What Are They Saying About YOU? (Online Reputation Managment)
September 22, 2011 by Lisa Santos · 1 Comment
Are you paying attention to what people are saying about your business online?
Along with social media networks, people will talk about your business anywhere online… both the good and bad.
Think about it… people do not hesitate to go online to voice their concerns about a business instead of contacting the business directly.
Even worse, sometimes business owners have NO idea that the content is out on the web. This can truly hurt a business’s reputation, which is unfortunately; especially when the complaints are not even warranted.
Imagine one of your potential customers Googling your business name and up pops a negative post from one of your customers about how much they hate your service.
If this is the first thing your prospects see, do you think they will be quick to do business with you? No, they won’t. In fact, most people will automatically decide against doing business with you solely based on this other person’s complaint.
It’s just a fact… people rely heavily on the opinions of others when deciding whether or not to do business with you.
This is why customer reviews and testimonials are so powerful in converting prospects into buyers. When people see that others love your products, services, or business, they will have no problem doing business with you.
On the flip side, as soon as they see unhappy customers, they will avoid you like the plague.
Is this something your business can afford during these tough economic times? You probably answered, “absolutely not” and you are correct.
So how do you, as a business owner, defend yourself from the negativity surrounding your business online?
One way is to do a Google search for your business name to see what type of information is coming up.
Another way is to join and engage in social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. People will definitely say what they feel there.
But it’s up to you to catch it and do something about it – even if it’s just to post a reply to the complaint to defend yourself. If not, you are leaving your business vulnerable to negative publicity, which is not good.
One way to combat a negative online reputation is to get your happy customers to post more positive reviews and testimonials about your business online.
This will help overshadow the negative comments and help you clean up your online reputation.
Let’s look more deeply into Online Review sites right now…
Online Review Sites
As mentioned earlier, online reviews are powerful when it comes to purchasing decisions.
People are careful when selecting businesses and if they see negative reviews about a business, they are not likely to go that way.
Think about yourself and your own online searching habits…
Let’s say you are looking for a plumber online and you come across a customer review tearing them apart.
You would probably move on to the next plumber – as would most people.
On the flip side, if your prospects see a bunch of glowing reviews about your business, they are more likely to do business with you.
Imagine having the MOST positive online reviews in your local industry?
Can you see the powerful impact this can have on your business?
Wouldn’t it be nice to knock out your competitors just by having a few extra positive customer reviews?
Therefore, online reviews are extremely important when it comes to connecting with your local prospects and customers.
You may be wondering how you can get more positive online customer reviews…
There are several local business directories where people can post reviews about businesses – this is a great place to start.
Some of the most popular are: Google Places/Maps, InsiderPages.com, Yelp.com, Yahoo Local, and Citysearch.com.
You should visit your business listing on these sites frequently to stay on top of what is being said about your business.
Not only that, but you should also direct your happy customers to these sites to post reviews about your product or service.
In addition to gathering customer feedback, these review sites are also good places to offer coupons and special promotions to help attract new customers.
Think about it… if you were searching for a local flower shop and one listing had a 50% off coupon and the other ones don’t, which one would you choose?
I hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like professional help implementing any of the methods you read about in this article, please contact me us at http://lsvirtualassistant.com/contact to setup a free consultation.
5 Social Media Marketing Tips for Your Business
September 13, 2011 by Lisa Santos · 1 Comment
Even though social media sites are a tremendous way for small business owners to promote themselves on a shoestring budget, most small business owners don’t utilize these powerful platforms effectively. They vacillate between feeling completely overwhelmed and feeling that the sites are a huge waste of time.
Social Media is one of my favorite ways of generating interest around my own small business. But, there are some basic principles to keep in mind in order to make your marketing more effective and efficient.
Here are five important tips that will enhance your overall social media marketing experiences:
1) Create a landing page.
A landing page is a one-page website that offers your visitors a quick peek at you and your small business before they are “overwhelmed” by your business website. In addition, successful landing pages offer visitors a valuable free offer in exchange for their name and email address. Landing pages are crucial to business success because they allow prospects to connect with you on a more personal level, quickly highlight the benefits of doing business with you and give your prospects a small taste of what your small business is all about.
