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Slip into Digital in an Easy Manner
I talked to a business owner recently that was avoiding all things social and digital out of fear of cost, not knowing what to do and not having time to learn. I brought to the business owner’s attention that he purchased promotional and marketing items several times a year so he could take and easy step into digital without updating statuses daily or attending a webinar or conference.
You can incorporate digital into all aspects of your marketing and event planning by using correctly placed QR codes. Below is a a great example of what can be done for a promotion at a Golf Event.
These codes go well on business cards, brochures, branded coasters for restaurants, t shirts (please ensure these are placed in modest locations for the shirt wearer). Just make sure your QR code gives out the right information for what you want to accomplish. If you want people to add your contact information to their phone then make the QR Code your contact information. If you want more likes or views on a Facebook Page, Website or YouTube video make the QR Code take people there if they scan it. You can also have the QR code lead to contest forms, coupons and surveys. There are a number of places online that you can make a QR Code in black and varying colors for absolutely free and without ads. Custom QR Codes can cost from a under a $100 to thousands depending on the complexity of the design, campaign needs and amount of information on the code.
Also consider that there are still some that don’t have smart phones, iPads or Androids Tablets, so include some level of written information a website, phone number, or email on the promotional or ad item so recipients can still contact you without using the QR code.
Last tip, if you need analytical information (i.e. how many people scanned my QR code? What mobile device did they use the most? What area of town were the people in when they scanned my QR Code…) or the option to change the web address of a QR code in the future, you need to develop it on a dashboard. There are free ones if you look online but many can cost a nominal monthly fee for each month you use it. Often the ones that have a fee work best and offer the most accurate analytical data.
Go ahead and slip into Digital.
Sometimes You Need To Search
Search is often an overlooked practice on Social Media. I’m not talking about searching for trivia information like an entertainer’s baby’s name or finding out the latest breaking news. I’m talking about searching for information that may be of value to your company or organization.
After hearing our examples in our video you can use the click on the following links to find ways to search for your company, business and organization:
Twitter:
Facebook:
Everything:
Easy Peasy Content Curation
Moving fresh content through your online sites can be difficult at times for very Small Businesses and organizations with busy schedules and perhaps not enough budget to hire professional Social Media help. It is import however to have new content (even if it is not all your own) post on your online sites. Why? 1) you need to have valuable content to keep the interest of your target market and stakeholders and 2) to help influence positive Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your online sites and branding.
The following are some suggestions of how you can get auto content curation going pretty fast, easy and free on your online sites! :
- Zooshia - Actually adds a widget to your online site that moves constantly. It allows the addition of Facebook and Twitter sites. This may sound limiting but go to Facebook and search a topic in the search bar and see how many very engaging Facebook pages with news that is pertinent to your interest. Get their web addresses and add them to the widget. Do the same think on Twitter or google Twitter Search and find accounts with valuable content to add to your Zooshia. The Zooshia can be customized in color and size for free. Premium options are available. Click here to see example.
- Dlvr.it - If you don’t update your social sites that often, this app is a great way to push content from any favorite source through Social Media Sites. With the ability to schedule times, analytics, personalized short links and it is Free just to name a few of its features, this content publishing platform is near perfect. Click here to see example.
- Widgetbox - has long provided options to curate content to online sites. You can use information from any site to make an information feed box like Zooshia just with more options. Widgetbox also provides a reasonably priced method to develop mobile apps. This is worth looking into if you have ever thought of making an app for your business or organization. Click here to see example.
- Feedzilla - is one of the best at the free price point. This widget does it all! Load any url or RSS link and it will make a widget for you. It allows for color adjustments of the box and text, size of widget, and choice of how the information slides in the box. Click here to see example.
- Honorable mentions - Weather Channel , Google Maps (actually this is powered by Widgetbox), and Weather and Time Widget
With this information shared let me say I am not a fan of people that put sites on total autopilot and never return. I believe that automatic curation is a tool that can be really helpful in our online world. Remember though that Social Media is about being Social, having a conversation and engaging with others. You can’t do that if you don’t check your online sites regularly for messages, mentions or engagement. The sites with the best response are those that people feel they are interacting with a real person not a robot.
