Nobody is perfect… We all have heard about and this is correct upto
the mark. Everybody, no matter either he/she is any professional or any
newbie, always tends to make mistakes in his career.Same is the case
with bloggers and other business owners when they tend to setup a blog
or website for their product or service. Today we will deal with some
major mistakes made by these bloggers and business owners in details.
No matter in today’s world, if anybody want to promote his business,
there’s nothing better than the internet.We can easily create a blog or
website for our product or service we provide to our customers and
easily promote our brand overseas.As i previously said, Nobody is
perfect, there are many mistakes and errors made in this task.So, here
are some basic, simple and major reasons or mistakes made by bloggers,
webmasters and business owners.
1. Not Having A Domain Name
This is one of the
simple,basic and major mistake made by most of newbie bloggers and other
business owners. Today, till date, there are many businesses currently
using blogspot.com or wordpress.org or
any other domain name extension for their business. They don’t even
know that having a professional domain name help them turn their
business into a brand name. So, always remember to own a domain name for
your business.
2. Web Hosting
Similarly, like any domain name,
you should also own web hosting for your blog or website.Owning a web
host for your blog or website helps you make your website run
faster,smoother and have full control over your website in no
time.Remember, never ever try to host your blog on any free web
host.There are lots of limitations or you can say disadvantages of free
web hosts over paid web hosts. So, owning a domain name as well as web
hosting for your blog will help you make your business website run
faster, smoother and having full control over it.
3. CMS
CMS just means “content management
system”.This term simply comply with the software or tools which help
you to remove any error from your business blog or website, adding
proper images, content to your website and much more.We highly recommend
to use wordpress as blogging platform as its very easy to use, easily customizable and com
Sources: http://idealtechblog.com
Biggest Mistakes Business Owners Make With Their Blog Or Website
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business. Show all posts
Five Mobile Apps to Make Your Business Life Easier
Mobile business applications have become the standard when conducting
business, whether your company is using an iPad to give a presentation
to potential clients or you’re checking your e-mail on your Blackberry
mid-flight. Here’s a look at five invaluable business apps that aid both employers and their employees.
1. FlightTrack
Available for iPhone and Android, FlightTrack is an easy-to-afford app that helps business travelers stay apprised of their schedules without having to spend hours in an airport on an unexpected layover. The mobile app enables busy professionals to get alerts via their Smartphones, access flight schedules and even get information about the weather on the way. Instead of getting to the airport and finding a flight is delayed or canceled, executives can receive up-to-date information from their home or office and, save precious time.
2. Paycor
Payroll is one of the most important components of any business, but making sure everything goes right isn’t always easy. Numerous factors go into getting payroll right and not every company has the capability of keeping the staff on-site to handle the diverse range of needs their employees have. Company managers and employees both need to stay informed and receive help with payroll questions. Paycor’s mobile app, available on iOS and Android, enables employees to access their past paystubs, see year-to-date deductions and contact anyone in the employee directory, all at their own convenience.
3. Evernote
The days of taking notes by hand haven’t left us entirely, but for many, using a tablet or laptop to take notes during a meeting or presentation has become standard practice. Make the process a little easier and more precise by using a service like Evernote, available for use on a variety of devices, including WindowsMobile, BlackBerry, iPhone and iPod. The notes you take can be synchronized with your laptop and desktop computers, enabling you to access that idea you had at midnight, immediately following lunch with a client, or while waiting for your garment bag at baggage claim.
4. Salesforce
A free app for salespeople on the go, Salesforce allows you to keep track of your sales information, activities, new leads and requests from potential customers. You can also upload photos, leave comments and post status updates, such as announcing that recently closed deal. The app is available on iOS, BlackBerry and Android.
5. Skype
An important resource for any office, Skype gives you the chance to stay in touch with contacts worldwide. Communicate for free via instant message or make video calls, whether you’re following up on a conversation you had following a meeting, chatting with co-workers in a sister office, or interviewing potential candidates in other states. Streamline the process of keeping your employees in touch and reach out to new contacts easily.
Being able to stay in touch with important contacts and access information while out of the office is crucial for professionals around the globe. Whether you’re confirming a flight, reviewing your talking points before a seminar, tracking your paystubs or jotting down a quick idea to discuss at the next company meeting, mobile apps help you stay organized and accomplish your goals.
Joseph Baker, Post from: SiteProNews
1. FlightTrack
Available for iPhone and Android, FlightTrack is an easy-to-afford app that helps business travelers stay apprised of their schedules without having to spend hours in an airport on an unexpected layover. The mobile app enables busy professionals to get alerts via their Smartphones, access flight schedules and even get information about the weather on the way. Instead of getting to the airport and finding a flight is delayed or canceled, executives can receive up-to-date information from their home or office and, save precious time.
2. Paycor
Payroll is one of the most important components of any business, but making sure everything goes right isn’t always easy. Numerous factors go into getting payroll right and not every company has the capability of keeping the staff on-site to handle the diverse range of needs their employees have. Company managers and employees both need to stay informed and receive help with payroll questions. Paycor’s mobile app, available on iOS and Android, enables employees to access their past paystubs, see year-to-date deductions and contact anyone in the employee directory, all at their own convenience.
3. Evernote
The days of taking notes by hand haven’t left us entirely, but for many, using a tablet or laptop to take notes during a meeting or presentation has become standard practice. Make the process a little easier and more precise by using a service like Evernote, available for use on a variety of devices, including WindowsMobile, BlackBerry, iPhone and iPod. The notes you take can be synchronized with your laptop and desktop computers, enabling you to access that idea you had at midnight, immediately following lunch with a client, or while waiting for your garment bag at baggage claim.
4. Salesforce
A free app for salespeople on the go, Salesforce allows you to keep track of your sales information, activities, new leads and requests from potential customers. You can also upload photos, leave comments and post status updates, such as announcing that recently closed deal. The app is available on iOS, BlackBerry and Android.
5. Skype
An important resource for any office, Skype gives you the chance to stay in touch with contacts worldwide. Communicate for free via instant message or make video calls, whether you’re following up on a conversation you had following a meeting, chatting with co-workers in a sister office, or interviewing potential candidates in other states. Streamline the process of keeping your employees in touch and reach out to new contacts easily.
Being able to stay in touch with important contacts and access information while out of the office is crucial for professionals around the globe. Whether you’re confirming a flight, reviewing your talking points before a seminar, tracking your paystubs or jotting down a quick idea to discuss at the next company meeting, mobile apps help you stay organized and accomplish your goals.
Joseph Baker, Post from: SiteProNews
The 5 Hot Advertising Trends of 2012
This year's list of top advertising trends is mostly about the
shifting ways that consumers experience content and how publishers hope
to harness those experiences. Some see it as a chance to reboot the
digital advertising model. Others view it as a future in which
publishers compete for lower and lower stakes as advertising migrates to
(so far) cheaper mobile formats.
