Apaches fall to Marathon ThursdayBy Paul LeckerSports ReporterKRONENWETTER — Auburndale’s Rachael Bolder tossed a six-inning no-hitter, and the Apaches rolled to a 13-0 win over Northland Lutheran in Marawood Conference South Division softball action Friday.Bolder struck out 10 and did not walk a batter in her no-hit victory, and she also had a double and three RBIs.Brooke Anderson was 2-for-3 and scored three times, and Marissa Ponshock, Mackenzie Raab and Jenna Ertl each had a pair of RBIs for the Apaches (8-7, 5-5 Marawood South).The Apaches lost at Marathon 12-3 on Thursday. Raab had two of Auburndale’s five hits, and Hannah Bolder had two RBIs.Auburndale hosts Wausau Newman Catholic on Monday.(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)Apaches 13, Wildcats 0Auburndale 006 304 – 13 8Northland Lutheran 000 000 – 0 0Northland Lutheran statistics not provided.WP: Rachael Bolder.SO: R. Bolder 10. BB: R. Bolder 0.Top hitters: A, Brooke Anderson 2×3, 3 runs, RBI; Mackenzie Raab 1×3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Jenna Ertl 2 RBIs, 3 runs, 3 SBs; Hannah Bolder 2 runs; Marissa Ponshock 2 RBIs; R. Bolder 2B, 3 RBIs.Records: Auburndale 8-7, 5-5 Marawood Conference South Division; Northland Lutheran 3-7, 2-7 Marawood South.—Thursday’s GameRaiders 12, Apaches 3Auburndale 003 000 0 – 3 5Marathon 421 221 – 12 11Marathon statistics not reported.LP: Maggie Willfahrt.SO: M. Willfahrt (3 inn.) 3, Rachael Bolder (3 inn.) 2. BB: Willfahrt 3, R. Bolder 2.Top hitters: A, Mackenzie Raab 2×3; Hannah Bolder 2B, 2 RBIs.Records: Auburndale 7-7, 4-5 Marawood South; Marathon 14-4, 8-1 Marawood South. read more

19 May 2008Oscar Pistorius’ dream is alive again after the Court for Arbitration in Sport ruled that his prosthetics do not give him any advantage over able-bodied runners, thus paving the way for him to compete in the Olympics.Pistorius was full of smiles after the decision was handed down on Friday and told reporters he shed some tears when he heard the favourable outcome of his challenge. He said his battle had dragged on too long, but that it was a great day for sport, which will go down in history as an important moment for the equality of disabled people.The decision by the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) marks a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Pistorius after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled in January that his blades gave him an unfair advantage. The IAAF reached its decision after a two-day scientific investigation, supervised by Professor Peter Bruggemann at the German Sport University of Cologne.SupportPistorius approached experts in the United States to investigate his case and see if they found differently to Professor Bruggemann. Their findings, which supported Pistorius’ case, included the important contention that not enough variables were considered in the IAAF tests. Thankfully for the Paralympic superstar, CAS agreed with his conclusions.The President of the IAAF, Lamine Diack, accepted the ruling with good grace, saying: “The IAAF accepts the decision of CAS and Oscar will be welcomed wherever he competes this summer. He is an inspirational man and we look forward to admiring his achievements in the future.”Earlier this month, swimmer Natalie du Toit became the first amputee to qualify to compete in the Olympic Games. Now, incredibly, South Africa has a second athlete who could compete against able-bodied athletes at the Beijing Olympics.Important caseUnlike Du Toit, Pistorius uses prosthetic limbs when he competes and that is what makes his case so important for the future of athletes with disabilities.Whether he achieves his goals of competing in the Olympic Games or not, his courageous fight has paved the way for future generations of athletes with disabilities and set an important precedent which could prove to be of far greater importance than any result he achieves in a race in his career.The road to Beijing for Pistorius is not as simple as it might seem. He hasn’t competed for some time now because he has been fighting his case against the IAAF, which has consumed what could have been his training time.He is yet to run an Olympic A-standard qualifying time of 45.55 in the 400 metres or even a B-standard mark of 45.95. In fact, his best time is a Paralympic world record of 46.56, which he ran against able-bodied athletes when he finished second in the South African Senior Track and Field Championships in 2007.Relay possibilityClearly, he would have to improve quite markedly to earn a place at the Olympics, but a faint gap is open to him. He could make it to Beijing if South Africa qualifies for the 4 by 400 metres relay. To do that, the national team needs to be one of the 16 fastest in the world. It is something that they haven’t yet done.The most likely scenario is that Pistorius won’t make it to Beijing. He has, however, opened up the way for a full-blooded tilt at the 2012 Olympics in London. It is a far more realistic goal especially since his fight to compete against able-bodied athletes has taken him until only a matter of months before the Games in China.Pistorius has admitted that the 2008 Olympics is probably a bridge too far, but the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin beckon. After that, he could have another shot at the Olympic Games.Thanks to “the Blade Runner” and his fight to compete, he might not be the only athlete with a prosthetic limb to make it to the Olympics.Would you like to use this article in your publicationor on your website?See: Using SAinfo material read more

