Top 7 social media tips to help scale business in 2022

“Social media creates communities and not markets.” Don Schultz, the famous marketing researcher, has noted, emphasizing how these communities foster real connections and become dedicated customers and ambassadors of a brand. In today’s time, if social media marketing is not a part of your vital strategy, your marketing efforts are incomplete.

Take a look at this data-

Yes, that's more than 2 billion people of the world using social media! No wonder, harnessing the potential of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other platforms to get conversions would be a shortcut to success. Here are some simple and effective social media tips that can help grow your business-

1) Effective content calendar

Planning blogs and posts in advance will help you roll out your agenda in a structured manner. Consider using keyword research and SEO tools for better discoverability. Also, keep a check on the social media handles of your competitors.

2) Be Trending, Be relevant

No matter what line of business you are in, aligning your social posts with ‘hot/trending topics’ will reflect the freshness and spontaneity of your brand. It is always a good idea to plan and connect your social media marketing campaigns with the emotional mood of society. Moreover, using trending hashtags correctly will enhance your online traffic.

3) Don’t over-promote

Firstly, research which platform does your target audience use the most? Secondly, create a robust online presence there and dominate the platform! Thirdly, cross-link your other profiles of different platforms. Consequently, select an influencer who can embody your brand authenticity and authoritatively. But be wary of over-promoting in the garb of content marketing. Many businesses fall in this trap and treat social media solely as an advertising platform. Here, you may want to apply a 1:6 rule. For every direct/indirect promotional post, there should be 6 content-based posts.

4) Use Retargeting ads

A greater ROI can be achieved by retargeting ads on social media. Take this scary statistic- 96% of visitors that land on your webpage may not buy. In such a scenario, running your ads & offers on social platforms frequented by those visitors can put you on the fore of your potential customers!

5) Create interactive posts

Posts that drive people to think and ask relevant questions are most likely to get comments. Use infographics, cartoons, quizzes, and videos in posts. For example, if you sell gadgets, your posts can feature videos of famous gadgets of yesteryears to ignite nostalgia. Then ask the question- Which is your gadget: Then & Now? The responses would promote genuine interaction and community building among visitors.

6) Make customer the hero

Although user-generated content has been around for years, it is only recently that brands have started to integrate them in social media marketing. Reason? As per Yotpo Benchmark survey, its conversion rate is gold standard! In a sample size of half a million people, those who see UGC is 166% more likely to convert than those who don’t. So reply them on a regular basis and retweet or refunnel their posts on your page whenever relevant!

7) Let the experts do it

Social media is a dynamic sphere and it can be overwhelming for both established businesses and start-ups. You need to keep evolving your strategy based on user behavior and engagement. In such a scenario, it is best to delegate the responsibility of social media marketing to agencies and experts who can customize it as per your business goals.

Which of these social media tips did you like the most?

5 'Very Indian’ Habits that are spreading Covid-19

Usually, it takes around 18 to 254 days to form a new habit, and around 66 days for a new behaviour to convert into a habit. The period of lockdown in India gave a break to our normal routines, and provided an opportunity to unlearn some things, while forming new habits that would help contain the spread of corona virus. These included habits like washing hands frequently, wearing a mask when going out, maintaining social distance.

But even as people adapt to this change, there are certain ‘Indian’ habits that have not changed, and would not help the curve to flatten anytime soon. Let’s see what these are-

1) Spitting in public: This also includes those who like chewing beetle leaves and painting the town red with ‘pan peek’. No matter where you go, you can see people pulling down their masks and spitting with no consideration whatsoever. In June, Delhi police registered 1272 cases of spitting in public, and started levying a fine of Rs.1000. In one unique case, 3 people beat a police constable when he objected their action of spitting on roadside!

2) Congregating at places of worship: Be it Tabligi Jamaat or people thronging in temples during the holy month of Savan for pooja, or be it attending Sunday mass in church- social distancing goes for a toss in such places. It is more likely that you are closer to Coronavirus than God at a crowded place. 

3) Believing you have better immunity than foreigners: Just because you have eaten aalo tikki chat, chowmein, paani puri and so for from a roadside stall and not fallen sick doesn’t guarantee protection from Corona virus. This virus is highly mutable and there is no medical evidence to prove that Indians have a better immune system than people of other nationalities. 