The 5 Hot Advertising Trends of 2012
1. Native Advertising
The term "native advertising" was allegedly first introduced by venture capitalist Fred Wilson at OMMA Global in September 2011, but it really picked up steam towards the end of the year. While there's some disagreement about what native advertising actually is, it is perhaps best summed up by the idea that advertising within a context -- whether it's an app or a content site -- should be pretty much indistinguishable to consumers. Thus, Sponsored Stories, Sponsored Tweets and content like "20 Places That You've Probably Never Heard of But Should Totally Visit" on BuzzFeed, which is sponsored by Samsung's Galaxy Camera. The idea seems to be that traditional banner ads won't work on mobile. With smaller screens (especially on phones), your ad has to work harder to catch the reader's attention.2. Action-Based Advertising
A sibling to Native Advertising, action-based advertising is based on the idea that the consumer has to do something to initiate an ad. Once again, the trend is driven by smaller screens and the more consumer-ish relationship people have with their mobile devices compared to desktops. For instance, you won't see a Sponsored Story unless one of your Facebook friends recently interacted with a brand. Other ads can be initiated by sharing a piece of content. Appssavvy, one of the leaders in the space with more than 100 million users on its adtivity platform, claims that such ads get 10 times the click-throughs of traditional banner ads.3. Location-Based Marketing Cools Off
Back in late 2010 and early 2011, it seemed like marketers were falling over themselves to launch deals with Foursquare. In 2012, though, fewer advertisers were beckoning customers to "check in on Foursquare." Though Foursquare appears to have waited too long to roll out advertiser-friendly programs, the novelty also seems to have worn off. Yet, as Aaron Strout, head of location-based marketing for the W20 Group, notes, location-based marketing hasn't gone away. It has just been subsumed by, among others, Apple's iOS 6. Or, as Strout says, "It's become part of the electricity." For instance, when you go to Google.com on the browser of your smartphone, you'll see five icons: restaurants, coffee, bars, fast food and nearby. That's a nice utility, but there's no gamification layer like Foursquare has. Similarly, Apple's Passbook, which is hard-coded into iOS6, is useful, but not much fun.4. Daily Deals Cool Off
Foursquare is a stand-in for location-based marketing in the same way that Groupon is shorthand for the daily deals category. After the frenzy of 2011, including that long-awaited IPO, Groupon's 2012 was a bad hangover. (LivingSocial, Groupon's big rival in the segment, doesn't seem to be faring much better.) Again, the novelty has worn off. But vendors have also questioned the long-term value of the deals.5. Internet Blackouts
What do you do when your competitors are asking consumers to tweet, share, like and +1 everything in sight? One solution is to go in the opposite direction and ask them to get off social media and the Internet. That's how Diesel marketed its 1993 YUK shoe, which it exhumed this year. The campaign asked users to quit Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for two days or just quit Facebook for three days to try to win the shoe. Other far-flung examples include McDonald's, which promoted Sept. 28 as a "day offline" in Dubai and Telia, a Swedish telecom that created a brand app that disables the Internet for periods. Other pushback includes a campaign from Brut that tried to convince guys to quit Facebook because it's "unmanly" and an app from Newcastle Brown Ale that exposes your lame motivations for posting photos on social media.The 5 Hot Advertising Trends of 2012
The Season for a Brand New Social Media Strategy for Your Business
Yes, the holidays are upon us. Whether they have snuck up on you or
you have been preparing for holiday sales for months, one thing is
clear:
It takes clever planning to stand out to your customers amidst a sea of competition.
Sure, you may have a Facebook page for your business and even a Twitter profile. In fact, it should come as no surprise that social media has been named the top marketing strategy for local businesses by Merchant Circle; 70 percent of small businesses use Facebook for marketing, surpassing the ever-popular search engine Google at 66 percent.
How Social Media Can Boost Holiday Sales for Your Business
In light of these revealing statistics, it may be time to get a handle on your social media strategy before Christmas sales start to soar. Currently, active monthly users on Facebook have totaled nearly 850 million. Twitter is another social media giant that now has 140 million active users that produce 340 million tweets per day.
If you have any hope of improving holiday sales for your business, you have to go where the fish are biting.
With a few simple guidelines, you can fine tune your social media strategy or create a new plan altogether, just in time for the holiday season:
1. Always respond to customers via social media. This may seem like a simple rule of thumb, but if your company doesn’t have a staff member designated to handle social media customer service, you may be shooting yourself in the foot.
Customers are likely to complain or ask questions of major brands and small businesses alike in a neutral environment like social media. Every customer query should be responded to promptly, especially on a public thread. This subtle message will convey to customers that they are valued, reinforcing their trust and loyalty in your brand.
2. Get in the spirit of giving. Consider the fact that most online shoppers can expect to be bombarded with ads, e-mails and discount offers everywhere they turn. To stand out as an online retailer, position yourself as a “giver” instead of a “taker.”
Although customers are on the lookout for hot deals and discounts, you can appeal to your customer base by offering product specials with a percentage donated to a local soup kitchen or similar Christmas charity organization. These charitable discounts can be advertised on your website and via social media to encourage customers to give back with each purchase.
3. Don’t forget a sense of urgency. It’s time to strike while the iron is hot. Social media, e-mail and direct mail marketing campaigns should start early in the holiday season and set clear deadlines to encourage customer action.
Customers are likely to ignore a special offer or put it on the backburner if it is available throughout the month of December. Rotate regular discounts and specials with an advertised deadline to elicit an immediate response in each social marketing campaign.
4. When in doubt, hold a contest. If your brand doesn’t seem to be getting a response in social media, it may be time to pull out the big guns and run a contest.
To gather more attention with viral capacity in social media, the bigger the offer, the better. This may include a $100 to $1,000 gift certificate offered exclusively to Facebook followers or a large item giveaway to the first 20 Twitter followers that respond to your contest tweet.
If the four tips listed above don’t get your blood pumping for the holiday season, consider this: Despite the recent economic slump, online shopping remains strong.
eMarketer reports that 2012 e-commerce holiday sales could reach up to $54.5 billion, making this the perfect time to tweak your social media strategy to get a piece of the pie!
Kevin Gao, Post from: SiteProNews
It takes clever planning to stand out to your customers amidst a sea of competition.
Sure, you may have a Facebook page for your business and even a Twitter profile. In fact, it should come as no surprise that social media has been named the top marketing strategy for local businesses by Merchant Circle; 70 percent of small businesses use Facebook for marketing, surpassing the ever-popular search engine Google at 66 percent.
How Social Media Can Boost Holiday Sales for Your Business
In light of these revealing statistics, it may be time to get a handle on your social media strategy before Christmas sales start to soar. Currently, active monthly users on Facebook have totaled nearly 850 million. Twitter is another social media giant that now has 140 million active users that produce 340 million tweets per day.
If you have any hope of improving holiday sales for your business, you have to go where the fish are biting.
With a few simple guidelines, you can fine tune your social media strategy or create a new plan altogether, just in time for the holiday season:
1. Always respond to customers via social media. This may seem like a simple rule of thumb, but if your company doesn’t have a staff member designated to handle social media customer service, you may be shooting yourself in the foot.
Customers are likely to complain or ask questions of major brands and small businesses alike in a neutral environment like social media. Every customer query should be responded to promptly, especially on a public thread. This subtle message will convey to customers that they are valued, reinforcing their trust and loyalty in your brand.
2. Get in the spirit of giving. Consider the fact that most online shoppers can expect to be bombarded with ads, e-mails and discount offers everywhere they turn. To stand out as an online retailer, position yourself as a “giver” instead of a “taker.”
Although customers are on the lookout for hot deals and discounts, you can appeal to your customer base by offering product specials with a percentage donated to a local soup kitchen or similar Christmas charity organization. These charitable discounts can be advertised on your website and via social media to encourage customers to give back with each purchase.
3. Don’t forget a sense of urgency. It’s time to strike while the iron is hot. Social media, e-mail and direct mail marketing campaigns should start early in the holiday season and set clear deadlines to encourage customer action.
Customers are likely to ignore a special offer or put it on the backburner if it is available throughout the month of December. Rotate regular discounts and specials with an advertised deadline to elicit an immediate response in each social marketing campaign.
4. When in doubt, hold a contest. If your brand doesn’t seem to be getting a response in social media, it may be time to pull out the big guns and run a contest.
To gather more attention with viral capacity in social media, the bigger the offer, the better. This may include a $100 to $1,000 gift certificate offered exclusively to Facebook followers or a large item giveaway to the first 20 Twitter followers that respond to your contest tweet.
If the four tips listed above don’t get your blood pumping for the holiday season, consider this: Despite the recent economic slump, online shopping remains strong.
eMarketer reports that 2012 e-commerce holiday sales could reach up to $54.5 billion, making this the perfect time to tweak your social media strategy to get a piece of the pie!
Kevin Gao, Post from: SiteProNews
Is Your Online Business Lacking Goals and Objectives?
This post is going to be a reality check for a lot of web-preneurs.
Why? Because many have no idea their online success or failure is a result of not having a set of clear goals and objectives. Worse, still, is that most people don’t know the difference between the two, which further confuses their online progress.
Granted, there are those lucky few who just jump in with both feet in the online arena and somehow manage to be successful. The problem is, the success is short-lived or they hit a brick wall in the learning curve.
There is a distinction between goals and objectives. A goal is defined as your end result, and the objective is the thing you need to do to get there. Write down one goal you have for your business or any other important area of your life, right now – yes, right now. I will address this later in the post.
Most people have very broad ideas about what they want in life. I refer to this as a vision, not a goal. So, how does this apply to your online success or failure?
Here is where you need to examine your vision for your life – segment your business as one area that you choose to be successful in. Then identify objectives that will help you to accomplish this goal.
As an online entrepreneur business coach, I often help my clients get really clear about what they want in their online business. Most have difficulty distinguishing between goals and objectives and understanding that the latter is an extension of the former in greater detail.
