Media training 101 for small businesses

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Great news: you just scored a big press interview to promote your business. The story will expose your brand to the perfect new audience and drive meaningful traffic to your website. So…don't blow it. Yes, just as quickly as the excitement for the opportunity arrived, the realization that you now have to do an interview sets in. I get it—press interviews can absolutely be intimidating. The resulting coverage represents a significant opportunity to acquire new customers, drive sales, or raise awareness, and you want to be sure to represent your brand well and really compel the audience to check out your company. On top of that, you have to contend with adrenaline and nerves in the moment. You may be thinking, "So many other business owners are so polished and articulate in their interviews. How am I going to pull that off?" Deep breath. A successful interview is usually the result of good media training: preparation and practice in advance of an interview. I've tr...
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Make it so: Zaps you can trigger with your voice

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More than a third of the U.S. population uses voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant to accomplish everyday tasks like checking calendars, getting directions, or looking up useless facts. And according to an Adobe survey, 94 percent of users say that voice technologies save them time—and improve their quality of life.

But voice assistants aren't just good for streamlining your personal life. They can also save your business some serious time. Coupled with Zapier's automation platform, you can use tools like Google Assistant to do work in the apps you use every day, such as your CRM or chat app. You can build automated workflows (we call them Zaps) that begin when you speak a few words to your assistant. Zapier does the rest.

Here are a few ways to get started.

Set chat app statuses with pushed voice messages

When you're on the go, a hands-free voice command can be much easier than typing. Zapier can help make sure your team knows what you're up to, even if you're away from your computer, by linking your voice assistant and your chat app of choice, such as Slack.

Once you set up this automation, you can say "Ok Google, talk to Zapier," and your voice assistant will be able to use your commands to take action.

If you do something often, like take a 30-minute lunch, you could create a specific Zap for that status change.

You can also make it open-ended and define prompts with Zapier that your assistant will ask you. That will be more like a conversation, where your assistant will ask you things you've defined in your Zap, like what phrase to put in your status and for how long it should stay up.

These Zap templates are a great starting point:

Manage your to-do list hands-free

Ever have more ideas than free hands? Need to remind yourself of something, but too busy to reach for your phone or head to the computer?

When you pair your voice assistant with Zapier, you can manage your to-do list hands-free. Like before, you'll start with "Ok Google, talk to Zapier," then "Add a task."

Your assistant will then prompt you to add whichever details you like. Zapier will use those details to create a task or card in your favorite to-do app. You can also adjust the template if you'd like to include due dates, assignees, or any other details. To get you started, here are a few Zap templates that you can personalize:

Create leads in your CRM with just a few words

Sales, business development, and other teams are constantly on the go trying to get and close new business. After a day on the road or full of client meetings, it can feel like you don't have any time to keep up with managing your new or updated contacts.

With Zapier, you can add or update a lead in your CRM using a voice command. Instead of typing in the new details on your phone or computer, talk to your voice assistant and capture the new information while it’s top of mind, whether you’re on the go or in your office.

You'll start with "Ok Google, talk to Zapier," and then walk through the rest of the steps you define in your Zap.

These Zap templates show you how it can work:

Ready to get started? Check out what you can do with Google Assistant and Zapier.



from The Zapier Blog https://ift.tt/2GTKGkA

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