4) Wearing mask on chin – Indians may have learned to wear masks, but some are yet to learn to put it properly on their face! People are often spotted with masks pulled down to their chin while talking or walking, because apparently it is ‘easier to breath’ that way.Pic:Reddit.com

5) Visiting/meeting friends and relatives during lockdown- When the government ordered a lockdown, the intention was to keep people from moving from one place to another, unless a medical emergency. But many took this as an opportunity to catch up with old friends and visiting relatives. There have been cases reported wherein wedding parties booked two adjacent rooms in a banquet hall to accommodate more baratis and fool the police. Asking only 50 guests too attend your marriage is just so unIndian! Phew….

 Pic: Pinterest

Digital Healthcare : The new ‘Safety Valve’ of India

Even as the world is reeling under the healthcare challenges posed by Covid -19, digital healthcare has emerged as a beacon of hope in this unprecedented situation. Although the technology was there for past two decades, it is more relevant now than ever. In a developing country like India where there is 1 doctor per 1500 people, telemedicine is reducing the burden on medical staff, ensuring that only the critically ill patients visit the hospital or clinic.            Pic:Wikicommons

Today a plethora of healthcare apps are available like Aarogya Setu, Practo, Docprime, Medlife etc. that can help you monitor health, get online consultation in the comfort of your home or get medicines delivered at your doorstep. And what’s endearing is that Indians, who are traditionally used to getting consultation in a clinic and in-person, are adapting quickly to these new-age norms.

Infact, data supports this transition. India ranks second in the world, next only to China, with maximum number of internet subscribers (560 million), surpassing even USA! According to a Pricewaterhouse Cooper 2014 report, 80% of Indians would have access to the internet by 2034, and much of it will be rural Internet users, which are growing annually at 58%. Besides, the political will exhibited by the government with projects like National Digital Health Mission would further boost telemedicine growth in India, which is expected to hit $5.4billion in next five years.

Amidst these positive indicators, telemedicine can become the aorta of India’s heart, a safety valve that can unburden the current strained medical ecosystem, and extend urban medical facilities to rural areas. It can save poor man’s money and time on travel to cities, lest he gets timely diagnosis and right prescription at the beginning of a disease by a certified medical practitioner. In case of pandemics, telehealth apps and network can work in collaboration with government to disseminate authentic information and real time trends. Furthermore, their role will evolve from online consultations to patient care, education, and eventually incorporate research and public health administration too.Pic:GlobalGiving.org

However, this great responsibility is not without challenges. Ensuring patient data security, compliance with digital health standards set by NABH & MoHFW, and doing due diligence before listing doctors on the apps/online portals are imperative measures. Thankfully the telemedicine industry is already geared up to ride the wave with panache! What do you think?

The Uncanny Resemblance Of Darwin's Theory Of Evolution With Vishnu's 10 Avatars Will Raise Your Eyebrows!

Looks like Indian mythology is more than just a myth. It is rooted in logic and science. The other day while I was reading up more on the intriguing avatars of Lord Vishnu, the biology lover inside me yelped in excitement. To me, they resembled more like Darwin’s Theory Of Evolution, only given 1000 of years before.

Darwin's Theory of Evolution states that human beings have descended from a common ancestor. This means complex living beings have evolved from simplistic creatures like fish, amphibians, reptiles etc. naturally over time. Owing to genetic mutations, the beneficial mutations are preserved because they aid survival. This is called 'natural selection.'
 
In a nutshell, Darwin's theory says that life first emerged in water. Gradually, amphibians arrived who could survive both on land as well as in water. This, the process continued to become more complex with the evolution of mammals. Slowly, one species of apes evolved to stand on two feet rather than walking on four limbs. The earliest of humans were short in height, and gradually became taller with time.
 
Now let us compare this with different avatars of Lord Vishnu.
 
First avatar: Matsya or Fish
Lord Vishnu's first avatar on Earth was in the form of a fish during the Satyug. According to Darwin, life first originated in water and then moved to land.

Second avatar: Kurma or Turtle

This incarnation of Vishnu can be compared with the organisms advancing to amphibians. A turtle can survive both on land and in water.

Third avatar: Varaha or Boar
Boar is a mammal that lives on land and walks on all four limbs. In this avatar, Lord Vishnu slayed the demon Hiranyaksha.

This avatar suggests that advanced life is terrestrial and quadruped.

Fourth avatar: Narasimha
Now, this avatar of Vishnu is half animal and half human, suggesting the natural course of evolution that would give rise to human race.

Fifth avatar: Vamana or Dwarf
This was the first incarnation of Lord Vishnu as a human being. This happened in the Treta yuga. Vamana was small built, with short limbs and body.

