Video killed the radio star...

I have been doing a lot of research on blogging and customer retention. Pictures and custom content creation are a huge part in building a consistent base of viewers. However, I have found that video really does trump all. Take Youtube for example. The perfect place to find instructions on how to do anything as well as give yourself quite a laugh. 


Videos are effective because the can convey long messages in a short period of time. You do not need to write pages on a blog, or make status updates seven times a day. Although I don't recommend posting more than two or three times per day. People can easily hide your pasts and then you will be lost forever. 

Tips for making marketing videos:

1. Make all videos no longer than three to four minutes.
Personally, if I am not interested within the first 10 seconds, I am gone. Your videos will be able to keep viewers attention as well as attract new viewers. You can also make a mini series of videos to talk about a certain topic. This will lead to people understanding that you are an established professional within the industry you relate too. 


2. Create videos that will entertain as well as enlighten. 
Don't shoot your video in a library with a quiet background. Make the video something that people want to watch. Include interviews, poll results, and other data that will make the video much more enticing to viewers. 


3. Make sure to check surroundings. 
If you are looking to be seen as a professional, make sure that you have a professional background. Feel free to take down your Sublime poster that is hanging on your wall in the background. While background objects can sometimes make your video more famous, it is not because people think you are a industry leader. 


If you are looking to find some inexpensive but very very good ways to get this done, check out www.joshhardt.com. He is a trusted resource and very good at what he does. While you may not want to pay out of pocket, just imagine the difference between his professional quality videos and what you can affordably make on your own. Give people the best impression, not the most cost effective one. 


'Perfection is in the detail.'


-T.b. 

5 'Must-Do's' to take advantage of your smart phone.

Your cell phone is your best friend. You take it with you anywhere you go, in addition to charging it within arms reach. For those of you (like me) who are addicted to their iphone, there are some things that you should be taking advantage of. Here are Green Life Marketing's top 5 tips to smart phones and social media. 




Top 5 tips for 'Must Do's' on your smart phone. 


1. Check-in: Location based marketing apps are becoming a great way to increase customer retention while building a more visible web presence. Many retail establishments are giving discounts to people who check in the most to keep them coming back. This will also be posted on Facebook, which will build more interest in the business. 


2. Update: Smart phones have come  a long way. You can now upload photos, respond to comments, or write entire emails. While you do not need to respond instantaneously,  quick answers to post questions are always appreciated by followers. Take 30 seconds and update your business facebook. Do not forget to make it a post that will drive interaction. 


3. Submit reviews: Utilize sites like Urbanspoon and yelp to give a review of where you went for lunch. Not only will the establishments be rated on your reviews, but you can also link your review to many other sites. This is an example of a quick way to use different apps to build your social media sphere. You can also begin to build a reputation within the online community. If you give honest intelligent reviews of restaurants on a regular basis, you will see people begin to follow you to stay updated on your recent reviews. 


4. Take videos on the fly: A majority of smart phones have created quite impressive video recoding technology. With the tap of a screen, you can switch from still more to video mode. These videos are easy to upload and get much more attention than a boring text only update. Keep in mind of your location. If you are offering advise on professional services (marketing, sales), ensure that your background is a professional setting. Recording in populated public areas is also hard due to noise, movement, and light. 


5. Buy an external battery charger: I know that with constant use my iphone has died before noon before.  Battery life is lacking in almost every brand of smartphone leaving consumers to be leashed to their power cords. However, there are devices you can buy to plug in on the go. A reliable charger may cost $75, but it is worth it stay in touch with clients and calm your addiction to updates. 


Smart phones have really changed the marketing game. People are spending less and less time using PC's, laptops, and netbooks. The phone has transitioned into an all inclusive device. You can now start your car, watch your home security monitors, and erase the entire contents of another linked device if stolen. What will be the next 'big thing?' I am sure excited for it, but I better start spending time getting to understand all the current technology. 


-T.b. 

Start competing today!

The 'Keep It Social' competition is now underway. Packets were delivered to select Saginaw businesses in order to gain attention for Green Life and the company itself. Most packages were well received, but there are always a few that don't want your services. This competition is designed to increase a business's web presence while participating. There is NO fee for entry or participation fee, just the ability to make money. 

