 Story time ... 12 years ago, I remember a client telling me “Well my nephew just graduated college and he’s playing on Facebook all the time, so I think we’re just going to use him. He said he’d do it for free.” I asked if his degree was in marketing. The answer was no. I refrained from rolling my eyes, knowing they would be back. And they were. With a hot mess on their hands. The lesson for today is … cheap social media isn’t cheap. It will end up costing more as you clean up the mess and get aligned with a proven strategy. Undoing the damage is very costly and it takes time to rebuild your brand and meet your goals. I’ve never met a client who didn’t feel like they were spending too much on social media at first. They get on Facebook and Instagram every evening and at lunch to play around – how hard can it be to actually post??? So, let’s start there. It’s VERY EASY to click/tap the “post” button … it’s everything that leads up to it that’s the hard part. Here’s what you get with an experienced social media manager … Understanding Your Audience Did you know that most of the time, even your own employees don’t understand your audience? I’m talking about TRULY understanding what moves your audience and makes them take action on social media. Yes, you might have tactics inside your store or business, but those tactics don’t always work on social media. Did you know that most of the time, even Facebook is totally off base when they give advice? It’s true! For 7 years now, I’ve ignored their “best practices” when it comes to how to post the “best” images on Facebook. Because I knew it didn’t work. Now they’ve finally decided that their best practices weren’t working and are going to stop penalizing boosted posts and ads that don’t follow their best practices. Understanding your audience means taking the time to review analytics, set up tests, monitor engagement, and keep an eye on goal completion. Experienced social media managers collect this information over time, watch the similarities and differences between industries and audiences, and tailor their strategies accordingly. Understanding How to Balance Branding and Your Bottom-line Inexperienced social media managers (or your nephew who just graduated from college) will push for page likes and post likes/comments/shares. Their strategy seems sound in that they’re focusing on your brand and “voice” on social media, but usually they’re only monitoring key metrics from the social platform insights. You don’t want to ignore these goals and metrics, but you’re going to be in trouble if they’re the ONLY goals/metrics you focus on. At the end of the day, which would you rather have?
(Take your time deciding.) An experienced social media manager is going to balance the two. They can help you with branding and storytelling but will also direct your messaging toward your goals of sales and lead conversions. You can build your brand AND get sales at the same time. Understanding Your Budget If you followed all of the “best practices” out there, you’d spend a year’s worth of your budget in 1 month. You can’t do everything, so you need an experienced social media manager to help direct you to the platforms and strategies that will help you make the most for your money. Hint: sometimes the recommendations can feel really boring after you've been reading about the latest new thing, If your social media manager is telling you not to jump yet, you need to trust them. Which brings me to my next point … Knowing What’s a Fad and When to Jump In I’ve got my eye on all new social platforms coming up and often times recommend that my clients grab their social handle to make sure they have it ready when the time comes. However, I don’t use my client’s budget dollars to create a content strategy and new content around a brand-new platform just because the “cool kids” are doing it. I only make a move when it’s profitable for my client – and that timing is different for each client. I have meetings all the time with potential clients where they talk about someone coming in and shouting about how they need to be on [fill in the blank] platform because “everyone’s doing it.” They jump on the bandwagon and proceed to lose money. An experienced social media manager will put an end to that real quick! Knowing When to Pivot This is the best thing about social media and digital marketing. You can quickly make changes. Experienced social media managers see “the writing on the wall” much faster than most others. We know what tweaks to make to boost engagement and site traffic and we know when to scrap an idea all together. Those new to digital marketing, will stumble and cause delays when it’s time to pivot. An experienced manager will already have a new strategy in place before you even know there’s an issue. Start with Experience, Finish with Success I’ve worked in the world of digital marketing before it was called digital marketing. In 2001, I started with email campaigns and kept moving to newer and newer online/digital media platforms. Now we work with email, website sites, landing pages, social media, Google ads, and more. When you work with That Digital Rush, we start with a strategy and then create a content calendar and social media posting calendar. We create a guide tailored to your business and industry to meet your goals via digital marketing. We send monthly results via email on the 1st of the month and if you have ads running, we will send you results weekly or monthly (your choice).
