Halftime Mike - The Mike Gingerich Podcast on Business, Leadership & Life

Words matter.  Words have power.  The words we say and reflect on impact our pysche, attitude, outlook and even beliefs.  With this in mind it is important that we have positive affirmations to reflect on.  Some call these "affirmations", others "positive manifestations", others call it "positive thinking" or "mediation reflections".  Whatever you want to call it,(I'll call it affirmations to be simple), the words we speak, think and reflect on can influence us so let's make them positive.

In this podcast I do something different and give you an 8-minute audio and written list of positive affirmations that help me, and I help can help you.

You know how hectic the process can get if you have tons of work or messages to type. The better news is that you can now reduce your computer time. For example, take a scenario where most of your phrases have a shorter form. You type the short form, and the software completes the intended word or phrase. Talk of efficiency, right? That's what smart text expanders do.

So much has happened since March of 2020!  2 years later it is important to understand that there is no "going back to the way it was" any longer.  The world has been through a massive shift in the last 2 years and in America, in particular, we have been through the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and the related ongoing racial reckoning that is needed, the threat of Covid death, and knowledge of people that have died from Covid, as well as now the unjust war against Ukraine that keeps the world and global economy in unsettled territory.  The future of small business work is different and will continue to be different than in 2020!

There is no going back.

What we have gone through the past 2 years has fundamentally changed us and caused a "reset".

Now, individuals, leaders, and employees are wanting a new way forward.

Is your company wanting an app in the Apple and Google Play app stores?  Are you not wanting to spend 6 figures and potentially want a simpler way to build that you can manage or update?  Then it's time to look at no code app builder tools like Shoutem, Appy Pie and more.  In this podcast, we dive in with mo

Ready to dig in?  Listen to this "No Code App Builder Tools" comparison and overview.

How to get more views on Youtube?  That's a popular Google search and for good reason!  There's power in video, there's power in YouTube where people spend hours per week watching videos, and there's potentially money to be made for your brand through YouTube videos.  

This podcast, we dive in with more details!

In this post and podcast, we answer for you "What is a live streaming app" and we share which ones are best! 

Facebook has a new name!  In this episode, we dive into Meta, Facebook's new name including what changes and what stays the same.

If there is a question I get via email a lot, it's about SEO and ranking high in search results.  It usually goes something like this, "Mike, we aren't ranking well for .  Why not?

Somehow they expect a simple explanation and an easy fix.  If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it and competing for top ranking!  It's not SEO and ranking high on Google is complex...and changing.  What worked last year is not guaranteed to work well this year.  In this podcast, I dive into the trifecta of key things that need to be looked at to rank well.

Proper time management is a common challenge faced by workers resuming work, especially after summer or annual leave, and particularly during a pandemic when things are changing weekly if not daily!  In this podcast we dive into time management tips to get back on task.

Ready to dive in?  Listen to the time management podcast!

E-commerce has exploded in the past year and most likely you are here because you have an e-commerce store.  With the explosion of online shopping has come the intensity of competition to rank high in search results. So it's critical to do the due diligence to use SEO to grow your e-commerce business.

In this podcast and blog post, I outline key items to implement regarding how to use SEO to grow your e-commerce business. Listen in to learn more...

We've all been in that spot where we have an image but it's too small.  We can't simply stretch it or it gets pixelated.  So are we out of luck?  Not any more!  AI has made enlarging or "upscaling" possible and we cover the top free image upscaler tools in this post.

Let's dive into this episode to look at the top free image upscaler tools for 2021.   Listen in to learn more...

Social media is so 2020! Now that we've moved beyond 2020 there are some emerging digital marketing tools for 2021 and key trends to be aware of that I want to cover in this Halftime Mike Podcast.

Let's dive into this episode to look at the emerging digital marketing tools for 2021.   Listen in to learn more...

Are you using online reviews to generate new traffic and get more leads? If not, you’re missing out on potential customers and the power of online reviews for your business.

Let's dive into this topic about Google Reviews, Facebook reviews, Yelp, BBB, and more.  What if I told you there was a solid way to get more positive reviews and catch potentially negative reviews BEFORE they get posted?  Listen in to learn more...

Traffic to your website is the backbone of many businesses. If you want consistent organic traffic, then a half-baked approach to search engine optimization (SEO) will only yield you limited results. As any business should know, low traffic equals low opportunity for leads and few sales. So how do you overcome this?

Let's dive in...