I am also planning on expanding the eBook to include topics on location based marketing. This is a huge part of social media with apps like Four Square and the ability to check in on Facebook. It is vital to understand social media trends and how to take advantage of them in order to exploit it for your business. It may seem like more work, but it is well worth the investment. 

Any certain topics you would like to see cover in the 'Social Media Toolkit' eBook? Email me. CLICK HERE. 

Today's tip: Make a visual schedule for social media and abide by it. An hour a day can be a great investment!

-T.b. 

Facebook Fatigue

This post is dedicated to helping our friends at The Sawmill Golf Pub & Grill. As I was handing out contest packets for the 'Keep it Social Competition' on Wednesday, I stopped in to see how things were going at the Sawmill. The two people I talked with were hungry for information on how to build social media marketing, and it was great to see! That kind of energy can really give you motivation. 

6 Steps to develop an engaging, popular Facebook business page


1. Fix your URL.
    Your URL probably has a long list of -/.( ) and some words scattered in between. When   
    you reach over 25 Likes on your page, you can change this! Make it something relevant to 
    your industry as it will be a factor in how you rank on search engines. Before you submit, 
    make sure it is something that you can remember easily since you will be typing and 
    writing it on everything. 


2. Fill in as much information as possible in the 'info' section. 
    The info section is a great marketing tool! This will give people a more detailed look at 
    your business. You can talk about the history of the company or something as simple as 
    what products and services you offer. Be sure to include your address as it will pull up a 
    map app to give a visual of where you are located. 

3. Make posts creative, content rich, and engaging. 
    This is the most important part of business Facebook. To keep people coming back to 
    your page, you must have content that gives the reader something. It can be information 
    on a new product, a press release, or announcing upcoming events. All of these three give 
    the reader something to take away. 


4. Respond.
    When someone comments on a post or your wall in general, be sure to give them a 
    prompt response. You don't need to be on Facebook all day, just aim for 1 day at the 
    latest. Social media changes so rapidly, you can't miss a potential client because you 
    weren't connected. 


5. Ask for help. 
    One strategy that is quite effective to gain new 'Likes' is to just ask your current followers. 
    Ask them to share this status and have their friends like your page. Be sure to give them 
    thanks no matter what response you get. 


6. Check your stats.
    Your insights app for business pages is a great tool for tracking how visible your page is   
    on Facebook. It will give you detailed demographics on your followers and how often your 
    page is viewed. Check it out, its well worth your time to understand what all the insights 
    mean. 


**Podcasts and Google research are great ways to gain more knowledge on this subject. 
If you want more information on Facebook for business or social media marketing strategies in general, send me an email, click HERE. If you are interested in more marketing products or services, check out our website. 

Scan here for more information on the 'Keep It Social Competition.'

-T.b.

Complimentary marketing, come and get it!

It's time to get the ball rolling. I know that I have been slacking on promoting Green Life due to other commitments, but I am making a stronger effort to keep going! I know this company has potential, it is all about the contacts and networking at this point. 


On that note, Green Life is now holding a contest to see what businesses really want to get some FREE marketing. Here is how the game works:


1. Have your employees, friends, family, or whomever 'Like' the Green Life Facebook page. 
    facebook.com/greenlifemarketingllc
2. Leave a comment on my wall and tag what business you are from/ with so I can keep track  
    of who is in the lead. 


At the end of the competition, I will tally the comments. The business that was tagged in the most posts wins a FREE social media marketing plan in addition to a social media  toolkit. The toolkit is a great reference if you are starting to build your own web presence. To view all the details and results, check Green Life's website. 


Street Meat is still in process as well. We hit a bit of a road bump when we not able to purchase the cart that we wanted. If you know of any hot dog carts for sale, let us know! We can use all the help we can get locating a function cart. I am excited to get this venture off the ground though. Just keep dreaming!


It feels like spring already too! Can't wait to get the garden going. I am going to start it off in doors to get a jumpstart on the season. Let me know any tricks/ tips/ hints you have to make the most of your growing experience. 


"Live and learn, don't live and hide."
-T.b. 

Tired of being tired?

mo·ti·va·tion [moh-tuh-vey-shuhn]: a reason to act in a certain way. 


