Required Summer Reading for 2022

I have been an avid reader for some time (here are some of my favorites last year!), and while the end of 2021 was not a big time for books in my life, I have started back up again in full force this year. I dove in deep, mostly with fiction, but with nonfiction thrown in as well, adding in some authors I have been hearing about for years but whose books I never picked up.

We’re in the middle of summer already, but there’s still time left to grab a great book and head outside (or stay inside when it’s too hot!), so to that end, here are the books I think are must-reads for the summer of 2022:

PersonalMaria Grace PhotographyJuly 4, 2022summer reading list

What Does a Google Ads Manager Actually Do?

In a lot of ways, Google’s number one goal is to make people’s lives easier. Sit with that for a minute and think about how true that statement is. How much more difficult would it be to fix things, look up that fact you forgot, find the information for the service you want, eat at a restaurant, or go about your life without being able to quickly and easily look it up on the internet first?

This concept applies to the average user as well as business owners, and when Google rolled out Smart Campaigns, one of its biggest selling points is that literally anyone can set up a Google Ads campaign - even if you know nothing about the platform in the first place! I won’t go into all the details of how to create a Smart Campaign (you can read more about them here), but let’s just say it takes about 5 minutes and a credit card number before your ads are rolling.

Easy, however, does not always mean better - or even good…

How Can I Increase My Instagram Engagement?

If you have an Instagram profile for your business, I can guarantee you’ve asked the question: how can I increase my audience engagement on Instagram? There are articles about this all over the internet (you can read some of mine here!) and services like Social Curator that help answer the question. Business owners whose customers are on Instagram are going to consider it a top priority to maintain high engagement, so this question is valid - and to be honest, the answer is always changing!

You know that social media is an ever-changing entity, with new platforms and terms and methods popping up all the time, not to mention the influence of outside events and society. What I can say confidently is that in 2022, the best way to increase Instagram engagement is:

How to Prepare for Professional Headshots

Let’s face it: almost nobody is a natural in front of a camera, and it’s not generally a normal part of life to have professional pictures taken! Most people can avoid having this done, but business owners usually need professional headshots for a variety of purposes, from LinkedIn to the website, to social media content. While the look and feel have changed over the years, the principle of business headshots stays the same: look confident, professional, and relatable to your ideal client.

If you’re nervous about taking pictures for your business, here are a few of my top tips on how to prepare for your professional headshots:

5 Marketing Ideas that Cost $0

One complaint I often hear about marketing: it’s expensive. On the one hand, I truly believe that great marketing will pay off far more than any monetary investment you make but on the other hand, I completely understand that everything is expensive (especially right now!) and a lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners are constantly looking for ways to cut costs.

The good news is that good marketing does not have to mean big money, and since I regularly work within the constraints of a tight budget, I have learned a lot of free marketing ideas over the years. So if you need a few easy and free ways to marketing your business, here are my top 5:

One 5-Minute Change that Saved Me Hours

A few weeks ago, I was totally overwhelmed. I had just picked up some new clients, increased hours a LOT for Easton Outdoors, and a lot of life was happening in between the working hours, not to mention the intense amount of training I’ve opted for leading up to the Boston Marathon. As I juggled everything I had to do day in and day out, I knew that I either had to make some changes or offload a few things from my plate. I know myself well enough to realize that cutting back would be a pretty drastic measure if it had to happen, so it wasn’t my first choice. But something had to give…

5 Ideas for Social Media Posts when You're Feeling Stuck

When you have to constantly come up with social media posts every day, it’s easy to run out of ideas or feel like your life is too boring to talk about with any kind of excitement. I understand this struggle deeply as I manage not just my own Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, but all the social media content for about a dozen othter businesses. There are days when it’s a struggle to come up with something unique and compelling for any and all of these social media pages.

