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Marketing Tip from Heather Hammack
Marketing to Millennials
The millennial generation is one of the most sought after-and most misunderstood. Through their constant use of social media and being glued to their phone, it can be hard to know exactly how to get their attention. Here are some insights on communicating with 20 and 30 somethings.
1. Don't dumb down your message.
The sterotype for Millennials is that they are irresponsible, but in fact they start saving for retirement four years before Gex X. Millennials are goal setters. This can be seen through their pop-culture heros, overachievers like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. To reach this ambitious generation you have to understand their intelligence. Present information in a fast paced way through social media and in a way that helps them feel like they are making progress towards their goals.
2. Include a bit of playfulness in your content.
Millenials are not very rebellious. The media they love is a combination of goofy, earnest, and confident. They love Buzzfeed, Youtube, and recent explosions of kitten and puppy memes. Tailor your messages with "quirk in an authentic voice." Do not be afraid to include a little whimsy into your message, but remain genuine about it.
3. Create flexible content.
Millennials are constantly switching up their attention between the internet, their phones, and their social media sites. In order to catch their attention you have to create content that can capture their fleeting attention in every medium, around the clock. Successful content might include a tweet that can be consumed in seconds while waiting for coffee, or a long video or blog post that can be read in 20 minutes.
4. Give them an opportunity to engage with your brand.
Millennials are used to interacting with brands on social media. They are more likely to share their opinions of things they strongly like and dislike, as well as drive conversations on topics that they care about. To get the conversation going, ask questions and give them something that they want to share.Engaging with millennials on social media isn't about driving traffic to your site or making quick sales. Your social media content shouldn't always include a link. Posts should be focused on giving them meaningful content that they want to share, which builds their trust and loyalty.
5. Establish and uphold the value of your product.
Millennials are used to streaming music and videos and reading news for free online. But if they want something, they will find a way to pay for it. You have to establish early on that your product has a certain value. If you can do this, your customers will be willing to pay for it. |
Technology Tip from Summer F. Bell
QuickBooks in the Cloud
You may have been hearing about the cloud and how it is the future. Well, the future is now! The cloud provides the ability to run a program on many connected computers at the same time. The cloud is internet based and eliminates the need for a server. Servers can be costly and constantly need maintenance. Cloud access is usually a monthly fee. So what does this mean for QuickBooks users? The ability to access your QuickBooks file anywhere, anytime. The elimination of making backups and storing them in a safe place. With a cloud based accounting system, your information is safe and secure. If you have ever lost your QuickBooks data from a computer crash, you know what this means. If you use your QuickBooks in multi-user mode, you simply need to purchase separately licenses for your QuickBooks and you can have that many users logged into the QuickBooks on the cloud at the same time. Each user would just need to be able to access the internet. This also comes in handy when you need your accountant or QuickBooks ProAdvisor to login to your QuickBooks and look at detailed transactions with you. Previously, we have had clients send accountant's copies or backups so we can see their data. With the cloud, the accountant could have their own user name and login to the same file as the client and see the data in real time. This would be most helpful with troubleshooting problems or periodic accounting work. Accountant's copies do not allow the accountant to make certain changes or perform any payroll functions. A cloud based login would also eliminate these restrictions. The client would no longer need to send or import changes. The process would be seamless and streamlined.
There are several different companies that offer cloud hosting. QuickBooks has its own product, QuickBooks Online. You can even try it for free for 30 days. They offer three different versions, Simple Start, Essentials or Plus. The cost is a monthly fee ranging from $12.95 to $39.95 per month. They are even offering a 50% discount through Friday June 21st.
The other route would be to go through a cloud hosting site, such as Coaxis or Right Networks or Cloud9. There are about 20 Intuit authorized hosing companies. Once you sign up for one of these cloud services, you can use your QuickBooks desktop product (Pro, Premier, etc.) on the cloud. The QuickBooks Online product is different from the desktop program you may be used to. So if you prefer the functionality and features of your desktop program, you may want to go this route.
The cloud is here now! And it can dramatically change the way you handle your accounting for the better. If you have high server costs, it could also save you money. Give some thought to how the cloud may benefit you and your business.
For more information, contact Summer Bell, CPA at SME, 706-722-5337 or sbell@smecpa.com
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