2) Set up complete profiles on your social networks.
If you want your marketing efforts to work, make sure that your social media profiles are complete. If prospects land on your profile page and it doesn’t have a picture and contains sparse information, they aren’t likely to feel any connection with you. You should provide as much information about yourself as possible. Remember, people want to get to know you, so give them what they’re looking for.
3) Participate; don’t push.
When marketing on social media platforms, always keep in mind the 80/20 rule. You should spend 80% of your time sharing, answering questions and interacting with others and only 20% of your time promoting your small business. If you stick to this rule, you’ll be viewed as a true participant as opposed to a pushy sales-person.
4) Be consistent.
Social media marketing is all about consistency. It’s extremely important that prospective clients see you on a regular basis. Exposure is the key to gaining your client’s trust and eventual business. So, get on those sites and interact on a daily basis.
5) Create a daily schedule.
If you don’t have a schedule, it won’t take long before you’re sucked into the “social media black hole.” Determine how much time you have to devote to your social media marketing and stick to it. If you only have 30-minutes each day, then only utilize three social networking sites and generate a strong presence on them. I like to use a timer (honestly!) to keep myself on track; when it beeps, I’m off to the next site.
Social Media marketing is extremely effective as long as you understand how to tap into its power. If you implement these five tips into your marketing efforts, you should quickly generate impressive results for your small business.
About the Author: Jessica Swanson has helped thousands of small business owners, all over the world, implement low-cost, high-impact DIY marketing campaigns. Armed with years of teaching and a M.S. in Written Communications, Jessica takes complicated marketing concepts, turns them upside-down, and makes them incredibly simple and outrageously straightforward.
Known for her energy, passion and “get-it-done” attitude, Jessica shares her savvy marketing tips through her weekly ezine, blog, podcasts and videos. To download your FREE Shoestring Marketing Kit, visit: www.ShoestringMarketingKit.com.
Jessica recently joined the Manta team of industry experts.
Do You Think Outside the Box In Social Media Marketing Terms?
July 26, 2011 by Lisa Santos · 1 Comment
If there’s one thing that social media marketing is definitely all about, it’s thinking outside of the box. You could argue that marketing in general should always be about thinking laterally and coming up with different solutions, standpoints and positions, but in social media marketing we often use tools which a traditional small business owner might never have considered before. A case in point is video marketing. Videos go hand-in-hand with social media. We just need to look at the meteoric rise of YouTube and understand that it’s now one of the most important search engines on the Web, as well.
It’s no coincidence that Google owns YouTube and perhaps not surprising that videos often show up in very prominent positions within Google in response to any given query. It has been proven time and again that we are drawn to a moving image on any Internet page and as such we should be taking steps to create marketing messages that are video-based, as well.
Video marketing should be an integral part of social media marketing for any organization. However, it’s something that many people shy away from as they believe that it is too complicated, costly or challenging. They may feel that they have to invest a considerable sum of money in production facilities, talent and post production, to say nothing of distribution.
Video marketing does not have to be complicated. However, it does go without saying that whatever you produce should be professional and be representative of your organization. Given what’s available and the great solutions around, these days with a little ingenuity and being aware of these solutions and options, videos can be produced that are relevant to your organization’s subject matter without too much difficulty.
Many organizations choose to produce a video that is a voiceover of a presentation of some kind. Others choose to use video to showcase their customers, or how a particular solution worked well in a certain set of circumstances. The secret is to always create videos that are entertaining, educational and informative and remember that you should not be an overt marketer in social media marketing circles.
A good virtual assistant knows how to create videos using good quality but relatively inexpensive hardware and software. They will also know how to correctly optimize the video so that it has the best chance of featuring online. There are some very sophisticated distribution networks available today to help you to showcase your optimised videos. Good content presented here could help to position the organization as the go-to expert. Many of the most successful companies online have focused on video marketing as part of their social media marketing efforts, to great effect.
Why not go one step further and consider creating a YouTube channel? Many companies have used this concept to create their very own branded, marketing channel within what is generally acceptable in social media marketing terms. If a video that you produce has the advantage of going viral, your gains can be truly exponential.
