So Facebook has been established as a beast in the marketing world. Its nearly perfect for a small business to get some real exposure for free other than a little key tapping. But the question is do these people take Facebook seriously as an effective form of advertising. Now I can easily start naming off multiple examples of businesses that have success with Facebook but I don't think thats going to change the non believers minds. I think the main reason that people don't want to get involved with Facebook is because its unfamiliar.
Lets just lay it all out on the table...... I'm young and I have grown up with the dawning of all the new wonderful technology. A lot of small business owners are older and they grew up in a world much different then mine. Now I'm not saying that all oder people are effected by this but a large majority are. So if I was in they're shoes I would also be hesitant to use a unfamiliar form of advertising to represent my business that I have poured my life into. It seems like a recipe for disaster so they stick to the tried and true. Tried and true, Lets think about that..... Just because its tried and true doesn't mean its the most effective way to go about it. Sure its effective to some extent but in order to really get the business where it needs to be they need some cutting edge forms of advertising.
Facebook has proven it self as the king of effective advertising for businesses. Facebook is effective for small business & large business. Facebook is the most effective way to advertise, target consumers, and get your name out there for FREE.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
HOW TO: Setup an effective face book page.
Okay okay, I know what your thinking. I keep talking about these social networks but "how do I set my page up?"
Step 1- Log on to http://www.facebook.com/login.php?m2w , this is the login screen. All the way at the bottom of the page it says "advertising" click that link.
Step 2- You should see a page that gives you some idea as to why your creating a page. If you want you can read both the overview tab and the case study tab. After your done reading you can a link in the text of the overview tab that says "facebook page" This is what you going to need to click. Yet again you will come to a page assuring you that making a page is a great idea. At the top right corner you can find a green button that says "create page"....click that. Then you will find your self with a few options, community page or official page. If this is for a business then choose the official page. The choices are self explanatory, but when it comes to the page name I suggest it would be named after your business so that fans and customers can easily find it. Now on to the creating!
Step 3- Now your going to have to get dirty and make the page jive with your business. Make sure that you have plenty of ways for the customer to contact you....e-mail is a must! Also your best bet for your profile picture is a business logo of your own. This assures that you are establishing a professional appearance. Next you will want to add some custom tabs to your page if needed but don't go crazy with the tabs because out will make the page less appealing to the eye. And we want people staying on your page not just clicking through. My suggestion after you have your page setup is to send it out to some close friends and ask what they think about it, If all is well then on to step 4.
Step 4- Add fans! I would start by inviting people who you have friended on you personal profile. If you don't have many friends then what are you waiting for this is a social network. Once you have established a nice fan base them its time to promote.
Step 5- Promote. The best ways to do this is through contest, giveaways,& discounts. An example of a good give away promotion is this- what ever your business offers is what your consumer wants. So find an item that you can afford to giveaway and offer it to the consumer.....but wait! There is a hitch, they must like the post to be entered to win the giveaway. Once they have entetered 3 will picked from the group. Now make a poll on your page with the 3 users and tell them they're friends must come to the page and like it, then vote for their favorite contestant. What rusts going to do is have them sending and posting links like crazy to win the votes. Your best bet would be to choose 3 with the most amount of friends and are the most active.
Tip: Post often and dont repeat things over and over. You will sound like a robot and robots are not social.
Check back soon for tips on managing you page and more, dont forget to follow to get all your updates on cutting edge small business advertising.
Step 1- Log on to http://www.facebook.com/login.php?m2w , this is the login screen. All the way at the bottom of the page it says "advertising" click that link.
Step 2- You should see a page that gives you some idea as to why your creating a page. If you want you can read both the overview tab and the case study tab. After your done reading you can a link in the text of the overview tab that says "facebook page" This is what you going to need to click. Yet again you will come to a page assuring you that making a page is a great idea. At the top right corner you can find a green button that says "create page"....click that. Then you will find your self with a few options, community page or official page. If this is for a business then choose the official page. The choices are self explanatory, but when it comes to the page name I suggest it would be named after your business so that fans and customers can easily find it. Now on to the creating!
Step 3- Now your going to have to get dirty and make the page jive with your business. Make sure that you have plenty of ways for the customer to contact you....e-mail is a must! Also your best bet for your profile picture is a business logo of your own. This assures that you are establishing a professional appearance. Next you will want to add some custom tabs to your page if needed but don't go crazy with the tabs because out will make the page less appealing to the eye. And we want people staying on your page not just clicking through. My suggestion after you have your page setup is to send it out to some close friends and ask what they think about it, If all is well then on to step 4.
