April 27, 2012
All business that have ventured having a presence on Facebook ask themselves the same questions. How do I gain a large following? How can I turn my Facebook marking efforts into actual money? How much time will it take to see a return on my investment? These questions are all valid and online marketing is something that is not a fad. Having a presence on Facebook is important and when done correctly, can yield some amazing results. What are a few ways that you can make your business soar on Facebook?
Create An Experience
Make your business page on Facebook as visually appealing as possible. With the advent of Timeline, this is easy to accomplish. Timeline makes it possible to show off your business with style. Make sure you incorporate your logo and change up your posts. Give your fans a reason to share your content. Use of videos, images and valuable information works well. Also offer your fans great incentives for liking your page. Coupons and special offers are a great way of saying thank you.
Create Community
Facebook opens the door and provides the optimal platform for creating community. Your fans are customers and potential customers but above all they are individuals looking to have an experience. As a sales professional, it is your job to provide them with an experience that makes them feel that they are special. Engagement is a great way to accomplish this. Respond to any and all complaints and acknowledge the raving compliments. Your fans are taking time out of their day to connect with you, it is just good manners to return the favor.
Sponsored Stories & Facebook Ads
Facebook makes it very easy to become visible to consumers that are in your target demographic but that may not know about your brand. Facebook aggregates data from their user base so that you can choose exactly which demographic you want to target with your ad campaign. Sponsored Stories allow your posts to have extreme exposure with fans. Your Sponsored Stories can be new posts or older posts, which allows you to recycle great content. This is extremely time efficient.
Give Them Something To Talk About
Content is always king. Make sure your posts are engaging. Ask questions, ask for feedback and use the Facebook Poll option when you are looking for specific fan feedback for your brand. Photo tagging is another way to get your fan base talking. Take pictures of your products or your business and tag them with your business fanpage profile.
Facebook has opened a whole new world for marketing. Brands now have direct access to their customers and potential customers on a 24/7 basis with an audience that is around 900 million. It is well worth your time to take massive action and build your brands visibility.
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Creative Commons)
Internet Marketing Academy
Internet Marketing Training – Internet Marketing Course – Internet Marketing Blog
April 26, 2012
Do you know your Klout score? Are you even aware of how your Klout score is generating buzz about your brand, even if you aren’t actively engaging? Klout is a system of ranking your online influence. Klout uses a system of analytics to measure who and how you influence others. Your Klout score doesn’t just reflect your influence on one social networking platform, such as Facebook. It tracks your influence over social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
Klout has been around since 2009 and the gist of how they determine your influence by analyzing data that measures not only the size of your network but the content you create and how your network interact with the content you create. The range of a Klout score goes from zero to one hundred. There are not many scores of one hundred out there, but if you haven’t checked your Klout score, you should.
Klout can be logged into via Twitter or Facebook. Once you see what your current Klout score is, you can take massive action to increase your score. Here are three ways that you can increase your Klout score and enjoy the benefits of being a super influencer.
Create Great Content
The common theme that is always prevalent when it comes to increasing your audience, gaining new customers and having great influence revolves around creating consistent great content. For Klout to register your content creation stream, utilize Facebook and Twitter and start sending out great information!
Network
In the world of Klout, kudos are given to people that you consider valuable by giving them a +K. This is a great way to give a shout out to individuals that are in your direct circle of influence. This is also a great way to reach out and connect with individuals that you otherwise may not have a direct connection to. The key is to be honest with your +K “gifts”. You can use this as a great way to start building a relationship. This is not an optimal way to just jump into a conversation.
Don’t Give Up
Don’t be discouraged if you are starting out with a rather low Klout score. Even if your score is a 10 or 11 (where the majority of accounts begin), you still have the same ability to increase your Klout score. It may take some time but Klout is an even playground for all members. The score is based on influence and content, which every individual can attain.
If you haven’t taken the time to log on to Klout and check out your score, you need to do so right away. Potential customers and your network of peers check Klout scores to determine if you and your brand are worth their weight. Log on, create content and don’t give up!
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Creative Commons)
Internet Marketing Academy
Internet Marketing Training – Internet Marketing Course – Internet Marketing Blog
April 19, 2012
We are constantly reading blogs and reports on how to maximize Facebook and Twitter for your marketing efforts. While many of us thought that LinkedIn was simply a platform for business professionals, most of whom were seeking work, in the last few months LinkedIn has changed their game dramatically. For many marketers, having a LinkedIn presence can be extremely helpful for their business. How do you maximize your LinkedIn efforts, in a short amount of time, to see these benefits? Here are three quick tips to set you on your course.
