Personal Reflections

Is storytelling essential to creating good digital content?

Absolutely it is! Storytelling is a way of connecting with people. If you are able to tell a good story, then you are able to keep an audience hooked. Keeping your audience engaged is extremely important in any communication especially digital communication.

Sharing your story allows people to get to know you more which allows for deeper more meaningful connections.

An example of how I would incorporate storytelling into my business would include me sharing a backstory of how I got to where I am now and the behind the scenes of running my business. I think that providing this information allows for your audience to get closer to you resulting in more trust.

I would enjoy telling comedy stories the most as I love making people laugh!

Do you think storytelling will continue to be important in digital communication?

Who am I?

I am a Medical Aesthetician who’s passion is helping people.

Since I was a young girl, my passion has always been anything skincare related. I loved getting ready, doing my hair and makeup, and dressing up. It was very evident at a young age that I would end up loving skincare as much as I do now.

It did take me a few years post high school to figure out what exactly I would like to do with my career, but once I did, I have not looked back since. I am extremely eager and excited to continue my career in Medical Aesthetics. I am truly blessed and grateful to have found my dream job.

Here is a link to a website that explains what being a Medical Aesthetician is all about.

Did you know what you wanted to do with your career post high school?

My Personal Brand

I would describe myself as energetic, passionate, and adventurous. I am super passionate about animals, particularly cats and dogs. I would have 10 of each if I could! My colleagues would say my best trait would probably be how trustworthy I am.

My Interests

I enjoy living an active life style filled with adventure. Some of my favourite things to do are; go on hikes (particularly lookout spots) to enjoy a nice sunset, horseback riding, and rollerblading.

Spending time with family and my pets is what truly fulfils me. I am an introvert with a lot to say. I like the company of others, but ultimately my time with myself is when I’m most content. Staying healthy and fit is also very important to me. I have always done some form of fitness throughout my life. Meditation is something I would like to become part of my personal brand, but I have yet to conquer it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I am an active, passionate and trustworthy person. My hobbies are closely related to my overall wellbeing so I take them fairly seriously. Those who know me best would say I am a kind and caring person with an interest in helping people.

B2C Case Study

The company I will be investigating is “Makesy”. They are a wholesale warehouse company that sell a variety of creator tools such as candle making products, beauty products, and a lot more.

About The Company

I came across the company when trying to find a manufacturer for candle making supplies. I was immediately impressed with the variety of products they offer. I would like to mention one thing that I really enjoyed about the website. There are multiple links to several helpful articles relating to starting a new business. They have step by step guides for new business entrepreneurs and they even sell “how to” digital books which I think is a huge asset. Providing extra beneficial information to their consumers also builds trust which is an essential part when trying to connect with your customers. 

Social Media Interactions

Makesy has a fantastic Instagram that they frequently post on. They have 96.5 thousand followers. Their posts are fairly reactive with their followers. One example of this would be how they made a post asking what is one piece of advice a business maker would give to someone just starting a new business. This type of post is very interactive by getting their audience to respond in the comments. Not only does this start a conversation, but it also provides positive encouragement to new business entrepreneurs resulting in a positive outlook for the company. They also post very vibrant photos showcasing their products in a way to catch your attention. I would definitely say their approach is working and I find it quite inspiring as well. 

Here is a link to the Makesy website!

Makesy is an example of a company that is a “B2C” business. Their main goal is to offer products that their consumers can buy. I think they did a fantastic job at creating an informative and easy to use website which makes the experience very pleasant for the customer resulting in more sales.

The Benefits Of Knowing Your Target Audience

Do you really know who you are advertising to?

Knowing your target audience is one of the first and most important things a business owner needs to know when starting to advertise their brand. This information is critical when trying to figure out which approach to take. For example; the type of language to use, where to advertise, which genders or age groups to use if filming video advertisement and so much more. Having a good understanding of who your audience is gives you a better chance of connecting to them.

