are you raising?

by Mistina Picciano  ||   No Comments

During my recent trip to Taiwan, I had the delightful opportunity to spend an afternoon with master blogger and tea aficionado Stéphane Erler of the Tea Masters Blog. At one point, the conversation turned to teapots and the process of “curing” the vessel. Repeatedly brewing the same type of leaf in the teapot permeates the porous clay with the flavor of the tea, lending more depth to the amber elixir.

Stéphane warned that many tea enthusiasts become too wrapped up in the teapots and lose sight of the star: the tea itself.

His mentor taught him that curing teapots is very similar to rearing children. It’s a time-intensive process that requires constant attention. When this impatient American pressed him for an average timeline, Stéphane suggested seven to eight months of daily brewing to season a new teapot. If you divide your time between two teapots, the curing period doubles. If you only brew tea sporadically, the process drags on with slow results.

My Aha! Moment

The conversation reminded me of a few other areas in which I’ve allowed myself to get distracted. Specifically, my sales and marketing have fallen behind schedule because I keep running across a new tool, technique, webinar, etc. So I drop my current plans and check out the new approach… until something else catches my eye.

I decided then and there to follow the same advice that we offer clients: Focus on one area and get that in working order before moving on to the next project. (Think of the classic spinning plates routine, where the entertainer starts one plate spinning and then tends to the rest in rapid succession.)

  • A few months before this vacation, I resurrected our monthly newsletter with its new look and shorter format. (Sign up for it here.) Next week will mark our fifth consecutive issue.
  • At the start of the trip, we launched this blog. Is it in its final branded form? No. Do we have all our cornerstone content in place? No. But we’re working on it.
  • Next up: We’re launching our new website, which has been a work in progress for the last nine months.

Each morning, I remind myself of this new, one-track approach as I brew tea in the tiny teapot from Ten Ren in Taichung. The same tea, the same pot. And it tastes heavenly.

Are you multi-tasking your marketing? Torn between updating your website or overhauling your sales letters? Maybe you’re debating between launching a blog or starting a newsletter. Pick one project, and make it happen.

If you need a writing assist, let us know.

Tags: , , , , , , | Posted in Business Development, Marketing

Latest from the blog:

Website Traffic and SEO

In this post, I’ll take a closer look at SEO and the process of optimizing websites for better placement within organic search results to improve website traffic.

Read the Article »

What our clients have to say:

Adam Wolf

“Market it Write’s copywriting and editing acumen is only matched by their excellent client service and easy-to-work with demeanor. I’d recommend the firm for any marketing writing assignment.”

 

Adam Wolf, Wolf Communications
Industry: Creative agency   |   Services: Website content, copyediting

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:51:53-04:00

Adam Wolf, Wolf Communications
Industry: Creative agency   |   Services: Website content, copyediting

“Market it Write’s copywriting and editing acumen is only matched by their excellent client service and easy-to-work with demeanor. I’d recommend the firm for any marketing writing assignment.”  

Arianne Andrusco

"Have I mentioned how wonderful you are lately? This is good stuff. It is such a pleasure to work with someone who hears the feedback and just gets it immediately. You really are making my job a lot easier. Thank you!"

 

Arianne Andrusco, NewYork-Presbyterian
Industry: Healthcare   |   Services: Direct mail campaigns

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:45:55-04:00

Arianne Andrusco, NewYork-Presbyterian
Industry: Healthcare   |   Services: Direct mail campaigns

"Have I mentioned how wonderful you are lately? This is good stuff. It is such a pleasure to work with someone who hears the feedback and just gets it immediately. You really are making my job a lot easier. Thank you!"  

Hiroto Takagi

“Many writers want to say things their way, but Market it Write understood exactly what I wanted to say—and that’s what they wrote. Market it Write works for me and for my business. I recommend the company to anybody who needs writing help.

 

Hiroto Takagi, Bryton Harry
Industry: Sports marketing   |   Services: Website content, marketing support

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:52:52-04:00

Hiroto Takagi, Bryton Harry
Industry: Sports marketing   |   Services: Website content, marketing support

“Many writers want to say things their way, but Market it Write understood exactly what I wanted to say—and that’s what they wrote. Market it Write works for me and for my business. I recommend the company to anybody who needs writing help.  

