07 Feb 2021
Branding, Marketing, Philanthropy Press Releases, Press Center Permalink

Hope – what is your hope?

February 7, 2021

What gives you hope?

Is it the sea? the sky? seeing the face of your kids? your fur babies? a new deal?

In today’s world – I think that is what we all need right now. A little hope. Hope that the world can be kinder. The hope that life could be easier. The hope that business and the economy will be stable.

Whatever your hope is – it would just be nice that your hope does not squash someone else’s hope.

As we move forward, I hope that the next generation will be better off than us – kinder, gentler, more peaceful.

The world, and all those who inhabit it, are beautiful but only if we choose to see it that way.

 

18 Dec 2020
Press Center Permalink

Pivot!

December 18, 2020

If you are a fan of FRIENDS, you may remember the above episode and hopefully are hearing Ross scream “PIV-OT!” in your head right now.  But I’m not here to talk about Friends, or at least not the television show.  Recently, La Magra staff attended the 7th annual Women Entrepreneurs Rock event hosted by Monmouth Ocean Small Business Development Center (MOSBDC).  This is an event we look forward to every year and are so happy that the show did go on – virtually.

An underlying theme throughout the event was the need to constantly Pivot in business, especially in this time of COVID-19 where things are changing on a daily basis. Keynote Speaker Lauren Concar Sheehy, Executive Director of the Garden State Film Festival (GSFF) said that the key to success is to Prepare, Pivot, Provide.  If you can adapt you can survive despite the obstacle.  That’s why the GSFF was virtual this year and was able to reach a worldwide audience.  Her fellow Keynote Speaker Ilsy J. Hoo, Miss New Jersey for America and CEO & Founder of Accomplished Women LLC and iHoo Media, mentioned the need to Pivot away from your desk.  The benefit of this is for your wellness/well-being and to give your brain a break which in turn will foster new ideas and fresh perspective.  Panelist Denise Kelleher spoke about numerous pivotal events in her success.  Initially, she went from corporate America to a small business in her kitchen when she pivoted from grief to baking.  She also had to pivot slightly when a similar store opened just a few doors down from her own, Cups & Cakes Bakery in Rumson, NJ.

Lisa Ascolese, Lisa Kanda, and Cynthia Sepulveda rounded out the remaining panelists and stressed the importance of pivoting in marketing strategy, product development, and audience retention.  “The Inventress,” Lisa Ascolese, of Inventing A-to-Z shared that if people don’t fall in love with your product, you need to pivot and go in a different direction be it with a redesign or remarketing.  Lisa Kanda, President of Elkay Associates, LLC, encouraged the WER audience to shift and pivot beyond anything you have experienced to succeed in business and to find your customers.  Cynthia, Owner and Founder of Flaco Coquito advised the WER zoomers to not give up and to pivot and do something else if you need to in order to succeed.  Even Jackie Mejias-Fuertes, Executive Director of MOSBDC told the crowd that the planning committee had to pivot in planning this year’s event.

So, the takeaway we gained from this year’s unique WER event was to Pivot, Pivot, Pivot if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur or small business.  Thank you MOSBDC!

 

16 Oct 2020
Philanthropy Press Releases, Press Center, Small Business, Vendor Facilitation Permalink

Gloria Davila-Booker of Eternity Funeral Home – Women Entrepreneurs Rock Event

October 16, 2020

We will not be attending Women Entrepreneurs Rock this year and are going to miss it.  In the spirit of the WER, we decided to share our thoughts on one of the panelists from WER5 – Gloria Davila Booker.  Enjoy the read and hopefully, we will see you at next year’s event.

Death.  Nobody likes to think about it and nobody wants to talk about it, but Women Entrepreneurs Rock 5 panelist, Gloria Davila Booker, wants to change that.  One way she does that is by simply being herself.  When you picture a funeral director, you may think of a quiet man dressed in black standing in the back of a room or opening the door at a wake.  Gloria defies that image not only with her gender but with her vivacious and caring demeanor.  After working at every station in New York City, Gloria decided to join her husband in opening a funeral home in their community.  It turned out to be the first minority-owned funeral home in Bergen County and she has continued moving forward since.  She is working to change the perception of death by offering deathcare seminars, meetings at Churches, and educating her community so that people can talk about funeral arrangements and plans before they come face to face with the funeral director.  By working smarter not harder, hiring women, and always giving back, Gloria is working to create a more positive image of the funeral director, of death, and of women.

01 Sep 2020
business consultation, Marketing, Press Center, Small Business Permalink

It Still Takes a Village…

September 1, 2020

 

In this time of COVID (and the other craziness of 2020), we have quarantined ourselves from one another for health and safety reasons.  And in this time, we have come to see that it truly does take a village to raise a child, even if that village is connected virtually.  Our children will not be successful without their village working together for their benefit.  Their village, which consists of parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, teachers, administrators, guardians, tutors, pods – even the local sports facility — need to come together, socially distanced or online, to help our children begin a school year like no other.