Originally posted on Omega HR Solutions Blog. There is a great deal of controversy about the independent contractor and the gig economy. I have written about it a lot, as have many others. People are floating numerous ideas about how to utilize workers beyond the employee versus independent contractor. One such idea has been labeled as the dependent contractor.DependentThe question is what would this dependent contractor be dependent on? The biggest issue is the safety net of benefits, in particular health benefits, that might make the life of an independent contractor easier. This social contract, as it has been labeled, of providing for the health and welfare of all workers needs to be redefined. Currently for the private sector to provide this the worker must be labeled as a W-2 worker. The government providing for it creates an outcry of welfare and is decried.Some people have suggested that anyone using contractors pay into a system that provides a way to pay for health and welfare of contractors. According to one article one company is doing just that. It is far from a universal solution.Trade offFor the time being workers and companies have to decide where they are in the system. Companies that use contractors get the freedom to adjust their workforce on demand, but lose the ability to exert control over that workforce to the level many would like to have. They also have no guarantee of worker commitment and often wonder about the quality of the work they get.The worker that performs as a contractor also has a tradeoff. They can work when and where they want, assuming they can find work to begin with, but they do not have the support they need. Without paying for generally expensive healthcare or having a lot of money in the bank, they have a hard time weathering periods of illness or injury and those associated costs. In the meantime many “gig” workers are on a hunt for the acceptable fulltime job.It will take effortIt will take a concerted effort on the part of employers, workers, and governments to work out the details of a new social contract. It will take openmindness on part of all parties to work out the details of this contract and determine what needs to occur. Hopefully as the new world of work evolves parties will work together to revise what is needed. I suspect that workers and employers will lead the way, let’s hope government won’t be too far behind. read more

with your blogging program? Are your videos a source of leads, or do you have other goals for them? . Eventually, these smart people see that blogging thrusts them and generate about topics varying from electronics assembly and technology to interface materials and semiconductor packaging. How do you justify so much company time devoted to blogging? profitable sales A: Each blog is a success since they each have different target audiences and expectations. I can’t simply declare that, because blog “A” generates more leads than blog “B” it is better. We need to consider the population of the target audience, as well as other factors. We also need to consider the resources needed to keep the blog vibrant. Q: Indium has and A: In many ways, technology is “global.” Sure, language matters, and barriers exist. We blog in Chinese as well as English. We wish we were blogging in many other languages. We have resource constraints and we make the best of them. But, remember, a YouTube video can be easily embedded into a blog post. In fact, that is exactly why I created our their content Originally published Jun 29, 2009 8:40:00 AM, updated October 20 2016 (meaningful information) which generates (customer) all is so important to his company. Q: You work at a company that supplies electronics assembly equipment. What made you want to start your first blog? Weren’t you worried about a shortage of readers and topics to write about? A: My goal was, and remains, to own the space as the “thought leader” for a wide variety of pertinent topics, technologies, etc. This, theoretically, delivers customer contacts on targeted topics-leading to increased sales, as well as insight into future opportunities (technologies, developments, etc.). It