What's an Instagram Handle? (+4 Ideas to Help Create Your Own)

Did you know Instagram has over 1 billion active users? With so many on the platform, it can be challenging to find one particular person or business. Enter the Instagram handle.

You can think of a handle as the address to your Instagram page. It's also what people search to find you. An effective handle quickly identifies you while being memorable.

Here, we'll discuss how to find and change a handle, ideas for creating your own, and whether it deserves a spot on your business card.

It's easy to confuse an Instagram handle with your Instagram name. However, they both serve different functions. The biggest difference is that an Instagram handle is unique — once you choose it, no one else can claim it. An Instagram name, however, can be the same amongst multiple users.

An Instagram handle has several purposes — first, it's what people use to tag you in photos, videos, and stories. For example, HubSpot's handle on Instagram is @HubSpot, which users can type to mention the user in posts.

Second, it creates a link to your profile. If you change your handle, the URL to your profile also changes. Keep in mind that when you pick a new handle, you can't switch back to your old one until 14 days have passed.

How to Find an Instagram Handle

When you sign up for an Instagram account, you will be prompted to create a handle. While you can let your creativity take the wheel, there are some rules you need to follow:

• Your handle can't exceed 30 characters
• It can only contain letters, numbers, and periods
• It can't contain symbols or punctuation marks
• It needs to be unique

The hardest task is the last one — and may take some trial-and-error. To help, we've included four Instagram handle ideas to get you started.

Instagram Handle Ideas (+ Examples)

1. Keep it simple.

For businesses, a good rule is to keep it simple — usually by picking a handle with the name of your business. But if your business name is unavailable, you may need to do some finessing.

For instance, suppose you run a print shop, Mint Prints. The handle @MintPrints is the ideal option — but if it's already claimed, you can alter it without changing its meaning. For example, you could add your location (@MintPrintsBrooklyn) or a word that describes your business (@MintPrintsDesign).

Later, we'll discuss more variations to try if your first-choice handle is unavailable.

2. Relate the handle to your niche.

Whether you're into fitness, photography, travel, dance, or art, a great tip for creating a handle is to include words that relate to your niche. This also adds personality and interest to an otherwise static profile.

Check out the example below from food author Lizi Heaps:

3. Avoid using extra characters and symbols.

When a user performs an Instagram search, it pulls up a list of profiles with the most relevant handles. Therefore, adding extra characters or symbols to your username could make it harder for others to find your profile.

Although handles have a 30-character limit, keeping it short and concise is better. Long handles are difficult to remember and harder to discover via search. For instance, which handle below is easier to remember?

Option 1: @SophiasFoodBlog

Option 2: @SophiasFoodBlogNYC5746

4. Add "The" or "I'm" in front of your handle.

As we discussed above, sometimes your ideal Instagram handle has already been taken. Luckily there are different variations you can try to craft another one.

One variation is to add "The" in front of your handle. For example, Faire Plaisir, a vintage homeware company, uses the handle @TheFairePlaisir on Instagram. This minor modification allows the brand to still use its company name, which helps with discoverability.

Another variation is to add "Im" in the front of your handle. For example, actor Angela Bassett has the handle @im.angelabassett. This modification is better suited for individual or personal accounts than businesses ones.

How to Change an Instagram Handle

Before you pick a new Instagram handle, it's important to understand what does and doesn't change once you make the switch.

For one, your handle is a key part of your profile's URL. If someone bookmarks or saves a link to your profile with your old username, they will be redirected to a page that reads, “Sorry, this page isn't available." The same goes for every tagged post, comment, and "like" from your old username,

Also, if you link your Instagram handle in an email signature, blog post, website, or business card, it's essential to update this information — which can be a hassle.

If you're starting to get cold feet about changing your handle, fear not — Instagram gives you 14 days to change it back. That said, there are valid reasons for changing your handle, such as rebranding.

Here are four steps to change your handle:

1. Navigate to your profile and click "Edit Profile."
2. Click on your username.
3. Delete your old handle and type a new one.
4. Click "Done."

After you complete these steps, Instagram will automatically update your profile with your new handle.

Should I include my Instagram handle on my business card?

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While social media was once a way to connect with friends and family, it now doubles as a networking tool. So much so, a number of professionals reserve a spot on their business card for their social media accounts.

But is this the best option for you or your brand? Let's consider the benefits:

• It builds and expands your network. Building your brand often goes hand-in-hand with building your network. Putting your Instagram handle on your business card encourages prospects to find and engage with you.
• It puts a face to the name. Providing your Instagram handle gives prospects a chance to know you beyond the surface-level details. Having an online presence is also important to gaining trust and credibility.
• It provides an additional communication channel. Having social media info on your business card lets prospects know that you're open to communicating in different ways and contexts.

Of course, you also run the risk of crowding your business card with too much information — which is why I recommend linking Instagram only if it's a platform that you actively engage with.

Final Thoughts

Although picking an Instagram handle may feel like a minor detail, it's a key component of your digital brand. And with millions of users on Instagram, it's essential to pick one that's searchable, memorable, and relevant to you.

What's an Instagram Handle? (+4 Ideas to Help Create Your Own) was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

20 Ways to Effectively Increase Your Conversion Rate

Have you ever heard the term "analysis paralysis"? It's the concept that too many choices can inhibit a person's ability to make a decision. Visitors to your website can experience this too if there are too many places to look or if there’s a confusing design.

When this happens, visitors won't convert. Therefore, increasing your conversion rate is beneficial to lowering your cost per acquisition.

Below, let's review how to increase your conversion rate for both your desktop website and mobile site.

How to Increase Conversion Rate on Your Website

1. Use a CRO planner.

Getting started with conversion rate optimization can seem like a daunting task.

The first step to improving your conversion rate? Use a CRO planner.

With a CRO planner, you'll be able to analyze and develop a strategy for increasing your conversion rate.

For example, with HubSpot CRO planner, you'll find instructions on how to conduct a site audit, identify areas to improve your conversion funnel, understand users on your site, and go through the process of A/B testing and experimentation.

CRO planners can be helpful because they take through the entire process from A to Z.

2. Shorten your forms.

One reason that users don't convert is because there's friction in the process. For example, if you have a long-form, visitors might be hesitant to fill it out.

It's your job to eliminate hesitation, not create it. By shortening your forms, you'll create trust among your audience. Plus, it takes less time to fill out so users are more likely to complete it.

3. Include social proof.

Did you know that 89% of consumers check online reviews before making a purchase? The Canvas8 study commissioned by Trustpilot also found 49% of consumers consider positive reviews one of their top three purchase influences. Without a doubt, your reputation and online presence impact your conversion rate. That's why you should include social proof on your site.