Parler is among the fastest rising social media apps right now.  In fact it is currently #1 as of this publish date in the Apple app store.  So what is Parler and why is it growing so much right now? Discover this and more in this vlog and podcast episode.

Let's dive into Parler deeper and get some answers...

Oftentimes we fail to launch and we fail to get things done because we hold out for something to be done absolutely right.  The reality is, however, that this failure to launch has severe negative consequences for our business and we need to pursue excellence not perfection in our efforts.

More on this and two other topics in this month’s Live with Mike.  I’ll also cover Landing Pages vs Web pages and the need to keep things simple. Ready to dive in? Let's go!

Data is more important to your business success than ever before.  From website traffic stats to website speed and social media impact, data can help you review and channel what you do on the web.  Data is also critical to your business efficiencies and sales processes.  By giving customers or dealers access to data you can help take away bottlenecks, improve speed, and allow people to buy more easily.    

Have you evaluated your data points?  What should you be watching and doing with your data?

Businesses have been forced to look at how they handle operations, including moving business processes online, since the COVID-19 pandemic has closed many businesses and forced many others to work from home.  As we look at re-opening and ongoing work-from-home scenarios, businesses need to continue to adapt and find ways to allow business to continue with remote teamwork and online sales.

Let’s dive into business process options for doing things remotely.

Times of great change like we are in today, demand that we change.  The key is how we change...how we pivot.  We can pivot well or pivot poorly.

In this episode I’ll dive into how we pivot.  In these times of COVID-19 Coronavirus, changes need to happen, pivots need to happen.  A pivot is a shift in direction.  It can be major, such as a 180 degree turn, or, like the vast majority it means shifting to some degree but not drastically. Let’s dive in!

Today's web user expects deeper experiences online.  They have experience with mobile apps and social media, and therefore are accustomed to a deeper, richer experience and have come to expect this online.  They want to take care of their requests immediately, themselves, and the best websites will provide this richer online experience.  

So what exactly are we talking about and does your website need a deeper experience for your visitors? In this podcast episode I dive into the details of what has changed, examples of what others are doing, and key ways business can and should up their game on their website.  Offering ways for customers to have a personalized experience and take care of advanced details with ease is critical to being "sticky" and retaining people on your site and in your business over time.

Remote teams are here to stay and only going to continue to grow in use so the key for business owners and managers is how to lead a remote team!

Remote teams have some similarities to traditional teams in the office together but also some very unique differences that demand different leadership practices.

There is business value in Digital Etiquette!  Quite simply, the way you communicate digitally matters.

You are either making a positive deposit to a business relationship or you are making a withdrawal from a business relationship. This can have significant implications on your ability to sell and your ability to retain clients as well as the interest in a vendor retaining you as a customer overtime.

I dive into a number of examples of bad Digital etiquette as well as give specific tips on ways you can enhance your Digital Etiquette in email, social media, and blogging.

You've started doing regular Facebook Live times...Great!  Now ensure that you maximize your Facebook Live videos with these key tactics to get the most mileage out of each Live episode.

Multiple tips on how to use your Facebook Live Video across multiple social media channels!

As a small business owner, you likely feel you should be doing more online and implementing more digital marketing opportunities.  Having a digital presence is one of the best ways of building brand awareness and reaching a broader audience to grow your business sales. When you are just getting started, it may seem overwhelming to know where to begin and how to “up your game.”  

In this Halftime Mike Podcast I’ll share key online marketing opportunities in this post and give you key tips on how, why, and when to use each. 

Interested in Instagram growth hacks for your business marketing?  I've got 7 that I think many are missing! 

Instagram has become a powerful social media marketing tool in the past 1.5 years and is really posed to be the #1 go-to platform potentially in the next 2 years.  Yes, it may surpass parent Facebook in users and particularly in engaged users. The key is that what works best on Instagram to grow and engage the right audience that is relevant to your business is not necessarily the regular news feed posts.  Let's dive into the 7 hacks!

What are keys to online marketing funnels and ROI (return on investment) growth? That's what every marketer wants to know, right?

Simple videos can be powerful for lead generation. Videos of any type, even low cost videos for lead generation, can be a scary thought for many small businesses but they truly are “doable” for nearly all businesses.  The KEY is that you need to have a plan!

It does not need to require a professional videographer for most of your videos and they can be done in an effective way for those with no budget and those whose team members are camera shy.

In this episode of Live with Mike! I dive into an area that is sorely needed and often not setup well. I talk about, "What Metrics Matter? Determining ROI" with your Social Media and Digital Marketing.

