Unlocking Success with Google Ads Strategies for 2024

With over 90% of people using Google to search the internet, Google Ads has become essential for businesses looking to turn everyday internet searches into paying customers.

Whether your goal is to make more sales for your eCommerce store, find leads for a service-based business, or gain exposure to create brand awareness, understanding your objectives will ensure that every element of your account is aligned with your strategy.

Creating a well-structured foundation for your Google Ads account is essential, influencing both its performance and the achievement of your campaign goals.

Commonly Used Campaign Structures

As of 2024, there are 9 distinct campaign types. Understanding the difference between them is crucial to strategic advertising.

The table below highlights 3 main campaign types commonly utilized, offering an overview to enhance when each might be used.

Campaign Type Purpose Uses
Search Campaigns Shows text ads when people search for specific phrases or keywords. Ideal for businesses aiming to capture potential customers actively searching for products or services.
Display Campaigns Promote visuals across a network of websites and online platforms​​, reaching users as they browse websites, watch videos, or use mobile apps. Effective for brand awareness, reaching a broader audience through visually appealing images or videos.
Shopping Campaigns Showcase and sell products directly within Google search results. Suitable for eCommerce businesses looking to highlight specific products, prices, and images to potential customers.

Choosing the right campaign type is essential to ensure your ads are displayed effectively to potential customers and used for their intended purposes.

Maximizing Keyword Coverage

Effective keyword selection is key to the success of your Google Ads campaigns.

When selecting keywords, it is important to choose terms that are relevant to your business and have a high search volume. You will also want to consider the intent behind each keyword.

Making sure you have full keyword coverage will help maximize your ads from being shown to someone who is actively seeking a product or service you offer.

Comprehensive Keyword Research

Casting a wide net with your keywords aims to maximize clicks and conversions, ensuring your ads appear in Google searches that are relevant to your chosen keywords.

For instance, if an individual searches for “Google Ads Expert”, consider adding different variations of this, such as “Google Lior Krolewicz is the CEO of Yael Consulting, an online marketing consultancy. An ex-Special Ops turned Google Ads expert, he helps eCommerce and lead generation businesses grow profitably. With experience managing budgets of $1 million per month, Lior applies his proven Fortune-500 marketing techniques to small businesses worldwide. Ads Consultant” and “Google Ads Specialist.”

Everyone is unique. Adjusting your keywords to fit the different ways individuals search online ensures you cover all sorts of potential searches.

Your keywords should contain both the campaign name and ad group name, which will help you differentiate your ads, which will soon be discussed.

Conducting thorough keyword research, especially utilizing tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner, is crucial for evaluating search volumes and gaining insights into customer search terms, ultimately guiding the development of campaigns effectively.

While conducting keyword research, consider terms you deem irrelevant or would like to exclude. These words and phrases can then be added to a Negative Keyword List.

After compiling your Negative Keyword List, ensure it is applied to campaigns where you aim to avoid any terms associated with the negative keywords.

By doing this, you are guaranteeing that your ads will never show up if a negative keyword in the Negative Keyword List is searched.

Ultimately, this helps you keep costs down, while only spending on searches relating to your offerings.

Choosing Match Types Wisely

Google has three main match types: Exact, Phrase, and Broad:

    • Exact match is just as it sounds; it refers to the exact search term.
      • If your exact match keyword is “buy cat food”, your ad will only show when the identical term is typed into Google, or very close variants, such as “buy cat foods” (with an “s” at the end of “food”).
    • Phrase match is one step removed from Exact Match.
      • If your phrase match keyword is “buy cat food,” other words can be searched that have a similar meaning to words in the keyword, using close variant search terms to match your keywords to.
      • For example, “purchase cat food” might trigger the phrase match keyword “buy cat food” (where “purchase” would likely match to “buy” keywords)
    • Broad match refers to your keywords or searches that allows your ad to match to the widest range of possible keyword searches that are still somewhat related to your keyword.
      • For example, broad match “buy cat food” might match to “pet store near me”, or even something related to “preparing my cat’s food”.
      • These match types can be useful for discovering new keywords, but they can trigger keywords from a wide range of searches, potentially leading to irrelevant clicks, which is why we recommend staying away from broad match keywords.

Sticking to exact and phrase match keywords precisely match your ads with specific searches, helping to enhance relevance.

Monitoring search terms regularly allows Google to learn which audience to display your ads to.

Staying on top of this will help bring you the right traffic.

Ad Structure Impact

For better visibility and consistent messaging across searches, it is a good idea to pin 3-5 headlines containing both the campaign and ad group names.

This keeps the wording aligned with the associated keywords in that ad group.

This nuanced strategy not only enhances relevance, but also elevates the overall performance of your ads by aligning them with the specific intent of users.

Make the most of the maximum character space available to convey your message with impact.

By maximizing letter characters available, your ads not only stand out, but also provide users with valuable information at a glance, increasing the likelihood of engagement.

This optimization strategy ensures that your ad appears as a larger part of the page, increasing its visibility and prominence.

Plus, you can create add-ons, such as callouts, sitelinks, and call-to-actions, to really try and pull the attention of an individual.

      • Callouts: Brief, additional text that highlights specific features or offers.
        • Examples: “Free Shipping,” “24/7 Customer Support”
      • Sitelinks: Additional links directing users to specific pages on your website.
        • Examples: “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” “Special Offers”
      • Call-to-Actions (CTAs): Prompts encouraging users to take a specific action.
        • Examples: “Buy Now,” “Sign Up Today,” “Get a Quote”

Conclusion – Turning Searches into Opportunities

Managing your Google Ads account involves making strategic choices for your campaigns, such as keyword research and thoughtful ad structuring.

Aligning goals with campaign structures, utilizing all available assets for visibility, and continuous optimization of search terms are all key elements of success.

These insights and strategies allow businesses to turn everyday Google searches into valuable opportunities.

Building a Quality Survey for Your Business Decisions

Business decisions are usually based on the use of cold, hard data. Without data, these decisions will be made of mere fluff, while lacking the support, stability, and reliability to make the correct call.

The best way to collect data from the right sources is surveys, where the target audience for a decision can share their thoughts and produce quantifiable evidence for a business’ needs.

A high quality survey needs to be carefully planned out, in order to extract the best possible insights to further a business’ needs.

How to Conduct a Survey

There are four main components of designing a quantitative survey. The first stage is to plan and scope out the defining questions that the survey is meant to answer- in other words, the main end goal of the survey.

Then, the survey will need to be authored in a way that presents a clear path for survey respondents to make.

This includes programming the survey and designing questions that build upon each other.

Then comes the execution and fielding of the survey, by distributing it out to willing participants.

Finally comes the analysis and reporting of the results in a digestible way.

Planning and Scoping Stage: “the Five Ws”

In the first planning and scoping stage, there are five main questions that the survey must be designed to answer, classified under the umbrella term “the five Ws”.

    • WHY is the research objective of the survey, and is the overall core information that the business is trying to uncover.
    • WHAT defines what questions need to be asked, and this can be done by creating a survey outline.
    • WHO helps the business determine a respondent profile.
    • WHEN is all about creating a survey timeline that details when the survey should launch and close.
    • Finally, WHERE refers to where people could take the survey, including the formatting for computers and mobile devices.