We are experienced and yes, you do have to pay for that experience. But that’s why you’re going to see results. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more.
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Ever had a day at work that was so bad you’re ready to just walk out? We all have. How we handle it is what will either make us or break us … but is also very difficult when you feel like work has already broken you.
Unfortunately, there are no ways to avoid bad days at work. The only thing we can do is come up with coping mechanisms that are healthy and keep us moving forward. Use these tips below to help you get through the day. Whether you only have 5 minutes to pull yourself together or you’re lucky enough to take an hour break – these ideas will help you find relief fast. In 5 minutes Geez, 5 minutes doesn’t sound like enough time, does it! But that’s the way it is sometimes! You only get 5 minutes (sometimes while hiding in the bathroom) before your next meeting or confrontation. Try these ideas … 1.Try the 4-7-8 exercise
Read about more breath exercises here. 2. Do Light Stretching
3. Repeat an affirmation Use the notes app on your phone to keep a list of affirmations for fast access. Here are few affirmations you could try.
In 15 minutes 15 minutes is enough time for a quick reprieve and hopefully enough time to calm you down so you don’t walk out! Try these ideas if you have enough time … 1. Go for a walk Burn the adrenaline out of your system with a quick, brisk walk around the office or house, if you work from home. 2. Call someone to vent Who can you vent to? Give them a heads up that you just need to vent. Let them know upfront if you’re looking for solutions or if you just need to say the f-bomb a few times to get it out of your system. Make sure you call someone who doesn’t internalize negative energy, so you don’t accidently ruin their day, too. 3. Listen to music Break out the earbuds or sit in your car for a bit. Try these Spotify playlists if you need some upbeat music: 4. Watch a funny video Need a laugh? Start here and then create a YouTube playlist of your faves …
5. Play a game on your phone PC Magazine has a list of games you can try. Maybe there will be some new ones you haven’t tried before. 6. Write a list of the good things in your life Remember you are more than your job! Are you a parent, friend, partner, involved in a hobby? Those are all good things! Make a list and write one positive thing about each of those things. In 30 minutes There are plenty of things you can do in 30 minutes. Start by being grateful for the break and then try one or more of these ideas … 1. Workout The Fitness Marshall is amazing. Try his workout and you’ll end up with a smile on your face …
2. Yoga
If you can’t leave your desk then try desk yoga.
If you can leave your desk, then try yoga outside.
3. Meditation
Try the Meditation Minis Podcast. They are around 7-10 minutes long and offer immediate relief. If you’re still muttering f-bombs under your breath then go all out and listen to “F*ck That: An Honest Meditation”
4. Get in nature
If there’s a park nearby then go for a quick walk and focus on all of the natural beauty around you. If you’re not near a park then try to get close to gardens or water features so you can connect to nature. 5.Grab some tea. Smile big when you order. Psychologists say that smiling is an easy way to start feeling more positive. Green tea has amazing benefits for your mental health, so order a large size! In 60 minutes Whether it’s a lunch break or you get to sneak out for a bit, take this time to really focus on self-care. Try these ideas … 1. Workout If you have a gym membership, then get in there and get sweaty. Burn off that aggression! 2. Make a to-do list, then get away from your desk for a while To-do lists will help you feel more in control of your situation. Make a list so you know what you’re doing first as soon as you get back. Then LEAVE and get a break mental break knowing that everything is ready for when you get back. 3. Walk and listen to a positive podcast You have enough time to get into a good podcast. So find one that will help you either destress or learn how to better handle the situations around you. Try one of these: 4. Grab tea and sit outside if you can Like we said earlier, green tea baby! Get it in your system! 5. Search job openings If you’re ready to walk out anyway, why not look up some new opportunities. Just knowing you have options you can apply for can have you walking back into work with your head higher. You’re not stuck! You’re simply learning quickly in an environment that’s not suited for you and you’ll move on when you’re ready. At the End of the Day 1. Cry According to healthline.com, “Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain.” So do it if you need to. 2. Reward yourself with a tasty treat. We’re not saying to smash a whole chocolate cake – that will come with too much regret and shame. We’re saying to make a smoothie or enjoy a Hershey kiss. 3. Lose yourself in a hobby You need to have SOMETHING, ANYTHING outside of work that makes you happy. If you have a hobby then lose yourself in it after work. If you don’t have a hobby then try one of these ideas…
4. Workout with a friend Grab your bestie and choose something fun and active. Want to try something new? How about …
5. Tidy your bedroom to create a relaxing space Use these tips to give your bedroom a makeover. Set yourself up for success by creating a relaxing oasis inside your home. Hopefully these ideas help! Learning how to stay positive and take care of your own mental health is a big learning curve as an adult. It’s in your best interest to keep looking for ideas that are most effective for you. Comment below if you have a relaxation idea we could try!  As you know, there are many factors that go into creating a successful video for online use. Today I’m going to go through some of the things I’ve learned the hard way. Maybe these learnings will help you, too.
