720-583-3761|katie@zipmediablog.com

Katie Kukar

About Katie Kukar

Marketing professional with over 25 years experience and focuses on marketing automation. She has worked with businesses from summer camps to insurance companies, lawyers, and hospitalty and loves to incorporate humor. "It's all fun and games!"

The Best Times To Post Your Blog On Social Media

After spending hours creating the perfect blog post, you want to maximize your efforts by using social media to share your hard work, to those who might be interested in reading it. So picking the best times to push it out onto social media makes sense.
In this post, I provide an easy way to remember when to post on social media for maximum exposure.  I’ve collected as much data as I could and made my conclusions to which I am sharing with you.
You will find an easy way to remember when you should post to almost all social media.  I’ve detailed a few social media options based on what the majority of my clients use for their business.
When I work with clients, we come up with a content calendar of what to create, when to create it and then when to share it. Content creation is an ongoing process so keep a file of ideas it will come in handy.  I also assist clients with choosing the right resources for information. The internet is vast with information and with “experts” so choosing the right sources is important.
Creating online content is also important for email newsletters to continually engage your readers.
I do the work, and you and my clients can benefit.  It’s my area of expertise, and I love to do it.
Midweek midday
There it is!  Midweek Midday!  Across the board that is the best time to post!
Most engagement happens during the day, but if you are wondering if you should post early or late, Don’t! Use that time to live your life.
The consensus on when is the best time and day to post comes from companies like Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Social Media Examiner, Hubspot, Marketo, […]

By |January 2nd, 2020|Content Tips, Social Media Tips|0 Comments|
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6 Critical Tips To Creating Website Content

Follow these critical content tips if you want a shot of getting any organic search rankings for your website.

The headline needs to grab attention.
Content needs to be simple, to the point and written with the client in mind.
The body of the content or post must live up to the headline or page title.
State your conclusion at the beginning of the page or post.
Create article headers to organize your ideas
Remember- people make decisions based on emotion.
Bonus Tip #1: Create content by commenting on an article someone else wrote.
Bonus Tip #2: Record yourself

These are the basics, but it’s a starting point. These tips work for website content and blogs.

Another important reason to have good content is having useful and important information available for email newsletters and quality content for social media outlets.

If you need more advanced help, I can assist you with moving on to more tailored techniques for your business content.
6 Critical Tips
1. The headline needs to grab attention.
There is no point in creating an informational and amazing article if the headline does not grab attention!  Pick the headline first, map out content headers and then go for it by adding the detailed information.

So many of my clients struggle with writing content because it feels so ominous.  My advice is to break it down: headline, headers and then the important information, step away, edit, post, then edit again, save and then edit.  That’s the way it works.

I’ve compiled a list of killer headlines that have been tested and rated to help you.

Another tip is to make sure your headline contains important keywords and that you use the keywords in the content.  Just think about how you use the […]

By |December 18th, 2019|Blogging Tips, Content Tips|3 Comments|
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Creating Killer Headlines

Killer headlines are crucial to blogging.
The purpose of a killer headlines is to attract attention within seconds and pull them into your article and website. Therein lies the power of an amazing headline.
One of the most essential elements of a killer headline is it must stand on its own.
Listed in this blog are some of the top headlines and headline examples.
It’s beneficial to pick a great headline first and then add your content to it.  The next step in creating the best blog is to adding paragraph headers so you can organize your content.

I’m a fan of using humor to grab and explain- I respond well to those types of headlines, but I do like vital information to enhance what I am reading, and I am not alone.
I’ve compiled the types of headlines that attract attention.

People love numbered lists:            7 Habits, 5 ideas, 3 pitfalls etc
They love resource lists:           7 ways, 7 secrets, 7 things
They read Warnings or Cautions:       Top 10 mistakes, 11 warning signs
What’s New?  We are addicted to new:       5 new ideas to create more followers,
How to’s:  How to implies a solution to a problem:      How to finalize your Divorce in 5 quick steps.
“You can do it”  Adds intrigue:      You can solve your families financial crisis
Ask a Question;  make sure you know the answer!       Does staying in an unhappy marriage benefit your children?
Fear:  Fear and greed are the primary motivators:       “4 Phrases that age you.”
Astonishing Facts:       1 in 2 marriages end in Divorce, World wastes 30% of its food
Controversy:  Controversy […]

By |December 1st, 2019|Blogging Tips, Content Tips, Social Media Tips|2 Comments|
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9 Simple Tips to Update Your LinkedIn Profile

Simple tips to update your LinkedIn profile.  Anything you can do to update your information online has value.
Most people don’t have time to mess around with all the social media options, but you can update your Linkedin profile on occasion and it will impact your online presence.
You can stay active and up to date by following these simple steps.
When I work with clients, it’s a partnership where we work together to bring in the leads.  Client’s pay me for my value, but my value is in seeing their value and sharing it with people online.