As a local business owner during this unprecedented incident in our country’s history, I am proud to be part of a community that is coming together for the sake of our children, our future. Kudos to Danny Pepe, owner of GoodSports for reaching out a helping hand to our working parents and schools while also being an innovative business owner to establish a program that helps the kids and keeps his business afloat! We all have to evolve to be able to survive in this “new normal”.

GoodSports, located right here in Wall Township, is offering a Supervised Learning Camp for virtual learning, support, and organized play.  They will provide quiet learning rooms and times for students to complete their assignments along with 10 acres of outdoor activities, arts & crafts, and indoor play areas.  Both learning and playing will be supervised by staff experienced with working with children and in a clean and safe environment.  Temperatures will be checked daily upon arrival and there will be no sharing of devices to decrease exposure to germs.  In addition, routine daily cleaning, regular disinfecting, and sanitizing of the facility make this a great childcare alternative for parents.

For more information about schedules and offerings or to register, go to: www.goodsportsusa.com.

26 Jun 2020
Philanthropy Press Releases, Press Center, Small Business, Social Media Programs Permalink

Be the Change You Wish to See in the World

June 26, 2020

A few years back I wrote a blog about the only constant in life being change. You can read it here. And, guess what, it’s still true! If you look back on the last 3-4 years and made a list of all the things that have changed in your life – personal and/or business – you, like me, could fill an entire spreadsheet (and anyone who knows me knows that I love my spreadsheets).

Something as simple as getting a year older is still a change from just last year. You may have new friends or partnerships, friends who have married or divorced, departments have combined or diversified, been laid off or changed your career path – you get my drift. When making that list, try to focus on the positive changes from within.

While Mahatma Gandhi was quoted as saying, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” that is not the actual quote. What he said was “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”

Let’s look to the future with positive thoughts and peaceful energy.

There’s a lot of possibility for change right now and for peace in times of unrest. According to the Dalai Lama, “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.”

What we put out into the world comes back to us. Put out positive vibes, supportive posts, great customer service, and positive will come back to you. And, this is not just in regards to business. We can all make changes – big, little, positive, negative, local, or global – each and every day.

And so…Be the Change You Wish to See in the World

Sources:
https://josephranseth.com/gandhi-didnt-say-be-the-change-you-want-to-see-in-the-world/
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/10/23/be-change/
https://www.goalcast.com/2017/03/20/top-20-inspiring-mahatma-gandhi-quotes/
Photo credit: © RE99 Designs
16 Mar 2020
Branding, business consultation, Creative Deliverables, Marketing, Project Management, Retargeting Campaigns, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, SEM, SEO, Small Business, Social Media Programs, Vendor Facilitation, Website Development Permalink

A Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Message from La Magra Consulting, LLC

March 16, 2020

In light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), and recent directives and developments nationwide, we will be managing our clients and their projects primarily in a remote way.

Please know that the safety of our clients, vendors, and staff is paramount to us and we are happy to be of service to you during this trying time.  We remain dedicated to you every day with the same commitment to our core values you have come to know.

As a full-service agency, La Magra Consulting, LLC will be working with our clients in a number of ways including but not limited to, regular conference calls, video calls and email/text correspondence along with any other collaborative resources needed to fulfill our client’s requests during this unprecedented time.  However, as New Jersey has issued a State of Emergency, our staff will not be traveling or visiting clients.   

In order to manage your business, we have access to all our personnel and services remotely including project management, graphic design, web development, copyrighting, etc.  We have remote access to all our servers. We do not foresee our internet vendors, such as Google.com, GoDaddy, Network Solutions, Skype, etc. discontinuing their online services.  However, if they do, we are bound to their processes and terms/conditions for operation. We will notify you if we receive any such directives. 

If, due to this unfortunate situation with Covid19 and the impact it may have on your business, we can assist you in setting up items such as email blasts, online video meetings, and webinars or any other services you would like. Please feel free to reach out if there is anything we can help you with.  As long as we stay positive and united, we will weather this storm together. Take care of yourselves and your families. 

Feel free to reach out to Sheila by cell phone at 908.510.9252. Please leave a message or a text. 

We encourage all our clients and family to take these everyday preventive actions:

  • Avoid contact with those who are sick
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Stay home when you are sick
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using cleaning sprays or wipes
  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Frequently wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

For more information:  

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml   

Please stay safe and be well.

 

20 Dec 2019
Philanthropy Press Releases, Press Center, Small Business Permalink

Happy Holidays!

December 20, 2019

When‎ I‎ think‎ about‎ the‎ holiday‎ season‎ at‎ the‎ Jersey‎ Shore,‎ I‎ think‎ about‎ LIGHTS,‎ not‎ just‎ holiday‎ lights‎ but‎ of‎ the‎ symbolism‎ that‎ light‎ holds‎ in‎ the‎ holidays‎ celebrated‎ this‎ month.

