Happy World Social Media Day! Today, June 30th, marks the 10th year the holiday has been celebrated by social media users everywhere.

While social media was once thought to be a tool used primarily by younger people, chances are it’s now a part of your life regardless of what demographic you fit into. 

While the number of social media users across many different platforms increases each year, so do the ways those platforms can be utilized. Sure, you can still use Facebook to look at adorable baby photos of your niece, but you can also connect with clients and grow your business. 

There are a ton of  ways taking advantage of social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can help take your business to the next level. If you’re looking to increase your leads, improve your search engine ranking, create brand recognition, or develop relationships with customers, a strong online presence is essential. 

Over the years, we’ve seen social media take on an even deeper importance as it’s become an essential tool in the fight for equality, justice, and social change. Across the country and all over the world, people use social media to amplify their voices and make a difference.

Here at SPARKS!, we’re constantly using our social media pages to keep you informed and up to date as we navigate COVID-19, celebrate holidays, and promote exciting client news. 

If you’re interested in taking your social media channels to the next level, or just want to chat about how we can help you meet your website needs, contact us today or give us a call at 410-244-5111.

We don’t know about you, but we’re starting to have a hard time remembering what life was like before COVID-19.

It’s been almost three months since our lives, both personal and professional, were upended by the virus. But you have to keep your business up and running, even during uncertain times like these. Here are some tips on how to generate sales and keep your consumers engaged while still operating virtually.

Hold Zoom Meetings

If a big part of your business is connecting with people one on one, you can still make that happen by using Zoom or any other video conferencing technology. Set up meetings with your clients to make up for the lack of face to face time so you can still develop personal connections. Creating unique relationships with customers will also make them more likely to support you through challenging times.

Study the Competition

If a competitor has a good idea that’s helping them to stay afloat, there’s no shame in using it for yourself or your company. If you notice that a particular company seems to be doing better than expected during this time, try to find out what they’re doing that’s helping to make them so successful.

Utilize Paid and Free Software

Chances are that you and your employees are still working from home. Stay in touch as efficiently as possible by using software that makes it easier to communicate and make it feel like you’re right there in the office with your team.

Create Sales Online

Lin Qingxuan, a cosmetics company in China, achieved 200% growth compared to the prior year’s sales by using WeChat, a messaging app. They created a sales ranking among their employees to increase motivation. A similar strategy could help to make the most of a difficult situation.

Prepare For a Recovery

When this is all over, you’re going to need to have a plan. Get everything in order now so that when the time comes to go full speed ahead you’re the first one out of the starting gate.

We Can Help

Businesses are slowly starting to open back up, and we can help you reach your audience. Give us a call at 410-244-5111 or contact us today so we can help get you started on the road to recovery.

In response to the COVID-19 guidelines, the SPARKS! office has been closed. However, we have not stopped working for you!

First of all, we pray that all of our friends, Clients and their families are healthy and managing through these difficult times. Our team is working remote and available for support requests and opportunities to help anyone with their digital marketing needs.

Our hosting provider has informed us that they have the resources in place to maintain the uptime and support we would normally receive. Their teams have been remote for two weeks now, and operations are functioning normally.

We will post any updates here, so please check back – or better yet – contact us if you have any questions need anything. Our phones – 410-244-5111 – and emails are operating as usual.

Like all of you, we hope to resume normal operations shortly. In the meantime, please follow the guidelines of our public officials, wash your hands and stay home. We need you healthy, and will get through this together!

Onward and Upward!

Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is impacting every facet of life for citizens on a global scale. As health officials continue to recommend against unnecessary large gatherings of people, parts of our daily routine that we once took for granted are being inevitably altered.

College students are going home for the semester, companies are conducting business remotely, and events are getting cancelled left and right. If you were planning on holding a large gathering but don’t want to take any chances, live streaming or web conferencing might be the way to go.

Streaming on a Budget

Whether it be a church service or a business conference, setting up a capable live stream is easier than you think. The first thing that you need to do is make sure you have the proper equipment. The type of equipment you’ll want to get depends on what your budget’s going to be.

The good news is that no matter how much or how little you’re willing to spend, you can produce a quality live stream on any budget. If you’re looking to go the free route you can even stream on Facebook Live, YouTube, and other platforms using just your smartphone. If you want your live stream to look a little more professional, however, there are several items you can utilize.

• A webcam can go a long way depending on the type of live stream you’re planning to do. If most of your streaming is done in front of the computer or in your office, this will be more effective than your webcam.
• The quality of your microphone can make or break your live stream, but you don’t have to break the bank to find a decent one. If you’re streaming live from your phone you can just use your smartphone mic, and if you’re using your computer you can set a USB mic near you on the table.
• Making sure that the room is light correctly will greatly enhance the viewing experience of anyone viewing the live stream. Unless you’re operating in an area with an abundance of natural sunlight, try to get at least one extra source of light.

Streaming Platforms

Now that you’ve got all the necessary equipment, it’s time to decide which streaming platform you’re going to use. Facebook Live is a popular platform that companies and individuals utilize all over the world. It’s easy to use and shouldn’t take you long to get the hang of regardless of your technical expertise. YouTube Live is another easy to use streaming platform. If you’re looking for something more specific, you can check out platforms like YouNow, Open Broadcaster Software, and Live.

It’s Time to Stream

You’ve got the equipment, you know which platform you’re streaming on, all that’s left is for you to actually produce your live stream and put it online! The Coronavirus has interrupted our sense of normalcy and made business as usual impossible, but using tools like a live stream can help ensure that you or your business doesn’t miss a beat.

Web Conferencing

It might seem like the world is grinding to a halt because of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean you can stop conducting business and letting work get away from you. Web Conferences are the perfect way to stay in touch with your team and make sure everyone is staying on task, conduct meetings with clients, and more!

Web Ex is a video conferencing application that allows you to stay connected from home. So no matter where you are, you can hold meetings and get things done. Zoom, GoToMeeting, and TeamViewer are also popular video conferencing options. Research what’s available to find out what would work best for your business.

We’re Here for You

No matter how your business is being impacted during these uncertain times, you can count on SPARKS! Marketing Communications to be there to meet all of your digital marketing needs. Contact us today!

**We’re not endorsing any particular platform (they ain’t paying us for that!).  Just passing along the info so do your own homework for the solution that is right for you.