2012 is almost a quarter of the way complete. Oh man! Have you put off your goals in order to get instant satisfaction? This post is designed to help you realize your potential and get motivated!
Personally, success is my biggest motivation. I will NOT work for the rest of my life. The fact that I know how to manage residual income is a driving force in finding new/ existing business ventures such as Green Life. Life is meant to be lived, not worked. As I always state, we need workers. I would go no where without having capable people to work in my businesses. And to them, I thank you!


Let's build your motivation now!


Pick a goal you have wanted to accomplish. It may help to start with a smaller goal and build on the momentum. 
1. Breathe......and breathe again. Anxiety is a key cause for loss of motivation. 
2. Keep your eyes on the finish. Focus is key in maintaining motivation. 
3. Start researching now! The internet is a huge tool. Start reading articles, networking on social media sites, and building a more in depth knowledge of the subject matter. 
4. Break down your goal into steps making each one a reason to celebrate as you are taking action to better yourself!


If you start hitting a plateau, it's ok. Take another break, look at what you have already accomplished! You can complete your goals, you are capable of doing this. Remain positive. Check out this WEBSITE for more ways to stay positive and motivated. 
It's time that you start taking action to better your life. There is no time like the present to make changes. It is going to be hard, do not doubt that. You may have to make changes that you are not excited about, but if it is for the better, how can you say no? 


"You can't let other people tell you who you are. You have to decide that for yourself."


-T.b. 

Get your life back.

As I was thinking today about goals and objectives that I have set for myself, I realize that having a stable 9-5 is not even on my top 20 list. I understand that business ownership is not meant for everyone, but I could not handle giving the next 50 years of my time to a company (unless it is one amazing company), but I doubt I will find one that measures up. 


How to be a business owner and live without having work 24/7. 


Utilize technology. Technology is going to be your best friend, and it will make life a thousand time easier. Whether you are recording sales or analyzing your customer demographics, technology will make it much less time consuming. Check out accounting software, analytics programs, and social media managers to help save you time. 


Become system oriented. Why would you waste time completing tasks that are not going to make a difference in your bottom line. Systems make business more efficient while highlighting areas that are unnecessary. Take a poll of your employees and see what they have to say. They are the ones doing all the work. 


Outsource. No, this does not mean sending American jobs overseas. Lets get that clear. If you can pay someone to complete 3 hours of errands while you finished your contract to work with another company, why not? Time is an invaluable resource, never forget the cost of time. 


Set rules. People need to know exactly what is going to be expected of them. If they are not given clear directions, this will soon cause miscommunication and failure. You should train people to be independent and responsible for all of their actions. This will give them a vested interest in making the company succeed as well. 


If you want to learn about making money without having to sacrifice your life, get ahold of me. You can email me or leave a comment on our Facebook page. Time is expensive, quit wasting it. 

Research, Innovate, and rebuild. 

-T.b.

Empowering small business to keep making a difference.

Yes, it's Sunday and I am blogging. 


My business partner and I put in an offer on a cart for Street Meat. We should hear back this week if they are willing to accept or not. Hopefully we can pass through health department inspections and city licensing fairly quick in order to start akin money! It's crazy how many hoops one has to jump through in order to get business going. It's especially hard with mobile food business. In order to even operate we need a full commercial grade kitchen to clean the cart every 24 hours.  Think you want to open a mobile food cart, you better own a restaurant or have some good connections. The wonderful city treasurer has been backing our business and helping us get through this process, and man oh man is her help appreciated! 


The social media tool kit is going to be available in the next few weeks! This eBook is a great guide for business owners looking to get in the game. This book is packed full of examples, suggestions, tips, and will be available for purchase on the Green Life Marketing website. It is being reviewed by business owners as we speak, and I am excited to be able to present this to managers/ owners. In keeping with sustainable business methods, all eBooks will be emailed to purchasers unless noted otherwise. 

Get Busy Media has published an article with some statistics on small business and their role in the economy. Did you know that 60-80% of jobs can be attributed to small business? Unfortunately, 50% of these businesses fail within two years. The surprising fact that the United States is listed as the 4th easier country to do business in. I thought we had to do some crazy things to get and keep business going, I can only imagine operating in other countries. Click HERE to check out the rest of the article. It contains some great information on small business in America. 


-T.b.