also delivers our customers a sophisticated source of support. Bottom line — I wanted a win: win scenario. Blogging A: Another way I’ve heard the same sentiments goes something like this, “I don’t have time to do that silly stuff, I’ve got an experiment to finish (or a white paper to complete).” That was the voice of many of my bloggers at one time or another. Many people see blogging as an activity that takes precious time away from their “important” work. is now a central piece of the marketing mix. contact content which generates is value. Remember, a good blog (like all good Marcom) is Q: Your company has facilities in China, Singapore, South Korea, the U.K. and Italy. How do you think your blogging and vlogging generate international leads? That That said, I don’t have to select only one way to go to market, so I use a variety of activities to earn our target audience’s respect, trust, and favor. Q: What are your favorite blogs? (Other than ones run by Indium or HubSpot!) , money/ Soldering can’t possibly have anything to do with blogging, right? My tactic is to reduce the process down to a very simple form, an inarguable form. In the case of my staff, it almost has to be a mathematical equation. Remember, my staff, and our customers, are extremely sophisticated, well-educated, and technologically astute. They seek and value data and logic, not warm fuzzies. , and “times used” (how many times we can put one piece of information out to the market), blogging and related social media is, by far, the most efficient activity. In conclusion, I see them as being one comprehensive toolbox, not mutually exclusive. products blogging technology , a supplier of soldering materials and electronics assembly equipment, If blogging truly offers no benefits, big deal. Move on. Do what works for you. There are so many scenarios out there, and so many lead-gen tools available that it should be possible to craft an effective program. So, I break it down to this: A: There are similarities and differences. The basic similarities include our desire to earn respect and trust via authentic, unassailable facts, depicted clearly-and our customers’ (almost universal) ability to easily access each. The differences are mechanical. social media A: Being a to learn how to create a thriving inbound marketing blog. ). Next, I use some anecdotes relating to the effect of delivering a white paper at a technology symposium, or having it printed in a trade journal versus having online, syndicated, and searchable for years and years. Q: As the director of marketing communications at the Indium Corporation you manage trade exhibitions and blogs (among other things). Which channel is more efficient for you? Why? Rick Short 10 employees blogging into the spotlight in a long-term, efficient manner. They quickly get it. Q: Which one of the Indium’s blogs have you found to be the most successful and why do you think that is the case? . I wanted a place to house my embeddable video for blog usage. In a recent email interview, contact search engines Q: How do you compare your video marketing efforts on Don’t forget to share this post! AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to Email AppEmail AppShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to MessengerMessengerShare to SlackSlack Word Wise Indium Corporation , Indium’s director of marketing, explained why and generation. So, in terms of things like time/ Webinar: Blogging for Business Q: What advice would you give to a company that needs to increase online lead generation, but doesn’t think blogging is right for its industry? Why? Because blogging helps Indium reach target audiences, get the company message out and — above all — get found via Marcom A: Rethink. And use outside experts to help you rethink. Many times, our leaders are very experienced. That could mean they’ve been doing the same old thing for too long and are in a rut. I’ve certainly been that guy a few times. Outsiders can refocus us, bring opportunities into the light, and wake us up. about the audience and never about the author. contact Download the free webinar YouTube channel . Writing and grammar seem to be a forgotten art in communication. I believe it really matters a lot. I truly enjoy Dan’s particular (and proper) attitude toward writing. Moving beyond the topic, he puts the blog together (mechanically) in a crisp, clear, easily understandable layout. Then, he writes succinctly and effectively. Bottom line: when I am done, I am better — and I can implement what I’ve learned the rest of my life. Topics: social media blogging As usual, we seek to overcome cultural and language barriers via the use of numbers, tables, charts, graphs, and videos. We also seek to tap into emotions and experiences. We may be geeks here, but we’re people. Our highly-technical audience has a tremendous sense of passion