Six Ways To Get Fans for Your Facebook Page
May 11, 2011 by Lisa Santos · 1 Comment
For newly-established Facebook fan pages, the main focus is attracting new followers and getting the news out of a products or services. Facebook marketing experts are aware of the secret tricks for getting Facebook fans, and knowing these trade secrets can help a follower base to inflate rapidly into no time at all.
Facebook fan pages tend to be absolutely nothing with no fans, and attracting fans to some brand new fan page needs to be done quickly to be able to spread the buzz in terms of a product or service on the world’s largest online social network. Anyone that has ever developed a Facebook fan page understands that attracting new fans goes beyond just inviting people you currently know if you soon reach an established limit. Perhaps friends of friends will spread the news, but that only goes so far. Real Facebook fan page success occurs when you reach thousands and apply it quickly. But in what way is it done? The secret lies in several trade secrets of one particular successful Facebook fan pages:
Become Recognized with Keywords: New changes in Facebook fan pages allow you to increase your online exposure with the aid of keywords. By adding to your fan page specific words or phrases related to your business, using them in your URL and including them in your public postings and status updates, you can boost the probability of your Facebook fan page coming up as a search result on Google. The beauty of keyword phrases is that you are more inclined to find people who share your passions and interests for a particular field, or attract shoppers looking for the actual product you sell. Once they find yourself on Facebook and click on “Like” you have got a new fan and also a potential new customer.
Reach Out with SEO: Search engine optimization, or SEO, is actually a proven technique for increasing exposure of a website or brand name. SEO are operating in conjunction with major search engine listings and takes advantage of search engine “crawling” that seeks out optimal search results in articles and blogs, and can also often be used to attract Facebook fans, too. By creating timely and relevant articles or blog postings with popular search phrases contained in the title and through the entire text, you increase the odds of Google targeting your website or article within browse results. Simply link readers returning to your Facebook page having a “Follow Me on Facebook” button and also the chances are in your favor that they need to click “Like” and become a long-term fan. With SEO, it is essential to build your articles engaging and informative; packing your text with keywords and phrases may initially capture search engine attention, but supplying well-written and attractive articles or blogs will likely make readers find out more details on you and your products or services. For writing help, visit one of the many online freelance writer forums and find someone to create affordable and effective articles for you personally.
Make best use of Photos: Using photos to advertise your page and reach out to prospective Facebook fans is relatively cheap and highly effective. One means of using photos to get Facebook fans is usually to have a photo relevant to your fan page or business and tag the buddies of your respective current fans. Considering that the majority of people on Facebook have nearly 150 friends, you can quickly reach plenty of people in no point in time in anyway. Those friends of your fans will receive a message that they have been tagged in a photo. In nearly every case, they will be curious to find out the picture and be led instantly to your fan page. It’s simple, but it really works!
Photos can also be used as a promotion gimmick that has shown great results. Ask your Facebook fans to have photos of themselves using and enjoying your products and present a deduction or special prize or promotion for people who post them on your Wall. Go ahead and tag their friends in the photos to ask them over to your fan page and see what the results are!
Connect with Successful Sites: Find a website that attracts the types of fans you want for your fan page. Contact the page administrator and provide a mutually beneficial link agreement, where you promote their site on your website or fan page, and they will do the same for you. You can likewise post links on fan pages comparable to yours to spread the word to like-minded Facebookers, which is simple and easy to perform.
Spend Five Bucks: Networking sites like www.fiverr.com offer fan page builders unique chances to connect with a large number of potential future fans for only a few dollars. On fiverr.com, Facebook users with hundreds and sometimes countless friends offer to ask a bunch of their friends to discover your fan page also it costs only you $5. It’s a fast and simple technique to spread the word about your new fan page at lightning speed!
Make Them Click “Like”: If a few of your fan page material is protected and accessible only to individuals who click the “Like” button, it is an excellent way to generate some excitement and encourage people to become fans. An efficient way to do this is with coupons, giveaways and special promotions advertised on a customized landing page for first-time individuals to your page. If you can create enough interest and intrigue, you are guaranteed to collect new fans who definitely are excited to learn more about what you have to offer.