2019 is around the corner and it’s time to review and be sure you are implementing the top SEO & digital marketing tips for your website!  Is your website and digital marketing doing each of these items? It’s time for you to review and I’m providing the checklist and tools!

Ready to dive in and get my top SEO & digital marketing tips?  Let’s do it!

Special unique episode here with the book launch podcast of Making the Miles Count!

I'm excited to announce and discuss the release of my newest book, "Making the Miles Count", a guide to living beyond the daily grind and waking up each morning with purpose and focus.

Email marketing is still a highly valuable and relevant digital marketing tool in this day and age of social media!

Why is email marketing valuable?  People still read email!  They deal with the inbox, and they buy from emails.  They buy from email marketing more than directly from social media!  In fact, the there is a ROI of $44 for every $1 spent on email marketing.  Let that sink in.  Spend, $1, generate $44 in sales.  It has potential if you are doing it right!

To succeed with your email campaign, however, you need to understand that you can’t just send whatever you want whenever you want. There must be intentionality with your emails.

Recently I visited Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, PA, and I came away with appreciation and a number of valuable take-aways on how Chocolate World increases social media power, particularly with user generated content.

Social Media has power for all businesses.  However, to expand and use the full power take creativity and strategy.  I came away from a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World impressed with a few of the ideas I saw being implemented. Interested in learning more about what I saw and learned? Let's dive in...

It's time to view YouTube and Pinterest as SEO Tools and not just as social networks!  What do I mean and how do you make this happen?

In this episode I dive into the details of YouTube and Pinterest from a SEO, Search Engine Optimization, perspective.

Let's dive in!

Both YouTube and Pinterest are established social media platforms.  Did you know, however, that YouTube is the #2 Search Engine on the web in terms of monthly searches?  Yep!  Second only to it's parent, Google!

And did you know that over 1 billion searches are done on Pinterest each month?  Or that Pinterest drives more traffic to websites than most other social media networks?  It's true.  So let's look at how you can optimize each channel for search, and how you can drive that traffic to your website.

As noted last episode, attracting the right audience is critically important for businesses to maximize the use of social media for growing leads online.  This is often the area where the biggest mistakes by businesses are made!

In today's "Part II" we do a quick recap and then go further on this topic to give you actionable tips to implement in your Attraction phase of the digital marketing funnel.

Attracting the right audience is critically important for businesses to maximize the use of social media for growing leads online.  It's also one of the most missed and misunderstood aspects of digital marketing.

Wanting to know how to maximize your use of social medial for growing leads through attracting the right audience? That's what today's podcast is all about...

It's all about a strategic attraction plan using both free and paid social media to attract the right audience

Ready to dive into the plan?

It's a fact, you need a game plan for your online marketing!

Too many businesses are operating "silos" on the web without any real cohesive connection.  Your website is run by the web developer or the IT team.  Your social media by a social media specialist, and your email marketing (if you are doing it), by yet another marketing person.

With each doing their own thing gaps exist.  The only way to real results online is to have a cohesive Game Plan. 

That's what this is all about in today's podcast.... The need for an a introduction to the Game Plan for your Online Marketing and lead generation.

Facebook is the #1 most used social media network across North America, Europe, Australia, and South America.  It's a key place where people spend significant amounts of time online and did you know there is a powerhouse of Facebook Tools your business can be using to help your marketing on this network?

A key reason Facebook is a powerful platform for marketers is the time spent by users on Facebook.  Recent stats released by Facebook show U.S. users are spending on average 40 minutes per day total on the platform in bursts of 2-5 minute increments.

The majority of this time spent is on mobile devices, particularly the mobile app, and it is spent surfing the news feed.  So within that backdrop, what do we need to know about Facebook Tools for business?  I bet you are not using all 15 of these!

Facebook is the top social media network for a reason and there are 5 key Facebook marketing mistakes that marketers need to avoid today on this powerful marketing platform.

A key reason Facebook is a powerful platform for marketers is the time spent by users on Facebook.  Recent stats released by Facebook show U.S. users are spending on average 40 minutes per day total on the platform in bursts of 2-5 minute increments.

The majority of this time spent is on mobile devices, particularly the mobile app, and it is spent surfing the news feed.  So within that backdrop what do we need to avoid?

What is a Sales Funnel, and how do I use one online to accomplish growing leads from my website?

