Author: bmaxsnow

Features to Increase Your Social Media Presence

In recent years, many social media influencers and online personalities have focused on well-known platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to make their presence known. Unfortunately, many have not embraced the wonders of Infographic to help boost their social media presence.

THE BASICS

“What is an Infographic?” you ask, well, as the name implies, it’s a graphic/image that conveys information in an eye-catching and easy-to-understand way. Infographics can be used to liven up weather reports, simplify complex ideas like rocket science, or provide fun visuals for lifestyles like vegetarianism. (see Fig. 1).

WHERE CAN I FIND INFOGRAPHICS?

You can actually make Infographics using almost any kind of image/graphic program or app; however, if you are serious about them and want to make some high-quality infographics, then you can’t do better than using Canva. It is free to use (with limited features) and allows you to create stunning infographics in a very user-friendly environment.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF INFOGRAPHICS?

In Canva, like in many infographic programs, you can find numerous features to help you put together an amazing image, slide or document of any kind. In Fig.2 above, you can see some of the major features on the left-hand side of the screen.

You can choose from a number of templates to set the theme or backdrop of your document (many of these are free; however, if you want more options, you can sign up for Canva Pro).

After you’ve chosen your template, you can add in elements including basic shapes, real-life photos, informative tables/charts, or stylized graphics (like emojis). These elements can be sized and coloured any which way you want to create a well-thought out cohesive theme.

Along with elements, you can add text (headings, subheadings, and blurbs) to explain what your elements represent. Text can be bright and flashy, or calm and subdued; either way, you’ll want to make sure it is easy for viewers to read.

Drawing is another major feature of Canva. If you can’t find a graphic you want, then you can make your own by adding your artistic flair.

When all is said and done, you can use the upload feature to drag and drop audio and video to really spice up your infographic, and connect to your accounts like Facebook or Instagram.

These major features of Canva infographics are summarized in my own infographic (Fig.3).

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INFOGRAPHICS?

Infographics are beneficial to all users who want to connect to their audience. They allow university professors to squeeze complex ideas into concise images for the benefit of their students. They can be used by office workers to convey complex ideas to executives who may not be familiar with the specifics of a product or concept.

For online users, infographics are a great way to tell stories, promote products, and connect with audiences. Combining your social media platforms with infographics will help to increase not only overall engagement (through likes/shares), it will drive more traffic to your platforms, and increase general awareness of your brand.

How? Infographics are visual, and as you are well aware, images are worth a thousand words. In fact, many articles have shown, including Fig. 4 below, that humans process visuals, like infographics, thousands of times faster than words.

Use the visually inclined nature of your audience to your advantage, employ the eye-popping features of infographics on your next social media post. Doing so will increase all facets of your online presence and eventually improve your search engine optimization (SEO) so more and more people will flock to your platforms.

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Check out my other blog posts to learn more about infographics and other practices to improve your social media game.

Enjoying the English Countryside on a Budget

When you think of the UK, one of the first scenes that likely pops into your mind is the wonderful rolling hills of jolly old England. The patchwork of crops and greenery are such a part of the British identity that they have been featured on billboards, biscuit tins, and even in ads to sell war bonds during World War II.

One of the most beautiful places for such scenery is an area known as the Cotswold – a region of England set about 2 hours SW by train from the hustle and bustle of London. Famous for its traditional thatch-roofed stone houses and quaint little towns, the Cotswold exemplifies all that is beautiful in rural England.

The best way to experience this magical place is by walking it, and the best trail to walk it is the Cotswold Way, a national trail that stretches from the charming town of Chipping Campden to the former Roman City of Bath.

Check out the video below from the good people at Walker Creative to get a great overview of the Way.

Discover England’s Great Walking Trails – The Cotswold Way – YouTube

Looks amazing doesn’t it?

If you are into walking, then there is no better way to do such a trip then in the UK. However, as most people know, England can be an expensive place, especially when everything is in British Pounds. But, never fear, after having down such a trip myself, I wanted to give you some helpful tips on how you can enjoy the Cotswold Way without hurting your pocketbook too much.

Many of these tips are not specific to the Cotswold Way, and can in fact be used for other trips, especially international ones.

Below, I’ve broken up the tips into the 3 main phases of any travel: Before, During, and After.

BEFORE you go on your trip, it’s a good idea to plan things out, especially if you want to save money.

Planning the best time to is important. For my Cotswold trip, I chose a time when no major festivals or events were going on, that way things are less likely to be booked up and are often cheaper.

Once I planned out my UK trip, I searched numerous airlines, flight paths, and times to optimize the best time to go. It takes time, but it’s worth it.

From there, I thought about what I absolutely needed to pack, especially considering this would be a walking trip. I not only wanted to save money and time by not having to check in a bag, but knew I would literally carrying everything I needed on my back. The less I had to carry, the easier it would be physically. If my back was too heavy, then I would be forced to pay for an expensive service to have my bag carried forward by a company and walk without it.

DURING my trip to the Cotswold, I knew I had to save money wherever I could. One of the best ways to do this, was to buy food on the cheap. No site was more fortuitous then a bright red Tesco sign. For those not in the know, Tesco is the major grocery store brands (basically the Walmart of the UK).

Here you could get a great lunch deal – a sandwich, plus a drink, and a snack for only a few pounds. It wasn’t the best quality mind you, but it filled you up and ensured you weren’t paying an arm and a leg like at a sit-down restaurant.

Another great way to save money during a trip is to stay at reasonably priced accommodations. One of the best options for this in the UK is by staying at a pub. Many rural pubs, like in the Cotswold, would have rooms you can book and are nicely priced. Nothing fancy, but you had a place to lay your head, and you could also eat relatively cheap at the pub as well. Try not to drink too much though, that can add up!