You can link to your Yelp or any other directory page where customers have left reviews.

Additionally, you should also add testimonials and reviews right on your site so visitors don't have to go to a third-party site.

It should be apparent that your customers have enjoyed using your product or service. If it isn't, your conversion rate will suffer.

4. Track how people interact with your site.

It'll be hard to improve your conversion rate if you don't understand how users are interacting with your site.

But how can you see where visitors are getting tripped up? With website analysis tools, you can see screen recordings of users on your site. You'll see what they click on, if they skip over an offer, or if they stop filling out a form in the middle.

Additionally, these tools should include heat maps of your site, so you can see what elements stand out and what draws the eye.

A tool like Crazy Egg or HubSpot's website grader can help you see what you're doing well and diagnose what areas of your site you need to improve. You should also calculate your conversion rate and analyze why visitors aren't converting on your site.

5. Add live chat.

When a web visitor doesn't convert, they might have a question or concern about your product or service.

To avoid losing potential customers, you should consider adding live chat to your site.

With live chat, your customer service or sales employees can alleviate concerns of prospects who are on the fence.

6. Test your offers.

Sometimes it can feel like you've checked everything — you've written a strong copy, included social proof, and have optimized your forms … but you still aren't converting.

When this happens, it's time to check your content offers. Do they align with your audience? Are they creative and compelling? Do the offers make sense for the page they're on?

Think about your current offers and answer those questions.

For example, offering a free trial or consultation is fairly generic. Instead, you could offer something like HubSpot's Website Grader. With this offer, the customer is getting a lot out of it. They're getting actionable advice, for free, and they don't need to clear out time on their calendar to get it.

Tangible and compelling offers always perform better than a generic offer. To improve conversions, you need to analyze and test your content offers.

7. Conduct A/B testing.

It's not always easy to know what's working and what isn't. When that happens, you should conduct A/B tests.

See what types of headlines, colors, copy, layout, and CTAs work for your audience. Get creative with your experiments.

For example, you can try testing an entirely new type of CTA or completely changing the format of your copy.

8. Increase trust and remove friction.

Users don't convert if they don't trust your brand or experience friction in the process.

So, how can you increase trust?

You can use several tactics, including money-back guarantees, updating your site content regularly, avoiding spammy links, and making the site easy to use.

If it looks like you haven't posted a blog in two years or there are a lot of broken links — that's friction and it creates distrust.

Additionally, you can include team bios so your audience knows who they're getting information from.

9. Create abandoned cart email campaigns.

Have you ever been on a site, added something to your cart, but decided not to check out? We all do it and that means it's probably happening on your site too.

You shouldn't forget about those potential customers. If someone abandons their cart, they should receive an abandoned cart email campaign.

With this type of email campaign, you'll email users a reminder about the products in their cart, send a follow-up, and then perhaps include a discount or offer.

If you don't send this email, you're losing out on conversions.

How to Increase Landing Page Conversion Rate

10. Communicate your value proposition.

On any landing page, your value proposition should be clearly communicated. To do this, you need to have a solid understanding of who your audience is and your buyer persona.

Write your copy specifically for your target audience. For example, you can address their goals, motivations, and pain points.

Additionally, you should discuss the benefits of your product or service over the features. Benefits will help your potential customers imagine their life with your product, while features are easy to skim and ignore.

Your copy should communicate how your product or service can solve your audience's problem. If you aren't converting, you should check and see how well your copy is written.

11. Incorporate multimedia elements into your landing pages.

Have you ever ordered something at a restaurant and when it came out, it looked completely different than what you imagined?

You don't want this to happen when people download your content offers. To avoid this, include images and videos of your product or service on your landing pages.

Multimedia elements make your site feel more trustworthy. Plus, it's the preferred way of consuming content.

To improve your conversion rate, try adding images of graphs and charts, or video testimonials to your site.

12. Write strong CTAs.

A huge component of conversion is your call-to-action (CTA). Your CTA could be to download an offer, share a post on social media, or subscribe to your email newsletter.

Whatever it is, you need to include CTAs throughout your website and landing pages. Usually, this means that they're clear and easily accessible.

"Marketers need to take a Goldilocks approach when it comes to placing CTAs since sometimes, one placement isn’t enough," explains AJ Beltis, HubSpot's Senior Marketing Manager. "But it’s very easy to have a CTA appear so often as to appear spammy to website visitors."

Typically, each landing page will only have one call to action but be incorporated several times on a page. For example, this blog post has three CTAs that lead to one offer. One at the bottom of the page, one in the text in the introduction, and one that pops up after scrolling down the page.

Typically, the sooner a CTA can appear on a page, the better, Beltis says. Otherwise, you run the risk of visitors who don’t scroll down far enough missing the conversion point entirely.

The important thing to note is that you can access the CTA no matter where you are on the page. Removing risk for the visitor (like offering a guarantee) and communicating that message clearly in your CTA will encourage them to take action.

13. Eliminate unnecessary distractions.

Speaking of CTAs … it’s important to remove anything on your landing page that would detract from visitors taking a preferred action. Get rid of any unnecessary links, pop-ups or navigation options that could potentially divert a visitor’s attention away.

A busy or cluttered page is less likely to convert visitors. You only have a few seconds to win them over, and a page that’s hard to navigate will discourage them from sticking around.

Design a page that encourages visitors to click your CTA using visual hierarchy to your advantage.

14. Meet your audience's expectations.

When someone clicks on your site after reading your meta description on Google or seeing your search engine ad, your landing page needs to follow through.

You have to deliver on the promises that were made in that copy. For example, if a user sees this post in Google, they're going to expect to find strategies to improve their conversion rate. If they clicked through and this page only had pictures of puppies, they'd be confused.

If a landing page doesn't deliver on what a user thought they were getting, they won't convert. That's why you need to think about the entire process from seeing an ad, going to your landing page, and downloading an offer.

If a landing page isn't converting, review your social media posts and search engine descriptions to see if you follow through on the promises you made.

How to Increase Mobile Conversion Rate

15. Improve your page speed.

When it comes to mobile conversion, a huge obstacle is page speed. This is the time it takes for your content to appear on the screen.

Did you know that 40% of people abandon sites that take more than 3 seconds to load? On mobile specifically, a one-second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions.

If your mobile page isn't converting as well, analyze your page speed with Google's PageSpeed tools. This will test your mobile page speed.