If you are asking questions about online sales funnels, this is a great post to dig into!  I'll cover the Digital Sales Funnel basics in simple terms to help you identify a plan and strategy to implement on your website.

A digital sales funnel process is critical to actually growing leads that can convert to business online. Let's walk through an overview and the keys in each step of the funnel!

Facebook and social media updates happen at a ever-increasing pace!  It's hard to keep up online with what matters and what's changed for marketers online.

That's where I aim to step in and add some value to you!

Being found by a local internet user doing a search for a local business need requires local SEO marketing tactics. It's a unique arena that requires unique SEO marketing efforts.

Is your business performing well in local search?

Is your website performing well and have you done a website best practice review lately?

The ultimate goal of an inbound marketing campaign is lead generation. Your site can attract a lot of visitors, but if all they do is browse and leave, then your efforts have failed.

Keyword research tools for website SEO.  What are they and what is it?

Why does it matter?  And...how can you do it?

That’s the key topic in this week’s podcast episode.  We dive into keyword research in a practical way to try and give you the tools and tactics needed to help you up your game with your website SEO.

Website SEO Grader and keyword tools help you get a picture of how your site is performing, and better yet, how to help improve your site!  We cover 4 key tools you can use today...

Facebook Marketing offers great opportunities for reaching your ideal audience.

One reason to use it is to grow your email list.  In this podcast I cover key ways you can use Facebook Marketing to grow your email list.

In this episode, I dive into 10 ways to use Facebook Marketing to grow your email list.  

Ready to dive in?

Facebook, Instagram, Live Video, and Customer Care were highlighted topics at the recent Social Media Marketing World annual conference that brought over 3,000 marketers together in San Diego, California.

Each year the key focus is on what is happening in social media and what is working best today.  These four items stood out as keys that many referenced and spoke on at #SMMW17 this year.

In this episode, I dive into my key takeaways and tips gleaned from over 3000+ marketers who descended upon the convention center in San Deigo.  Ready to dive in and get the tips?

Ready to dive in?

Getting your email marketing content setup is not the end of your work.  Ensuring that the greatest potential possible OPEN the email is critical and you MUST spend time to improve email open rates.

Are you using email marketing or automated email nurture campaigns?  HINT: You should be!

A key for email marketing is the open rate.  It does no good whatsoever to have great content if it never gets read!  In this episode we dive into 5 keys to improve email open rates.

Ready to dive in?

It's a mobile world and Facebook Instant Articles and Google AMP help you up your game!

If you aren't making use of Facebook's Instant Articles and Google's AMP service, you could be missing out on speed and traffic!  Both are tools designed specifically for sites to give ease of use to mobile viewers.

In this episode of the Halftime Mike podcast I dive into what Facebook Instant Articles are as well as Google AMP, and the reasons you might want to consider each.

Ready to dive in?

Social lead generation is all about growing leads using social media.  Typically, the first networks to come to mind for use related to this are Facebook and Twitter.  Yet, one that has grown massively and has had major positive developments for businesses is Instagram.

The new Instagram updates continue to evolve the network into a great platform for generating leads!

It's time for an update podcast to talk about what's new in Facebook and Social Media Marketing for lead generation.

If you've spent time with me before or are new here, you'll quickly pick up that I'm all about practical, effective strategy for your social media marketing.  For small and medium sized businesses, it's not about what's trendy or colorful, but about what can work.  I try to keep it simple and give you the updates you need to know today!

Add value. Be uncommon.

Decent terms, but what do they mean?  How can someone add value, be uncommon, and from these have longterm business success?

Social Media works!  Are you using social media lead generation well for your business?

It's more than just posting funny photos or repeatedly pushing your products!

In this episode of the halftime Mike podcast I dive into moving from simply social media to social media lead generation for businesses.  There's a strategic difference! Discover the concept and what's beyond the social postings that you need to integrate and measure!

Ready to dive in?

Is your 2017 Digital Marketing Planning underway?

2017 is around the corner and very soon it will be time to plan budgets and strategy for the new year.  Knowing this, I’ve created a handy ebook guide that helps you evaluate your 2016 marketing, discusses keys for 2017, and outlines all the details in a checklist you can follow to help you prepare your budgeting and strategy for next year.

Things change all the time, and rapidly, online so it’s important to stay current and my aim is to help you do that right here!

In this episode of the halftime Mike podcast I dive into a number of the 20+ items in my forthcoming 2017 Digital Marketing Planning Checklist that will help you be ready for budgeting and setting strategy for your online marketing. Ready to dive in?