It is also important to produce branded custom content from time to time (i.e. write blogs, press releases, articles yourself and post them!). The above applications can also help you share your content across all your sites via widgets. Writing your content can help you promote your business or organization’s interest.
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Our New Favorite Thing 3-16-12
Our new favorite thing is SavvyCard™. We are going to try to do this power packed application justice in a short blog post.
SavvyCard™ is in short a mobile business card that does so much more. It works on iPhone/Android/BlackBerry, but also works on the iPad (tablets of all sizes), laptop and desk top. You can share it right from your phone, iPad and desk top via email or QR code that it generates on the spot. Also for your phone it generates a shortcut feature so it is always accessible right from the screen (on iPad you can save it via bookmarking to home screen using Safari).
You can add your resume, social media links, professional credentials on this card, even a map to your office and all kinds of favorite links and even notes for people to have when they access your card. What is even better is this card can be changed anytime especially when you are in between positions or jobs. No need to get a new one.
I actually know a couple of people that are using this mobile card as a website at this time, forwarding domain to it. But you can see how it can be as powerful, but more versatile than an About.me or Flavors.me profile.
They also allow you to have more than one SavvyCard™ so you can share different ones for different occasions. Want your charitable organization members to have different information than your business colleagues? The SavvyCard™ system allows this.
These also afford you to share your contact information at conferences so much easier not having to worry about running out of cards or loosing others’ business cards.
Make a deck of numerous SavvyCards owned by others in your phone. Use the cards to contact people directly by simply touching or clicking on each person’s call, email or text buttons. This deck is called the SavvyDeck™ and you can also save a link to it on your phone, tablet and computer screen for easy access.
The last major feature we want to point out is that the card also generates an email signature that will link directly to your online card.
The graphics of the cards are called skins. My card is has a custom skin which you can make yourself, have done professionally or use one of the hundreds of free skin combinations that the company offers.
We’ve only touched the surface of all these cards can do for you as a business person or as a money saver for your company by using these for your employees instead of buying so many paper business cards.
SavvyCard™ is in open Beta right now, so you can sign up to use it! This is a great time to check it out for yourself and see how it can work for you or your company. Got questions about the SavvyCard™? You can contact us or send a question to the Savvy Folk they will be happy to talk with you.
Things to Think About Before Updating your Website for 2012 – #3/3
At some point businesses, organizations, public figures want to ready themselves for more success. Often part of the overall preparation is to update online presences especially their website. A company’s website is very important as it often is the linchpin for all your Online Marketing. This is a series of short blog post of things to think about if you plan to update or create your website.
Thing #3 – Leasing verses Ownership – One thing you must own!
As the housing market declined more people are touting that ownership is over rated, renting is better and cheaper. That mentality has reached a number of industries as well as websites. Websites are now being what I call “leased”.
A number of organizations are no longer spending a lump sum of money, getting a website custom developed and then having the controls turned over to them for management, either in house or through maintenance contracts with the developer. Organizations are opting to pay a monthly fee for the website, and not own the site. As long as the monthly payment is made the site is viewable online. The controlling company may also include a number of hours of updates in the package. Full access to the back end of the website is never granted. These type websites are being offered by phone, cable, newspaper, and various automated online companies.
This is done for a number of reasons. Some professional fields get locked into these options seeking convenience. Also businesses that don’t know how long they will be around and those with fleeting budgets, a monthly fee simply sounds more manageable and smart.
Groups have to decide what is best for them and what they can afford when they build website. BUT if you don’t own your website at least own your domain.
Domain name can be purchased on a number of hosting sites including ours Strategic Online Hosting. Buy your domains and own them yourself. When the development company makes your site you can forward your domain to that site. You can click here to find out more information about this process or use Google.
