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Business Owners: 3 News Ways to Use Social Media for Marketing [Guest]

By on June 15, 2012 in Blog Coach, Marketing, Social Media with 3 Comments

Guest PostI’m on a road trip until the end of June. This post by Carol Wilson is part of a call for guest posts

We all know by now that, if you’re not using social media to market your business, you have somehow missed the boat. Most business owners have some sort of social media profile set up to represent their business online, or they are quickly learning to create the right social media presence for marketing purposes. But, because so many business owners are using social media as a marketing tool, it can be difficult to figure out how to make your products stand out. Here are a few things that social media newcomers may not think to try for business marketing, but that can garner great results every time:

1. Use Twitter Trends

Twitter is by far one of the fastest growing social media landscapes today. People use it for personal conversations as well as business promotion. If you have your own business, you will definitely want to get some Twitter accounts established to represent both you and your business. Once you have a Twitter profile set up for your business, one of the best ways to get attention and gain followers is to follow the trending topics on Twitter. When you’re on the Twitter homepage, you should see a list of topics on the left-hand side. These topics are the highest-occurring words or phrases being used on Twitter at that moment. When you click on them, you can immediately see who is commenting on these topics in real time. If you join the conversation every time a topic starts to trend, you have a higher chance of users noticing your tweets and checking out your profile.

2. Do a Facebook Contest

If you have a Facebook account established for your business, your main goal is to get as many Facebook friends as you can and then hope that they will take notice of your products or services and become loyal customers. However, it can be difficult to separate your business from the rest. One of the best ways to get more Facebook friends and then get those people to interact with your business is to do a Facebook contest. Many businesses will run promotions where, if a Facebook user “likes” the company or posts the company on their or someone else’s wall, then they will be entered to win a prize. Figure out what you can offer to potential customers as a giveaway that might get them excited, and offer that prize up for your own special contest.

3. Connect to Bloggers

Running a blog to represent your business is a great way to add a personal touch to your home web site and to get customers talking about your products and communicating with you and one another. But, while it’s great to have current customers following your blog, how do you reach out to consumers who have never heard of your business? One of the best ways to use your blog to connect to new users is to allow other bloggers to write guest posts, or to write  a guest author yourself on someone else’s blog. When you cross post the articles, both you and the guest blogger have the opportunity to benefit from higher visibility.

Carol Wilson is a freelance insurance business writer who is in the midst of creating her very own business insurance guide for consumers. In the meantime, she likes to share her knowledge of business insurance and other business related topics such as marketing to small business owners, entrepreneurs, and other corporate moguls. She welcomes your comments at wilson.carol24@gmail.com.

Google+ is Forcing Small Businesses to Care about Social Media [Guest]

By on June 14, 2012 in Blog Coach, Social Media with 0 Comments

GooglePlusGoogle+ is Forcing Small Businesses to Care about Social Media

If you’ve been fighting against the social media wave or have even just been avoiding it altogether…you just lost the fight. Social media won. Social media knocked you out and is forcing you to get involved.

Why?

Because Google just forced every small business in the world to care about social media. You no longer have an option.

How is Google+ Forcing You?

For several years, the best way for small businesses to appear on a Google search was by claiming their Google Places listing and optimizing that listing. It simply worked better than almost any other SEO method. Most small businesses at least understand the importance of Google Places.

But then last week Google dropped a bomb.

Google announced last week that they are phasing out Google Places and replacing it with Google+. That’s right, in order a local business to be found on Google, it will have to be on Google+.

They just forced you to care about, and use, social media.

How Google+ Works for Small Businesses

If you have a Gmail account you can quickly sign up for Google+. You just click the +You button in the top left hand corner of your browser. Follow the instructions and create a business page.

There is now a ‘Local’ tab on the left hand sidebar of your Google+ profile. Users can search for specific businesses or browse through businesses within Google+ itself. Clicking on a listing will take the searcher to the Google+ page of the business (not the website). Additionally, Google has included an entire scoring and rating system for every type of business. They even bought Zagat for over $200 million to help them with reviews.

