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Parker Beck on the Future of Social Media and Cannabis Marketing

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How did you get into the social media business?

While in high school, I noticed fellow students blowing up their personal Instagram accounts to over 100k followers using unique growth tactics. I was fascinated by how they were able to grow their pages to such massive followings so quickly. In my freshman year of college, one of my baseball teammates explained how he was making money running largely followed Twitter accounts. Soon after, I purchased my first account called Every Day Baseball. From there, I bought many more Twitter accounts, created some from zero followers and eventually in 2016 got into running Instagram accounts.

Being in the social media business seems like an ideal lifestyle to many people. What advice you would give to those looking to get into the industry?

Like most things in life, if it was easy, everyone would do it. Being in the social media business, especially in the cannabis niche, there is a lot of stress that comes with the job. Social media isn’t a 9-5 job and it doesn’t take a day off. You should be prepared to work on holidays and weekends. You need to post every day and constantly create new content that fits the current trends and what your followers want to see. Being in the cannabis niche on social media, there is the persistent fear in the back of your mind that you will wake up one day and find your accounts have been suspended. At any point, your largest and most profitable account can be taken away from you by Instagram or Twitter for violating their terms of service. My advice is to never get comfortable in the social media business and don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Push yourself to learn new skills and be prepared to adapt to any changes the social platforms put out. Put yourself in a position to be a valuable asset if one day you suddenly do lose your accounts.

When it comes to marketing cannabis companies and their products, what restrictions do you face and how are you able to legally promote them?

Marketing cannabis companies has proven to be a very difficult challenge. Despite many states having both legal recreational and medical marijuana, it is still a federally controlled substance labeled as a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA along with heroin in the same category. Companies are not allowed to pay Facebook to run ads so that is where I come in. I use subtle marketing techniques to promote these companies products on social platforms without violating their terms of service. One example of this: if a company is looking to promote a smoking device such as a water pipe or vape, I will incorporate their product into a picture, trending meme format or use a general meme format to work the brands name into the punchline. When it comes to a company that sells the flower directly, that is when the marketing becomes increasingly difficult because it can quickly violate the terms of service of posting an illegal substance and get your account suspended.

Where do you see social media heading in the next few years? What platforms do you see fading out with others thriving?

From my experience, I think there is going to be a shakeup in the meme pages and formats currently being used. I feel at a certain point, people are going to get tired of seeing the same old format of a picture with a caption above it. A new format will start to emerge and page owners who adapt and adjust will be the ones who continue to thrive. Social media is so fast paced now, something can be trending for a few days and just as quickly become a dead format. Although Facebook is not the preferred social media of millennials, I don’t see the platform going anywhere. Twitter is the biggest platform in danger of losing its relevancy in the coming years. It has remained a popular platform because information is relayed in real time. But as someone who has been on the platform for 9 years and seen the changes they have made, I don’t have confidence in the people running the platform to keep up with the other major companies like Facebook. They will still be a very popular platform because it’s the most convient platform to quickly convey a message to the masses. TikTok will be the biggest platform to continue to blow up. It is still in its early stages when it comes to a social platform but it’s the platform that Vine should have become with options of long and short form videos, as well as tailored feeds to the viewers interests.

What do you see for the future of cannabis marketing on social media?

I anticipate within the next 5 years, states will continue to pass bills for legalization and decriminalization of marijuana both on the state and federal levels. With states and the federal government both struggling with the lasting effects of the coronavirus, the taxation of cannabis will become increasingly appealing. It is very important for those who want to push for legalization to contact their elected officials and do their research on provisions that will be on their ballots in the 2020 election cycle. With legalization, cannabis should be treated like alcohol when it comes to promotion on social platforms. There should be restrictions on how you can market the product and what age groups you are allowed to target. This will also open up the flood gates for influencers to be able to safely promote their favorite cannabis brands without the fear of getting suspended.

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Lifestyle

Powerful Corporate Gifting Strategies to Build and Strengthen Business Partnerships

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If you want to build and strengthen business partnerships with your clients and top investors, there are a few key steps you must take. One essential strategy is corporate gifting. This simple act goes beyond building a partnership. It will also increase your customer retention rate and promote your business even beyond the shore of your country. 

But before you consider gifting any item, there are some strategies to put in place. This will ensure your gift makes a lasting impression and resonates well with your clients. Below are powerful corporate gifting strategies to build and strengthen business partnerships with your clients and top investors. 

Choose a Personalized Item 

Rather than choosing an ordinary gift for your clients and investors, opt for a personalized item. Customised corporate gifts such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, and bags create a stronger emotional connection than generic gifts. They also leave a more lasting impression than most other gift types.

Imagine how investors and your clients will feel when you beautifully inscribe their image or favorite quotes on a T-shirt. Of course, they will feel valued, appreciated, and ready to invest more in your business.

Consider Their Culture and Background 

As an entrepreneur, it’s essential to be culturally competent and sensitive. Your gifts should resonate with your clients’ and investors’ cultural backgrounds. Otherwise, they may be quickly discarded or overlooked. If your investors and audience are predominantly of Black heritage, consider giving them a custom T-shirt featuring a map of Africa or inspirational quotes from iconic Black leaders. 

Their religious beliefs are also important. Specific religions may find some images or symbols inappropriate. For instance, if you’re giving a gift to a Muslim investor, avoid designs that include images like pigs, as they are considered offensive in Islamic culture.

Consider a Functional Gift 

You should also consider the gift’s functionality. A gift that can be used every day will be more valuable than an impractical one. Even if the gift is expensive but doesn’t have any functional purpose, it won’t serve the purpose it was intended for. 

Instead of purely sentimental keepsakes or abstract gifts, consider practical items like pens, notebooks, backpacks, coffee mugs, umbrellas, or water bottles. Just make sure the gift is well-designed and features your brand logo and identity. This not only increases brand visibility but also helps strengthen the connection between you and your investors.

Tie it to a story

Tie your gifts to a story to make them more memorable and emotionally meaningful. For example, if during your business’s early days, your employees always worked tirelessly day and night, you could opt for a custom hourglass. Clients and investors who receive such a gift will appreciate your business’s journey of patience and perseverance.

Offer Quality Gifts

Gifts given to investors or clients who have significantly contributed to your business growth should reflect their value. They shouldn’t be cheap or low-grade items. The gift doesn’t have to be trendy or widely popular, but it should come from a reputable and high-end brand. This will give your gift more credibility. Besides, the recipients will feel comfortable to use the gift among their colleagues.  

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