For me to be effective, I need to get to know them and their business goals. Updating their Linkedin profile showcases their value and helps me get to know them. Also helps them reach potential new clients.

Follow these 9 simple steps for updating your profile and it will make a big difference in your online presence.
Re-write Your Profile:
Why this is important:
If you are a Real Estate Broker/Agent people are buying you first and then the property.  So while they sift through properties online they will look for brokers that catch their eye.

That’s why updating your personal profile is crucial.  You may move between Real Estate companies, but your personal brand should always remain current to show who you are and how you help clients.

Too often people “toot their own horn” in the profile section, but it has no value to the reader.  Some of it is so dry that people stop reading.

Remember in 8 seconds people make a decision to read further and then whether they will call you or not.

Please drop all the resume language because we all know it’s b.s. The last thing you want to indicate to prospects […]

By |September 18th, 2018|Social Media Tips|2 Comments|
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9 Ways You’re Incorrectly Using Facebook for Business

In my recent experience, I’ve learned non-marketing business professionals have many misconceptions about Facebook marketing.
Conversations with business owners, general managers, CEO’s and other business professionals have uncovered this issue.
Most of this misinformation comes from a tiny bit of internet research or reliance on younger employees input because “they grew up with social media.”
These professionals cite one article with an idea, and then they want their marketing person or team to roll with it. One small piece of information shouldn’t set the tone for a marketing plan.
I’m all for new ideas, but I prefer a bit more due diligence before I jump off a boat into shark-infested waters.

It’s time for quality information from a marketing professional who uses Facebook on a regular basis to generate leads and sales for clients.

I hope this article pushes past all the incorrect information and leads to a path of Facebook marketing success.
The 9 Ways You’re Using Facebook Incorrectly For Business
1. Disregarding the marketing basics:
Marketing basics are a critical component of Facebook advertising. Knowing your customer, building a relationship and providing value, that’s the formula.

If you don’t know your customers and aren’t sure what value you bring to them, don’t spend money on Facebook marketing until you do, your wasting your resources.
2. Using Facebook as a traditional marketing platform:
Facebook has many qualities, but first and foremost it’s a social platform. That’s what makes it great, fun, exciting for users and also a marketers dream.

People willingly gave Facebook personal information, and this information is gold in the marketing world.

A traditional marketing model doesn’t work because your potential customer plays on Facebook for reasons that are fun, personal and provide a connection. If you are slamming them with advertising, they will ignore […]

By |September 5th, 2018|Social Media Tips|5 Comments|
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4 Additional Common Marketing Mistakes

Part 2 of common marketing mistakes.
Numerous business conversations have exposed common mistakes made with marketing. My goal is to explain these mistakes so you can change your thinking about marketing since it’s crucial to any business.
Read 5 Common Marketing Mistakes
1. We only need a marketing professional for a while, and then you can take over the marketing.
Not really, the opposite is true.   If the relationship works well and both the business and the marketing professional are making money the last thing a business owner should do is take over the marketing again.

When an owner calls in a professional they were struggling with marketing, why go back to the struggle? Besides working with a marketing professional for a year does not make you a marketing expert.

There is also a difference between knowing what to do for marketing and then implementing the program.  Marketing professionals don’t give up all their secrets.
2. It’s not important to review past marketing efforts.
Reviewing past marketing is essential. Why?

A business can’t move forward unless it knows what’s happened in the past.  Reviewing the effective and non-effective marketing helps a company make better decisions about where to start, what should continue, and what can be tweaked to be more effective.

If the marketing efforts were not successful, but maybe they should have been, exploring why and making minor changes, saves time and money.  Often a simple change generates success.

Keeping detailed records of marketing efforts from the beginning also indicates progress and where to make future improvements.
3. Everyone should be the target of your marketing.
Impossible and foolish. You are not everything to everyone.  The buzz phrase in marketing is “the riches are in the niches.”

Everyone is too general to make a serious impact.  […]

By |August 26th, 2018|Marketing Tips|2 Comments|
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5 Common Marketing Mistakes

Common marketing mistakes pop up in business conversations, all the time. I hope this blog post helps change your perception and ideas about marketing.
I’ve been working in the field of marketing for many years, and these common mistakes continue today. I would like to give you a new perspective on marketing and lead you in the right direction for your business marketing.
The 5 Common Mistakes
1. Once the marketing plan’s in place, there’s no need to adapt, change or revamp.
The reality is, marketing plans change all the time, and if you are working with a professional, this will be the case. Experimentation is part of the game and if ideas are working, fantastic! If not, change them.

A business focus changes frequently, and so does the target of the marketing.  If that happens, the marketing plan must change.