Business is all about being social.

There are only two sections of the social media toolkit left to complete before adding final details! I have a few people currently proof reading it. I am looking fora few more business owners who would be willing to look it over to make sure that this is truly something that will give value to business owners. This kit includes graphs and statistics on what type of strategies work for certain businesses. If you are new to social media, this will be a great tool! I will keep you posted on the release date.

The guys at Magnified Mouth Media are coming along by leap and bounds with their new product. This business tool that they are offering will substantially increase the web presence of any company! The best thing about it, return customers! Not to mention the insanely cheap price they are offering it at! It is harder and much more expensive to build a new customer base rather than bringing your current customers back.

I am going to get much more inventive with the advertising I do for Green Life Marketing. I have been googling ads for about a week now getting some thoughts on what I can do. If you think of any creative or out of the box ideas and don't mind sharing, send me an email! click HERE to send an email.

Today is the day that you should take back your business!

-T.b.

On a side note.

This week has been full of fun events business wise. I have had a great business opportunity swing my way. One that I am very excited about, and I think that this company really has their skin in the game. While I don't want to disclose details to their product yet, you will be sure to hear more about it in the future. If you want to keep up with the closer details 'Like' Magnified Mouth Media on Facebook.

As far as Green Life is going, I am in the process of developing a toolkit for business owners if you will. It is the essentials to social media. This packet will teach you the top 5 things that will make your social media strategy explode! This packet is designed for new and existing businesses. It is an introduction to social media marketing. It will hopefully be completed by the end of February as it will take some time to compile them neatly.

I did over hear a conversation today where the business owner said, "When the economy crashed, I cut my advertising. It was a big part of my expenses and I just couldn't do it." I may be in the wrong here, but you do need to advertise to grow your business. You may need to change your strategy and how you advertise, but you should never cut it out. These are the people I want to help. Dedicated, honest, and hard working business owners need a break, and that's what I am here for.

The best advice I have received in a long time...Thanks brother.
"Do what you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."

-T.b.

Top 3 TO-DO's in order to protect your business!

Small business liability protection is quite an in-depth topic. The more business owners that I have spoken with, the more I realize they are putting themselves in great danger. Liability protection is such a huge thing when you own a LLC/ DBA. This is not like my typical post. This issue does need to be addressed though. Here are my top 3 things business owners should do to limit liability protection. 


1. File your business as an LLC instead of a DBA. 
-The DBA simply means that you are "doing business as" xyz company. What this puts you at risk for is a total loss of business & personal assets if there is any lawsuit. The LLC limits liability because it separates yourself from your company in terms of liabilities and assets. If you xyz company was to be sued, they could only take assets of the company (unless negligence has occurred). 
Click here to go to the IRS page for business licenses


2. Create a separation of business and personal finances. 
-Open a different checking and savings account for your business. No business activities should be processed through your personal account. A journal/ledger for all transactions is the simplest way to keep yourself in balance as well. Calculating businesses balance sheets becomes much easier too.  This will make your company more transparent and limit and actions that would be taken against you personally. 
Click here to go to the IRS page for business accounting practices


3. Educate yourself on your regulation. 
-No one wants to read a 200 page book on out dated business regulations. From experience, networking is a great way to increase your knowledge while building business contact. This is a necessary task though. Your local township or city hall is the place you want to start looking for this information. Once you get going, it will turn into an interesting topic; especially when you it could save you EVERYTHING you own!
Click here to go to the Michigan business one stop page


Protect yourself and all that you have worked for! If you need help revamping your business structure, let Green Life help. Not only are we a marketing firm, but we are dedicated to small business services in general. I hope that this blog has given you a very basic knowledge of liability protection. 


"Ignorance is bliss, until you get sued."

Scan here to visit our website!

-T.b. 

What a mobile world we live in.

This is my first post via iPad! This little device has come in rather handy lately. Unfortunately not all the apps work as well for iPad as they do for the iPhone or Mac. This iPad is also going to be used as the register system for street meat! technology has come such a long way. Life is much more mobile and convenient now!

Tomorrow my brother and I are going to look at a hot dog cart for street meat. Luckily Its located right within the tricities. We were looking for carts as far away as chicago, so this will be an even better find. I have had at least one or two people approach me every week saying how excited they are for it to open!