And here’s the key: Google + Local is now also integrated with Google organic search, Google Maps and Google Mobile. So, if you search for a local business anywhere, on any Google platform, the Google+ page for the business will show up.

Literally, if you do not have a Google+ page you will not exist in Google search.

Step-By-Step: What to Do

-          It means you need to set up a Google+ page for your business today. Like right now.

-          Add people, businesses and influencers to your Google+ circles

-          Engage with them by sharing articles, thoughts, comments or deals via Google+

-          Optimize your Google+ page with pictures, information and reviews

Google is literally merging your Google Places listing into a Google+ page. They are literally forcing every small business onto Google+.  So, again, if you’ve ignored or neglected social media so far, you can no longer.

Jason Wells, CEO of ContactPoint

Jason Wells, CEO,  ContactPoint

Jason Wells is CEO of ContactPoint. Prior, Jason served as Senior Vice President of Sony.

ContactPoint’s newest product, LogMyCalls, is an intelligent call tracking tool. Follow LogMyCalls on Google+  or @LogMyCalls on Twitter to get marketing tips.

Guest Posting: A Call and A Hope

By on June 14, 2012 in Blog Coach, Social Media with 0 Comments

Guest Post on ConverstationsGuest posting is very popular these days, and rightfully so. It can be a great way to reach different audiences for both the host and the gust.

I get dozens of requests each month to be a host of a guest post. I gladly turn many of them down for these reasons:

  • No mention of what site the guest author will be linking to
  • No offer of any social media or network profile (and I search, but there are so many David White or Susan Jones, it becomes challenging
  • Even though I send my Guest Post Guidelines there are zero Eye Rests. None.

So I don’t post those. But I do host guest posts I think will be valuable to an intended audience of small business owners or social media learners.

That said, I’m on a road trip through Rural America – four states in two weeks – working with a few small businesses and organizations. This is a great time to submit your guest posts.

No need to ask first, just submit the post with this in mind:

  • Topic of interest should be small business or social media (or both)
  • Must have Eye Rests
  • A small bio or at least a link to one of your “active” social media/network profiles
  • A link that will act as a resource to this intended audience.

Mail you submission to mike@converstations.com

See you in a couple of weeks

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Claim Your Facebook and Google+ Local Pages [Guest Post]

By on June 12, 2012 in Blog Coach, Marketing, Social Media with 2 Comments

written by Angela Sansone

Business cards. It’s a lost opportunity not to have one to hand out when people ask, “So what do you do?” or “How can I contact you?”

Few business owners are without a business card. As Mike and I work with small business owners to strengthen their web presence, I am amazed at how many haven’t claimed their on-line business cards … their Facebook or Google+ Pages.

Whether Facebook or Google is something you do, your online business card is out there sending consumers one of two messages:

“I’m a 21st century business who knows and cares about my online web presence.”

OR

“I’m a business still stuck in the ’90s and I don’t know or don’t care about my online web presence.”

Not claiming your Facebook or Google+ Local page is not an opportunity you want to pass up.

Unclaimed Facebook Business Page

Unclaimed Google+ Local Page

Nothing against Mom’s Cafe – we hear the food is great, but we see this so many times. Lots of likes, a few reviews, and an echo chamber from the owner. From restaurants to realtors, furniture stores to HVAC repairs, there are plentiful opportunities being ignored too often.

As BizReport writes:

Businesses that claim their Places Page are able to customize and manage business information such as address, contact information, hours of business, profile picture as well as maps and directions.

The page is already out there. Claim it and have an influence over how the page looks and reads – and get to know your customers and reviews. The fact is, the more activity you have on these pages – the higher your rankings in search. So encourage your customers to say something on these pages.

But first, claim your Facebook and Google+ Local pages.

Guest Author: Angela T. Sansone

Angela Sansone has worked in education and children’s ministries for 14 years. Also an author and speaker, you can connect with Angela on Twitter or on her site:  www.1019ministries.com.

She is the author of the newly released “Precious Stones of Intercession” (paperback | Kindle) and her prayer booklet, “His Comfort” (free e-book) has been given freely around the globe since 2001.