Complete User Profile
We all know that individuals do business with people they know, like and trust. If your profile doesn’t properly reflect who you are and what your business represents, the people viewing your profile will quickly skip over yours and go on to the next. Take the time to fill out your profile and choose your copy carefully. In many cases you are making a first impression. You want that impression to be a good one.
Start and promote a group
If you are unable to find a group that reflects your business or your philosophy, simply create one. Creating a group will establish you as an expert in your field. You must keep your group active. Invite people you admire to your group and invite people you know to your group. Add discussions and offer relevant information that can be used by others. This is a great way to start the ball rolling on potential customers and creating joint ventures with businesses that mesh with your company.
Connect Your Accounts
LinkedIn offers the ability to link many of your accounts to your LinkedIn profile. This feature is often overlooked and it is a great way to drive traffic. If you want people to go to your website, add that link. If you want people to go to your blog, attach a blog rss feed. Another great tip is to link your twitter account to your LinkedIn profile. This allows a constant stream of new content to flow to your account. People will quickly learn that you are a valuable source of useful information and they will continue to visit your profile. They will also be more apt to visit your website or your blog if they feel that you are trustworthy.
LinkedIn is one of the most underutilized social media platforms of today. By taking the time to use LinkedIn effectively, you will find potential customers that you otherwise may not have reached. LinkedIn is also extremely valuable for staying on top of what is happening in your industry. You have the opportunity to connect with other experts while establishing yourself as the expert in your field.
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Creative Commons)
Internet Marketing Academy
Internet Marketing Training – Internet Marketing Course – Internet Marketing Blog
April 17, 2012
One of the easiest ways to continually stay on top of the Google search engine is by creating new content. All marketers know that they must consistently create new content for their web platform. Regardless if this content is created via Facebook. Twitter, Blogs or on the website itself, it must be created. A business can have the best looking website and highest quality created web marketing platform, but without a constant infusion of content, it will never be seen. This brings up the question that almost all marketers and business owners ask, “How can I create great new content on a consistent basis?” Here are three easy ways to keep the creative juices flowing and generate new and interesting content.
Be Unique
How are you or your business different than your competitors? Perhaps you have a business that has been in your family for generations? Maybe your business does house calls when your competitors do not? Be sure to accent the unique qualities that make your business stand out. Outside of broadcasting these unique elements, integrate them into your entire web platform. Every business needs to solve problems for their customers. Simply ask yourself, “What makes my business stand out?” When you determine what makes your business unique, this needs to be a focal point that can be used in your Facebook posts, your Twitter Tweets and as subject matter for your blog.
Proper Links
Your site should be the “go-to” for your area of expertise. By offering quality, informative and truthful information, you will gain the trust of potential customers. A great way to achieve this is through the use of links. Pay attention to where your links are sending your visitors. For example, when you are tweeting or posting on Facebook, it does not benefit you to simply grab great headlines that send your potential customers directly to your competitions website. Keep your potential clients on your site by offering links within your blog to the pages on your site that will answer their questions. The same strategy applies for your outbound messaging plans.
Fix The Problem
What solution does your business offer to solve your customer’s problems? Your business should be as transparent as possible and the content you create needs to reflect this. For example, if your business provides SEO optimisation services, explain to your customers why they need this service. Demonstrate how proper SEO will benefit them and explain why. Being secretive or evasive only creates frustration on the part of the customer. Creating transparent content will show the customer that you care enough to assist them before they write that first check.
Creating new and relevant content on a regular basis will allow Google to consistently highly rate your site. The key is to provide value.
Happy Marketing!
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Creative Commons)
Internet Marketing Academy
Internet Marketing Training – Internet Marketing Course – Internet Marketing Blog
April 12, 2012
It seems that every time I turn around someone is starting a new business. The days of individuals wanting to work in a corporate environment, the typical 9-5 jobs in an office setting are quickly dwindling. More individuals are striving to be their own boss and in charge of their own financial destiny. While this is a great thing and it is possible to become successful as an entrepreneur, the world of business and marketing has shifted to living online. How can you get your startup on the right path towards success in this ever-changing world of marketing?
