Understanding Business Blogging

What is Business Blogging?

Business blogging is a marketing tactic that leverages the power of blogging to increase online visibility for a business. It serves as a marketing channel, similar to social media, email marketing, and direct mail, to support business growth. By consistently creating and publishing valuable content, businesses can engage with their target audience, establish thought leadership, and drive traffic to their website.

Why is Blogging Worth it in 2024?

With the ever-increasing competition in the digital space, many businesses wonder if blogging is still worth the investment. The answer is a resounding yes! Blogging offers numerous benefits that make it an essential component of a comprehensive marketing strategy. Here are some reasons why blogging is worth it in 2024:

1. Driving Traffic to Your Website: Blogging helps attract new visitors to your website by creating indexed pages that appear in search engine results. Each blog post presents an opportunity to rank higher in organic search and drive targeted traffic to your site.

2. Repurposing Blog Content for Social Media: Blogging provides a steady stream of content that can be shared on social media platforms, expanding your reach and exposing your business to new audiences.

3. Converting Traffic into Leads: By incorporating lead-generating calls-to-action in your blog posts, you can convert website traffic into valuable leads. Offering relevant content assets in exchange for visitor information helps nurture leads and move them through the sales funnel.

4. Establishing Authority: Consistently creating valuable content positions your business as an industry leader and expert in the eyes of your target audience. By addressing common questions and providing insightful solutions, you build trust and credibility with potential customers.

5. Boosting Link Building: Blogging contributes to your link building efforts, as high-quality and valuable content attracts inbound links from other websites. These backlinks not only improve your search engine rankings but also enhance your domain authority.

6. Driving Long-Term Results: Blogging has a compounding effect, where older blog posts continue to drive traffic and generate leads over time. By consistently creating evergreen content, you can reap the long-term benefits of increased website traffic and lead generation.

7. Sharing Company News: A business blog provides a platform to share company news, updates, and stories. This humanizes your brand and allows your audience to connect with your business on a more personal level.

8. Secondary Benefits of Business Blogging: Blogging offers additional advantages, such as testing marketing campaigns, gaining insights into your target audience, and monetizing your blog content through various business models like affiliate marketing.

Now that we have explored the benefits of blogging for business, let’s dive deeper into each aspect and learn how to harness the power of blogging to achieve your marketing goals.

The Benefits of Blogging for Business

Driving Traffic to Your Website

One of the primary benefits of blogging for business is its ability to drive targeted traffic to your website. Unlike other methods that rely on existing audience awareness, such as direct visits or paid advertising, blogging enables you to attract new visitors through search engine optimization (SEO) and content optimization.

Every blog post you create becomes an indexed page on your website, increasing the chances of appearing in search engine results pages (SERPs). This organic visibility not only drives traffic but also signals to search engines that your website is active and should be crawled frequently. By consistently publishing valuable content and optimizing it for relevant keywords, you can improve your website’s search engine rankings and attract a steady stream of organic traffic.

To maximize the traffic potential of your blog posts, it is crucial to focus on keyword research, topic relevance, and on-page optimization. By understanding the search demand for specific keywords and crafting content that aligns with searcher intent, you can increase the visibility of your blog posts and drive targeted traffic from search engines like Google.

Repurposing Blog Content for Social Media

In addition to driving traffic through search engines, blogging also plays a vital role in your social media marketing efforts. Each blog post you publish provides shareable content that can be promoted on various social media platforms, such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Pinterest.

By sharing your blog content on social media, you expose your business to a broader audience that may not be aware of your brand. This amplification effect is especially valuable when your content resonates with your target audience and encourages them to engage, share, and interact with your brand.

Moreover, blogging helps you maintain an active social media presence by providing a repository of valuable content. Instead of constantly creating new content for social media, you can repurpose your blog posts and share them across your social channels. This strategy not only saves time and resources but also helps you consistently deliver valuable content to your social media audience.

Converting Traffic into Leads

Driving traffic to your website is just the first step in the customer acquisition process. The ultimate goal is to convert that traffic into leads and nurture them into paying customers. This is where blogging plays a crucial role in your lead generation strategy.

Each blog post presents an opportunity to include lead-generating calls-to-action (CTAs) that entice visitors to take the next step in their buyer’s journey. These CTAs can lead to various content assets, such as ebooks, whitepapers, webinars, or trials, which provide value to your audience in exchange for their contact information.

