What Are the Advantages of Social Media Marketing?

Advantages of Social Media Marketing for busy peopleYou’re busy.  We get it.  Online social media marketing is the solution for a busy small business that still wants to market what their company can do for its customers.  There are multiple advantages of social media marketing that are available for your small business to use right now.

Commenting on Social Media Sites:

You want to improve your SEO, right?  Another way that you can do that is to comment on other social media sites with insightful content.  Start a conversation.  If you want to get comments on your blog, you need to start commenting on other blogs.  Spark someone’s interest by saying something of substance that they would have an opinion about.  This will achieve your ultimate goal: create remarkable content.

Set Your Twitter Schedule:

If you don’t already have an automated Twitter service, here are a few recommended sites:

  • Social Oomph
  • Twaitter
  • Tweeting Machine

Find out which once you like best and get automating!  Services like these allow your business to create content now, and publish it later.

You should think about mainly publishing during normal business hours, think 9-5 Monday through Friday.  Be careful of time zones here – do you have clients on the East coast? In Europe?  Make sure they aren’t left out.

Now that you’ve learned about some advantages of social media marketing, get out there are create some content that is sure to spark a conversation!

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Do You Know How to Use Twitter for Branding?

how to use twitter for brandingOver 40% of small businesses who use inbound marketing have acquired a customer through social media or blogs.  That’s 40%!  If you don’t have a Twitter account for your small business, you’re missing out on 40% of new clientele.

Now, you know what branding is: a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.  The idea is to have people think that your small business is the only one who can solve their problems.  It’s not so much about proving that you are better than your competitors.  It’s more about showing people that you can and will reliably solve their problems.

A great way of how to use Twitter for branding is to get your name out there to build your brand.  When other fellow tweeters follow you on Twitter, it is just like giving them the inside scoop every time you tweet something.

When your dental practice is having a one day discount on yearly check-ups, Tweet about it.  This allows your followers to be “in the know” when it comes to discounts and specials.

People like companies who are current and who use recent technology.  This instills a sense of familiarity so that they learn to trust you and your brand.  Twitter is a great way to stay with the times and send out quick messages to your followers.

Essentially, your message can be delivered directly to your follower’s cell phone.  Your message will be sitting in their pocket seconds after you send it!  Think about this versus mailing out a flier that will ultimately end up right in the trash.

Where would you rather be: your customer’s trash bin, or your customer’s pocket.  The choice is yours, and Twitter is the way to begin.

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Your Inbound Marketing Blueprint Should Have You on the Road to Success

As a small business owner you are constantly trying to cruise on the road to success.  Are you using the latest technologies to help you do this in the simplest way possible?

Your Inbound Marketing Blueprint Should Have You on the Road to SuccessIn order to organize your online marketing efforts, here is a simple blueprint that can aid you on your quest to marketing nirvana:

CONSTANT SOCIAL MEDIA INTERACTION

You’ve heard of social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, right?  So why aren’t you increasing the number of people you influence on a daily basis?  Facebook is a great way to get your name out there for potential customers to find out more information on who you are and what your small business does.

Twitter is a fantastic tool that should be used multiple times per week so that current followers can see that you are actively participating in their conversation.  If someone follows you, follow them back.  If someone mentions you in their tweet, thank them!  This is a perfect way to engage with your readers and show them that you really care.

KEYWORD OPTIMIZATION

Find out how people are finding you based on organic searches.  If they are mainly finding you based on your location, job description or name, personalize your website to include these keywords as much as you can.  For example, if you are a beauty salon owner, users may be finding your website online by searching for “best beauty salon in Las Vegas”.  If so, include that long-tailed keyword on the front of your homepage where all of your clients will see it.  But get creative about it.

Instead of simply adding that keyword to your homepage in text form, implement it into your website in the form of a poll.  Ask users this: “Do you think we are the best beauty salon in Las Vegas?  Tell us why and you will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary beauty salon service!”  Make your offer irresistible and something that you would actually follow through with if you were a client.  Entice your readers so that they are interested, and then follow through with a simple reward.

