Using A Local Massachusetts Content Writer To Market Your Business

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

 

So you have decided to start your own business. You have you business plan laid out, a website in the works, and friends who are willing to be your first customers. What do you do next? Well, for a business to success you need a marketing plan. While word of mouth can bring in leads, the internet will bring in more. Here a few ways to market your business.

Utilize Social media

Social media is addictive, which means people are on it constantly. Many companies are taking advantage of this to bring in leads. However, you don’t want to spread yourself too thin. Pick a couple of the more popular sites to use that you know you can keep up to date. If you aren’t going to be able to provide fresh content on it, consider hiring someone to help you with this.

Ads

Don’t have a big enough audience on your social media yet? Consider paying for ads to bring in customers. Writing effective copy can create a conversation and bring people to you. Ads are a great way to utilize social media to gain a bigger following.

SEO

Search Engine optimization should not be underestimated, but also not over used. While you don’t have to litter every piece of writing with SEO, keep it in mind to help with your ranking in Google.

Keep Website Up-to-date

Every once in a while you need revamp your website. Provide new work to your portfolio, write a new about me section, expand if you need to. This is going to show your current customers that you are still growing and they can expect great service, while introducing you to new possible leads.

Blogging

Blogging is a way to get your name out there, and allows you to connect with your clients. It shows that you are knowledgeable about the key aspects of your business, and provides useful information. The best part is, it sits on your page for years to come and can still generate new organic leads. The best way to utilize a blog is to make sure it is being updated on a regular basis.

Finding it hard to keep up with the writing aspect of business? Want to just focus on running your company? I am currently looking for more clients. For any of your writing needs, email me at christinajrasmuson@gmail.com.

Winter Has Come, But Have Your Leads?

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

Search Engine Ranking: Why Your Company Should Invest In Content Writers

In the age of the internet, it has never been easier for businesses to get their messages out there. However, it also means the competition is getting fierce. Blogging is a modern marketing technique gold mine. Once posted, this content will stay on your site, collecting you leads for years to come. This is why many website will post multiple blogs per day.

Creating content for your website might seem like a simple step to generate leads, but it isn’t always. That’s why many companies are looking to add a content writer to their team. Content writers create content for you to use on your website, and can also help you create ads. They know techniques to help bring in more organic traffic. Here are some reasons you should invest in a content write.

Search Engine Optimized

Anyone can write a blog post and put it on the internet, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to bring in readers. SEO techniques help you raise your ranking with search engines, making it easier for potential leads to find you. Knowing the right keywords and coming up with catchy titles are must have skills for a content writer to stay in business. Once you hire a content writer, you won’t want to go back to doing it yourself.

Time Is Money

Running your own business takes a lot of time, trying to keep up with the content on your own blog isn’t always a simple as it sounds. Many business owners will create a schedule that will work for a while, but then they start missing days, which eventually leads to the blog just stopping all together.

When working with a writer, you don’t have to worry about that. Fresh content will be delivered to you at a time you decide. The more regular the blogging schedule, the higher your organic traffic will get over time. A good content writer is worth their weight in gold.

Experience

Content writers have experience writing for different blogs and are constantly gaining knowledge of works and what doesn’t all the time. This helps to take the trial and error away from you, helping you to get those leads now, rather than later. Not only will the quality of writing be better, but it will be more engaging for your audience.

Tailor Made Content

Know the audience you want to be attracting? A good content writer can take that information and create an article that will deliver exactly what your audience needs to be enticed into clicking your links. This content is created for the use of only your website, making it unique.

Content writing is a skill that I have been honing for 6 years. Your business can’t wait six years to start bringing in leads. If you are in the market to expand your business by adding a content writer to your team, contact me today. You can reach me at ChristinaJRasmuson@gmail.com.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that can be devastating to not only the patient, but the family that surrounds them. It is a neurodegenerative disease, which destroys brain matter. As it progresses, the patient starts to lost memories and personality traits over time, as the brain is being broken down. Typically, memory loss is the first sign of cognitive decline. According to the CDC website, some signs of Alzheimer’s disease include:

  • Memory loss that causes serious interruption of life, such as getting lost in familiar places or asking the same question more than once.
  • Paying bills becomes difficult.
  • Decreased judgment.
  • Trouble performing regular tasks at work and home.
  • Misplacing things and the inability to retrace steps.
  • Changes in personality or behavior.

