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Health & Fitness

2014 Public Relations & Marketing Tips Inspired by the Chinese New Year

According to the Chinese astrology calendar, the Year of the Horse will begin February 4. People under the zodiac sign of the horse are seen as leaders gifted with spirit, grit, determination, vitality, and endurance. They are also known for their ingenious communication skills. They are clever, not afraid to venture out in their careers, and are kind to others. Cheerful and perceptive, people under the sign are talented and witty. They are earthy but also stubborn and know how to work the crowd. Inspired by the horse’s traits, below are some strategies for incorporating them into your public relations and marketing plan for the New Year.

2014 Public Relations and Marketing Tips Inspired by the Chinese Zodiac Sign of the Horse: 

1. TRUE SPIRIT & BLOGGING

Google has made it clear that the company’s ranking system has the goal to help its users find the best answers to queries by placing only the deserving candidates at the top of the search engine results pages (SERPs). This will have content creators on their toes (or fingers) because Google will reward websites with consistently new, true, unique and relevant content.

A blog is one of the best ways to rank well in this recipe of catalogued information. No matter if you blog daily, weekly or monthly, just make it a point to do it consistently. Also create an editorial calendar and publish posts with your target market in mind. According to ignitespot, 61% of US consumers have made a purchase based on a blog post, and the more you blog, the more traffic you drive to your website.

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If you’re worried about the length of your blog, the long and short of it is whether you write 300 or 1,000 words always offer something helpful to the reader, not a sales pitch. Your gift to the reader is knowledge and with that comes business.

To optimize your blog posts for SEO, choose your keywords and be sure to include them as much as possible in your content. Your main keyword should appear in the first paragraph of the copy so the topic is clear immediately. Be sure to include an image in your blog posts. Images are a great way to enhance your blog, engage your audience and drive traffic to your website.

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For writing inspiration, visit Longreads.com and check out their Best of 2013: The 10 Stories We Couldn’t Stop Thinking About .

2. GRIT & TWITTER

Twitter is one our favorite social media tools and although it’s a gritty job keeping those tweets to the 140 character limit, it’s well worth the time commitment. You can follow and connect with social influencers like reporters and bloggers who write about your specific industry whether it be pets (a popular topic on Twitter), food, health and wellness, sports, or arts and entertainment.

Twitter is serious business for media. Many newsrooms now have editors to unite and manage their reporters’ mobile, social, and multimedia work. 

Get to know the people you’re following. Read their latest blogs and articles and never approach them with a sales pitch. They’re interested in news so if you have something valuable to offer them, then they’ll be happy to hear from you. Be respectful and responsive and begin a relationship that has long-term benefits for both of you.

It’s easy to become a part of the conversation on the Twittersphere with the company’s Beginner’s Guide.

3. DETERMINATION & INBOUND MARKETING

Today it’s getting easier to track content that sells by directly linking a relationship to a story or online conversation. In 2014 more companies will be determined to hire people and purchase software that dig deep and track visitor interest to your website and social media accounts. Inbound marketing strategies will pave the way for success.

The inbound marketing methodology is about connecting with people and building long-term relationships based on customized content, conversations and tracking software. It’s personalized marketing that uses giveaways, images, infographics, blog posts, social media and more to connect with people and give them information based on their specific needs and interests.

Traditional SEO methods are no longer a viable way of directing traffic to your website. In fact, Google is penalizing websites for old SEO tactics like keyword stuffing and link farms. Instead, original content and consistency are key to success. Create and manage quality content that aligns customer interests and naturally attracts traffic that converts, closes and delights in over time. Invest in a powerful tracking system and an inbound marketing manager and you’ll be a rich resource for people searching the Web in 2014.

4. VITALITY & LINKEDIN

Mainly people perceive LinkedIn simply as a networking site. The communication tool is fast becoming a viable resource for searching for news and resources of all kinds, and notably information that is related to your LinkedIn profile. It’s all about customization in 2014.

According to Mashable, LinkedIn will be a go-to news source and distribution channel in the New Year. With more than 259 million members and 142 million unique visitors a month, LinkedIn is a vivacious news site. As a result of the size of its audience and the targeting capabilities offered, more marketers and publicists will be taking over company and executive pages to make the right connections and soft sell your products and services with strategic likes, comments, and shared articles.

Stay updated on LinkedIn advice and products on its official blog. Also cut through the news clutter by downloading the Pulse app, which tailors LinkedIn news content to your professional interests. 

5. ENDURANCE & TRADITIONAL PR

Traditional public relations in the form of press releases, calendar posts and email pitches continue to attract the attention of media in 2014. Google may have killed the link juice with its recent algorithm updates but traditional press releases have endured the change according to media experts. Press releases are more than a simple SEO tool. Press release content helps reach journalists, influencers, and consumers.

Read Search Engine Watch for 12 ways to optimize press releases to avoid Google Penalties.

When pitching media, know the hierarchy of the newsroom. Instead of calling or emailing staff at the leadership level like the Managing Editor, Editor in Chief, or Publisher, pitch assignment editors, online editors, and news bloggers. And always pitch them content that is related to their beat. At inBLOOM, we target people by their interests. Keep the pitch short and sweet. Time is limited for these people and they receive thousands of emails.

The New Year brings with it a world of possibilities for personalizing your marketing and public relations efforts. Integrating these tips and tools into a results-driven plan will be important for success in 2014. If you’re in need of assistance, contact inBLOOM Communications. Our team is ready to get you out of the gate and heading full speed into this year of the horse.

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