By strategically placing CTAs throughout your blog posts and offering valuable content assets, you can capture leads and build a database of prospects for your sales team. This enables you to nurture these leads through targeted email marketing campaigns and personalized communication, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Establishing Authority

In today’s crowded marketplace, establishing authority and thought leadership is crucial for business success. Blogging allows you to position your business as an industry expert by consistently creating valuable content that addresses common questions and provides insightful solutions.

By sharing your expertise and knowledge through your blog posts, you build trust and credibility with your target audience. When potential customers find answers to their questions on your blog, they are more likely to trust your brand and consider your products or services when making purchasing decisions.

Establishing authority through blogging also has a positive impact on your sales enablement efforts. When your sales team can refer prospects to informative blog posts that address their specific pain points, it helps build trust and positions your salespeople as valuable resources. This not only accelerates the sales process but also enhances the overall customer experience.

Boosting Link Building

Link building is a critical aspect of SEO, and blogging can significantly contribute to your link building efforts. High-quality and valuable blog content attracts inbound links from authoritative websites, signaling to search engines that your website is trustworthy and an expert in your industry.

To enhance your link building strategy through blogging, it is essential to create content that other websites find valuable and worth referencing. By conducting thorough research, offering unique insights, and providing practical solutions, you increase the likelihood of other websites linking back to your blog posts.

In addition to improving search engine rankings, backlinks also help build your domain authority. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more likely your website will be discovered by search engines and users searching for relevant information in your industry.

Driving Long-Term Results

One of the most significant advantages of blogging for business is its ability to generate long-term results. Unlike other marketing tactics that require ongoing investment, blog posts have a compounding effect, where they continue to drive traffic and generate leads over time.

When you publish a blog post, it becomes an indexed page that can attract traffic for months, years, or even longer. As your blog post ranks in search engines and gains visibility, it continues to drive targeted traffic to your website, even when you’re not actively promoting it.

This long-term impact is particularly evident with evergreen content, which remains relevant and valuable over an extended period. By consistently creating evergreen blog posts, you can build a library of content that consistently attracts traffic and generates leads, without the need for additional resource investment.

Additionally, blogging offers various monetization opportunities, such as affiliate marketing. By incorporating affiliate links within your blog posts and referring readers to relevant products and services, you can generate income from your blogging efforts.

Sharing Company News

Beyond its marketing benefits, blogging also provides a platform for sharing company news, updates, and stories. By leveraging your blog, you can humanize your brand and showcase the people behind your business.

Whether you’re announcing new hires, interviewing industry experts, highlighting case studies, or promoting events, your blog serves as a central hub for sharing exciting company news. This not only keeps your audience informed but also allows them to connect with your brand on a more personal level.

Sharing company news on your blog helps create a transparent and authentic relationship with your audience. It demonstrates that your business is not solely focused on selling but also genuinely interested in engaging with your customers and providing value beyond your products or services.

Secondary Benefits of Business Blogging

While the primary benefits of blogging for business have been discussed extensively, there are additional advantages that should not be overlooked. These secondary benefits, though not as crucial as the primary ones, can still contribute to the overall success of your blogging efforts. Let’s explore some of these secondary benefits:

1. Testing Marketing Campaigns: Blogging offers an opportunity to test marketing campaigns on a smaller scale before investing significant resources. By gauging audience engagement and feedback through blog posts, you can fine-tune your campaigns and optimize their effectiveness.

2. Understanding Your Target Audience: Blogging provides insights into your target audience’s preferences, interests, and pain points. By analyzing the engagement and feedback generated by your blog posts, you can gain a deeper understanding of your audience and tailor your marketing strategies accordingly.

3. Monetizing Your Blog Content: Blogging opens up various avenues for monetization, such as affiliate marketing. By strategically incorporating affiliate links within your blog posts, you can earn commissions for referring readers to relevant products and services.

While these secondary benefits may not be the primary focus of your blogging efforts, they offer additional value and can contribute to the overall success of your business.