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How to Create an Effective Marketing Call to Action

Marketing call to action buttons are crucial to the success of your website, and thus the success of your small business.  A marketing call to action button is a way that you can track potential leads and current customers.  Here are a few tips and tricks on how you can create a highly effective marketing call to action button:

How to Create an Effective Marketing Call to ActionPlacement: Your home page should be where you feature most of your call to action buttons.  This is the default place where all of your customers are directed to straight from a search engine.  But beware, do not place too many marketing call to action buttons on your home page.  This will only overload the user and cause them to bounce right off of your page.

A vs. B: Build and create a few quality marketing call to action buttons and trade them in and out every week or so.  Take data and statistics on each button and see which one generated more leads that were ultimately turned into customers.  While using Hubspot, they have a really great marketing call to action button that automatically switches a predesigned button with another comparative button.  The Hubspot call to action button generator also collects stats on each button to let you know which button has generated more traffic.

Design: If you are enticing your readers to download a free e-book, put a picture of a book on the actual button.  Simplicity is key.  Use a font color that is readable over the image or over the background color.  No one likes reading bright yellow text on a neon pink background.

Redirection: Where are you sending users to after they click on your marketing call to action button?  Your button should send users to a corresponding landing page where they should then fill out a form.  This form could ask for information such as name, email address, Twitter handle, industry, company role, etc.  Also, if the landing page where you are sending users is meant to achieve a purpose, feel free to ask users specific questions with a fill-in-the-blank answer box

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You Might be Afraid of Social Media Marketing If…

Three Ways to Tell if You’re Scared Twitless

Social media marketing has become a key term for most small business owners who are trying to   engage consumers. By now it’s fair to say that if you’re living a remotely “normal” life, that you’ve heard of social media networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

It’s also fairly reasonable to say that you know a few people who use these networks for business or because they like keeping up with their friends, kids or stalking a crush.
don't panic at the thought of social media
If you’re not one of the over millions of small business owners who use Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn you might be afraid of social media. Here are a few other ways to tell.

You might be afraid of social media marketing if you’ve set up accounts on Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn over six months ago and still don’t know what to do with them.

This is called social media marketing paralysis and there is help for this condition.

First, figure out why you want to use each of the networks. If you don’t go in with a plan of action you’re sure to remain paralyzed. Understand how your social media marketing fits in with the rest of your marketing plan, and choose the network that best suits you and your business. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be on Facebook. Maybe most of your target market is on Twitter. Find the channel that works best for you and take advantage of it. If you don’t want to, hire someone, you can’t afford not to.

You might be afraid of social media marketing if you pretend you don’t want your business taking part of the social media marketing “fad”.

We call this social media marketing denial.
Once you face the fact that social media marketing is here to stay and that 67% of businesses who use social media have gotten new customers from it, you’d be wise to develop your plan of action. Warning: not developing a plan of action may result in social media marketing paralysis. See above.

You may be afraid of social media marketing if you find yourself sitting at your computer watching your Twitter feed scroll by trying to figure out how and when you should jump into the conversation.

This could best be described as playing social media marketing chicken.

If you’ve already defined your social media marketing plan, then you know what you’re looking for as far as a return on your time spent on social media marketing. So, jump in the conversation. Show how valuable you are, not by offering your products and services, but by answering questions and making life easier for some of your fans and followers.

If all or some of these fears describe you, there is help. You can register for our free webinar series: Smart marketing for Smart Business – live every Tuesday through August 23rd.

This Tuesday – August 9th – we will be showing small business owners how to set up your social media networks as well as best practices in engaging your target market.

