Have you logged into your Hootsuite account lately?

If you have, and you're on their free plan, you might have spotted this message 👇

Hootsuite Free is going away after March 31

😦

When Hootsuite launched back in 2008 as an entirely free social scheduling service they quickly went viral, but it's not really a surprise that they've decided to knock the free plan on it's head. 

They've steadily limited the free plan to the point where you can currently only manage 2 social accounts, and schedule up to 5 posts. 

Which isn't a lot when you think about it. 

So, if you're facing losing your free plan and trying to decide whether to upgrade or go elsewhere, here are 4 FREE Hootsuite alternatives for you to consider.

Okay, okay, hear me out.

I know this one is going to raise some eyebrows and possibly spark a bit of anger (hey, don’t shoot the messenger!)

If you’ve worked with me before, you’ll know I’m a huge advocate for organic marketing.

But I haven’t ever really explained why.
​
So, here goes. 

​Are you finding it difficult to 'stand out' now that everyone seems to be online?

All of a sudden, our virtual world seems more crowded than ever before as, thanks to the current pandemic, more and more people are noticing the value and importance of online marketing. 

Shops that used to operate physically are now launching eCommerce stores, authors who used only consignment printing are now turning to print-on-demand services and eBooks, and Zoom has become the fastest growing video meeting provider. 

So, how do you stay seen amidst all of this noise?

​Reviews and testimonials are valuable and crucial to the success of any small business.
 
Each review acts as a word of mouth referral about your business, and potential customers will actively seek out reviews from previous customers to ensure that they’ll be getting a good product/service.

Did you know that simply having readily available reviews from past customers can build a potential customer’s trust and lead to increased sales?

The key thing to remember is that your reviews should be everywhere, and there’s no limit to how and where you can use customer reviews to market your business.
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Try these top tips to make the most of your small business reviews: 

Do you have an amazing product/service? Do you want to generate more sales, draw in new customers and encourage past customers to return?

Of course you do! That’s why you need a solid marketing plan!

Marketing plans don’t have to be long, time-consuming or difficult to produce. They should be simple and effective. You can even find free tools online to help create your small business marketing plan.
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Whilst building your plan, remember these simple marketing tips to help give your small business a boost this year and get you moving in the right direction.

Does your brand need a new lease of life?

Look at some of the big household names; Netflix, Starbucks, Google, Domino’s and Apple as just a few prime examples.
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At some point in time all of these brands went through a refresh and a logo overhaul that updated their branding, keeping it current. Just remember that changes to branding don’t need to be drastic. Something simple can make all the difference, whilst retaining your identity. 

I know what you’re thinking, “Not another New Year resolutions post!” You’re right, they’re everywhere at the moment. We’re three weeks into 2018 and we’re being hit left, right and centre with New Year resolution suggestions for our personal life, work life, family life etc. It’s a little overwhelming.
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The thing is - these articles all have a point. The New Year is the perfect time to reassess your business goals and strategies, to reflect on what you learned over the previous year and to implement new ideas that can take your business forward. 

Far too many businesses start blogs for the sake of starting blogs.

Unfortunately, this means the web is awash with ghostly wreckages that were once big content marketing ideas.

Using a blog to reach a wider audience is something every business should do, but this form of content marketing it’s just as adept at speaking to an existing customer base.
 
If you’re unsure, here’s seven ways to communicate with your customers via a blog:

When it comes to LinkedIn, it’s not enough to simply create your profile and then leave it to do its own thing.

Whilst having a fully completed LinkedIn profile is certainly the best place to start, you must do more in order to truly benefit from all that LinkedIn has to offer.

In the past, we’ve discussed the importance of posting regular status updates to your LinkedIn profile and how and why you should be posting articles on LinkedIn.

​Today, we’ll be focusing on LinkedIn groups and how to use them to improve your visibility.