News from Wingshot

An Easy Guide to Wingshot Photography Products & Packages

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:55:22 GMT

Just in time for the upcoming Charleston Retriever Club HRC Fall Hunt Test portrait sessions! Learn about the benefits of my new mobile app that come with every session and what options are available for print products and packages.

Email Marketing—Can Your Reach Your Customers?

Fri, 24 Jul 2020 15:04:41 GMT

Four months into the COVID-19 pandemic, do you know where your customers are? Regardless of your business model or your customer’s viewpoints on health risks, physical distancing, politics, etc…one thing is guaranteed. Your customers are even more varied in their desired approach to doing business.

How long will this “new normal” prevail? What if we see another shutdown—whether locally, nationally, specific to your industry? How will you reach your client base now and in the future? Let’s be sure you can do so with assurance by using email marketing.

It’s 2020 and you’ve surely opted in to several of your preferred brands or businesses to receive their emails—whether updates, coupons, industry journals, or other. You’d be surprised how few small businesses have any clear communications with their client base right now. And my all-time favorite are those solely relying on social media, like their business Facebook page, to let customers know on a daily or weekly basis if they’re open or not.

Let’s circle back to the one thing that’s guaranteed—your customer are even more varied in their desired approach to doing business. You can’t assume they’re all on the one social media channel you prioritize, much less that the algorithms are serving your content to them no matter how much thought you put in your post.

You need to own your content like you own your business. Be in charge of your messaging, send it to your clients when relevant, and know it’s being delivered. Aside from having a clearly found area regarding COVID impacts and practices on your website (if you have a website hosted by Wingshot, this feature is included and can easily be added) , you can further leverage your that content through email marketing.

Communicate updates regarding your store hours, the need for a brief closure and disinfecting due to exposure, a change in industry protocols that would benefit you to inform and prepare your customers before they arrive, or any other helpful topic your customers would appreciate knowing about as it impacts their ability to do business with you . In a time where something new seems to complicate each day at any moment, let’s keep your customer’s businesses transactions with you as seamless and predictable as possible. Make it easy for them to work with you and they’ll thank you for it.

Popular Email Marketing Platforms

Mailchimp
Constat Contact
ConvertKit
and others…

What Do I Need to Get Started?

A business email address
An interest in reaching your customers

All of these platforms are relatively simple to set up with free options to begin collecting email addresses or confirm prior approvals you’ve already received—free consent of subscribers is key for compliance. Each platform has plenty of quick set up videos available on their websites or YouTube channels.

What if I Need Help?

As always, if you’d like help or would like a fully functioning email marketing system prepared for you in 24 hours or less, email me .

Covid Signage and Print Resources for Businesses

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 19:22:55 GMT

If you are in need of COVID-19 related signage for your office, retail business, or classroom, please reach out to receive a local printer referral to order ready-made, durable graphics that contribute to the safety of both employees and customers. These items have been professionally designed to meet a variety of business, retail and classroom needs regarding topics like these and many more key items needed to clearly communicate expectations and awareness.

Available Items

Floor Standing Signs
Window & Floor Decals
Table Top Signs
Banners
Posters
Handouts

Pre-Designed Topics

hand washing
physical distancing
cover your mouth and nose while sneezing/coughing
high-risk area
wait for assistance
one person at a time
yes we are open
wait in your car please

HOW TO ORDER

Simply email me to receive a printer referral and be in touch directly with Charleston area printer providing these items.

Stay Business Smart

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 12:50:13 GMT

As a business owner, you must remain diligent with your cyber security during this time. As if trying to maintain an income and keep your business afloat isn't enough...I know. But just be warned that small businesses will be targets for on-going scams. And between the SBA and any potential Congressional relief that develops, please know these will become a primary angle scammers mimic to take advantage of this situation.

EMAIL SCAMS

Not a new technique, but one I've already seen in the last few days, is an email made to resemble an invoice. The subject line will be brief, as though you've done business with the sender for year, and there will be a legitimate looking attachment of an invoice. Generally speaking, once you open the attachment, it could attempt to download information-stealing access to your computer. It could also ask you to click a link to view or pay the invoice. Once clicked, it may lead you to log in to something familiar, like a fake Office 365 page, with the intent of harvesting your log in credentials.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

It always sounds too simple to be true, but simply slow down. The phishers behind these attempts are banking on your moving quickly during the constant influx of news we're receiving each day, multi-tasking as you respond to the world, and accidentally clicking on something you never would have during normal, day-to-day operations. Simply slow down and give your full focus to your business when attempting to do business.

SMS/TEXT SCAMS

By now, you've surely received cold texts from scammers not even directed at your business. A random text will appear on your phone asking you to click a link. Some of the messages will appear as a regular subscription service many of us receive—think FedEx updates on your package or alerts about sports events, etc... The message can mimic a delivery or availability update (that probably won't apply to you) and end with the standard default, "To opt out, text STOP." This can be tricky because you want it to stop, but you don't want to follow their instructions.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Directing you to opt out by responding is the trap. These attempts will also increase under the same assumption that you are operating under heightened circumstances and putting out fires at each turn.

Again, simply slow down. Know who your contacts are and who would actually be contacting you via SMS/Text. Once you determine the above approaches (or another similar form) is an attempt to scam you, simply block the number from reaching your phone, and then delete the text message so you don't accidentally land on it in the future. Yes you may still receive more from new sources and while it's one more thing for you to do, you can easily block the number for each new one and delete. Do not text STOP or click any links.

ONLINE RESOURCES

Here are a few trusted resources you can check for more information and/or steps for blocking phone numbers if you aren't sure how to use your iPhone or Android's native ability to block callers.

1. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/02/phishers-send-fake-invoices

2. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages

3 . https://www.cnet.com/how-to/heres-how-to-stop-those-annoying-text-message-scams/

Distance Yourself Outdoors

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 19:48:02 GMT

When we’re all jumping online to hear what else in our lives has been cancelled in the name of social distancing, I want to offer a list of outdoors and recreation ideas that are NOT cancelled and small business that are NOT closed across the South Carolina Lowcountry. If you're not in that geographic range, let these ideas serve as starting points for you to find something similar in your neck of the woods.

They may not sell toilet paper but they’re bound to provide you with heathy alternatives that are productive and beneficial in times like these.

Got a local business in the Lowcountry with an outdoors tie that needs to be added? Send me an email at info@wingshot.design or comment below. I’ll keep updating this list with additions. #distanceyourselfoutdoors