Lesson 1: Start with the hook, not an intro The most successful videos online don’t have an intro slide at the very beginning of the video. It doesn’t show the company’s logo first. Instead, it immediately brings up the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) – the benefit statement - of the video. The hook! Example: Instead of showing your company’s logo and then moving into a video of you introducing yourself, start with a video of you stating the benefit of the video. If it’s a video about grooming cats, you’d start with “Today I’m going to show you 3 ways to groom your cat without drama.” After your “hook” you can transition to a slide that shows your logo and a quick introduction of yourself. Once your audience is hooked, they will wait a bit longer for the content. But they’re not waiting too long, so you need to get back to your content within 3 seconds. Yes, I know that’s fast! Lesson 2: Pause between sentences … like a LOT … and for a long time Say this to yourself, out loud, “Today I’m going to show you 3 ways to groom your cat without drama. We all know cats can cause some mayhem when it’s time to clip nails or take a bath.” Now, read it again, but make sure you pause for 3 seconds between the 2 sentences. “Today I’m going to show you 3 ways to groom your cat without drama.” PAUSE (count to 3). “We all know cats can cause some mayhem when it’s time to clip nails or take a bath.” If you did this exercise, you probably noticed your tone of voice changed when you said the word “drama” at the end of the first sentence. And you also probably had more emphasis on the words "We all" in the following sentence. That's because of the pause. Instead of your tone ending on a higher note at the end of the sentence which you might have done during the first exercise, your tone probably was a tiny bit deeper and final at the end of the sentence. This gives you easier transitions in your video. Additionally, adding more emphasis to the words at the beginning of the second sentence helped you start that section of the video with more enthusiasm. You don't have to build a pause in between every single sentence. I would plan to work them in every few sentences though as you adjust to this presentation style. Psst … you can edit your video to remove long pauses. These built-in pauses allow you to cut your video in pieces and move sections around without it sounding like you’re cutting yourself off mid-sentence. You can edit any pauses out later. Lesson 3: Look directly at the camera until it feels weird Have you ever seen a video where the person looks like they weren't prepared to talk - looking somewhere else or looking down when the video starts? How about when they're finished speaking and they start looking down or reach to turn off the camera before they've finished their last sentence. It's distracting and sometimes you can't hear what they're saying. To ensure your video is just a bit more polished, look directly at the camera for 5 seconds before you talk and after you're done talking. This gives the video editor time to create transitions and create a successful video. Lesson 4: Write your script and then cut the copy in half, then cut it again 15 – 30 second videos perform best on social media. Facebook and Instagram stories keep their videos under 15 seconds and TikTok doesn’t let you go over 30 seconds. Consumers of content online are used to quick moving videos with punchy hooks and fast delivery. They will not stick around long … even if your video is long. Consumers of video content are also used to reading text on the video while listening to you speak. So don’t be shy about adding extra key points in your video via text while you’re talking. This 4th lesson takes a lot of practice. You might feel like you’re taking a video script that feels conversational and light and now you’re being asked to cut that text in half. Remember, your tone of voice and mannerisms also speak for themselves, so cut the text but keep the rest of your video conversational and open. Your viewers would rather you get to the point so they can consume the content you’re creating for them. Feel stupid on video? It’s time to get over it. Use these tips to start creating videos for your business. I’d love to hear about any hard lessons you’ve had to learn while creating video. Please comment below!  What’s next?