It’s now time to look specifically at the goal you’ve written down. First, you need to properly define this goal. Read through the ‘goal’ as you’ve written it down. Is this goal specific? Is it a clear statement of what you want to achieve?
Formulating Your Goals and Objectives
Use this as an example of how to start formulating your goal: My goal is to ______________. This goal is required for the _______________ aspect of my life, for me to achieve my ‘big-picture’ ambition of ________________ .
Now, here is where I throw most people off. Answer this question: Why do you want to accomplish this goal?
The following eight steps will help you begin the process of setting your goals and objectives.
Kim Harris aka, Post from: SiteProNews
Why? Because many have no idea their online success or failure is a result of not having a set of clear goals and objectives. Worse, still, is that most people don’t know the difference between the two, which further confuses their online progress.
Granted, there are those lucky few who just jump in with both feet in the online arena and somehow manage to be successful. The problem is, the success is short-lived or they hit a brick wall in the learning curve.
There is a distinction between goals and objectives. A goal is defined as your end result, and the objective is the thing you need to do to get there. Write down one goal you have for your business or any other important area of your life, right now – yes, right now. I will address this later in the post.
Most people have very broad ideas about what they want in life. I refer to this as a vision, not a goal. So, how does this apply to your online success or failure?
Here is where you need to examine your vision for your life – segment your business as one area that you choose to be successful in. Then identify objectives that will help you to accomplish this goal.
As an online entrepreneur business coach, I often help my clients get really clear about what they want in their online business. Most have difficulty distinguishing between goals and objectives and understanding that the latter is an extension of the former in greater detail.
It’s now time to look specifically at the goal you’ve written down. First, you need to properly define this goal. Read through the ‘goal’ as you’ve written it down. Is this goal specific? Is it a clear statement of what you want to achieve?
Formulating Your Goals and Objectives
Use this as an example of how to start formulating your goal: My goal is to ______________. This goal is required for the _______________ aspect of my life, for me to achieve my ‘big-picture’ ambition of ________________ .
Now, here is where I throw most people off. Answer this question: Why do you want to accomplish this goal?
The following eight steps will help you begin the process of setting your goals and objectives.
- First, get very clear about what you want. Write down exactly what you want. Your goals must be so clear that a six-year-old could explain it to another child. Add a deadline to your goals. This will drive you unconsciously to achieve it. Remember, goals without a deadline are just dreams.
- Identify obstacles you must overcome to achieve your goals. It could be fear of rejection, judgment, procrastination, etc. Identify what would be a primary obstacle so you can come up with alternate ways to handle it later.
- Identify the knowledge/information/skills to achieve your goals. Your weakest key skill sets the tone or level of your success. Ask yourself, “What one key skill, if developed, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?”
- Identify the people whose help and co-operation you need to achieve your goals.
- Make a list of everything you have to do to achieve your goals. Here is where you get to drill down deep into the goals to set your objectives, or tasks.
- Organize your list of goals and tasks into a plan, specifying dates of completion. I like to add to Outlook with alarms that let me know something is due to be done.
- Prioritize your goals, objectives and minor tasks.
- Develop the habit of self-discipline.
Kim Harris aka, Post from: SiteProNews
Is Your Business Mobile Enough for Your Customers?
Catering to your customers oftentimes is the biggest challenge for a small business owner.
No matter how good your products and services may be, they may not satisfy the toughest of customers. In those cases, providing the customer with more convenience may be the key to making a sale.
In today’s technological world, more and more small business owners are learning that being more mobile can open up new sales, keep existing ones going, and lead to a better long-term revenue stream.
According to research firm Gartner, mobile payments could account for some $617 billion in sales by 2016. Just this year alone, such payments are expected to surpass $171.5 billion, clearly indicating mobility is important to consumers.
So, just what does it take for the man or woman running a small business to succeed in this area?
Given the fact that more consumers are using the Internet to browse and shop for their goods and services, it only makes sense that small businesses are waiting for them. One way to go about this is having a mobile merchant account to accept mobile payments for your goods and services.
With such an account, you can:
• Avoid being tied to only point of sale (POS) payments
When you accept mobile payments, you can take in a payment if you are away from your main office, are not online or if you have a small business that travels. By doing so, you avoid the problem of having to send out invoices, plus you open yourself up to purchases from consumers who can’t or do not want to pay with cash.
• Capitalize on consumer trends
More and more consumers are browsing and shopping online than ever before. Whether they do it from the comfort of their home or while on a break at work, many like buying online and avoiding the hassle of having to go out to busy stores, adding one more thing to do in their busy lives. Keep in mind that if your competition offers mobile payments and you do not, you could be setting yourself up for failure. While you may be concerned about costs associated with getting a mobile payment merchant account, it will more than pay for itself over time.
To get the ball rolling on having a mobile payment option, small business owners need to research and find a mobile payment solution that is consumer-friendly, offers top-notch security so that customer data is never breached and allows for growth down the road.
When looking for a mobile payment solution, make sure you:
• Know your requirements
Knowing what you need to satisfy customers is first and foremost. Given that payment solutions will differ in price and product, make a list of what your needs are before you search around. This way, you are not overspending or getting yourself into a situation where your return on investment (ROI) is not what it should be.
• Search around
Companies such as PayPal, Google, ISIS (joint effort from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon) and others are looking to do business with you on mobile wallet and mobile payment products. There are also others who are looking for your business with convenience-focused mobile payment acceptance solutions. Shop around and get several different options and quotes so that you have different choices in front of you.
• Stay focused on long-term goal
Lastly, you may think mobile payments are not for your business. Keep in mind that most trends indicate mobile payments are here to stay, so don’t kid yourself into thinking you can get by on just point of sale (POS) payments. If you are considering expanding your business and/or doing more business outside of your central location, mobile payments just make sense.
In a day and age where mobility is the key, is your small business a leader when it comes to mobile payments or a follower?
Dave Thomas, Post from: SiteProNews
No matter how good your products and services may be, they may not satisfy the toughest of customers. In those cases, providing the customer with more convenience may be the key to making a sale.
In today’s technological world, more and more small business owners are learning that being more mobile can open up new sales, keep existing ones going, and lead to a better long-term revenue stream.
According to research firm Gartner, mobile payments could account for some $617 billion in sales by 2016. Just this year alone, such payments are expected to surpass $171.5 billion, clearly indicating mobility is important to consumers.
So, just what does it take for the man or woman running a small business to succeed in this area?
Given the fact that more consumers are using the Internet to browse and shop for their goods and services, it only makes sense that small businesses are waiting for them. One way to go about this is having a mobile merchant account to accept mobile payments for your goods and services.
With such an account, you can:
• Avoid being tied to only point of sale (POS) payments
When you accept mobile payments, you can take in a payment if you are away from your main office, are not online or if you have a small business that travels. By doing so, you avoid the problem of having to send out invoices, plus you open yourself up to purchases from consumers who can’t or do not want to pay with cash.
• Capitalize on consumer trends
More and more consumers are browsing and shopping online than ever before. Whether they do it from the comfort of their home or while on a break at work, many like buying online and avoiding the hassle of having to go out to busy stores, adding one more thing to do in their busy lives. Keep in mind that if your competition offers mobile payments and you do not, you could be setting yourself up for failure. While you may be concerned about costs associated with getting a mobile payment merchant account, it will more than pay for itself over time.
To get the ball rolling on having a mobile payment option, small business owners need to research and find a mobile payment solution that is consumer-friendly, offers top-notch security so that customer data is never breached and allows for growth down the road.
When looking for a mobile payment solution, make sure you:
• Know your requirements
Knowing what you need to satisfy customers is first and foremost. Given that payment solutions will differ in price and product, make a list of what your needs are before you search around. This way, you are not overspending or getting yourself into a situation where your return on investment (ROI) is not what it should be.
• Search around
Companies such as PayPal, Google, ISIS (joint effort from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon) and others are looking to do business with you on mobile wallet and mobile payment products. There are also others who are looking for your business with convenience-focused mobile payment acceptance solutions. Shop around and get several different options and quotes so that you have different choices in front of you.
• Stay focused on long-term goal
Lastly, you may think mobile payments are not for your business. Keep in mind that most trends indicate mobile payments are here to stay, so don’t kid yourself into thinking you can get by on just point of sale (POS) payments. If you are considering expanding your business and/or doing more business outside of your central location, mobile payments just make sense.
In a day and age where mobility is the key, is your small business a leader when it comes to mobile payments or a follower?