Pilates Target Audience

One of my hobbies includes doing pilates. The characteristics of my audience would be; Atheltic, healthy, and fit. An effective way to communicate with this type of audience would be to use language that relates to fitness. Maybe having an athlete in a video talking about pilates and the benefits it can have would be a good idea. Promoting overall health and fitness would be relatable to a pilates audience.

Photo By: Nathan Cowley, Pexels.com

How To Figure Out Your Target Audience

Both men and women do pilates, but there is definitely a larger female audience with pilates. Since Pilates is just a type of workout, it is hard to say which specific age group the target audience is, however it does seem to be more popular with women aged 20+. A website that can be used to help gather more information is Survey Monkey. Doing a survey can help you get more answers to better understand your audience.

Thank you for reading my blog on the importance of understanding your target audience!

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The Power Of Words

The way we tell a story can make the world of a difference

When I think about storytelling, the first thing I think about is all of the children’s books I used to read. After reading the content for module 3, I can definitely say I look at storytelling a little differently. I did not realize how much storytelling is used in day to day life.

Storytelling

Storytelling truly does go back to thousands of years ago, but what is fascinating is that it still is so prevalent in today. To list a few examples of how storytelling is still relevant, let’s think about resumes. Resumes are a way for someone to “tell their story”. Being personable in your resume can make you stand out that much more. This is why language is so important. Not only the type of language that you use, but how you use it. Storytelling is so much more than just children’s books, it can be applied to almost anything we do in life.

Encouraging Your Audience

There have been countless times that I’ve read an article online that pained me to finish reading. Why? Mostly because I didn’t find it interesting enough to continue reading. Without proper flow and correct use of language, words are just words. It is how you use those words that can make all the difference when writing. Asking questions to keep your audience engaged is one way to keep their attention.

What are some other forms of storytelling that come to mind?

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A Look Into My Trip To Cuba

A trip to remember –

I recently came back from visiting Cuba and let me tell you – I had the best time ever! My boyfriend and I stayed in Holguin at a lovely new resort that surpassed our expectations. The resort itself was very modern and clean. The people in Cuba are always such a delight. We particularly enjoyed our walk to the beach each morning as we listened to the waves crashing; a sound I will never get tired of.

Highlights:

Dolphin Swim

We decided to do an excursion one day and boy am I ever glad we did. We set sail on a catamaran to go visit the dolphins! We had such a lovely cruise with the sun hitting just right. As we approached the dolphin area, I started to get a little nervous. I had never swam with dolphins before, so my nerves started to kick in. Once it was time to get in the water, I could feel my heart rate increasingly getting faster. It is safe to say that once we were in the water and the dolphin came up to us, my heart melted of cuteness. The happiness I felt was unmatched. I will hold this memory of pure joy forever.

Beach Days

We had the most beautiful beach with the clearest, turquoise water. I am not huge swimmer, but I did spend a fair amount of time in the ocean. My favourite thing to do is walk by the shore and feel the waves crashing by my feet. We were very lucky to have fantastic weather every day except for our final day, which honestly made it somewhat easier to leave.

We had the most beautiful beach with the clearest, turquoise water. I am not huge swimmer, but I did spend a fair amount of time in the ocean. My favourite thing to do is walk by the shore and feel the waves crashing by my feet. We were very lucky to have fantastic weather every day except for our final day. Although this made is somewhat easier to leave.
Photo by: Izzy Brkljaca

Traveling is one of my favourite things to do, especially spending time on the beach during cold winter months.

Do you prefer going to an all inclusive resort over a traditional hotel?

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Social Media Strategies & Why They Are Useful

About Me

Hello! My Name is Izzy. I have decided to take this course to further my understanding in social media marketing. I will be analyzing the importance of creating a social media strategy and the steps on implementing one.

What Is a Social Media Strategy?

Social media strategies help you outline your goals, reflect on your strengths and weaknesses as well as implement a specific strategy to help you achieve results. Social media strategies can also help break down the process on how you will market your business and ways you can make your brand stand out. They can include a list of the different ways you plan to use social media for your business, a social media calendar, and much more. A social media strategy will help set you up for success.