Start Out Social
Before you even purchase a business card, get your business online. Create a Facebook business page and a Twitter account. You can begin to market your business before you have product on your shelves. By generating customer interest at the beginning stages, you are almost guaranteed sales once you open your door for business.
Choose Your Platforms Carefully
Your business does not have to be on every single social networking platform that exists. Do a little research and see which of the most popular platforms is a perfect match for your business or service. It would be counterproductive to spend all of your time marketing on every platform that exists. You would find yourself spending too many hours online and not enough hours making sure you have product to sell.
Engage With Your Target Demographic
The art of sales is the art of engaging with your customer base. Find out where your niche target demographic hangs out and join them. The key is to join them as one of them, not as a business trying to sell them something. Strike up conversations, offer helpful tips and advice (when it is requested) and most of all have fun! The online forums and communities will support you once they know you are one of “them”.
Have A Strategy
All to often business startups begin investing time and effort into online networking without a strategy. A strategy is the very first thing that you need to develop before going online. Design your strategy and pay attention to your results. See what is working for you and make adjustments when necessary. Don’t be afraid to change your strategy if you are not seeing optimal results.
There is no doubt that a startup company can become very successful within a short period of time. The advent of social networking platforms has only made this easier. The truth is, you can start marketing your business online before you have invested a great deal of cash. This is a great way to test your market and see if your products are needed and wanted. The key is to have a strategy, dive in and most of all have fun.
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Creative Commons)
Internet Marketing Academy
Internet Marketing Training – Internet Marketing Course – Internet Marketing Blog
April 10, 2012
Do you remember the days when simply knowing your customers first name was sufficient? You could address them personally, you knew their preferences, their budget and if they wanted casual or formal conversations. Many of these interactions occurred face to face or via telephone. Today’s consumer still wants that personal attention. They want to know that you know exactly who they are. This shows that you value their business and care about them as an individual. In today’s digital world of marketing, you need to know much more than just their first name and phone number.
Online Identity
Along with knowing who our customers are in the “real” world, we need to know who they are in the online world. Are they on Facebook? Do they prefer Twitter? Perhaps they have a passion for writing and love to blog on a frequent basis. When we know the online identities of our niche market, our potential customers and our current customers, we can engage effectively. In truth, many of our customers feel more at ease online. They are able to voice opinions on forums and via status updates that they may not feel comfortable voicing to you directly. Social networking platforms have become the front line for customer service representation. The key is to know your customers online identities and to pay attention to what they have to say. Mrs. Jane Smith may not call you to tell you that she was not thrilled with her latest purchase, but @jsmith may voice her dissatisfaction on Twitter.
Transparency
Our customer’s online voice goes hand in hand with transparency. Meaning, consumers want to know everything there is to know about your brand. They also want to be heard. Online interaction allows you as a business to listen to what your customers have to say. This medium also allows you to direct the conversation into the “real world” with the goal of having a satisfied customer. What does this mean? Simply put, you must monitor what your customers are saying. If they are happy, be grateful and send out many thank you replies. If they are unhappy, give them a place to take their complaints to have them solved. Having a designated email address such as tweets@yourbusiness.com or facebook@yourbusiness.com are great ways to filter complaints and negative reviews to the individuals who can solve their problems.
As marketers, our job may seem easier with the amount of advertising and marketing efforts that are done from the convenience of a computer. What we need to remember is that while we can be much more visible and attract attention outside of our natural circle of influence, we must also be more vigilant. By paying attention and addressing our customers online, we are showing them that we value their business. This is how you will maintain a satisfied customer base, which is your number one goal.
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Creative Commons)
Internet Marketing Academy
Internet Marketing Training – Internet Marketing Course – Internet Marketing Blog
April 5, 2012
Pinterest has been the talk of the town in the States, but for the rest of us, the talk has been mild to non-existent. It isn’t that Pinterest isn’t available in the UK; it’s just that we are using Pinterest in a slightly different way. What is Pinterest and what are the major differences between UK use and American use of this new social networking platform?
