Tag Archives: Facebook

Pinterest 101

Posted on June 26, 2012 | 1 Comment

According to a recent comScore report on TechCrunch.com,  Pinterest is up 4000+% since their inception a year ago.  As interesting as the growth in the social network are the buying power of it’s users.  According to ComScore’s report, Pinterest users spend more money more frequently on more items than users of LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Tumblr.  If you provide a product or service you should consider Pinterest  but get your feet wet personally first.  It won’t take long to get the hang of it.  First, though you may want to know what it is.

Pinterest is a virtual pin board.  A user uploads an application for their computer, iPad or Smartphone.  Then users create boards by subject, using images they find on the web or on their own computer.  Those images usually have a description and may link back to a webpage.

I didn’t fully understand the purpose behind creating a board until I decided to redo my bedroom.  An interior designer friend suggested several websites to browse different bedroom styles.  I find something I like and use the Pinterest App to “pin it” to my bedroom design board, with a link back to the site.  Because my board is public, others have seen it and “re-pinned” some of my pictures and now follow my boards.

I find Pinterest personally useful and entertaining but it is not only for personal use.  Professionally, the site has the potential to increase traffic to your website by offering a new way for people interested in your products or services to find you.  The site provides the opportunity to showcase products and services.

To get started do the following:

To set up your own Pinterest account you must be invited.  If you don’t know anyone who can invite you, you can request an invitation from the site here.  This can take a few days so you will have to be patient.

  1. Set up your account.  You can sign in with Facebook or Twitter or create an account independent of other social media.
  2. Find friends to follow.  This is really simple if you sign in with Facebook or Twitter as it will automatically let you know which friends have accounts.
  3. Create some boards.  I found a great little tutorial about this on Dailydigi.com.  You can create boards based on any subject matter you choose.
  4.  I love the Pin It button.  It makes adding to your board really simple and instructions can be found here

Next week I will follow-up with more ideas and possibilities for Pinterest for business.

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Posted in Pinterest, Social Media

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Use social media to increase revenue w/ existing customers

Posted on May 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

Do you Tweet?  Do you Facebook update?  Social Media Examiner featured an article last week called Five Ways Social Media can Increase your Revenue from Existing Customers.  The eListings program from the NALA automatically creates a Facebook page, so NALA Members are ready to go.  There are two strategies involving existing customers.  The first is offering customer service through social media, and the second is increasing value to the customer experience.  Unless you have the time to manage your social media on a daily basis I might focus more on the value increase over the customer service tool.

Tip #1:  Give incentives for making more frequent purchases.  Increase revenue by encouraging customers to make purchases more frequently or offer deals and specials exclusive to your social media followers.  You could post a secret word on your Facebook page every day, and customers that come into your business and utter that word, receive a pre-determined discount or special.  Make sure your staff know in advance and create marketing in your business alerting customers to the social media promotion.

Tip #2:  Give customers a reason to spend more at each purchase.  Promote package deals for services that bundle offerings together.  Use social media to drive awareness of the offerings with a clear call to action.

Tip #3:  Combine email-marketing offers.  Make sure your email marketing provides social media share buttons.  You can also upload your email marketing to your social media.

Tip #4: Educate your customers about other products and services.  Make sure customers are aware of other types of services and products your company offers.  You can feature a product or service of the week on social media.  Make sure you follow he 20% rule below though.

Tip #5:  Provide Consistent Value.  If you customers find value in the content you provide they are more likely to keep coming back.  For this reason remember the 20% rule.  Only 20% should be about your company with offers and promotions.  The remaining 80% should provide information of interest to your customers.  That information should ignite conversation between your social media followers and you.

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Posted in E-mail Marketing, Facebook, Social Media

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Facebook Daily Deals for Local Business

Posted on May 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

On May 3rd Facebook announced the creation of a program similar to Groupon and Living Social, running on the Facebook platform and free to administrators of local business Pages.   It is called Facebook Offers and the only requirement to take advantage of it is a local Facebook Page.  It is not available for personal pages.

Did you know the NALA has a Daily Deal program available for members?  Members can contact their project manager can tell you all about it.  In addition, as a member of the NALA,  eListings creates a local page for your business, so getting started in promoting your business products and services is easy.  Here is what you need to know directly from the Facebook Help Center.

