Hustle With Heart Creative

20/03/2019

“Checkout on Instagram” launched yesterday in a closed beta test involving 23 top brands like H&M, Kylie Cosmetics, and Adidas. What does this mean?

As a user, you’ll be able to store your payment info to instantaneously buy items without ever leaving the app. No longer will you be directed to a website. Quick, easy, and potentially dangerous for us shopaholics, right?!

For now, only organic posts from launch partner merchants will feature Checkout buttons. But because of the big bucks Instagram stands to make, I’d imagine it’s only a matter of time before Checkout-equipped ads start popping up.

It’ll be interesting to see how the feature is rolled out to a wider range of brands in the coming months. If you sell online, definitely keep your eyes and ears open for developing news—it will change the e-commerce game.

15/03/2019

March 13, 2019: A day that will live in social media infamy

For casual users, it was a minor annoyance that meant they couldn’t scroll through their morning B.M. For social media addicts, it caused severely twitchy thumbs. For businesses that rely on these platforms to build brand buzz, reach new customers, and sell their wares, it was reason for full-blown panic. Spent $50k on a sponsored, scheduled post? Sorry for the “inconvenience.”💸

The outage marked the longest downtime ever for the Facebook family of apps, but it has passed and the sting of our trauma will soon subside. Before moving on, though, there are lessons to be learned.

First, the blackout reminded us that, yes, we can survive without social media. Life goes on (even when you can’t prove it to your followers in real time). In this sense, the glitch was actually a gift.

It also underscored something that I find myself constantly preaching to companies that devote the vast majority (if not all) of their marketing efforts and budget to social media. Of course, investing time, energy, and funds in social is a smart move for most businesses. But the old adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” applies here.

THE PROBLEM: You are at the complete mercy of the platform. You have zero control over policies, algorithms, server configurations, or downtime. Consider yourself a tenant. The platform is your unpredictable landlord.

THE SOLUTION: Always be creating compelling content with clear calls to action that drive your audience away from the platform to a place that you own — your website, your email newsletter, your mailing list, your brick and mortar, etc. Not only because your fickle landlord could change the rules or boot you at any moment but also because likes and comments (while good for an ego boost) don’t ultimately pay the bills.

TL;DR: Use social media marketing to your advantage, but don’t hand over all your power to platforms that you don't control. It can backfire and, when it does, you will be scrambling to rebuild. Establishing a presence and cultivating relationships elsewhere isn't just an insurance policy; it's best practice. Another place to connect = another opportunity to gain loyal customers.

What were your FB blackout takeaways? And what productive things did you do with your twitchy thumbs?! I'd love to know.

05/05/2018

Tactical solutions aren't enough to transform a brand. Any marketer/creative whose heritage is in tactical and ex*****on will be edged out by those who are also capable of seeing the big picture and understanding business dynamics. A strategic mind cannot be commoditized.

The new market reality is this: Bring more to the table or be left in the dust.

“All in all, what is happening is that the last decade of digital services is essentially over."

28/03/2018

Full-throttle hustle is not the objective. Chronic doing is not the way. Of course, success requires hard work and persistent action, but there's much more to the equation. This is the heart I refer to in Hustle With Heart.

Without heart, the hustle lacks a conscience. It is devoid of wisdom, kindness, and empathy (not just for others but for the self, too). When it comes to entrepreneurship, there is no glory in martyrdom.

America’s self-reliance obsession makes it more acceptable to applaud working yourself to death than to argue that doing so points to a flawed economic system.

15/02/2018

Valentine’s Day procrastinator, this one’s for you! Please don’t make that last-minute stop at the grocery store to pick up a generic, uninspired greeting card. A heartfelt message written in your own hand is the way to go, and these tips will help you nail it without hours of furious scribbling and reams of crumpled paper.

3 TIPS FOR WRITING A SOUL-STIRRING LOVE LETTER
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1) GET REALLY SPECIFIC. Let details do the heavy lifting. What has more impact—"I love your eyes" or “I love the way your eyes instantly light up when you talk about your basset hound Buford, your meemaw’s lemon Chess pie, and our next big adventure to Mumbai”?
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2) GIVE IT SOME STRUCTURE. If you’re clueless about what to say and where to start, organize your thoughts with a past/present/future format.

Reminisce about the time you first met or the moment when you realized you were smitten past the point of no return. Then move to what your beloved brings to your daily life (like how he comes home after a hellish day and still rubs your feet or how she’s always quick to supply the perfect gif for every situation). Finally, send a clear message that conveys “I’m in this, and there’s no place else I’d rather be” by talking about what the future has in store. What are you excited to do together (go on a trip, adopt a dog, get married)? Enthusiastically describe your shared dreams.
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3) DON’T WAIT TO EXPRESS WHATEVER IS ON YOUR HEART. You could argue that Valentine’s Day is a loathsome corporate scheme that has its sights set on the tender bellies of our human instincts. Or you could save yourself the tirade and view it as an opportunity (like any other day, by the way) to make absolutely certain that your loved ones (not just your significant other) know how adored they really are.

Life is full of surprises, both wonderful and heartbreaking. In an instant, your world can change without warning. Don’t leave the important words unsaid.

To sweet nothings, stolen glances, and voicing what truly matters…

xx
Katharine

24/01/2018

HEY, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. Clever copywriting and persuasive marketing strategies aren't just for big brands with big bucks. A limited budget makes it that much more important to strategically and effectively communicate with your prospects and customers.
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7 QUICK TIPS TO MAKE YOUR MESSAGING COUNT:
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1) Before jotting down a single word, get clear on your WHY. What specific action do you want your audience to take as a result of this communication? Your WHY should guide your writing process.
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2) Always place your focus on addressing the needs of your target audience. Highlight how your product/service has a unique ability to solve their problems or serve their desires. Then make it easy to take the next step (answering the call to action identified by your WHY).
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3) Write not just for readability but for scannability. People skim even well-written content, so use formatting to your advantage. White space is your friend. Headers and subheaders organize sections and make your content more digestible. Say yes to lists and bullet points when it makes sense.
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4) Remember that small details can have a huge impact. Spend the extra time it takes to write attention-grabbing subject lines and headlines. It doesn't matter how good the meat of your email/sales page/blog post is if no one's compelled to bite.
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5) Choose wisely when it comes to visuals that accompany your text. An eye-catching, on-brand image can boost the effectiveness of your copy (just as it can undermine it).
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6) A second (or third!) pair of eyes can save you tons of strife. Get feedback from a trusted source before hitting send or publish. Assuming you haven't hired a pro to this point, it's worth doing so once you have a solid draft, especially for high-stakes campaigns. Everyone needs an editor and, at the very minimum, a proofreader.
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7) Once you're ready to debut the fruits of your labor, don't go the set-it-and-forget-it route. Pay attention to both immediate and longer-term performance. Take a moment to celebrate your successes and learn lessons for the next go-round.