Sixth avatar: Parshuram
This avatar of Lord Vishnu is a full grown man, but he is ferocious in nature, lives in wild, and leads a secluded life. He can be compared to an early man. This signifies that although man has evolved now, his qualities are not refined yet. 

Seventh avatar: Lord Rama
In this avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates as human with refined manners and emotions. Lord Rama is a family man, has wife and kids. As the king of Ayodhaya, he is 'maryada purushotam' and straight-forward in giving judgment.

Eighth avatar: Lord Krishna
This avatar of Lord Vishnu came in Dwapar yug. Now, Lord Krishna is shrewd and clever minded. He does not hesitate in playing tricks on people or double-crossing them when it comes to making war strategies. He is diplomatic rather than an idealist. This shows mental evolution of human beings.

Ninth avatar: Buddha
Some religious texts consider Buddha as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu. He propagates peace in a world where violence is slowly taking roots. Totally relevant to what is happening in present times!

Tenth avatar: Kalki
Kalki is touted to be the last avatar of Vishnu, who would appear to restore order and dharma in the world. Interestingly, some features of this avatar are stated in Bhagwad Geeta. Let’s see what he would look like:

He will be short in height, with a pot belly, curly hair and piercing sharp eyes. His face and lips will at times be of the color copper, black, yellow and rose. His feet will look like that of a young woman.

To read this article in detail and know how the FUTURE MAN WILL LOOK LIKE, click here.

TOP 5 Female Centric Movies that always liberate me!

“Empty and dark shall I raise my lantern.

And the guardian of the night shall fill it with oil

And he shall light it also.”

-   Kahlil Gibran

Just replace ‘he’ with ‘she’ and you’ve got my mantra of life. When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, I just turn on these movies. Then somewhere along the path of escapism into celluloid, I discover the light that leads me to the end of the tunnel.

Here's my pick of top 5 

5. CHITRALEKHA

It’s a movie adaptation of the book that I sneaked out of my mother’s library. It was one of those books that I wasn’t allowed to read as a kid because of my ‘impressionable’ mind.

It was the love-story of Chandra Gupta Murya, the great Indian king of Maurya Empire and his courtesan Chitralekha. That’s what it was.

For me however, it was the story of Chitralekha- a girl who had a mind of her own in 340 BCE, India - a girl who never followed anything out of devotion, a girl who raised questions, followed logic, a dancer who dared to challenge Pundits & their isms.

For me, the most inspiring part is where a great hermit has a face- off with Chitralekha. He comes to her, insults her mannerisms, preaching her morality; she presents an elegant dance dissing his ways with a beautiful smile. 

She demands to know-

“What is a sin?

What is virtue?

Stamp of religion on traditions.

But, don’t religions change in every century?

How can you make them your ideals?”

These questions that she raised, added a prism to my vision and suddenly things weren’t about white light & darkness but an arch of rainbow colors!

This vision threshes the situation makes it naked. It sifts it free from husks of social norms, suddenly the problematic knot untangles.

4. Belle De Jour

Long before 50 Fifty Shades of Grey, there was Belle De Jour, Catherine Deneuve. I will be honest with you. I watched the movie because I HEART those Roger Vivier courts that she wears. I am a 90s child, growing up with Victoria Beckham’s knee-aching heels, idolizing Sarah Jessica Parker’s impractical stilettos, I was shocked at her choice to wear mid-heels to essay a super sensuous character. This knowledge that I don’t have to twist my ankles to be sexy appealed to me. The movie took this liberation one notch up.

It just puts female sexuality on front line. A perfect woman, with a perfect husband, embraces prostitution to fulfill her sexual desires.

The essence is not the ‘no..no..yes..Yes..God Yes. YEEEEES’, but it penetrates further. We live in a society where people wear two masks, pretend to be someone else to please others. How amazing it would be to see ourselves for who we are, how liberating it would be to come out of our repression & shed our hypocrisy?!

3. Shrek (Part 1)

If you ever meet me, you will remember me for the rest of your life- because I am a ‘Clutz’illa. I break & bang things in a super human way! Thankfully I’ve always gotten away with it because people think it’s kinda cute. But a big fear in my life was that one day I’ll stop being pretty and then people would stop being accommodating of my clumsy ways. The day beauty will go, loneliness will creep in. Princess Fiona without her magic wand liberated me of this anxiety. I don’t have to be pretty to be loved, I don’t have to be anything, I just have to be me to have my Happily Ever After.

2. Wadja

Wadja as a movie can be an incident that may create history.