For instance, a current client was looking to increase the traffic to their website; they had an idea of their clientele, so we structured the content and SEO to speak to that audience. As website traffic progressed and client calls increased, they realized that they wanted to attract a more sophisticated clientele.

We changed the website content and blogs so we could attract those particular clients. Plans always need to be adapted.

Starting with a niche marketing plan is always best for advertising, but sometimes a client believes their business solves the problem of a particular group of people, test it out and then make changes.

Marketing will always be an ongoing process.
2. Building a website creates immediate success for a business.
The reality is, for a website to gain any traction with traffic and search engine optimization; it needs at least nine months of adding content, updating and adapting specific elements for a […]

By |August 22nd, 2018|Marketing Tips|2 Comments|
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Zip Media Does 2 Things for Clients: Facebook & Emails

I have revamped Zip Media to do 2 things. Facebook Marketing and Email Marketing, that’s it!
Why? It’s simple since I’ve in marketing for more than half my life, I have worked with a variety of businesses and a variety of marketing options.

In my experience, I have learned that these two options consistently provide the best rate of return on your marketing dollars. They will get you the leads you want and generate the sales for a successful business.

There are other factors in what makes a business successful, but if you have a good product and services, these two options will work. It’s Zip Media’s job to work, test and adapt these options for success, and it will work for all types of business.

I work with Real Estate Agents and Brokers along with Interior Designers. I find focusing my attention in a particular industry helps me provide better service to my clients. These two options also offer fantastic lead generation in an industry that gets clobbered with new marketing ideas.

As a marketing professional, I’m fascinated by technology and how it’s used to create, develop and market a business. The endless possibilities are exciting. I also like change and the fast pace of digital marketing. Keeps me on my toes! Plus social media marketing and email marketing are fun and provide incredible data we can use to make educated changes with marketing.

Facebook advertising and email newsletters are not very expensive and can be worked effectively for almost immediate results. There is an art to setting these up and operating them effectively, and that’s what Zip Media does for its clients.
We set up everything, work it, test and provide the customer with the leads they want.

If this […]

By |July 3rd, 2018|Marketing Tips|0 Comments|
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Why is website content important?

Website content is important because it’s how a company introduces itself to the reader, and how it sells itself to potential clients.

Website content includes main pages and the blog.

The website content question pops up frequently from clients, so I wanted to address this issue on the blog.

NO judging! As obvious as this may be to some, it’s not to others. My goal is to help my clients with their marketing, not put them down because they don’t know everything about digital marketing.

It’s true, creating a website can get tedious, but having quality material about the company is imperative. I’m sure this is part of the reason I get asked these questions.

(To all clients; I try to make this process as easy and painless as possible).

A quick guide to the structure of basic website main pages…..

About Us: tells a little about the company.
Services page: introduces the reader to the goods and services offered.
Employee page: showcase employees because they are the strength of the company.
Blog: where the reader gets up to date relevant information.
Contact Info page: all contact info including a form

(A basic website layout can be adjusted or increased depending on the business. Some have used testimonials, but it’s dependent on the target market)

Design of websites main pages needs to be simple and visual, and the content structure should be written for readers and search engines. A delicate line exists between attracting clients and search engines, but can be accomplished with a clear target.

Websites are designed to provide opportunities for readers to buy. Always think sales! If the blog is always WE do WE do WE, in one click your company loses a sale!

Write content with these ideas in mind

What’s in it for the client?
What […]

By |August 15th, 2014|Blogging Tips, Marketing Tips|0 Comments|
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One of the best reasons to blog: personality

Blog personality, an essential reason for blogging, frequently overlooked when discussing the importance of blogging.

Every blog showcases a company’s personality and where a company sells itself or doesn’t. I focus on marketing efforts that generate sales, so my belief is blogging, and blogging with personality make sales.

A sales truism is clients buy from the sales people and companies they like, more than the product itself. Knowing this fact, showing your personality on the blog is crucial.

Personal experience with buying and selling has taught me buyers and sellers want to work with companies they mesh with for personal reasons, and this makes for a higher success rate for the future. Success is long standing relationships between the company and client each getting what they need and want.

On the buyer side of things, viewing blogs prior to decision making works out in my favor, aligning myself with companies I choose to do business with over the long term.

The blog personality is obvious when you are a person writing an individual blog, most of the time for fun, but more professional companies get stuck in the share knowledge trap using business terms most people use for BS Bingo. yawner!

One of the challenges of working with my clients, many of them attorneys, is they want to post straight, to the fact, bullet points, written in legal terminology. Yawner again.

If you are searching for an attorney, you need legal help, you want it fast, simple, and to get a sense of the attorney, before making a decision. Sifting through legal terminology causes reader to move on to the next option. I don’t want that for the client!

I want my clients personalities to shine on their blog. I want them […]

By |August 13th, 2014|Blogging Tips, Sales tips|1 Comment|
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