Thursday, January 5, 2012
Well, the holiday season is officially over folks. Christmas cookies have been consumed, the champagne bottles have been rinsed and recycled, the treadmill has been dusted off and New Year's resolutions have been solemnly sworn after stepping onto the scale and realizing that the 30 minutes of dancing you took part in did NOT burn nearly the calories you thought it would.
But do not fear! An answer is near. And no, it's not in the form of some magic diet pill. This year it comes packaged nicely as an App for your smartphone. No, i'm not saying all you have to do is push a button and magically 10 pounds will be shed, but I AM saying it'll keep you on track and working toward your goals to ensure you shed that happy little holiday bulge.
Before choosing an app, I would suggest you sit down and make a goal for yourself - are you going to consume less calories? Make healthier food choices? Start exercising? Or maybe you want to try to do all of these things. The choice you make will help determine what type (or types) of apps will work best for you. Below is a list of some of my personal favorites - they're simple to use, you'll have it with you wherever you go, and they're free!
1. Calorie Count: http://caloriecount.about.com/
2. Calorie Tracker: http://www.livestrong.com/myplate/
3. 40-30-30: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/40-30-30/id288459024?mt=8
4. iPump: http://www.iphoneappsplus.com/healthcare---fitness/ipump-free-workout-/index.htm
5. iMapMyRun: http://itunes.apple.com/app/imapmyrun-running-run-jogging/id291890420?mt=8
So good luck and get going! You've got approximately 365 days to drop the weight before the next round of Christmas cookies come flying at you!
How (and Why) You Should Create A Viral Video for Your Organization:
Monday, December 19, 2011
As you may (or may not) be aware, viral videos have become an increasingly strong player in the advertising world today; and not just among the pre-teen Justin Bieber lovers. In fact, many companies have used the power of viral videos to help spread their message and increase their presence (and ROI) in the marketplace. Old Spice used viral videos throughout 2010 and it certainly has done nothing but help them. However, you don’t have to be big to make a big splash. If you’re trying to create buzz about your next big event, a new product or service or just remind people who you are, consider creating your own viral video campaign. Here’s some info to get you going in the right direction.
First, what is a viral video?
A viral video is a video, typically made very inexpensively, that becomes popular without the support of traditional advertising. AKA, the video, and other social media platforms, do the talking.
Why create a viral video?
It’s simple -viral videos are a great way to capture an audiences’ attention. Also, for the small business owner, it’s cheap to create – many videos are shot with a descent cell phone.
What are the components of a successful viral video?
The best viral videos typically have one or more of the following elements:
· Humor
· Kids or animals (everyone loves cute things)
· A topic someone can relate to
· A celebrity or “mock” celebrity
· A surprise
· A secret
· Anything “over the top”
· PROMOTION! (And no, don’t mail out flyers.) Post on YouTube, twitter, Facebook, a company blog and/or website. Encourage your friends to share it – this shouldn’t be a problem if the video is interesting. Lastly, don’t forget about smaller video posting sites like MetaCafe and MySpace.
· If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. If this is your first shot at creating a viral video don’t get discouraged if you don’t shoot to the top of youtube. Keep the following things in mind:
1. It takes time to perfect your art.
2. Your goal is to reach a specific target audience – so even though you don’t have a million likes, if you have 100 likes from customers or potential customers, you’re well on your way to success!
5 Tips for Launching Your Small Business's First Social Media Platform:
Monday, December 12, 2011
- Start Small: don't sign up for every platform under the sun just to say "I'm on EVERYTHING!"
- Have a Plan: create a monthly social media calendar at the beginning of each month so you always have something to post when you're short on time.
- Hold a contest: or give away something for free. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it will generate enough interest to help you build a strong, solid fan base.
- Track it: Facebook lets you view your history to see stats so you know what types of posts get you the most comments etc.
- Be Consistent: if you want results you must put in the work. Don't expect an amazing outcome if you post 10 things in 10 minute and then go silent for 10 days.