Stages of Alzheimer’s

As a progressive disease, those inflicted with Alzheimer’s can live on average four to eight years, but some have been known to live up to 20 years. The Alzheimer’s Association breaks down the progression of this disease into three different stages. These stages help loved one understand what to expect as the disease progresses:

  • Early Stage (Mild)- In the early stages, the person can still function independently, continuing to work, drive, and partake in normal actives with mild issues. They show signs of the disease with memory loss. This can be forgetting words or losing items. This is when family members start to notice a problem and bring their loved ones to a doctor for diagnosis.
  • Middle State (Moderate)- The moderate stage is the longest stage, where the symptoms start to create more issues in everyday life. This is when the person will need a caregiver to step in to help. During this stage they will have trouble performing tasks such as paying bills and driving. They will often times become frustrated and act in ways that are not normal for them. You will find that they might still have ability to recall many significant details about their life in the past.
  • Late Stage (Severe)- In the late stage of the disease, the symptoms reach a pinnacle. The patient can lose the ability to converse, control their movement, and respond to the environment. Doing everyday actives can be near impossible on their own and their personality will be significantly different. At this point, they will need constant care.

Treatment Options

It is important to note that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease and the damage that it does to the brain is irreversible; however there is treatment that can help slow it down. This is why early detection is important. Managing the disease can help improve quality of life for those living with it, as well as their caregiver.

As someone who has had firsthand experience with a loved one with dementia, I know how painful it can be to watch someone struggle with it. Scientists are still looking for a way to cure this disease and they can use all the help they can get. You can help end this disease by donating to The Alzheimer’s Association.

Casey’s Journal Part 6

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

November 26, 2014

Today, I am angry at you. I’m so mad at how we ended things. Maybe if you didn’t say the words that day, we could have worked it out. Why did you have to give up hope?! Staying together would have taken a lot of effort, but we had plans. You shatter those plans in one instant and now I’m left here grieving a lover that isn’t dead, just gone.

I thought you were braver than me because you had the courage to end it, but I’m not really sure that was brave anymore. We had plans, a life together. You ruined that and convinced me it was for the best. Is this really the best? I’m left here alone crying in my new apartment still haunted by our memories. Living without you seems impossible. I don’t think I’ll ever be happy again. I built my happiness in you, when you walked away you took it with you and I hate you for that.

Casey’s Journal Part 5

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

November 21, 2014

Today is the first Friday night without you. We had plans to go to a bar with our friends, or are they your friends? I don’t even remember anymore. What happens to friends during a breakup? Do we split them up? I’m at a complete loss of what to do.

I’ve been trying to figure out if I should go along with the plans. I have a fear that we both will show up there, and I won’t be able to keep myself from falling apart in front of you. These wounds are too fresh for me to be okay around you. Hell, I’m not even sure I would be able to hold it together in front of our friends.

Do they know we broke up? I haven’t really told anyone yet. The last thing I need is the pity that is sure to come along with that. Everyone knows how weak I am. You were always the strong one, keeping me together. Now, I’m liable to fall apart at a moment’s notice.

I should probably just stay home. No one wants to be around a person who can’t keep it together, especially, when they are trying to just have fun.

I’ll just send Macy a text and tell her I can’t make it.

To be continued…

Five Reason’s Your Social Media Isn’t Generating Leads

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

Business owners today know that social media is a big part of growing your business. Having an online presence can help bring in a lot of leads, but it isn’t always a simple thing to accomplish. You might find that yourself engaging in all levels of social media, without much success. While it does take time to build and online presence, sometimes you just aren’t doing it right. Here are some reasons your social media isn’t generating leads.

You don’t post interesting content

To keep people interested, you have to provide them with content that will keep them coming back. You don’t want to just stick to self-promotion. Otherwise, people aren’t going to see a need to continue follow your social media. Providing fresh content on a weekly basis can really help drive traffic to your sites.

Your social media isn’t promoted on your site

Having social media isn’t always enough; you need to promote these sites. Provide links to them on your website; don’t expect your customer base to go out of their way to search for these themselves.

You don’t understand how to use them right

Every social media site has its own way of attracting followers. You need to understand the way you use Twitter, isn’t going to be the same way you would use Facebook. Learning how to make each type of social media work for you, you need to know why your followers use that site first.

You’ve spread yourself too thin

More isn’t always better. Being on multiple social media sites isn’t away going to attract more customers and might make it difficult for you to keep up with all of them. Narrow down the sites that are more beneficial to your type of business and focus on those. Don’t spread yourself too thin, where you aren’t providing enough engaging content on each site. Instead make sure to add fresh content on the sites you do use, as often as you can.

Lack of conversation

Having social media isn’t just for self-promotion, have some fun with it. Keep up a two way conversation with your followers to keep them interesting and coming back. Followers like to be heard, and replying to a Facebook post or a tweet can accomplish this. Taking a few minutes every day to respond to a few comments can really help you build long term relationships with your customers.