How to Start Blogging for Your Business

Now that we have explored the numerous benefits of blogging for business, you may be wondering how to get started and harness the power of blogging to achieve your marketing goals. Here are some steps to help you embark on your blogging journey:

1. Define Your Blogging Strategy: Clearly define your blogging objectives, target audience, and key topics. Develop a content calendar to ensure consistent publishing and identify the resources needed to support your blogging efforts.

2. Keyword Research: Conduct in-depth keyword research to identify relevant topics and optimize your blog posts for search engines. Use tools like Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner to discover high-demand keywords with manageable competition.

3. Create Compelling Content: Craft high-quality, informative, and engaging blog posts that address your audience’s pain points and provide valuable solutions. Focus on delivering unique insights, practical tips, and actionable advice that sets your blog apart from competitors.

4. Optimize for SEO: Optimize your blog posts for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords, writing compelling meta descriptions, and optimizing your URLs. Pay attention to on-page SEO elements such as headers, subheadings, and internal linking to enhance your blog’s discoverability.

5. Promote Your Blog: Promote your blog posts through various channels, including social media, email newsletters, and industry forums. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and encouraging social sharing to expand your reach.

6. Measure and Analyze: Monitor the performance of your blog posts using analytics tools like Google Analytics. Track key metrics such as website traffic, time on page, bounce rate, and lead generation to assess the impact of your blogging efforts and make data-driven decisions.

7. Continuously Improve: Regularly evaluate and refine your blogging strategy based on audience feedback, engagement metrics, and industry trends. Experiment with different content formats, topics, and promotional tactics to optimize your blog’s performance and drive continuous growth.

By following these steps and consistently delivering valuable and engaging content, you can leverage the power of blogging to establish your brand, drive traffic, and generate leads for your business.

Conclusion

Blogging for business is a powerful marketing strategy that offers numerous benefits in today’s digital landscape. From driving targeted traffic and establishing authority to converting leads and boosting link building, blogging plays a vital role in business growth and online visibility. By understanding the value of blogging and implementing a strategic approach, businesses can unlock the true potential of content marketing and achieve long-term success.

So, start your blogging journey today, and watch your business thrive in the online world!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is blogging good for business?

Yes, blogging is excellent for business. It enhances online visibility, drives website traffic, establishes authority, and builds brand awareness. By sharing valuable content, businesses can engage with their audience, improve search engine rankings, and support lead-generation efforts.

Can you make $1000 a month blogging?

Absolutely. Many bloggers exceed $1000 a month in earnings through various revenue streams such as advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling digital products or services. Success depends on factors like niche, audience size, content quality, and monetization strategy.

Are blogs still profitable?

Yes, blogs are still profitable. While the blogging landscape is competitive, focusing on a specific niche, providing valuable content, and using smart monetization strategies can lead to significant profits. Profitability also depends on consistent content creation, SEO, and audience engagement.

Do business blogs make money?

Business blogs can indirectly make money by enhancing a brand’s visibility, attracting leads, and contributing to sales conversions. Direct monetization through sponsored content, advertisements, and affiliate marketing can also generate revenue, even for business-oriented blogs.

What type of blog makes the most money?

Blogs focusing on finance, making money online, health and fitness, food, personal development, and technology tend to make the most money. High profitability often comes from niches with a wide audience appeal, high advertiser interest, and strong affiliate marketing opportunities.

Which blog is most profitable?

The most profitable blogs are typically in niches with high demand, such as personal finance, health and wellness, technology, and lifestyle. These niches offer lucrative affiliate programs, high advertising rates, and a broad audience, leading to higher earnings potential.

What niche is most profitable?

The most profitable blogging niches often include personal finance, health and wellness, technology, travel, and lifestyle. These niches have strong affiliate marketing potential, high advertising rates, and extensive audience appeal, making them highly lucrative.

What is a realistic income from blogging?

A realistic income from blogging varies widely. New bloggers might earn a few hundred dollars a month, while experienced bloggers can earn tens of thousands or more. Income growth is gradual and requires consistent effort, quality content, effective SEO, and smart monetization strategies.

Do blogs or YouTube make more money?

The potential to make money can be significant for both blogs and YouTube, depending on the content, audience, and monetization methods. Blogs have diverse revenue streams like affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and product sales. YouTube earnings come from ad revenue, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Some creators find combining both platforms maximizes their income potential.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Daniel Thomas; Unsplash – Thank you!

