We all know how important social media has become for showcasing our businesses, but it can be hard to keep up with posting daily while keeping things engaging for your audience. It may seem easy at first, but when you sit down at your computer, your mind goes blank! Trust us, it even happens to us from time to time. 

So what do you do?

• First, we recommend coming up with a schedule. Pick times each week when you want to post and stick with it! Consistency is key. 
• Second, make sure to keep your audience in mind at all times. What do they want to see? Will they interact your posts? If you can't answer these questions, it might be time to think about a social media audit to find out who your ideal client is and where/what they are interested in on social media.
• Put together a calendar of post ideas. We recommend doing it a month a time and reviewing the upcoming month for company anniversaries, product launches, and fun holidays. You can download a free month of post ideas by clicking here. 
• Ask Questions and get your audience involved! Remember to create a graphic or take a picture to go with each one: 
  1. Would you rather sit on a beach or climb a mountain?
  2. What's your favorite podcast?
  3. What are you thankful for today?
  4. What's your favorite quote? Share below
  5. What was the last picture you took on your phone? Share it below!
  6. If you had a time machine, where would you go and why? 
  7. What is your favorite app to use? 
  8. Fill in the blank: My favorite way to relax after a long day is ________?
  9. What's your favorite _________ (pick the season) activity? Be sure to share what yours is. 
  10. What is your favorite movie? 
• Get Posting! Pick out your favorite ideas and start posting. Remember that these are one size fits most, so some may not be relevant and some you may not like, but they are options to get you started and to get your creative juices flowing.

We hope you find these tips and post ideas helpful when you hit a creative road block. If you find you need more content, download our free 30 day social media calendar to get you started. Of course, we are always here to help when you have questions or find yourself stuck in social media land, feel free to reach out! 

Routine can be a beautiful thing, and traveling is the opposite of routine. Sometimes, you’re going to have to face full disrupt head on, but it doesn’t mean sacrificing eating healthy, exercising, and taking care of yourself. Eating healthy and staying active are a way of life, and these important parts of life can sometimes fall by the wayside when traveling for work, or even on a vacation! Traveling doesn’t have to mean gaining ten pounds, eating everything in sight, or returning home and being unhappy with how you look! No matter the diet you abide by, there are numerous ways to stay on track while away from home, too!

• Book a place with at least a kitchenette. Wherever you’re headed, make sure the place has a kitchen, and if you can’t swing the full kitchen try and find a place that has a kitchenette. This isn’t an option everywhere, we understand, but by making sure you’re in a space you have the option to cook, you’ll save yourself the painful aftermath of eating out for a week. 
• Do your research. Before you go, look into which restaurants would be a healthy option, so you don’t end up lost in a foreign town with no idea where to get much other than a steak with a loaded baked potato. Search the area you’re headed to find at least one desirable place to eat out so you don’t wind up frantic and bloated. 
• Don’t skip your skincare routine. No matter how tired you are, always wash your face. Your skin will thank you, and so will your mentality. There’s solace in routine, and traveling rips you out of it! By maintaining your skincare, you’ll be setting yourself up for great skin, and tricking your brain into relaxing. 
• (Over) Pack the snacks. Airplanes and airports are one of the worst places to be stuck snackless, because not only do their snacks contain crazy high levels of sodium, they are also very expensive! You may not be able to bring much liquid on the plane, but you can bring snacks. So, overpack them, you didn’t need that fifth pair of pants anyways.
• BYO Everything. Create little spa packs to help you relax. Bring your own snacks, raw veggies and fruits, and bring an empty water bottle. By preparing on the front end, you’ll be set up to have a pain and worry free trip. 
• Mediate, run, go full yogi. Inside, or out, as long as you are making a point to refocus on your body and spirit, you’re doing yourself a favor. Trips can be overwhelming, and there’s never a bad time to sneak away for some meditation or quick downward dog to get the blood pumping.     

    You should never sacrifice the simple comforts of taking care of yourself, no matter where you are. On the road, at home, in an airport, you still need to make sure that you are doing right by you. Taking time to go for a run, making sure you’re eating right and taking care of your skin are all things that can only be done by you. Nobody is going to lecture you for eating poorly, but you’ll still end up paying for it in the long run. Do yourself the favor of preparing before leaving, and maintaining your self-care while away from home.

Spotlight Business Solutions and Sher Nyquist Present an Entrepreneur Lunch & Learn at Bonfire in Woodbury, MN.

I (Amy:) will kick off the Lunch & Learn with how to create custom engaging social media content for your business. If you've been struggling with creating content or getting people to respond to it, this session is for you!

Sher Nyquist, transformational business coach, will teach an introduction to EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Tapping. Tapping is an easy to use technique that helps eliminate barriers that seem impossible to overcome. Once free from old stuck points, you can step forward into greater freedom and achieve the business goals you once only dreamed of reaching. Come and learn more about what tapping is and how to do EFT Tapping.
Appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Want to join us? Click here to register now.