In the second stage of the survey creation process, the survey will need to be authored by creating an outline and writing great questions that will drive optimal survey results.

How to Craft Great Survey Questions

These questions will need to be both understandable and objective. It is important to stray from asking leading questions that are designed to influence the participant’s answer.

Loaded questions are also to be avoided, so that it is not assumed what a participant’s stance will be.

For example, instead of asking how often a participant drinks certain brands of soda, it would be better to lead with asking if the participant drinks soda, and if they answer yes, then asking which brands they drink on a daily basis.

Double-barrel questions are also to be avoided. This is when two questions are asked at once, which can be confusing for a participant.

Executing a Survey

Once the survey’s questions are written, the next step is to prepare it for the execution stage.

First it must be tested to ensure that the survey works and looks the way that it’s supposed to.

Next the survey must be launched and responses will begin to be collected.

Once a reasonable amount of responses have been received, as determined by any quotas, this raw data can be converted to actionable information.

It can be exported to Excel or other analysis tools that can help convert the data into a more digestible form.

The overall goal of releasing a survey is to collect data that help drive a future business decision.

It is important to transform this data into a cleaner, more visual representation so that the main insights can be communicated easier.

Line, bar, and pie charts are all common methods of visualizing data. Line charts are helpful for tracking a value over time.

Bar charts help compare specific values. Pie charts help to break down a whole into separate components, which can help determine specific demographics to focus a business’ efforts on.

In Conclusion

Surveys are a critical part of a business’ ability to connect with their consumers and target market.

Releasing one takes a lot of preparation and planning from start to finish. It is very important to ask the right questions that target exactly what the company is trying to determine.

However, the payoff for all this preparation is steep- businesses can ultimately create visual representations of their insights and drive better strategies for their company moving forward.

Design Surveys to Make Better Business Decisions

How to Build a Successful Blog: 10 Key Factors

Building a successful blog and making money with it takes more than just publishing content and waiting for visitors to come.

You need to have a plan and work through it in order to drive traffic, build your brand, and keep your readers coming back for more.

Luckily, there are ten key factors you can focus on that will help you create a successful blog.

Research a Niche

When researching a niche for your blog, it’s important to make sure you are creating content that people will actually be interested in.

Take the time to do research into topics and trends related to the niche you are considering.

Focus on things like who is going to read your blog, what problems they might have that could be solved, or even what other people in your niche are doing wrong that you can do better.

Practical Advice You can use Google to find topic ideas. Just type a broad term you’re interested in and check through the suggestions the search engine provides. For example, via the Autosuggest:

Google blog topic ideasOr in the People Also Ask section:

Google people also ask section

Or related searches

Google related searches section

Pick a Domain Name

This is one of the most important steps for website creation.

When it comes to choosing a domain name, you want something that is memorable and easy to type.

You also want it to reflect what your blog is about without being too long or complicated.

Practical Advice. There are a few things you need to consider. Your domain name should be:

    • Easy to remember
    • Short, with your keywords included
    • Without numbers or hyphens
    • Brandable

Once you have some ideas, check if the domain name you want is available via a domain registrar like GoDaddy.

Now, since most of the .com domains are taken, you can also opt for other popular domain extensions such as .net, .io, or .blog. You can even choose among new ones like these:

New top level domain names tld

Get Web Hosting

Once you have chosen the perfect domain name, it’s time to select a web hosting provider.

You want one that is reliable, secure, and offers good customer support.

When it comes to web hosting, look for a provider with good customer reviews and one that offers the features you need.

The amount of storage and bandwidth will depend on the size and traffic of your blog. It’s also important to check if they offer automatic backups, security features, staging environments, and other useful tools.

Practical Advice. Based on my experience, you want to focus on the server response time and uptime statistics.

You can find this information on the web hosting provider’s website or ask their customer support team before signing up. I recommend WP Engine since its uptime is 99.99% and then they have the highest percentage of sites loading under 200ms:

WordPress hosts TTFB

In fact, checking my Google Search Console data, I found that my site’s average response time is under 160!

Google Search Console Data

Install WordPress

After choosing a web hosting provider, the next step is to install WordPress. This content management system (CMS) will allow you to manage a blog and promote content easily. You don’t need any coding skills and it only takes a few minutes to set up.

Do you know that according to W3Techs, 43.1% of all websites on the internet are built on WordPress?

Percentage of Websites on top CMSs

 

No wonder why it is so popular and user-friendly.

Practical Advice. You can install WordPress in a few easy steps:

  • Log in to your web hosting account and go to the control panel.
  • Find the one-click installer (such as Softaculous or Installatron) and select “WordPress” from the list of applications available.
  • Click on “Install Now”
  • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.
  • When it’s done, you can log in to your new blog with your username and password.

Choose a Theme

WordPress comes with hundreds of different themes that you can customize and use for your blog.

After logging into WordPress, go to Appearance; Themes and select one from the list.

Add Themes on WordPress

 

When deciding on a theme, consider the type of blog you are creating and select one that matches the design you have in mind.

Practical Advice. There are many free templates available but I recommend using a premium theme. Moreover, if you opt to be unique, there are many sites to hire web designers. The top ones are Upwork, PeoplePerHour, and Flexiple.

Add Important Plugins

WordPress plugins are like small pieces of software that can add extra features and functionality to your site.

They are essential for creating a successful blog, as they will help you do things like optimize your content for search engines, create contact forms, integrate social media, and much more.

Add WordPress Plugins

Practical Advice. I suggest starting with popular and reliable plugins such as:

  • Yoast SEO (to optimize your blog for search engines)
  • Akismet (to fight spam comments)
  • Broken Link Checker (to avoid any broken links)
  • WP Super Cache (to make your pages load faster)
  • Jetpack (for added security and performance )

You can find these plugins in the WordPress repository or look for third-party options. Be sure to read reviews before installing any plugin.

Do Keyword Research

Successful blogging requires you to target specific keywords that will help you get more traffic from search engines.

For this, you can use keyword research tools to find relevant terms that have high search volumes and low competition.

These are the so-called long-tail keywords. And there are still plenty of opportunities.

In fact, did you know that based on Ahref’s research, almost 95% of their U.S. database is made of terms with 10 searches or less?

Keyword Research Search Volume Distribution

Practical Advice. During this phase, you can use tools like Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer or Ubersuggest. You can also take advantage of Google search to get ideas for long-tail keywords. But my favorite one is Keyword Surfer. Once you download and install the Chrome extension here, you can use it to find keyword ideas and even the monthly volume!

SEO Chrome Extensions

Write Your First Post

Now it’s time to create your first blog post.

Choose a topic that is relevant to the ones you want to focus on and make sure it adds value to your readers. Keep in mind that good content is informative, entertaining, and useful.

You should target a target keyword when writing your new articles and include it in your title, headings, slug, and meta description.

Try to cover the topic in-depth, as long-form content has been proven to be among the most successful ones.

In fact, according to Backlinko research, the first page on Google search results contains more than 1400 words, on average.

Average Content Word Count of the Top 10 Results is Evenly Distributed

Practical Advice. Writing a blog post starts with selecting a good title. This should be catchy and it should include the keyword you are targeting.

