Isaac Kiehl

Born Digital Marketing Consultant with great results in social media management + marketing + communications + events + website/blogs + graphic design in both nonprofit/for-profit organizations. Love for fitness, coffee, photography, travel, and craft beer.

[isaackiehl]

Isaac Kiehl's invitation is awaiting your response

Isaac Kiehl would like to connect on LinkedIn. How would you like to respond? Accept: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqs999g8-3&t=ssuw&ek=second_guest_reminder_01&li=13&m=hero&ts=accept_text&sharedKey=dpT4EQo1&invitationId=6155817775588794368 View Isaac Kiehl&in.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqs999g8-3&t=ssuw&ek=second_guest_reminder_01&li=3&m=hero&ts=profile_text&sharedKey=dpT4EQo1&invitationId=6155817775588794368 You received an invitation to connect. LinkedIn will use your email address to make suggestions to our members in features like People You May Know. Unsubscribe here: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqs999g8-3&t=lun&midToken=AQFmrFVhGEd36Q&ek=second_guest_reminder_01&li=15&m=unsub&ts=HTML&eid=p533e6-iqs999g8-3&loid=AQHv4NzYvR8J5wAAAVX_25dBxGVbj_d08trPaJruVWtMcMPOkNKKjQAtxzFicZvemZEM63rwct0231He This email was sent to [email protected]. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact LinkedIn Customer Service: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqs999g8-3&a=customerServiceUrl&ek=second_guest_reminder_01 © 2016 LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View CA 94043. LinkedIn and the LinkedIn logo are registered trademarks of LinkedIn.

[isaackiehl]

Isaac Kiehl's invitation is awaiting your response

Isaac Kiehl would like to connect on LinkedIn. How would you like to respond? Accept: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqi8myj7-1b&t=ssuw&ek=first_guest_reminder_01&li=14&m=hero&ts=accept_text&sharedKey=dpT4EQo1&invitationId=6155817775588794368 View Isaac Kiehl&in.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqi8myj7-1b&t=ssuw&ek=first_guest_reminder_01&li=3&m=hero&ts=profile_text&sharedKey=dpT4EQo1&invitationId=6155817775588794368 You received an invitation to connect. LinkedIn will use your email address to make suggestions to our members in features like People You May Know. Unsubscribe here: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqi8myj7-1b&t=lun&midToken=AQFmrFVhGEd36Q&ek=first_guest_reminder_01&li=16&m=unsub&ts=HTML&eid=p533e6-iqi8myj7-1b&loid=AQGo7y0ucEydiAAAAVXbwvW0Sit6fDKFbvizm9faYI2dq1H1D-uujpqZCEFYaQedHQOJUB4SC9Rg5cKe This email was sent to [email protected]. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact LinkedIn Customer Service: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=p533e6-iqi8myj7-1b&a=customerServiceUrl&ek=first_guest_reminder_01 © 2016 LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View CA 94043. LinkedIn and the LinkedIn logo are registered trademarks of LinkedIn.

[isaackiehl]

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn

Join Isaac Kiehl and over 300 million other professionals already on LinkedIn Sign up to become Isaac's newest connection. Confirm that you know Isaac: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=0-iq8foey8-us&t=ssuw&tracking=eml-guest-invite-cta&ek=invite_guest&sharedKey=dpT4EQo1&invitationId=6155817775588794368 You received an invitation to connect. LinkedIn will use your email address to make suggestions to our members in features like People You May Know. Unsubscribe here: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=0-iq8foey8-us&t=lun&midToken=AQFmrFVhGEd36Q&ek=invite_guest&loid=AQG7s3EpH033CAAAAVW3byXX1TbtkhcnWV2b50YWoSIGIWbJErLF4z6SjXJGZFir7r_avhHNCtIskZC3&eid=0-iq8foey8-us This email was sent to [email protected]. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact LinkedIn Customer Service: https://www.linkedin.com/e/v2?e=0-iq8foey8-us&a=customerServiceUrl&ek=invite_guest © 2016 LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View CA 94043. LinkedIn and the LinkedIn logo are registered trademarks of LinkedIn.