If you’re like me in the world of social media, you’re feeling the pressure of “what’s next” multiple times a day. If you’re overwhelmed about creating new content ALL THE TIME, you’re not alone. Content creators are on the hook for providing new content day in and day out. While chatting with other creators, it seems like many of us forgot about the magical world of “evergreen content” in the last couple of years. Evergreen Content For those who haven’t heard this term before, Evergreen Content is content that doesn’t age quickly. You can use it and re-use it again and again. It’ll keep working for you. If you gasped and thought to yourself “What! Re-use content! That will look horrible to our audience!”. Keep this in mind:
How to Re-Use Content Before re-using content, go back through and read it to make sure you don’t need to change anything that sounds out of date. Create different social posts:
Content Syndication If you’re interested in Content Syndication, you can look into these platforms:
One More Idea A few years ago, while hungover during the holidays, I wrote a blog post on how to use your past social media content to fill your social calendars during Dec and January. You can read that here if you’re interested. Don’t Be Shy, Re-Apply Ok, that was a horrible rhyme. But you get the point. Re-apply, aka Re-use, your content so it continues to work hard for you. Having evergreen content that you continue to re-use WORKS. It continues to drive traffic to your website, helps host conversations on social media, and it saves your budget because you’re re-using instead of paying for more new content. Have fun getting creative with your old content! 
Find Accounts to Follow on TikTok:
Many businesses are starting to get interested in TikTok, which means you might be scrambling to download the app and get started yourself. If you haven't yet, then download the app.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I really liked TikTok! I find myself on that app more than Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Finding talented folks and inspiration is much easier than other social platforms. The more you heart and follow others, the more content you'll see in the same category. All other social platforms I'm on are filled with years and years of connections ... and honestly doesn't give me much joy to interact with. TikTok feels so fresh and new. I love it! Below are a few accounts I follow because they inspire me, educate me, or just make me laugh so hard other family members run over to see what I'm looking at. Comment below with your handle so I can follow you and let me know who you like following! I'm always looking for more people to follow. @yoleendadong
@thefitnessmarshall
@jazmynjw
@notoriouscree
@thequeerindigo
@omg_itsqueen@youngtitdancecrew If so, then you should join a creative agency! Trashing Talking, Finger Pointing, and More!Good. Lord. WHY is a selling tactic for most agencies to point out how stupid others are? I honestly think I've only met one other agency who chose to go the higher road and not trash talk everyone and everything. Competitors do really cool things - it's ok. You can admit that. Former employees, managers, and consultants can have great ideas before you came around - it's ok. You can admit that.
How to Support Others ... and Yourself. Supporting Others is Good for YOUR Business First of all, no one wants to work with negative people. Well ... that's not true. However, I can assure you that if they LOVE negative people who speak ill of others, then your turn is coming and they are going to EAT YOU A LIVE and enjoy every minute of it. True story. Second, supporting competitors and others will actually help you succeed. Why? Because you need for your industry to succeed in order for your business to succeed. You need an environment that your business can grow in. You and your competitors can either work together to create awareness and opportunity ... or you can squash it and end up hurting each other. Your choice! You Will Be Better and Will Do Better What excellent motivation! Instead of tearing down everyone, you can use them for motivation. There are plenty of businesses I come across where I KNOW I can do better than them. However, I also know there's SOMETHING they do differently and better than me. Instead of spending time looking for faults, I look closer to see what I'm missing. I guarantee you're missing something. We all are. So, How to Support Others? Keep your damn mouth shut. Too harsh? Sorry! Let me try again ... if you don't have anything nice to say then keep your damn mouth shut. Try things like this instead ...