Dave Thomas, Post from: SiteProNews
Don’t Build Your Business on Borrowed Property
In this article you will:
For instance, if your small business has invested a lot of time, design work, and/or customization on your Facebook page, you could see these efforts wiped out the next time Facebook decides to change its page layout, its publishing guidelines, its features, or any number of other variables over which you have no control.
A few months ago, there was an e-mail going around encouraging Facebook users to post a “copyright disclaimer” on their Facebook pages. It concluded if users posted this disclaimer on their Facebook pages, it would legally protect them from unauthorized use of their information.
Of course, this turned out to be a hoax. The fact is, the information published on your Facebook profile belongs to Facebook. Whatever information you added to your Facebook page was information you voluntarily uploaded to a public platform. You no longer have control of how that information is used, copyright disclaimer or not.
So how do you protect your small business from online changes that are beyond your control? Simple, focus on your website, the online entity that you own.
By making your small business website the “hub” of all your online marketing initiatives, you can use as many external marketing channels as you like, as long as they all lead back to your website – the web destination that you own and can control completely.
Consider this diagram:
![]( "marketing_channels_fs")
In a healthy small business marketing mix, you can see the website is at the center of it all. The other online channels feed into and out of the website, but if any of your social networking channels were to go away, the website would still be there providing critical business and marketing information for users, regardless of what happens externally.
That’s not to say that external marketing channels aren’t important – they are very important. Businesses can benefit hugely from taking advantage of social media and other free platforms that provide extra visibility and engagement with customers. But putting too much of your time, effort and marketing dollars into a social site that you don’t own or control can be risky. Instead, consider an integrated, website-centric approach:
Lauren Hobson
Post from: SiteProNews
- Learn why your small business website should be the center of your marketing universe.
- Learn how to protect your marketing from social media changes beyond your control.
- See how to manage and control the flow of information to any number of external channels (blog, social, etc.).
For instance, if your small business has invested a lot of time, design work, and/or customization on your Facebook page, you could see these efforts wiped out the next time Facebook decides to change its page layout, its publishing guidelines, its features, or any number of other variables over which you have no control.
A few months ago, there was an e-mail going around encouraging Facebook users to post a “copyright disclaimer” on their Facebook pages. It concluded if users posted this disclaimer on their Facebook pages, it would legally protect them from unauthorized use of their information.
Of course, this turned out to be a hoax. The fact is, the information published on your Facebook profile belongs to Facebook. Whatever information you added to your Facebook page was information you voluntarily uploaded to a public platform. You no longer have control of how that information is used, copyright disclaimer or not.
So how do you protect your small business from online changes that are beyond your control? Simple, focus on your website, the online entity that you own.
By making your small business website the “hub” of all your online marketing initiatives, you can use as many external marketing channels as you like, as long as they all lead back to your website – the web destination that you own and can control completely.
Consider this diagram:
In a healthy small business marketing mix, you can see the website is at the center of it all. The other online channels feed into and out of the website, but if any of your social networking channels were to go away, the website would still be there providing critical business and marketing information for users, regardless of what happens externally.
That’s not to say that external marketing channels aren’t important – they are very important. Businesses can benefit hugely from taking advantage of social media and other free platforms that provide extra visibility and engagement with customers. But putting too much of your time, effort and marketing dollars into a social site that you don’t own or control can be risky. Instead, consider an integrated, website-centric approach:
- Use your blog (self-hosted on your domain) to post social information, then auto-publish those posts to your external social sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
- Make sure your social profiles link to your website and vice versa.
- Use campaign-specific landing pages on your website for e-marketing and social initiatives.
- Integrate all online channels so a consistent message is delivered regardless of the user’s device, and include plenty of links back to your website.
Lauren Hobson
Post from: SiteProNews
Why You Should Use QR Code Marketing In Your Small Business
By now, we’ve all seen the little square bar codes known as QR (Quick
Response) Codes. Whether it’s in a magazine, a poster, on a bus or a
newspaper ad, they are becoming much more visible. But do you know what
they are, how they’re used and how they can benefit both businesses and
consumers?
Invented all the way back in 1994, they were originally used to track vehicles during the assembly process. Today, thanks to the internet, these codes can open up an astounding array of possibilities. All you need is your smart phone and a QR Reader (Apps are Free!) to enjoy this new world of content.
For businesses, a QR Code can link a consumer to the company’s mobile web site, a YouTube product demo or informational video, an online user manual, coupons, monthly specials, contact information and so much more. Even individuals can use QR codes to link to their Facebook and Twitter accounts or for a high tech resume. The options are limited only by your imagination. The Dutch Mint even put a QR Code on a coin in 2011 that connects to their web site.
The great thing about these little QRs is that they don’t interfere with your current marketing… they enhance it. A QR Code can be as small as 1/4″ or as big as the side of a building. The important thing about them though is where it takes your potential customer. The content on the other end of that scan has to be compelling and fit the screen of a smart phone.
Did you know that currently, there are over 6 Billion mobile phone subscriptions in the world today and by the end of 2013 there will be more subscriptions than there are people on the planet?… 7 Billion! Peoples’ lives are now on their smart phone. The best way to connect to them is through the use of this great technology.
While QR Codes offer tremendous opportunities, they can also be used incorrectly. A QR Code that connects to a non-mobile optimized site is a frustrating experience. Smart phone screens are 3-4″ diagonally compared to a laptop or desktop computer monitor at 15-24.” A regular web site on a phone requires lots of pinching and zooming and the buttons are too small for my big fingers! Always consider the end use when linking your QR Code.
As Bob Dylan said so many years ago… “The Times They Are A Changin?.” Today though, that change comes at a much faster pace. Consider this startling statistic from Google; “Every piece of content created from the beginning of mankind until the year 2003 is now being replicated every 48 hours!” That’s every cave drawing, piece of written word, music, photograph, etc. created over many thousands of years being recreated in volume every 2 days. Talk about information overload. It’s amazing that something as small as a QR Code can link you directly to an entire online encyclopedia, or a complete concert or movie.
Today, even with all this technology, we’re actually going backwards in terms of business/customer relationships to a more intimate time. Like when you walked into the butchers’ shop and he started cutting your favorite piece of meat without you saying a word or the milkman knowing to leave you 2 quarts on Friday. Everyone is sharing information these days… some probably too much. As a business owner, you should really get to know your best customers. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Find out what they’re up to, what they’re thinking, what gets them excited and then the next time you see them, you can connect with them on a whole new level that brings them even closer and creates more loyalty to your brand.
I understand all this technology scares many people. Hopefully this introductory article will open your eyes as to what’s possible these days and ease some of that tension. As businesses, we have to be engaged with our customers on this more “personal” level and continually share information. As consumers, you have no reason not to make an informed buying decision. Virtually all the information in the world is in your hands now! Use it.
Edward Deso
Invented all the way back in 1994, they were originally used to track vehicles during the assembly process. Today, thanks to the internet, these codes can open up an astounding array of possibilities. All you need is your smart phone and a QR Reader (Apps are Free!) to enjoy this new world of content.
For businesses, a QR Code can link a consumer to the company’s mobile web site, a YouTube product demo or informational video, an online user manual, coupons, monthly specials, contact information and so much more. Even individuals can use QR codes to link to their Facebook and Twitter accounts or for a high tech resume. The options are limited only by your imagination. The Dutch Mint even put a QR Code on a coin in 2011 that connects to their web site.
The great thing about these little QRs is that they don’t interfere with your current marketing… they enhance it. A QR Code can be as small as 1/4″ or as big as the side of a building. The important thing about them though is where it takes your potential customer. The content on the other end of that scan has to be compelling and fit the screen of a smart phone.
Did you know that currently, there are over 6 Billion mobile phone subscriptions in the world today and by the end of 2013 there will be more subscriptions than there are people on the planet?… 7 Billion! Peoples’ lives are now on their smart phone. The best way to connect to them is through the use of this great technology.
While QR Codes offer tremendous opportunities, they can also be used incorrectly. A QR Code that connects to a non-mobile optimized site is a frustrating experience. Smart phone screens are 3-4″ diagonally compared to a laptop or desktop computer monitor at 15-24.” A regular web site on a phone requires lots of pinching and zooming and the buttons are too small for my big fingers! Always consider the end use when linking your QR Code.
