Debbie Laskey's Blog

Welcome to Debbie Laskey's insights and commentary about BRANDING, MARKETING, LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT, and CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES. Debbie has worked in high-tech, the Consumer Marketing Department at Disneyland Paris in France, nonprofits, and insurance. Expertise includes strategic planning, brand development, marketing plans and audits, competitive positioning, websites, communications, public relations, employee engagement, customer experiences, and social media marketing.

Showing posts with label blogs. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

What Will You Read Today on Blogger Day?

Do you know today's significance? If you're reading this blog and/or write your own, then you probably know that today is Blogger Day.

Since 1999, each year on August 5th, Blogger Day is observed. A blog, a shortening of the word "weblog," is an informational website published on the Internet that consists of story-like text entries typically displayed in reverse chronological order.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Let's Celebrate International SEO Day!

Do you know what today is? If you answered International SEO Day, then you're correct! On this day, digital marketers, web developers, and businesses worldwide recognize the power of SEO and its impact on the digital age. And on September 27, 1998, the Google search engine was launched.

According to Wikipedia, "Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the quality and quantity of website traffic to a website or web page from search engines. SEO targets unpaid traffic (known as natural or organic results) rather than direct traffic or paid traffic. Unpaid traffic may originate from different kinds of searches, including image search, video search, academic search, news search, and industry-specific vertical search engines. As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, the computer-programmed algorithms that dictate search engine behavior, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines, and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. SEO is performed because a website will receive more visitors from a search engine when websites rank higher on the search engine results page (SERP). These visitors can then potentially be converted into customers."

To recognize the importance of SEO, I recently had a discussion with Lisa Sicard who's based in Maine, who I met on Twitter/X. Highlights follow a brief introduction. Lisa has over 25 years of experience and loves helping others with social media, blogging, and content marketing. She specializes in helping small businesses and bloggers to thrive and succeed online. She wrote a book, How to Tweet and Thrive on Twitter in 2020; and her blog was nominated as One of the Best Internet Marketing Blogs by Infinity Blog Awards in 2019, and also one of the Best Top Marketing Blogs in 2015 and 2016 by Fit Small Business.

QUESTION: Since you've been blogging for over a decade, what are your three best blogging tips?

LISA SICARD: Here are my three tips:

(1) Mastering SEO can make or break your blog. Start with thorough keyword and topic research before you write. This ensures that you're creating content people actually search for.

(2) Many bloggers miss out on the power of internal linking. Make sure to link your posts to each other. This not only helps with SEO, but it also keeps readers on your site longer.

(3) Lastly, your blog isn't a "set it and forget it" project. Update your posts every six months with fresh stats and new info. This keeps your content relevant and boosts your SEO rankings. Keep these tips in mind, and your blog will thrive.

Monday, August 5, 2024

Let's Celebrate Blogger Day!

Do you know today's significance? If you're reading this blog and/or write your own, then you probably know that today is Blogger Day.

According to Holidays Calendar, "Although blogs originally started out as the work of individuals, they have increasingly been used by organizations, universities, and media outlets to distribute information. Today, there are over 600 million blogs published among the 1.9-plus billion websites that currently exist on the Internet. Over 2 million blog posts are published every day. In the United States alone, there are over 32.7 million bloggers; and it's been estimated that approximately 80 percent of all Internet users read blogs."

So, to celebrate Blogger Day, I'd like to share my top ten favorite bloggers (in no particular order) who post regularly on their blogs - if you're not already familiar, check them out!

SHEP HYKEN - customer experience expert

https://hyken.com/topic/sheps-articles/

JIM JOSEPH - brand marketing expert

https://www.jimjoseph.com/new-blog

TIM CALKINS - brand marketing expert

https://timcalkins.com/

SUSAN FRIESEN / EVISION MEDIA - marketing expert

https://evisionmedia.ca/resources/blog/

BJ BUENO / CULT BRANDING - marketing expert

https://cultbranding.com/ceo/

MICHAEL MCKINNEY - leadership expert

https://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/index.html

KEVIN EIKENBERRY - leadership expert

https://kevineikenberry.com/blog/

ERIC JACOBSON - leadership expert

https://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com/

ERIKA ANDERSEN / PROTEUS - leadership expert

https://erikaandersen.com/blog/

and

https://proteus-international.com/blogs/

KATHERINE SPINNEY - leadership coach

https://katherinespinney.com/coaching-blog/

Monday, March 21, 2022

Social Media: Prioritize QUALITY Over QUANTITY

To quote Matthew Kobach (@mkobach), "Twitter is a key that unlocks thousands of doors, some of which you never even knew existed." As a member of the Twitterverse for nearly 13 years, I always enjoy meeting new people and learning from them. I recently connected with Kim Scaravelli and invited her to appear here on my Blog in a Q&A format. Highlights of our conversation follow a brief introduction.