The next step once we have a cart is tackling the health department review and inspection. While I strive to be as clean as possible when in a food handling situation, it is still quite stressful. I am excited to start all the marketing for this venture and have a grand opening! I will keep everyone posted as to when that will be!

This Wednesday there will also be a public forum held at MSU in Lansing to discuss business and economic development in Michigan. I believe that it starts at 11 am with a small lunch. It is free to the public as well. I have pasted the link below!

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2012/01/msu_hosts_public_forum_on_mich.html

I forecast change.

Change is inevitable, and there is quite a bit to come. While doing more research and rearranging finances will be necessary; this possible, very undecided venture would be a great investment. As most people know, I have wanted a coin laundry for a while now. Going to a few places in this area has made me realize that I can blow competition away. Customer service, good product/ service, & marketing will be key essentials in this venture. I know that I am currently not in the financial position to start up multiple businesses this year. I like to dream big, never hurts.

On a related note, Street Meat LLC will become a more popular topic of this blog. I have completed the Servsafe course as required by the health department. I have located multiple carts that are great potentials! We will be serving hot dogs, pizza, chips, and drinks.  We have the register system ad credit card processing tools as well. We decided to use square, since they have great rates and can be used with an ipad! I love technology (sometimes). We will be located in the parking lot across from Retro Rocks & Meinberg's. Instead of going to McDonalds every weekend, come to Street Meat! 'Like' us on Facebook to keep up with new info.

Green Life is looking for business owners trying to sell their business. Make you listing stand out with the addition of a comprehensive marketing plan. If you show potential buyers a step by step guide on how to manage and market a business that will generate sales, it is hard to say no. If you know of anyone looking to sell their company, send me their info! click here----MY EMAIL

'You are not the only person affected by your actions, how are you making a difference?'
-T.b.

Success, what's your definition?

With the new year finally here change is in the air. Motivation seems to have been kicked into high gear lately; or at least between business partners and myself. Bulldog Pizza is much more focused on customer service and food quality standards than it has ever been before. Our reviews on urbanspoon are coming in more regularly now! It's great to see people take time to let us know how we are doing.

Social media has been the only form of advertising (besides word of mouth) that we have used at Bulldog. With QR codes on the menus linked to Facebook, you can see what the specials are while holding a menu in hand! Technology has sure made life much easier. After reviewing the statistics Facebook provides, there has been an increase of over 1000% on our page! That is awesome! Having an established Facebook following is a sure fire way to get your name out there.

Developing a website is my next undertaking here. Websites are cheap, easy, and drive plenty of traffic. The website for Green Life is the second largest driver of people to my blog. That says a lot right there. It's a new generation with technology that changes daily. Outdated marketing methods can no longer be your main focus. While some businesses will not see a benefit from using every single site out there, there is a reason there are over 800,000,000 users on Facebook alone.

The more I look at businesses in this area the more potential I see. Business owners are burnt out and tired of working day and night for little to no return. My suggestion; put your manager in charge and take a 2/3 day vacation. Don't go on a week long cruise through the bahamas, but  give yourself a break. you've earned it. When you come back, start with the basics. Customer service, product quality, marketing, and development of proper management structures. Life doesn't have to be spent slaving away, so why do it? I know that I don't plan on doing it.

Welcome 2012, you have been much anticipated.

The new year is finally here! It brought with it a wave of energy that I have rarely seen before. Everyone has priorities to better themselves and make life worth living again! It's great to be able to feel that kind of energy with people. We need it, especially after being told 24/7 that the world is in a rough spot.

While I did not make any NYE resolutions, I do plan on being more active and doing a bit more traveling this year. I will be taking a mid west tour in January to visit a friend in WI and will be making stops along the way! No weight loss/gain, gym requirements, or personal trainers needed here. I just want this year to be filled with success.

Business wise life has been slightly bumpy. The pita line has launched! While some technical errors did arise in the beginning, it looks like things are under control. Unfortunately every advertising department I call, never calls me back. We'll get mainstream soon, no need to worry. Luckily, Bulldog serves a great product that you can actually eat more than once a week!

Street Meat.........That's a whole different animal, you'll get more info in the spring!

(Sorry apparently you cannot resize these?)

-T.b.