What Is Pinterest?Pinterest is a social networking platform where users “pin” images and videos to their personal “pin boards”. Users are encouraged to share, follow and comment on what has been “pinned”. From a marketing standpoint, Pinterest is a virtual visual playground. You can easily drive traffic back to your site to purchase goods and services. Pinterest appeals to businesses that are visual in nature. One can find a plethora of interior designers, fashion designers, jewelry designers and other niche fields where their products and services are photogenic. For the UK audience, the realm of businesses that use Pinterest goes beyond the crafts and design realm. UK Pinterest users also leverage this site for SEO, marketing, content management, blogging resources, web stats, web analytics and public relations. How can UK users fully maximize the Pinterest platform?
Demographic
Unlike the American audience for Pinterest, which is primarily female, the UK demographic is mainly male between the ages of 25 to 34. Most of these men are college educated and fall in the higher end of the socioeconomic scale. While the American audience sees 12,000,000 unique visitors, the UK sees only 200,000 unique visitors. What does this mean? If you have a business that caters to wealthy men between the ages of 25-34, you should consider using Pinterest for marketing ventures. Why? Because with a smaller audience you are more likely to have your goods and services seen by potential clients.
Engage And Make Money
If your business is a fit for the UK Pinterest audience, start pinning! I cannot stress enough that Pinterest is image based, thus make your images interesting. Each pin has a maximum width of 222 pixels with lengths that vary. You can have text, but it must be incorporated into your graphic. To turn these “pins” into actual dollars is based on how your website is set up. Can a potential customer visit your site and directly purchase an item or service? Similar to other marketing, your goal is to drive traffic to your site. Make sure there is a call to action on your site and an easy way for people to click “buy now”. Pinterest, as is the case with other social networking sites, will work for you if you “work it”. The key is to know whom you are trying to reach and if your demographic is within those 200,000 Pinterest users. If they are, it is worth your while to start engaging.
Happy Pinning!
Thanks!
Sean
(Image Wikipedia)
Internet Marketing Academy
April 3, 2012
As marketers and business owners we are not strangers to the power of Facebook. We know that marketing on Facebook can be critical to our success. It seems like we finally became accustomed to the format of Facebook, how to purchase ads and how to use our business fanpages to effectively. Then all of a sudden, Facebook decides to change their structure with the introduction of Timeline.
Many of us switched to Timeline on our personal pages and the reaction was dramatic. People either loved Timeline or they hated this new format. Unfortunately, Facebook didn’t give us the option to switch or stay with the old layout. As of March 30th, all business pages switched to the Timeline format.
Timeline Rules
Facebook has issued specific rules for using Timeline as a business. The first rule deals with your cover image. At first it may appear that these new guidelines work against those that are trying to market their business via Facebook. If we take a look at the specific guidelines, we can discover ways to work around these strict rules. According to the new guidelines, your business page cover may not:
- Include any monetary information. This includes % off, download your free copy of or advertise a special or specific price of an item or service.
- List your contact information. Your cover image cannot display your URL, email, mailing address or phone number.
- No suggestions to “like”. You cannot say, “like this” or “share this page” with an arrow showing the fans how.
- No calls to action. Your cover image cannot give any directives. This includes “get this product now” or “share this amazing product with your friends.”
- Your cover image cannot be misleading or break anyone’s copyright.
Despite these strict guidelines, you can still create a cover image that attracts attention. While you cannot give a directive in your cover image, you can still have sales and offers within your app array. Your profile picture can display your logo or the special that you are offering at the current moment. Another important features is the “about” section.
Timeline About Section
Once fans realize that they have to dig a little deeper on your fanpage for information, it will become second nature for them to automatically click on your “about” section. Therefore it is important to make your “about” section count. One tip is to use the 255 characters that you are given in the about title to succinctly describe your business. These 255 characters are the only thing that the fans can read in your “about” section as it is displayed when they first arrive at your page. The key is to think of these 255 characters as your elevator pitch. If you had just a few moments to describe who you are and what you offer, what would you say? This is what needs to go in your “about” sections first line.
Knowing the rules for your cover image and maximizing your “about” section will help you maximize Timeline for business pages to achieve better results.
Thanks!
Sean
(Image by Scott Beale)
Internet Marketing Academy
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All business that have ventured having a presence on Facebook ask themselves the same questions. How do I gain a large following? How can I turn my Facebook marking efforts into actual money? How much time will it take to see a return on my investment? These questions are all valid and online marketing is something that is not a fad. Having a presence on Facebook is important and when done correctly, can yield some amazing results. What are a few ways that you can make your business soar on Facebook?
