Posts Tagged ‘social media’

Q: Should you be using social media? A: Yes. Q: Should you be selling through social media? A: Yes. Q: Should you be connecting and engaging with your customers/audience through social media? A: Yes. Yes, social media is a great way to connect, engage with your customers, find new clients and promote your business. But many businesses fall at the first hurdle because they use it solely as a promotional tool. By constantly tweeting or updating fans about your latest promotions, news, what you're up to and a few more promotions, you'll lose followers hand over fist. Why? Because you'll come across as being 'spammy'.   Social media as a marketing tool   Through social media you can encourage people to sign up to your newsletters, promote your eBooks and give-aways and encourage them to visit your website. But if that's all you do, people will get fed ...

Search engine optimisation usually makes you think of things like: SEO copywriting Keywords Title tags Headings and subheadings These are all very important when it comes to boosting your website's SEO, but there's a lot more that also has to happen 'behind the scenes'. What is off screen SEO? There are 3 main elements that make up off screen SEO. Let's look at each in turn to see how they can affect your SEO effectiveness. 1. Website Your website shouldn't just look nice, although that will obviously help draw people to it. It is essential you choose your web designer carefully. Make sure they understand SEO - and I mean really understand it. If you're unsure, ask to see some examples of good websites they've put together that are achieveing great things in the SEO arena. The structure of your website is key when it ...

When you think about PR, do you instantly picture overly-made-up women in expensive designer suits air kissing whilst handing out expensive glossy magazines? Or, perhaps it's the excessively expensive inches in newspapers and trade magazines that first springs to mind. Well, to be honest, PR isn't really about either of those and it doesn't have to break the bank. In truth, PR doesn't even have to cost you a penny. Want to know more? It's who you know PR doesn't have to be expensive and it can even be free. All you need to do is to get to know people and build a few relationships. Dealing with the press first, in your industry there is bound to be a magazine or two that you can get in touch with. Chat with the editors, offer an article or two for their publication or ...

Let's get one thing straight from the off - social media is not an advertising channel. Too many businesses set up their accounts and then start running them like online adverts, bombarding their followers and fans with a constant stream of hard core marketing messages. If you do that... People will get seriously hacked off with you very quickly You'll be unfollowed rapidly You won't be adding value The main point about social media is engagement - you must listen to others, ask questions, join in with the conversation and add value. Social engagement If you want great results from your social media activities you must be willing to put in time and effort. If you sit back and wait for people to come to you, you'll waiting an awfully long time. Here are a few things you can do to help you get the most out ...

When using social media within your marketing strategy, should you automate it? That question usually divides opinion. There are those that think it's fine to automate and schedule a stream of updates so they always have a presence on Twitter. But there are those that believe that social medis should be social and an activity you take part in real time. As for me, I don't think it should be automated - well, at least not all of it. Understanding social media Social media is about being social, so if you don't really like people, it's not for you. To be effective you must listen, engage and chat. When the opportunity arises, you can offer help and advice or join in with a debate. But if you automate everything,  you can't do that. That's not to say you can't automate at all. As a ...

A funny thing happens to some people when they start using social media - they forget who they are. People still seem to believe that they have to be corporate and cardboard-like when interacting online - but there lies the problem, many aren't interacting. The people you'll 'meet' through social media will reflect the usual personality types: Confrontational Shy Opinionated Funny Those who think they're funny Confident Flirty Sarcastic ... That's why you have to be human when using social media, which means interaction - you have to talk to other people just like in real life. Making friends Just as you would chat and mingle at a party, if you want to make an impression on social media you have to start conversations. The great thing about doing this in an online world, is that no one can see you. If, in real life, you're less than confident in a group ...

'I don't have time' or 'it's a complete waste of time' (which usually translates into 'I don't understand it') are 2 of the most common responses when people are asked why they're not using social media as part of their marketing strategy. But those that have taken the time to understand the mechanics of social media and the effects it can have on your business profile, realise that blogging, facebook interaction and Twitter can all boost business and credibility. Many people still think its a passing fad - nope, it's still here. Many people think the only way to market it through old fashioned cold calling and mail shots - nope, most people won't buy from a cold caller. So if you are one of the stalwarts who refuses to acknowledge the benefits of social media, let me ask you... How ...