To improve your page speed, images need to be smaller and compressed. Additionally, your site should be responsive and optimized for mobile.

16. Optimize for mobile.

Since Google switched to mobile-first indexing, mobile optimization has been more important than ever. If you don't optimize for mobile, your Google rankings might be impacted, which could reduce conversions.

You might be wondering, "How do I optimize my site for mobile?"

Before you begin, it's important to remember that mobile and desktop experiences are different.

You can use Google's mobile testing tool to see if your site is mobile-friendly. With this tool, you'll get recommendations for how to improve your site's mobile performance.

For example, you might need to increase your font on mobile, compress your images, or improve page speed.

17. Enhance the purchasing process.

Making a purchase on your phone should be a simple process.

That means you shouldn't have too many steps in your checkout process and your payment buttons should be easy to see and click.

Additionally, try to remove restrictions on online forms where you gather payment information. Personally, I'm always stopped on mobile forms because the name of my city is too long (22 characters).

Users should be able to check out as a guest and use whatever payment method they want, whether that's Google Pay, Apple Pay, or PayPal.

Ultimately, this process should be easy and pain-free. A complicated checkout process will reduce mobile conversions.

18. Be creative with your mobile marketing.

When you want to increase your mobile conversion rate, that doesn't just mean you need to adapt your site to the mobile experience.

You can also start to get creative and run mobile-only marketing campaigns.

For example, maybe you can start an SMS text message campaign, or you can use push notifications on your app.

These creative, out-of-the-box techniques can help increase your mobile conversion rate.

19. Make adjustments to your mobile site.

Since the mobile and desktop experiences are different, your mobile and desktop sites should be different.

For example, your email subscriber form might be smaller or nonexistent on your mobile site.

Additionally, you'll probably use different CTAs on your mobile site. For instance, when you read this blog, the website and mobile have different types of CTAs. While the offer is the same, the button and the way to access the CTA aren't.

On mobile, less is more. Your mobile site should be simple and eliminate distractions. This can mean you have simplified navigation and use a hamburger menu so it's easy to get around your site.

20. Localize your content.

Mobile users are usually on your site because they're looking for contact information, want to know your location, find directions, or look up reviews.

That's why you should optimize for local marketing. This means adding location pages to your website, managing your online directory listings, and creating local content.

To improve your mobile conversion rates, consider localizing your content so you perform better in local searches.

Before I sign off, I want to remind you that many of the tactics for improving your website's conversion rate can be applied to mobile CRO.

Empathize With Customers

At the end of the day, we've all been consumers before. Take a step back, look at the bigger picture, put yourself in your customer's shoes, and think about whether you would make a purchase off your site.

This article was originally published May 25, 2020, and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

20 Ways to Effectively Increase Your Conversion Rate was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

The 20 Best Video Editing Apps for 2022

Using a video editing app is critical for creating a winning video marketing strategy. And if you're reading this blog post, chances are you already know you should incorporate more video content into your marketing, especially after the rise of remote work.But like most new strategies, you’ll need to prove its ROI before you get a budget. And that can be tricky because to make a great video, you need a few things — like a camera and editing software. You might already have a high-quality camera built into your smartphone, but editing your raw footage and preparing it for publication requires a third-party mobile app. You might even need to hop on the computer for the more extensive post-production projects.

The good news: There are several free and inexpensive video editing apps you can download that run the gamut from super simple to Hollywood-level powerful. In this post we will delve into the best video apps for every device and click one of the links below to jump to a specific type of app, or keep reading to learn about them all.

• Instagram Video Editing Apps
• Top Free Video Editing Software
• Best Video Editing Apps for YouTube
• Video Editing Apps for Android

Editing Apps for Videos: Standard Features

Every editing app will be different, but there are a few features you’ll want to look for. Because most apps will have a free and paid version, it’s important to know what’s essential and what might be worth an upgrade.

For every video app whether paid or free, it will include:

• Scrubbing through video as you edit.
• Choosing an aspect ratio that fits with your target platform (Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, TikTok, etc.).
• Adding text and shapes along with professional transitions throughout the shots.
• Exporting video with at least 480p quality with high definition exports up to 4k.
• Adding music to the video via stock music or your library.

The following solutions can help you make video magic — whether your video is meant for Instagram, YouTube, or a similar channel where your audience is hungry for content.

Instagram Video Editing Apps

The following apps allow you to edit and quickly upload beautiful videos to Instagram. None of these apps are limited to Instagram but are known for their support of this social network.

1. Magisto

Price: Starts at free | Platforms: iOS, Android, Online

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Video automation is here — in the form of the Magisto video editor.

Owned by Vimeo, Magisto allows you to make incredible videos without ever leaving your smartphone in three easy steps: First, you'll choose your video editing style (the type of story you're telling), then you'll choose the photos and video clips you'd like included, and lastly, you'll pick your music from Magisto's built-in music library.

Using artificial intelligence (AI), this intuitive app helps organize your footage in a video that best delivers the message you have in mind. Why not stop at the free version? Upgrade to Premium or Professional for a small monthly fee and make longer movies with more of your own content.

Pros

• Easy-to-use templates for hassle-free creation
• Intuitive, beginner-friendly interface
• Online version available for creating both on Windows and macOS laptops
• Professional and Business plans come with a free Vimeo Pro subscription

Cons

• The “Created with Magisto” watermark will be visible unless you upgrade to premium
• No multi-track editing or 4K exporting
• Ideal for very short social media videos (< 3 minutes long)
• Stock videos are only accessible with a Professional plan

2. Hyperlapse

Price: Free | Platforms: iOS

Hyperlapse is an app created by Instagram itself that condenses videos into brief, hyper-speed videos that you can upload to Instagram or Facebook.

You can choose among a few different speeds, and the app will show you how long the hyperlapse video will be for every speed in comparison to the length of the video in real-time. (So a 40-second video in real-time will become roughly a 7-second video in Hyperlapse at 6X speed.) It's a cool way to capture something that usually lasts a while — like a sunset or an event setup.

See what happened when I used Hyperlapse to film daybreak at 12X in the video above.

Pros

• It's an easy way to speed up process videos.
• Use a minimal layout that’s nearly identical to the iPhone camera.
• You can capture videos straight from the app.
• No sign-in is required to get started.

Cons

• It only has one capability: speeding up videos
• You can’t import already-filmed videos into the app
• The video saves to your camera roll, taking up storage space
• No multi-track editing, 4K exporting, or other features typically associated with apps for video editing

3. Wondershare Filmora

Price: Starts at free on mobile | Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows

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Wondershare Filmora (formerly Wondershare Video Editor) is the perfect option if you want to start with basic video editing functionality with the opportunity to get more advanced as you go. The app is perfect for Instagram but can create audience-ready videos for numerous platforms.