  1. Free to post and free to claim.  That means you will not pay for posting your offer in your news feed.  It also means Facebook is not charging when someone buys your offer  so you keep 100% of the proceeds.
  2. When someone claims an offer, that offer also ends up posted on your customer’s news feed, increasing your exposure.
  3. The larger your fan-base the better response you will get for your offers.  Facebook is hoping you will buy ads to increase your fan-base.  You can do this by running an ad or a sponsored story.
  4. You must have a local business page and right now they are limiting the number of those.  They expect to be out of the beta phase soon and launch the program broadly.
  5. If you want the ad to stop you simply delete it.  No worries about selling more discounted deals than you can afford to deliver.
  6. There is no minimum discount however they do recommend discounts of at least 20% off regular price.  That is a recommendation, however that is entirely up to you.
  7. To claim an offer people click “Get Offer” to see the details and terms and conditions you created, click claim offer to have it sent to their email address, and bring the offer with them to redeem at your business.  They do not make purchases in advance.

For more information check out the help center link above or contact your NALA Project Manager.

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Posted in Facebook, Social Media

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Dispelling Five Social Media Myths for SMBs

Posted on March 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

Social media is everywhere nowadays.  Have you seen the Wheat Thins commercial featuring the characters from the Family Guy?  At the bottom of the screen where Wheat Thins likely featured their website address in the past, they now feature their Twitter address:  @WheatThins.   Most big brands have taken the social media plunge but many SMBs out there maintain their reservations about getting involved.  That’s why I thought this article from Entrepreneur.com was a good piece to share and possibly dispel some of the myths around social media.

  1. Social Media Marketing is a waste of time.
    A major shift has occurred in the way people make decisions and communicate with one another.  They talk and listen to what others say about where to dine, shop, and just about everything else.  The people they speak to…your potential customers.   Don’t you think your business should be part of the conversation?
    My business is too small to benefit from social media.
  2. Social media networks revolve around communities of people with a connection to each other.  If you show an interest and appreciation for some of the people in those communities chances are good you will win customer loyalty.Great example:  my favorite take out lunch place advertises in the restaurant for Facebook specials.   (If you do not have a Facebook account you cannot view the link).  I friend them and I am in-the-know when they are offering free drinks to everyone who brings in the smartphone showing the offer on Facebook.  When California Chicken Café came up on my Facebook page with the free drink offer, I suddenly felt in the mood for lunch there.
  3. Social Media activity isn’t going to affect my bottom line.
    Nearly every purchasing decision people make is based on two things:  what they have heard from other people and what their personal research revealed.  Today most people research and talk on social networks.  Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Trip Advisor…If you are not engaging with people providing those answers, how likely is it they will recommend your business.
  4. Social media marketing is too complicated and time-consuming.
    You don’t have to be everywhere at once.  Start simple with a basic Facebook page or Twitter account and focus on creating interactions with your customers.  There are services such as TweetDeck and Hootsuite that enable you to schedule your tweets and updates periodically.  If you keep it simple it should not take more than 30 minutes a day.
  5. Nobody cares about what I’d have to say on social networks.
    You are right if you are the only person you are talking about.  Create a conversation by asking your customers questions.  Announce changes you have made based on customer suggestions and criticisms.  The point is to use social media to learn what your customers want, improve what you offer them, and make it a joy to be your customer.

So…what’s stopping you from engaging in social media online?  Why not take the plunge and see what happens?

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Posted in Social Media

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Email Tips for SMB

Posted on February 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

I recently watched a great short video on Entrepreneur.com from blogger Chris Brogan.  The video offered a few great tips for small business engaging in email.  You can watch the video here but below is a summary of what he had to say.

Chris quoted a survey from 2011 that said 4% of potential buyers over 18 can be reached via Twitter; 15% can be reached on Facebook; but 91% are willing to receive regular email communication from a brand they use.  It’s safe to say that effective email marketing is far from dead.  The important question is what makes it effective.  Below are a couple of tips to hold up against your email marketing, particularly as more people read them on 3-inch devices.