Kim Scaravelli, B.A., B.Ed., is the author of “Making Words Work: A Practical Guide to Writing Powerful Content.” She is the Founder/CEO of Trust Communications (https://trustcommunications.ca/), Managing Partner of the Canadian Diversity Initiative (https://candiversity.com/), and an award-winning content strategist with 20+ years of practical experience. Kim's writing appears on more than 400 corporate and nonprofit websites across Canada, the United States, and Europe. She is also a keynote speaker, mom, and butler to several demanding pets. You can follow her on Twitter (https://twitter.com/KimScaravelli), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kimscaravelli/), and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimscaravelli/).

QUESTION: Many people remember the famous OREO Tweet during the 2013 Super Bowl. With that in mind, what's your favorite social media marketing campaign?
KIM SCARAVELLI: I liked Dove’s #PassTheCrown campaign. As with past campaigns, Dove leaned into strong core values of positive body image and inclusivity. Hard to argue with that. I also got a kick out of the #RIPeanut campaign. Humour is a hard thing to pull off and it was risky to kill an icon like Mr. Peanut, but it worked for them! Made me smile and I actually DID pick up a container of peanuts at the grocery store, which I had not done in a very long time.

QUESTION: What is your favorite social media platform or platforms for brand-building, and why?
KIM SCARAVELLI: I love this question because it aligns with my belief that social media is best used for long-term goals, like brand-building, rather than short-term objectives, like trying to boost sales for the month or the quarter.

Social lets you speak to your audience so directly and authentically that it’s an ideal way to engage and build trust with people. With that in mind, the ideal social media platform depends on the brand and the objectives. Personally, because I'm a writer by trade, I adore Twitter! It allows me to lean into my strengths and play with words. That said, if I were a chef, I might be more inclined to focus on Instagram, because food is so deliciously visual.

The key is to find the most natural ‘fit’ because it makes long-term effort easier and more fun, and thereby more sustainable. I’m not saying you can’t be on multiple platforms, but I do think most smaller brands, and even many larger ones, need to have a favourite that they can really dig into.

TWEET THIS: Social media is best used for long-term goals, like brand-building, rather than short-term objectives. -@KimScaravelli #SMTIP #brandexperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: What are your three tips for creating excellent content?
KIM SCARAVELLI: My number one tip is to BE HELPFUL. Content that answers a question or solves a problem is always a winner. No one cares about features and benefits - they care about HOW those features and benefits serve them and their needs.

My second tip is to CHOOSE CLEAR OVER CLEVER. If you can be both - fantastic. But the purpose of content is to inform, educate, and/or entertain. All of these goals can be reached as long as your communication is clear. Clever is an add-on.

My last tip is to EDIT. EDIT. EDIT. Powerful content is almost always created through repeated editing. It is very rare for thoughts and ideas to land on the page perfectly formed.

QUESTION: Many CEO’s and leadership teams question how to track ROI when the topic of social media is raised. What social metrics do you measure and why, and how often?
KIM SCARAVELLI: I am obsessed with engagement numbers. I check them monthly and I also check engagement rates for competitors, so I have accurate benchmarks. Engagement is how you know you’ve made real connections, so it’s the bomb. That said, I don’t make massive corrections based on what I see happening. Sometimes, things need time to heat up. When it comes to social media strategies, I believe you should stay the course, but make small tweaks based on the numbers you’re seeing. Continual improvements are the way to go.

QUESTION: Blogs are easy and inexpensive marketing tools to promote experts and expertise. What five ways do you recommend generating content on a regular basis?
KIM SCARAVELLI: I believe in strategy:
1. Figure out who your ideal audience is. Hone in on their needs and wants.
2. Choose topics based on that audience.
3. Now create topic clusters. (One main topic that’s BIG to your audience, with 3-5 smaller, related topics.)
4. Decide how much time you can commit to blogging each month, realistically.
5. Now make a schedule that prioritizes one piece that’s a deep dive into the main topic, with subsequent easier content covering the smaller topics.

