The Tools and Software We Use Over Here at System Envy

The Tools and Software We Use Over Here at System Envy

by | Feb 16, 2022 | Entrepreneurship

We’re convinced that there is nothing better than finding tools and resources and software that you actually (like, REALLY actually) use and focus on in your business, especially in a ~very~ saturated market of “must-have” biz resources and tools to choose from.

But, can we all just agree that hearing from fellow entrepreneurs and business owners about the tools and software they use is SO dang fun?! We love it. So, today, we wanted to dive into the things that WE rely on with our team. 

What we look for in tools and resources

When you’re really trying to streamline your business processes, there are an overwhelming amount of tools that people are going to recommend to you… and that’s putting it *lightly.* We’ve tried out a zillion and one things over here (some of which have been great and some of which have been… not so much), and our team has realized that these are the most important things to look for when trying things out:

  • Ease of use: No one wants to use a tool or a resource that feels complicated and overwhelming — no one. That’s why we’re huge on only using resources and tools that feel truly simple and streamlined, and it’s why we pay so much attention to only trying out things that we know our entire team can manage.
  • Cost per use: To put it simply, you don’t need every tool that someone tells you you do. You just don’t. And, you likely don’t need the paid version of everything, either! When you’re trying out new business tools and resources, really consider how much you’ll actually use something before deciding to pay for it.
  • Flexibility: Not every business is the same, which is why flexibility in tools and software is so massively important. When you’re digging into new tools, make sure you can adjust the settings and set it up from the backend in ways that are truly and actually beneficial to what you and your business need.

 

The Tools and Software We Use Over Here at System Envy

Here’s the thing: what works for one business owner might not work for you, right? But, man… when you find the things that DO work for you, it’s like magic. From our content calendars all the way to the tools we use to find stock photos, there are a lot of resources we love and use day to day and week to week. 

Day Designer: Is there anything better than a planner that you TRULY love and rely on each and every day? That’s how we all feel about Day Designer, which is the most well-designed planner any of us have ever used. The Day Designer is built to truly help you, well, design your day, and is really flexible for planning out days, weeks, and months.

Haute Stock: We are pretty much convinced that stock photos can be 1 of 2 things: horrific or stunning. And, obviously, we want the stunning ones, right? It’s why we rely on Haute Stock so much, which is a stock photo membership full of on-brand stock photos that we use on everything from blog posts to ad campaigns. A winner.

Asana: If you’ve tried out task management platforms before, you’ve likely been left ~wildly~ confused and frustrated… which is why we love Asana so much. It’s streamlined and easy to use, and it’s what we turn to at System Envy to build out content calendars, keep track of deadlines, and assign tasks to each team member.

Later/Tailwind: Social media management is a way of life these days, and Later and Tailwind are our BFFs. We use Tailwind (and are obsessed with its easy interface!) for scheduling Pinterest pins, and we use Later to plan out and schedule Instagram feed posts. The. Best.

Slack: These days, there are WAY more effective ways to communicate with your team and your clients than email… and it’s why we turn to Slack. Slack lets you create chat channels for a variety of people and topics (we use them for specific clients, for general conversation, for direct messages, and for specialties like copy and strategy), and will quickly become a mainstay in your biz.

GSuite: Google makes everything easy when it comes to content and email, and we rely on it like crazy. From Google Docs to Google Sheets to Google Drive, we use GSuite for truly everything at System Envy. From creating image folders to writing blog content, there’s really nothing you can use that’s easier or more efficient than GSuite.

—

If you’ve been looking for some new tools and software to try out, we can’t recommend these enough. However, here’s a reminder: do what feels right for you and your business. 

That’s what matters most.

0 Comments

5 Ways to Add Social Proof to Your Marketing

by | Feb 2, 2022 | Entrepreneurship, How To

There are a lot of things that make marketing (and Facebook ads, of course!) more effective, from in-depth strategy all the way to gorgeous graphics. However, my fave? Social proof.

Why, you ask? Because social proof allows you to really and truly take what your audience and customers are saying to heart — and then to use it to remind potential audience members and customers that you really do care about what they say, too.

Wait… what’s social proof?

Truly, social proof is exactly what it sounds like: it’s proof (AKA, feedback) from clients and customers that your product or service is really, really great and transformative.

See, here’s the thing: people like to watch other people. I mean, hey — what on earth would social media even BE if people didn’t like to watch other people?!

Social proof allows you to capitalize on that and then to grow as a business owner.

Win, win.

Now, let’s talk about a few ways you can do this in your own business, yeah?

 

5 Ways to Add Social Proof to Your Marketing

Adding social proof to your marketing strategy (and, in turn, your ad strategy) can be a really easy and powerful expansion tool. The cool thing about social proof is that it’s really already done for you by your audience and customers — you just have to leverage it.

 

1. Run a carousel ad of testimonials.

Running an ad with testimonials is 100% sure to be a super, super engaging way to get people interested in your ad… and, it’s also my *fave* way to showcase some social proof.

Here’s why: when people can swipe through customer testimonial after customer testimonial, they can start to really and truly  SEE the transformation that your product or service brings real, authentic people. And, when they start to really and truly SEE that transformation, they start to think “if all these people did it, why can’t I?”

And then… sale. Voila.

 

2. Simplify it with screenshots.

Truly the world’s easiest way to showcase social proof is with a good ole’ screenshot. 

(So, essentially, I gotta tell you… you kind of have no excuse not to try this one out.)

