Category: General Tips

Have you joined Twitter yet?

Post author By social media
Post date March 21, 2011

Have you joined Twitter yet? It’s one of the top 4 social media sites to help your business.

Today, March 21st, is Twitter’s Birthday. Twitter is 5 years old. So it’s fitting that I share info on Twitter.

Maybe you use facebook, but you don’t get what Twitter is all about.

Twitter is a micro-blogging tool. Just as you can create posts on your own Blog, you can post your ideas and information on Twitter. However, you are limited to 140 caharacters. That’s why is called MICROblogging.

In Twitter lingo, your 140 character post is called a Tweet. You will likely want more than 140 charcters to convey your thought or idea. To do that, just create your Blog post as normal, on your current Blog/Website. Then add a Tweet on Twitter that points to it. Easy. Right?

There are tools to help automate the distribution of your Blog posts, so they show up on Twitter for the Twitter audience. And it’s a time saver for you, because it happens automatically.

It’s probably easier if you think of all of the Social Media Sites as “online networking groups”; the Facebook network, the Twitter Network, the LinkedIn network, and the Youtube network. And your goal is to distribute your information across all the networks. Just like going to a networking event. You have your business cards in hand and you have your prepared 60 second commercial. Your goal is to meet others and exchange information.

You do the same with the online networks. But you can keep the information flowing. You don’t need to stop just because the face-to-face networking event is finished. The online networks never close. You continue meeting new people, build trust, and share.

OK, back to the Twitter Network. Just start by Joining and “follow” others. See what they have to say.

Twitter has a Business site to help you get the most out of Twitter for your business.

General Tips Search Engine Tips

Do you have a LinkedIn Account yet?

Post author By social media
Post date March 4, 2011

Do you have a LinkedIn Account yet? LinkedIn is another popular Social Media site. Although it’s more “corporate” than Facebook, it’s still a huge group of people and companies, which is another audience for you to find potential customers.

And LinkedIn can help you with a backlink. As part of creating your profile, you can list your websites there. However, the Search Engines won’t see them until you take a couple extra steps.

Remember, sites that require you to login means search engines can’t see the info. Search Engines don’t have a login. So you need to tell LinkedIn that it’s OK to expose some of your info to the world and the Search Engines.

Here is what you do:
1) Login to LinkedIn
2) Along the top of the page is menu items. Click on PROFILE.
3) On the right side, click on CHANGE PUBLIC PROFILE SETTINGS

Here you can control what information is publicly visible. If you choose NONE, nothing will be exposed.

For me, I want LinkedIN to help market my skills and businesses. So I expose everything that I supplied. Remember what I said in the Facebook tip. I only provided info that I wanted to share publicly, so items I consider private like birthday and home address I don’t provide.

If there is a check in the box, that info will be public. Meaning anyone, including the Search Engines can see it. For backlinks, you need to ensure Websites is checked here.

Save your changes.

You’re not done yet. You need to add your Websites to your Profile. You get a maximum of 3 Websites. Click on PROFILE at the very top of the page again. Your profile will be displayed and you will see WEBSITES listed. Click EDIT or ADD to put your Website in your profile.

You’ll see 2 boxes to fill in for your Website:
1) A drop down list for Personal, Business, Blog or other. Choose OTHER and another box appears.
2) In that new box, use it to describe your site. In HTML lingo, this is called ‘Anchor Text’. Search Engines use this to index your Site. And you want the Anchor Text to be a good search keyword phrase.

How do you want the Search Engine to describe your site:
“Business Website” = http://BestChiro.com
or
“Need help with back pain?” = http://BestChiro.com

3) The last box is your domain name.

You can fill in the other boxes on this page, if you choose. But the Website boxes are vital to create a backlink. SAVE your changes.

Remember the Reviews and Testimonials tip?. While we are here on the profile, it’s helpful to know you can request a testimonial from other LinkedIn members. LinkedIn calles them RECOMMENDATION.

You will see ASK FOR RECOMMENDATION listed just above Websites. You can use it to ask your customers (who are LinkedIn members) for a review/testimonial.

That’s it to expose your Websites to the Search Engines and create a backlink for the Search Engines to count for you.

General Tips Search Engine Tips

Reviews and Testimonials are vital for your business

Post author By social media
Post date February 27, 2011

Reviews and Testimonials are vital for your business, as well as to help your Search Engine rankings. I say Search Engine rankings because Google Places is watching for your reviews. If you look closely at the Google search results, Google lists the Company name, website, and number of reviews found.

BrightLocal.com published findings from a survey they did. Key findings were:

67% of local consumers have consulted online customer reviews of local businesses.
58% of consumers trust a local business more having read positive online reviews.
69% of local consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

You can read the full article here -> http://www.brightlocal.com/blog/2010/11/29/local-consumer-review-survey-2010-part-1

You want ALL your Customers to write a review or testimonial on you and your business. Don’t assume they will. Be direct and always ask for a testimonial. There are many great places where your Customers can do it:

On your Google Places page
On Yelp
On your Facebook business page
On your YouTube channel
On your LinkedIn profile

Personally, I prefer that people post their reviews themselves. Sure, I could have them email me something or I could provide little “How was my service” cards. But in the end, I’m the one posting their words. And what would readers think? Did the review come from a real person? Did someone make up these testimonials? What would you trust more?