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Swarm is all about keeping up and meeting up with your friends, which is why we’ve introduced neighborhood sharing and plans alongside good ol’ check-ins. We absolutely love hearing how you’re using Swarm to meet up. You’ve told us it’s helped with everything from quick drinks, to weekend...

[isaackiehl]

You Don't Belong On EVERY Social Media Platform (Very Rarely)

The problem I come across regularly is that people and businesses think they should belong on every popular social media platform. Although personally I feel it's beneficial for me as someone who works directly in the digital marketing field to be involved with many platforms at once, your business should not necessarily follow that rule. Here are a few reasons to pick the social media platforms wisely and not plentifully:

Drowning Your Message - As you join more and more social media channels, your message cannot be exactly the same 10 times. You need to have a strategy and that strategy is most likely NOT going to include social media channels up the wazoo. Pick the most effective for your brand which will most likely include Facebook and Twitter. If all your content remains professional and doesn't get casual, LinkedIn maybe the perfect network to solely focus on.

Who's Time Are You Wasting? The more social media involvement, the heavier load on your social media/digital marketing employee. Not only do you need a strategy and targeted audience for each network, you also need to execute it. I'm not saying it's not worth it if there's a large return 360 degrees, but likely some of those platforms are not producing the time being put into them. 

More Testing Opportunities And Analytics - When you have focused networks (and I'm not going to name a clear number of networks, sorry) you also have the time for the TLC needed to grow and increase engagement. If you're worried about posting to x # of platforms instead of the quality and optimal timing, then you're not really focused on truly utilizing social media.

Sometimes the largest brands excel on all platforms, but compare their resources compared to yours. Remember that it's okay to try and fail at a platform. You might not get Google+ and lack in building that community as opposed to Facebook where you're thriving. Just remember to close your account and don't leave it stagnant, leaving a poor view on your brand. 

[isaackiehl]

The Challenge of Understanding Twitter's Purpose In Life

Sometimes in life we encounter a challenge. One that seems we just can't overcome. So I present to you Twitter. Millions use it, millions don't understand it. There are so many definitions about what it's purpose is, but directly from Twitter.com comes this explanation:

"Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories, ideas, opinions and news about what you find interesting. Simply find the accounts you find most compelling and follow the conversations.

At the heart of Twitter are small bursts of information called Tweets. Each Tweet is 140 characters long, but don’t let the small size fool you—you can discover a lot in a little space. You can see photos, videos and conversations directly in Tweets to get the whole story at a glance, and all in one place."

So as a user, or even a social media marketer, how does Twitter benefit us? Is it just a place for people to share that they are eating a Cronut or share that daft idea that just popped in their head?! Here are some of the successful ways Twitter is being used, and received:

Experts of Industries - The most well-respected people in their industries have great insight, knowledge and information to share. If you can follow your industry it's a great way to get a lot of great information in a little bit of time and space. Even people who are semi-experts can share industry-relevant articles that are worth taking the time to sift through.

News/Media Stories Unfolding - When there's a news story unfolding, many people now turn to Twitter to report live. Everyone can be a reporter in a sense and Tweet about what's happening live. Many news stations now rely on Twitter users at times to know what's unfolding with a story. 

Celebrities - Who doesn't love following their favorite comedian or actor/actress? Of course you want to know when they're vacationing in Belize while you're at home in your underwear eating Cheetos. Honestly, comedians are a great follow though because it's a new channel for them to try comedy routines in 140 characters or less.

Brands - Many brands relay great information about their products/services but Twitter provides a way for them to see what people are saying about the brand and engage the user about the problem to help fix it. Some like McDonald's and LivingSocial have customer service during the day that you can tweet issues to and help get resolved. It's forming to be a new type of customer service in itself. Brands & businesses (especially small businesses/nonprofits) can also share news and updates quickly, so that's why it's good to have a Twitter account for your organization and use it frequently with updates and articles. The more active you are, the more people will find you. 