The post Blogging For Business Explained And Why You Should Do It appeared first on The Blog Herald.

Understanding the Importance of Local SEO

Local SEO refers to the process of optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in local search results. When potential customers search for products or services “near me” or in a specific location, local SEO ensures that your business appears prominently in the search engine results pages (SERPs). This visibility can significantly impact your business by driving more targeted traffic, increasing brand awareness, and ultimately boosting sales.

The Role of Distance in Local Rankings

One critical factor that affects local rankings is distance. Google considers the physical proximity of a business to the searcher’s location when determining search results. This means that businesses located closer to the searcher are more likely to appear at the top of the local search results. For example, if someone searches for “best restaurant near me” in Philadelphia, restaurants physically located in Philadelphia will have a higher chance of ranking higher than those in San Diego.

However, distance is not the only determining factor. Google also takes into account relevance and prominence when ranking local businesses.

Relevance and Prominence in Local SEO

Relevance and prominence are two other essential factors in local SEO rankings. While distance is crucial, businesses can still optimize their online presence to boost their relevance and prominence, even if they are not located right next to the searcher.

1. Focus on Review Sites with Keyword-Optimized Lists

One effective strategy is to encourage customers to leave reviews on popular review sites such as Tripadvisor or Yelp. These sites often rank highly for search terms like “best restaurant near me” or “top 10 best restaurants in [your city].” By having positive reviews and being featured on these lists, your business can gain more visibility and attract potential customers.

2. Promote Keyword-Optimized Reviews

When customers leave reviews on these review sites, pay attention to the keywords they use. Look for keyword phrases that you want to optimize for and showcase these reviews on your website and social media pages. For example, if a customer mentions that your restaurant is the “best restaurant in India,” create a blog post featuring this review and optimize it for the relevant keyword phrase.

3. Connect with Local Media

Building relationships with local journalists, reporters, and reviewers can also help boost your local SEO rankings. Reach out to them and try to get featured in articles or features about the best businesses in your city. Identify individuals who have created similar content and engage with them on social media platforms where they have the most reach.

4. Connect with Social Media Influencers

In addition to search engines like Google, don’t overlook the power of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Many people, especially Gen Z, use these platforms as alternative search engines. Search for influencers who create content related to your industry or location, and engage with them. Seek opportunities for content partnerships that can increase your business’s visibility and attract more customers.

5. Create a New Brand to Target More Keywords

If you want to target additional keyword phrases, consider creating a new brand or virtual brand that aligns with those keywords. For example, if your restaurant specializes in breakfast but wants to rank for “best burger near me,” you can create a virtual brand specifically for burgers. This allows you to expand your reach and attract customers searching for different types of cuisine.

The Importance of a Strong Online Presence

Having a strong online presence is vital for local businesses aiming to improve their local SEO rankings. Here are a few additional tips to enhance your online presence:

1. Optimize Your Website for Local SEO

Ensure that your website is optimized for local SEO by including relevant keywords in your website content, meta tags, and headings. Create location-specific landing pages and include your business address, phone number, and opening hours.

2. Claim and Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

Claiming and optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) listing is essential for local SEO. Provide accurate and detailed information about your business, such as address, phone number, website URL, and business hours. Encourage customers to leave reviews on your GMB listing to boost your credibility and visibility.

3. Build Local Citations

Local citations are mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites and directories. Ensure that your NAP information is consistent across all platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and online directories. This consistency helps search engines verify the legitimacy and relevance of your business.

4. Optimize for Mobile Users

With the increasing use of mobile devices, it’s crucial to optimize your website for mobile users. Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and provides a seamless user experience across different devices.

5. Engage with Your Local Community

Engaging with your local community is not only beneficial for building brand loyalty but also for improving your local SEO rankings. Participate in local events, sponsor local organizations, and collaborate with other businesses in your area. This involvement helps increase your brand’s prominence and relevance in the local community.

See first source: Search Engine Journal

FAQ

What is Local SEO and why is it important?

Local SEO stands for optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. It’s crucial as it boosts your visibility in local search results, driving more targeted traffic, and increasing brand awareness and sales.

How does distance play a role in Local SEO rankings?

Distance is a key factor as Google considers the proximity of a business to the searcher’s location when delivering search results. Businesses closer to the searcher tend to rank higher in local search results.