and of humor. My ideal communiqué has no spoken or written words-it conveys the message perfectly using only universally understood imagery. Alas, that ideal is rarely achieved-but we nail it sometimes. Wrong. For Want to learn more about publishing a blog on your business website? . Then, I demonstrate how easily my staff’s hard-earned and extremely-valued content is purveyed via blogging (and other First we need to know the units that you use to measure efficiency. To me it involves things like time, money, utilization rates, and (most importantly) geek, I love Dan Santow’s blog, contact Since the Indium Corporation has so many accomplished technologists who perform basic and applied research, as well as many individuals who are active with customer applications in the field, I knew I had the content. My real challenge was getting my staff to warm to the concept of being a blogger. This required a change in mindset, as well as a slight change in routine and responsibilities. Some perceived this “new” practice to be frivolous. After all, “writing a column” (like a journalist) seems quite unlike the traditional serious and deeply-involved creation of a “white paper” – it doesn’t feel right to some scientists. Once they realized how this type of sharing is valuable, they started coming around. YouTube read more

Social Media Topics: Originally published Dec 7, 2009 8:30:00 AM, updated March 21 2013 Nicole Buraglio is Director of e-Media for Hanley Wood Exhibitions. She oversees the e-media business, implementing web revenue-generating ideas and technologies, engaging customers with increasingly improved online opportunities and enhancing their overall media experience. In addition, Nicole has full P&L responsibility for Connect, Hanley Wood’s new online networking tool. Nicole has been in the trade show industry for more than 12 years, 9 of which have been with Hanley Wood.Construction Workers’ Surprising New Building Block: Social Mediaby Nicole Buraglio Businesses have a lot of fears and questions about social media:If I take my marketing strategies in this direction, will people follow me? What if they’re not the “type” of audience that gets social media? Can social marketing help my business?Yes. Social media marketing can (and will) change the way you do business and ultimately exponentially increase your efforts and, more importantly, your results –especially in this age of younger-generation dominance. (I’ve observed 3-year-olds successfully operate iPhones and it seems kids over 5 have already had at least one cell phone.) The fact is most people get social media. Grandmothers are on Facebook. Your complete professional history – and future, for that matter – can be tied up in one neat little package called LinkedIn. You learn more about your friends and family from 140 characters at a time than you ever thought or, in some cases, wanted.We started marketing much more strategically this past year as the economy spun out of control. A lot of our efforts are now geared toward Internet Marketing. Word of mouth has always been our most effective tool, it still is. Social media is just a new, more viral way to spread your message online.Our World of Concrete event draws more than 70,000 people every year to Las Vegas to learn about the commercial construction industry, purchase new products, and network with peers and leaders. This group is primarily made up of men who walk the show floor donning their jeans and duck jackets. You won’t catch many of them without a fresh beer; and, they refuse to miss anything about this world-class event.  Of the commercial construction audience to which WOC is marketed:Thousands follow the WorldOfConcrete on TwitterFans created a group on Facebook (we didn’t have to do anything!) for the 2008 event and WOC exhibitors continue to post announcements on the wall for the upcoming 2010 event.Industry professionals continually RSVP on the show’s LinkedIn accountYouTube and Flickr both feature user-generated content about the showIf social media can work for a commercial construction audience, social marketing can certainly work for you and your business, too.I challenge you to make this ever-evolving phenomenon, communally referred to as social marketing, part of your regular (if not daily) promotional program. I promise – it will deliver.construction worker photo by santafesweetsUpcoming Live Webinar: The Science of Social Media Marketing – Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 Social media scientist Dan Zarella explain what drives people to share information and opinions online.Reserve your spot now and learn scientifically proven best practices for spreading your content virally through social media. Don’t forget to share this post! AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to Email AppEmail AppShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to MessengerMessengerShare to SlackSlack read more