Everyday Joe & Jane - What are you friends up to? Wonder no more as they will let you know what they are eating, where they are checking in at and how they are feeling. On second thought, maybe pick and choose these people to follow.

Twitter has many more purposes, but these are just a few of the basics. I didn't even TOUCH on hashtags (#CONFUSION) this time around, but we'll save that ball of confusion for a future post...

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[isaackiehl]

Free Nonprofit Email Marketing & eNewsletter Solution Revealed!

I've been composing eNewsletters for a few years now. When I met with a new nonprofit social media/digital marketing client recently I was surprised to find that they were unaware of the free eNewsletter & email marketing opportunity Vertical Response offers to nonprofits. If you are a nonprofit with a 501(c)3 status and have a list under 10,000 recipients, you can qualify for Vertical Response's Nonprofit Program that grants you 10,000 email credits monthly for no cost!

It's great to see an email marketing giant like Vertical Response really focus on the nonprofits and help them, especially many smaller organizations that might not have a big or event a budget at all. I recommend that if you aren't utilizing them with your nonprofit, click here immediately to get started!

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[isaackiehl]

Take Control Of Foursquare For Business Display Photos

An new feature has been added to Foursquare for Businesses...you can now choose/upload the photos you want displayed on your business profile. Now you can show off the best parts of your business! 

Show your facility, products, and services in action...make a great initial impact with this new feature! If you don't have control of your business on Foursquare, you're missing out on engagement opportunities with your customers.

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[isaackiehl]

Facebook Ads for Nonprofits: Should You Do It?

Many have a love/hate relationship with Facebook Ads. We get annoyed by them on a personal level, but when it comes to business, it can return on your investment. If your goal revolves around vanity social media and amount of likes for your Facebook page , Facebook Ads is definitely for you (vanity social media goals are not the most effective tracking, FYI). As for conversion, Facebook makes it easy to track outside pages with an offsite pixel option to track whether you ad has led to conversion. Forget offsite pixels, I'm going to present a simple, quick overview of a nonprofit case study to help you understand how Facebook Ads can help your nonprofit Facebook page.

The case study is a nonprofit with a budget of $50 for an ad focused on volunteer opportunities, targeting is geographically focused within a specific city, including cities within 10 miles and not already connected to the Facebook page. The ad targeted approximately 220,000 Facebook users and after a month and a half (yes $50 did last that long), ended up with over 250 extra likes and conversion was unknown. There was no conversion tracking because they were sent directly to the Facebook page and would have had to take the initiative to contact the nonprofit themselves. All that came of it was the increased 'likes' and potential exposure to them. 

I highly recommend leading your ad somewhere you can have tangible conversion, such as a specific landing page, form, etc. Many nonprofits might not have resources to setup. Facebook Ads WILL increase your Facebook exposure and likes, and could increase conversion depending on your end result and goals. Spending something small like $50 is worth it, but if you're looking to do an all-out large budget campaign, do more research to target your ad and overall see if Facebook Ads is the right digital marketing for you.

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[isaackiehl]

Don't Let Anyone Forget Your Event: An Awesome Add To Calendar Widget

Recently I was searching for an 'add to calendar' widget that i could add to a Wordpress site I manage. It had been a struggle for a while as there was no budget to purchase a premium plugin and the free ones didn't quite do what I needed. My need revolved around Outlook and Google Calendar users having the ability to add an event in one simple click. All without me having to take the labor-intensive time to go through 2 separate motions to make it possible. 

After spending a ridiculous amount of time searching with various keywords that eventually didn't make much sense (try searching 'calendar addition tool'), I discovered AddThisEvent.com and in that moment, life became easier. It was almost like heaven created a website for this specific need and overachieved by adding more mail clients than I needed. Not to mention how compatible it is with basically all websites. 

Now I pass the knowledge on to you. A simple installation of coding that I'm happy to help you with if you are unable to figure it out by yourself. Bravo Michael Nilsson for creating this amazing, simple tool to bless the world wide web with.