Filmora is available for Windows and Mac computers, whereas the company's FilmoraGo mobile app is free to download for both iOS and Android devices.

Filmora's "Easy Mode" strips away the complexity so you can drag and drop video clips, add some music, and produce a finished video in a matter of minutes. The FilmoraGo app has many of these features, plus an Effect Store where you can incorporate preset intros, themes, and transitions into your video creation.

Sounds too good to be true? Well, you're right: The free version of Wondershare Filmora adds a watermark to your videos that you can only remove through upgrading to their paid service.

Pros

• This app is a powerful option for both beginner and advanced video editors.
• The desktop version offers multi-track editing and more traditional video editing capabilities.
• The mobile version includes easy-to-use effects, stickers, and filters.
• You can layer music and different sounds in the mobile app.
• Relatively affordable (starting at less than $50 per year for Filmora X, and free for the mobile app) compared to competitors such as Adobe.

Cons

• The desktop apps are not free, but a trial is available.
• Videos are watermarked with the Wondershare branding unless you upgrade to a premium plan.

4. InShot

Price: Starts at free | Platforms: iOS, Android

There are times when you just want to edit a video — no fancy collages and no splicing. For that, there's InShot, a handy app that lets you trim, speed up, or add music and filters to video. It's pretty fundamental, but with that comes a high ease of use. You can also add a background if you like, though we think it's pretty cool to have an overlap of images — like we did with the video above.

I took a simple video of a tranquil beach scene, but enhanced it with InShot's "warm filter" and added a fitting musical track to it — a song called "Pikake Stream," by Kalani. (I recommend viewing the video in its entirety with headphones, especially if you're having a stressful day.)

Pros

• It's a great app for beginners and marketers who don’t have a lot of time for intensive video editing.
• Built-in music library with royalty-free options.
• You can add voice-overs and your music.
• The app has a 4.8-star rating on the Apple Store and over 1M ratings.

Cons

• There's no desktop app available.
• Filters and stickers are only available with a paid subscription.
• Your video will be watermarked unless you upgrade to the paid version.

Top Free Video Editing Software

The following tools are the most versatile mobile apps of all the free software listed in this article.

1. WeVideo

Price: Starts at free | Platforms: iOS, Android, Chrome OS

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Cloud-based video editing software (i.e., software that you access via a browser instead of downloading directly to your hard drive) is growing more and more popular. One of the programs leading the charge is WeVideo.

WeVideo offers some advanced features and functionality, including audio editing capabilities, a library of commercially licensed music, and the ability to share videos in 4K resolution. However, the free version of WeVideo isn't without its limitations.

One major downside is that you're only given 10GB of cloud storage. If you're making a one-off video, this is fine. But if you're planning to edit multiple videos, you'll need more space. The free version also puts a WeVideo watermark on your videos, which isn't ideal.

WeVideo is also available as a desktop computer product and comes with free and paid plans. For a complete breakdown of the differences between these plans, check out WeVideo's pricing page.

Pros

• You can access your videos from any device
• Paid versions are relatively cheap (starting at $4.99 for the Power version)
• 4K exporting available

Cons

• Only 10GB of storage and 5 minutes of published video are available on the free version
• The maximum resolution is 480p on the free subscription
• Your video will be watermarked with WeVideo’s branding unless you upgrade

2. Splice

Price: Free | Platforms: iOS

Splice allows you — as the name suggests — to splice together different video clips on your phone to create a moving collage.

We had a lot of fun playing with this one, especially since Splice even contains a library of musical tracks that can be used as a background for your finished product. You can also use the app to trim and edit the different pieces of video and customize transition lengths from one scene to the next.

My colleague, Amanda Zantal-Wiener, experimented with Splice by compiling the above 15-second video of her dog — using only an iPhone 6.

Pros

• Easy and intuitive to use
• Familiar user-friendly interface
• Multi-track and timeline editing with layers and masks
• No sign-in required
• No watermark, even for free subscribers

Cons

• Subscription starts at $2.99/week, or $12.97/month, which is pricier than other alternatives
• Effects and music are only available for paid subscribers

3. Adobe Premiere Rush

Price: Free | Platforms: iOS, Android

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Adobe's popular video editor, Premiere, isn't just available on your mobile device — it's free.

Melissa Stoneburner of Examiner.com calls this app a "gateway" into the full Adobe Premiere Pro video editor for desktop, and we can see this for ourselves. Similar to Magisto (the first video editor on our list), Adobe Rush automatically sets your video to the music of your choice (using Premiere Rush’s library or your own), and offers a Freeform editor that allows you to customize your edits further after this initial audio sync.

Premiere Rush's equally robust video editing features help you trim, drag, and drop multiple video and image clips — right from your mobile device's photo and video album — in the order you'd like.

Then, just add proper lighting, manipulate the speed of the video, and share your final product directly on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

Pros

• It's a natural choice for current Adobe users.
• Premiere rush offers a familiar video editing interface for those with experience and an easier learning curve for beginners.
• The paid version supports 4K exports.

Cons

• Some users report exporting and crashing issues on the Android version.
• Limited storage capabilities (<100GB) for free users

4. PicPlayPost

Price: Free | Platforms: iOS, Android

We've already covered the coolness of photo collages. But what if you could make a video collage? PicPlayPost is a simple app that lets you do exactly that. Just remember that the sound from both videos will play at the same time, so be sure they won't clash with one another.

There are many uses for a video collage app, but my colleague, Lindsay Kolowich, particularly likes the way fitness professional Melissa Made uses it on her Instagram account. She posts video collages with her performing a workout on one side, while she explains the workout out loud on the other.

Pros

• You can create alternative formats such as gifs and live photos
• 4K exporting available

Cons

• Most valuable features are available on the paid version only
• You can’t paste text from another app
• Video will be watermarked with the PicPlayPost branding unless you upgrade

Best Video Editing Apps for YouTube

Although the video editing services below do not offer mobile versions, they do offer easy-to-learn functionality at minimal cost. These apps are the best for sitting down at your computer and editing amazing video content for your YouTube channel.

1. Blender

Price: Free | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

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The open-source program Blender is more than just a video editor: It's a full-blown 3D animation suite, which allows for modeling, rendering, motion tracking, and more.

On the video editing side, there are a ton of features, including transitions, speed control, filters, adjustment layers, and more. There are also 32 slots available for adding video clips, audio clips, images, and effects, which means you can produce some incredibly complex video.