Why Does Google Allow Us To Buy Trademarked Terms At All? Originally published Dec 10, 2009 8:30:00 AM, updated October 20 2016 Don’t forget to share this post! AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to Email AppEmail AppShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to MessengerMessengerShare to SlackSlack Google Ads Use a trademarked word in your ad text if by doing so you are “helping” the trademark owner. What’s NOT Okay To Do: Have you ever had anyone use your trademarked term in a PPC ad? Alternatively, have you ever had great success buying a competitor’s term on PPC? In closing, a tip: I’ve found that bidding on a competitor’s trademarked terms isn’t the best use of PPC spend. Users who are looking for a trademarked word usually know exactly what they’re looking for and aren’t likely to engage with your ad at all – it will just be noise to them. For example, if you’re Honda, it’s not okay to run an ad that says “We have better prices than Ford!” If someone is using your trademarked term in an ad in this way, Topics: to see how paid search fits intoyour inbound marketingstrategy. ; France is a notable exception. What’s Okay To Do: In May 2009, Google updated its AdWords policy for trademarked terms. Since then, I’ve picked up on a lot of residual confusion about what is and isn’t okay to do with a trademarked term in Google paid search. This is legal in practically all countries You can’t use someone else’s trademarked word in your ad text if you’re pretending to be them, claiming you’re better than them, or otherwise trying to capture some of the search traffic that’s looking for them.  If you are able to convince searchers to click on your ad instead of the trademark owner in four short lines of text without referencing the trademarked word, Google assumes that you are a search result worthy of being available to the searcher. Buy a trademarked word as a keyword. . The reason this policy is in place boils down to the fact that Google is in the business of serving up good search results. If a searcher is looking for a trademarked term, Google wants to get them to reach the good or service as quickly as possible, something that is impossible to do when your search results are cluttered up with competing messages from companies trying to poach traffic. you can file a complaint with Google here Here’s a good example: if you’re a local auto dealer, it would be okay to use the word “Ford” in your ad to advertise that you sell Ford products. If you sell, resell, or offer unbiased information on a trademarked word you’re buying, then it’s absolutely fine to use that word in the text of your ad. All those scenarios help the Google searcher find what they’re looking for. The debate over trademarked terms HubSpot has even been a victim of trademark abuse (and officially filed a complaint in Google). While it certainly wouldn’t hurt to read has recently been rekindled by the holiday season as competition on trademarked terms drives up bid prices , here’s the layman’s version of what’s okay and not okay to do. Download the free video Beyond that, Google will charge you more for trademarked words since you won’t be able to use them in your ad text and thus will have a lower Quality Score. Google knows you aren’t your competitor, so it’s going to charge you more to dilute the integrity of their search results. In the end, you’re left paying more money for low-quality traffic. Do you want more tips on how to get the most out of your payper click marketing campaigns? Video: Get the Most out of Your PPCCampaigns Google’s full policy on its own terms . read more

conducted by HubSpot.The study of 2,100 businesses found that companies that blog have 79% more Twitter followers than those that do not blog.  This is especially noticeable in those companies with fewer than 15 employees.  It’s important to note that regular blog updates play an important role in this comparison.  The more you write compelling content on your blog and tweet it, the more established you become as a thought leader. And that leads to more people wanting to follow you. Originally published Jan 27, 2010 5:15:00 AM, updated March 21 2013 Webinar: Twitter for Marketing and PR for tips and tricks to drive inbound marketing using Twitter. In addition, it can help you get more followers on Twitter, according to a recent study Blogging can increase website traffic and help establish you as a thought leader. Download the free webinar Do you want to learn how to increase your Social Reach?  Want to learn more about using Twitter for Marketing and PR? Don’t forget to share this post! AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to Email AppEmail AppShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to MessengerMessengerShare to SlackSlack read more