Every time you get really great feedback that might inspire someone else to work with you, take a screenshot and keep it in a folder in your Google Drive or on your desktop. Then, you have an arsenal of ready-to-go social proof that you can drop into Facebook ads, onto sales pages, and even into your social media feed.

 

3. Share testimonial videos.

Videos in and of themselves are one of the most effective ways to instantly engage an audience, especially on a Facebook ad or in a social media post. Combine that engaging technique with a testimonial, and BAM. You’ve made magic. 

(These are great to use in a variety of ways, but I especially love ‘em on a Facebook ad.)

Wondering how to get testimonial videos? It’s simpler than you think: just ask! I love asking my clients for short vids (or even voice memos) of their testimonials and feedback, and they’re always more than willing to give it. I know yours will be, too!

 

4. Use partner or brand logos.

Have you ever clicked on a website or a sales page and been suuuuper impressed with the logos you’ve seen or the partner names you’ve spotted?

Me, too — the power of social proof, baby!

When you work with a client you’re really proud of, don’t hesitate to snip their logo and include it on a sales page or a website. It’s a great way to attract similar clients, and there’s 1,000% nothing wrong with bragging on yourself a little.

I promise.

5. Case studies, case studies, case studies!

If you want to get a little more in-depth with your social proof, I’m a huge proponent of writing and publishing case studies on your site’s blog or even on your LinkedIn profile. Case studies are an effective way to really break down a project in a more detailed way than you’d usually be able to, and they can showcase nitty-gritty numbers and goals that really underline your success.

Plus, they don’t need to be complicated. Instead of stressing about how to write a case study, keep it simple. I like asking and answering questions like these:

  • What was the #1 goal for this product/service/transformation?
  • What were the key performance indicators (KPIs)? AKA, how we could tell if it was working?
  • What did the client love about the product/service/transformation?

All you have to do is answer the questions and stick ‘em in a blog post. It’s so much easier than you might think!

—

Friends, there you have it — some of my go-to ways for including social proof in my clients and my marketing collateral. Do you have any other methods of social proof you love? Share ‘em with us!

0 Comments

3 Easy Ways to Retain Clients

3 Easy Ways to Retain Clients

by | Oct 6, 2021 | Entrepreneurship, Sales Funnels, Strategy

When you’re in a service-based business, one of your biggest goals should be to retain clients — and that’s a huge goal and huge deal to us at System Envy. The longer you can retain clients, the stronger your relationship can grow and the deeper your roots can, too.

Plus, what’s more, exciting as a business owner than to know that people want to work — and KEEP working — with you?
 
I have a Business Management degree that has helped me a ton along the way, and one of the biggest takeaways I learned is that it is not difficult to keep people happy. Even when you don’t produce a desired result or mess something up (which happens! That’s life), you can still always manage and maintain a solid relationship with your clients.
 
Promise.
 
Here are our go-to methods for retaining clients within our agency.
 

3 Easy Ways to Retain Clients

I can assure you that retaining clients is really and truly not as hard as it might sound. While there are always things you can’t control, there ARE things that you can control — and these are 3 of your biggest.
 

1. Keep regular communication at the forefront of EVERYTHING.

Strong communication is the bedrock of everything you do as a service-based business, and it is the absolute best way to cultivate and keep a beautiful working relationship. By keeping your clients plugged in and letting them know what to expect, you’ll cut down on questions AND increase client trust — two very, very important things. Our rule at System Envy is to always respond to clients within 24 business hours, and to check in with our clients on Slack every 2-3 days (if not every day).
 
The goal? To never, ever have your clients reach out to find out where you are on a project.
 
I cannot tell you how many phone calls I’ve had with new clients who have told me their previous ad manager left them hanging or would take days and weeks to respond — and this blows my mind. It’s just so easy to send a quick email or Slack message, even if it says “I received this and want to give it some thought, I’ll respond soon.”
 

2. Set (flexible) expectations.

Everyone likes structure and knowing what to expect, which is where setting expectations comes into play. By setting expectations, having everyone crystal clear on what each person’s responsibilities are, and sharing detailed schedules and FAQ’s, it’s so much easier to stay on track and to keep your clients happy.
 
When it comes to setting client expectations — and team member expectations, but that’s a whole other post — let your clients know what’s included, let them know what’s not, and then go above and beyond where you can. Also, flexibility is part of life as a small business owner — so always leave room for that, too!
 

3. Professionalism is key.

When all else fails, professionalism should never. Ever. By creating a professional, personable, and empathetic persona and client experience, you can promise that you’ll always behave the right way and feel good about any response you’ll need to make. It’s also just a good reminder that you and your clients are HUMAN. People get moody, they go through things, and they have bad days — which is where professionalism has to continually show up.
 
I’ve had two clients in 11 years that went south… and fast — and it was a really important lesson for me, personally, of how important it is to stay professional. It’s not fun to feel particularly vulnerable as a business owner, and staying professional is how you can cover your arse (we don’t want nasty remarks floating around the interwebs, right?!) and know that you reacted in a way you can be proud of.
 
—
 
It’s not as hard as you might have thought to create really great working relationships, huh? If you’re intentional about how you run your business and treat your clients, you WILL keep and retain clients for a long time — and I already know you can do it!
 

What you’ll find behind the curtain of my Facebook™ Ads business, is someone who loves systems, strategy, family, fishing, flipping houses, interior design, everything Southern, animals, a hefty dose of sarcasm, Instagram stories and some of the most amazing clients on the planet.

Entrepreneurship

Facebook Ads

How To

Launching

Sales Funnels

Strategy

0 Comments