 

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Knowing “Who” Gives You Focus

By on June 11, 2012 in Blog Coach, Marketing, Social Media with 1 Comment

Who is Your Audience

While exploring the “5 W’s” of social media for small business, we’ve looked at how Starting with “Why” gives you meaning and motivation and Deciding “Where” offers direction.

Next up: Knowing your “Who” gives you focus.

Your “intended audience” in social media, in most cases, should be your “core customer” in business. In most cases.

Your business will probably have multiple audiences:

  • Core Customers
  • Prospects
  • Fringe Businesses (companies who also “touch” your customer)
  • Shoppers who engage, but never transact (“attending audience“)
  • Peers (could be competitors or collaborators)
  • Neighboring Businesses
  • Vendors & Suppliers

There are probably more we could list, though the top two audiences are who I’d put my focus.  Write to them, for them, about them. Answer their questions. Solve their problems. Improve their lives.

Know your “Who”. Maintain Focus.

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One Page is All it Takes (and Maybe All You Get)

By on June 9, 2012 in Blog Coach, Marketing, Mobile & Local, Social Media with 0 Comments

FiCS worksheetOne page.

Sometimes that’s all a visitor will see. One page.

Might be all it takes for them to decide whether to keep searching or know that your company is what they’re looking for. Just one page.

  • a page on your website
  • a post on your blog
  • a video you uploaded on YouTube
  • your Twitter stream
  • a Facebook tab
  • an image on Pinterest.
  • your LinkedIn profile

One page can be the tipping point. For or against.

A first time visitor finding your brand might also see your empty Google+ Local page or unclaimed Merchant Circle page. They may see someone else’s rant or rave about you on another site.

Is the message you’re delivering by your absence, “I Don’t Know (about it)” or “I Don’t Care”?

All it takes is One Page. And it could be anywhere – or maybe your business is nowhere to be found (or hard to find).

We work with small businesses, independent businesses, and rural businesses in building a web presence that is Findable, Connectable, and Shareable. By focusing on these three areas, we ensure that new customers find you, connect with you, and share their experience with their friends.

When we visit with small businesses, we offer a complimentary 8-point FiCS report.

Take advantage of this free offer and see if your company web presence is built for maximum impact. Call me (515.802.2273) or email me (mike@converstations.com) and we’ll look at your FiCS (no obligation).

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Have a LinkedIn Account? Time to Change Your Password [Guest Post]

By on June 7, 2012 in Social Media with 3 Comments

Special Post from Scott Ferreira, CEO of SocialCloud, Inc.

Generate Secure Password with MySocialCloud

Random Password Generator from MySocialCloud.com

You have probably heard by now that LinkedIn had more than 6.5 Million account passwords compromised. Very few details around this have been released but many sources have said that these accounts were hacked with many different intentions. Some were hacked to find sensitive information, some to spam send messages, etc, etc.

With more than 150 Million users, the chances of your account being effected are small but not insignificant. Passwords protect our online lives and anytime that is threatened, action needs to be taken. Even if you haven’t noticed any unusual activity, it is better to be safe and change your password than not and realize they were just waiting to do something to your account at a later date.

What can you do? MySocialCloud is helping make sure your passwords are safe and secure so that you can have piece of mind while online. We offer very safe storage of your username and password as well as our RPG – Random Password Generator. These two are powerful when used together. For example, I now need to change my LinkedIn password as well as my password to Facebook and Twitter because I used the same password for all three. I logged into MySocialCloud.com, visited where I can store my logins, and clicked the button to randomly generate new passwords. Because MySocialCloud will store the passwords and autologin to the sites in the future, I do not need to remember the passwords. This means that all three sites can now have different passwords that are completely random! So even if something happens in the future, I can have the piece of mind that my online accounts are safe.

We hope you enjoy safe and secure online life!

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Ready to Start Social Media – But “Where”?

By on June 4, 2012 in Blog Coach, Social Media with 2 Comments

Mapping Social MediaOpinions vary. When it comes to “where” to start, 7 of 10 experts often disagree. Ask a handful of people and you’re likely to get a different answer from each one.