Step 4- Add fans! I would start by inviting people who you have friended on you personal profile. If you don't have many friends then what are you waiting for this is a social network. Once you have established a nice fan base them its time to promote.
Step 5- Promote. The best ways to do this is through contest, giveaways,& discounts. An example of a good give away promotion is this- what ever your business offers is what your consumer wants. So find an item that you can afford to giveaway and offer it to the consumer.....but wait! There is a hitch, they must like the post to be entered to win the giveaway. Once they have entetered 3 will picked from the group. Now make a poll on your page with the 3 users and tell them they're friends must come to the page and like it, then vote for their favorite contestant. What rusts going to do is have them sending and posting links like crazy to win the votes. Your best bet would be to choose 3 with the most amount of friends and are the most active.
Tip: Post often and dont repeat things over and over. You will sound like a robot and robots are not social.
Check back soon for tips on managing you page and more, dont forget to follow to get all your updates on cutting edge small business advertising.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Superbowl advertisers jump on the Social media wagon
Millions of dollars are spent every year by companies for 30 second spots during the superbowl. The super bowl could be called the king of all advertising spots easily. This year the advertisers realize that social media is the future and they are not.going to miss out. Kia, Mercedes, Audi, & Volkswagon are all using unique social media campaigns to get a chunk of the social media pie. That's right, the big dogs are using the exact social networks that you an sign up for today for FREE!!!
Advertisers are expected to spend 55% more money in 2011 on social network advertising then they did in 2010. They are doing this for plain and simple reasons......its on its way to the top of effective advertising.
Bottom line is that you can have a bigger price of the pie for free right NOW...what are you waiting for?
Advertisers are expected to spend 55% more money in 2011 on social network advertising then they did in 2010. They are doing this for plain and simple reasons......its on its way to the top of effective advertising.
Bottom line is that you can have a bigger price of the pie for free right NOW...what are you waiting for?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Top 5 reasons your small business will benefit from facebook
In todays day and age there are many online resources that businesses can use to improve they're image and establish themselves as a go to spot for the products or services they offer. Predictions for the growth of impact of social marketing is through the roof. This means that small business owners need to get on the train before it leaves the station.
I know that these internet things can be intimidating but its really easy and almost failproof. Just hope on google and do some research on facebook and soon enough you will be promoting your business on facebook.
These are 5 reasons to become a part of facebook
#1. True definition from your services and competitors. Are your services of higher quality? Do you have superior customer service? If you are better but need to get the word out facebook WILL let the people know.
#2. You will be able to have direct access to to demographic that is literally growing everyday. As the young generation is moving out into the world they are relying more then ever on internet ads to influence the purchases they make and less on traditional forms of ads.
#3. Networking with other businesses in your industry. You can share ideas and with other peoplebin your industry for free! Its like holding a meeting with business owners from around the world while sitting at your desk. Fresh current ideas in your area equals more business for you!
#4. Network with a broader area of people. Maybe you can't afford to expand your advertising range then facebook is the perfect tool for you! You can promote your page for FREE! FREE! And even bought ads on facebook can really get your business booming!
#5. ITS ABSOLUTELY FREE! Seriously if I offered you unlimited advertising with world coverage for 100% free would you decline? Its literally a time commitment and that's all.
I know that these internet things can be intimidating but its really easy and almost failproof. Just hope on google and do some research on facebook and soon enough you will be promoting your business on facebook.
These are 5 reasons to become a part of facebook
#1. True definition from your services and competitors. Are your services of higher quality? Do you have superior customer service? If you are better but need to get the word out facebook WILL let the people know.
#2. You will be able to have direct access to to demographic that is literally growing everyday. As the young generation is moving out into the world they are relying more then ever on internet ads to influence the purchases they make and less on traditional forms of ads.
#3. Networking with other businesses in your industry. You can share ideas and with other peoplebin your industry for free! Its like holding a meeting with business owners from around the world while sitting at your desk. Fresh current ideas in your area equals more business for you!
#4. Network with a broader area of people. Maybe you can't afford to expand your advertising range then facebook is the perfect tool for you! You can promote your page for FREE! FREE! And even bought ads on facebook can really get your business booming!
#5. ITS ABSOLUTELY FREE! Seriously if I offered you unlimited advertising with world coverage for 100% free would you decline? Its literally a time commitment and that's all.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Verizon & Google give small businesses a leg up!
Verizon and Google are offering deals for small and medium sized businesses on the bundles including voice,internet, and or t.v. With those bundles you will receive 3 free Google Apps and 1 year free web domain. Small businesses should be tearing down the doors for this one and ill tell you why.
