Managing Negativity on Social Networking Sites

Everyone agrees that one way to draw attention to your business is by leveraging the power of Social Networking.  Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are very popular sites and could be harboring a large sum of potential customers for your business.

In fact, social networking activities calculate to about about 15% of all internet use daily – this is HUGE.

We all know about Facebook.  Whether you have your own account or you know of someone else who does, you are well aware that this is the most popular online social networking sites today.

Facebook has more than 750 Million users – imagine how many of your local customers you could reach just by using Facebook!

So when it comes to building and maintaining your company’s reputation, this is one place to start.

Studies show that Facebook users spend quite a bit of time logged in each day socializing, sharing information, and responding to messages.

So let’s say you have an unhappy customer who posts negative information about your business on your Facebook Fan page. You can respond to any negativity that comes your way immediately if you manage your Fan page properly.

It’s a known fact that people do business with those they like and trust. So if you can tap into those zones, you can eventually build a solid reputation that can’t be touched.

To do so, your main goal should be to share valuable information with your followers on a consistent basis as well as provide special discount offers from time to time.

Maintaining your online reputation also involves heavily monitoring what is being said about your business online.  If you don’t know that something negative has been said, you have no chance of responding to it or correcting it.

How detrimental could that be for your business?

Facebook: The Real Power Of “People See – People Do”

In case you haven’t noticed, just about everyone is online these days doing a thousand different things. From paying bills, to arranging travel, to shopping for a new home, people spend a LOT of time online.

People are even using the Internet more than ever to keep in touch with family, friends, and co-workers.

Not only do they keep in touch with each other, but they recommend products and services that they like.  For instance, when one person “likes” a product or service, they let other people know about it and they, in turn, “like” the product or service too.

On Facebook, businesses build followers by getting them to “Like” their Facebook Fan pages. Imagine someone being in love with your product or service… so they tell everyone they know.

Then, they come to your Fan page and “Like” you and now they get all of your promotions and become loyal customers.

The process becomes viral and continues to go on and on…

Business owners are becoming aware that they also need to be online in a major way to capitalize on social network usage amongst consumers.

It is a fact that your business success strongly relies on a solid, reputable online existence.

If you do not have a customized landing page you are actually losing out on business. Your gross income is probably sagging if you are a small business owner without an online fan base or ability to capture leads.

Imagine how much traffic you can send to your website if you provide surveys for your customers about that new product you want to launch?

Not only will you get real-time data for market analysis, but your customers will be delighted and relieved to know they can find you, their friend, online 24/7.

If you really want to effectively allocate your marketing and advertising dollars wisely, get a Fan page setup and start a viral explosion amongst your satisfied customers.

Can You Afford a Mobile-Optimized Website?

The more important question is can you afford NOT to have a mobile-optimized website?

Consumers are using their mobile devices on the go today more than ever. And they make instant decisions about where to spend their money based on how easily they can access needed information from their mobile devices.

When it comes to “easy mobile access,” mobile websites are one of the most important pieces of the mobile puzzle.

Mobile-optimized sites are designed to fit smaller screens, so users can see the most critical details on your website, such as location, price, and contact information… all in one glance.

Scrolling and navigating traditional pages on a tiny display can quickly lead to frustration, driving your customers away from you and to a more user-friendly option.

Mobile-optimized pages offer extra benefits if well-designed, such as “one-click” features that will help them make a call, find directions, or make a purchase without having to type in a bunch of words.

As with any marketing plan, there is a cost associated with the development of a quality mobile-optimized website. However, this cost must be weighed against the risk of losing patrons simply because they can’t find the data they want quickly enough.

As more organizations are turning to web-optimization to ensure a quality customer experience, those that do not meet consumers’ advanced expectations will be left behind.

Although it does cost money to get a mobile-optimized website, there are affordable solutions available. For instance, if you simply need a basic mobile site where users can easily find your information, you may be able to get a mobile website for a just a few hundred dollars.

However, if you need a more robust mobile website with advanced features and options, you may spend quite a bit more.

Whatever the cost, the benefits will surely be worth it. Not only will you generate more leads, customers, and repeat business, but you will also have a sound mind knowing that you’re not neglecting a huge portion of your consumer market – the mobile market.

Marketing In The Cell Phone Age: Don’t Get Left Behind

Did you know that while 5.1 billion people in the world own a cell phone, but only 4.6 billion people own a toothbrush?

According to the Mobile Marketing Association, there are even some countries in which there are more mobile phone subscriptions than there are people. How is this even possible?

But with such impressive numbers, it is no wonder SMS text messaging has become such an important marketing tool for businesses.

When it comes to responding to a message, people are 70% faster at answering a text message than an e-mail. Text messages are convenient and instantaneous.

Unlike with a computer or a T.V. set, people carry their phones with them at all times. Are you starting to see what this means for your business?

This is the power of the cell phone. Harness that power to grow your business.

Coupons, special offers, event reminders, billing information, and so much more can be sent through quick, unobtrusive text messages. It is a great way to build up your repeat customer base and create a sense of loyalty among customers for your company.

When combined with other creative forms of advertising, a text messaging campaign can really make your business soar.

Some of your competitors are probably already ahead of the game and are using SMS Text Message marketing on a consistent basis.

If so, some of “your” customers are probably doing business with them on a regular basis. This is totally unacceptable and unnecessary.  You too can harness the power of text marketing and implement your own campaign for very reasonable prices.

If you are unsure about HOW to implement a text marketing campaign, it is advisable that you seek the services of a professional text message marketer.

Once you see the power in this cutting-edge form of marketing, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner… Don’t get left behind.

Video Marketing: A Powerful Relationship Building Tactic

I think all business owners would agree that:

Without your customers you have nothing.

Therefore, your main goal is to make sure everything you do when it comes to marketing and advertising is focused around building relationships with your prospects and customers.

Providing a quality, professional service is the first step in relationship building obviously. However, another powerful relationship building tactic is video marketing.

With the use of simple online videos, you can show your customers and prospects that you really do care about them by taking the time to put together videos that provide them with clear, concise communication in regards to your business.

The ability to build customer relationships relies on the successful use of engaging and entertaining video marketing campaigns. This involves determining what type of videos fit your business goals, creating those videos, distributing those videos, and placing them on your website.

Online videos can open up massive opportunities for your business; including increased credibility, more leads, more sales, and stellar customer loyalty.

Whether your objective is to teach entertain, new-age consumers somewhat expect marketing to be in video form. To be frank, it’s just easy for them. They don’t have to strain their eyes trying to decipher words on a page – they simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Sales and lead generation is the life blood of growing your business. Understanding what video marketing is and how it deeply affects the relationships you have with customers makes this one of the most formative marketing tools of this century.

Sound relationships between you and your customers will ensure your future success. So it is in your best interest to start outlining your goals when it comes to creating and distributing online videos.

If not, your competitors will continue to silently build their online video libraries and use them to lure your customers and prospects right into their own sales funnel – and that’s the last thing you need.