Photo by: Plann via Pexels

How To Create a Social Media Strategy

Creating a social media strategy will look different for everyone. There is no right or wrong way of creating a social media strategy. It can be challenging to know where to start, so below I have highlighted a few helpful tips that can put you in the right direction.

  1. Determine your goals
  2. Write out a timeline for your goals
  3. Research and decide on which social media platforms you plan to use
  4. Create business accounts on your chosen platforms
  5. Engage with your community on the platforms
  6. Remain consistent

Canva is an amazing platform where you can build and edit graphics to create content for your business.

Do you plan on creating a social media strategy for your business?

Should You Be Using Pinterest For Your Business?

So many of us use Pinterest to find inspiration. Why not take advantage of this marketing opportunity?

Pinterest is the worlds 14th largest social network. This comes as no surprise to me, as I always find myself using Pinterest any time I need any inspirational photos, or when looking for new recipes to try out.

Image by: Brett Jordan via Pexels

How Can Pinterest Help Your Business?

83% of Pinterest users have made a purchase from being inspired by something they saw on the app. So how can you use Pinterest for the success of your own business? Firstly, you will need to determine what the purpose of creating a Pinterest for your business will be. Is it to market products you are selling? Is it to promote education on certain subjects? Whatever the case is, you will need to come up with a plan on how you will best use the app. I do believe that even if you are not necessarily promoting a product you are selling, Pinterest can still be used to market your business. As long as there is some type of value to your Pinterest account, it can work in your favour. My favourite thing about Pinterest is how visual it is. The content on Pinterest is primarily visual photos/videos. This can be a huge marketing advantage as you can broadcast your most creative and visually appealing advertisements in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Pinterest Business Account

On Pinterest, you have the option of creating a business account. This is a free account that gives you access to Pinterest analytics, which is very important in order to monitor the growth and interactions of your account. It also comes with marketing materials to further help you succeed with your account.

Give It A Try!

Pinterest has the potential to help boost your business, create new connections, and broadcast your professional brand. I think Pinterest will continue to grow, and evolve in a way where businesses are more likely to use it.

Would you consider using Pinterest for your business account?

This website has more information on how Pinterest can better your business

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The Negative Side Of Social Media

Do the negatives outweigh the positives?

Social media has been around for just over 20 years. It has had a positive impact for many people and businesses. From educational pages, to users sharing their own personal experience, social media certainly has the power to reach a large audience and spread important information around, but at what cost?

Image by: Ron Lach https://www.pexels.com

Cyberbullying

About 37% of youth aged 12 to 17 have been a victim of cyberbullying. The ability to remain anonymous on social media enables users to harass others online without facing the same consequences. The awareness of cyberbullying should continue to be taught in schools, with parents also taking the initiative to engage in the conversation.

Mental Health

Many people on social media create the impression of having everything “all together”. For someone who may be struggling to make ends meet, this can bring up negative emotions. There also seem to be unrealistic beauty standards on social media which can create a lot of self-esteem issues. The impact social media has on mental health can be significant, making it important to set boundaries for yourself.

Addiction

Social media is very accessible, making it easy for people to use whenever they wish. Most people turn to social media for amusement, to learn something new, or to get information on certain businesses or people. How do you know when it turns into an addiction? If you find yourself spending countless hours throughout the day on social media, or if being off social media negatively impacts your mood, you may have a social media addiction.

How To Overcome The Negative Effects

Limit your use on social media. On an iPhone, you can set time limits on certain apps. This can be useful when trying to set boundaries with yourself. Moving apps away from your home screen could potentially help deter you from clicking them instinctually. Be intentional when you are scrolling on social media. Use it to your advantage, and try not to get carried away with endless scrolling.

Check out this useful link on ways to get past the negative impact social media can have. https://www.colorado.edu/health/2019/03/06/how-stop-social-media-spiral

Has social media negatively effected you?

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