Lee Angus

“I loved having Market it Write do the interviews and walk us through the drafts to the final version, and I was impressed with your ability to condense the story to meet our needs. It was also nice to have someone ‘outside’ write the story. The results seemed more objective than they would have been if I had written it.”

 

Lee Angus, Legacy Alliance
Industry: Professional services   |   Services: Corporate communication

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:51:21-04:00

Lee Angus, Legacy Alliance
Industry: Professional services   |   Services: Corporate communication

“I loved having Market it Write do the interviews and walk us through the drafts to the final version, and I was impressed with your ability to condense the story to meet our needs. It was also nice to have someone ‘outside’ write the story. The results seemed more objective than they would have been if I had written it.”  

Barbara Centrella

“You made the experience fun, and you brought so much to the table—things that I would never have thought of on my own. You added a dimension that brings the work to life. I was very pleased with the first media kit and am blown away by the second.”

 

Barbara Centrella, children’s author
Industry: Publishing   |   Services: Media kit

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:52:18-04:00

Barbara Centrella, children’s author
Industry: Publishing   |   Services: Media kit

“You made the experience fun, and you brought so much to the table—things that I would never have thought of on my own. You added a dimension that brings the work to life. I was very pleased with the first media kit and am blown away by the second.”  

Albert Barette

"Our executive staff reviewed the final product, and it was excellent. Thanks to you and your team for all your input and contributing to our new website. The vertical market sheets were also excellent."

 

Albert Barette, Bowles Security Group
Industry: Security & Investigations   |   Services: Brand strategy, website development, marketing materials

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:46:25-04:00

Albert Barette, Bowles Security Group
Industry: Security & Investigations   |   Services: Brand strategy, website development, marketing materials

"Our executive staff reviewed the final product, and it was excellent. Thanks to you and your team for all your input and contributing to our new website. The vertical market sheets were also excellent."  

Howard Levy

“I have known Mistina for a while and have since hired her firm on retainer to write our website copy, email newsletters, postcards and articles. Market it Write understands my business, helps develop ideas and writes great copy. They are highly professional, dedicated to their craft and easy to work with.”

 

Howard Levy, Red Rooster Group
Industry: Creative Agency   |   Services: Marketing consultation, bylined articles, blogs, website content

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:47:41-04:00

Howard Levy, Red Rooster Group
Industry: Creative Agency   |   Services: Marketing consultation, bylined articles, blogs, website content

“I have known Mistina for a while and have since hired her firm on retainer to write our website copy, email newsletters, postcards and articles. Market it Write understands my business, helps develop ideas and writes great copy. They are highly professional, dedicated to their craft and easy to work with.”  

Lucien Harriot

"I'm always inspired after a meeting with Market it Write. Mistina's insight into the needs of my company's marketing strategy brings clarity to our messaging and pushes our company closer to the high-performance business model we strive for."

 

Lucien Harriot, Mechanism Digital
Industry: Media   |   Services: Marketing strategy, marketing materials

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:47:19-04:00

Lucien Harriot, Mechanism Digital
Industry: Media   |   Services: Marketing strategy, marketing materials

"I'm always inspired after a meeting with Market it Write. Mistina's insight into the needs of my company's marketing strategy brings clarity to our messaging and pushes our company closer to the high-performance business model we strive for."  

Gerald Pennington

“The Market it Write team has the ability to grasp what we want to accomplish and put those concepts into words quickly—faster than we could in-house. Whenever they communicate, they respect the demands of our schedules and politely get right to the facts.”

 

Gerald Pennington, Stryker Spine Global Marketing
Industry: Healthcare   |   Services: Employee newsletters, corporate communications

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:49:09-04:00

Gerald Pennington, Stryker Spine Global Marketing
Industry: Healthcare   |   Services: Employee newsletters, corporate communications

“The Market it Write team has the ability to grasp what we want to accomplish and put those concepts into words quickly—faster than we could in-house. Whenever they communicate, they respect the demands of our schedules and politely get right to the facts.”  

George Donohue

“Market it Write makes the copywriting process painless. Their responsiveness and professionalism kept the project on track, despite a tight deadline. Mistina has a keen ability to understand the client’s needs, and she uses her intelligence and creativity to convey those needs in succinct copy.”