Social media isn’t just for family and friends anymore. Companies are using these platforms to connect with their current customers and bring in more. Building relationships with your customers can help keep them coming back. Fresh content that provides useful information is important to keep them coming back.

Fresh content can help increase the flow of organic traffic to your site. Boosting the number of visitors can be as easy as posting articles with SEO content on a weekly basis.  Looking to grow your business with fresh, SEO web articles? Contact me today for more information.

New Year’s Resolution: Three Tips For Organizing Your Garage

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

If you are like many other garage owners, your space is so cluttered there is no way you could think about parking your car in there. The thought of cleaning a space, such as this, can be a daunting one. This is why, when faced with a task like this, it is best to go at it with a plan. Here are some tips for organizing your garage.

Create a plan

The first thing you want to do is actually get into it. As Newton’s laws of physics state, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. Once you start the motivation to finish will help out. Start by coming up with a plan of action. Break it down into little task, maybe start with a corner and work your way outward. By breaking it into little task, organizing your garage seems more manageable.

Make piles

Start sorting your items into different piles. One for things you will keep, another for things that can be sold or donated, and a third for stuff you can just toss out. This will let you know what needs to go back into the garage and what doesn’t need to be there anymore.

Look into self-storage

Once the piles are sorted, and you find that you still don’t have enough space to park your car in its home, you might want to start looking into self-storage. Self-storage can help you keep things important to you, without the cluttering up your home or garage.

The Importance Of Intentional Listening

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

It’s not hard for anyone to understand the desire to want to not only be heard, but understood as well. In a society where multitasking is at an all-time high, sometimes focusing on listening can take a back seat. In fact today is seems like most people are more intent on responding, than listening. Whether you are a salesperson trying to get a big client, or a manager listening to the needs of an employee, intentional listening is an essential key to success. Here are is why intentional listening is important.

Listen To Understand

Most people listen with the intent of responding. Intentional listening is when you listen to understand. This type of listening can be vital in all aspects of life, business being a big one. There are a number of ways intentional listening can make a business run more efficiently, therefore increasing revenue. For example, when you utilize intentional listening when speaking to a potential client, you get a better understanding of their wants and needs, which can make it easier to explain why your product would be best for them. When your customers feel that you understand them and their needs, they are more likely to stick around.

Creates A Longer Relationship With Clients

Building and maintaining a reputation with your clients through listening, is beneficial to you in the long run. Not only do you keep a long term client, but it opens you to more business through referrals. A single client can make or break your reputation. Intentional listening can help you reduce the possibility of conflict and treat the clients how they expect to be treated.

Show You Care

Another importance of intentional listening in business is when it comes to your employees. Happy employees, make for more effective employees. Keep them happy and your business will run smoother. When you listen to what they have to say, you not only show them you care about their needs and desires, you can better understand what they want to gain from working there. With your help, you can help them develop a plan to succeed that helps both them and the business in the long run.

Build Trust

A vital component for intentional listening is developing trust. This trust is what keeps your clients and employees happy. When they trust that you have their best interests in mind they are more likely to stick around. Building trust among your employees will help motivate them to do the best work possible.

Multitasking, while is seems like an effective way to get more things down at once, often leads to you taking longer to get things done. The human brain cannot actively do multiple things at once without sacrificing efficiency. If you are listening to someone speak, while also checking your emails on your phone, not only are you being disrespectful to the person you are supposed to be listening to, you are not intentionally listening to what they have to say. When you aren’t listening to them, you miss the actual message they are giving you. You can’t be an effective leader if you don’t listen to what your clients or employees are saying. If you wish to have a constructive conversation, consider leaving the multitasking for another time.

Next time you have a conversation with an employee or client; try listening to them in order to understand what it is they want. When you utilize intentional listening, you are more capable of making them happy and moving towards a more mutually beneficial arrangement. Listening should never just be about waiting for a chance to respond. Actively listening to understand helps build positive conversations and relationships between employees and clients.

New Year, New You: Nutritional Tips To Help You Conquer The New Year

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

Now that we are a few weeks into the New Year, you might see that your new year’s resolutions have started to slip. If being healthy is your goal, nutrition and fitness are your friends. Going on a diet isn’t necessarily what you need to do; rather you should learn how to incorporate healthy food, while removing junk in your everyday. It shouldn’t be a set time period, rather a lifestyle change. Here are some healthy tips to keep you on track.

