Did You Know?

If you're a blogger seeking to boost your online presence and grow your audience, there are some fantastic resources available on YouTube that you may want to explore. These resources will keep you informed about the latest industry trends and help you take your content to the next level. As part of our ongoing "Did You Know?" series, we've compiled a list of the top YouTube features that can assist you in achieving your blogging objectives. 1. Custom Thumbnails If you want to increase your YouTube views, try incorporating graphics to grab people's attention. Create custom thumbnails that highlight your creativity and make your content stand out. Be mindful of the design of your thumbnails to pique people's interest and encourage them to click on your video. A captivating thumbnail can make all the difference in your success on the platform. 2. End Screens and Annotations Looking for ways to promote your other videos and increase subscribers to your channel? End screens and annotations can be great tools. They offer a way to showcase your other videos and provide an opportunity to direct viewers to your website or social media accounts. With end screens, you can add clickable icons that lead to other videos or playlists on your channel, while annotations allow you to add text overlays and links to external sites. By utilizing these features effectively, you can expand your audience and increase engagement with your content. 3. YouTube Live Live streaming on YouTube is an excellent tool that allows you to interact with your audience in real time, similar to how Instagram and Facebook do. With live streaming, you can host Q&A sessions, showcase new products, or just chat with your followers. Live streaming is an excellent way to connect with your audience and offer an authentic and immersive experience. It's a thrilling thought that you can use it to generate engagement and build a loyal following. Incorporating live streaming into your marketing strategy is a valuable addition that can help you achieve your goals. 4. Video Editing Tools I recently discovered that YouTube's video editor is incredibly convenient and user-friendly! It's amazing how easy it is to trim videos, adjust brightness and contrast, add music and special effects, and apply filters. The editor boasts an intuitive interface, making it a fantastic tool for creating engaging and high-quality video content. I promise if you try it out you will not regret it! 5. Analytics Many platforms offer analytics, but not everyone takes advantage of this powerful tool. By using analytics, content creators can gain valuable insights into their channel's performance, including views, engagement, and demographics. Armed with this knowledge, creators can make data-driven decisions about when to upload content, what topics to cover, and what type of content resonates best with their audience. By tailoring content to their audience's interests, creators can improve engagement and grow their channel. By utilizing these features, you can take your YouTube channel to the next level and grow your audience as a blogger. Not sure where to start? We can help!...

As a blogger or business owner, you likely know about the potential of Pinterest to drive traffic to your website. However, navigating the platform can be challenging. There are some useful features on Pinterest that are often overlooked. This post will delve into some of the most underrated features that bloggers should take advantage of to maximize their Pinterest presence. 1. Rich Pins Rich Pins are a type of Pin that includes extra information right on the Pin itself. There are four types of Rich Pins: product, recipe, article, and app. For bloggers, the most important type of Rich Pin is the article Rich Pin. When you enable article Rich Pins, your Pins will include the headline, author, and description of your article, making them more attractive and informative to potential readers. 2. Pinterest Analytics Pinterest Analytics is a fantastic tool for anyone looking to maximize their Pinterest presence. It provides valuable insights into how your Pins are performing, enabling you to understand what is working and what isn't. By analyzing metrics such as engagement rates, impressions, and clicks, you can see which Pins resonate with your audience and which are falling flat. Additionally, Pinterest Analytics allows you to compare your performance to that of your competitors so you can identify areas where you may be falling behind or opportunities to differentiate yourself. Armed with this information, you can refine your Pinterest strategy and create content tailored to your audience's preferences and interests. We include these metrics in all of our monthly and quarterly reports for this very reason. 3. Pinterest SEO If you want to get more traffic to your website through Pinterest, it's crucial to understand how the platform's search algorithm works. Just like with Google, you can improve your visibility by optimizing your Pins and profile for search. This involves using relevant keywords in your Pin descriptions and board titles, and making sure your profile is fully optimized. By doing so, you can increase your chances of attracting more visitors to your site. Not sure where to start with this? We can help! Pinterest is a powerful tool for bloggers. We've known this for years, but some features are often overlooked or underrated. By taking advantage of Rich Pins, Pinterest Analytics, and Pinterest SEO, you can maximize your reach on the platform and drive more traffic to your website. If this all seems like too much, we can help! Contact us today to see how we can handle your Pinterest....