It’s also important to keep in mind that titles should not be longer than 70 characters (including spaces).

Once you have chosen an interesting title, start writing your post, and don’t forget to include visuals like images, infographics, and videos. These will make your content more entertaining and will help you keep visitors engaged!

Set Up an Editorial Calendar

To stay organized and create content consistently, you must set up an editorial calendar.

This will help you plan ahead and manage the topics you will cover in the future.

It’s also a great way to keep track of the marketing strategy for each post and measure your blog’s performance over time.

Blog Editorial Calendar

Source

Practical Advice. You can use tools like Trello or Asana to create an editorial calendar. Or you can use a simple spreadsheet, with columns for the title of your post, its keywords, the date it should be published, and even notes related to each topic. This way, you will always have a clear view of what needs to be done!

Monetize Your Blog

Once you have a steady amount of visitors, it’s time to start thinking about monetizing your blog.

With the right strategies, you can start earning money from your content. But first, you’ll want to get familiar with the different ways you can monetize your blog.

Practical Advice. Choose among these monetization options:

  • Advertising
  • Affiliate Marketing
  • Sponsored Posts
  • Digital Products
  • Donations

Advertising

Advertising is perhaps the easiest way to monetize your blog. You can use Google AdSense to display ads on your site and get paid for each click they generate.

Here’s an example of how AdSense looks on a blog post.

Example AdSense Ad in a Blog Post

Other alternatives include Media.net and AdThrive.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing consists of promoting products or services from other companies in exchange for a commission.

You can register on affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, CJ Affiliate, or ShareASale, and promote them on your blog.

Here’s an example:

Affiliate Product Review Example

In this post, the author reviews Elite Trader Funding, writing about the pros and cons.

Sponsored Posts

Sponsored posts are content created for brands in exchange for payment. These can be reviews, tutorials, or even giveaways.

You will need to reach out to companies and establish a partnership with them before you start earning money.

Platforms you can join to find brands to work with include IZEA, Tapinfluence, and Influence. co.

Digital Products

Selling digital products is another way to monetize your blog. You can create ebooks, courses, templates, or any type of product you think your audience will find useful.

You can use services like Gumroad, Selz, or SendOwl to set up your store and start selling.

You can also join platforms like Teachable, Udemy, or Skillshare to offer courses and other products.

Donations

Finally, if you have been able to build a strong and engaged community of readers, you can ask for donations.

There are tons of donation apps you can use or services like Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee to create donation buttons and let people support your work.

The key is to provide value with each post and be transparent about how you will use the money.

Bonus Tips

  • Be patient: Building a successful blog takes time. You won’t see results overnight so keep working hard and stay motivated!
  • Connect with other bloggers: Join groups on social media platforms like Quora or Reddit and connect with other bloggers. This will help you establish relationships and find new opportunities to grow your blog.
  • Be consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to blogging. Keep producing content regularly to stay in your readers’ minds and increase their engagement.
  • Learn from others: Pay attention to what other successful bloggers are doing and apply what you learn to your blog.
  • Analyze your analytics: Use Google Analytics or other tools to track your website’s performance and understand what works and what doesn’t. This will help you adjust your strategy and make better decisions in the future.

Final Words

Building a successful blog requires dedication, time, and effort.

Remember that it’s about providing valuable content that is useful to your readers.

You should also focus on SEO and the basics of blogging to make sure you create content with high-quality standards.

Finally, you will be able to monetize your blog and start earning money. Leverage different options like advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, or digital products.

What Would You Do If Your Community Had No Water?

Imagine you lived in a community so poor that there was no water of any kind — much less running water. And no power.

The only internet is on your phone or public WiFi. Almost no one has a computer or any work.

What If You Had No Water?

There is a lake, but no way to get the water from where it is to where it is needed.

Lake in KenyaYou cannot grow food or easily get water to drink or bathe in. Having no water makes like a struggle.

Charity to the Rescue

Then, a charity comes and constructs a water tank. And also, a building next to it where you can get water.

Water Tank and Water House

So now the community at least has water. But not everyone lives close to this water source.

Fortunately, the charity also donates six generators to pump the water from the water tank to the fields, animals, and people.

Water is pumped from the tank to another tank at the school.

School with water tank

And also to places like this where it was easy for many to access for their needs.

No Water

The community can grow food and raise animals to feed themselves. They are very happy.

Farm in Kenya

Sad Times: One by One the Generators Fail

But generators don’t last forever. Over the next twelve years, one by one the generators break down until there are none left running.

Broken Generator

Some are sent for repair, but never came back. The community has lost touch with the charity that originally helped them.

With no money to fix or replace the generators, so there is no water where there once was. There is only desperation.

Hand Digging a Pond

The community comes together and digs a pond by hand. It captures rain water. But then there is not enough rain.

Current Pond strong mud Sep 2023

The pond is going dry. There is very strong mud making it hard to get to what little water there is.

The plants die and the animals can’t be kept alive. The community is going hungry. What can they do?

Reaching Out for Assistance

My friend Stephen and his community don’t have to imagine this scenario. They are living it.

He contacted me hoping he could come to America to earn enough money to buy generators for his community.

First, he went to college thinking he could get a good job there. But that hasn’t happened so he thought America was the solution.

I explained that people can’t just hire you. It is a complicated process. We talk often trying to find a solution.

Could CBN Help?

First, I thought I could just call Christian Broadcasting Network. I know about Operation Blessing from their videos.

And I know one of their ministries focuses on clean water.  Just last year, they provided a community water system.

I was able to reach someone, and they gave me a phone number. But I can never get through on it.

No doubt as well-known as CBN is, there is huge demand for their assistance.

We Need Your Ideas

Six more generators would be a simple solution. And a few years ago, there was plenty of good-paying work and I could have made that happen by myself.

Work is slow now, and I am getting slower due to age. I can’t work sixteen hours a day like I once could.

So I’m asking for your ideas. For example:

      • Work: Is there any remote work that Stephen could do for you?
      • Charity: Who else should I contact?
      • Connections: Does anyone have any connections who could assist?
      • Fundraising: Can you recommend a way to raise money to buy the generators the community needs?

I did get Stephen to open a PayPal account so he can hopefully accept money. It seemed to work fine on my end, but he sees a “suspicious activity” message.

PayPal wants a bank statement. But of course no one in his community has a bank account.

So PayPal is a dead end (unless someone knows of a solution)?

He does know someone who has successfully used World Remit to send money from the U.S. into M-Pesa Mobile Money Service.

Generator Prices

Stephen priced generators he can acquire locally. The original generators were large and high quality.

But he suggested three other brands. The Honda is most expensive at Ksh.52000 with Pacwell and Hisaki being more affordable at 46000 and 42000.

Ksh.52000 = $355.48 USD. The other prices are $314.46 and $287.11. This is less expensive than what they cost in the U.S.? I’m not sure why.

If you have any insight into that, please share.

Are Generators the Right Solution?

There are a couple of issues with generators. One is keeping them running. And they other is that they require fuel.

Maybe solar generators would be a better solution? Or a way to pump water that didn’t require generators?

I’ve recommended Charity Water over the years. Maybe they could advise? Anyone have connections there?