Besides distance, what other factors affect Local SEO rankings?

Relevance and prominence are two other significant factors. Relevance refers to how well your business matches the search intent, while prominence refers to how well-known or authoritative your business is in the local area.

How can review sites boost my local SEO rankings?

Encouraging customers to leave reviews on popular review sites like Tripadvisor or Yelp can boost your visibility as these sites often rank highly for local search terms. Featuring on keyword-optimized lists on these sites can attract more potential customers.

How can I leverage customer reviews for Local SEO?

Pay attention to the keywords used in customer reviews on review sites, and showcase keyword-optimized reviews on your website and social media. You can create blog posts featuring these reviews, optimized for relevant keyword phrases.

What role do local media and social media influencers play in Local SEO?

Building relationships with local journalists, reporters, and social media influencers can help boost your local SEO rankings. Being featured in local articles or social media posts related to your industry can increase your business’s visibility and customer attraction.

How can creating a new brand help in targeting more keywords?

Creating a new or virtual brand aligned with additional keyword phrases you want to target allows you to expand your reach and attract customers searching for different types of products or services.

What steps can I take to enhance my online presence for Local SEO?

Optimize your website for local keywords, claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, build local citations, ensure mobile-friendliness of your website, and engage with your local community to improve your online presence and Local SEO rankings.

Why is claiming and optimizing my Google My Business listing essential?

Claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing provides accurate business information to Google, boosts your business’s credibility and visibility, and is a fundamental step in improving your local SEO rankings.

How can engagement with the local community affect my Local SEO?

Engaging in local events, sponsoring local organizations, and collaborating with local businesses increases your brand’s prominence and relevance, which can positively impact your local SEO rankings and foster community loyalty.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Tim Mossholder; Unsplash – Thank you!

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Outsourcing to individual contractors and agencies offers plenty of attractive benefits. For one, you’ll be able to work with people who have specialized skills. It can be difficult to find full-time workers who possess niche know-how and experience. By outsourcing on an as-needed basis, you’ll have a better chance of being able to work with highly skilled professionals. Often, those professionals will be using technologies you aren’t, which is a further advantage for your organization to be managing offshore teams effectively.

Another upside to outsourcing is that it takes productivity and performance burdens off your current team. A recent Microsoft report indicates around half of all employees and supervisors feel overworked. By shifting duties and projects to people and entities outside your organization, you increase your staff’s bandwidth. This means workers can complete backburnered tasks and feel less overwhelmed and stressed out.

To help you gain these and other outsourcing advantages while still producing quality output, consider taking the following steps.

1. Go global.

The Internet has made outsourcing from anywhere in the world much simpler. As such, it’s not unusual for companies to tap into the talents of foreign-based firms and workers. Startups and small businesses frequently leverage global outsourcing to expand their capacities.

There’s just one stipulation to remember when your outsourcing goes international: Other countries have unique laws and regulations. It can be hard to understand them and make sure you’re always in compliance. Consequently, you may want to work with an employer of record (EOR). As explained by global employment platform provider Oyster, EORs take on all the hiring risks and responsibilities for you. For instance, your EOR will run payroll and manage any benefits on your business’s behalf. The more globally scattered your outsourced workforce, the more sense it makes to collaborate with an EOR.

It’s worth mentioning that an EOR can be valuable even if you only expect to work with foreign independent contractors. Just because someone is working in an independent contractor role doesn’t mean you’re absolved of compliance expectations. You could still run into challenges like knowing all the ins and outs of a foreign country’s contractor classification guidelines. An EOR removes these barriers so you can move full speed ahead with your global outsourcing plans.

2. Be communicative.

Maintaining a strong, trusting relationship with your outsourcers is critical to making this process work. Always prioritize communication — and perhaps over-communication — with professionals you hire who aren’t part of your everyday team. The more looped-in everyone is, the less likely you’ll be to run into preventable mishaps.

For example, invite outsourced individuals and teams to meetings when it makes sense. This helps them feel more connected with your organization and gives them a chance to ask questions. The closer their relationship with your company and people, the better. You can also improve communications by setting up one internal employee to be an outsider’s main point of contact.