As bloggers, we all know how important it is to have a platform showcasing our work in the best possible light. And when it comes to blogging platforms, WordPress is definitely one of the most popular out there – and for good reason! It's super user-friendly, versatile, and packed with features that can really help take your blog to the next level. So, if you're looking to up your blogging game, read on – because we're about to dive into some of WordPress's most underrated and overlooked features. 1. The Distraction-Free Writing Mode When you're writing a blog post, the last thing you want is distractions. WordPress offers a Distraction-Free Writing mode that eliminates all the clutter from your screen, allowing you to focus solely on your content. This feature makes it easier to stay in the flow and write without distractions, significantly improving your productivity. This is by far one of my favorite features not only as bloggers but many of our clients are parents and work from home as well. This is an invaluable tool, for sure! To enable this, just go to the top right of the toolbar on your post, and the option should pop up. 2. Custom Post Types One of the most powerful features of WordPress is the ability to create custom post types. Are you looking to create content that goes beyond the typical blog post? With custom post types, you can do just that! Custom post types can help you organize your website for easy navigation. You can showcase your work, share testimonials, or promote events with them. Taking advantage of this feature can help you create a more personalized and engaging experience for your audience. This will keep them coming back for more. 3. Scheduled Posts Posting on your blog in real-time can be tough. This is especially true if you have other things on your plate or need to stick to a specific schedule. We know exactly how valuable it is to be able to work ahead or fit your work in wherever you can. However, WordPress can let you schedule your blog posts to go live at a certain time and date. This feature is especially useful if you want to keep a consistent posting schedule or have a post that needs to go live at a certain moment. In my personal experience, this is one of the best features offered. As a busy mom and business owner, juggling several moving parts is something I'm very familiar with. This feature lets you stay on top of your blog content and ensure your readers get your latest posts at the best possible times. 4. Integrated SEO Tools If you want more people to read your blog, you need to make sure it's easy to find on search engines. Lucky for you, WordPress has some built-in tools to help you with this. You can use these tools to determine which keywords to use and create descriptions that will appear in search results. You can also try out different plugins to see what works best for your blog. Using these features can increase the visibility of your blog and attract more interested readers. Even with this feature, we know SEO can be complicated, frustrating, and confusing. That's what we are here for! As you can see, WordPress is a fantastic platform for bloggers. These underrated features are just a few that can help you take your blog to the next level. If you are feeling lost or overwhelmed, we are here to help!...

Any and every blogger already knows about promoting their business on Facebook. Here at 40A. we like to refer to it as the little platform that could. But we have some insider tips that could be a game-changer for bloggers. Facebook has hidden features to help you engage with your audience more effectively. Take a look and see how they can help. Here are a few of our favorite features that often get overlooked: 1. Facebook Groups: If you're a blogger, you should definitely consider joining Facebook groups related to your niche. It's a great way to connect with other bloggers, share your latest posts, and exchange ideas. You can get valuable feedback and support from a like-minded community. It's also a great way to stay up-to-date with industry trends and help others grow their blogs. We find that joining groups is one of the best ways to build relationships with fellow bloggers. 2. Facebook Live: Facebook Live is a valuable tool for bloggers. It lets you connect with your audience in real-time, build community, and share your expertise. You can also use it to promote your latest blog posts and drive more traffic to your website. Many bloggers are turning to Facebook Live for these benefits. 3. Facebook Stories: Facebook Stories are a great way to showcase your personality and connect with your audience more personally. You can use them to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your life as a blogger, share your thoughts on current events, or promote your blog posts. This is such a fun tool to add personality to the platform. We've found people really love to see the personality of bloggers as opposed to only getting information from them. 4. Facebook Pixel: As a website owner, utilizing the Facebook Pixel can be incredibly beneficial in analyzing and monitoring your visitors' actions on the platform. This tool offers valuable insights into user behavior, allowing you to optimize your Facebook ads for maximum performance and conversions. You can significantly boost engagement and achieve better business outcomes by tailoring your ads to visitors' interests and actions. In short, the Facebook Pixel is a must-have for any website looking to make the most of its Facebook advertising efforts. 5. Facebook Insights: Facebook Insights is a great tool for analyzing your Page's performance and audience. Using this analytics tool, you can access valuable data to inform your content strategy and connect better with your audience. Track your Page's performance over time, identify posts resonating with your audience, and optimize your content for maximum engagement. Facebook Insights is invaluable for marketers, small business owners, and anyone looking to grow their social media presence. Ready to take your blogging to the next level with Facebook? Don't miss out on this chance to expand your blog's reach and grow your following. Plus, if you need help along the way, we've got your back! Let's do this together....