Is your Email Nurture campaign performing?

Do you have a refined strategy for email nurture after a lead opt-in on your website?

How can you improve your email drip marketing to convert more interested leads to sales?

In this episode of the halftime Mike podcast I dive into the details on email nurture tactics as they flow within an overall digital marketing marketing strategy.

What is it about optimizing your online sales funnel that seems so nebulous and challenging for marketers today?

Not even sure what I mean when I say, "Online sales funnel"?

Then you're in the right spot.  Stay tuned to learn about it from an expert!

In this episode of the halftime Mike podcast I interview online sale funnel specialist Jeremy Reeves.

Lead capture tactics – one of the most important and biggest gaps on websites today!

Most website do not have clearly defined ways to capture leads on their website.  A “contact us” form is not a lead capture tactic!

Lead capture must be part of an integrated online strategy.

In this episode of the halftime Mike podcast I dive into the details on lead capture tactics as they flow within an overall digital marketing marketing strategy.

Are you growing leads with Instagram and SnapChat?

Do you wish you were and want to know how to track the ROI?

Loads of creative ideas here!

Converting PDFs to Boost Productivity

Traditionally, small business owners have followed four values to greater business success, but as of recently there has been another value that has found its place in small business management. The traditional values are:

 We are all familiar with these values and they are something we generally all try implementing. But now, there is a 5th and increasingly important value: Tech Proficiency, and even more specifically Mobile Device Efficiencies.

Times change and smartphones are an integral part of our work life today.  We have made a significant switch towards mobile technology in managing business activities on a daily basis. We rely on mobile apps, today more than ever, in order to do even the most basic functions such as checking the weather and asking Siri if we should wear pants or shorts tonight.

 Handling paperwork, dealing with monthly, weekly and daily reports, financial statements, insurance requirements...the list goes on. With the ever growing popularity of mobile apps, small businesses need to step up their tech game and move some of the paperwork to their phones and tablets.

With that being said, here are some specific tips on how to boost your company’s productivity by using mobile apps at your workplace:

Utilize the already owned apps

Most of us have already downloaded several apps to our iPhones or Androids, but never really used them. All of us have apps that came with the phone but we simply overlook those due to not being familiar with them. For example: every iPhone comes with Stocks, iBooks, and several other very useful apps. If you haven’t had the chance to use these them, that’s probably because you never needed to. However, if you plan on improving your knowledge of eBooks, PDF files, and file management, you should definitely keep reading. If you think your app game is up to par, keep reading and you might rethink your app choices.

Utilize the “Suggested Apps”

Suggested apps are the apps 90% people download when they first open their phone, and no, we are not talking about Facebook, Messenger and Twitter. Your business will survive without them (but on a side note, if you are not marketing via Social Media, please start doing so). The 3 apps we would like to point out as most useful productivity apps from the “Suggested” category are Google Drive, Dropbox and Evernote. 

Utilize the little known apps

If you’ve gotten this far down the article, this is where you can really make a difference. Knowing how to approach your employees, how to present your ideas, and how to most efficiently exchange files with coworkers is the key to small business success. And these lesser known apps will help you on that road:

Are you attracting more visitors to your website?  Do you have an "attraction plan"?  Online Marketing Success: Attraction Content in the Digital Marketing Funnel is all about what you need to do at the TOP of your funnel.

How can you get heard today? It's all about how to amplify your content in a super-busy online world!

It's crazy noisy online today.  The rate at which new content is added is exploding!  The average Facebook user has the potential to see 1500 unique posts in their News Feed during a single day!  So how is your business going to be able to compete in this sea on content?

Staying current on SEO Tips is critical for business success on the web today.

The web changes rapidly and SEO changes each year because search engine algorithms change.  A search engine algorithm is the set of rules that a search engine like Google uses to determine what is the "best" search results for a search done on Google.com.

Why do you do what you do in business?

For the profits?

To provide for your family/lifestyle desires?

It's important to know the "why" that drives you in business.

I call it "the WHY that drives the WHAT".

The why must be of such substance that it drives you forward when the going gets tough.

Guess what, the why needs to be more than money and profits.

In this episode I explain the critical importance of a deeper why as dive into this territory in more detail.  I open up and share with you my why that drives my what.

There's power in disruptive thinking!

Too often we get "stuck" in small-minded, inside the box thinking in business and life.

We do the same things, follow the same routines....and yet expect better results!