Therefore if you have a discrepancy with that firm or decide to build a customized site your preferred domain name is in your organization’s control.
If you need any assistance with your online presence from Website to Social Media contact us. We will be happy to assist, consult or develop your online sites. Email us at info@StrategicOnlineNetworking.com or call 823-421-1292.
Things to Think About Before Updating your Website in 2012 – #2
At some point businesses, organizations, public figures want to ready themselves for more success. Often part of the overall preparation is to update online presences especially their website. A company’s website is very important as it often is the linchpin for all your Online Marketing. This is a series of short blog post of things to think about if you plan to update or create your website.
Thing #2 – Think Mobile (yes, again)
Want your website or major parts of it to not be seen on the hottest selling mobile platform? Then develop your website or major parts of it using Flash. Steve Jobs of Apple had an issue with Adobe Flash so his platforms are not Flash enabled. Including the ever popular iPad 2!
I have loaded up a number of high end company websites on my iPad 2 to see an absolutely blank page. See below the same website on Desktop and iPad 2, just in case you need more convincing.
Flash Website on a Desktop.
Flash website on an iPad 2.
Clean websites, with functional layouts, proper direct information and bright graphics make a site pop. But if you must have “movement” on a site use templates with slider capability like on WordPress.org or find a developer fluent in HTML5 , the new up and coming code for multimedia.
If you need any assistance with your online presence from Website to Social Media to advanced tips on Online Marketing contact us. We will be happy to assist, consult or develop your online sites. Email us at info@StrategicOnlineNetworking.com or call 813-421-1292.
Things to Think About Before Updating your Website in 2012 – #1
At some point businesses, organizations, public figures want to ready themselves for more success. Often part of the overall preparation is to update online presences especially their website. A company’s website is very important as it often is the linchpin for all your Online Marketing. This is a series of short blog post of things to think about if you plan to update or create your website.
Thing #1 -Think Mobile
Desk and laptops are still king but mobile is the wave of the future, the very near future! Currently in the United States over 40% of the population owns a smart phones like iPhone, Black Berry and Androids. And just think of the millions of iPads and Android Tablets that have sold since Christmas 2011.
More people are buying these devices each day for convenience, faster online access and ease of travel. The number grows each day of those that are able to access your website from anywhere on the globe on a smaller screen. You need to build your website with that in mind.
A couple of things can happen when someone accesses your website on a mobile device.
- The viewer can just see your normal site in a smaller form. This can make it harder to see your site’s content and it can load slowly. But for some sites with simple layouts this might be appropriate.
- A plugin can be added to your website platform that can detect the type of device that is viewing the online site. It can then send the viewer to another site that you have built for mobile use or it can make the site switch to a mobile format, making it function better on mobile devices.
You will need to communicate with your web developer to decided what is best for your website.
One of the most popular website or blog development platforms, WordPress.org, has a number of plugins for mobile . In addition many of the WordPress theme developers have mobile ready themes and plugins pre-installed available. So you can make it easier if you find a WordPress Template Developer that has mobile ready themes on which to build your website.
Another option is to check in with a Florida Company, Savvy Phone, they develop adaptive websites that morph to work on whatever device on which they are being viewed. With this process you only need one site and no matter what new device comes out this year your website will adapt to it. If you call, tell them you heard about them from Strategic Online Networking :).
If you need any assistance with any area of your online presence from Website to Social Media to advanced tips for effective Online Marketing, contact us. We will be happy to assist, consult or develop your online sites. Email us at admin@StrategicOnlineNetworking.com or call 813-421-1292.
Because you can’t afford NOT to be strategic online.
Tell People Exactly Where You Are Online!
Businesses often ask how they can get more people to visit or like their Facebook page or Twitter account. One very simple way is to let them know exactly where you are online.
You often see companies that say at the end of their commercials or on a flyer “find us on Facebook”. But they don’t tell you where! They act like they are the only business on a social network but they are not! With millions of business Facebook Pages and Twitter accounts, finding an entity online is not as intuitive as you think.