Don’t forget to share this post! AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to Email AppEmail AppShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to MessengerMessengerShare to SlackSlack 10 Weird Mobile Apps You Won’t Believe You Can Download1. CuddlrA location-based social networking app called Cuddly lets you find people in your area to cuddle with. Cute or creepy? You be the judge.Cost: FreeOS: iOS only, Android coming soonDownload here for iOS.2. Demotivational PicsKeep that frown upside down. Make a bad day worse with an app that reminds you just how crappy things can be.Cost: FreeOS: iOS & AndroidDownload here for iOS; here for Android.3. Carrr MateyForgot where you parked your car? This app can tell you — in a pirate voice.Cost: Free, matey.OS: iOS & AndroidDownload here for iOS; here for Android.4. Places I’ve PoopedI mean … the name really says it all. Mark your territory, literally and digitially, with this map of where you’ve done your business.Cost: FreeOS: iOS & AndroidDownload here for iOS; here for Android.5. Run PeeWondering whether now is the time to relieve yourself of that red slushy you just sucked down? Run Pee will tell you when you can run and pee without missing anything big in the movie. Incredibly weird. Incredibly useful.Cost: FreeOS: iOS & AndroidDownload here for iOS; here for Android.6. Cat PaintYou know what this picture needs? More cat. Cat Paint helps you add more cat. Cost: FreeOS: iOSDownload here for iOS.7. Pimple PopperIf you find pimple-popping therapeutic, this app makes a gross little game out of it.Cost: FreeOS: iOS & AndroidDownload here for iOS; here for Android.8. YoAn app that does one thing: says “Yo” to someone else. #yoloCost: Free (thankfully)OS: iOS & AndroidDownload here for iOS; here for Android.9. Spirit Story Box: Ghost Hunting ToolThis app speaks ghost. Use it to get a translation of what the ghosts that are definitely around you right now are saying. Cost: FreeOS: iOSDownload here for iOS.10. Paper RacingYou know what would make bathroom activities more fun? Competition. Race your friends to see who runs out of toilet paper first. There are no winners in this game.Cost: Your dignity; but it’s otherwise free.OS: AndroidDownload here for Android. Mobile Apps From RunKeeper to Lyft to FlightTonight, there are plenty of mobile apps that are practical, functional, and just plain good ideas.There are also addictive games that, while not my cup of tea, keep millions of people transfixed on otherwise dreary commutes in and out of work.And then there’s a bunch of weird apps that make you go “hmmm.” Whether they seem hilariously niche, totally useless, or you’re just shocked there’s a market for them, the apps in this post might make you curious enough to download. (And you can do so guilt-free — because they don’t cost a cent. Enjoy.)Master the fundamentals of mobile marketing using this free guide.10 Weird Apps You Won’t Believe You Can DownloadCuddlrDemotivational PicsCarrr MateyPlaces I’ve PoopedRun PeeCat PaintPimple PopperYoSpirit Story Box: Ghost Hunting ToolsPaper Racing Topics: Originally published Jan 22, 2015 6:00:00 AM, updated December 04 2017 read more

Don’t forget to share this post! AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to Email AppEmail AppShare to LinkedInLinkedInShare to MessengerMessengerShare to SlackSlack Topics: Originally published Jun 17, 2016 7:00:00 AM, updated February 01 2017 Stop missing out on 99% of your website traffic from HubSpot Think back to when you visited a website for the first time. Were you immediately ready to make a purchase? It’s likely that you were not. In fact, 99% of first time website visitors are not ready to buy. Yet, we as marketers often only focus on the 1% who are ready to buy.To nurture that 99% of people into a sale, you need to create conversions before the checkout (or pre-transactional conversion opportunities). Here are a couple of examples of conversions before the checkout:1) NewsletterProviding your visitors with the opportunity to sign up for your email newsletter means that they receive valuable and relevant content and in return, you receive their email address. With that newly acquired email address you can further nurture your visitors into a sale.2) Buying GuidesA buying guide is a great opportunity for companies with larger or more complex products to help visitors make an informed purchase. Producing great content also makes you a thought leader in your area. Today 58% of ecommerce marketers use educational content, like guides, for pre-transactional conversions, far exceeding offers like coupons and aspirational content.For even more ideas on opportunities for conversions before the checkout (and examples of ecommerce companies using them today) check out this SlideShare. You’ll come away with: A roadmap on how to create and execute a pre-transactional opportunityWays to personalize content and nurture visitors into a sale  Lead Generation read more