What Would You Do If You Had No Water?

If you lived in a community that lost your access to water, what would you do? I’ve been writing about water access since at least 2010.

I know many are struggling right now — even in the U.S. But at least most of us have running water.

Please leave comments with ideas and suggestions.

How to Choose the Best AI Video Creator for Your Needs

In today’s digital age, the power of video content cannot be underestimated.

Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or an individual looking to share your stories, leveraging AI video creators has become a game-changer.

These powerful tools use artificial intelligence to create engaging videos while saving you time and effort.

However, how can you pick the best AI video creator when there are so many options?

What are the key elements to consider that will support your objectives and creative vision?

Ease of Use and User Interface

User-friendliness and interface are essential when selecting an AI video generator.

Your creative process can be considerably impacted by a platform that is well-designed and user-friendly. Look for a dashboard tool with clear, orderly navigation and a short learning curve.

An added benefit is a drag-and-drop interface that simplifies arranging and manipulating video elements.

Customization Options

The capacity to create and personalize your content is essential, even when AI video makers automate most of the video creation process.

It is not uncommon for AI video creators to suggest a video clip or image that doesn’t accurately reflect the text and message you want to deliver.

Therefore, being able to customize a template to replace irrelevant assets easily is essential when choosing a tool.

You also will want to use a platform that provides a wide range of templates, themes, fonts, colors, and transitions.

The more customization options available, the more you can tailor your videos to match your brand identity or storytelling style.

Video Styles and Types

Different AI video creators specialize in various video styles, such as animated explainer videos, infographics, and social media ads.

Pick a platform that supports the objectives of your content. While certain tools might be ideal for producing interesting educational content, others are ideal for creating captivating marketing videos.

If you don’t plan on using multiple AI video tools, choose a program that offers the most variety of templates.

Consider the types of videos you intend to create and ensure that your chosen AI video creator offers suitable templates and features.

Media Library and Assets

An extensive media library is a gold mine for video producers. Ensure the AI video generator you are considering gives you access to a wide selection of premium stock images, films, audio tracks, and graphics.

A word of caution. Some programs have a very limited number of assets included in your package, especially if it is a lower-level pricing tier.

It is possible to be lured into creating an awesome video but then realize that you have to pay additional money to use your chosen assets because they are not included in your package.

The availability of these assets can enhance the visual appeal and overall impact of your videos. Additionally, the ability to upload your own media is a big plus, especially when the available assets are limited.

AI Capabilities and Automation

The ability to automate is what distinguishes an efficient AI video producer. AI can streamline the process by recommending appropriate videos, settings, and creating text-to-speech narration.

Before committing to a specific tool, take it for a test drive. See how accurate or relevant the AI assets are to your content.

Look for a tool that harnesses AI to streamline your workflow and save time. However, striking a balance between AI automation and creative control is vital; the tool should enhance your creativity rather than replace it.

Video Editing and Enhancement Tools

While AI-generated material is the focus, a complete AI video platform should provide the necessary editing tools.

Trimming, cropping, adding text overlays, and applying filters can help your videos be even more engaging.

The ability to make minor adjustments and tweaks ensures that your final product meets your exact specifications.

InVideo

Export and Sharing Options

How simple is sharing your completed video once it has been exported? Choose an AI video tool that supports various output formats and resolutions to ensure compatibility with many systems and devices.

Social media integration and direct sharing options can streamline the process of getting your videos in front of your target audience.

Customer Support and Resources

No matter how user-friendly a tool may be, you might encounter questions or technical issues along the way.

A trustworthy AI video creator should provide thorough customer support, including guides, Frequently Asked Questions, and quick assistance.

Check out the resources that are accessible, and be sure that assistance will be available when you need it.

Price and Subscription Plans

AI video creators often operate on a subscription-based model. Evaluate the pricing structure and subscription plans to determine if they align with your budget and usage requirements.

Some tools might offer free trials or limited-feature versions, allowing you to test the platform’s capabilities before committing.

This is an important step you don’t want to miss. Trying out different platforms can help you evaluate their functionality, ease of use, and compatibility with your needs and budget.

User Reviews and Reputation

It’s always helpful to read customer reviews before making a purchase decision. One person’s problem might not be important to you, but another could make or break the deal.

Genuine user feedback can provide valuable insights into the tool’s performance, reliability, and overall user experience.

Platforms with positive reviews and a strong track record are likelier to deliver on their promises.

Conclusion

The new field of AI video makers enables individuals and companies to quickly produce engaging and compelling videos.

Keep in mind the following essential considerations as you set out on your quest to find the best AI video creator: simplicity of use, adaptability, video styles, media collection,

AI capabilities, editing tools, export options, customer support, pricing, and user reviews.

By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your creative aspirations and helps you craft videos that resonate with your audience. Embrace the power of AI and unlock a new realm of video creation possibilities.

An important point to remember is that any AI platform can streamline your video creation process and offer suggestions on what to include.

However, the ultimate responsibility for the video product lies in human hands – yours!

How to Create a Blogging Schedule You Can Stick with to Succeed

Does creating a blogging schedule make you feel stressed? Many entrepreneurs don’t like to have set appointments.

It takes away their freedom of time. But having a set schedule for your blog will help it succeed.

I know I’ve not liked being under the pressure to write every day until it became a habit. Once that habit is formed it becomes much easier.

According to 2021 research, it can take from 59 to 70 days to form a habit.

To Become a Better Writer, Write!

Ryan Biddulph taught me that years ago, write, and write 1,000 words every day to become better at it!

Of course, I broke that up into 300 words a day then went to 500, and finally to 1,000 words per day. It took time and patience.

But it got easier as the days and months went on.

If you are new to blogging or even if you are an experienced blogger you need to create a blogging schedule that you can stick with: a blogging schedule that won’t make you feel all stressed out.

Otherwise, you will never begin the process of blogging and it’s a common  rookie blogging mistake.

There were over 570 million blogs on the internet in 2021. As of 2023, that number is over 600 million! This number is based on activities reported by:

  • WordPress
  • Tumblr
  • Blogger
  • Wix
  • Squarespace
  • Medium

And this number is constantly growing. In the United States alone there are 40 million blogs.

So, you see, having a schedule to blog, will set you apart from the millions and help you track your blog to success.

Not all bloggers have a schedule as you may have noticed.

So, you see, having a schedule to blog, will set you apart from the millions and help you track your blog to success.

Yes, that’s right. A simple calendar, one that you can write on or refer to on your mobile device.

Having this calendar is more of a psychological game.

This calendar will help you to complete tasks by writing them down and having them on a calendar.

It’s like setting a goal. For example, if you set a goal to write 2x per month you want to be sure to have the time to meet that goal.

Tasks for Your Blog Schedule

Now, there are also many tasks that are needed to complete a blog post. For example:

  1. Research your topic
  2. Define your audience
  3. Research for keywords
  4. Create graphics
  5. Begin the writing
  6. Create a video
  7. Edit the blog post
  8. Hit the publish button
  9. Use a tool to automate social promotion
  10. Send out an email
  11. Engage with others in your niche

How Much Time Does It Take Do a Blog Post?