So, in case you’re running out of options and need ideas to post on social media, here are 5 quick ideas for when you’re feeling stuck…

Three Business Investments to Make This Year

Every year there are dozens of possibilities for business purchases and investments, and the beginning of the year usually brings a lot of those decisions to light - along with the cost of buying the things you’ve been eyeing for awhile! With a lot of opportunities before you it can be easy to get overwhelmed, so I’m here to help. Here are my three recommendations for the best investments to make in your small business as the year begins.

1) Hire a CPA…

What's New with Google in 2022

Every year things change, in the world and marketing, at a faster pace than we can often handle. This has always been true, but we have noticed these huge upheavals more after 2020 and the year the whole world turned on its head. Now it seems we are hyper-aware that there are countless factors beyond our control, and this is particularly the case in the online world.

Last year Google announced some upcoming changes, and took the unusual stance of giving no definite date for the changes, instead gently breaking us into the idea of how the online world would shift in regards to Search Engine Optimization. These announcements generally happen with changes imminent, so having time to prepare was a luxury in this case. Now the changes are here, so it’s important to take stock of where you and your business are as they take effect.

I pulled from Google’s own announcement and this detailed article from Moz to break down the new Google trends in 2022. They include:

How Do I Use Instagram Hashtags?

Before you see the title of this blog and think it’s just another post about what hashtags to find on Instagram, I’ll cut to the chase: this is not about which hashtags to use, but how to effectively use hashtags on Instagram. There’s a big difference, and thinking about it in that way could be just the mindset shift you need to dive in a little deeper.

While I do have a fairly good and consistent Instagram presence (see it here), it’s not necessarily a main focus of my business. My ideal client - a small business owner with a deep value for marketing but no time to do it - is certainly on Instagram, but is most likely using the platform to try and expand their businesses rather than find someone to fill the marketing holes they have. Of course I believe in long-term investment, but my main strategy on this fast-growing platform is interaction and engagement over posting, reels, stories, and live video…

Facebook Ads vs Google Ads: Which Should You Choose?

As you likely know, there are dozens of advertising options in the online world alone. From Facebook tot Instagram, Google to Bing, TikTok to Yelp, and everything in between, it’s hard to decide which ad platform will benefit your business the most. Today I’m breaking down the two most common advertising spaces to help you decide which is the best choice for you: Facebook Ads vs. Google Ads.

How to Improve Your Google Ads

It’s the age old question: how can you optimize Google Ads to get the most amount of qualified traffic while spending the least amount of money possible? Of course every account will have major differences: timing, budget, industry, keywords, etc., but there are a few things every advertiser can do to improve their performance while advertising on Google.

The first recommendation I would make is..

Google AdsMaria Grace PhotographyJanuary 10, 2022google ads, google ads mistakes, google ads tips, google help

Highlights of 2021

Nobody, including me, knew what to expect coming into 2021. The world was still partially shut down with some limited re-openings, vaccines were just starting to roll out, and there was only a small hope of normalcy on the horizon. The news seemed mostly negative (well, I guess it still does), traveling was still a question mark, and all of us realized we were in it for the long haul.

As I sit here in the last month of the year, I can truly say that I had no dreams of doing the things I have been able to over the past 12 months. There have been a lot of highs and lows, but in the spirit of celebrating the joy and peace that we want so desperately out of a holiday season, here are my personal and business highlights over the past year. Enjoy reliving the best moments with me!

Running the California International Marathon

Back in 2019, while listening to The Morning Shakeout podcast, I first heard about the California International Marathon (CIM). It was advertised as a fast, PR-friendly course with lots of competition and perfect weather. I immediately started making plans to go in 2020 as a vacation destination with a marathon thrown in the middle, which is pretty ideal for me. While I don’t have to tell you that it got canceled last year in the midst of all the craziness, I signed up for the 2021 version the day registration opened in April. I would run it three weeks after the Richmond Half Marathon, a race I signed up for in 2020 with vain hopes of running it in the same year. I crossed my fingers that neither one would get canceled again…

Four Apps I Can't Live Without

Let’s admit it: we’re all on our phones all day long. While I could write (and have read!) a dozen things about some potentially negative side effects, I also find my phone to be an incredibly valuable tool for business. I have gotten better about not being on my phone during non-work hours, so I use it to the fullest for my business during the week.