Hopefully, with each new Customer, you are collecting the Customer’s email address for marketing other offers and discounts. You can simply email your Customer a brief request to leave a testimonial. To make it even easier, you can provide links in the email to take your Customer to the specific pages where to leave their testimonial.

You should do your part as well. Did you have great service somewhere? Was some business or person a miracle worker for you? Did you buy an outstanding product? It would help them greatly, if you could write a review or testimonial. Don’t forget to put your name and website in the testimonial. Having your website included will allow the Search Engines to count it as a backlink to help you too.

Get started now. You can never have to many Testimonials.

General Tips

Are you ready to turn visitors into Leads?

Post author By social media
Post date February 16, 2011

Use your website and social media to generate Leads. How? By offering a “Call to Action”.

It starts when a person finds your Website, Blog, or Facebook page looking for information on products or services that you offer. Right now they are just a “visitor”. We want “visitors” who are ready and eager to get more information from you. That’s your signal that they are a LEAD.

The best way to identify the Leads, from all the visitors, is with a “Call to Action”. It’s some sort of special offer, allowing the visitor to take the next step. That offer could be to click something or call a number. Remember, it’s the next step of clicking or calling which is what makes the visitor a Lead.

Here are some ideas for your own “Call to Action”

– Click on the picture and download a free ebook

– Call today for your free quote

– signup for a free Webinar and download a free product

– click here for more details

– Call this number ________ and hear a pre-recorded message with more details

– Click here to download and read the first chapter of my new book

– “LIKE” my facebook page

– Text “HotDeal” to 7027141770, to get a 10% off Coupon

The “call to action” is simple. Click or call to get more. Put the “call to action” everywhere. Your Website, Blog, and Facebook page. You can even put something in your email signature. Get the visitor to take the next step, to become a Lead.

The “call to action” doesn’t always need to be a free product. Although that does work the best. You can offer a discount on your product or service. Or partner with someone else, and offer their free or discounted product or service.

In return for getting something, the Lead is typically required to provide their contact information. That is how you build your Lead or Prospect list. The process of collecting the Lead’s info could be as simple as receiving an email with the Lead’s contact info within it.

Now it’s up to you to follow up.

Facebook Tips General Tips

Join a Social Media site

Post author By social media
Post date February 12, 2011

You can use Social Media with the same actions as Networking;

get to know somone
build trust through conversations
help people find your products and services

This video was done in 2010. And the numbers were staggering even then.

I say Social Media is a fundamental shift in how to build trust.

Social Media sites are FREE. Join at least one of them.

http://Facebook.com

http://LinkedIn.com

http://Twitter.com

http://YouTube.com

Once you have signed up, connect with me.

General Tips

Track your Results

Post author By social media
Post date February 2, 2011

Track your results to know what marketing is working and what is not. It doesn’t matter that I’m referring to Internet marketing, because you should also be tracking the results of your print and mail campaigns too.

The tracking isn’t any different. The same question needs to be answered:

HOW DID YOU FIND ME?

Was it Facebook, a search engine, a referral, or one of the many other ways you are advertising?

This is something you need to ask everyone. This answer is a key element to help track your results. And you’ll never know, unless you ask. And you should save this info with the Lead/Customer data you have.

Over time, after you are tracking where or how people are finding you, you can focus on the areas that are working.

You want to know:

What are the top 5 places that are bringing you leads?
What are the top 5 places that bring you Customers who purchase your Product or Service?
What are the top 5 places that brought Customers who are repeat Buyers
What are the top 5 places that brought Customers who are referring other leads to you?

This is vital information, so you know where to focus your time and energy. You may also discover you are paying for advertising that isn’t working for you. Reinvest those dollars to where they WILL work, or try something new.

Lastly, don’t forget to ask each Customer for a testimonial. We all look at product reviews before we buy. Don’t we? Your prospective customers will check you out too.

General Tips

Do you have a blog?

Post author By social media
Post date January 27, 2011

Do you have a blog? And if you do, are you using it regularly to share information?

Here is a few reasons why your business needs a blog.

it’s a quick and easy way to share today’s news and tips to existing clients as well as potential clients
new blog posts addressing today’s needs of potential clients, helps to demonstrate your knowledge and help build a reputation of trust
there are free time saving tools that can distribute your post to various social media sites like facebook, Twitter, and linkedin
your blog readers can share your posts with their friends and family. This is Internet viral marketing, when others are sharing and promoting what you write.

A vital part of blogging is having “remarkable” content. I have 2 meanings for “remarkable”.

Meaning 1: your posts are creative, unique, and interesting. People crave the topics you write about and keep coming back to read more. Can you think of a website or person that you follow, because you can’t get enough of what they write?

Meaning 2: people want to share your posts with friends and family. And they actually remark about your posts by adding their own comments or viewpoint.

You can’t have number 2 without number 1. And number 2 helps your search engine rankings, as well as brings visitors back to your Blog. In the end, it’s “remarkable” content that brings traffic to your website and Blog.

General Tips

Give before trying to Get

Post author By social media
Post date January 26, 2011

Social Media offers a great way to share, create relationships and build trust. But you can easily go off track if you start “selling” on social media. It will look like Spam. People don’t want to be Sold. But are open to helpful information, ideas, and recommendations.

Checkout this post. This simple message says it best; Give before trying to Get

Enjoy!