Black History

Getting started with Google Analytics is no small task. Since starting to use the platform in 2006, I have seen incredible advancements and expansion of the reporting capabilities of GA. For those just starting out and viewing Google Analytics for the first time, it can be daunting. So, just where do you begin? How do I configure GA to track XYZ? And, where do marketers find value in Google Analytics?

To answer these and the many other questions you may have about Google Analytics, I’ve compiled a list of 15 free resources offered by Google to help you learn how to implement GA and develop data-driven marketing strategy using all the features it has to offer.



1. Google Analytics Academy

The GA Academy is where all those new to Google Analytics should start their educational journey. The first course “Google Analytics for Beginners” offers the fundamental knowledge on setup, navigating reporting, campaign tracking and Goals. However, the Academy isn’t just for beginners. Offering courses on Advanced Google Analytics, Ecommerce Analytics and Google Tag Manager Fundamentals, there is likely something to learn for all levels.

2. Google Digital Garage

Google Digital Garage is the runner-up resource when it comes to learning Google Analytics. The Digital Garage is collection of courses that covers a breadth of digital marketing topics. In here, you will find two courses targeted to Google Analytics that overlap a bit with the Academy but are worth your time (either as a refresher or as part of Google’s course structure).

3. Google Analytics YouTube Channel

From quick tips to deep dives, the Google Analytics YouTube Channel has you covered. Head straight to the Playlists and pick the topic area that best fits where you are in your GA education journey. These aren’t just product walk-throughs (though some are) but educational videos for marketers, developers, and analytics junkies that show a wide range of capabilities GA offers.


4. Google Analytics Google+ Page

Often duplicated from Twitter (or vice versa) but offering a cleaner view into Google’s own content, the Google Analytics Google+ page should not be overlooked as a resource to learn GA. Again, helpful articles directly from Google and industry thought-leaders are the main drive but the comments and discussion are the bonus.

Instagram is hot property for tourism today. This series of Hotels Tourism Instagram Marketing Tutorials will provide a brief video (under 30 seconds) to overview the benefits of Instagram with respect to its major features. The description and notes under the video will expand on the How and why for each aspect.



Aligned with New Consumer Behavior

Instagram aligns with the new attitude to information which is visual, engaging and real. Real in the sense that it is user and brands sharing what matters. It’s authentic as Instagram does not allow affiliate marketing and you cannot link back to your site or a landing page that sells a product.
Its a counter-intuitive channel for brands, or so it would seem. But the reality is that Instagramers, and perhaps consumers in general, are wary of brand messages. What brands say about themselves tends to be largely discounted.

Entertain To Inform & Engage

The new trend to brand adverting is more in line with entertainment. Entertainment first and Information second is the new norm for brands. We see this with BMW example and with the fun ads by booking.com and others. The concept is to provide interesting, entertaining content that engages and motivates without having to bang the drums and shout out a message.

Let the medium tell the story. So Instagram has its own 15-second stories and its full video with IGTV. And that in direct response to the fact that videos are more engaging than photos. In fact video posts get  38% more engagement than image posts and twice the number of comments. The fact is that 100 million users are interacting with Instagram Live video every day.

Favored by Millennials

Instagram Stories was launched a years after Snapchat had introduced the concept to great applause. Yet today 68% of Millennials use Instagram versus Snapchat (about 40% use Snapchat). As Millenials are the new consumer its important to follow their thinking and to be where they are. They are a new consumer with very different motivation. They care about the experience first, and put what is done, how it is done and its impact above valuing things and possessions. This requires a new philosophy for brand messaging and brand integrity.

Series of Short Videos & Nano Moments

weeks I will share with you some tips and strategies to help build your Instagram base and your travel brand.

It starts with Instagram power. The video series will cover Influences, shout-outs, sharing other people posts and promotions. We will discuss hashtags and content that is congruent with your travel brand. Success on Instagram requires a fine focus.

So you have exhausted your second date and third date ideas you have reached the comfortable stage of your relationship where you just want to sit home and chill!

We feel you!

Sometimes, we feel so exhausted that we just want to date night to be lazy at-home experience.

But a movie date night!? Sooooo boring!

So we have wracked our brains and thought of 50 at home date night ideas (that aren’t a movie!) And if it is raining out, here are some additional rainy day date ideas to keep you occupied.

And after all this if you are eager for even MORE dates we have hundreds of more date ideas for all seasons including summer dates, fall dates and winter dates!



Pizza and wine

Don’t feel like cooking but want a semi fun, semi-romantic date night at home?

Order a pizza from a Pizzeria or pick one up at the store that you just pop in the oven.

HOW TO PREPARE:


A great recipe + ingredients, frozen pizza or pizza delivery number 😉
Wine
Our favorite pizza-making utensils for couples

HOW TO PREPARE:

A great recipe + ingredients, frozen pizza or pizza delivery number 😉
Wine
Our favorite pizza-making utensils for couples

Card games

Poker, slapjack, blackjack, go fish, speed, or double speed…whatever “suits” your fancy. Choose one or play them all.

Our personal favourite card games are Hearts or UNO.