Prioritize quality over quantity. By starting with the most authority-building, valuable piece, you have a strong foundation. After that, it’s about staying on schedule!

QUESTION: Some experts recommend that you should add one new social platform each year. If you agree with this, which one will you add to your marketing arsenal this year, and why? And if you stop using one, which one, and why?
KIM SCARAVELLI: I disagree. When it comes to social, each brand is unique. And there is a point where you may simply be spreading yourself too thin. I recommend being on 2-3 platforms. Master them. Don’t give in to the pressure to be everywhere.

Professionally, I ventured into Clubhouse in 2021, but it really wasn’t my thing. I didn’t feel comfortable or productive there, so I gave it up. Couldn’t see the benefits for myself. That said, I’m sure it works for lots of other folks. There’s no shame in taking a pass on things now and then.

TWEET THIS: When it comes to social, each brand is unique. -@KimScaravelli #socialmediamarketing #DebbieLaskeysBlog

My thanks to Kim for sharing her inspiring social media insights and for appearing here on my Blog.

Image Credit: Wordswag.

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Five Ways the New Year Can Jump-Start Your Personal Brand

Image Credit: Nubie.com

With the arrival of the New Year, it's time for clean slates in the marketing arena. Many marketing budgets have been refreshed and are set back to zero. Marketing campaigns have new objectives, and metrics have yet to be met. With all the possibilities in front of your brand, it's a great time to spend time thinking about your PERSONAL brand. In fact, here are five ways that the New Year can jump-start your personal brand.

[1] How does your personal brand look?
Do you need a new head shot for all your social media platforms? While it may be interesting to see someone standing in front of the Taj Mahal, that is not an appropriate photo except maybe for a travel agent – and maybe not even then. Interview photographers, look at their portfolios, and review LinkedIn profiles – and then arrange a photo shoot so you'll have lots of new photos in your personal branding tool chest. If you have a variety of social platforms and are active in social media, you'll want high-quality head shots. If you're a professional speaker, writer, etc., you may want pics taken with different backgrounds. Whatever your needs are, smile for the camera!

[2] What colors reflect your personal brand?
When you think about your strengths, do you think blue, yellow, or orange? What does your Twitter or Facebook profile image say about you? Your color palette should reflect your competitive strengths and positioning exactly how you want to present yourself. If you need a refresher in color associations, see below.

Image Credit: Buffer

And let's not forget the color of the year. Pantone, known worldwide as the standard language for color communication from designer to manufacturer to retailer to customer, has named Greenery as the color of 2017. "Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose," explained Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

[3] What does your personal website say about you and your talents?
This question assumes that that you do, in fact, have an online portfolio or website. If not, do not pass go, don't collect $200 – create a website and reserve a URL with your name immediately. In this era when people buy URL's to hedge their bets that someone may want to purchase them or act with nefarious intent, reserve your name followed by .com. Then create a website with the basics including some of your work, links to your social sites, and your contact info. If you don't want to include your email address, phone number, or snail mail address for security reasons, create a form for a visitor to complete to connect with you – because you never know when Bill Gates may want to connect with you! In the alternative, create an email address specifically for your website. But no matter what you decide, in this social era, you definitely need a website.

[4] What does your personal blog say about you and your talents?
Everyone has an opinion. I've even seen realtors and doctors with blogs. Now I'm not recommending that you write posts about real estate or medical procedures (unless those are your specialties), but there is an abundance of mainstream news for you to read that will inspire you to generate content. Since I started my personal marketing/leadership blog in 2009, and with over 200 posts on my site and more than 200 on other sites around the Internet, my most popular posts have included these topics:

•    Annual Marketing Highlights
•    Annual Brand Tips
•    Annual Marketing Terms
•    Social Media Secrets
•    Q&A with visiting thought leaders (an interview series)

[5] What new social platforms have you tried?
When was the last time you used Snapchat? What about the stories feature on Instagram? While you may not discover the next Facebook before tech journalists at TechRepublic, the Verge, SilconAngle, or BuzzFeed, you CAN try new apps in beta form or test their new capabilities as soon as you hear about them. This is a way to become an early adopter. And if you become an expert while using an app's new capabilities for your personal brand, you can extend the expertise to your 9-5 brand. Imagine your boss' smiling face!

What other ways will you jump-start your personal brand in early 2017?