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[isaackiehl]

Are You Guilty of Neglecting Your Website On Social Media?

There are a variety of websites out there, including some that thousands are spent on to ones built on a zero budget. What do these two types have in common? Many websites of both calibers are neglected on their respective social media channels. Most likely your website is where people end up to discover you, learn more, and potentially receive regular updates. Too often I cringe because I see the website and social media disconnected. 

I have good news...this problem can be fixed very easily, and you don't even have to send me 3 easy payments of $19.99! When your social media has a potential for a call for action to your followers, lead them back to your website when it makes sense. Lead them to a page of detailed information about your service or product, lead them to a landing page to register for a webinar or volunteer opportunities, forward them to your calendar of events.

You've most likely put in time and money to your website and it's time to make sure that you are making it work for you. Not only will this help increase traffic to your website, it increases return visitors and if it leads to creating more webpages can help your search engine optimization (SEO) if worked properly. There are plenty of guides available online from websites like HubSpot that will help you better understand how to make this happen.

Stop ignoring your website and start using it to your advantage.

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[isaackiehl]

Free Friday: What Flight of the Conchords Taught Me

Free Friday is my day to rant about any topic beyond social media, digital marketing, and technology. Enjoy the nonsense! 

If there's one show that I can't stop watching lately, it's Flight of the Conchords. Recently introduced to me almost 5 year too late, the comedy styling of Bret and Jermaine are right up my alley. The show revolves around Bret and Jermaine who perform as the band Flight of the Conchords from New Zealand trying to make it   big in New York. The fact that I'm a latecomer to Flight of the Conchords aside, the short lived series has some great lessons that you can extract when the laughing has died down:

Stay dedicated to your passion Bret and Jermaine never gave up their dream to be musicians. Although there were obstacles like relationships and financial struggles, they were overall pretty confident in what they wanted to be and who they were. If we were all like that, the world would be a more harmonious, happy place.

Honest feedback only makes you stronger The Conchords manager Murray Hewitt, although off the wall and blind at times, had to dish out some harsh feedback to Bret and Jermaine. Whether it was a missing instrument or playing an odd song, there was always room for improvement. In the end the Conchords always came back together as a team and ready for their next adventure.

Don't discriminate against New Zealanders They're just like us. Period.

The show is absolutely hilarious and I encourage anyone who hasn't, to watch and see if it tickles your fancy. Here's just a sample for you to enjoy:

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[isaackiehl]

Social media's positive infiltration of society

Even though it's natural for most of us to have social media ingrained into our every day routine, it's quite insane to think of how far we've come in just 15 years. I'm not exactly talking about the days of Morse code, but I remember only seeing top news stories in minor detail on the evening news. Today we are getting constant information from regular people (like you and me!) through Twitter and Facebook as events happen, such as the recent Asiana plane crash and all the civil unrest in Egypt. This constant, largely available access does some great things for our society:

We know what's happening across the world without ever leaving the house. Sure, there's probably more stories than you need to know, but having that access to stories that would have never been on your radar is pretty cool.

We can share news as it happens and inform others, potentially saving lives. As the Boston bombings were happening, information was constantly being relayed through social media that saved lives.

Youth are exposed to a global perspective, rather than just their neighborhood. This helps broaden the mind and in theory, should create many future geniuses. 

Social media has it's flaws, of course. There's reality detachment, addiction, and content not suitable for, well, anyone. Most people are smart enough to use it for good and as a plethora of ongoing knowledge, and the occasional Harlem Shake video. 

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[isaackiehl]

Free Friday: Work Hard, Play Hard...When It Comes To Events

Free Friday is my day to rant about any topic beyond social media, digital marketing, and technology. Enjoy the nonsense! 

Exactly one week ago I got married to the love of my life. Although I knew what was considered tradition or the usual experience at previous weddings I had attended, I didn't feel the need to conform our special day to that formula and took advantage of how I could best enjoy the day. This was an extremely special event and there were many lessons I saw other events could learn from my firsthand account.