When starting with new clients, one of the first questions we ask is ‘are you prepared to blog weekly?’ And the answer needs to be YES!Now a lot of people completely freak out when we tell them this. But all is not lost! Here’s some keys to attracting more Credit Union members with a well-developed and realistic blogging strategy.1) Pay Attention to Your Target CU Member’s Pain PointsThe first task you need to conquer is to define your target personas. This is key to setting SMART goals, and creating a strategy and all content that you will curate and share. Then we blog about issues that will appeal to them.It’s important that you don’t just blog about financial topics. Consider blogs about fun activities in your area, seasonal topics and leisure ideas that might be of interest to your target audience. And you should definitely blog about everyday problems your persona might be facing.Research your targets by talking to other members in the same stage of life, talk to friends and family, and do research online. Create a persona by identifying demographics and personal characteristics, hopes and dreams, and worries and problems. Then use this list to inspire your content creation and curation.2) Don’t Write All the Content YourselfIn fact, you don’t have to write ANY of it if you really don’t want to. There’s great ways to outsource content creation or subscribe to blog content feeds designed specifically for CUs. One of our favorites is Today’s Credit Unions, which offers lots of content for a very reasonable monthly fee.But my guess is you can find the time to create great content, without a ton of extra stress or worry. First, create a spread sheet of keywords and possible titles that you would like to share in the future. Then when it’s time for a new blog, use this sheet and pick a title.For us, we require that all full-time employees contribute 1-2 blog articles per month. We supplement these with guest blogs and outsource some writing. If you have your keywords set and have titles in place this really isn’t that difficult. I firmly believe that the hardest part about a blog is writing a good title and coming up with a quality keyword to focus on.3) The Title is Half the Battle!Now, I just mentioned keywords, and maybe I lost you, but stick with me. Keywords are short or long phrases that your target audience might use to search for information online. So, for example, if your Credit Union is targeting young families, in their prime borrowing years, perhaps you should think about keywords around parenting or having your first child.When blogging for a Credit Union you can put a dollars and cents spin on most things. Do a little keyword research (great tools: keyword.io, Google, HubSpot’s keyword tool…) and you might come up with the keyword ‘having my first baby.’ Then using a title tool (we like the HubSpot Blog Topic or the IMPACT Blog Title tool) you might create the title: 10 Ways I Could Have Saved When Having My First Baby! Now, if you’ve never had a baby, maybe you should pass this title off to another writer, but if you have kids my guess is that with minimal research you can take a pretty good stab at this one!4) Don’t Forget to Add a Call-to-Action (CTA)Once the blog is done and posted there’s a few other important steps. First, you need to SHARE the blog as widely as you can. We send out emails every 2-3 weeks to subscribers with lists of recent articles and short summaries. You can do this for your CU as well.You should also share blogs 2-3 times weekly on your CU social media, and make sure you include some ad support to increase the reach of these posts and drive more traffic to your Credit Union website.Most importantly, you will want to capture leads from all this traffic, so with every blog you should include a call-to-action within your blogs and at the end of the article to encourage readers to take a desired action. This could be something simple like download our budget checklist, and then all you have to ask for is the lead’s name and email. You might also remind readers to subscribe for more great content.5) Finally, Nurture Leads with Emails to ConvertThis might be one step, but this part does take time to work. Remember that relationships are formed overnight so email your leads every week or so with great content, testimonials and other kinds of beneficial tips that they might find interesting. Keep in mind that the financial services buying journey can be weeks and months long, so don’t give up too easy.But you will find that if you stick with this process you be able to impact bottom line revenue and member growth, and this is truly the ultimate marketing goal. Originally published Oct 18, 2016 7:00:00 AM, updated February 01 2017 Blogging Topics: Don’t forget to share this post! read more