We've had some pretty extreme weather here in Minnesota since the beginning of 2019. We had 4 days of absolute freezing temperatures with the Polar Vortex and now we have an influx of snow. It's not surprising, it's winter in Minnesota, but it does make me reflect on how lucky I am to have a warm place to work and to call home.  It also made me think about the people who aren't so lucky and could use a little extra help this winter. 

For the month of February, Spotlight Business Solutions will be taking donations for the Union Gospel Mission, a local Homeless Shelter in Saint Paul.  You can contact us directly if you'd like to donate an item or money. We will also be taking donations on Saturday's by meeting at the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing in South Saint Paul. Not only can you drop off some much needed items for those in need, but you can also take a tour of the museum.

Here's what Union Gospel Mission is looking for:

Items We Usually Need:

• New or gently used men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing for all seasons (Sizes 2X and 3X in particular)
• New or gently used outerwear, such as coats, hats, gloves, and scarves
• New or gently used men’s, women’s, and children’s footwear
• Personal care items, such as travel-sized shampoo, soap, razors, or shaving cream
• New and used twin linens
• New blankets (not used please)

Items We Can’t Use:

• Housewares, such as kitchen items, lamps, or furniture
• Babyseats or strollers
• Televisions
• Computers
• Appliances
• Used toys
• Used blankets

Again, please contact us by email or phone to donate. You can also visit our Facebook page and send us a message. 

I can't wait to share how much we can raise for those in need. 

If you aren't using Google My Business for your business, you could be missing out on a ton of local traffic. We all know it's so important in the age of social media to make sure your business is seen and heard online, but many businesses aren't taking advantage of Google's free business listing, Google My Business.  Just like Facebook and Twitter, Google offers the platform for free. 

Google My Business allows your business to show in a local area, share information about your business (including specials, products, and events you may be hosting), and leave reviews.  It's really worth looking in to and will help drive your online presence forward, especially when you encourage your clients to leave you a review. Side bar- we will talk about the importance of getting reviews in another post! :) 

Taking control of your social media platforms and posting regularly can seem overwhelming. Knowing what you should post and when can be daunting, especially when you have a business to run. You may feel like you don't have a handle on your other social media platforms, but that's what we are here for. 

If you would like more information about Google My Business or want to take full advantage of your Google My Business listing, we are here to help!

For my first post of 2019 and first post in a long time, we thought we would take a moment to talk about how great 2018 was for Spotlight Business Solutions!
Not only do we get to serve so many wonderful local businesses in the Twin Cities, but we also took part in a historic documentary for the Commemorative Air Force called Rise Above: WASP produced by Hemlock Films.

Why is the project such a big deal? CAF RISE ABOVE: WASP honors the trailblazing Women Airforce Service Pilots, an often overlooked group that were once missing from history books, to bring their story to life and give a new generation a unique lens in which to see themselves.

To see more amazing pictures from the CAF Rise Above WASP project, click here.  

As we find ourselves in 2019 already, Spotlight Business Solutions is ready for what may come next and we look forward to sharing your stories as well! 

It's been a few years since I've been to the Minnesota State Fair. I developed some food allergies and intolerance over the years and it was always a struggle to find something to eat.  

This year my friend invited me to go with her and how could I refuse. The fair now has a ton of options for those who are gluten free and dairy free. Plus, I forgot how much fun it is to go see all of the farm animals and people watch. 

My friend and I took the whole day to enjoy the sites and many flavors the fair has to offer.  We started with the furry farm animals.  I was very excited when we were able to actually pet a few of the cows, including the Highland Cattle. I'm easily entertained and I happen to love cows. 

After we covered all of the farm animals, it was time for lunch. Normally, this would be a point where I would reach into my bag and pull out a snack, but I was able to find a few things to eat. ​ 

I started with a  batch of Fresh French fries (which were delicious and I may have gotten a large bucket) and turkey leg. The turkey leg may have been a poor decision having just come from the farm animal buildings, but I tried to enjoy it all the same. 

Wondering aimlessly is a great way to see a lot of the fair. We happened across Minnesota Wine Country which had wine flights, wine by the glass, and wine smoothies.  The sparkling rose wine was my favorite! 

I'm a big fan of the French Meadow Bakery and love that they have a place at the fair. I enjoyed one (OK, maybe two) of their gluten free, dairy free brownies and even got one for the road. 

For all of the fermented tea lovers out there, the Minnesota State Fair now has a booth that serves Kombucha.  The Produce Exchange has two different flavors of Kombucha and it comes in handy after filling up on all the deep fried food on a stick!

With a decent amount of food under our belts, we decided to check out the Coliseum and International Bizaar.

We even made friends with the owners of Tennessee Moon Shine Cakes (located in the Coliseum). While I couldn't try their cakes, my friend said they were amazing.  I tried the honey and jams, which were also really tasty. I brought a few of them home to try and can't wait.  The owners were really sweet and posed for a picture with me. I hope the enjoyed their first time at the Minnesota State Fair. 

While I've listed a few things here that people with food sensitives can eat, there is so much more now than ever before.  They even have a page for it on the website - http://www.mnstatefair.org/general_info/visitor_guide/Food-Allergies.html

Here are a few more pictures from our journey that day! If you get out to the fair this year, snap a picture and tell us what your favorite part was!