For the amateur video editor, all the options can be a bit overwhelming. But if you're looking to produce truly professional-quality video — without having to deal with watermarks — Blender is a solid option. The best part: "You are free to use Blender for any purpose, including commercially or for education," according to its website. For the fine print, check out its licensing info.

Pros

• Blender has a long history of use across multiple platforms.
• You can render, model, sculpt, and animate using this app.

Cons

• There's a steep learning curve for beginners.

2. Lightworks

Price: Free | Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

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Like Blender, Lightworks is definitely on the more advanced (and powerful) end of the video editing software spectrum. In fact, it's a program that's been used to edit some well-known and award-winning films, including Pulp Fiction, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The King’s Speech.

There are two different licenses you can choose from with Lightworks: "Free" and "Pro." (The latter of which, as you might have guessed, requires that you cough up some cash.) The main difference between the two licenses is that the Pro version offers more features, including stereoscopic output and advanced project sharing. But the free version is still quite powerful, providing 100+ effects and supporting multicam editing.

Pros

• Like Blender, Lightworks has a long history of use across multiple platforms.
• You can access royalty-free videos and audio from the desktop app.
• You can export up to 4K.
• Multi-track editing and timelines, even in the free version.
• You can buy a lifetime license for $437.99 and never worry about renewing a subscription.

Cons

• There's an extremely steep learning curve for beginners.
• Limited options for creating titles and subtitles.
• Users have reported formatting issues when importing video clips.

3. Shotcut

Price: Free | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

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Shotcut is another open-source video software — and it's completely free. It's possible to use Shotcut to create professional-looking videos, but the interface is tricky to use. Perhaps that's because it was originally developed for the Linux platform, which looks and feels a lot different from the typical Windows or Mac UX.

With dedication — and time spent in the Shotcut frequently asked questions and how-to guide sections — it's possible to use this software to create and export high-quality videos, completely for free.

Pros

• It's completely free—you never have to upgrade, ever.
• The diverse list of features rivals those of paid apps.

Cons

• Shotcut could be difficult to get the hang of at first.
• Some users find the UI difficult to navigate.
• It's less intuitive compared to other apps such as Premiere Pro and FinalCut, even for experienced editors.

4. VSDC Free Video Editor

Price: Free | Platforms: Windows Only

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In experienced hands, the VSDC Free Video Editor can produce professional-looking videos. In addition to supporting nearly every major video format, the program offers advanced video effects, including object transformation and color correction, as well as advanced audio effects like volume correction and sound normalization. And unlike WeVideo, the VSDC Free Video Editor is truly free. You can use the program's full feature set without having to deal with pesky watermarks.

Unfortunately, there is one catch. If you want technical support, you need to pay. (And because there is a bit of a learning curve, there's a good chance you'll need assistance.) Support for the VSDC Free Video Editor costs $9.99 for one month and $14.99 for one year.

Pros

• The free version is packed with typically premium features such as masking, blending modes, and 4K exports.
• You can share your video directly from the app to YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms.

Cons

• You have to pay for support if you’re using the free version.
• Not as user-friendly as other alternatives.
• Users have reported a steep learning curve.

5. Machete Video Editor Lite

Price: Free | Platforms: Windows Only

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At the simple end of the spectrum is Machete Video Editor Lite, a free program allowing you to cut, copy, and paste different sections of video. As the Machete website puts it, Video Editor Lite was "designed for quick and simple 'slicing' of your video files."

The program's intuitive interface means you won't have to waste time shuffling through technical support documents. And because Video Editor Lite doesn't re-encode your video files when you slice them, you don't have to worry about losing video quality.

The main downsides to the program? It only supports the AVI and WMV video formats, and it doesn't allow for audio editing. Still, if you have zero video editing experience and only need to make simple edits, it's a great option.

Pros

• This app offers simple but powerful slicing and editing capabilities.
• It's an incredibly simple and user-friendly interface; simply download and go.

Cons

• You can only export AVI and WMV files.
• You can’t edit or replace the audio.
• The website is outdated with limited support documents.

6. Avidemux

Price: Free | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

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Like Machete Video Editor Lite, Avidemux allows you to do basic video editing (no audio editing) without having to worry about losing video quality. But Avidemux also has a few more tricks up its sleeve.

For starters, the program supports multiple video formats, including AVI, DVD, MPEG, QuickTime, and MP4. What's more, Avidemux comes with several filters that allow you to perform a host of different functions, from flipping and rotating clips, to adding subtitles, to adjusting colors and brightness levels.

And while the learning curve for Avidemux is slightly steeper compared to Machete Video Editor Lite, the upside is that there's an extensive Avidemux wiki that covers everything you need to know.

Pros

• Supports multiple file formats such as AVI, MPEG, MP4, and Microsoft’s proprietary ASF
• Simple interface that’s best for tasks such as cutting and splicing footage
• Easy learning curve; simply download and start using

Cons

• Limited capabilities compared to other apps (especially mobile apps)

7. HitFilm

Price: Starts at free | Platforms: Windows, macOS

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HitFilm Express is a free video editing and visual effects software — which means you can use it to add more than 180 special effects to your videos, including 3D editing.

Possibly the coolest HitFilm feature is its wealth of tutorial videos — users can practice applying special visual effects in movie tutorials based on Star Wars, Westworld, and more.

Of course, upgrading to HitFilm Pro grants access to more visual effects, better high resolution and 3D rendering, and better audio syncing between audio and video files. It costs $300, but if you're not ready to fully invest, HitFilm Express users can purchase lower-cost expansions to use more tools in their software.

To see the complete list of differences between HitFilm Free and Pro, check out their "Compare Versions" page.

Pros

• Powerful capabilities such as mask rendering, export queues, and unlimited tracks and transitions
• Built-in voice recorder for easy voice-overs
• Has been described as a mix between Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro

Cons

• Beginners may experience a learning curve.
• Some users have reported crashing issues.

Video Editing Apps for Android

These video editing apps are particularly appealing for Android mobile users, though some of them are compatible with more than just the Android operating system.

1. VideoShow

Price: Free | Platforms: Android, iOS

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VideoShow allows you to edit video content in many creative ways beyond cutting and pasting scenes together. The award-winning app, which has more than 400 million users, allows you to include text overlays, stickers, music, filters, and sound effects in your footage. Because of these features, it lends itself to video producers who want to add a bit more creativity to a vlog series, where the video is primarily of one person speaking directly to the camera.