Should you take the next step and create an internal email for outsourced professionals or give them access to your company’s information? Maybe, but be cautious and put safety measures in place. Beyond Identity suggests leveraging airtight security methods. This could include setting up a passwordless multi-factor authentication option for contractors and consultants. The goal is to give your outsourcers what they need while reducing tech endpoint exposure.

3. Start small.

It’s not necessary for you to outsource all possible operations at once. Even if you think you’ll eventually want to outsource marketing, IT, and payroll, pick one to begin with. Then, do some homework to make sure that your outsourcing follows a logical, well-considered process. Starting small prevents you from feeling overwhelmed or making avoidable errors. It also gets you accustomed to having outsourced players working for your company.

How do you decide which operational element you should outsource first? It’s up to you. A good way to decide is to look at your team’s existing workflows. Where are they experiencing constant friction points? Are certain tasks falling by the wayside week after week? These are typically areas where outsourcing could be an asset.

After identifying where you need outsourcing the most, conduct due diligence. Outline exactly what you want your outsourcer to do. The more precise you can be, the better. Be sure to write up a complete “job description” of your needs to share with any outsourcing candidates. Then, move forward and conduct interviews to narrow down your search for the ideal outsourcer fit. Keep in mind that the most inexpensive firm or contractor won’t always give you the most mileage for your money. When deliberating between two outsourcing possibilities, go back to your original “job description” to find the best match.

Outsourcing doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or pricey. Take it slowly and ramp up your outsourcing year after year. Over time, you’ll find that it’s an excellent way to improve your company’s efficiency without bringing aboard more people.

The post 3 Ways to Streamline Your Business Operations By Outsourcing appeared first on The Blog Herald.

Printing a double-sided business card is a tedious job, but when done correctly it can be very rewarding for your goal of extending your name and brand to your always-expanding network.

Step By Step

1. Create your Canva Account or open your account if you have already signed up.

Having a Canva account is a great way to always have options for designing anything from professional flyers to personal documents and social media posts. No matter what you are doing in life or what your profession is, a Canva account is a great addition to your personal toolbox.

2. Select Business Card

On Canva, there is a business card option. If you do not already have a free Canva account, create one and then select “Create a Design”. Once you’ve done that, select “business card” from the options and begin designing your personalized card.

3. Create From Scratch or Use a Pre-made Template

Canva offers a wide array of premade templates for designing business cards. If you have your own design you can start from scratch as well and customize from the ground up. No matter how you choose to design each side of your Canva business card, you will easily be able to combine both sides into one card.

4. Layout and Printing

To make those designs double-sided, you must select “Apply Both Pages” to edit and continue designing on both sides of your creation. When you click into the layout tab in the design after finishing, you will be able to “Double Sided” to ensure you print both sides of the business card, rather than having the two separate sides printed on two separate cards. Ensuring that your business card layout is correct for the measurements and material of your business card will make it so your design lines up evenly on both sides. Download and print your cards on cardstock for best results. Then, proceed to cut them out with a heavy-duty paper cutter or an old-fashioned pair of scissors.

          a. Paid Prints by Canva

A second printing option would be using Canva itself as your printer rather than downloading. Once you have completed your design, to combine those designs into a double-sided card, you must select each page on either the “Front” or the “Back” of the print options. When you click into the “Print Business Cards” tab in the top right of the screen, you will see the “Front” and “Back” options, along with all pages you created to choose from. At this point, you can decide how many business cards to purchase starting at $14 for 50 cards.

5. Be Proud

It is important to feel the sense of accomplishment that you deserve after creating a new article for your brand, business, or personal goals. A double-sided business card can open doors for you in infinite ways. That starts with a willingness to design a small 3.5”x2” card to support yourself. Whether you used your own printer and scissor combo to create the perfect business card, or through purchasing prints through Canva, you have much to be proud of through the design process.

Conclusion

The design aspect of content creation and blogging can feel a bit overwhelming. But when you have the best tools to succeed, you are able to see yourself shine much brighter! These steps have given you an avenue to success with creating double-sided business cards on Canva. Now is the time to put it into action.

The post How to Print Double Sided Canva Business Cards appeared first on The Blog Herald.