Why?
Though there are not duplicates in Facebook aliases, Twitter usernames or web addresses, there can be repeats in Page or Account Names. Take for instance if you are in Central Southern Florida and you want to find a business that can come to your company picnic and handout novelty treats to your employees and their families on a hot day. You may have heard great things about a company based in Orlando-Lakeland-Tampa area called Dragon Ice Cream Treats. So you search on Facebook for Dragon Ice Cream expecting to find the wonderful special events company that delivers novelty ice cream treats right to your business or home party!
BUT you might end up with this Renaissance Dragon that sells odd named ice creams at renaissance festivals in Upstate New England.
This is probably not what you had in mine for your Employee Appreciation and Family Fun Day, especially if you don’t live in Upstate New England. This very thing can happen to people that are searching for your business on a Social Networking site.
Online search is different for everyone. Your computer also now takes into account what you have been searching for in your recent past when you begin a new search quest. So every Dragon that has a connection to that recent Music search you did may come up before the Dragon Ice Cream Treats company that you want now.
Let people know exactly where your business is on Facebook and Twitter especially if you are not a Fortune 500 company. A good example is on the back of this business card which spells out exactly where I am on Facebook and Twitter. This is more than just the general Facebook and Twitter icon leaving a potential client unable to find me on those sites.
QR_codes are another great idea for letting people know exactly where you are online. If you are at an event set up a sign on the reception table or in your program where people can scan QR_Codes and go straight to your Facebook or Twitter account on their mobile phone or digital tablet and like or follow you. This works for email sign ups and online brochures also ( See below).
Dragon Ice Cream Treats shares in multiple ways in their ad. But take into account your audience. You may need to add simple instructions of using an app like Scan Life to scan the QR_Code. Many people have iPhones, iPads, BlackBerries and Androids but don’t use it to its full potential only because they don’t know how.
Scant information can be found in other areas also. I am shocked how little information businesses can give out about contacting them. I get hundreds of emails a week that have no phone number, website, email address or alternative way to contact anyone in the company. Every business email should at least have a simple signature that gives your phone number if nothing else. It doesn’t have to be fancy just give out the information.
These are just a couple of easy ways to get more people to your Facebook and Twitter pages. We will share more in the near future. Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter to keep up with our blog and content curation post.
What Does It Take To Be Successful Online?
First – Have a Plan! –You need to have a Plan, a Strategy for a how to reach the goals that you have for your online presence. As the video above shows there are a number of elements that work together to give you a strong online brand.
Second – Releasing Multiple Types of Content. –We found that clients that generated a variety of content, (for example videos, pictures, blog post, campaigns) engaged more prospects online that those that just posted a few sentences daily.
Third - Stay the Course — You need to be consistent meaning staying online and building your brand and reach, not abandoning it after a couple of months because you don’t get immediate results. BUT in addition to stick-to-it-ness being willing to change a developed strategy or tactic to match the trends of your audience. This point leads to the fourth tip.
Fourth – Monitor Your Online Sites (all of them not just the one your intern likes)– Social Media is not a one way talk, it is a conversation. Listening to what is happening on your online sites can help you understand if what you are projecting to your audience is working or not. This is how you know if your strategies or promotions are productive. Even hearing nothing gives you feedback as to whether you are meeting your goals or not.
Fifth - Get “influencers” or “tastemakers” to help you get the word out about your product, book, music, event, or cause. Hollywood figured this out a long time ago! That is why many use certain entertainers for movies to get you in the seats. Big business commercials often use big names to get you to pay attention to their message. Why? They know that certain people can influence others. In our day you don’t need one big celebrity to start a wave of reaction, but you can use a number of people that influence others to create a buzz. Identify early on in a promotion or campaign people that maybe able to assist you within your budget or realm of influence that can help you get your message out.
Watch this video from the Trends Manager at YouTube to learn more about this can happen for you.
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