How to market to multiple generations

October 3, 2018 / Uncategorized

I’ve had a lot of conversations with people about the challenge of identifying your target customer.

People say to me, “My target audience is EVERYONE!”

And maybe you DO have a broad audience of people you want to reach…

But you still need to get specific with each different initiative you employ. You can’t communicate with everyone ALL the time. And when you try to, often marketing falls flat.

For example, if you’re trying to reach millennials using Facebook ads tailored to Gen X, you’re likely to not be noticed or heard… because you aren’t speaking their language OR targeting them where they hang out! (Millennials are more likely to be found on Instagram or Snapchat.)

Different generations have different goals, needs, challenges, and desires. Even if you serve multiple generations, you must communicate with each group specifically to be effective.

Here’s how you can do that:

Get specific and create a “persona” for your ideal customer in each audience. This will help you to connect emotionally with them.

Step 1: First, identify ALL of your different audiences.

Step 2: Then, identify a specific marketing initiative to focus on, and create your “ideal customer avatar” in that audience. Brainstorm answers to the following:

What is their…

  • Occupation
  • Income
  • Age
  • Location
  • What are their particular needs and challenges?
  • What are their goals or desires?

Step 3: Then, identify what kind of media they are spending their time on. Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Specific news outlets?

Once you know WHO you want to speak to, then you can create campaigns for those audiences on the platforms they are spending time on.

‘Til next time,
Sandy

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5 Tips to Reach Millennials on Snapchat

September 26, 2018 / Uncategorized

If you’re looking to reach adults and teenagers 34 years and younger, Snapchat is a great place to go.

On Snapchat, users can post or privately send photos and videos that are only available for 24 hours. (Instagram later adopted this in their Instagram Stories feature.)  

71% of Snapchat users are under 34 years old. 45% of Snapchat users are aged between 18-24. If you want to reach this age group, Snapchat is a great way to become relevant and heighten your organization’s visibility within this audience.

Here are five tips for reaching millennials on Snapchat:

#1: Show Personality And Engage the Demographic on Snapchat Share interesting photos and videos of your product that younger entrepreneurs might be interested in.

Keep in mind who you are targeting and create your content specifically for them.

#2: Create General Filters – Businesses can create filters that will show up on a user’s home page within a particular area and during a specific time. This can be a great way to promote your brand during live events. People at the events will see the filters; the friends they send the “snap” to will see the filter, and often, people will take a screenshot of the filter and share on Facebook or Instagram.  

#3: Create Event-Specific Filters – If you’re hosting an event which many of your attendees are in the Snapchat demographic, you could create some special filters for the event. They are only available (to be used) by people in the building or specific geolocation you’ve selected, but when they share the pics with all of their friends, your event filter will appear.

#4: Cross Promote Your Snapchat on Facebook, Twitter, and email to let people know you are on Snapchat to follow you. This will help you to increase your following.

#5: Utilize an Intern to Create a Fun and Engaging Snapchat Strategy. See how the platforms evolve and don’t be afraid to have fun with it. A younger person’s unique perspective can help shape an authentic presence that resonates with your target audience.

You can also partner with your local community college to see what students are doing on Snapchat. Look to the demographics that are successfully using Snapchat for inspiration of fun, quirky ways to stand out on this platform.

But remember! Don’t hop on a social media platform for the summer if you won’t keep it up after that. Social media is all about consistently showing up over the long-term!

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Personal update (+ the power of investing in yourself!)

March 14, 2018 / Uncategorized

Today, I have a personal update for you. 🙂

Last month, I officially graduated from the 2-year Universal Health Principles™ program.


In this program, we became certified in giving UHP sessions, which help the body to heal physical and emotional imbalances. I received these sessions for years and now I’m able to support others with this powerful healing tool.

Not only did I want to learn how to give these sessions to others — I really signed on to the program as a way to advance my own personal development and growth.

Taking part in this program has given me more physical & emotional self-awareness, more energy, and more peace. I feel better in my body and daily life. And as the mother of a teenage daughter, taking better care of myself has allowed me to better support my daughter — which is priceless.

This 2-year journey culminated with our recent graduation, which felt like a great accomplishment. And now… my educational journey in mind-body medicine has just begun. I’m excited to continue learning in things like herbs and Chinese medicine.

In addition to graduating UHP… I just had another exciting milestone: my story has been featured in a best-selling author’s new book!

For years I worked with a health coach named Robyn Youkilis. Now she is a best-selling author and has even been featured on The View.

In my work with Robyn, I had huge transformations in my health — and even my family’s. (How exciting that my teenage daughter now actually WANTS to eat kale!)

When Robyn first approached me about sharing my story, I was scared. I felt like I was exposing myself by sharing my health journey in a very public way.

But ultimately, I decided to share — because you never know who your story can help.

Now, Robyn’s new book, Thin From Within, has been released. It was scary and hard to read my story in print. But if my story could encourage someone else that’s pretty remarkable.

I’d encourage anyone else struggling with health problems or food challenges to check out Robyn’s book. It can be an amazing resource for you. She’s been a health guide for me over the years.

From these experiences, I can say — by taking time to invest in your personal or professional growth, it can pay off in your life tenfold. Whether you want support with your health, career goals, or productivity — investing in support can be one of the best decisions you make!