As I have stated before, cutting edge advertising is probably the most important way for businesses to spread the word and generate leads. Your saving a few bucks on the bundles and getting a chance to really hone in on your internet marketing productivity. If you own a small business Verizon and Google are your ticket to fulfilling your businesses potential right now.
Fear of change for small business owners
When I was fresh out of school I picked up a job at a small business that sold and delivered furniture. This store is still the best store in the area because our customer service was above and beyond the necessary. We had good quality products and the best delivery service.
I bet your thinking that this business must me doing great right? WRONG! The other small furniture stores in the area couldn't touch us as far as quality and service but they had far superior advertising. So when people would ask where I worked I rarley received a different response than "where?" No one had heard of us and no one would with advertising comparable to something that of a preschool musical.
So we had the service, we had the quality, and we had a store on the only road leading to the brand new walmart super center, and we had a lot of happy customers. Our only new customers would be from word of mouth unless the people happen to see our tiny newspaper ads, horribly cheap and poorly time placed t.v commercial that ran for very short lengths at a time, or seen our micro sign placed about 200 feet back from the road. My boss was afraid of technology and afraid.of investing into advertising. Not only did he rarley use traditional forms of advertising he chose the cheapest way of doing it. Because of these things the business struggled constantly while the other guys just kept growing. What would drive a person to do such a thing to they're business?
We also lacked computers which would have made accounting for inventory and keeping track of sales and customers much easier then our books and books and books of customers, products, delivery shedules etc..... we could have easily made more sales and more deliveries with one simple computer. This same guy had us delivering furniture in some of the worst possible vehicles that you could show up to a customers house in. Yet his wife and him drive a Mercedes. I know he cared about his business very much so he Must have been afraid of upgrading to current technology.
The reason he acted like this was probaly the very same reason were seeing all these small businesses miss out on some of todays popular ways to advertise. They're all afraid that its gong to take to much time and in result cost them money and headache. The problem is that they believe that since things have been doing good from traditional adds that there isn't a reason to change the way things are. But they are wrong, yeah it been working but its only working on a demographic that is literally getting smaller everyday. That sounds like a surfire recipe for failure to me.
If you are a small business you NEED current technology to succeed!
Here are some ideas....
-face book fan page
-twitter
-myspace page
-Email newsletters
-Blogging
-Website
-Mobile phone text promoting!
I bet your thinking that this business must me doing great right? WRONG! The other small furniture stores in the area couldn't touch us as far as quality and service but they had far superior advertising. So when people would ask where I worked I rarley received a different response than "where?" No one had heard of us and no one would with advertising comparable to something that of a preschool musical.
So we had the service, we had the quality, and we had a store on the only road leading to the brand new walmart super center, and we had a lot of happy customers. Our only new customers would be from word of mouth unless the people happen to see our tiny newspaper ads, horribly cheap and poorly time placed t.v commercial that ran for very short lengths at a time, or seen our micro sign placed about 200 feet back from the road. My boss was afraid of technology and afraid.of investing into advertising. Not only did he rarley use traditional forms of advertising he chose the cheapest way of doing it. Because of these things the business struggled constantly while the other guys just kept growing. What would drive a person to do such a thing to they're business?
We also lacked computers which would have made accounting for inventory and keeping track of sales and customers much easier then our books and books and books of customers, products, delivery shedules etc..... we could have easily made more sales and more deliveries with one simple computer. This same guy had us delivering furniture in some of the worst possible vehicles that you could show up to a customers house in. Yet his wife and him drive a Mercedes. I know he cared about his business very much so he Must have been afraid of upgrading to current technology.
The reason he acted like this was probaly the very same reason were seeing all these small businesses miss out on some of todays popular ways to advertise. They're all afraid that its gong to take to much time and in result cost them money and headache. The problem is that they believe that since things have been doing good from traditional adds that there isn't a reason to change the way things are. But they are wrong, yeah it been working but its only working on a demographic that is literally getting smaller everyday. That sounds like a surfire recipe for failure to me.
If you are a small business you NEED current technology to succeed!
Here are some ideas....
-face book fan page
-myspace page
-Email newsletters
-Blogging
-Website
-Mobile phone text promoting!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Yet another reason why traditional advertising is losing effectiveness
Yahoo released these stats recently
..... what it says is that 86% of people use mobile phones during they're t.v time. What that says to me is that 86% of people are looking at they're phones during commercials! 86% of people would be effected by internet and mobile advertising better then high cost commercials!
What does that mean for businesses, Particularly small businesses? It means that these people need to be utilizing internet marketing,mobile marketing, and social marketing better! Now this one is going to be short because im going to let you cogitate.
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