It not only adds a professional touch but also serves as a branding element. When designing a Lower Third, it’s essential to use appropriate fonts and colors that fit the tone of the video and reflect the brand’s personality. A well-designed one can enhance the viewer’s experience and increase their engagement with the content. Want to learn more about the lower third and how it can change the quality of your video? Read on!

What is the Lower Third?

Let’s start with the definition. Basically, the lower third is the on-screen graphic you notice at the bottom of the video frame. It contains details about the content you are watching. At times, it’s used for branding purposes too.

At times, they can be distracting. So, the key is to strike a balance between visibility and subtlety so as not to distract the viewer from the main content. But how to do that? Well, there are plenty of strategies that can help you out, but before we talk about them, let’s elaborate on everything the lower third entails first.

Lower Thirds are definitely an essential component of video production and broadcasting. They serve to add context and information to a presentation without taking away from the main content.

So, when should you use them? They’re particularly useful in documentary-style programs or interviews where keeping track of individuals can get confusing. However, it’s crucial that the Lower Third design is on-brand with the tone and visual aesthetic of the production.

All of the elements should work together to add value to the visuals without distracting from the main content – striking this balance is key to creating effective Lower Thirds.

When to Use Them

If you are working on a video for the first time, naturally, you would want your audience to take you seriously. Credibility is important, and lower thirds can help you with that.

You can use lower thirds to form a connection with your audience. They can present a visual to your viewers, which will ensure that they see or hear your message more quickly.

You can also use them to add extra information to the video. Or you can use them for background.

Elements and Strategies

By now, you are pretty familiar with the concept. So it’s time to move on to actually using it in your videos. What are the elements that you have to consider? And how can you ensure that each component serves the purpose perfectly and does not overpower your content? This is the secret we are about to unravel.

Typography

Naturally, you have to figure out the font of your lower third content. This is where you need to be cautious. The font style should be according to the tone of your video. Of course, it should be readable, but you have to make it less distracting too. Additionally, keep the content short and concise. Lengthy texts will never work with lower thirds.

Shapes and Logos

If the video is for a brand or organization, you will probably have style guides that you have to follow. There isn’t much you will be able to do with the logo. However, while using the shapes, you can select ones that highlight the logo and typography.

Color

This is among the most crucial aspects of lower thirds. Unfortunately, this is also where most people falter. It’s easy to get carried away while using an array of colors. The result? The message of your lower third gets lost.

So here’s what you should keep in mind. Do not use excessive colors. And the ones you do use shouldn’t be distracting. It’s best to go with the color scheme of your logo and limit yourself to a couple of colors.

Furthermore, when you select a particular color, ensure that it complements the background of your video well. Of course, it should attract attention, but at the same time, the content shouldn’t lose its limelight.

You can also use contrasting colors between the typography and background elements. This will help your text content stand out. Finally, always make it a point to use colors that go well together.

Size and Position

Keep in mind that the text or graphic you want to include in your video does not always have to be in the lower third. You can alter the size and position as per your preference. But it’s highly recommended to consider symmetry during this. Make sure that your text does not block something that the viewer might want to see.

Animation

It can be tricky to decide when you should include further animation in your video. Of course, you have to keep it subtle, but this does not imply that animations are a complete no. You can definitely use animations for texts, logos, or words if they don’t serve as a distraction to your content.

Tips to Make Effective and Attractive Lower Thirds

Remember, you want the lower thirds to look great on the screen. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. However, there are some tips that can make the process smoother for you. Take a look at them,

• Keep the content of your lower thirds concise and to the point
• Keep the font consistent in all lower thirds
• Avoid using too big or too small text.
• Go creative with the colors, shapes, and other design elements, and make your lower third interesting while keeping it subtle.
• Simplicity works best with lower thirds. Don’t try to cram too much information in it or get carried away with its design.

If you use lower thirds smarty, they can definitely elevate the quality of your video and make them more professional looking. All you have to do is understand how to capture your audience’s interest without taking too much away from the main message.

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The benefits of taking steps toward having the executive-related assets of a larger company can run the gamut. First, you’ll position your brand for faster, more focused growth. After all, you’ll be running your operations to be as fine-tuned as possible. Secondly, you’ll help flesh out your business’s mission, vision, and purpose. C-suite professionals are wired to think of the broader picture. They’re not mired in the day-to-day. And if you can mimic their big-picture mentality, you can nab small company wins.