Over the years I have found some incredibly useful apps and tools that could help any small business owner - and a lot of non-business owners as well! Here are four apps I can’t live without…

BusinessMaria Grace PhotographyNovember 22, 2021business owner, small business owner

How to Be More Productive

Awhile ago my sister asked me how I am so productive and efficient during the day. I laughed at that thought, because I often feel like I’m running around with constant interruptions. My days look so different from each other, and working right now is the hardest it has ever been. There are a lot of factors beyond my control that add some disorder and difficulty to my life as far as being productive is concerned.

But then I realized that maybe, just maybe, this is one of my strong suits. As chaotic as I feel inside, I know my business has remained strong and most people probably have not noticed much of a difference. I am still adding new clients while I serve my current clients. I continue to actively learn more about SEO, Google ads, and social media marketing in general. Of course my personal life hasn’t slowed down, and neither has my running. With that in mind, I began to think about how exactly I can accomplish this in the midst of life upheavals. I came up with a few pointers…

Squarespace Website: Todd Norwood + The Wanderlust Tales

I have had the pleasure of working with Todd Norwood and his Island Time films brand now for several years after getting connected through a mutual friend. When he first brought me onto his team he was about to launch Chasing the Sun, a trop rock movie based around the idea of following adventure and chasing your dreams. We had just a few short weeks to market his launch at the annual Trop Rock Festival in Key West, Florida, and through paid advertising, press releases, and social media we were able to get the word out quickly.

Since then, Todd has become a published author and started filming a new movie, Gap Weekend, that he plans to release next year. A wine lover and travel fiend, Todd finally decided to build a website based on all his different projects pulled together in one space, and from there toddnorwood.net was born.

The Top Google Ads Mistake

A lot of small business owners, once they are established, begin to look at running ads to drive traffic to their website or social media pages - and why not? Online advertising can be extremely effective, generates interest from a new audience, and can reinforce a brand to an already-existing customer. In the past few years, platforms like Google and Facebook have made the ad setup process user friendly to even the most inexperienced marketers, so it’s easy to hit ‘Boost Post’ (here’s my warning against that!) or create a Google Ad.

The problem, of course, is that advertising done without knowledge and purpose can be a waste of time and money. I have heard over and over again from business owners who set up an online ad, only to be frustrated by the high costs and lack of return on investment. This is completely understandable. Smart business owners should know their numbers and be able to tell whether or not their marketing dollar are being put to good use or not - which often they are not, because an easy setup does not mean an effective ad will be created.

Squarespace Website: Linda J. White, Author

I’ve had the pleasure of working with three different authors in the last year, and each one brings such a unique set of opportunities to the table! For Linda White, a local author in my hometown area of Hampton Roads, she writes ‘suspense with a twist of faith,’ or books that center on heart-pounding mysteries while incorporating Linda’s Christian beliefs every step of the way.

Linda is an incredibly accomplished author who has won numerous awards and published nine books and counting! Her most recent release, “When Evil Finds Us,” is the third in a series of K-9 Search and Rescue books…

How to Keep Up with all the Changes in Social Media

Of all the issues business owners have with social media, the biggest one is this: when it is constantly changing, how in the world should I keep up? To be honest, the question is not only valid, it’s one that I think about all the time. When I’m managing social media advertising and profiles for 5-10 different businesses at one time, it is imperative that I stay on top of trends and anticipate changes.

In addition, the world of social media is nothing if not constantly in flux. The Facebook of today is worlds apart from the platform of one, five, and ten years ago. Everybody knows that, but only business owners think about how this impacts the bottom line. If the algorithm prefers a certain type of content one day and a different one the next, how can you possibly know what to post?

Ultimately, though, the question comes down to…

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Copyright 2023 Maria Grace, LLC

Maria Grace, LLCOnline Marketing Solutions for Small BusinessesHours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm