The DIY approach is flawed for small business owners.  Wearing all the hats means a great deal of time is being taken away from the core business productivity.  Are you acting as the receptionist, the salesperson, the bookkeeper, the file clerk, the correspondent and the manager of the website, social media, customer service, collections and […]

Two months ago, our biggest client submitted notice due to internal budget cuts. Unfortunately, this was not a new scenario for us. When businesses face financial struggles, the marketing budget is frequently on the chopping block, and social media can be particularly vulnerable. Social media is relationship marketing. It’s a longer-term effort, and when companies […]

There are many ‘oopsies’ that can happen in business - double booking appointments, forgetting about a meeting, putting an extra ‘0’ on the end of a client’s invoice – to name a few. These are all honest mistakes and I’m sure they happen more often than I’d like to believe. Then, there’s just plain stupidity. […]

Few things get a business owner’s attention quite like a bad Google review. It is public. It can show up when someone searches for your business. And whether you think the criticism is fair or not, you do not get to control how other people interpret it. The natural reaction is often to figure out […]

There are a lot of lessons to learn in small business. I’m glad that I have the opportunity to share some of my lessons, including legal troubles with Getty Images in 2014 – in hopes that sharing will prevent other small business owners from making the same mistake. This past year, I learned yet another lesson […]

Every year, people publish predictions about what social media will look like next. Some turn out to be right. Plenty do not. The platforms change. Features come and go. Algorithms shift. New tools emerge, and entire formats can become popular almost overnight. That makes predictions interesting, but not especially useful as a foundation for strategy. […]

I’m often asked for universal tactics or quick tips for business social media. While there is no magic bullet, I have three ‘truths’ that I advise every business – regardless of their goals, their target or their industry. Humanizing works. Forgive me for sounding like a broken record, but this is SO important! People form […]

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been a part of the #Strella team for 16 months before writing my first post.  Needless to say, it’s time. In case you don’t know me yet, I’m Nathan. Rachel contracts my business to provide services for some of her clients, but I’m also her spouse – a.k.a. her […]

A client recently asked me about video sharing on Facebook as a result of an inquiry she received from her videographer. She’s referencing Facebook native video, which is making big waves in the social media universe. It’s competing with YouTube for views, so it’s important to understand the differences so you can decide the best […]