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Want More Traffic to Your Website? Use Customer Reviews

All Feedback is Good Feedback

A great way to make your website more reliable and trustworthy is to post customer feedback on your page.  Implementing a sidebar on your homepage will allow your readers to see actual review without scrambling around your page to find them.  If you’ve ever purchased an item online, you know that customer reviews of that product are a huge influence of whether you will purchase or not.  Use this strategy on the website for you small business.

use customer reviews to draw more traffic to your website

Here are a few items to consider when posting your customer feedback:

  • Ask and you shall receive: Ask your loyal, satisfied customers to submit a brief review of your services for your website.  You can even include their information, if they give permission.  If another company submits a review, you should post their website – a perfect “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” situation.
  • DO NOT post your own factory-made reviews: This is a dishonest way to promote your business, and your readers will be able to tell.  It will achieve the exact opposite of what you are trying to achieve: customer loyalty and trustworthiness.
  • Remember that all feedback is good feedback: If you get one bad review, take that as a learning experience and improve upon the points mentioned in the review.  Personally respond to the reviewer to follow up to see how you can improve.  Also, never ever delete comments or reviews.  This is distasteful and is not an honest way to achieve a successful smart marketing campaign.
  • Praise the proud: When you get an exceptionally fantastic review, mention their name/business name on your site.  Send them a very grateful email or letter saying how happy you are that they are satisfied with the work your company has done for them.  Give them more incentives as well so that they continue to come back, and so that they spread the word to their friends and family.

For more tips and excellent resources, attend our 8 Week Smart Marketing Webinar every Tuesday!

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Smart Marketing Ideas for Summer

Smart Online Marketing Ideas for Summer

The summer is the time of year where you want to stay inside to avoid the heat. This is the perfect time to sit down at your computer and get some solid work done for your small business.  Now contrary to popular belief, the summer months are a perfect time to reach out to potential clients or those who have shown interest in your company in the past.

Smart Marketing Means Smart Prospecting

If anyone has ever told you that summertime is not a good time to contact prospective clients because they are “on vacation and don’t want to be bothered,” you should rethink that thought process.  If you follow that rule, you might as well not focus on December or January because “there is too much going on during the holidays.”  If you eliminate prospecting from your summer month’s marketing to-do list, you’ve lost out on an entire quarter of the year that you could have been reaching out to prospects. Don’t fall victim to this pattern.
If your competition chooses to ignore new prospects during the summer months, let them go right ahead. Because your small business focuses on inbound marketing, you know that you’re able to get found no matter what time of year it is. This makes it easier for you to be selected by your prospects. Your leads will not have 40 different companies contacting them to choose their service. Instead you will be one of the few innovators who will actually be able to speak with them on an honest basis, and you’ll already have one foot in the door because they found you.  Remember that Smart Marketing Means Smart Positioning.

Smart Marketing Means Inbound Marketing 

Inbound marketing doesn’t mean bombarding your potential clients with commercials, mail advertisements or phone calls. It’s the exact opposite of that. Inbound marketing is smart marketing. Summer inbound marketing is making sure you’re found by those who need your help. Let your prospects know your business exists by taking the time during these lazy days of summer to do effective keyword research and get your website optimized. So that when your prospects search for you, you’re right where they need you to be.

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Setting Goals for your Small Business Marketing Plan

Setting Goals for your Small Business Marketing Plan

As our USA Women’s Soccer team came in 2nd place to Japan in the World Cup, now is a great time to think about setting goals for your small business.  The team is simple proof that persistence and dedication will always pay off in the end: check out Hope Solo, USA’s goalie, with that awesome save!

Short Term Goals

Setting goals that will occur within the next three months should be classified as short term goals.  Do you have too much on your plate and you can never seem to keep up? Perhaps one of your short term goals should be to hire additional staff members.  A simple way to do this is to hire an intern or two.  There are many, many college students out there who are looking to get job experience and who are willing to work for your small business.  But they may not know you are out there and looking for help.  Get on your local college job posting and listing website and put up an ad for the positions you are currently looking for.