Pros

• Easy-to-use yet powerful, with HD exports available for free users
• Expansive music library

Cons

• Your video will be watermarked with VideoShow branding if you’re not on the paid version
• You can’t export the video without upgrading to the paid version

2. PowerDirector

Price: Free | Platforms: Android, Windows, macOS

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This robust video editor has a suite of creative design tools just for Android and desktop users. Developed by CyberLink, the app can help you create 4K-quality videos from footage taken with numerous devices. Special features include motion tracking, which helps you focus on specific subjects in each frame; video collages, which help you piece together numerous photos into a motion video; and video stabilization, allowing you to remove moments of "shaky camera" in your footage. PowerDirector can also help you add voiceovers and creative sound effects using chroma key.

Many of PowerDirector's features are completely free in the Android app. For a more advanced suite of editing tools, you can invest in one of CyberLink's paid products starting at $99.

Pros

• Powerful features such as green screen editing, motion graphics, and keyframe controls
• Incredibly low price compared to competitors such as Adobe
• Multi-track editing and timelines
• The company constantly adds new graphics and templates for users to choose from

Cons

• Some users have reported that it can be buggy

3. Quik

Price: Free | Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows

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Quik is a video editing tool developed by GoPro, making it the software of choice for people who are editing footage from their GoPro camera. But yes, it can edit content from any source.

The app can manage up to 75 photos and video clips in one project, and can even comb through this content to help you make smart editing decisions based on what the app detects in the footage. From time-lapses to panoramic pieces, Quik can manipulate your media in lots of creative ways. The app has more than 20 preset themes to choose from and supports eight common file types.

Pros

• Easy-to-use and intuitive app
• Automatically imports photos from your camera

Cons

• This software no longer receives updates from its manufacturer
• You only have access to the cloud when you upgrade to GoPro PLUS

4. KineMaster

Price: Free | Platforms: iOS, Android, ChromeOS

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KineMaster is a super-versatile video editing tool that allows you to edit videos on "multiple layers." What does that mean? Content creators can add an unlimited amount of text overlays, images, audio, and even free handwriting onto their footage for the artistic detail they or their brand needs. You can also blend multiple pieces of footage and use double-exposures to customize the background in a load of creative ways.

For simpler editing tasks, of course, this app offers intuitive trimming and splitting features to make your video progress just the way you want it to.

Pros

• Powerful features such as multi-track editing, layers, and blending modes
• Over 3M reviews on Google Play and an average rating of 4.5 stars
• You can share on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook straight from the app
• 4K exports available

Cons

• Your video will be watermarked with the KineMaster branding if you don’t upgrade to Premium
• Limited access to assets on the free version

5. VivaVideo

Price: Free | Platforms: iOS, Android

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VivaVideo makes professional-level edits easy for content creators. Free for all mobile devices, the app allows you to trim, merge, speed up, slow down, and reverse clips and images in a short amount of time. The app also comes with a simple collage- and slideshow-maker and offers a variety of camera lenses to capture new, edit-ready footage directly in the app.

Pros

• Fun on-trend filters, templates, and effects
• Expansive music library with hundreds of clips to choose from
• Multi-track editing allows you to layer voice clips and music

Cons

• The five-minute time limit for videos

With most people working from home, the importance of video can’t be overstated. But unless you get the right app for video editing, you’ll run the risk of publishing videos that look unprofessional and unpolished.

With these apps, you’ll be sure to create a video that attracts, converts, and delights your audience. The sooner you download one, the sooner you can sharpen your audio/video creation skills and attract more people to your brand.

Create Better Videos for a Higher ROI

Online video content isn't just watched more — it's expected more. Luckily, you have the video editing tools to help you delight your audience and improve conversion rates across your social media accounts. Grab the guide below to make the video learning curve easier and to jumpstart your video marketing efforts.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

The 20 Best Video Editing Apps for 2022 was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

Best Goal Setting Worksheet to Help You Plan & Achieve

Accomplishing your goals is an incredibly gratifying feeling.

However, it can sometimes be challenging to get that feeling, since achieving goals takes time, effort, and a structured process.

This is why it’s important to create plans of action for meeting the goals that will help you stay motivated and ensure you’re on the right path.

In this post, we’ll go over three goal-setting worksheets created by HubSpot to help you outline your goals with the SMART framework and create a plan for achieving them.

The template is broken down into relevant sections to help you through the process, and if you download it, you can follow along throughout the post.

Download your free marketing goal-setting template here.

Goal-Setting Template

When it comes to setting a goal, there's power in writing it down. Research shows that writing aids in retention and recall — and helps to clarify our goals.

This is essential when planning your next week, month, quarter, or year. By keeping a clear goal in mind, you'll be able to see how far you've progressed and stay on track.

However, even when we know what we want to achieve, it can be hard to know where to start. Enter HubSpot's goal-setting template.

In this template, you'll find a:

• Goal-setting worksheet
• Goal-calculation worksheet
• Goal-evaluation worksheet

Let's walk through each step in the template — setting a SMART goal, calculating numerical targets to hit, and evaluating any roadblocks standing in your way.

Goal-Setting Steps

1. Identify your initial goal.

The first step of the process is to simply identify what your goal is. It doesn’t have to be convoluted, just merely the objective you’re hoping to achieve. For example, if you’re hoping to grow your website, your baseline goal could be "I want to generate more site traffic."

2. Define your SMART goals.

The second step in the process is to use the SMART framework to elaborate your goals to ensure that they’re clear, measurable and that the process will help you get there. Here is what each of the element in the acronym stands for:

• Specific: A specific goal clearly outlines what you’re hoping to improve. If you share your specific goals with your team, it should be clear what your intention is.
• Measurable: Making your goal measurable means attaching numbers to your objective that will help you understand what you have to meet, track your progress, and see how long it will take you to reach your end goal.
• Attainable: Making sure that your goals are attainable means that they are realistic and that you have a chance of achieving them. Your goal is not too out of left field or so unrelated to your current practices that you wouldn’t be able to succeed.
• Relevant: Ensuring that your goal is relevant involves answering the question of "Why are you setting the goal that you’re setting?" Your goal should directly relate to your business’ needs and help your business grow.
• Time-Bound: The final aspect of your goal-setting process is to set a timeline. It helps you understand what your schedule should be and stay on track in terms of achieving your ultimate goal.

Using the goal-setting worksheet, fill out your initial goal and follow the steps to make it SMART.