Making a Facebook fan base in the short time is not an impossible dream. Even for those who have limited budgets and few marketing secrets, that it is fairly easy to spread the news regarding a new Facebook fan page without having to be some type of computer expert or knowing thousands of people. Facebook fan pages grow in popularity when you are conscious of the tricks of the trade. Regardless of how you select to get in touch with prospective fans, guarantee that the Facebook fan page that you are endorsing is stuffed with entertaining features intended to make people glad they found you. Post regularly, keep information current and timely and you will maintain your new fans eager for more.
LS Virtual Assistant Services knows why Facebook is definitely the hottest social media network in the world and knows ways to help your online business thrive with Facebook fan page applications and Facebook marketing tips. Contact us today to learn proven methods to monetize Facebook and traffic generation techniques for Facebook that will get results.
5 Great Benefits of Facebook Fan Pages for Local and Small Businesses
April 28, 2011 by Lisa Santos · 2 Comments
Small and Local businesses are discovering the advantages of having a Facebook fan page and are beginning to learn the secrets to attracting new customers and website visitors with simple tricks that are classified as affordable and easy. With some effort, your great plan or product can be become a fan favorite on Facebook!
We often hear the old adage, It’s an amazingly small world when coincidences occur or common acquaintances are discovered. With the growing rise in popularity of Facebook, the entire world seems even smaller in recent times, simply because this popular social network connects people around the world, building a global community of shared connections and interests that knows no cultural boundary. Facebook allows users to connect not just with old friends, however with people all over the world who share their interests and passions on fan pages created for them. These fan pages are fundamental to Facebook’s popularity and incorporating one into your marketing plan might just be your ticket to success.
With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can create a Facebook fan page to advertise your product, interest or passion. Without any effort or expense by you, Facebook’s search feature will yield your fan page as being a search outcome and those who share your interest will soon find you. To help get more website visitors to your fan page without any cost, you can spread the concept about your latest page to all your current client database and Facebook connections. Considering that the average Facebook user has 130 friends, there exists nearly endless potential for attracting new individuals to your page simply by reaching over to those you already know and asking them to assist you in making connections. Naturally, you also will want to be sure to promote your fan page on your website, and vice versa.
Proven Benefits of Facebook Fan Pages:
1. Attract more traffic to your site through fan page links- People who find you on Facebook will probably be interested enough into your product or service to click on a link that will take them directly to your website.
2. Effortless income potential- Through Facebook’s innovative advertising options, you can make an income by targeting certain demographics and like-minded potential customers for a very low cost.
3. Easier search engine optimization- A Facebook fan page does more than heighten your exposure within a social network; a fan page raises the odds of your name being found quicker on search engines, like Google.
4. Increased customer loyalty- Current customers who follow your Facebook fan page will develop an individual connection to your product or service, particularly if you are diligent about feedback and responses with their posts. Fan pages offer fans chances to post pictures, provide product reviews and with loyal fans to post feedback and comments that may possibly attract others and provide you with priceless insight into the wants and also needs of your projected audience.
5. Get to know your customers- With Facebook’s detailed analytics, you will get entry to valuable specifics about people who follow your fan page, such as their gender, age and also place. Gaining a more rewarding knowledge of the demographics of your respective group of followers can help you more effectively reach particular people with targeted, customizable advertising.
Facebook is fast becoming the most popular element that links people from around the world. As friends connect on Facebook, they naturally share information about products and services they normally use and love. That is where a Facebook fan page and its great potential for business owners enters into play. Increasing your global exposure with a fan page for your product or service provides a simple means for people to hook up with you and tell their friends about you. The great thing about a Facebook fan page is the benefits that are available to even the smallest business and it also takes simply passion and purpose to attract fans and initiate to reap all of the benefits Facebook fan pages have to offer.
Business owners worldwide depend on Facebook experts for a bunch of their Facebook fan page needs, from Facebook marketing suggestions to information about how to monetize Facebook. Visit us online or call us at 206.350.3504 to learn more about the proven advantages of Facebook fan pages and how to use them to get results for your business.
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