It's "stinkin' thinkin'!"  What we often need is a way to get "out of the box".

In this episode I dive into four areas that can help you engage in disruptive thinking, why you need disruptive thinking, and how it can impact your business, leadership, and life.

Is your website performing for your business?

Is your website truly generating leads?

More than just the website "Contact Form", is your website offering a incentive that grows your email marketing list?

One of the biggest gap points on websites today is lead capture.  

In this Halftime Mike podcast episode we dive into why lead capture matters, how it can be done, and one specific tool that can help!

It's that time of year..... goal setting.

You hear about you.  You likely believe in it. Yet....it's so hard to follow through!

Are you regularly reaching your yearly business and personal goals?

What if there was a way....a path...a process?

What tools is your business using today to manage things?

Do you still have some software that is ONLY on a computer?

Wouldn't you like to access key business information from anywhere, anytime?

It's time to rethink your business website tools and adopt the trend to web-based tools!

Are you responsible for interviewing and hiring your team members?

Are you using VA's (Virtual Assistants) or long-term contractors?

How do you interview when you can't physically "meet" someone?

It's all about digital techniques to vet potential hires in this digital age!

This is Part II of Hiring Digital Workers, the Interview Process.

In the last episode of the Halftime Mike podcast I dove into evaluation and initial testing process for vetting and hiring digital workers.  These are workers that will not be physically in the same location as you.  I go through my process and shared stories from experiences for why I do what I do, and what matters.  I left off at the first interview process and that's where I dive in today...The INTERVIEW!

Is part of your team virtual and not resident in the same physical office?

Are you using VA's (Virtual Assistants) or long-term contractors?

How do you hire when you can't physically "meet" and interview someone?

It's all about digital techniques to vet potential hires in this digital age!

In this episode of the Halftime Mike podcast I dive into my techniques for vetting and hiring digital workers.  These are workers that will not be physically in the same location as me.  I go through my process and share stories from experiences for why I do what I do, and what matters for you.

How's your business first impression online?

Are you aware you often have more than one avenue for a first impression online?

Often we think of a company website as the first impression online, and rightfully so.  However, in today's social media day, a first impression a potential customer may have with your business may be through your employees activity on social media!  Are you thinking about that?

Digital first impressions is the topic today in this Halftime Mike interview with Jeff Korhan.

Are you a solo entrepreneur with dreams of growing?

Are you a small social media agency looking to scale and build your team and clients?

Listen in as we cover the Digital Matchbox story with Liz Azyan.

Liz Azyan is a UK based social media PRO STYLER.  She'll say more about exactly what that means but suffice it to say she helps rising entrepreneurs "style" and leverage their online presence to attract the right clients and build their brand online.

Liz started out as a PhD candidate turned solo entrepreneur and has now grown Digital Matchbox to be a strong multi-team digital agency.

Can Instagram work for manufacturers and B2B?

Isn’t Instagram primarily geared for business-to-consumer and used by young people?

If your business builds products and relies on channels like dealers and distributors to sell your end-goods, is it worthwhile to be on Instagram?

If your business is asking these types of questions, then this post is for you!

I interview Instagram expert and social media consultant Jenn Herman of Jenn’s Trends.  In a unique livecast Blab format, I take the position of a skeptic and question Jenn from my starting point of not being able to potential in Instagram for business.  Listen in as I play the role of a RV (recreational vehicle) manufacturing exec who is not convinced that Instagram has any value for our business!

More than just a interview on Instagram, this talk is a guide to Instagram for those companies that are product oriented, not direct-to-consumer, and in industries that are not geared to a single person being the “face” of the company.  Think of it as a guide to Instagram for practical industries!

Are you doing local and regional business?

Are people and businesses coming to your location to do business?

How are you appearing in local search engine results?

Keys for local search are coming up for your website but ALSO IN KEY LOCAL DIRECTORIES!

How do you do this?  I dive in and explain a way...

Location-based online searches are popular among consumers using mobile devices. Local SEO has the potential to help local businesses stand out in search engines and be found by potential customers.

One vital local SEO practice involves creating and maintaining business listings on the key directories, apps, and websites that factor most into the local search engine results.

Do you have a online business?

Is your website generating solid monthly income?

Do you wish you were earning $200,000 a month from your website?

One man is doing just that!  Listen in as I interview online entrepreneur and author Matthew Paulson!