TikTok has taken the world by storm, with millions of users creating and sharing their videos daily. While many people are familiar with the basics of the app, there are some features and TikTok tips that are often overlooked. In this post, we'll explore some of these hidden gems and show you how to make the most of your TikTok experience. 1. Use the Duet Feature One of the most fascinating aspects of TikTok is the Duet feature, which permits you to create a video in conjunction with another user's video. This is an exceptional method of collaborating with other creators while also adding your own unique flair to popular trends. To employ the Duet feature, locate a video you want to duet with and click the share button. After that, choose the "Duet" option and begin crafting your own video. 2. Add Text and Stickers Want to make your TikTok videos more eye-catching and engaging? Well, fortunately, there's a simple trick to do just that! While videos are undoubtedly the main attraction on TikTok, incorporating text and stickers can really take your content to the next level. To add text to your videos, all you need to do is head over to the video editing screen and select the "Text" button. From there, you'll be able to type in your message and customize the font, size, color, and positioning to your heart's content. And if you want to add even more flare to your videos, you can also add stickers by clicking on the "Stickers" button and choosing from a wide range of options. Whether you want to add some humor, showcase your emotions, or simply make your videos more visually appealing, adding text and stickers is an excellent way to step up your TikTok game. Give it a try and see for yourself! 3. Use Hashtags Utilizing hashtags is an effective technique for increasing the visibility of your videos. Essentially, a hashtag groups your video with other videos that also use the same hashtag, creating a feed. This can significantly expand your reach and attract new audiences, leading to an increase in followers. Adding a hashtag is easy, simply type it in the caption or comments section of your video. With this simple strategy, you can potentially elevate your online presence and attract more attention to your videos. 4. Try Out the Effects If you're looking to add some pizzazz to your TikTok videos, then you'll be delighted to know that the app offers a diverse array of fun and creative effects that you can use. Whether you're after filters that give your videos a certain mood or transitions that add an extra something to your edits, TikTok has got you covered. Accessing these effects is easy - just click on the "Effects" button when you're in the editing stage of your video. Once you're there, you can peruse through the various effects that are available and select the ones that you wish to incorporate into your masterpiece. So go ahead and experiment with different effects - the possibilities are endless! 5. Pay Attention to Sound The role of sound in TikTok videos cannot be overstated. In fact, it is a vital component that can greatly influence the overall quality of your video. Therefore, it is important to carefully select a suitable sound that will help you achieve your desired mood and message. You can also leverage popular songs or sounds that are currently trending on the platform to increase the visibility and engagement of your video. By taking these factors into consideration, you can create a more impactful and successful TikTok video. There are numerous hidden features on TikTok that can help you produce fantastic videos and expand your following. We provide a range of services for TikTok and beyond. Get in touch with us today to learn more about what we can do for you....

Did you know that Instagram has a lot of hidden features that you may not be aware of? Or maybe you are aware of them but just haven't utilized them yet. In this blog post, we'll be highlighting some of the most overlooked features of Instagram that you should definitely check out. 1. Create Collections: Have you ever found a picture or video on Instagram that you really like but don't know how to save it for later? Well, Instagram has a feature called Collections that can help you out. It's like creating a special folder to store all your favorite posts. To use it, simply press and hold the save button on the post and choose "Create a collection." You can then name your folder and add other posts to it as well. This is an excellent way to keep track of everything you love on Instagram and easily find them again later. So, the next time you see something you don't want to forget, just create a collection and save it for later without any hassle! We'd be lying if we said we don't use this to hold onto all the great recipes our clients post. 2. Share Posts to Stories: Most people know about this one, but just in case, did you know that you can show your friends the cool posts you find on Instagram? It's easy - just look for the little paper airplane icon underneath the post you want to share and tap it. Then, choose "Add to your story," and you can make it even more fun by adding stickers, text, and other things. Give it a try! 3. Create a Close Friends List: This one is probably my personal favorite. To share your posts with only a few people, you can make a special list called "Close Friends." First, go to your profile and tap the three lines in the top right corner. Next, choose "Close Friends" and add the people you want to share with. Then, when you put up a new post, you can pick to share it only with your close friends. This is especially helpful when you have both personal and professional followers. 4. Use Instagram as a Photo Editor: Did you know that you can use Instagram to edit your photos without actually posting them on your profile? It's super easy to do! All you have to do is upload the photo you want to edit to your Instagram account, but don't worry, you don't have to share it. Then, you can use the editing tools that come with Instagram to make your photo look just the way you want it. Once you're happy with your edits, you can save the photo to your camera roll and use it however you like. Pretty cool, right? 5. Hide Posts from Your Profile: If you have a post on your profile that you don't want others to see, but you don't want to delete it, there's a way to hide it. You can put it in a special place called "Archive." Here's how to do it: find the post you want to hide and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Then choose "Archive." This will take the post off your profile, but it won't be deleted. These are just a few of the many overlooked features of Instagram. By taking advantage of these features, you can make the most out of your Instagram experience and connect with your followers in new and creative ways. So go ahead and give them a try!...