As Bob Dylan said so many years ago… “The Times They Are A Changin?.” Today though, that change comes at a much faster pace. Consider this startling statistic from Google; “Every piece of content created from the beginning of mankind until the year 2003 is now being replicated every 48 hours!” That’s every cave drawing, piece of written word, music, photograph, etc. created over many thousands of years being recreated in volume every 2 days. Talk about information overload. It’s amazing that something as small as a QR Code can link you directly to an entire online encyclopedia, or a complete concert or movie.
Today, even with all this technology, we’re actually going backwards in terms of business/customer relationships to a more intimate time. Like when you walked into the butchers’ shop and he started cutting your favorite piece of meat without you saying a word or the milkman knowing to leave you 2 quarts on Friday. Everyone is sharing information these days… some probably too much. As a business owner, you should really get to know your best customers. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Find out what they’re up to, what they’re thinking, what gets them excited and then the next time you see them, you can connect with them on a whole new level that brings them even closer and creates more loyalty to your brand.
I understand all this technology scares many people. Hopefully this introductory article will open your eyes as to what’s possible these days and ease some of that tension. As businesses, we have to be engaged with our customers on this more “personal” level and continually share information. As consumers, you have no reason not to make an informed buying decision. Virtually all the information in the world is in your hands now! Use it.
Edward Deso
Relevant Content Creation Can Yield Better Traffic from a Variety of Channels
Businesses can survive online without relying solely on major search
engines. Contrary to popular belief, search engine optimization (SEO)
practices are not the be-all and end-all of online success.
Websites can perform remarkably well in generating genuine traffic that translates into sales through a number of other channels, such as referrals and direct traffic.
The first step in attaining this success, of course, is to create quality content that gives consumers plenty of value. Content need not be written text only, despite the fact that producing well-written articles on a variety of relevant subjects can be very helpful to consumers seeking information and advice. To complement the release of articles, you would do well to include multimedia content like videos and podcasts that can be easily accessed by an increasingly tech-savvy market. By creating different kinds of content, you are sure to have a wider audience reach precisely because the content is made in viewable formats.
Once you have identified your target audience, outlined the information that you wish to share and produced the content in the preferred format, it’s time to think about the different channels through which the content can be distributed to generate the maximum level of traffic. Remember, there’s no need to focus on just one channel. Success can be attained by using several different channels and identifying which yields the strongest results and which needs more attention. The campaign can then be adapted accordingly to produce the optimum level of traffic.
Here is a list of the different channels you can use to generate the most traffic for your business:
* Facebook
Creating a Facebook account will not only help you reach “fans,” it will also give you access to thousands and even millions of “friends of fans.” Facebook users are quick to “like” and “share” profiles and content they believe, have an innovative take on business and high quality service. Informative and engaging posts can be easily shared from one person to another – how’s that for free traffic?
* Twitter
Content created for Facebook accounts can automatically be pushed to Twitter, therefore, reaching even more consumers.
* Pinterest
Images and infographics are useful in presenting quality content in a fun and interesting manner.
* iTunes
Nearly half of Apple’s revenue is from sales of the iPhone, so why not reach out to the millions of people who have the device in their hands using audio content?
* Smart Devices and YouTube
With millions of people using Smartphones and iPads that have the capability to show videos, it’s a good idea to create competitive video content that mobile users can view and share.
* Affiliates
Creating web banners advertising your products on affiliate sites brings an entirely new audience forward. More importantly, in the event that you are penalized by the major search engines or social media sites, you can still survive and generate traffic from affiliate sites, social media accounts, and blogs.
* Search Engines, SEO, Press Releases, RSS, PDFs, etc.
Every effort to distribute quality content through channels frequently visited by Internet users provides an opportunity for generating more traffic.
The purpose of creating quality content is to direct people’s attention toward a site, enable them to see quality products and services and motivate them to engage in business with your company. Excellent content tells consumers your company is serious about providing good service and, when properly distributed through multiple channels, potential customers will flock to your site to view and purchase products, follow blog entries, and share information with even more consumers.
Post from: SiteProNews
Websites can perform remarkably well in generating genuine traffic that translates into sales through a number of other channels, such as referrals and direct traffic.
The first step in attaining this success, of course, is to create quality content that gives consumers plenty of value. Content need not be written text only, despite the fact that producing well-written articles on a variety of relevant subjects can be very helpful to consumers seeking information and advice. To complement the release of articles, you would do well to include multimedia content like videos and podcasts that can be easily accessed by an increasingly tech-savvy market. By creating different kinds of content, you are sure to have a wider audience reach precisely because the content is made in viewable formats.
Once you have identified your target audience, outlined the information that you wish to share and produced the content in the preferred format, it’s time to think about the different channels through which the content can be distributed to generate the maximum level of traffic. Remember, there’s no need to focus on just one channel. Success can be attained by using several different channels and identifying which yields the strongest results and which needs more attention. The campaign can then be adapted accordingly to produce the optimum level of traffic.
Here is a list of the different channels you can use to generate the most traffic for your business:
Creating a Facebook account will not only help you reach “fans,” it will also give you access to thousands and even millions of “friends of fans.” Facebook users are quick to “like” and “share” profiles and content they believe, have an innovative take on business and high quality service. Informative and engaging posts can be easily shared from one person to another – how’s that for free traffic?
Content created for Facebook accounts can automatically be pushed to Twitter, therefore, reaching even more consumers.
Images and infographics are useful in presenting quality content in a fun and interesting manner.
* iTunes
Nearly half of Apple’s revenue is from sales of the iPhone, so why not reach out to the millions of people who have the device in their hands using audio content?
* Smart Devices and YouTube
With millions of people using Smartphones and iPads that have the capability to show videos, it’s a good idea to create competitive video content that mobile users can view and share.
* Affiliates
Creating web banners advertising your products on affiliate sites brings an entirely new audience forward. More importantly, in the event that you are penalized by the major search engines or social media sites, you can still survive and generate traffic from affiliate sites, social media accounts, and blogs.
* Search Engines, SEO, Press Releases, RSS, PDFs, etc.
Every effort to distribute quality content through channels frequently visited by Internet users provides an opportunity for generating more traffic.
The purpose of creating quality content is to direct people’s attention toward a site, enable them to see quality products and services and motivate them to engage in business with your company. Excellent content tells consumers your company is serious about providing good service and, when properly distributed through multiple channels, potential customers will flock to your site to view and purchase products, follow blog entries, and share information with even more consumers.
Post from: SiteProNews
Cloud Computing and the Small eCommerce Business
Shopping online has become a way of life.
Almost daily, it seems, the media publishes new, exciting information about the ever-booming eCommerce industry. Consumers are buying goods from their PCs, their tablets and their Smartphones around the clock.
Boxing Day 2011, for example, broke online shopping records.
To respond to this increasing demand, smaller eCommerce businesses need to adopt a robust system that can cope with peaks and plunges without costing the earth. The solution? Cloud computing.
Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand, much like the electricity grid.
Cloud computing seems to be the technological topic de jour, but can it really bring all of the benefits industry commentators talk about? Does it benefit smaller merchants? Will those who fail to embrace cloud computing suffer?
The truth is, ignoring cloud computing may mean missing out on some great ways to save money.
One of the main attractions of cloud computing is businesses are only charged for the services used. That feature alone should immediately translate into savings.
Additionally, because business owners use the cloud provider’s resources, they won’t need to spend money on equipment, maintenance, new software updates or related manpower.
How many small eCommerce businesses have had to buy more equipment to cope with heavy demand at peak times? How much of that equipment lays unused for 10 months of the year? Plenty, no doubt.
With cloud computing, however, money won’t be wasted on redundant items. It is easy to cope with busy periods such as holidays, by using extra servers provided by the cloud to ensure all transactions are completed. Then, when demand recedes to normal levels, those extra resources can be turned off.
Another benefit of cloud computing is there’s no need to invest in fancy PC equipment – all data can be accessed through the usual well-known browsers: Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. This is great news for those with smaller operations. Separate cloud computing makes access to particular applications easy for other stakeholders, such as suppliers. This would allow for invoicing on the Internet, for instance.
Using the cloud can also contribute toward a firm’s business continuity measures. High winds and extreme weather can cause power cuts, potentially interrupting business. That is bad news for the eCommerce industry which can lose thousands if not millions of dollars in such situations. That is why keeping the online operation hosted via cloud makes so much sense. Networks won’t be affected and business can continue as normal. It’s good for consumers too, whose shopping experience will be smoother and undisturbed.