It’d be great if we promised you Olympic swimming pools, private chefs, and exclusive living arrangements, but that’s not what we’re about here at the Good Life. However, we do have a good life recovery program — a program that works.
We’re not going to promise you the sun and the moon. We’re not going to promise you a vacation from life. That’s not what treatment’s about and that’s not how we operate.



Rather, we promise you or your loved one a challenging and life-changing experience driven by comprehensive and evidence-based clinical care.

The Good Life Recovery Program

What does that care look like? Well, our day and night addiction treatment program offers the following:

An intake process including a biopsychosocial and psychiatric assessment.
An individualized, uniquely tailored treatment plan.
Therapeutic groups meeting for a minimum of 25 hours each week and focusing on a variety of topics.
Individual therapy with a dedicated primary therapist.

Family therapy.

Psychiatric care.

A strong focus on family care and involvement.

Workshops on a variety of topics, including spirituality, health, tools for sober living, and many others.
Wellness and adventure therapy activities that complement and deepen your treatment experience.
Extensive case management, including housing, work, education, legal, and medical help

You’ve been feeling a bit sluggish and your body is always in pain. It could be because you have a sedentary job. These jobs pay better than your basic retail job but they can hurt your health.

You need to be able to stretch and walk around regularly. Depending on how crazy your work schedule is, it may be hard for you to find the time. Rather you know it or not, it’s not too hard to work fitness around your daily life.

To help you bring in the cash and stay healthy while you do it, here are a few ways to take care of yourself when you’re working a desk job.

Stretch at Your Desk 

Sometimes it’s hard to find time to leave your desk during the day and that’s fine. You can do stretches and exercises without ever leaving.

If you’re not sure where to start with this you can find some great desk workout ideas online.



Take the Stairs 

Most workplaces have both stairs and elevators. When you’re left up to choose, go with the stairs. It gives you more opportunity for walking.

If stairs aren’t your friend then you can get the same kind of benefits from parking further away from your building. Basically, find as many opportunities to take steps throughout your day as you can.

Have Weekly Fitness Sessions

While you may not be able to fit in working out every day you can still get wellness benefits from scheduling a few. You don’t have to head to your local gym. You can go on a jog a couple of times a week.

Some workplaces do have a gym on sight. If yours offers this service then make sure that you’re taking advantage of it.

Get Up 

Even though you work at a desk you don’t have to keep yourself glued there. You can get up and walk around a little whenever you want.

For example, say your boss asks you to take a conference call. You can take the call and then pace around as you listen and take notes on a pad.

Companies in the United States spend approximately $207 billion in marketing every year. They spend most of the money on televised ads, product events, and online promotion.

When searching for effective marketing materials, look no further than company brochures. Brochures offer a myriad of marketing benefits to your small business.

Here are five important reasons why you want to use brochures for your small business.



1. Brochures Are Easy to Distribute

Unlike newsletters, distributing brochures is easy. They are light enough to place in a variety of locations within a building.

You can bundle tangibles such as t-shirts with brochures to market your business.

Many people appreciate handling information in small packages such as brochures. Resources such as newsletters and company journals can be overwhelming.

2. Brochures Are Cost-Effective for Small Businesses

Most print shops will not turn away your business due to budget. In most cases, they will adjust their work to fit the bill.

You will also realize these cost savings using brochure templates, which help save time. There is a wide range of free and paid templates available on the internet.

There are numerous web resources available used to design marketing material. This will allow your small business save costs even more.

You should be aware that high-quality professional designs don’t come cheap.

3. Company Brochures Personalize Communication

Using a brochure gives you an opportunity to communicate with your audience easily and quickly. Personalized messages are more effective than those meant for a larger audience.

As your small company grows, adjusting the message on a brochure will be quite easy.

Your business has taken all the strides to adapt to the modern age. It’s been equipped with social media profiles, an email marketing campaign – all the digital marketing bells and whistles.

But it turns out, there’s one thing you didn’t prepare for when committing to the age of the internet.

What is it? Negative online reviews.

These dreaded comments on social media profiles and Yelp pages can come as a nasty shock and a bit of an emotional blow. But how can you deal with them properly so the bad reviews left by the occasional dissatisfied customer can be more than a bad start to the day?

For 6 of our top tips on staying positive in the face of negative online reviews, keep reading!



1. Remember, You Can’t Please Everyone

When it comes to dealing with negative reviews from customers, it’s absolutely necessary that you recognize that there’s never been a business or organization that hasn’t gotten a bad review. You may take those negative words personally but you’re far from the first to do so.

With over 7.6 billion humans on the face of the earth, there’s bound to be one who’s having a bad day. There’s bound to be another who had unrealistic expectations, and another who caught your employees on an off day.

It’s unrealistic to expect to please everyone every day. One bad review doesn’t mean the end of your business – it just means someone felt they had something to say. Read it and accept the feedback, then move forward!

2. Know That Bad Reviews Aren’t Always Indicative of Your Quality

Remember that moody customer we mentioned? The one who had an awful day where everything kept going wrong, then your website was slow to load or their order took a bit long to fill and it just pushed them over the edge?

Their bad day isn’t always indicative of the quality of your business overall. So, don’t think it is!

Chances are, for each negative review you’ve gotten, there are two or three or ten good ones to match it. You probably have hordes of customers who come through your doors or inbox who feel totally satisfied with their experience.