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Music is the Lubricating Oil to Your Soul Machine
As I sat here pondering my last breakup, which took place over six years ago in case you were curious, I quickly realized that the song I was listening to at that moment (shown above) was absolutely a perfect fit for how I was feeling. How about that? And then another song came on that was another perfect fit!
“Things get damaged. Things get broken.” How fitting. 🤔
Anyway, I have had to put Up! Foundations on hold due to my taking a full time job as a middle school English teacher. 👨🏫 The good news is that I get 2 weeks off in December, so I’m going to have time to work on the next module. (I’m very sorry if you’ve been waiting for it these past few months.) 🤦🏻♂️
I guess that’s all I have to report for now. Hope everyone is doing super good and that you are enjoying the holidays! ❄️☃️ (I am!)
Cheers!
John
Happy Anniversary to Me!
Just reached ten years of blogging on WordPress. I wish I could spend more time blogging, I love connecting with others and sharing our views on everything under the sun (and sometimes under the moon, too). 😉 Thanks, WordPress friends! Cheers to you!! 🥂 🎉
What Can Super Bowl LIV Teach Us About Modern Marketing for 2021?
Four Lessons Learned from the 2020 LIV Commercials
A few things stood out during last night’s commercials and I thought I should share my point of view, for better or worse, about what I observed. So without further ado…
I. Abstract Trumps Realism
Why is it that the content creators of big brands believe we prefer abstract art over realism? The majority of last night’s Super Bowl commercials were prevalent in animation and augmented reality? Are they creating commercials for adults or kids, because what I saw looked like their target audience was adolescents.
II. Throwing Celebrities Into A Commercial Does Not Improve The Content.
Why on earth would you throw in a handful of celebrities into your commercials, yet have no discernible storyline or clear CTA in the content? (“Garbage in, garbage out” comes to mind.)
III. 80s and 90s Music and Characters Are Making a Comeback.
I did enjoy seeing Wayne and Garth, as well as hearing the jingle for The Greatest American Hero. This says, people in the age range of 40-50, we’re targeting you! At least we marketers can’t pick up on that one good cue when creating new content for the near future.
IV. The Lousy Lemonade Lesson
Smh. The 2020 crisis metaphor of “when life gives you lemons, make spiked lemonade” was a poor choice. This commercial added insult to injury with the despotic lemons pelting passers by, and the suggestions that we have a drink to get through it is sadly lacking in humor, at best, and poor advice at worst. What we need is a sober stance to overcome our serious issues in our country, not more alcohol or drugs. We need to step up as a society and act like better role models for the kids who are watching us and how we deal with life’s challenges. Having a drink during a sporting event is fine, but that’s not what was conveyed here. I challenge you to do better next time.
There you have it, my comments on what I saw in the super bowl commercials. I hate to sound nostalgic, but the “good ole days” were better than what I saw last night, apart from the FPL commercial – that one, I liked.
Get Clear On Your Marketing Strategy in 2021!
How about writing down your plans for the year ahead? (Hint: that’s what I’m doing.) Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!
Will You Take the Action Needed to Improve Your Paid and Organic Social Media Marketing in 2021?
Isn’t it time to move forward from dabbling with Facebook ads to actively implementing a well-planned annual social media marketing campaign?
If you do not engage in a strategic, well-designed marketing plan, your business will not benefit from the opportunity to grow in 2021. There’s still time to decide to level up your social media marketing.
Market research takes time, as does testing, copywriting, and distribution management. That’s where we come in!
We know the path for your firm to achieve social media success (and more financial security). By learning from the failures and successes of others, we can curate a marketing plan that is just the right fit for you.
Imagine people chasing you to become your clients, seeking out your wisdom, and trusting you. Why? Because you are delivering proven results (and they’re watching online).
Imagine becoming highly recognized as the local celebrity attorney in your community by people who acknowledge your expertise and credibility. Why? Because they’re following you online.
And imagine how you will feel to be generously, financially rewarded for doing the work you love! Why? Because you hired us.
Our film crew will capture your personality and your gifts in the best light possible, while your dedicated social media manager will increase your audience engagement and convert your followers into lifetime clients and brand ambassadors. Discover how our business-changing video production, marketing and distribution management can work for you.
One-Time and Retainer Options
Option One: Done-for-You Social Media Marketing Plan
Who:
You will maintain the duty of managing the distribution of your creatives across your preferred social media platforms.
What:
We will provide you with a curated 12-month social media marketing plan based on your wants and needs. You will receive step-by-step instructions, which include both organic and paid marketing content, on how to use the creatives we design for your firm from our videography and photo shoot. Use these creatives to distribute across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn, as well as in Google PPC campaigns.
When:
We strive to balance providing a quick turnaround while maintaining superior quality in post-production. For this reason, we commit to provide you with a proof within 48 hours for your preliminary approval. We will then have all deliverables available to you within seven days of production.
Where:
Your videos and photos, as well as ready-made ad copy, will be uploaded and stored to a dropbox file, exclusively made for your firm’s use, and available for instant download.
Why:
The Done-for-You Social Media Marketing Plan is a happy compromise for solopreneurs and small firms with limited advertising and marketing budgets. You can still accomplish your marketing objectives by trading some of your time for marketing activities, while outsourcing the creative process to us. As your business grows, we will be here to take the reins of all your marketing outreach needs.