The affordability of cloud computing levels the playing field, allowing small merchants to compete alongside their larger peers for customers’ business. The cloud could, in fact, eventually make a dent in marketplace domination held by large, rival organizations.
It’s been said 90 percent of all eCommerce businesses will make use of the cloud by 2017. Given that cloud computing is a flexible, affordable technology that can help smaller businesses evolve, compete and succeed, it’s little wonder.
Almost daily, it seems, the media publishes new, exciting information about the ever-booming eCommerce industry. Consumers are buying goods from their PCs, their tablets and their Smartphones around the clock.
Boxing Day 2011, for example, broke online shopping records.
To respond to this increasing demand, smaller eCommerce businesses need to adopt a robust system that can cope with peaks and plunges without costing the earth. The solution? Cloud computing.
Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand, much like the electricity grid.
Cloud computing seems to be the technological topic de jour, but can it really bring all of the benefits industry commentators talk about? Does it benefit smaller merchants? Will those who fail to embrace cloud computing suffer?
The truth is, ignoring cloud computing may mean missing out on some great ways to save money.
One of the main attractions of cloud computing is businesses are only charged for the services used. That feature alone should immediately translate into savings.
Additionally, because business owners use the cloud provider’s resources, they won’t need to spend money on equipment, maintenance, new software updates or related manpower.
How many small eCommerce businesses have had to buy more equipment to cope with heavy demand at peak times? How much of that equipment lays unused for 10 months of the year? Plenty, no doubt.
With cloud computing, however, money won’t be wasted on redundant items. It is easy to cope with busy periods such as holidays, by using extra servers provided by the cloud to ensure all transactions are completed. Then, when demand recedes to normal levels, those extra resources can be turned off.
Another benefit of cloud computing is there’s no need to invest in fancy PC equipment – all data can be accessed through the usual well-known browsers: Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. This is great news for those with smaller operations. Separate cloud computing makes access to particular applications easy for other stakeholders, such as suppliers. This would allow for invoicing on the Internet, for instance.
Using the cloud can also contribute toward a firm’s business continuity measures. High winds and extreme weather can cause power cuts, potentially interrupting business. That is bad news for the eCommerce industry which can lose thousands if not millions of dollars in such situations. That is why keeping the online operation hosted via cloud makes so much sense. Networks won’t be affected and business can continue as normal. It’s good for consumers too, whose shopping experience will be smoother and undisturbed.
The affordability of cloud computing levels the playing field, allowing small merchants to compete alongside their larger peers for customers’ business. The cloud could, in fact, eventually make a dent in marketplace domination held by large, rival organizations.
It’s been said 90 percent of all eCommerce businesses will make use of the cloud by 2017. Given that cloud computing is a flexible, affordable technology that can help smaller businesses evolve, compete and succeed, it’s little wonder.
About YouTube Marketing
Promoting a business can be extremely taxing, especially when you’re just getting started. If you’re into checking out marketing blogs, you’ve probably come across some information about YouTube marketing. This form of advertising falls under the umbrella of video advertising, which falls under the even larger umbrella of Internet marketing. Take a look at some specifics of this business strategy to deepen your understanding about its importance and utilize it to help popularize your products or services.
Why Online Video Advertising?
Video marketing is one of the leading advertising platforms on the Internet. People of all ages and from different backgrounds are taking advantage of this promotional opportunity in an effort to maximize the visibility of their business. It falls under the concept of showing rather than telling and continues to draw an abundance of viewers if done correctly. There are several types of video marketing. The primary kinds include article video marketing, viral video marketing and social video marketing. Individuals can utilize one or multiple forms according to their specific needs and intentions. If you’re not certain about how to implement videos, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional or consider audio production schools in your area that’ll provide thorough instruction:
Article Video Marketing
This type of video marketing typically interests those who prefer the less time-consuming practice of watching informational videos rather than reading articles. Video marketing involves businesses or individuals developing numerous short clips that display the contents of articles written beforehand. Most videos are between two and five minutes and cover a wide range of topics. After the videos are created, they’re uploaded onto popular video-sharing websites to target an audience.
Articles can be converted into videos in a number of ways. One of the most popular ways is to turn the written pieces into a PowerPoint presentation or animated slideshow. Pictures and a voiceover narration are usually added to the presentation before it’s recorded via screen capture software and put on the Internet for viewing pleasure. An alternative involves recording an article and saving it as an MP3 file. Afterwards, video layout software is used to change the audio to a video. The finished product is then exported and uploaded to relevant websites for exposure.
Viral Video Marketing
Another form of online video advertising is viral video marketing which contains humorous events, eyewitness incidents or clips from comedy sketches on television. Many clips are shot by amateurs on mobile devices and edited with the use of economical tools and software before being published on video sharing sites, social networking sites and personal websites.
Most viral videos are created as a dialogue and shared with the intention of entertaining family and friends, although many people use it as a way to engage prospective customers. This option has benefited word-of-mouth marketing and was preceded by email-sharing. These videos continue to increase in popularity in a variety of sectors, including education and music. However, fans of this concept must be careful not to violate copyright laws, as this has been a major downside to viral video-making and has been the result of several problems within the entertainment industry.
Social Video Marketing
Social Video Marketing
This choice is equally significant. Social video marketing (SVM) is similar to viral video marketing in that it engages a wide audience through the distribution of video. However, the notion of self-expression tends to be more evident. This form of video marketing relies heavily on social theory, consumer culture theory, and economic theory.
SVM also intends to leave a deeper contextual message, rather than simply being a pass-along model between sender and recipient. In other words, a more individualistic approach is taken and the finished product tends to have more depth as it forms solid relationships and builds trust between publishers and viewers.
Introducing YouTube
Despite the kind of video marketing used, many advertisers can attest to the benefits of sharing their clips on YouTube. This video-sharing site attracts millions of visitors on a regular basis and contains a large host of products, including music videos, TV clips, movie clips, video blogs, and original clips. Although mostly individuals upload videos on the site, several major corporations have been known to make contributions as well.
Content is constantly investigated by YouTube’s employees. Explicit or offensive material can only be viewed by registered users. This group also has the privilege of uploading videos, as well as watching them. Unregistered users, on the other hand, solely have the right to view distributed clips.
Besides uploading, YouTube also contains other valuable features. Playback is a major attribute on the site and enables users to view finished products if an Adobe Flash Player plug-in is installed on their computer. Browsers that support specific HTML5 versions, such as advanced video coding and WebM, also afford individuals the opportunity to view videos, although some clips are still inaccessible with this alternative. Additional features include 3D videos, various platforms and a new localization system.
How it All Began
At the beginning of 2005, YouTube was established by three former PayPal employees. The entire concept of the video-sharing website was developed over the course of a few months and started out as a technology start-up company. Its headquarters were initially located in San Mateo, California.
After its inception, the site grew faster than anticipated. By the summer of 2006, it was reported that thousands of videos were being uploaded every day and millions of viewers were watching clips per day. Numbers continued to increase and moved into the billions by 2010. Since then, YouTube has embarked on several new concepts, such as the ability to upload full-length videos and the free streaming of specific content. A new design was also launched to provide additional benefits to users.
Today, YouTube is headquartered in San Bruno, California. After being acquired by Google, the Google+ social networking site was integrated with YouTube which allow the site’s videos to be viewed from Google’s interface. YouTube is a dominant force in the online business market in the United States and it also ranks relatively high in other regions, including the United Kingdom. As of 2012, more than 4 billion videos are streamed per day.
Article by James Chapman. Learn more about YouTube marketing.http://AppliedOnlineMarketing.
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
Internet Trends That Will Affect Your Business This Year
We are already seeing new trends and developments in social media this year with the significant growth in popularity of interest-based sites like Twitter and Pinterest. Consumer purchasing is moving towards, and becoming increasingly influenced by, websites and social sites that share people’s passions and interests as well as customer reviews of products and services.
These are the new frontiers for customer-engagement which are already affecting your business and which your PR and marketing strategy needs to prepare for and embrace.
1. More User Reviews and Ratings on Websites:
Reviews are becoming extremely influential in consumer purchasing decisions. Groups like TripAdvisor on which no hotelier wants to get on the wrong side, already have the capacity to make or break a business. The adage, ‘you’re only as good as your last job’ reflects how companies and service providers are increasingly being seen by the public. A bad review has significant commercial implications for the organization involved. The trend now is to gather as many ‘good reviews’, ratings and product endorsements as possible and post them where they can be seen on your website.