Matthew Paulson comes across as quiet and unassuming.  Yet underneath that layer of tranquility is a business mind and business success story that thousands would love to have! From Zero to 200k a month in revenue: Scaling an Online Business is the story of Matthew's rise in the web world to a powerful and massively successful website in the stock and investing industry niche  (Links to those below!).  You'll learn about his strategy, methods, and keys he feels helped the online business explode the last 2 years.  In 2015 revenue was $1.75m and it is projected to be at $2.6 this year, all while keeping the team small and nimble!

Does your business have a strong online presence?

Is your team dispersed and not all in the same office?

Are you having communication gaps as you grow?

We tackle questions like these as we hear from Tyler J. Anderson and his story of the growth of Casual Fridays.

Tyler J. Anderson is founder and CEO of Casual Fridays, a pro social media team headquartered in San Diego, CA.  He's a social media marketing entrepreneur, and host of the Social Media Social Hour Podcast, as well as Executive Producer of Social Media Day San Diego.

The web is changing how we work!

Times have changed!  The "cloud" has evolved for business technology users.

In particular, software has evolved, shifting from computer software to web software.

What we used to need to do with 5 CD's to install on computer is now available online, anytime and on our phones!

In this livecast recording, we dive into web tools for productivity including a load of the latest tools for small and medium-sized businesses.  As well, we discuss how the shift to cloud software impacts business productivity.

I'm joined by Now Marketing Group President, Jessika Phillips, and MOS Training founder Donna Gilliland in this Halftime Mike episode discussing new tools and their uses.  

More than just social media tools, we dive into core business use apps and tools that we use online.  Jessika is an early tech adopter and discusses the tools her business uses along with their core product for clients, HubSpot.  Donna is a tool trainer!  From social media, to Microsoft, to mobile apps, Donna is hired by businesses and business units to deliver staff training on how to use the tools productively.  

It's a grand lineup of educated business folk and we each deliver tools and learn about new tools from each other!

Is your sales, marketing and customer support model evolving?

It had better be!

People and businesses want more care and connection with their chosen business.  The days of sales blasts and obnoxious salesmen are dwindling.

Business today that lasts is built on RELATIONSHIPS!

In this episode of Halftime Mike I have three guests and we dive into a live Blab on the ways business has changed and what relationship sales, marketing, and customer service looks like today!

My guests:

Ravi Shukle is from London England!  Ravi is a customer service specialist who helps businesses online to increase customer loyalty, word of mouth and sales through customer service.

April Heavens-Woodcock is co-founder along with husband, Kevin, of Touching Clients in Connecticut….a digital marketing agency  helping small businesses with social media, digital ads, and more.  April is also part of the extended team of Relationship Marketing pro Mari Smith.

Jessika Philips is President of Now Marketing Group in Ohio and helps businesses build long-last relationship with their ideal audience.  She’s also the creator of “The Relationship Marketing System”

We dive in for a lively discussion on how business has changed and what the new relationship business looks like and why it's so important for growth.

Social Media Contests....All the rage, but how do you get results?

Is your business considering ways to up your game online using social media contests but you're not confident on the process?

Needing a game plan for a social media contest?  There's more to a social media contest than simply tossing up a message announcing that the contest is open!

It's about equipping your business to be successful with a social contest online that helps you reach business objectives!

Learn what you need to succeed!

Pinterest is driving traffic to websites in amazing fashion!

Did you know that e-commerce purchases right on Pinterest have started?

All this and more on Pinterest updates for business marketing in this podcast!

It's raw, it's uncut!

It's all about what's happening with video and livestreaming!

Sunny Lenarduzzi is spectacular and informative....Mike's audio improves as the interview goes on....

It's all about informing you on the latest trends in online video today!  From YouTube to Facebook video, Instagram video to Periscope and Meerkat, we cover it.

Sunny Lenarduzzi is an award winning social media strategist, YouTuber and broadcaster. Sunny’s been seen on Hootsuite’s Social Update, Breakfast Television Edmonton and Vancouver, The Huffington Post, and a weekly social trends report on Rogers' Radio stations across Canada. Sunny thrives on sharing the latest developments in the digital space and I'm privileged to have her  join me!

Want some inspiration and steps to drastic life results?  Listen in!

They left their jobs in corporate America.

Purchasing one-way tickets, they headed to Asia.

She's from a tiny island called Norfolk, that's roughly 3 miles by 5 miles in size and between New Zealand and Australia.

Their background and experiences ultimately led them to start a ecommerce store called KOOSHOO, centered around the meaning of that word...Feeling Good.