  1. Simple and brief emails are best.  300-400 words max with one simple call to action.
  2. Do not send from “do not reply” email addresses.  You are telling your customers you have no interest in speaking with them, which does NOT foster a good relationship.  Instead use a real address and encourage your recipients to respond to you.
  3. Simple text is best.  Large images won’t necessarily work on that 3-inch Blackberry, Andriod or iPhone screen.
  4. How often you send emails depends upon your business and what you are sending.  Obviously daily deal sites send daily emails but that isn’t necessarily the best for everyone.

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Posted in E-mail Marketing

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LinkedIn for SMB

Posted on February 14, 2012 | 1 Comment

If you are like me you think of LinkedIn as a place to keep your resumes and maintain contact with past employers and co-workers.  In recent months though LinkedIn has transformed their site into a full-blown business-networking site SMBs should really invest time in.  As a member of the site you can join groups and get involved in discussions.  I am a member of the Small Business Network, Social Media Boot Camp, and HP Business Answers to name a few.

Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are great but LinkedIn may be the best time use for a business owner no matter what the size of your business.  LinkedIn claims over 135 million members in 200 countries and one of the largest Internet marketing research companies listed them as the #2 social networking site online.  

 I found a great article on Small Business Trends offering a few tips to get started.

If you want a simple introduction as to how and why to use LinkedIn check out this user-friendly, 8-minute video by Jim Kukral on SmallBizTrends.  Even if you have used the site before this video provides great reminders about how to participant in the site.

The New User Starter Guide is really simple to use and explains setting up your account in getting started in 3 easy steps.  The site also provides a short video on Small Business use on the site.  Additionally, as small business entrepreneurs, you may find the section explaining benefits to your group particularly helpful.  Some of the items covered on this section are making important personnel decisions, filling hard-to-fill positions, and generating awareness for your business.

Recommendations are an amazing tool LinkedIn provides.  Check out Elements of a Good LinkedIn Recommendation for tips on what to say and how to ask.

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Top 10 Small Business Owners New Years Resolutions

Posted on December 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

I thought these resolutions from Mashable.com were too good not to share.  If you come up with any others please let me know! 

  1. Support Small Business.  If you want your neighbors to support your small business, begin by supporting their small business.  Look through your list of vendors and service providers and see if it’s possible to downsize and support a small business instead.
  2. Go Mobile.  By 2015 more US Internet users will connect to the web through mobile devices than computers.  As this community increases are you ready?  Something simple such as making sure your business address and phone number are text on your website as opposed to an image.  Text can be clicked on by a mobile phone to automatically call the number or find the location on a map. 
  3. Go local.  Mobile users constantly interact with things in their physical vicinity.  According to Bing 53% of searches are local-based.  Don’t miss out!  Make sure you are listed with local search engines and directories.  If you are a member of the NALA and an eListing customer you are!
  4. Learn how to delegate and do more of it.  When economic times are tough it’s tempting to tighten the purse strings and take on more yourself.  Unfortunately, that means you will have less time to grow your business.  Hand over administrative tasks so you can focus your attention on bringing in revenue.
  5. Invest in one new customer touch point.  Where do your customers spend their time?  Facebook, Twitter, blogs, email?  Try asking where and how they would like to connect with you and spend some time this year making it happen.
  6. Refresh your website.  Keep your site current and interesting.
  7. Protect your assets with an LLC or corporation.  Forming an LLC or corporation can be critical to protect your business and personal financial health.  To learn more about the difference.  Check out Why Should I Incorporate for more information on the two options and why one might choose one over the other. 
  8. Get your books ready for tax time early.  If you are like me this is always a last minute, stressful experience.  It doesn’t have to be.  Start organizing your 2012 books from day one and it won’t be.
  9. Social network in the real world.  In 2012 try networking offline by attending industry specific conferences or seeking out local meet up groups.  Developing relationships with fellow entrepreneurs can be an invaluable resource for business owners.
  10. Put time on your calendar for you.  As a business owner, you don’t have a boss giving you pats on the back and rewards for meeting milestones.  Bosses do this to keep their employees motivated and prevent burnout.  Do the same for yourself.  Reward yourself for specific milestones and keep yourself motivated too.

