AHA Moments

3.02 billion: That is 1/3 of the world's population. It is also the projected number of worldwide users on social media by 2021. 50 million: That is how many small businesses worldwide are currently using Facebook for marketing purposes. Based on those numbers, it's no secret that social media is ... view entire article

As you develop a marketing strategy for your Brand Story you’ll discover that you have 3 basic ways to engage a conversation with a potential customer: one is through Owned Media; another is through Earned Media, and the other is through Paid Media. While each of the 3 media channels help build se... view entire article

We as human beings crave routine. Going to work each day, cleaning the house, paying bills, etc.… we get into habits that create structure, giving us predictability in our lives. In some instances, routines can be extremely helpful. A set schedule often allows better management of your time, pla... view entire article

It’s no secret: Creating content doesn’t come easy for some people. Some call it writer’s block but it really comes down to having confidence in your ability to write. Fear can actually be the motivating factor behind limiting your creative ability, but you can’t let it stop you from creatin... view entire article

We live in a world that never stops changing and if you’re not careful, you’ll get lost. New social media channels are always trying to make their big break, and the big ones are constantly changing to stay relevant. Instagram just revealed a new addition to their stories feature allowing bran... view entire article

Truly effective marketing strategies are ones that have the ability to change and adapt based on the needs and trends of consumer behavior as well as the current marketing landscape. An important first step in your overall strategic approach is to identify and prioritize all potential and relevant m... view entire article

Your customers are real, living people. In marketing your business, it’s important to think like the people you are trying to reach. More importantly, if you want to increase or maintain customers, you must consistently invite them to engage with you. This doesn’t always include spending money �... view entire article

Pop Quiz: How would you answer the question, “What is your main objective for an initial marketing campaign?” If the answer is simply, “to sell more product” then unless you’re giving your product away for free you probably need to go back to the drawing board. The fact is a sale is rare... view entire article

You can admire and polish anything to make it shine, but making something beautiful doesn’t make it unique and doesn’t make it effective. The same can be said about advertising and marketing. You can formulate the most astonishing campaign that implements every creative tool in the book and th... view entire article

So let’s take a breath and take a fresh look at your marketing efforts. Hopefully, you’ve gained some insight from our blogs as we continue to share tips and ideas on how to successfully reach and share engaging information with your current customers and new prospects. The institutional term f... view entire article

Whether your business is in slow season or off-season, revamping your business' story is crucial to its success. Due to the constant exposure to marketing stimuli, a business needs to continue to be relevant with its audience. Developing a plan can be difficult. A few ways to remain top-of-mind is t... view entire article

We’re all aware of the importance of making a good first impression. But it’s just as important to support the first impression with substance. Attracting a new customer often begins with a good first impression whether it’s a face-to-face meeting, a presentation, an advertisement, or someone ... view entire article

Latest Facebook update not necessarily “Liked”. Facebook recently made some alterations to their News Feed algorithm that may subsequently affect marketers and brands. Users now have the option to choose who they want to see first on their Timeline, also referred to as their Homepage. A... view entire article

Method of the Masses We all saw it coming…or were we too busy looking down at our smartphones? Mobile devices are at the center of the modern marketing era. Just as handheld devices and pocket sized phones and tablets are gaining popularity, so is the importance of mobile search, mobile conversio... view entire article

In today’s modern era there are several channels a business can take advantage of in order to reach potential customers. With all these possibilities, you may find yourself asking the same question so many other businesses have: Which marketing strategies are best for my business? Should I focus o... view entire article

Simple Steps to Ensure Your Story Is Being Seen At Alexander + Hughes, we know how important search engine optimization is in order to get your website’s content noticed online. But what about that specific story you want everyone to see? Or that post with the graphic that you know could go vira... view entire article

Google It! With Google’s ongoing list of cutting-edge ideas, it’s no secret that Google not only dominates the search engine market but several digital fields as well. Google continues to introduce innovative ways for businesses to profit from the Internet whether you are a sole owner or a Fort... view entire article

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As summer gets underway you can’t help but find ways to beat the heat. Think about your favorite summer treat, maybe it’s an ice cream sundae. Now imagine how the ingredients in your perfect summer treat can be translated into a story for your business. Perhaps a scoop of sticky content, sprin... view entire article

What’s the Deal with #Hashtags?? You see them everywhere: on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even print and television. So what are hashtags and what value do they offer? The short answer:Hashtags were originally developed as a simple way to organize, assemble, and track to... view entire article

Tip #47: Start a Fan Club Before you read this blog I want you to think like a consumer versus someone trying to sell something. As consumers we are all constantly exposed to hundreds of ads, offers, or promotions every day. The “noise” has become so overwhelming that we have figured out how to... view entire article

We live in a digital world. So, you should agree that there is value in engaging your target audience directly through social media. A 2012 study conducted by Pew Research Centers found that 65% of Internet users use social media. Of users on Facebook, 58% liked a brand page in 2011 and 41% shared c... view entire article

In part 1 of “3 Steps To Increase Your Word-of-Mouth Marketing,” we discussed the importance of establishing your target audience and how to incorporate social media into your marketing strategy. In part 2 we focused on identifying your business’ unique story and how to share it. In our final... view entire article

In part 1 we discussed the importance of identifying your target audience and how to incorporate social media into your marketing strategy. In part 2 we focus on discovering your business’ unique story. Additionally, we’ll discuss the different ways to share your story. “Discover what makes yo... view entire article

Selecting the Right Social Media Channel for Your Business Social media has rapidly become one the most effective ways to increase awareness and gain new customers. However, social media is often overlooked by small businesses because it can seem overwhelming. But with a little planning social medi... view entire article

Social Storytelling combines strategic marketing, public relations, digital marketing, and social media into one integrated program designed to connect with prospects, nurture your current customers, and encourage them to become loyal customers. The ultimate goal is to empower your customers to beco... view entire article

Even though Facebook now reports over 1 billion active accounts, there are still business owners that aren’t convinced that Facebook offers any real benefits. This article attempts to address the common concerns for starting a Facebook Business page. Concern #1 – No one cares: My kids use Faceb... view entire article

1. Listen. A good story starts by listening to your customer in order to learn what they really want to know. It’s not about you. Make sure your story focuses on what you can do for your customer versus just telling them what you do. 2. Earn trust. One key to developing customer loyalt... view entire article

Earning and maintaining a positive reputation is critical to the success of any company. Your reputation starts by providing a good product or service. But that’s typically not enough to succeed long term. In order to establish your brand you need to keep your audience engaged with compelling s... view entire article

To succeed in business we’ve all been told that it’s critical to have a series of innovative strategies and plans. We’re told that we should have a business plan, a sales plan, and a marketing plan that are all supported by specific strategies. And now with the internet in full swing along wi... view entire article

It’s true, social media is the hottest thing in the marketing communications industry. And many businesses we talk to are anxious to dive right into the digital age. It should come as no secret that A+H is a big fan of social media but we have discovered some initial obstacles to overcome when w... view entire article