There are a lot of companies out  there now using social media. But there are also a lot of companies who are still resisting it. The main reason is it's perceived lack of Return on Investment (ROI), with the boss forcefully announcing that if you can prove its ROI he'll think about it. But there lies the problem - how do you discover its ROI? Does it even have one? The ROI of social media Earlier this year, Thomson Reuters hosted one of Finextra's international series of social media events. Numerous delegates from the Financial Services sector gathered to mull over the enigma of social media, especially Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. During the day a number of tweets were flying around, including one that caught my eye: "There is ROI in social media, finding it is the Holy Grail." For me, social media is ...

Do you remember the days when marketing your business involved taking out an ad in a magazine or local paper. It was great wasn't it? Your little box snuggled up against all your competitors' little boxes. Then of course there was the humble mail shot, not to mention the dreaded cold calling. You'd spend hours and hours going down your list of phone numbers, repeat your well rehearsed opening pitch, desperate to hear a 'yes' rather than the usual '***!!!####'. Those were the days. Thank God you don't have to rely on that type of marketing anymore. When I started out as a copywriter, I vowed I would never resort to cold calling. I don't know about you, but I hate it when my evening is interrupted by a sales call. How dare these people phone me, uninvited, to try and sell me something ...

Social media is a powerful marketing force. Most companies today realise this and have embraced it with open arms. But others are still needing a bit of encouragement. There are a number of big bosses out there who are yet to be convinced by its potential. They seem blind to the potential market it could open up for them sinply because: It's too much like hard work They don't have the time to 'play' with it They don't believe their customers are using social media so why should they? They think they can't monitor its effectiveness But many of their employees can see the benefits. So if that's you and you have a particularly archaic boss who needs a nudge to move out of the Stone Age and into the Social Media age, read on. Making you boss see the benefits of social media The ...

  If you are business engaging in social media, it’s essential you have a social media policy in place. Every social media channel you engage in, is a direct line to your customers. Everything you do happens in real-time. Once you’ve hit send, it’s gone out to potentially thousands of people – a bit like texting…and how many times have you sent a text you’ve later regretted? If your message is wrong, or written in haste (especially when tempers are strained), you could land your company in some serious hot water. By putting a social media policy in place you will protect your company from: PR nightmares Employees saying something they shouldn’t Legal hot water The leaking of confidential or sensitive information What will you say? Your policy should clearly state how your company will deal with defamatory comments and positive comments. It should state who will ...

  Content marketing online, gives you the power to educate, communicate, influence people and attract a continuous stream of potential customers. But you must have a strategy. Jumping in without thinking rarely works. You must be realistic and understand that results won’t happen over night. To make it work you need patience and perseverance. As a freelance copywriter, I’ve been content marketing since 2007 and it does work – you just need to understand the process and have a plan. What’s your content marketing plan? If you want readers to read what you write, you must have empathy for them and the problems they face. Writing ...

  Once upon a time, customers could only get in touch with you by telephone, letter or by visiting your premises. If they were unhappy, they’d probably moan about you to a friend or two and you’d be non the wiser. How times have changed. Now, if they’re unhappy they’ll tweet about it or post in on their Facebook page. Before you know it, the whole world will know they received bad service. That’s why, as a business, it’s vital you’re using social media. How social media can be used to your advantage If there’s one thing everyone loves, it’s to talk. By listening to social media channels, you ...

  Everyone uses social media these days – or at least it seems like it. As a copywriter I use it a lot. Whether it’s tweeting for help (usually IT related problems), offering advice, promoting my blog posts, or just general chit-chat, I love using it as a way of connecting with other people. Did you see that? I said I used it for connecting with people. The problem is, some social media users out there don’t connect, they spam. And that’s not something you want to do – especially if you want people to follow you or ‘like’ your Facebook page. ...

  Most people will either love social media or hate it – with the odd few thrown in who simply don’t ‘get it’. But the problem is for those who hate or don’t ‘get it’, social media is here to stay and it will continue to grow. We’ve already seen Google join the party with Google+ so your days of keeping it at arms length are numbered. It’s time to join in. Personally I love it. Working as a freelance copywriter it has helped me not only gain new clients but its also enabled me to meet great people, boost my online exposure and find people to ...