The average blog post today takes over 4 hours.  Now, everyone is different so your blog posts may take 2 hours or 6 hours or more.

But figure in at least that to complete a blog post. If that’s a lot of time in your schedule, spend 1-2 hours per day on a post.

Breaking things up into little pieces really helps you to complete a project. Otherwise, you may never even start it!

So go back to the list above with the 9 tasks and figure how long each task will take.

You may not do a video in each blog post so you can eliminate that from some of your postings.

How Long Does it Take to Write a Typical Blog Post?

The average blog post today takes over 4 hours. Now, everyone is different so your blog posts may take 2 hours or 6 hours or more.Click To Tweet

Keep Your Schedule Doable

Now, you don’t want to commit to writing a blog post every day or every week, especially in the beginning.

So, keep it doable for yourself. Plan out a blog post once or twice a month.

Whatever you do, be sure to stay consistent. Consistency is one of the keys to blogging.

Look over your life schedule, other commitments, jobs, family, health, etc., and find the best amount of time you can commit to blogging.

Pick the Best Time for YOU to Write

Some people can write in the early morning and others late at night. Find your sweet spot!

However, this doesn’t matter except to you. Choose your best time to be creative and think clearly to write concisely.

Not only the time to blog consistently but the place to write your blog posts is important.

Now, find the place that suits you best for your writing. However, you may need a quiet spot or a place away from others in your home.

Increase Your Blogging Schedule

Now, after you start blogging effortlessly for a while, increase your schedule a notch.

Go from one blog post per month to 2 or from 2 to 4 blog posts per month.

Don’t let yourself get too comfortable for a while. Otherwise, there will be no growth and no gain.

Most bloggers today post weekly. But according to Orbit Media, those that post more often do get better results.

According to their study:

  • High-frequency bloggers are getting better results. In fact, more than any response to any question in the survey, daily bloggers are the most likely to report “strong results”.
  • Conversely, inconsistent bloggers are the least likely to report “strong results”.
Most bloggers today post weekly. But according to Orbit Media, those that post more often do get better results.Click To Tweet

Add Contributor Posts to Your Schedule

After you have your blog up and running, it’s time to consider adding contributor posts to your blog schedule.

This will both help you achieve more blog posts on your website and free up time for you improve other areas of your blogging business, such as:

And when you add other reputable bloggers as contributors, it will bring in more and new readers.

Now, beware that you must edit your contributor posts. Not all contributors will include internal links and images the way you like them.

So be sure to save yourself some time for this process too.

But in the end, it’s a win-win situation for you and the other person contributing to your blog.

Become a Contributor Elsewhere

Now that you have others writing for your site, it’s time for you to write on other blogs.

This may help generate backlinks and will increase your own audience. Without it, you are blogging alone on an empty internet.

Teamwork will help you grow faster.

However, do pick blogging sites that are in your niche and have reputable readers and consistent traffic.

You don’t want to waste your time writing for just for any site that comes along. Choose wisely!

Finally, Consider Adding Sponsored Posts to Your Blogging Schedule

Once your blog is generating traffic and is up and running well, you may want to add some sponsored posts to your blog schedule.

This will help offset your time with some money for your time. Only consider those types of posts in your niche.

You don’t want to ruin what you have built up with unrelated content.

However, once you start earning money from your blog posts you will become excited to write more.

And the more you write, the more success you will have. It’s a vicious but nice circle to be in!

 

[Editor note: If you mark posts as sponsored, links in them should be nofollowed.]

Why You Are Not Doing By Hitting the Publish Button

They say you should spend 20% of your time writing a blog post and 80% of the time promoting it! Imagine that?

You worked so hard to write the post but now you have to spend more time promoting it!

You have to get the word out about your blog post to your readers and hopefully new readers.

How to Promote Your Content

Serious bloggers have many methods for bringing visitors to their sites. They may start with building their own list to send out email newsletters.

And then they will be creating videos and scheduling social media posts.

They take time to engage, share and post using forums, niche social networks, and other blogging groups online like:

With that kind of time in mind, really consider the promotion factor when you set your writing blog schedule.

For example, if your blog posts take 4 hours to write, then your promotion schedule may take up to 7.5 hours!

Research shows we should spend 20% of our time writing a blog post and 80% of our time promoting it!Click To Tweet

Can You Take a Break from Your Blogging Schedule?

Yes, you can take a break from your blogging schedule. Like anything else, it’s good to get away as it will help you get more focused and energized.

Therefore, by taking breaks you avoid the infamous blogging burnout. You could update and schedule existing content to go out again.

Or for a longer break, enlist a blogging collaborator you trust to temporarily publish on your site.

So many bloggers don’t make it past their first year due to burnout and lack of making money for their time.

Your Turn

Lastly, how are you managing your blogging schedule? Do you have any schedule or a rigid schedule?

I’d love to know more in the comment section below.

Already a great blogger? You may want to read Content Audit Success: A Step-by-Step Guide [Videos]

 

Updated 8/10/23 to add a new video

Mobile Technology in Health Care; Drug and Staff Shortages [Infographics]

No one would have imagined the changes occurring with mobile technology in health care.

And who could have predicted the changes due to COVID-19? Are you aware of the severe shortages in commonly prescribed medications?Drug-Shortages-due-to-Covid19

Pharmacies Experiencing Shortages of Medications and Staff

Did you see that there is a 60% shortage of Albuterol inhalers? This is extremely serious at a time when many people are having respiratory issues and having trouble breathing!

Besides the lack of availability of common medications, there are serious labor deficiencies. The shortages of staff are now being made worse by the mandates. Find out more about these shortages in the infographic below.

central pharmacies

Mobile Technology in Health Care [Infographic]

We already had wearable tech, A.I., 5G, the use of Virtual Reality and telehealth also known as telemedicine. But it really ramped up due to quarantines, lock-downs and people being afraid to visit doctor’s offices and hospitals.

As far back as 2015 when Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society examined the use of Mobile Technology in the Health Care Industry, it was already clear that the industry is integrated with mobile technology. (As shown in the infographic, below.)

It is encouraging to see that there is an adoption of the use of technology, even if there is still quite a ways to go in areas like electronic health records (EHR).

mobile technology

Presumably, there would be people who are concerned about security and privacy and any HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance issues.

The fact that these numbers are as high as they are indicates that there is forward momentum, especially since any technology advances that violated HIPAA would be shut down and would not be reflected in these numbers at all.

It is clear that a society focused on technology that is specific to the health care industry is the right group of people to be looking at these statistics and reporting back to us where we are in the look toward the future.

Some Mobile Technology Highlights Leading Up To Where We Are Now

Back at the turn of the 21st century, we were excited to have a cellular/mobile phone that would allow us to text each other. Hey, the idea of having a cellular phone at all was exciting.

No longer were we constrained by a car phone or a bulky satellite phone. Or, at least, we were moving toward the freedoms that were presented with these new devices.

At the same time, there was a boom in the usage of PDAs (personal digital assistant) and companies like Nokia became popular with their PDA devices. Even the health care industry got into the process of using them.

PDAs for databases and anything that could be adaptable to the medical industry at the time. Primarily, it was determined that the use of PDAs helped patients to record their medical issues, making it easier to relay it to their doctor, later.