 

George Donohue, GMAC Real Estate IPG
Industry: Real estate   |   Services: Newsletters, corporate communications, investor relations

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:49:31-04:00

George Donohue, GMAC Real Estate IPG
Industry: Real estate   |   Services: Newsletters, corporate communications, investor relations

“Market it Write makes the copywriting process painless. Their responsiveness and professionalism kept the project on track, despite a tight deadline. Mistina has a keen ability to understand the client’s needs, and she uses her intelligence and creativity to convey those needs in succinct copy.”  

Terry Yoffe

“Market it Write was able to take the content from my last website and transform it to my new one, making the content clear, informative and to the point. The clarity of the content has been so powerful that I have gotten several new clients based on my website. I found Mistina and her team to be easy to work with and very willing to listen to concerns and objectives and work through them in a very professional way.”

 

Terry Yoffe, TRY Coaching
Industry: Professional services   |   Services: Website content

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:49:53-04:00

Terry Yoffe, TRY Coaching
Industry: Professional services   |   Services: Website content

“Market it Write was able to take the content from my last website and transform it to my new one, making the content clear, informative and to the point. The clarity of the content has been so powerful that I have gotten several new clients based on my website. I found Mistina and her team to be easy to work with and very willing to listen to concerns and objectives and work through them in a very professional way.”  

Samuel Vinicur

“Market it Write does fabulous work. Mistina's team takes the time to understand both their clients and their clients' audiences. I highly recommend engaging them for any communications efforts you have.”

 

Samuel Vinicur, TSS International
Industry: Security & Investigations   |   Services: Corporate communications, press releases

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:48:35-04:00

Samuel Vinicur, TSS International
Industry: Security & Investigations   |   Services: Corporate communications, press releases

“Market it Write does fabulous work. Mistina's team takes the time to understand both their clients and their clients' audiences. I highly recommend engaging them for any communications efforts you have.”  

Stephen May

“Market it Write is amazingly adept at working as a team player on a variety of projects and has consistently proven to be a valuable asset. Bottom line: if you need creative and powerful writing for your marketing effort, look no further.”

 

Stephen May, Crescent Leaf Technologies
Industry: Creative agency   |   Services: Website content

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:50:35-04:00

Stephen May, Crescent Leaf Technologies
Industry: Creative agency   |   Services: Website content

“Market it Write is amazingly adept at working as a team player on a variety of projects and has consistently proven to be a valuable asset. Bottom line: if you need creative and powerful writing for your marketing effort, look no further.”  

Joe Biondo

“Market it Write adds a level of professionalism, insight and creativity rarely seen in our industry. They consistently deliver exceptional marketing ideas, unique materials and solutions that have allowed us to move forward with our business development and marketing programs. They ‘get it’ and know how to articulate your message. They are true professionals, a pleasure to work with, and I would recommend them without hesitation to any business or organization looking to increase their business, membership and/or public image.”

 

Joe Biondo, Summit Investigations
Industry: Security & Investigations   |   Services: Sales letters, advertisement copy, website content

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:48:07-04:00

Joe Biondo, Summit Investigations
Industry: Security & Investigations   |   Services: Sales letters, advertisement copy, website content

“Market it Write adds a level of professionalism, insight and creativity rarely seen in our industry. They consistently deliver exceptional marketing ideas, unique materials and solutions that have allowed us to move forward with our business development and marketing programs. They ‘get it’ and know how to articulate your message. They are true professionals, a pleasure to work with, and I would recommend them without hesitation to any business or organization looking to increase their business, membership and/or public image.”  

Larissa Nycz Montecullo

“We have had the pleasure and opportunity to work with Market it Write on a daily basis over the past several months, and regularly for over a year prior. Their writing talent, attention to detail, and business savvy across industries make the Market it Write team an incredibly valuable asset to any company.”

 

Larissa Nycz Montecullo, Tribecca Designs
Industry: Creative agency   |   Services: Website content, marketing materials, ad copy

Market It Write
2015-04-25T18:50:56-04:00

Larissa Nycz Montecullo, Tribecca Designs
Industry: Creative agency   |   Services: Website content, marketing materials, ad copy

“We have had the pleasure and opportunity to work with Market it Write on a daily basis over the past several months, and regularly for over a year prior. Their writing talent, attention to detail, and business savvy across industries make the Market it Write team an incredibly valuable asset to any company.”  
0
0
Market It Write

Market It Write