Til next time,
Sandy

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How fear of judgment blocked me from doing this for 8 months

January 11, 2018 / Uncategorized

Okay, here’s the truth…

After I created this site, SandySponaugle.com, it took me 8 months to publicly announce the site and my new services to friends and family.

I had even created a Facebook post that sat on a google doc for all those months!

But I resisted posting it. (My “due date” in Asana kept moving from May to June to September and on and on!)

So what held me back? Why was I resisting it so much?

The truth is I was afraid of judgment from others.

It felt safe to hide behind the work I do in Platinum PR, my business that has evolved over the past 15+ years.

People know me for the work I do, and we’ve helped many happy clients over the years.

However, I’ve been wanting to shake things up, and have an outlet to express and promote skills that are outside of the normal scope of services of my business Platinum PR.

So finally, after agreeing with my coach to post it by the end of the year, with just one week to go, I hit “post” and shared my announcement on Facebook.

And here’s a glimpse into the feedback…

I got so much support from family, friends and colleagues, with several people sharing the post with their friends.

I even had a college friend reach out and let me know that he’s also starting his own business. He probably wouldn’t have ever said anything if I hadn’t shared this particular Facebook post. That’s amazing!

It’s got me thinking… Why do we let fear and judgement hold us back?

Whether it’s making a career change, expressing ourselves, or even taking a class outside of our comfort zone — often we hold back out of fear of what others will think.

It’s toxic on so many levels, and ultimately — it’s quite limiting!

Well, I’ve decided that I’m done letting it hold me back. I’m ready to stand up more confidently in my own skin.

How about you?

Are you holding back from pursuing a career change, a new passion, or another way to “reinvent” yourself?

What might happen if you decided to go for it?

Through stepping out beyond our fears, we can live more fulfilled lives and inspire others to do the same.

If you’re ready to step back and decide what you REALLY want, and get the support to go for it, contact me here to explore working together.

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On Taking Risks (Your Idea Just Might Soar!)

May 24, 2017 / Uncategorized

Recently, I finished leading my first online course in my company Platinum PR.

Platinum PR helps organizations in the Economic Development and Tourism industries. Until now, my company has been completely one-on-one service-based. Meanwhile, I’ve been a student and participant in many online courses over the past few years (ranging from business to health and wellness), and found them so valuable. I wanted to lead a course myself where I could help more people than I can reach one-on-one!

I’ve had the opportunity teach in live in-person settings (traditional classroom or conference settings) and I wanted something that was more accessible and affordable. I wanted something that would stretch over a realistic period of time so the participants could take the information learned and put the knowledge into action immediately.

And that’s what I was able to do with my new course!

Leading this also gave me the opportunity to employ the freedom and flexibility of being an entrepreneur and to utilize a team of talented people to help me reach those goals.

While a participant might just see the final product, what they don’t know is everything that goes into it! I spent months leading up to the launch reaching out to my target audience and getting to know their needs, brainstorming the product I wanted to create, and going through multiple titles of the program. And then there was the launching and creating of the course!

When I look back now, it’s so exciting for me to say… I did it! I had a dream and idea in my mind, and I made it happen. It was so fulfilling to show up for my weekly classes and share the information I know that can help others grow and succeed in their organizations. I also got to strengthen my skills and abilities as a teacher and presenter — and discover how much I enjoyed it!

If you’re thinking about trying something new and different yourself, I’m here to say — don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and go for it!

We’re all “selling ourselves” whether it’s at a job for an employer or providing a one-on-one service. It may require putting yourself out there and marketing yourself, but what could happen if you just try?

It’s fun and empowering for me to know that if I have an idea and I want to make it happen, all I have to do is work at it. It could flop… but it could also soar! And that potential is exciting!

What idea have you had on the backburner? Is it time for you to take a chance, and put it out there? It just might soar!

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What to do when the shit hits the fan…

December 14, 2016 / Uncategorized

The other day, I was speaking to a client who had a lot going on in her personal life. And in the middle of our conversation, she broke down crying.

We’ve all had those days where the responsibilities mount at work and at home. In those moments, we might hide out in the bathroom and try to center ourselves (or break down in tears in the bathroom stall.) Or maybe, take our anger out while driving (road rage, anyone??). Or, try to find an office with the door closed that we can collect ourselves for a moment.

At the end of the day, the most supportive thing is often what feels the most vulnerable — sharing these feelings with another person.

My client had feeling a sense of loss because she didn’t have anyone she could go to. I felt really fortunate to be there with her and be able to support her in her time of stress. During our conversation, she was able to express some of her emotions and also, feel supported by our time together.

With the tools I’ve been learning and experiencing through Universal Health Principles, I was happy she felt comfortable doing that with me. We sat on the phone and I encouraged her to sit down and breathe and feel the feelings coming up. I shared some suggestions about what she could do over the weekend to support herself.

As much as we all like to always “have it all together,” the truth is that life presents us with many challenging situations that are difficult to go through alone.

Through consulting and Universal Health Principles sessions, I am happy to offer my support, to help you navigate through business and personal situations that aren’t picture perfect. It’s amazing what can happen when you get some outside support.

So, you don’t have to go at it alone, no matter what you are facing.

If you are interested in getting my support, feel free to send me an email here to get in touch.

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