These PDAs had their own mobile operating system and were a perfect example of handheld computerization.

The concept actually started almost a century before and there had been great strides made throughout the 20th century, leading up to what was about to emerge in the 21st century.

Health Care Apps on Mobile Phones

As we were underway into the new decade, we saw the introduction of the touchscreen mobile operating systems within the cellular/mobile phone.

In 2007, Apple announced their iPhone and the following year (2008), the Android device became a popular addition to the smartphone family.

The term ‘smartphone’ was actually coined for an AT&T device, but by definition it is a device that has its own mobile operating system.

During that time, with the PDAs giving way to their more sophisticated cousins, a new factor was added to the mix. That was the telephone carrier. In the case of the iPhone, consumers were limited to using AT&T as their service provider.

There have been many changes since then, including the process of unlocking an iPhone 6. This is quite different from how the unlocking first began in 2006, resulting in bricked phones and challenging methods of unlocking.

Some industries, like the unlocking service providers, have been affected by these recent changes. However, many consumers are happy to be able to unlock their devices and use whatever cellular service provider they choose to use.

The Future of Health Care and Mobility

Technology is changing fast. The health industry is changing fast. There are also some misunderstandings and disconnects between the two.

Recently, in a journal article by Punjani, Bhanji, and Meghani, called “Implications of Social Media in Health Care Practice” and appearing in the “International Journal of Nursing Education,” there was a reference to how all hospitals block Google.

While this is not a discussion about Google or even whether Google should or should not be blocked, the interesting point is that the use of the word, “all,” should not be used.

Before I lose you entirely, the point here is the disconnect that occurs between the health industry and the technology industry, including mobile technology.

In this case, the hospital administrators were having trouble managing malware and blamed all malware on the existence of Google. In reality, the malware was coming through the sites that the nurses clicked on and it was not coming from Google directly.

The article continued by indicating how unfair it was that the nurses did not have access to information because Google has malware.

Speaking from my own background in technology, there are at least seven to eight holes in that theory. It really doesn’t merit the title of theory because of the missing information.

However, we are not here to pick on someone’s misunderstanding of technology. Their expertise lies in the health care industry and they should solicit the assistance of information technology experts to understand the blending of the two.

Medical Personnel Need Tech Access

In the case of this article, the nurses realized the value of having access to information and they desired to have access to information that would help them to help their patients.

This trend is not going to stop. Even if medical professionals do not have access to the information in their place of employment, they are not unaware of the existence of the information when they have access to it from their homes, their laptops at Starbucks, and now their smartphones in their cars (not while driving, of course!).

So, this (and other studies), while possibly stunted in some cases, demonstrate that our future includes a continued marriage of the healthcare industry and the technology industry and has high hopes of a smooth transition as information and training is shared with those who need it most.

Why Nursing Homes Need Telemedicine

Nursing homes do not have sufficient physicians to see all their residents. If they add an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) using telemedicine to consult with doctors, they can improve patient outcomes.

nursing homes

Nursing Home Crisis: Shortage of Nurses

In 2021, 99% of nursing homes are reporting staff shortages. The shortage of nurses is particularly critical. Find out more in the infographic below.

nursing shortage

Wound Care in the Age of Coronavirus [Infographic]

telehealth

What are Telemedicine and Telehealth? [Infographic]

See the infographic below for details.

telehealth

Healthcare Jobs of the Future [Infographic]healthcare jobs of the futureThe Booming Business of Telemedicine [Infographic]

The main difference is that Telehealth covers remote clinical services while Telemedicine covers remote non-clinical services. See the infographic below for more details.

booming business of telemedicineOriginally published 11/7/15; updated 6/18/20 because it had become outdated and to add another infographic; updated 8/18/20 to add Tele-health vs Tele-medicine infographic; updated 3/14/21 to add Wound Care infographic; updated 7/28/21 to add Healthcare Trends infographic and update featured image. Updated 12/13/21 to add the Nurse Shortage infographic; updated 1/4/22 to add the effects of drug and staff shortages and that infographic. Restored and updated 8/7/23.

 

Reskilling the Workforce: How AI Can Facilitate Upskilling and Continuous Learning

We all have witnessed the crazy adoption of ChatGPT, and it has now been a daily driver for several industries — be it content or development.

Although the tool has helped in the mainstream adoption of AI, but it has also instilled fear of losing jobs.

The internet is filled with listicles like “10 jobs that AI will replace by 2030,” and the fear is real.

AI is a double-edged sword; in addition to the fear of stealing jobs, AI can help solve the job problems it is touted to create.

For instance, AI has helped in creating job sites like SkillGPT that connect job seekers with recruiters who are passionately looking for people with their skill sets.

The platform offers curated recommendations of candidates with the skills that the job role requires.

Moreover, AI can also assist in upskilling the continuous learning of employees which can help in safeguarding their careers from future disruptions.

Curious to know how? Read to the end of the article.

Why Should Businesses Invest in Upskilling Their Workforce?

In addition to investing in the latest technology, businesses must also invest in employee training.

According to the Workplace Learning report by LinkedIn, 89% of learning and development professionals believe that upskilling employees is crucial to navigating the ever-changing future of work.

LinkedIn Workplace Learning report on retention

To ensure the successful adoption of AI in the workplace, employers need to provide learning opportunities that lead to upskilling and reskilling.

In this way, they can mitigate the potential resistance from employees and foster a healthy human-AI collaboration.

Continuous Learning Needs Generative AI

Even the employees must be willing to stay updated with the latest trends and exhibit the zeal to improve continuously.

As AI gradually gets better (and faster) at performing technical and creative tasks, there will be a spike in demand for robust communication and soft skills.

So on top of technical skills, employees will also need to buckle up their collaboration and leadership skills to stay competitive.

Businesses should be mindful of these factors while crafting their learning and development (L&D) programs.

The programs should be crafted in a manner that results in the holistic growth of their employees.

Jobs Most In Demand and Growing

Drawbacks of the Existing Learning and Development Programs

It is clear that businesses need to invest in upskilling their workforce to maximize profits and productivity.

However, the conventional methods of learning and development (L&D) programs come with several pitfalls that hinder overall success.

Let us explore them in detail:

Generic Curriculum

Everyone has different preferences for learning (such as video and text) and grasping power.

Sadly, traditional learning and development programs attempt to use the “one-size-fits-all” approach.

The courses are usually created once and seldom updated. Plus, they offer little to no customization.

Learning Format

With the advent of TikTok and reels, people’s attention span is at an all-time low!

A survey of TikTok users found that more than 50% of the respondents find it stressful if the video is more than a minute.Click To Tweet

In comparison, the traditional learning materials are in a long format like webinars, PowerPoint presentations, which makes it challenging to learn and retain the information.

Measuring Impact

Several businesses still prefer the classic instructor-led method of delivering the L&D sessions. The downside is that it is time-consuming and challenging to track the sessions’ impact.

How Can AI Augment the Continuous Learning and Development Process?

Now that we are clear on the shortcomings of traditional L&D models, let us address the elephant in the room, i.e., how AI can help solve them.

Microlearning

The training materials need to be short and to the point to instill the learning into the daily workflow. Microlearning can help with that.