AFTER the walking was done and I had completed the Cotswold Way. I still wasn’t done trying to save money. My flight out of London was coordinated so that when I was done the walk, I could grab a train to London, and catch the flight home without paying for an extra night’s stay. Sometimes, timing is the best way to save money.

When I got back home, I thought about my trip, looked at my budget and was happy to see I spent less then I had planned. Thanks to all my efforts, I could use the money I saved up for my next big trip. So, I tucked away my remaining Pounds for another day.

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Like what you read? Then check out my other travel posts on Twitter (@bradmaxsnow1138) and Instagram (bmaxsnow).

Tips from Masterclass

Have you ever wanted to write a short story, but didn’t know how?

Well, you’re in luck! The great staff at Masterclass (the best online learning course from the world’s best experts) have many great articles for you to learn from and can make you into a story telling machine.

One such article includes great tips on how to write short stories.

The article is a fun, easy read; but, if you want an even more succinct summary, check out this great infographic, which lays out the 5 required elements for a good short story.

If you like what you see and want to become the next big thing in the literary sphere, then check out Masterclass for more learning opportunities.

6 Ways to Better Business Blogging

Author: Snow, Bradley

Running a business requires a strong online presence. With social media becoming more and more prevalent, you need to take full advantage of what apps like Twitter and Instagram have to offer to grow a strong business.

Oftentimes, though, businesses forget about one form of online presence: blogs. Not surprising, as blogs have been around for a while, many people have forgotten about them; and, yes, even though many people are busy posting Instagrammable photos and quick captions to help drum up business, studies have shown that blogs can not only get you views and traffic right away, they are most likely to keep getting you traffic further down the road.

Despite the focus on short-form writing, many online readers still gravitate towards long-form writing, if it is done right, which is commonly accomplished through blogging.  

“How do I blog?” You may ask, well, here are 6 great tips on how to write blogs for your business and get the attention you deserve for your products.

1. Grab Attention with a Great Headline

Get your reader’s attention right away. Do so by using an attention-grabbing headline. Your first sentence should compel your reader to click on your blog to read more.

2. Make it Short and Snappy

After you’ve getting attention, follow-up with a short, interesting introduction. You don’t want to write too much right away; focus on the main point of your blog and entice your audience to read more.

3. Be Simple

Once you’ve sunk your teeth into the meat of your blog, you can do more long-form writing, but this doesn’t mean never-ending sentences and page-long paragraphs. Write short, sweet, and simple sentences, forming the basis of compact, but relevant paragraphs. Doing so will keep your reader interested, but still manage to convey useful information they want to acquire. This type of writing is also very natural, almost like speaking, and is more appealing to a general audience.

4. Be Authentic

Speaking of being natural, blog writing should sound like you. Don’t try to pretend to be Shakespeare or Plato. Doing so will come off as unrealistic to your reader as people are good at spotting fakes. Write as if you were talking to a friend or, in a more business sense, a customer who has walked into your store.

Be casual, but professional; show the audience you know what you are talking about, without trying to sound pompous. This creates a strong sense of authenticity and credibility, which leads to likability. This will put your audience at ease and drive them towards reading more about products.

5. Spice it Up!

Blogs aren’t just about pretty words; they should also include a lot of fun visuals. Shake things up with eye-capturing images and entertaining videos every 100 words or so in order to keep your readers’ attention.

Social media like Instagram have pre-disposed audiences towards fun, bright visuals. Blogs are no exceptions and should also be colourful and enticing. Employ a meme or cool video clip, but be sure that it relates to your business and works well with your brand’s image.

6. Use a Solid Call-to-Action

Always end with a good Call-to-Action (CTA). It doesn’t have to be complex, in fact, most CTAs are straight forward and simple. As a business, you’ll likely want to promote your product or drive traffic to your site. Do so at the end of your blog, once your readers’ have learned about who you are, they are now eager to learn more – give them what they want by providing a link to your business.

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Want to learn more about better business writing? Click the link below to find out other hot tips on how to improve your online business.

http://betterbusinesswriting.com/

An engagement suspense story

My live-tweet thread shares the story of an important event in my life – my engagement.

In my 10 + tweets, I conveyed my feelings, and the difficulty, of asking my wife if she would marry me.

STORY FORMAT

The story started off lovely enough. We arrived at a castle hotel in Ireland, near Galway, that we had booked ahead of time to “treat” ourselves.

While in our room, I tried to find a means to ask her if she would marry me without a ring at hand (because I was going to suggest that we shop for a ring in Galway, so she could pick what she wanted – a nice traditional Irish Claddagh ring).

In the middle part of my live-tweet story, I figured out a way to propose to her (with a note under her pillow); but, my worst fears were realized when she didn’t find the note before she went to sleep.

The next morning, at the end of the story, I took matters into my own hand – I gave her the note; she said “Yes”; and we set out to find the perfect ring.

“ENGAGING” STORY

Would she find the note or not helped to create much of the suspense in the story and helped to keep the audience engaged.

The stakes were high for me personally (“Would she say “No”?”), but I felt pretty confident I knew the answer before I even asked (But, you never know!).

STORYTELLING TECHNIQUES/PRINCIPLES

As Eric Goldschein suggested in his article posted in Social Media Today, I tried to write the way I talk (or think) to make the story more natural and authentic. The personal perspective also helped up the suspense, as I didn’t know what was going to happen next.

I also tweeted short posts, including ones with “…” and reactions like “WTF?”, as this helped to build up the intrigue, which Joe Wodlington stated in his “How to use Tweet threads” article was important for good social media writing.

All in all, I felt the personal writing style made the posts highly relatable to anyone who has ever planned something out in their mind, only to fall flat on their face.