It's a story you don't want to miss!

Jesse and Rachel, husband and wife yoga teachers based out of North Vancouver, Canada, are my guests in this episode of Halftime Mike. Together with a small, tight-knit team, they set out to create a lifestyle company that does good at every level – from the communities growing the textiles to the people wearing the final yoga headbands, hairties and fashion scarves that they sell in their e-commerce store.  It's informative and inspiring!

It's a FIRST!

I recorded my podcast LIVE on Periscope!

Yes, I use the Twitter tool and talked Facebook, producing my podcast in real-time video and then simply creating this post and loading the file to my podcaster service, Libsyn.

I think you'll want to listen in because this is something that I think is BIG but hasn't gotten a lot of press as of yet.

Basically, on July 9, Facebook made a change and is giving user CONTROL of what they see FIRST on Facebook!  For all those saying that Facebook isn't listening or it's just getting too big, this is a HUGE win for the user.  You and Me!

What it means for brands is still to be determined.  

I can tell you it means they need to pay attention to their community and find some content that users will like because fans have choices now!

The Update: Facebook News Feed Personalization with "See First" Option

Now in the Mobile App "News Feed Preferences" as well as on any Page or personal Profile on Facebook there is a "See First" option.  For the App, it populates icons of your Pages and Friends to select from. Note: I have not seen Groups accessible at all!  

When on a Page or Profile, click the "Following" button and in the dropdown you can see and select the "See First" icon.

How many can you add to "See First"? Not sure of a limit.  I haven't reached it yet and there doesn't seem to be one.  Of course if you add too many you defeat the purpose of fine-tuning your News Feed!

That's a wrap.  Go check it out and do tell me what you thought of this "Periscope-first" version!

How many of us would like to see some drastic life results??

Have you had some bumps and setbacks, or are you struggling to get that online business to the next level?

You’ll want to listen into this interview about drastic life results with Toni Harris!

Toni Harris is my guest on this episode of the Halftime Mike podcast!  Toni is a speaker, author, trainer, and all-around high octane change artist who lives it and walks it!

She’s been down and out, I’m talking about on death’s doorstep, and made an amazing turnaround to thrive and talk about it!

Content online has proliferated.

You've heard all the tips about regular publishing of great content, creating quality images that communicate, and more.

Yet everyone is doing that.  Great content is everywhere.  So how can you compete?

More importantly, if you have great content, but no one sees it, is it really working for you?  What can you do about?

Yes, I used the term "sexy" when talking about blogging, and in this case video blogging!

Blogging and video blogging may not seem sexy, but Amy Schmittauer makes it so!

Amy is my guest on this episode of the Halftime Mike podcast.  She's the founder and personality behind Savvy Sexy Social and leader of Vlog Boss Studios. We dive in and get gold from Amy on video blogging.

Want to learn how video blogging can help your business and how to do it?  Listen in to this episode of the Halftime Mike Podcast!

Mike Gingerich

Want ideas on how to grow blog traffic?

Interested in ways to generate revenue from your blog?

All this and more covered in this episode of the Halftime Mike podcast with guest Ricky Shetty, The Daddy Blogger!

Ricky shares his personal story of growing a business online and along the way offers specific tips that can help your business.

What is currently the post type on Facebook that gets the most reach?

Did you know it's video?

Do you know what type of video and how to make those videos?

Did you know YOU can make those videos?

 I review 4 apps that can be used to easily edit and produce your videos on your phone and give you my process for it all!

How is your Facebook marketing going?

Looking for a source of good Facebook marketing information?

Are you tired of complex answers and want to hear it straight in simple terms?

Then you'll enjoy this show where I interview Jenny Brennan on "What works on Facebook today?"

Everyone wants to grow their business.

In many industries today, what worked the previous two decades is no longer working today.  Are you in that boat?  Has your business climate shifted?

The Digital World, basically the web and social media, has changed that.  Processes are different, customer acquisition and support are different, and new models for doing business are needed.

Enter “The Enchanting Way.”

What are tips for how to grow your career with social media?  What are pitfalls to avoid?

Is "flash mob law" a real  thing?

If a person sends someone naked pics digitally, can the recipient post them online?

All this and more covered in a great interview with lawyer, author, and speaker Ruth Carter!

Do you have a frequent flyer card?

How about a credit card with rewards?  We're familiar with those types of loyalty programs, but...

Are you using any loyalty programs in your social media?  Perhaps you should be!