If your competitor, or someone you work with that you view as a competitor, has a win, simply congratulate them. Then move on. If you're working on a project and someone from left-field shows up with an idea and you're feeling a little insecure about your position and value ... don't take it out on them. They're just trying to make it, too. By offering collaboration and your expertise you'll prove your worth. Times Are ChangingIn the last couple of years there's been a shift in how businesses and people regard "competitors" ... many of us have come to realize that people we've viewed as competitors were never actually competitors. And in fact those very people would make great colleagues and peers. We're so used to society pitting people against each other and hating on the ones who are successful that we didn't realize we were playing into the toxic behavior. But times are a changing and our views of collaboration and success are changing, too. Don't get stuck hating on others like the dinosaurs of the past.
 Creating a social calendar can be overwhelming. If you're also wondering where to start, use the ideas below. Make sure you have at least 3 posts scheduled for each week! Pick from the list below to get started. What to post once a weekSocial media is about engaging with your audience and creating conversations, however you need to make sure your products and services are front and center as well! Use this list for weekly content ideas...
What to post once a monthSprinkle these posts in throughout the month to switch things up and offer new ways of engagement...
Need help? Fill out our contact form so we can talk about your goals/needs.
 It's been how long?Who else thought we'd be done with Zoom meetings by now? Me, too. I was creating new Zoom background images that were branded to That Digital Rush and then I got a little sassy and decided to make a few more. Feel free to use any of these! If you do, take a screenshot and send it to me because I need some entertainment!   
For a while now I've been wanting to write a weekly blog post outlining some favorite things I've come across during the week. And that's it. That's the goal. This isn't for building your business or understanding digital marketing ... it's just random things I like and want to share. I'll do my best to point out local businesses, bloggers and influencers, but also just want to point out anything fun that I think you'd like, too.
Let's start with a person I admire and respect and who, as you can see below, eats plants ... Vegan-Blogger, @jeweleatsplants
Wanna know which brands of vegan food taste the best? Ask Jewel. Have dietary restrictions and still want to try new vegan-friendly foods? Ask Jewel. I'm always having my mind opened up to new possibilities by her. Jewel is a local blogger who reviews vegan products, restaurants, and provides a wealth of education about veganism. You can follow her on Instagram at @jeweleatsplants. Keep a tissue handy - these food pics are going to make you drool.
De-Stress with Plants
Did you know that plants can reduce stress and depression AND make your memory stronger? Yes, I'm not making it up (read more here). During the pandemic I've added 10 new plants to my house. And I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. Start with a local store if you're ready for more plants in your life. The plant above is located at Art Terrarium in Des Moines and is pet-friently, so your fur-baby won't get sick from your new green-baby.
Cinnamon Roll Milkshake
Who else is trying to be healthier but also constantly craving sweets? (I'm raising both of my hands. Me. Me. Me!) I'm all about any recipes that satisfy my sweets craving while also being healthy. That's why I love Cassie from Blogilates. She's always coming around with the good stuff.
We Rate Dogs
We Rate Dogs is guaranteed to give you a smile after a long, hard day. The dog pics are cute and if you're a nerd like me, you'll appreciate the quirky, silly captions that go along with the photo. And don't worry - all the pups are rated very highly!
There's still time!
Fill out the form below to get tips and tricks for quickly creating a holiday offer. We'll even send you drag-and-drop social image templates you can use to promote your message! We created the templates in canva.com which gives you the ability to add in images, your logo, change text, change colors, and anything else.
Psst ... check your spam folder and your "Promotions" folder in Gmail if you don't see an email from us right away! You can also add ashley@thatdigitalrush.com to your whitelist if needed.
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AuthorFirst, I'm the mother of three crazy, sassy, sarcastic, hilarious children. Second, I work in the world of social media, email, digital marketing. Third, I'll probably try to tell you what to do. 
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