Goal-Setting Worksheet Example

Let's suppose your goal is to increase your blog's website traffic. Following the steps in our goal-setting worksheet, here's how you can turn this into a SMART goal:

• Specific: I want to increase my blog's traffic.
• Measurable: I want to increase blog traffic by 5%.
• Attainable: I can hire a freelancer to increase my posting frequency by 1-3 posts per week.
• Relevant: Increasing blog traffic will contribute to my objective of boosting brand authority.
• Timebound: I want to reach this goal in six months.

Smart goal: To boost my blog's website traffic by 5% in six months. I will do this by increasing the publishing frequency per week.

Download Template Here

3. Calculate your goal outcomes.

The most challenging part of your plan might be coming up with numerical targets that coincide with achieving your goals. You can just say, "We want to increase blog traffic by 5%," but what would the 5% increase look like in numerical form? Specify the number of views you need to have to reach this goal.

When you have these numbers, you can set milestones for yourself and monitor your progress and make changes along the way if necessary.

Goal-Calculation Worksheet Example

Let's say your average 1,000 blog views per month. Since you want to increase your traffic by 5% in six months, you need to know your monthly traffic target.

Using the goal-calculation worksheet, you input the following information:

Download Template Here

From the calculations, you can see 1,340 is your recommended monthly traffic target.

4. Evaluate your SMART goals.

The template’s final step is to evaluate your goals, which helps you anticipate possible roadblocks and develop action plans for dealing with them. If you have multiple goals, aim to ask these questions for each one that you have:

• What is your SMART marketing goal?
• Do you feel that this goal is realistically attainable in the time frame you’ve set?
• How many hours per week can you dedicate to achieving your goal/your goal process?
• What is the biggest challenge preventing you from achieving this goal? What are possible challenges you may face in achieving this goal? What is the biggest roadblock(s) to achieving this goal?
• What three steps can you take to reduce or remove that challenge and succeed in reaching this goal?

Goal-Evaluation Worksheet Example

Using the goal-evaluation worksheet, you evaluate your SMART goal. You discover two challenges that could hinder your success — hiring freelancers and organizing a new editorial content calendar.

Download Template Here

With this in mind, you can begin to brainstorm ways to minimize or eliminate these obstacles. For example, you could create a new content calendar using tools like Monday.com or Trello.

All in all, following this framework makes your goals explicitly clear for yourself and helps you communicate their importance to all necessary stakeholders, so everyone is on the same page. To get started, download our template for free and start achieving your goals.

Best Goal Setting Worksheet to Help You Plan &amp; Achieve was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns

How to Run a Focus Group for Your Business

When you're developing or launching a new product, service, or business, you'll want to have a general sense of how receptive your target market will be to it.

Typically, this is done through extensive market research — and one key component of the research process is running a focus group.

In this article, we'll define what a focus group is, give you an agenda to follow when conducting on, explain how to run a focus group step-by-step, and help you plan your questions with a focus group questionnaire.

What is a focus group?

A focus group is a small group of people, typically representative of your target market, with whom you share ideas and ask questions about your product, service, or business. The individuals who make up the focus group should be a mix of current customers and people who’ve never made a purchase but might in the future. The ideal outcome is a stronger understanding of how the subject of the focus group would be received by a wider audience, and what changes (if any) should be made before the formal roll-out.

Now you may be asking, is information gathered from focus groups really important? And is it a good strategy to gather information?

Focus Group Strategy

Focus groups can provide your business with priceless information if the participants are a reflection of your target audience.

The data you collect from them is important because it can help you build successful strategies by:

• Collecting more accurate needs assessments from customers.
• Pulling meaning behind facts and numbers obtained from more general surveys.

You can take this information and apply it to how you choose to market your product or service, adjust the features to better suit your customers’ pain points.

Now that we understand the importance of focus groups to your operation, you have to have a focus group agenda to follow before you bring in your own participants.

Focus Group Agenda

To get started with your focus group, you’ll need an agenda to stay on task during the meeting. Here are the main points to follow when making your own.

1. Welcome the focus group participants.

First, you’ll want to welcome the participants in the focus group and introduce yourself and other researchers who may be present. This step is important as it establishes rapport with the group and builds trust.

2. Have the participants introduce themselves.

This does a few things: it continues building rapport among the group members, and it confirms the pronunciation of everyone’s names — you don’t want to spend the next hour or more together saying everyone’s names incorrectly!

3. Establish some ground rules for the group.

Before asking questions, establish some ground rules for the group. Take this moment to clarify any concerns such as:

• If a topic could become controversial, let that be known and set boundaries for how far a discussion can go.
• If you’ll be asking for information that isn’t normally shared in a group setting, assure the cohort that the findings won’t have names or identifying data attached to the responses.
• If your company is reimbursing expenses or providing payment to the focus group participants, let them know how and when they’ll receive their disbursements.

Once these are clarified — as well as any others they may ask during this portion of the session — you can begin asking the questions about your product, service, or business.

4. Ask questions methodically.

Now, here’s the fun part. Although you may have one broad topic to discuss during the focus group, you’ll likely have several subtopics that need to be addressed separately. Structure your questions in such a way that the flow of the conversation makes sense. This could be by theme, chronological order, or the current-future state of your business.

5. Wrap up final thoughts.

Once you’ve reached a stopping point during the conversation, wrap up any lingering questions and ideas within the group. Finally, thank everyone for their time and end the session.

If you need those steps organized in a handy agenda, we’ve got you covered. Download the PDF below and save it for your next focus group.

Now that you have an understanding of how to conduct the session, let’s dive into what it takes to run a successful focus group from the very beginning.

Follow Along With a Free Focus Group Questionnaire Template

HubSpot's Market Research Kit includes everything you need to run an effective round of market research, including a focus group questionnaire and a guide on how to run focus groups. Download the kit now to incorporate the steps in this post into your focus group strategy.

1. Choose your topic of discussion.

Going into a focus group, your discussion should be narrowed down to one or a few topics. Keep in mind that you won't be able to thoroughly address every area you want to discuss in one short focus group session.

Because of this, it's not uncommon for companies to run multiple rounds of focus groups around different topics. For example, if you're launching a new product, you could center one focus group around the product's marketing and brand positioning, and another one around the usability and functionality of the product itself.

2. Choose your questions or discussion prompts.

Once you determine the topic of discussion for your focus group, create a list of questions and discussion prompts that will help you gather the data you need.

Let's return to the product launch example from above. If you're running the product marketing focus groups, you could ask questions like:

• What do you think of the packaging design?
• How much money would you spend on a product like this?
• What other companies do you think of when you see a product like this?