It is about a girl craving for freedom. All 10-year-old Wadjda wants is a cycle; something that she won’t be able to ride when she grows into a woman.

The movie is set in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where women are forbidden to walk un-chaperoned or uncovered in the streets. So, the film’s director, Haifaa Al-Mansour, had to instruct her cast and crew on walkie-talkie, from inside a van! It is the first movie ever to be shot by a Saudi woman. This movie always reinforces my belief that things may not be right now, but someday they will be. But, we woman, need to act on that wish like Haifaa (the director of Wadja) did.

And, the no.1 movie that resonates with liberation is:

1   

                  Kill Bill

It’s Rambo, Rocky, Die-Heart all in one for me. What better way to lift spirits than to kick some ass. When everything else fails, there’s a solace in the fact that I am woman, I am entitled to have world at the tip of my sword, I just need to gather myself up & claim it.

Ignorance

She adjusted her crisp white shirt, careful to hide yesterday's love bite. It had now developed a deep purple colour. With a sweep of a hand, she gently pushed her curly tresses on one side of the neck. He was sitting across the table, smiling, watching her curls bang against her soft peach cheeks. She examined his warm expressions, wondering what to say or how to say. Afterall, she was meeting her fiance for the first time today, in six months.

For the love of Rumi

Poems that made me surrender my Soul to Rumi

I’ve been fascinated with the Sufi saint Rumi long before he became a vogue in the West or even before film director Imtiaz Ali used his couplet as the essence of his hit movie ‘Rockstar’. 

My love for Rumi's work runs more visceral- (We also share our birthday you see!*beaming*)

Perhaps, that was one reasons why I first Googled up his work long ago, and little did I know that it would change my outlook towards life and love forever. I bow to the grandeur of his poems. This grandeur comes from his full prostration to Shams. He wants us to do the same- to surrender to love. I surrender to him. 

Here’s top 5 reasons (read Poems) why:

Rumi wrote seamlessly- his poems had no titles. So, the titles I use here come from the feelings they evoke in me.

5. Nomadic Impulses

What’s truly alive is always changing. Rumi’s wanderings are beyond fields, the moon, the sky, even sex and orgasms, they are more aware and yet, they are more free-

You’ve so distracted me,

Your absence fans my love.

Don’t ask how.

Then you come near.

                                                               “Do not…” I say, and   

“Do not…”,you answer.

Don’t ask why

This delights me.

4. Making Meera out of Me

Poetry, especially a good one, is a very tricky thing. For it gives us an illusion of experiencing emotions without having to live them. The way Rumi writes, it forces us to shudder with love in the way my Meera or his Zuliekha did-

Zuleikha let everything be the name of Joseph,

from celery seeds to aloes wood. She loved him

So much she concealed his name in many phrases,

the inner meanings known only to her…..

Any complaint, it’s his being away.

When she’s hungry, it’s for him.

Thirsty, his name is a sherbet.

Cold, he’s fur. This is what

The Friend can do when one is in such love.

When one is united to the core of another,

To speak of that is to breathe the name Hu,

Empty of self & filled with love.

3. Refuge in Silence

Close the mouth, open the eyes. The light of the divine won’t use the door, only the window. To understand Rumi’s scriptures with his advocacy of the non-verbal, it is essential to taste silence. With that taste, comes a revelation that the divine presence and refuge in love, comes in a language more experiential-

There is some kiss we want

With our whole lives, the touch

of spirit on the body. Seawater

begs the pearl to break its shell.

At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come and press its

Face against mine.

Breathe into me. Close

The language door and open the love window.

The moon won’t use the door,

only the window.

2. Miracle

It’s rare, but when heart dissolves in love, a new love builds and there are miracles all around-

The way of love is not

a subtle argument.

The door there

is devastation.

Birds make great sky-circles

of their freedom.

How do they learn that?

They fall, and falling,

they’re given wings.

      But the no.1 poem that made me surrender to Rumi is

Sublime saloon
Have you ever been absent and present at the same time? Felt sobriety that contains all drunkenness Think about it, every revision of this vision will open a new chapter for you. I can say this with confidence because it happened to me-

You bind me, and I tear away in a rage

To open out into air, a round

Brightness, a candlepoint,

All reason, all love.

This confusing joy, your doing,

This hangover, your tender thorn.

You turn to look, I turn.

I’m not saying this right.

I am a jailed crazy who ties up spirit-woman.

What goes comes baack. Come back.

We never left each other.

A disbeliever hides disbelief,

But I will say his secret.

More and more awake, getting up at night,

Spinning and falling in love with Shams.