Microlearning is all about providing small bits of knowledge pieces instead of an hour-long session.

There are several AI-based platforms that leverage microlearning for L&D. One such platform is Axonify, which focuses on training frontline staff.

With Axonify, businesses can create short pieces of content which can be consumed anytime and even through mobile devices.

For example, bank staff can watch a short clip on the process of daily operations like credit card pre-approval.

It also serves as a knowledge base so that the associates can get answers to pressing questions.

Plus, it also offers tests to reinforce the information being taught and gamifies the entire process through leaderboards.

Through gamification, even employees feel motivated to learn.

Axonify also uses “adaptive learning” to personalize the learning experience for each employee. And it can be further customized based on their topics of interest.

Enhanced Analytics

The AI tools can evaluate the answer sheets and candidates’ performance. This reduces human error and offers accurate results.

It also helps quickly identify the learners’ knowledge gaps and ensures that the continuous learning goals are met.

With AI, businesses can understand the course completion time and preferred learning methods.

Then, all this data can be used to optimize the learning materials for maximum efficiency.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality has been in the news lately, especially after Apple announced Vision Pro.

Virtual Reality Apple Vision Pro

The device delivers an immersive experience to the wearer by blending the real and virtual worlds.

Thanks to VR, you can not just capture your moments in the video but also experience depth.

For example, you can shoot your kid’s first birthday. And then you can revisit the moment where you can witness the incredible depth of the cake and the burning candles — as if you are experiencing it for the first time.

On top of personal use, VR also has fantastic use cases when it comes to upskilling the workforce — especially in the healthcare industry.

Employees can be trained to perform complex surgeries using VR simulations.

There are also Operator Training Simulators (OTS) that provide a learning environment identical to the real one.

And they can be used to train operators that handle heavy machinery.

In the nuclear industry, even a slight mistake can have massive repercussions. With virtual simulations, the chances of fatal injuries can be minimized during the learning process.

Bias Reduction

Going with the instructor-led approach can invariably contain biases which can hamper the overall efficiency of the L&D program.

For example,, the instructor can exhibit bias towards certain genders or certain employees during training. This can breed partiality.

AI-based training is free from such biases and prejudices. It instructs and evaluates all the candidates on fair grounds.

Even the personalized learning recommendations are backed by the actual usage data of the users.

Increasing Accessibility

When it comes to employment, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits businesses from discriminating against people with disabilities.

As businesses become more inclusive, it is crucial to make the learning materials accessible to all kinds of learners. Fortunately, AI can help with this.

For example, Google provides the “Live Caption” feature in the chrome browser that makes it accessible for people with hearing impairments to comprehend video content.

It automatically creates captions for any video being played on the browser.

Likewise, Google has the feature of image descriptions in Chrome. It can describe the content of images and be a game-changer for people with blindness.

With such AI tools, businesses can make their L&D programmers accessible to the masses.

Embracing the Future with AI

It is evident that upskilling the workforce is not an option but rather a necessity to survive in the competitive landscape.

Throughout the article, we have witnessed how AI can revolutionize the HR industry, especially in upskilling the workforce.

Brands such as Dell use AI for their “Learning Studio” to train their employees about future skills, compliance training, and soft skills.

Rather than thinking of AI as a competitor for the human workforce, it should be leveraged as a colleague to elevate their skills and enhance their performance.

 

Featured image source

The Easiest Way to Increase Your Instagram Engagement Starting Now

What makes Instagram engagement special for your businesses?

The Easiest Way to Increase Your Instagram Engagement Starting Now

The #1 reason Instagram is HOT today is the Instagram engagement level. The engagement level on Instagram surpasses all the other social media networks today. That is huge.

Why People Use Instagram

Not only that, but Instagram has 2.3 billion users and ½ of them are active every single day on Instagram.

What does engagement really mean for you?

It means that people are spending more time on that social network connecting with others. They are not just strolling through the feed. They are commenting on their friends’ posts.

And they are messaging on Instagram. Businesses can message users as well. Many users who keep their profiles private use messenger only and never even post a thing to Instagram.

The engagement level on Instagram surpasses all the other social media networks today. #InstagramClick To Tweet

Instagram as a marketing tool for your business

Instagram is a great marketing tool for expanding the presence and visibility of almost any business.

It can be beneficial for any company that has a visually appealing aspect of their business, such as home decor, clothing, lifestyle, travel, pets, and much more.

Instagram allows every kind of business, from publicly traded big businesses to local mom-and-pop shops, to reach a worldwide audience.

The smaller businesses need to position themselves to reach their niche.

Many local businesses use word of mouth for their marketing. Instagram is similar online to the old fashioned word-of mouth marketing done offline.

People are chatting and commenting on Instagram daily about the products and services they love. Be sure to have a social media listening tool to monitor what’s being said about your business.

People are chatting and commenting on Instagram daily about the products and services they love. #InstagramClick To Tweet

Where to start with Instagram engagement for your small business?

If you are not on this social network yet, it’s not too late to get started with Instagram. Just be sure to fill out your bio completely and start with a nice profile picture.

Think about what link you will have in the bio as it’s your only link. (Unless you generate 10,000 followers!)

Then, make sure you have a business profile. You can have both a personal and a business or just a business profile on Instagram – unlike Facebook.

Lastly, this precious link in your bio can be changed as often as you want. It’s great to highlight a sale, promotion or new blog post.

Anything you are referring to in your Instagram post can say “see more in the bio above!”

Begin by sharing great images, photos and videos

Since Instagram is a visual social network, it’s important to really use your best photographs and images there. Mix them up with video. Video does best on Instagram (as it does on all networks).

Remember, with video you have only 3-60 seconds on Instagram. (Stories can only be up to 15 seconds and IGTV up to an hour.)

Engage, engage and engage more

To really get noticed on Instagram you need to engage with others. Focus on your area and your niche. Follow those with like interests and in your area. (Unless you have an online store, then you can expand your area.)

Next, read their descriptions – some tell stories with their photos or videos. Then, respond and engage with them about the story, not only about the image. Finally, use some emoji’s in your post description.

Then, respond and engage with them about the story, not only about the image. #InstagramClick To Tweet

Hashtags help engagement on Instagram

If that isn’t enough, next you have Hashtags to use. There are many guides out there explaining how to find the best ones.

Use some that are very popular and mix with some not so popular because if you only use really popular hashtags you may not be found.

Do not use emoji’s in your hashtags – you could be shadow banned.

What is a shadow ban? It is a ban that renders your hashtags undiscoverable by the vibrant users. Only your followers will be able to see your feed and not the entire Instagram community.

What can you do to prevent a shadow ban? Refrain from using the same hashtags repeatedly. Do not use third party tools to gain followers and likes and/or comments.

If all else fails, give Instagram a few days break and do nothing. It will help the algorithm there re-adjust!

I love the tool by Triberr to check for shadowbanning. The tool allows you to review your last 10 posts on Instagram. If you find you have a post shadowbanned you can easily edit it.

What is a shadowban? It is a ban that renders your hashtags undiscoverable by the vibrant users. #InstagramClick To Tweet

Instagram tools to help you

There are many tools for Instagram you can use to help you achieve more visibility as well.