Meanwhile, for a focus group about the product itself, you’ll want to ask about the product's functionality, ease of use, and perceived favorability.

Also, remember to ask open-ended questions — "Do you like the product?" and "What do you think of the product?" may seem similar in nature, but the latter will produce more detailed results.

3. Prepare your focus group questionnaire.

After you've chosen your questions and discussion prompts, organize them on a focus group questionnaire. Be sure to leave enough space on the questionnaire for overall notes, a list of common responses, and one or two noteworthy responses that really stood out.

Download this Template for Free

4. Appoint a notetaker.

Your focus group discussion should be facilitated by at least one person while another person on your team should be a designated notetaker.

Why? The facilitator's job is to facilitate — to guide the discussion and foster new ideas from participants. This task can get easily derailed if the facilitator also needs to pause the discussion to write down big, bold ideas and reactions from participants.

To avoid this possibility of disruption, appoint a notetaker before going into the focus group who can focus solely on jotting down the general consensus from the group, unique and noteworthy individual responses, and the key takeaways for the business.

5. Recruit and schedule participants.

One of the most challenging parts of running a focus group is getting people to actually show up. After you select a time and a place, you'll want to start spreading the word to participants.

Here are a few ways to find them:

Reach out to existing customers.

If you're doing market research for an existing company, reach out to your customers through account managers or an email database. Since current customers will likely be the first to use what you're launching, this will be the perfect opportunity to gauge early reactions for the official launch.

For incentives, you could offer free or discounted services or reward them on a customer advocacy program likeInfluitive.

Advertise on social media.

Looking for middle-aged males or senior citizens in the greater Ann Arbor area? No problem! Social media advertising offers advanced targeting options for you to reach your target market.

You should also think about which sites are most used by the people you want in your focus group. If you're interested in surveying middle-aged working professionals, you'll probably have better luck on LinkedIn than you would on TikTok.

Try location-based promotion.

If you're hyper-targeting a location, supplement your recruiting efforts with advertisements that will only be seen by those in your area. A few examples include:

• Location-based social media campaigns (Location targeting ads)
• Public Transit-Based Ads (Trains, Busses, Taxis, etc.)
• Ads in Local Publications and Newspapers
• Billboard Ads

Be prepared to offer incentives.

People rarely do anything for free. In your advertisements and promotional assets, highlight the incentive you're prepared to offer — which could be cash, a gift card, or a discount on whatever you're selling.

If you're strapped for cash, consider hosting a raffle or giveaway for participants. That way, if you host a focus group of eight people, you could offer a chance at a $100 gift card (rather than a guaranteed $25 per participant) to save you $100.

6. Get consent and start the discussion.

Before you start your focus group discussion, remind participants of the purpose of the group and hand out a consent form. The consent form should reiterate the purpose of the event, outline the participants' rights, identify the compensation, list the facilitators' contact information, and prompt participants to sign.

After everyone signs off, it's time to run the focus group.

7. Have everyone introduce themselves.

To break the ice and get people talking, start the discussion off by introducing yourself and inviting the participants to do the same.

This is another chance for you to learn more about your target market. In addition to having participants say their names, consider asking them to share their industry or interests to get a more personal understanding of how your product, service, or business could play a role in their everyday lives.

8. Ask your questions.

Remember, this is not an interview! Before the focus group begins, you should prepare a list of five to 10 questions.

That being said, it can be easy to tie yourself to your list of questions or discussion points, but sticking too closely to this can hamper natural and effective conversations. If the group takes a slightly different turn than you were expecting, don't be afraid to allow the conversation to veer off-course if it seems productive.

The point of a focus group is not just to confirm information you think is true, but also to uncover what you don't know.

So long as it's not too far off-topic, allow the conversation to happen naturally and use an agenda as a guide rather than a point-by-point checklist of topics to cover.

Additionally, you may not ask every question on your list, depending on the direction of the conversation. Make sure you ask the most important questions first, and follow up on certain discussion points to keep things flowing rather than hosting a pure question-and-answer forum.

9. Seek equal representation from the group.

Your session involves an entire group of people, so you have to make sure you hear from each and every one of them! That may seem obvious, but a focus group can quickly turn into an interview of one or two of the most talkative members.

If you run into this problem, be ready to jump in when someone has been quiet for too long by thanking the most active participants for their input and re-opening the floor to the other participants. Say something along the lines of "Isabella, what's your input here?" or "Raheem, what do you think about what Isabella said?" for the rest to chime in.

10. End the meeting in a reasonable amount of time.

Exhaustion and the law of diminishing returns are real, so keep them in mind when planning the time frame for your focus group.

At the start of the session, in your advertisements, and/or on your consent form, you should specify how long the focus group will last. It's your responsibility to moderate the discussion in a way that ensures the time frame is not exceeded.

Now, if the exercise lasts for an hour and five minutes and you promised an hour focus group, that's acceptable. However, if you promised a 45-minute session and it goes well over an hour, your attendees could be resentful and less likely to offer valuable feedback.

When the discussion is over, thank your attendees for their time and deliver the promised incentive, if applicable. Additionally, remind them of your contact information if they decide they have more feedback or comments they'd like to provide.

11. Analyze and incorporate feedback.

Ideally, your focus group has provided you with plenty of responses, unique angles, and actionable ideas to help your business thrive. After all of your focus groups have taken place, have your team compile and analyze the commonalities of the ideas presented and what changes, if any, are applicable to the product, service, or business in question.

You have a step-by-step guide for conducting a focus group, let’s take a look at a real-world application of one.

Focus Group Example

This recent focus group study follows most of the guidelines we’ve recommended and derived useful information for real-world application.

Post-Election Focus Group

Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service conducted a focus group with first-time voters after the 2020 election. It could have been very easy for this focus group to get off track and into political affiliations; However, you’ll notice in this example that the researcher had a topic in mind — the first-time-voter experience — and didn’t deviate from that topic. She asked probing questions and sought out a variety of perspectives from the group.

Watch this focus group to get a better understanding of how to start these conversations and keep them going to get the insights you need.

The information can now be studied for political research thus helping guide future campaigns for first-time voters.

Run a Successful Focus Group

Taking this methodical approach to running a focus group can produce better and more insightful feedback from your participants. To keep your questions, thoughts, and responses organized, we developed a focus group template, which you can use to run a better focus group. Download it for free now to get the most out of your marketing research.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

How to Run a Focus Group for Your Business was originally posted by Local Sign Company Irvine, Ca. https://goo.gl/4NmUQV https://goo.gl/bQ1zHR http://www.pearltrees.com/anaheimsigns