Facebook is, quite simply, social networking at its finest. Not only can you use the platform to interact with family and friends, but from a commercial point of view, it’s great for marketing as well.
It is a Marketer’s dream… You can connect with more than 500 million potential customers, you can choose your audience by location, age and interests… all with easy-to-target, self-reported demographics that are up-to-date and accurate.
If you own a business, or are responsible for marketing one, you’re right to think about creating a Facebook Page (formerly a Fan Page) and build community around your business. And you’re right to think about using a drawing, contest, or sweepstakes to promote a Facebook Page and “gain likes” (grow your Fan base).
How to Promote a Facebook Page: Be aware of the rules and regulations
It’s grown so much so quickly there’s still confusion about what you can and cannot do to promote a Facebook Page.
For example, it is against Facebook’s promotional guidelines to post this offer on the wall of your fan page:
“Like us and Win a $250 Shopping Spree (or some other prize)”
Do you have an open mind? Or, are you closed off to new ideas?
Try new things
If you sometimes feel like you’re stuck, or that your key employees are stuck, and that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, then you’d probably be interested in a fascinating piece in the New York Times that was entitled: “Can You Become a Creature of New Habits?”
In the article, it affirms that ”brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel synaptic paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.”
Moreover, “rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try — the more we step outside our comfort zone — the more inherently creative we become, both in the workplace and in our personal lives.”
Blogging can be a great way to leverage social media to position yourself as an expert–the “go-to” resource whenever someone has a problem you can solve, but to blog effectively you should follow the best practices of business blogging.
I know that a lot has been written on this subject, but I’m putting up what I consider the top 5 Best Practices of Business Blogging for your review–if you feel I’ve missed something or I’m off the mark, please let me know!
Could you benefit from a Website Makeover? Or should you just start over?
Does your website need to go?
When you discover you’ve made a bad hire, you usually don’t hesitate to fire the person–or to provide coaching and training to fix the problem(s), so that your employee is a happy, productive, contributing member of the team.
The same should be true of an unproductive website. You should assess your website so that you can determine whether you can fix it with a Website Makeover — or junk it, and start over.
Your website represents you. Some might even say, it is you. A finely tuned website could be working for you around the clock–helping spread the word about what you do, how you do it better than anyone, and creating opportunities with customers and prospects who need your products or services.
I realize that others have put together lists of factors that create a productive website, but I put this list together specifically for small business owners to help them determine if they could benefit from a Website Makeover. If I’ve forgotten anything please feel free to add yours in the comment form!
Why do I love Infusionsoft CRM? Let me count the ways…
Direct Marketing 2.0
Infusionsoft CRM is simply the most powerful CRM/Marketing Automation tool for small business. There’s nothing better.
It’s like Salesforce.com + ExactTarget + 1ShoppingCart all-in-one.
And for two seats at $299/month, plus $59/month per additional seat, the price cannot be beat.
Infusionsoft CRM offers you more
You will not find a better all-in-one CRM/Marketing Automation System. It includes: (1) CRM (2) Autoresponders (3) Web forms (4) Order forms (5) Sales force automation (6) Shopping cart (7) Affiliate marketing management, and (8) lots, lots more, and what’s best, you can get it all without spending tens of thousands of dollars, or cobbling together other systems that do parts of what Infusionsoft can do (like Salesforce.com + ExactTarget + 1ShoppingCart, which you’d probably spend 5 figures putting it all together anyway).
If you’re looking for a CRM or Marketing Automation System for your Small Business, but haven’t been able to decide which one is best for you, here are 5 good reasons to get off the fence:
5 Reasons to Get Off the Fence and Choose Infusionsoft CRM
How do you build a Sustainable Competitive Advantage?
A good moat protects you
When Warren Buffet speaks, people listen.
Recently I happened to catch Warren Buffet on TV talking about how leaders should set business priorities.
Mr. Buffet was saying that, no matter the size of the business, you should operate your business like it’s a family business–one that you are going to hold onto for 100 years, and that the #1 thing you should think about is how to build a Sustainable Competitive Advantage, like building “like a moat around your castle.”
This is a great analogy. If you look back to medieval times, moats were excavated around castles as part of the defensive system–an obstacle immediately outside the walls–and usually they were filled with water.
A good moat made it difficult for your enemy to access your walls with siege weapons, such as towers and battering rams, which needed to be brought up against a wall to work effectively. A water-filled moat made it impossible for your enemy to dig tunnels under your fortifications in order to effect a collapse of the defenses. A good moat protected your castle and everything in it.
The wider your moat, the longer you can protect your profits. The deeper your moat, the more profitable you are.
“Understanding your customers” is key to building a good moat and creating a sustainable competitive advantage
So why aren’t companies more adventurous when it comes to trying new things? Do they want to know how to get better results?
It’s the “I hate brocolli” syndrome of marketing and business.
If you ask the average CEO, “What’s the rationale for the way you’re currently marketing your services?” Many say: “It’s what we’ve always done.”
The sad truth is that many companies are engaging in the same old tried marketing tactics rooted in strategies that were developed eons ago (a.k.a. 2007). They’re wasting money on tactics that are not rooted in any real, current strategy – or based on the realities of today’s marketplace.
How to get better results: Higher response rates and higher conversions
Blogging and Social Media Sitting in a Tree: K.I.S.S.I.N.G.
Social Media was made for Blogging
Blogging and Social Media… Just a fad? Or here to stay? It’s driving the revolution in user-generated content…
What is the purpose behind Blogging? It’s not to show how smart or cute you are. If it’s going to be a part of an effective business strategy, you need to provide value, to show people the way, and establish yourself as a thought leader.
What is the purpose behind Social Media? It’s to connect with People: Friends, Associates, Affiliates, Prospects, Customers, and let them know what you’re up to. If you are using social media, you get to build your own channel, and you are literally the Editorial Board, Editor in Chief, Writer/Anchor, and Ombudsman all in one person.
What’s the purpose behind integrating your Blogging and Social Media? Quite simply, it’s a radical new opportunity to put yourself “out there” in front of your clients and prospects, to help them solve problems,and position yourself as a potential solution provider, so that when they have an itch they’ll remember that you provide the scratch.
How to Integrate Blogging and Social Media: In 8 Simple Steps
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