I know it's only October, but where I'm from we've already had frost, snow, hail, and sleet. It's downright cold. Flash fiction is one of the ways I deal with the weather, so my first story of the season deals with the cold rain we so recently had. For reasons passing understanding, I've decided to write in first person. Oh, well.
Cold Winter Rain
I usually love winter, but today it's cold and raining. That means freezing rain, slick roads, and idiot drivers. Why is everyone driving like it’s a bright summer day? You can’t drive like that during a winter rain.
I try to dismiss the other drivers from my thoughts and concentrate on the road. As I pull out onto the highway, my car slips. I’ve got snow tires and I’m not going very fast, but still I slide. It’s no better than a skating rink out here, and I’m usually not stupid enough to drive on a skating rink. Today, however, I have no choice. I have to pick up my daughter and her newborn baby from the hospital.
As I’m thinking about my new grandson, I hit a patch of ice. Caught unaware, I jerk the wheel to the right and skid toward the shoulder. Then I made a rookie mistake. I slam on the brakes. The car starts to spin and I utter a curse as I fight the car for control. I’m losing and I know it, so I say a quick prayer and release the wheel.
The car spins wildly before coming to a sudden stop. My head rocks forward. Something hits me square in the face and drives my head back into the headrest. I see stars and gasp for breath, wondering where I am. Oh. On the road, driving like an idiot.
A disembodied voice floats through the air and I realize it’s been speaking for several minutes.
“What?” I mutter, pushing the airbag out of my way.
“Ma’am, we’ve detected an airbag deployment. Do you need assistance?”
I shake my head, realize he can’t see me, and snap, “No, I need a new brain.”
“Do you require assistance?”
Now that’s the real question. My head hurts a little, but that’s from the airbag. Finally I reply, “No. I’ll just call my husband to pick me up.”
"Are you sure, Ma'am? I can have an ambulance sent to your location."
"No, I'm fine. All in one piece."
“Okay, Ma’am. Take care.”
I dig my phone out of my purse and dial. My daughter and her son will just have to wait while I get my husband out of work. Hopefully, he won’t laugh at me. Of course, I laughed at him last year...
If you're writing for profit you're running a business. There is no way around it. And all businesses need marketing, writers more than most. Marketing is one of the most important aspects of business and can help your own both stabilize and grow. Running a business without a sound marketing will cost you more money, limit your profits, and will generally mean more work for you.
Thankfully, the advent of the Internet has made marketing easier. It is now much easier, convenient, and efficient to create a successful marketing plan than it was even a few short years ago. As a business owner, the Internet and related technology should factor into your marketing plan. But for many people, even business owners, try to fully understand technology can be intimidating and time consuming. This is where social media experts come in. These people are proficient in information technology and specialize in giving businesses online exposure. There are many reasons to hire a social media expert, but five reasons stand out above the rest.
Social Media Experts are Highly Creative
Most social media experts are multitalented. They are experts in design, marketing, art, and have the ability to combine these talents into a cohesive whole. Creativity is one of the most valuable gifts out there, and a creative social media expert can design a business plan that is unique and has the ability to draw in new customers.
There’s Something to Learn From Social Media Experts
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Social Media Experts Can Build an Online Presence
If anyone out there needs an online presence, it's the writer trying to make a decent living. But the Internet is full of pitfalls for anyone looking to market their own business. A social media expert understands technology and the associated lingo, grasps the intricacies of search engine optimization (SEO), and knows how to gain a wider exposure for your business. Simply put, they understand business and how the Internet can benefit business. This can use this understanding to build an online presence for your business, relieving the burden of having to do all this yourself.
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Hiring a social media expert is an expense, it’s true. However, in the long run, it will probably cost less to hire someone than it will to do it all yourself. They know the ins and outs of the business, so they’ll spend less time than you would. They can also usually obtain appropriate advertising at a reduced rate. While you may have to invest a little money at the beginning, the value you’ll receive will more than make up for it.
Most business owners, and most writers, need help and social media experts can provide that help. Their skills can help your business to grow and develop. If you do choose to hire a social media expert, you’ll have a valuable resource at your fingertips. Don’t overlook this person, or the value they represent.
Using YouTube videos as part of a larger marketing strategy is an excellent idea that can truly benefit your reputation as a writer. You can post book trailers, interviews, or even video journals. However, there is more to this tactic than simply creating the video and posting it on YouTube. You need to find ways to engage your audience, to make them truly want a relationship with your business, whatever that may be (and writing for profit is definitely a business). There are some simple tips that you can use to truly maximize your YouTube marketing campaign.
Allow Comments on Your Videos
Every video you post for the purpose of marketing should be a place where you audience can leave comments and have discussions. It’s also a place where you can engage with your audience and answer questions, and you can even post links to your blog or website. However, you should at least moderate the comments you receive. This allows you to catch spam before it’s posted and keep your comment board neat and clean.
Take Advantage of Your Own Channel
Starting your own channel is a great way to allow your viewers to subscribe to your videos and locate specific videos in your library. This is an easy way to connect with your viewers and ensures that your subscribers are immediately notified of new material. This alleviates some of the burden of getting that new material out there, since your loyal viewers will already know it exists.
Give Your Audience Something to Do
If you’re using a YouTube video for marketing purposes, you probably want your audience to do more than just watch the video. Give them the opportunity to “Like” your Facebook page, follow you on Twitter, or visit your website. Do this by providing links that are visible and direct. Don’t try to hide the destination and trick people into visiting your site. The goal is to build a relationship with your audience, to keep them coming back, and you’ll do this best by providing honest links on your YouTube video.
Make Your Video Stand Out
Videos are everywhere. And it’s unlikely your content is so unique that it hasn’t been covered by someone in some form. In order to attract and keep your audience, you’ll have to get creative. Don’t just make a video, make a professional video. Use high quality sound and exciting graphics to create a video that is truly unique.
Pay Attention to Text
It’s not enough to simply post a YouTube video. You have make sure that video is found by search engines such as Google or Yahoo. To do this, you’ll have to ensure that your text and tags contain relevant keywords and phrases. These phrases should work both to attract the attention of the search engines and interest readers. When tagging your videos, think like a search engine and pick terms that someone might type into Google in order to find content like yours.
YouTube is a powerful tool for promoting your services, products, and business as a whole. With some simple tips and a powerful video, you will soon be able to maximize the potential of YouTube and attract a loyal group of followers.