  Internet marketing is vitally important for your business. Not convinced? OK, utilising activities such as article marketing, social media, blogging and other content creation will have a dramatic effect on your business’ online visibility and exposure. Just in case you are still sitting there shaking your head, take a look at a few facts and figures that were compiled earlier this year by Pingdom about internet usage, social media, email etc. So if you’re ready, prepare to be blown away. Email Whether you use email as a marketing medium or simply as a method of communication, it is a vital part ...

  Twitter – a world in 140 characters. It seems such a harmless tool and yet it can make or break a business. Social media hasn’t only given you a much louder voice, it has also provided your customers with a huge stage from which they can address the world in an instant. That’s great if they are shouting nice things about you but what happens when things go wrong? As soon as you hit send, your tweet is released into cyberspace to be potentially seen by millions. OK, you may not have that many followers but what happens if one of your followers retweets it to their followers ...

  In the good old days customers would communicate with you via letter, phone or in person. Today things are very different. Now they can send you a tweet, post a comment on your blog or leave you a message on Facebook. In the past if someone was unhappy with your service the ‘bad press’ was usually limited to a few of their friends and family (unless it was seriously bad service and the wrote to the Editor of your local paper). Now a single tweet or Facebook message could potentially be seen by millions. Now, more than ever, you must have procedures in place to deal with social media communications. ...

  Social media isn’t always an easy thing to get to grips with. It’s like any new thing – it takes a while to get the hang of it and a lot of practice. And understanding it is unlikely to happen over night; it will take time and patience. Let’s face it, communicating via a computer, iPad or smartphone to a bunch of people you’ve probably never met before isn’t the most natural thing in the world. If you were physically in a crowd you could stand out and be noticed by your looks, clothing or extravert personality. When chatting with online ‘friends’ standing out isn’t so easy but that’s what you ...

  Social media is everywhere, everyone seems to be using it but are you really getting the most out of it? Of course, that is assuming you’re using it – you are though, aren’t you? Using social media doesn’t mean simply setting up a Facebook page or Twitter account; anyone can do that. Using these social tools effectively will help you attract followers and, in turn, boost the visibility of your business along with sales. Yes, it really can do that. Using social media The amount of time you can give to social media is going to depend on: Your job ...

Just about any copywriter you meet would have, at one time or another, uttered the words - content is king So you know how important content is and you understand the importance of social media in today’s marketing strategies but do you know how to use them to optimal effect? Content and social media – a marriage made in heaven I spied a post recently on Social Media Examiner called How Content and Social Media Equal Marketing Success which investigates the union between content and social media. The video interview with Jo Puilizzi (author of Get ...

  Whether you’ve fallen in love with social media or you’re still being a wall-flower not quite confident enough to dive in and give it a go, it really is a great way to market your business. As more companies begin to get their head round it they are starting to embrace Twitter, Facebook, Google Wave and all the other weird and wonderful platforms out there. Through trial and error they are beginning to work out which applications work best for them and their marketplace. As they begin to engage with people they gather follower and fans but for some, converting those into customers is still ...

Do you use Twitter for business yet? Twitter appears to be one of those things you either love or hate – or you just don’t ‘get’'. But if you are still sitting on the fence, undecided whether it’s right for you or not, this post is for you. Twitter isn’t complicated – it is probably one of the easiest tools to use, but you have to learn to use it well and effectively. Twitter basics First things first – before you even start to worry about what you should be Tweeting, you have to set your account up. Here are a few simple tips to get you started. If you want people to follow you make sure you upload a good avatar – whether it’s a photo of you, ...

  Loads of companies are now using social media – applications like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and blogs are transforming the way they interact with their market. Are you using social media? Are you monitoring its effectiveness? I’m guessing you answered yes to the first question and went quiet, or whispered no to the second. Blindly using social media without monitoring it is a bit like driving your car blind folded – your message is delivered quickly but it’s likely to hit a brick wall any second. In the olden days you only discovered there was a problem with your products or services when someone picked ...

Social media marketing is something that every business should be doing no matter what its size. It is a way to promote your business online to an unlimited market place. Social media isn't just about PR, it can also be used to montior your brand, what people are saying abou you and your customer service. If you don't do it, why don't you do it? Any of these sound familiar? My time is precious It may not be expensive in a monetary sense, but social media can be very time hungry. “I can’t afford to spend that amount of time playing with social media.” You're not alone. Many businesses feel that way but can you really call it playing when it can bring in business to your company? How many other activities offer: Unlimited PR opportunities Direct contact with your customers to gain insightful feedback A ...