There are tools and apps to create collages, others to create quotes with beautiful images and some that even repost for you.

A repost is when you share someone else’s Instagram post.

Use stories feature to increase engagement on Instagram

Stories are the rage today on Instagram and Facebook. They took a page from Snapchat and their stories disappear within 24 hours. No one wants to miss out on their friends’ story!

These images are vertical, and you can use stickers and polls on them. Polls will increase your engagement level. Be sure to participate in others’ stories as well.

The stories feature can get you noticed more on the popular social network. They stand out on the feed and are easily scrollable.

Making money and shopping from Instagram

Many bloggers can make money from Instagram with influencer campaigns and sponsorships. Niche bloggers can share products and tools for their audience and get paid at the same time.

Online businesses have shoppable grams available so people can shop right from your Instagram post to your product.

Yes, you can use Instagram Checkout now. Instagram Checkout is for United States businesses only to date.

Look for the SHOP icon under retailers’ Instagram profiles for this feature! This saves Instagram users valuable time shopping and means less third-party payments for you.

Another way to shop is when someone clicks on the Instagram post and a shopping bag pops up describing the product.

You can save it to a wish list or make a purchase right from there. The saved items send people directly to the product page on the sellers’ websites to purchase.

This can be a little more time consuming for users than buying directly on Instagram.

Over to you

How are you increasing your engagement over on Instagram today? We’d love to know more in the comments below!

 

Originally published 6/23/19; updated 7/13/23 to add additional resources and updated statistics.

Startup Expandigo Finds Phone Numbers, Mailing and Email Addresses

How often have you wanted to contact someone, but didn’t have their email address or phone number?

Would you be impressed if you could search using only someone’s name and find the information you need in one place?

Most tools only search for email addresses. And some of those will only search on particular domains. What if you don’t know what domain they use?

I’ve tested many tools to find contact information. But I was surprised at how much detail the startup company Expandigo was able to find.

Just a Name Returned All This

All I typed in was his name. Because I tested using someone I know, I am able to verify that one professional email address and one phone number are accurate.

Another email is an old email address. One is a good guess. So if I didn’t know him, I would be able to reach him using this information.

Check out the results Expandigo gave me in the image below:

    • Job Title
    • Links to the correct Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn profiles
    • Email addresses with an indication which are personal versus professional
    • Phone numbers
    • Company name, address, and LinkedIn profile

Detailed Information Expandigo found on SmallBizTrends Executive Editor Shawn Hessinger

What is Expandigo?

Expandigo uses enhanced data collection to enrich contact information. This provides more accurate information.

Many people go to great lengths to keep their phone numbers and email addresses private to minimize spam.

So finding accurate information is always going to be a challenge. Expandigo did manage to find both a good business email address and a good phone number.

Who Would Use Expandigo?

The applications for Expandigo are limitless. For example:

    • Companies looking for business partners or suppliers
    • Lead generation
    • Writers searching for publishers
    • Updating existing contacts who may have changed companies or moved
    • Business services organizations like Chambers of Commerce, Industry associations, and Economic Development Organizations could offer Expandigo to their members.

Expandigo is interested in partnerships with business aggregators.

Why Use Expandigo?

Expandigo makes it fast and easy to find and then store information about your contacts.

They call it a “light CRM” because you can organize your contacts and add notes. Unless you delete them, they stay in your Enriched Contacts list.

Marshall Eldred, CEO of Golden Hill Ingredients, uses it to find leads:

“Expandigo allows me to drill down and search for real leads. The format is easy to use and produces results quickly. I can also save my new contacts within the Expandigo platform which makes finding potential customers and organizing their contact information even easier. Its simple and to the point. This tool is helping us expand our business to customers that otherwise we may have missed. I wholeheartedly recommend Expandigo!”

Expandigo Dashboard

There is almost no learning curve getting started with Expandigo. Create an account and start searching. (Detailed how-to and tips below.)

Anyone can sign up and get 10 free welcome credits to try it out themselves. No credit card required.

I found the information above with just one of those free credits! Why not try it out? It doesn’t cost you anything.

Just create a free account. Once you log in, you’ll see your Expandigo dashboard (see image below).

Expandigo Dashboard

Expandigo Contact Search

Adding new contacts is simple. You can use their Expandigo search tutorial or follow along below.

Simply click the “ADD NEW CONTACTS” button in the Enriched Contacts section:

Expandigo Enriched Contacts

In the Contact Search form, fill in one or more fields. I found it worked best to only fill in 1-2 fields.

Use autocomplete for industry, company name, job title, country and location.

You can start by choosing 1 in the “How many profiles” field. That consistently worked for me.

However, if you don’t get the correct result, you may wish to increase that number.

Expandigo Contact Search

For these results, I entered name and country:

Enter name and details in the Expandigo Content Search

Note that I did not fill in the industry, company name, job title or location fields above. The words you see there are examples so you know what type of information to input.

But you can use the industry drop-down to choose an industry:

sExpandigo Industry Screenshot

You can use autocomplete to fill in the company name, job title, country, and location:

Expandigo Search Company Name and other fields offer autocomplete

After you click the “SEARCH CONTACTS” button, the view below is what you’ll see:

Successful Expandigo Content Search

Expandigo Enriched Contacts Detail View

Click the “RELOAD DASHBOARD” button to see the results:

Expandigo Contact Detail View

When you close this view, you’ll be back at your dashboard. And your new contact will be included in your Enriched Contacts list:

Successful Expandigo Content Search Result Shows under Enriched Contacts

Any time you want to see the details, click the first icon to the left of the name. When you move your mouse over it, it will say “Show details”.

Notes Manager in Expandigo CRM

The center icon opens the contact “Notes Manager”:

Expandigo Contact Notes Manager

Click into the “Category” field and choose one of the options:

Expandigo Contact Notes Manager Dropdown Options

Choosing the category fills in the first field. Then just type in the rest of the details and click “ADD NOTE”:

Expandigo Contact Notes Manager Online meeting option

The next view shows “New note added” in a bright green button:

Expandigo Contact Notes Manager New Note Added

You can now see “There is 1 entry for this contact”. There is an option to email the note. Clicking it will open the email program on your device.

The note is visible in that view and can also be deleted when desired:

Expandigo Access Contact Notes and Remarks

How to Delete Contacts in Expandigo

The third icon to the left of each contact is red and is for deleting contacts you no longer wish to keep.

You are unlikely to accidentally delete any contacts because you will see a confirmation window if you click on delete:

Are you sure you want to remove from your contacts in Expandigo

What Does Expandigo Cost to Use?

Your first ten searches are free. After that, Expandigo uses a pay-as-you-go model. If you only need a few credits, you can buy 25 for $24.99.

The more credits you buy at once, the less expensive they become. And importantly, even when you have no credits left, you don’t lose access to your contacts!

What Does Expandigo Cost to Use Pay As You Go

See how simple Expandigo is to use? Not everyone you search on will have all this information.

However, their database does contain over 3 billion people and 28 million companies globally.

This is a simple way to get phone numbers for people you interact with already. Or to find an address to send them a card.

How often do you realize you don’t have a current email address for someone? Or their phone number?

And how fast could you expand your contacts and generate more leads with a tool like Expandigo? Give it a try.