Cut Out Sugary Drinks

Sugar doesn’t have to be your enemy, but consuming too much on a daily basis is going to have a negative impact on your health. Drinking soda and juice is the biggest culprit of this. By consuming these beverages, you are putting empty calories into your diet. They have little to no nutritional value and can actually make you crave more sugar.

Keep Track Of What You Are Consuming

The best way to know where your diet is suffering is to keep a food diary. This can help keep your accountable for the stuff you are putting in your body. Once you have the nutritional value of everything laid out on paper, you can see the areas that need to change.

If you don’t like the old fashion method of paper, there are a number of different apps you can download on your phone to help you keep track of this. These apps will automatically add all your nutrients together and give you an idea of where you are at. You can also set goal for fat intake, calorie intake, etc.

Drink Water

We all need water to live. In fact more than 70% of our body is made of water. Yet most people fail to hydrate properly. Drinking water throughout the day can help keep you hydrated and healthy. Proper hydration can curve hunger, and make you feel better all around. Keeping a refillable water bottle on you all day is the best way to have water on you at all times.

Snack Healthy

It’s three in the afternoon, and you are feeling a little hungry. You try to find something quick to eat to fill the time before dinner. What you grab at this moment is going to have a major impact on your diet. Chips and cookies are an easy snack that you can eat on the go; however they aren’t going to do you any favors. They are going to make you feel sluggish and regretful. Instead try grabbing a quick fruit or vegetable. Fruit can give you that sugar rush without having to feel guilty about eating it.

Changing your bad habits is going to be hard and take time, but if you keep trying it will get easier. Some of these steps are small and take less effort. They just have to become a habit for it to feel natural. Use these tips to make this year the year you actually find the new you, you have been looking for.

Setting Yourself Up For Failure: The New Year’s Resolution Trap

Posted on by Christina Rasmuson

As we quickly approach a new year, many people are taking the time to reevaluate their life. It’s a common time for us to come up with new goals that we wish to achieve to in the New Year. Many of us use this time of the year as a reason to completely makeover our life and become the person we have been wanting to. The New Year, new me mentality. However, we find that we tend to fail year after year. We set off on this new life for a few months or so, only to go back to our own ways shortly after. Here are some reasons you are setting yourself up for failure and how to correct that to achieve your goals this year.

Unrealistic Expectations

Most of us go about our goals with an entire U-turn of our life; jumping head first into these changes, without much of a thought. The problem with this is humans are resistant to change. Our brains are wired to keep doing the things we were doing over and over again. If we don’t take time to ease ourself into these huge changes it becomes difficult.

In order to create a change, we must first create new habits. To do this takes time, repeating the new action over and over again until it starts to be something your brain knows and wants to do. For example if you want to change your eating habits, a crash diet isn’t going to cut it. The best course of action is changing your diet long term. You can eat bad stuff; you just have to eat it less. If most of the days in the week you are eating healthy, a junk day isn’t going to be an issue. If you are eating junk 6 days out of the week, this is where the issue comes in. Moderation is key.

Some ways to ease yourself into this is adding more fruits and veggies to your diet. Increase your water intake over the next few weeks, while cutting out soda and juice. Eating clean protein with every meal is going to help as well. As time goes on you will find that these things get easier to add, while taking out the bad stuff.

You Burned Yourself Out

The best way to fail a New Year’s resolution is by going too hard, too fast. By the end of the first month you just want to take a little rest, but end up falling back into your old habits. Once that happens it’s hard to start back up and you end up putting it off for a whole year again.

Say you want to go to start going to the gym. You don’t want to start going to the gym every day for a week and burn yourself out. By the time the next week comes around you are going to be burned out. Ease yourself into a going every other day or even just on the weekends. Start off slow. Get your body used to moving, and then you can start to increase the amount of exercise you do a week. Once it becomes a habit, going to the gym 5 days a week should be easy

You Doubt Yourself

After setting out on your goals you start to think that it’s too hard. You don’t give yourself enough time for a change to actually show. At this time you start thinking it impossible and too hard to accomplish. Failing back into old habits is easier.

Everyone has doubts from time to time. When you rush into change and don’t see results right away, it can have an effect on your drive. And once doubt enters your mind it can take away all that motivation you had at the beginning. While you can’t always control the doubt, you can push through it.

Be realistic when setting your goals. Know what to expect and find a way to push through the doubts. Don’t let them rule your mind. Motivation is going to help you start, but you need persistence to keep going.

New Year’s is a great time to take a look at the things you want to change. It’s like opening a new chapter with new possibilities. But change takes time and the best way to go about it, is to ease yourself into these changes. You don’t want to jump head first into your new goals. That is only setting you up for failure. Give yourself time to create new habits and you will finally see your New Year’s resolutions come to fruition.