At‎ this‎ time‎ of‎ year,‎ we‎ wish‎ for‎ all‎ of‎ our‎ family, friends‎ and‎ clients‎ to‎ be‎ touched‎ by‎ light‎ no‎ matter‎ what‎ holiday‎ you‎ celebrate. ‎ May‎ you‎ have‎ hope,‎ health,‎ goodness and‎ wisdom‎ now‎ and‎ throughout‎ the‎ coming year.

Merry‎ Christmas,‎ Happy‎ Holidays‎ and‎ Happy‎ New‎ Year!

05 Dec 2019
business consultation, Marketing, Marketing Analysis, Marketing Planning, Press Center, Project Management, Retargeting Campaigns, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Small Business Permalink

What is CRO and Why is it Important?

December 5, 2019

I’m sure you’ve heard of SEO and PPC and probably have these acronyms in your marketing plan.  But what about CRO?

CRO is Conversion Rate Optimization.

What, you’re already optimizing with that SEO stuff and don’t need anymore?  Think again!

CRO is just as important as SEO. As much as PPC ads lead traffic to your website, that traffic doesn’t always result in an increase in new business leads or increased revenue. The same can be said for all those keywords you’ve been using in your SEO strategy.  The keywords are getting people to visit your site but are those website visitors taking the actions you want them to once they are there?

That’s where Conversion Rate Optimization, or CRO, comes in. CRO results in increasing the percentage of traffic that converts to the action you want the user to take.  Even if you don’t have e-commerce, you just have a different conversion. Your conversion could be downloads, inquiries, new leads or new clients. CRO is a way to get your website visitors to take the action that you want them to take on your website.

La Magra Consulting can help you increase your CRO.

As you can see in the chart below, first we look at your analytics and reports to see what visitors are doing on your website now. 

Then, we give you recommendations for the modifications to make in your ads, on your landing pages or in your marketing plan to increase your CRO.  If you don’t have analytics or reports, we can help you install them and interpret them for you.

Next, we work with you to plan when, where and how to institute those changes. This is done with simple A/B Testing or Multivariate Testing depending on your desired results, budget and conversion goals.  You can then take that plan to your marketing department or we can execute all the creative and code for you. After implementation, it is always important to re-analyze the new results to determine success. 

If you are running a PPC ad campaign, Google is charging you for the clicks. We want to help you refine those ads to increase your conversions.  For example, a manufacturing firm we worked with had a Parts & Service department.  This department was worth 40% of their overall revenue, yet none of their keywords led to the Parts & Service page. We recommended a campaign specifically for Parts & Service to be where site visitors landed. 

Another client of ours began offering a “Free Shipping” on purchases of $30 or more.  Once we looked at their reports, we advised them that their average customer was spending $45. As a result, they experimented with a “Free Shipping” promotion for purchases of over $50 for a month to find out if it led to increased revenue.  It did.

CRO is data-based marketing whereby the goal is to maximize each users experience and turn visitors into customers, ultimately increasing your ROI.

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and found out what La Magra Consulting can do for your CRO.

 

12 Nov 2019
Press Center Permalink

November is a Month for Gratitude

November 12, 2019

November is a month for gratitude – it’s National Inspirational Role Model Month. We thank all sorts of role models at this time of year. We thank veterans for their service on Veteran’s Day, and we come together with our families and friends on Thanksgiving to share and celebrate our good health and fortune.  We may be having dinner with extended family and want to show our gratitude before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. 

Who is your role model? Sometimes it is hard to identify just one.  But my favorite was my grandfather. 

His name was John Brown.  He was an immigrant, not sure if he was legal or not at first, but he came here on a ship and did not see his family back in Ireland until he was in his mid 80’s again.  I can’t imagine that. I had a hard time adjusting to moving four miles away from my previous home. It took so much courage to do what he (and all my ancestors) did.  He worked so hard, he bought a house down the shore and that is where all of his grandchildren spent most of our summers.  

I learned to swim in the ocean, thanks to my grandfather.  The beach is now my happy place. I learned what it feels like to have someone happy to see you, just because you showed up.  It did not matter how much money you made, or how tall you were or how fat or skinny you were, my grandfather was just happy you showed up. And if you happened to cook him something or take him to Kelly’s Tavern in Neptune, that was even better.  

I hope I am like that when I get older. He had a wicked sense of humor, still liked his lady friends, still liked his shot and a beer, but he just loved it when you showed up. No expectations, no judgments.  Just Pop. He was awesome. I miss him. If you have an inspirational role model in your life, be sure to let them know and say “thank you” if you can.

We want to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our role models – our clients, peers, and our families for being a part of La Magra Consulting’s journey.  Thank you for your support!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy National Inspirational Role Model Month!