If you feel like your organization has reached a general plateau, trying the following C-style strategies can help. They’ll bring you and your team quite a bit of the value that companies with robust C-suites have. Additionally, they’ll help you get ready for the day when you get large enough to have many “Cs” on the payroll.

1. Invest in different forms of fractional leadership.

One quick way to get all the expertise of an executive without paying an executive salary is through fractional leadership. This practice involves bringing in fractional, or part-time, C-suite members. For instance, you might hire a fractional CFO to manage your financial matters. The fractional CFO would be a consultant or freelancer, not an employee. Your arrangement could include a pay-by-the-hour or other agreed-upon structure. Since C-suite hires can be expensive, you’ll be getting a bargain.

You can go a different route if you need C-suite capabilities beyond the expertise of a single individual. Take your marketing, for instance. Perhaps you can only dedicate a couple of people to marketing endeavors. In that case, you may want to partner with a fractional CMO firm like Hawke Media. Unlike traditional marketing agencies, Hawke Media is set up to act in a fractional CMO capacity. That way, you can get CMO wisdom as well as marketing assistance all rolled into one. And if you’re not quite ready for a full fractional partnership, Hawke Media delivers a la carte marketing services as well. Similar to its fractional CMO capabilities, Hawke Media’s a la carte solutions provide access to five-star thinkers and technologies.

2. Partner your leaders with world-class mentors.

What are the current titles of the leaders across your organization? Do you have directors, supervisors, managers, or line leads? Each of these individuals is probably doing some C-type duties. For example, your sales director may be in charge of developing short-term and long-term conversion goals. Or your people manager may conduct all applicant interviews, negotiate with insurance carriers, and generate onboarding assets. Imagine if all of these people had just a little more guidance. They could quickly ramp up their talents — and the effectiveness of your business.

Mentoring is an excellent way to get them to professionals eager to share good advice. By designing and supporting a formal mentoring program, you’ll show your highest performers you believe in them. And they’ll pass their skill sets down. Michael Lee, the President, and CEO at FinDec, has written about this “share the wealth” mentoring phenomenon. As he explains, “When managers mentor… It creates a culture where employees are encouraged to leverage professional development from internal senior professionals… Senior leaders can introduce young professionals to networks that can open new doors, enhancing opportunities for upward mobility.” In other words, mentoring is the gift that keeps on giving.

3. Bring in the best tech you can afford.

The right technology can make even startups more competitive, streamlined, and optimized. Even if you’re still in the midst of bootstrapping your first venture, put dollars toward technological systems. For example, if you sell B2B, get a CRM that can be your single-source repository of all knowledge. If you sell B2C, investigate platforms that allow you to have visibility into everything from supply chain management to shipping. Another example is for companies that hire remote teams and independent contractors, investing in a Global HR platform offers a solution the steep and costly learning curve of navigating HR, benefits, tax, and payroll compliance in multiple countries. The more you can do with a piece of technology, the more your brand will be able to differentiate.

Once your tech is in place, you can start amassing and analyzing data. A recent Mantas study showed that a full 78% of the most successful C-suite executives believe in using data. Therefore, having access to trustworthy data allows you and your leaders to have similar insights to inform decisions.

4. Promote from within and hire with a future-forward mindset.

Moving forward, try to fill your mid-level and upper-level leadership positions internally. When you do, you’ll set your organization up to gain tremendous legacy know-how. This is an understandably slow way to begin moving toward executive-level capabilities. Nevertheless, the steady maturity of your best, strongest, and most innovative people will pay dividends later.

Of course, not all positions can be filled with employees on staff. When sourcing from the outside, be very deliberate. Look for a solid mix of potential as well as the education and credentials you need or prefer. Remember that some impressive candidates might not have had the opportunities to shine yet, though. Applicants from historically underrepresented backgrounds often fall into this category. Accordingly, consider freshening up on your diverse hiring practices. After all, McKinsey & Co. research is very clear that diverse teams perform and flex better. The goal is for you to construct a small team with big thinkers, big potential, and big goals.

Your business may stay in the “small” category for years. But it doesn’t have to be limited as far as C-suite possibilities are concerned. Making just a few changes for your small business could allow you to get C-suite benefits even if you’re in your early startup phase.

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