Another great short term goal your small business can focus on is building a better website.  How do you know if your business currently has an influential web presence?  Simple: search for your business using a search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.).  But do not just use the name of your business.  Use specific keywords that are related to what you do and where you practice.  For example, go to Google and type in “inbound marketing business Las Vegas”.  Louve Notes Media Group shows up on the #2 spot!  We want this same success for your small business.

Setting Goals for your Small Business Marketing Plan

One thing that many businesses all over the world try to do every day is to spend less money and see more results.  With inbound marketing this is finally possible.  In order to see results your business will need to improve its website to the point where customers will not have to dig through dozens of links on a search engine to find your company.  Are you having trouble with this?  Check out our FREE 8 Week Smart Marketing Webinar Series.  We will be there to answer any questions you may have that are targeted directly at your small business needs.business currently has an influential web presence?  Simple: search for your business using a search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.).  But do not just use the name of your business.  Use specific keywords that are related to what you do and where you practice.  For example, go to Google and type in “inbound marketing business Las Vegas”.  Louve Notes Media Group shows up on the #2 spot!  We want this same success for your small business.

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7 Inbound Marketing Key Words

online marketing keywordsBelow is a list of inbound marketing keywords that you, as a small business owner, should become familiar with:

  1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – This is the process of  writing your website focused on specific keyword phrases that you choose based on how your target market searches for you. When optimized well your site will reach the point where it will be amongst the first results pulled up by a search engine.  The more links referring back to your website from quality websites, the more SEO credit you will get.
  2. Blog – This is the area of your website that becomes your brand’s thought leadership marketplace. It’s a collection of educational material created specifically for your target market. It’s best to write about solutions and insight to you the problems your target market face. It is a best practice to post blogs a few times a week, with a length of around 300 words.
  3. Calls-to-Action (CTAs) – These are buttons on your website for readers to click in order to take an action.  They may say something like, “Click Here to Find Out More”.  These clickable buttons are essentially traceable links that re-direct users to a landing page (see below).
  4. Landing Page – A landing page is the page a reader will be re-directed to after they click on one of your CTA buttons. Your landing page should be a page with a form for the reader to fill out.
  5. Metadata – This is essentially data about data.  When you search for something using a search engine, the meta data description is the little blurb below the URL that tells you a little bit about what the page is about.
  6. Alt Text – This is what a reader can see when they hover their mouse over a picture that you have on your page.  This is the perfect opportunity to get more keywords on your page to increase your SEO.
  7. Hash Tag (#) – This is used on Twitter to mark certain popular keywords in your tweets.  You can search hash tags to see what others are tweeting about.
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What is Inbound Marketing?

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As a small business owner, your marketing is the heartbeat of your business and is what’s used to increase the number of current customers you have. It’s vital that you understand the way marketing changes and know what the most effective way is to communicate with your target market. With dramatic increases in technology over the past few years, your small business should be using inbound marketing methods to get found by potential clients and to grow your business.  With this method, your message is not being screamed at your customers who are not interested in what you are offering, instead your message is being found by your customers who were searching for you online.

what is inbound marketing?Inbound marketing pulls your customers into your business through the use of keywords phrases that your customers are searching for via search engines. Inbound marketing uses social media sites to help promote your business and your message. From Facebook’s Statistics page, “More than 750 million active users spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook.”  The idea is simple: get your business on Facebook so that potential customers can find you.

Now is your chance to think outside of the traditional [outbound] marketing “box” and do something new that’s proven to work.  Get on Facebook to get more clients.  Use your Twitter to let clients know you’re listening to them and care about what they need.

Build your blog on your own website.  If you have a blog on Facebook, that is great.  But if you want to retain that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) credit, you should integrate the blog onto your own website.  This way, when a potential customer searches for your business using a search engine, your website and blog will come up.  It is highly encouraged to link your Facebook page back to your website as well, this way people know you are a stable company and it increases your credibility.

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