“Start with a blog.  It’s the only social media you truly own.”

“No, no. Start with Facebook. Everybody is already there and the barrier to entry is minimal.”

“Why not Twitter. It doesn’t take as much time and you can easily schedule your ‘tweets’.”

“For business, LinkedIn is the best combination of social networking and social platform – and it’s professional.”

“Be everywhere.”

“Pick just one place and crush it.”

The truth might be – a bit of each? Using Social Media for your business is not like cooking a cake from a box. There is no “just add water” because every business is different: different audience; different purpose; different degrees of measuring success.

I’ve always been (and probably always will be) one that thinks a blog is your first step. It’s the hub around which all your other tactics reach out from and your visitors come in. It can be a foundation for better findability.

Still, a blog does take some time to get a library of posts and readers. I used to suggest focusing on a blog for several weeks before entering into the Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn (and now Pinterest) mess mass.

So here’s a thought on the “Where” to begin:

  1. Start with a blog and one other “network”
  2. Slowly work on the blog as you organically build audience on your chosen network (a few at a time, never “buying” followers)
  3. Use the 70-20-10 guideline in posting
  4. Keep going

So which other “network” is going to work for you? Well, we come back into the “it depends” mode (and a great reason to set up a Craft and Follow session), but here are some thoughts:

  • If you’re a local business serving local customers (residents or tourists), Facebook
  • If you’re a business reaching a national or global audience and have a niche market, Twitter
  • If you’re predominantly a Business-to-Business type or serving professionals, LinkedIn
  • If your business is or can be best presented visually (arts, food, travel, pets, real estate), Pinterest

And while these thoughts might help get your started, save some room for Google (Google Plus, YouTube, Maps, Apps, Places, etc)

If you’ve determined your “why” first, it will be a lot easier knowing “where” to start.

If you need a hand (or an ear) figuring this stuff out, I’d be happy to assist.

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Your “Why” Should Come First

By on June 1, 2012 in Blog Coach, Social Media with 5 Comments

I dunno whySocial Media can be a wrestling match for many small business owners.

It seems like it should be so easy, right?  Then once you start, you wonder why you ever started. Your niece can do this Facebook and Pinterest thing with ease. And your neighbor’s son is really popular on Twitter. So why not you?

No, it’s not a generational thing. Often it can be an attitudinal thing. In most cases though, it’s an operational thing.

Your niece and neighbor are probably doing things with a different purpose (recreational?) or practice (WWW = Whatever, Whenever, Wherever) than you as a business owner can (or want to) emulate.

While the Who, What, When, Where, and How are all important – Why should almost always come first.

Without knowing “why” you won’t have conviction to continue and every opinion about social media (and everybody has a few) will knock you off whatever path you chose in the first place.

Make social media mean something to your business.

Know your “Why” first.

Photo on Flickr by hlkljgk

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Rethinking Resource Sharing

By on May 26, 2012 in Social Media with 4 Comments

Crowding ResourcesWhile recently explaining Why and How I use Twitter, an idea struck me that I haven’t been able to get rid of: How can I Be the Resource and still maintain some ownership while also having quick access to the links I share.

Then two recent posts from Seth Godin stayed at me.

Ranking for signal to noise ratio, specifically this bit:

The clickthrough rates on tweets is getting closer and closer to zero. Not because there aren’t links worth clicking on, but because there’s so much junk you don’t have the attention or time to sort it all out.

This past week, I share a few fantastic resources I had share weeks before. The clicks and favorites and likes were as numerous – and sometimes higher – than when I previously shared them. The streams and lists on Twitter have become very crowded.

What are you leaving behind and this question:

All day long you’re emailing or tweeting or liking or meeting… and every once in a while, something tangible is produced. But is there a mark of your passage?

Maybe the example of swissmiss is a model to follow. Still be a great resource, yet continue to own the space you share from.

And you can still tweet about the resource, but maybe from your own space.

Still thinkin’ ….

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