How:
Simply schedule a discovery session below to see if we’re able to help you. We only work with ten clients per month, so we want to be sure that we are both a good fit for working together.
Schedule a Discovery Session Here
Option Two: Marketing and Distribution Management Retainer
Who:
After our director and cinematographer have filmed your commercial content, your firm will be assigned to a dedicated social media manager. These marketing professionals only work with up to 10 accounts per month to ensure that your firm gets more than enough first-class marketing research, creative ad copy, and top notch distribution service. Put another away, your marketing specialist will oversee the distribution of your creatives, test ads for performance and optimization, as well as monitor your competitors for strategic planning.
What:
We create the same twelve-month marketing plan as discussed previously in option one, then distribute your creatives on your behalf on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Our retainer service is month-to-month, so you will have the freedom to start and stop this service as you wish. However, when you see the ROI, we are certain that it will make sense to keep moving forward.
When:
Organization of organic and paid content – and their distribution – occurs daily, weekly, and monthly.
Where:
Your main website, Google PPC, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Tik Tok.
Why:
Our Marketing and Distribution Management Retainer option is ideal for firms of all sizes who are ready, willing, and able to outsource their social media marketing campaigns to a firm that delivers maximum ROI, month after month.
How:
This part is easy. Let’s sit down over a cup of coffee and discuss whether we can help you bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.
What Roofing Materials Should I Buy?
1. Clay tile. AKA “Spanish tile” (my favorite) this material is considered the most attractive, but also more expensive. This roof will have a 50 to 100 year life expectancy, but is costly to repair.
Benefit: good wind resistance.
2. Steel Panels. This roofing material is less expensive than clay tile, but not as attractive.
Benefit: lower cost & good wind resistance.
3. Composition Shingle. There are many grades of shingle quality to choose from, they are the most affordable material, and they have a 20 to 50 year life expectancy. However, they are the least wind resistant.
Benefit: low-cost.
Roofing Options: Solar Panels. When you are thinking about your roofing installation, you may want to consider adding solar panels. They may cut your electric bill, but you should consider the installation costs, as well as future repair and replacement costs. Also, they may be difficult to remove when repairing your roof and they are not attractive.
Perhaps when the technology expands to the point where the panels are embedded into the roofing materials, it will become a “must have.” For now, you may need to crunch the numbers closely before placing an order.
In closing, when designing your new home, you may be restricted by the developer’s rules on what roofing material you can use. Also, take into consideration your environment and how well your preference will blend in. Lastly, remember the old adage that you get what you pay for.
Happy Homebuilding!
Florida Camping Guide
Ever wonder what it would be like to pitch a tent in Florida? Click on the link to learn more…
www.floridastateparks.org/sites/default/files/media/file/2018_CampingCabinsGuide.pdf
New Construction: What Is Standard vs. Upgrades?
New home buyers often fall in love with the model homes they visit because the builders hire interior designers to showcase almost every premiere feature they offer. As such, it is important to clarify what IS and what IS NOT included in the model that you buy.
Here is a list of typical upgrades offered by most new home builders:
- Coffered, Vaulted, or Raised Ceilings,
- Built-in Shelving, Alcoves, Art Niches, or TV Cut-outs,
- Bonus Room, Mud Room, Laundry Room, In-Law Quarters, or Sun Rooms,
- Covered Patio or Lanai, Wood Deck, Brick Paver or Concrete Slab Patio,
- Swimming Pool (with Option to Screen Patio),
- Landscaping (Front/Rear/Sides),
- Fireplaces and Mantles,
- Covered Porch,
- 1 to 3 Car Garage and/or “Porto Cochere” (carport),
- Dormers (real or faux), Shutters (real or faux), or Decorative Windows (such as “Bay” Windows),
- Skylights or Recessed Lighting, and
- Optional Siding (Brick, Stone, Stucco, or Log Siding). Note: I recommend you avoid buying a home with synthetic stucco, vinyl, aluminum, Hardy board (aka T-111 siding), or Masonite lap siding. These low cost options have aged poorly in the past and may cost you money for replacement when you want to sell, as well as lose its luster and reduce your home’s curb appeal.
Also, keep in mind what others are doing in your neighborhood. An appraisal rule of thumb to keep in mind is that if your home is the only one in the neighborhood that has a fancy “thing-a-ma-gig” that nobody else has, it will be deemed an “over improvement” and not be given weight to the bottom line market value of your home.
In closing, when negotiating the features of your new home, be sure to get the cost of each upgrade upfront and in writing and stick to your budget. Compare the builder’s costs versus doing it yourself, or consider the cost of outsourcing some of these optional items, such as the pool, on your own, post-purchase. But do keep in mind that any items included now will also be financed into your home loan at highly remarkable, low interest rates – in today’s market October, 2020 – that’s under 4% for a fixed 30-year loan.
Best of luck in your new home construction purchase!
Feeling Cagey
This coronavirus pandemic has turned our lives around quite a bit. I’m making the best of the situation, like most others, and remain hopeful that this shall soon pass. May God be with us all.
John W. Tanner, J.D., M.S. 