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Engaging your Facebook Fan Base

Posted on December 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

The tech news headlines are chock-full of stories about Facebook, their IPO plans, their recent purchase of a location-based service company called Gowalla, and even questioning if the social media giant has hit it’s peak and is on it’s way down.  One thing is for sure, for today Facebook has the potential to be a powerful marketing and networking tool for your business.

Smallbiztrends.com posted an article in November entitled Best Ways to Engage Your Customers on Facebook that offered some sound advice I don’t want you to miss out on.

Not all Facebook posts are created equal.  A recent study posted by the Wall Street Journal reported that while the cost of buying followers with Facebook ads are on the rise, the click-through rate is actually decreasing.  I believe that the best way to increase your fan base, is by creating fan engagement through posting updates and photos your fans share with their friends.

Likes and Comments are two of the best ways to increase engagement but photos are the big winner.  Photos tend to generate 50% more interactions than other post types.  Think about your business.  What type of photos can you post to engage your fans?

Additional engagement suggestions are asking questions, offering interesting quotes, and posting videos.  Your type of business may dictate the best form of engagement for you.

I am a Fan of a restaurant in my area that I frequent.  One afternoon I noticed they were offering a free drink to anyone who presented their Smartphone with the Facebook page to the cashier.  While the $1.25 drink savings is nice, what it really did create a craving for their food that manifested in a take out order on the way home.  Because I am quite the social networker, I shared this savings on my page so other friends might take advantage of it.  I gladly provided free marketing to the restaurant by passing their message along.

For more suggestions on increasing engagement, contact your NALA Team Member.

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Posted in Social Media

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Make the Most of Holiday Deals

Posted on November 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

When I walked into Starbucks this morning Christmas decorations were up and holiday drinks and bakery items were on display. Ready or not the holiday season has arrived. The Small Business Trends website ran an article yesterday called 3 Ways to Get More from Running Holiday Deals I thought might be of benefit.

1. Social Media Coupons provide a great way to incentivize users who already have an affinity with your brand and are looking for last minute deals. According to Nielsen, nearly 60% of social media users in the U.S. visit social networks for coupons and promotions and 23% say they do so weekly.

In my neighborhood one of my local take-out places lists free offers and discounts on Facebook all the time. All I have to do is walk in on the day of the offer and show the person at the register my phone with the Facebook page of the business to receive the savings.

2. Email Marketing Offers. I know I’ve mentioned this repeatedly but building your own list is a powerful way to deliver specials, deals or simply build a relationship with your customers. Just in time for the holidays, why not create holiday-themed email newsletters with special holiday offers. The article says building your own list is one of the strongest assets SMBs can acquire.

3. Mobile or On-the-Go Discounts. Foursquare is a great tool to reach your most tech-savvy customers. Foursquare allows customers to check into your business on their website. Additionally businesses can add a deal or special to their listing. If you are unfamiliar I will be posting more about this rapidly growing and powerful SMB tool in the coming weeks.

As a NALA member, you have access to powerful social media and email marketing tools in our Multi-Messaging program. If you are unsure how to make the most out of these member benefits please contact info@theNALA.com for more information.

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Promising Social Media Statistics for Small Business

Posted on November 9, 2011 | Leave a comment

Back in August I posted a blog called Steps to Social Media, offering simple steps to use this powerful tool for your business. A new blog from Social Media Examiner offered statistics showing the power of this medium for small business. I thought I’d highlight a few here but you can find the full list in the blog called 26 Promising Social Media Stats for Small Business.

1. There are more than 800 million active Facebook users and over 200 million of those joined in 2011.
2. Over 80% of ALL Americans use a social network of some kind and 40% of those users do so on a mobile phone.
3. American’s spend more time on Facebook than any other website. According to Facebook, more than half of their users long in every day, on average have 130 friends and are connected to 80 pages, events and groups. (Once such page could be yours!)
4. On average Facebook users spend 20 minutes in their account on each visit and most log in three to four times per week.
5. 44% of small-to-mid-sized business decision-makers use social media, 86% of which use Facebook, 41% use LinkedIn and 33% use Twitter.
6. 51% of Facebook and 64% of Twitter users are more likely to buy from brands they follow.

The bottom line? If you are not engaging in social media you are missing out! NALA Members have a useful tool in their Multi-Marketing solution to tie all your social media accounts together and coordinate with your email and text message marketing efforts.

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