Mingle the day away…while many brides and grooms hide away until the actual ceremony, I chose to be out greeting every one of my friends and family beforehand. Not only did it relax them as they walked through the door, it gave me an extra chance to enjoy their company. During your event, don’t be afraid to get out there and mix with guests. It really is YOUR event and you can run the show how you want. Unconventional is the new conventional.

Laugh with everyone through the awkwardness…there are many moments in an event that can receive awkward silence. That point for me was walking down the aisle with my mother as everyone stood there silent. I simply spoke to everyone and made a joke to let them know that the wedding was as outgoing and casual as my new wife and I.

Spend time with everyone, especially those most important…having most of your friends and family in one place is an amazing feeling and you want to spend time with them all. We were able to work the room over the evening, but also coming back together to dance or spend time with each other was just as important. Events should allow you to converse with those you know very well and those you don't, but make sure to always come back to those most important and the whole reason the event is even taking place.

Events are going to vary depending on the occasion and your role, I understand that. There’s nothing wrong with working hard to make an event successful and also having an unforgettable time. Remember to live in the moment. 

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[isaackiehl]

Your Negativity Is Bumming Me Out, Man.

Many of my blogs are focused on a business and branding social media aspect, but this one I'm dedicating to individuals (I have a strong belief most brands on social media avoid this and will continue to be smart enough to do so). Social media is just for that, social interaction on digital platforms. Please don't get this post confused, because there are times social media can be emotional or allow someone to let off some steam without me making a scrunchy face. It's become a place where some people rely on their social media circles for support. There are two big social media areas that I honestly can't stand or understand. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT exhibit these qualities or please STOP immediately if this sounds like you:

Consistent Negative Posts - If you really feel that your life is the worst out of anyone, please don't remind me all day, every day. One post is enough. Anytime I feel upset, I definitely do not post it to my Facebook wall. Posting without thinking could lead to trouble (i.e. employers, friends, family).

Obscure Posts - When I see a post in my feed that says something along the lines of "I can't believe this happened to me" or "worst day ever," it only makes me think of how ridiculous of a situation you might have been in. Did someone cut you off on the road? Was that Black Friday item all sold out before you reached the shelf? Please use context and leave the obscurity to emo bands.

To be safe, avoid negativity all together. It doesn't look good coming from a brand page so why would it look okay coming from you? Think of being on the other side reading your post as a friend or acquaintance. Then, steer away from social media and enjoy the cuteness that is Lil Bub. 

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[isaackiehl]

Free Friday: Getting Hitched

Free Friday is my day to rant about any topic beyond social media, digital marketing, and technology. Enjoy the nonsense! 

Free Friday is taking the day off to attend my wedding. Follow the celebration on Twitter (@isaackiehl) and Instagram (isaac_kiehl) with the hashtag #IsaacandBrie. Cheers!

[isaackiehl]

Sit On The Egg: Social Media Takes Time

If you're just starting to build your business/brand on social media, it's crucial to know that growth will most likely not be immediate. Many people see social media as an opportunity, which it is, but does not offer immediate gratification. Sales may not go through the roof but could get there if you have the patience and basic social media knowledge. If you are looking to grow your social media you should keep these in mind:

Joining social media does not generate immediate returns - Unless you're a popular brand with an audience just salivating for you to join social media, your initial audience is going to be small. 

Keep on truckin' - Although it could take a long time to significantly build a social media audience, you need to keep generating content consistently. If you show your dedication, it will be returned with engagement. If you stop suddenly out of frustration, you will lose the attention of those who are connected with you.

It's worth the investment - If you don't know the ins and outs of social media or don't have the time, consider hiring outside help. There are plenty of qualified people and companies looking for your business that can help create and promote social media on your behalf. 

Don't ignore - When you receive interaction on on any social media platform, make sure to interact back. Replying actually gives a voice to your social media brand and shows you are listening. 

Dare to be unique. Any idea is possible, although it may have to be modified to be effective. Hold a contest, giveaway, etc. Fun and creativity are highly rewarded when it comes to social media, so get started now!

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