2. Information / Social Media Relevance:
With access to over 98,000 tweets, 695,000 Facebook status updates, 79,364 Facebook wall posts and 600 new YouTube videos uploaded every minute of the day (not to mention the average 147 daily emails we receive in a working day), consumers are clearly suffering from ‘white noise’ and information overload. What they want now is to be given the information they are interested in immediately or they’ll look elsewhere. The ability to match your business/product information with the right people is becoming
the major driver of success.
the major driver of success.
3. Social Reputation Management:
It’s staggering how many UK organizations don’t have a tried and tested crisis communications plan ready to deal with social media relations when disaster strikes. However, the recent example of the Costa Concordia cruise disaster has woken many up to doing something about it this year. The ship’s sinking and the incompetence of the captain has been widely broadcast, embarrassing and costing the Costa and Carnival brands dearly in terms of public confidence and also, the reputation of the cruise ship industry as a whole, forcing it to re-evaluate itself.
4. Social Media:
Social Media is having an increasing influence on search results. It’s already happening with search engines like Google crawling social media sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. This includes user generated reviews and ratings from social media consumer conversations.
5. Social Customer Relations Management (SCRM):
5. Social Customer Relations Management (SCRM):
Truly customer-centric companies are recognizing that social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, and social interest sites like Pinterest, are cost-effective and quick ways to ensure their customers always keep them ‘in sight’ and ‘in mind’. Social customer relations have become an integral part of their customer relationship management activities. This year, however, we’re going to see more social media ‘newbies’ catching-on and reaping the rewards.
6. Social and Website Competitions:
These have become a great way to make your company stand out from the crowd and drive people to your website and product offerings. The US and Canada do this very well and UK/European organizations are starting to pay attention and enjoy the benefits as well.
7. Do-It-Yourself TV:
7. Do-It-Yourself TV:
Smartphones, tablets, YouTube and Skype which allow people to visually communicate and share information and experiences are starting to take-off in a big way and will need to become an integrated part of the ‘customer experience’.
8. Real-Time, Geo-Marketing Promotions:
More retailers and high street service providers will be starting to use geo-marketing techniques to connect to consumers shopping or visiting their neighborhood and offering deals and incentives directly to their mobile phones.
Article by Arthur Camp-Sorensen. E=MC2 PR Ltd email:info@emc2publicrelations.com | 01747 871752
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
10 Ways to Brand Yourself for More Success
One thing I have learned since I have been in internet marketing is
that you have to “brand yourself” in order to become successful.
Branding yourself means to make yourself stand out from the rest. Be the
one people remember and go to when they need your products and/or
services. Build your reputation as the go to person in your field.
Branding yourself will take work, time and commitment, but it is essential for your business success. Below are some things you can start doing to start the branding process.
1. Have a Motto - Choose a motto to live by personally and professionally. This will stick in people’s minds and help you focus as well. My motto is to treat others as I would want them to treat me. I try to live everyday by the Golden Rule!
2. Connect with People – Don’t just get through meetings, calls, appointments, etc. Take the time to really connect with the people you are talking to. Be open and listen intently to what others say. Make the time with you memorable and satisfactory so people will be sure to return.
3. Personalize – Anytime you send emails, postcards, letters or anything, make it personal. Use the person’s name to show them they are not just another number or sale to you. Send birthday and/or holiday greetings. People need to feel like people and not just a dollar sign!
4. Professional Networking - Join some good networking sites, groups and clubs. Make yourself available for advice, help, and guidance. Be sure to participate often.
5. Always Be Honest and Upfront – Be honest with people. Don’t use deceptive lines and tricks to get people to buy from you. Let people know, honestly, what you can do for them. If you cannot meet their needs, point them to someone who can. They will remember your willingness to help and come back to you when you can meet their needs.
6. Body Language – Using body language effectively can have a real impact on how people perceive you. Always make direct eye contact. Let your eyes show friendliness and interest. Use your eyebrows to show openness and understanding. Don’t scrunch them disapprovingly. Keep your brow relaxed. Smile and don’t purse your lips or tighten your mouth. Keep your arms unfolded and sit in a relaxed manner with good posture. Don’t slouch or fidget. The art of using proper body language is quite real so do some research and learn all you can.
7. Go the Extra Mile – Help people whenever you can even if you don’t see a sale happening. By offering extra help and support you are sending a message about what type of person you are and what kind of business you run.
8. Believe in Yourself - If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to. Always be positive in mind, spirit and attitude. Be professional, and always create a positive image as well. This will be a big factor in what people think of you.
9. Email and Phone Etiquette – Write your emails with proper spelling and grammar. Be courteous, friendly and helpful. Do not use offensive words or phrases. This goes for talking on the phone as well. Using vulgar, offensive or unprofessional language will definitely be something people will not forget!
10. Be Yourself – Don’t try to put on a façade. Relax and let the person know how unique and authentic you are.
Branding yourself will help build your business success, but it will help you in other ways as well. You will form lasting and beneficial relationships with others – both personally and professionally. You will learn more from the experiences of others and you will also learn more about yourself and how special and unique you really are. And that, my friend, could be the biggest reward of all!
Branding yourself will take work, time and commitment, but it is essential for your business success. Below are some things you can start doing to start the branding process.
1. Have a Motto - Choose a motto to live by personally and professionally. This will stick in people’s minds and help you focus as well. My motto is to treat others as I would want them to treat me. I try to live everyday by the Golden Rule!
2. Connect with People – Don’t just get through meetings, calls, appointments, etc. Take the time to really connect with the people you are talking to. Be open and listen intently to what others say. Make the time with you memorable and satisfactory so people will be sure to return.
3. Personalize – Anytime you send emails, postcards, letters or anything, make it personal. Use the person’s name to show them they are not just another number or sale to you. Send birthday and/or holiday greetings. People need to feel like people and not just a dollar sign!
4. Professional Networking - Join some good networking sites, groups and clubs. Make yourself available for advice, help, and guidance. Be sure to participate often.
5. Always Be Honest and Upfront – Be honest with people. Don’t use deceptive lines and tricks to get people to buy from you. Let people know, honestly, what you can do for them. If you cannot meet their needs, point them to someone who can. They will remember your willingness to help and come back to you when you can meet their needs.
6. Body Language – Using body language effectively can have a real impact on how people perceive you. Always make direct eye contact. Let your eyes show friendliness and interest. Use your eyebrows to show openness and understanding. Don’t scrunch them disapprovingly. Keep your brow relaxed. Smile and don’t purse your lips or tighten your mouth. Keep your arms unfolded and sit in a relaxed manner with good posture. Don’t slouch or fidget. The art of using proper body language is quite real so do some research and learn all you can.
7. Go the Extra Mile – Help people whenever you can even if you don’t see a sale happening. By offering extra help and support you are sending a message about what type of person you are and what kind of business you run.
8. Believe in Yourself - If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to. Always be positive in mind, spirit and attitude. Be professional, and always create a positive image as well. This will be a big factor in what people think of you.
9. Email and Phone Etiquette – Write your emails with proper spelling and grammar. Be courteous, friendly and helpful. Do not use offensive words or phrases. This goes for talking on the phone as well. Using vulgar, offensive or unprofessional language will definitely be something people will not forget!
10. Be Yourself – Don’t try to put on a façade. Relax and let the person know how unique and authentic you are.
Branding yourself will help build your business success, but it will help you in other ways as well. You will form lasting and beneficial relationships with others – both personally and professionally. You will learn more from the experiences of others and you will also learn more about yourself and how special and unique you really are. And that, my friend, could be the biggest reward of all!
Digital business trends 2012
On reviewing digital business trends this year, it was interesting to
discover there are three main areas that could unalterably change the
face of business communications, the very future of the internet and how
we use it.
It was Pete Cashmore, CEO of Mashable, who wrote towards the end of last year that “the pace of change has become blisteringly fast, with traditional industries – bookstores, video-rental chains, newspapers – crumbling more quickly than we could have imagined and predicted.” Looking at the trends he predicted were to take shape in 2012, the first was that tablet computers such as the iPad will become replacements to desktop computing and that the mouse will soon be “superseded by touchscreens”.
Another development, embraced wholeheartedly by heavyweights such as IBM, concluded in its report that of 2,000 medium-sized companies it surveyed, two-thirds were planning or had already deployed cloud-based technologies and 70 percent of businesses are either using or investigating cloud computing solutions.
For the past six months we have been heavily involved in the production of a new website, VoIP4Cloud, that offers an advanced, feature-rich, cloud-based VoIP IP PBX Unified Communications system for progressive businesses. The site was released earlier this month. However, in developing the site, there were two concepts, relating to cloud computing and mobile apps, that we found were gaining real strength in the market and in business communications models.
There is another part to this triumvirate of change and that is email marketing. These days, it’s not just about sending endless newsletters to clients, who barely read the traditional tomes of self-congratulatory corporate-speak, but about the way it integrates with social media; an ideal and “compelling” medium on which companies can relay their “brand voice” on social networks.
These days it’s much more about personal connections and dialogue in communicating information that counts and companies at the forefront of email marketing have already recognised this and have moved forward in their communications strategies also.
Mailigen is one such company that has grown from a small business email marketing service into an international company, and accredited by TopSEOs as the fourth best email marketing company and sixth by TopTen Reviews.
This method of marketing opens another platform to connect and communicate with your customers, so as to integrate your marketing message via email, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs. This enables businesses to interact and engage their company or brand with their customers on different channels and by a variety of methods.
There are a huge number of media channels to exploit these days, from Pinterest to video, all with a different approach and style as to how the marketing message is portrayed. But to really gear ourselves up for the year ahead, it’s worth taking the time to look at how these trends will affect business and what our competitors may be doing to embrace these trends.
It’s a real shake-up in the manner in which businesses interact with their customers, which makes for very interesting times ahead for all.
In summary, digital business trends this year include:
• Windows 8 is a complete re-imagining of Windows and the Metro interface takes a traditional Windows users into the realm of the mobile: instead of files and folders, there are touchable tiles that fire up your apps.
• There have been a host of analyses recently that point out that cloud computing has taken a significant hold and that its efficiency and economies of scale means that companies are racing ahead in the cloud.
• Social media integration provides an ideal and way for companies to convey their brand voice on many different platforms, with email marketing now part of the overall convergence of discourse between company and customer.
Brand Reputation Management is comprised of a professional team of writers, journalists and reputation management specialists with years of internet marketing experience.
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
It was Pete Cashmore, CEO of Mashable, who wrote towards the end of last year that “the pace of change has become blisteringly fast, with traditional industries – bookstores, video-rental chains, newspapers – crumbling more quickly than we could have imagined and predicted.” Looking at the trends he predicted were to take shape in 2012, the first was that tablet computers such as the iPad will become replacements to desktop computing and that the mouse will soon be “superseded by touchscreens”.
Another development, embraced wholeheartedly by heavyweights such as IBM, concluded in its report that of 2,000 medium-sized companies it surveyed, two-thirds were planning or had already deployed cloud-based technologies and 70 percent of businesses are either using or investigating cloud computing solutions.
For the past six months we have been heavily involved in the production of a new website, VoIP4Cloud, that offers an advanced, feature-rich, cloud-based VoIP IP PBX Unified Communications system for progressive businesses. The site was released earlier this month. However, in developing the site, there were two concepts, relating to cloud computing and mobile apps, that we found were gaining real strength in the market and in business communications models.
There is another part to this triumvirate of change and that is email marketing. These days, it’s not just about sending endless newsletters to clients, who barely read the traditional tomes of self-congratulatory corporate-speak, but about the way it integrates with social media; an ideal and “compelling” medium on which companies can relay their “brand voice” on social networks.
These days it’s much more about personal connections and dialogue in communicating information that counts and companies at the forefront of email marketing have already recognised this and have moved forward in their communications strategies also.
Mailigen is one such company that has grown from a small business email marketing service into an international company, and accredited by TopSEOs as the fourth best email marketing company and sixth by TopTen Reviews.
This method of marketing opens another platform to connect and communicate with your customers, so as to integrate your marketing message via email, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs. This enables businesses to interact and engage their company or brand with their customers on different channels and by a variety of methods.
There are a huge number of media channels to exploit these days, from Pinterest to video, all with a different approach and style as to how the marketing message is portrayed. But to really gear ourselves up for the year ahead, it’s worth taking the time to look at how these trends will affect business and what our competitors may be doing to embrace these trends.
It’s a real shake-up in the manner in which businesses interact with their customers, which makes for very interesting times ahead for all.
In summary, digital business trends this year include:
• Windows 8 is a complete re-imagining of Windows and the Metro interface takes a traditional Windows users into the realm of the mobile: instead of files and folders, there are touchable tiles that fire up your apps.
• There have been a host of analyses recently that point out that cloud computing has taken a significant hold and that its efficiency and economies of scale means that companies are racing ahead in the cloud.
• Social media integration provides an ideal and way for companies to convey their brand voice on many different platforms, with email marketing now part of the overall convergence of discourse between company and customer.
Brand Reputation Management is comprised of a professional team of writers, journalists and reputation management specialists with years of internet marketing experience.
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
There is competition in every industry today and small businesses are
fighting one another to keep from being eaten up by the giants.
Visibility is everything and never before has ‘out of sight, out of
mind’ been more applicable. Local search marketing is a digital
marketing strategy that helps improve the visibility of your business.
People, while doing online searches, may assume you don’t exist, because a lot of times they use different keywords to search for the same thing. It is rare that people look for information by directly typing the company name into the search engines; they usually do so by typing the location, or the service, or the feature.
Local search marketing helps people reach your business when they search for related terms, not just the name of your company. It involves having your company registered on various local search engines. However, just registering is not enough. All your details need to be filled in correctly, along with descriptions, keywords, links and maps. Many sites personally make a phone call to check the authenticity of your company before they register you. This phone call ensures that you are listed on their site and thus increases the visibility of your website.
For small businesses local search marketing plays an even more important role. Rarely are there budgets for large scale advertising, and yet it is essential to get the word out about your business. Most of your potential clients are looking for what you offer by searching online. Your company needs to organically be filtered into their searches whether they are searching for you by product or location. The world wide web has revolutionized the way business is conducted nowadays, and online visibility has become critical for the success of your business.
You will surprised by the amount of footfalls local search marketing can organically lead towards your site. A lot of small businesses are unaware of these tools and hence lose out on the many advantages of it. This kind of digital marketing is extremely essential for small businesses and cannot and should not be overlooked. Google is a very important aspect of local search marketing. There are many ways to help you turn up on the front page of Google search results. You need a very strong web presence to help you do this, not only on your own website but also on other search engines, on local search groups and on listings websites. The constancy and accuracy of your information helps your company legitimize itself as a reliable and recognized institution, irrespective of size.
Digital marketing strategies form a large part of marketing plans, especially for smaller businesses. No longer do people flip through yellow pages when they can find what they’re looking for with the simple click of a button. Local search marketing puts on you the map; literally and otherwise.
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
People, while doing online searches, may assume you don’t exist, because a lot of times they use different keywords to search for the same thing. It is rare that people look for information by directly typing the company name into the search engines; they usually do so by typing the location, or the service, or the feature.
Local search marketing helps people reach your business when they search for related terms, not just the name of your company. It involves having your company registered on various local search engines. However, just registering is not enough. All your details need to be filled in correctly, along with descriptions, keywords, links and maps. Many sites personally make a phone call to check the authenticity of your company before they register you. This phone call ensures that you are listed on their site and thus increases the visibility of your website.
For small businesses local search marketing plays an even more important role. Rarely are there budgets for large scale advertising, and yet it is essential to get the word out about your business. Most of your potential clients are looking for what you offer by searching online. Your company needs to organically be filtered into their searches whether they are searching for you by product or location. The world wide web has revolutionized the way business is conducted nowadays, and online visibility has become critical for the success of your business.
You will surprised by the amount of footfalls local search marketing can organically lead towards your site. A lot of small businesses are unaware of these tools and hence lose out on the many advantages of it. This kind of digital marketing is extremely essential for small businesses and cannot and should not be overlooked. Google is a very important aspect of local search marketing. There are many ways to help you turn up on the front page of Google search results. You need a very strong web presence to help you do this, not only on your own website but also on other search engines, on local search groups and on listings websites. The constancy and accuracy of your information helps your company legitimize itself as a reliable and recognized institution, irrespective of size.
Digital marketing strategies form a large part of marketing plans, especially for smaller businesses. No longer do people flip through yellow pages when they can find what they’re looking for with the simple click of a button. Local search marketing puts on you the map; literally and otherwise.
Post from: SiteProNews: Webmaster News & Resources
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