8 Great Apps for your Facebook Business Page

I’ve been touting the benefits of a Facebook business page for years. But don’t let it stagnate! The purpose of such a page should be to build relationships, to engage users, and to position yourself as an expert in your field. Using these apps will help accomplish those goals.

Tabmaker

If you’ve wondered how to get one of those fancy landing pages, you could hire a web developer or website designer to do it for you, heck – you could hire me. But you could also do it yourself. Tabmaker is a free application that allows you to set up a landing page for first-time visitors or share exclusive content with your fans only. Use your own images, chose colors, and the design you like.

Easy Promos Premium

With Easy Promos you can create your own sweepstakes, photo or video contests, essay contests, pick your favorite, or offer other coupons and promotional codes on your Facebook business page. The premium version costs $100 per campaign. The user-friendly app allows you to manage and customize your promotion from participant requirements to deadlines and more. The Premium version offers options to, “create and manage video contests, customize opt-in checkboxes, create custom wall posts, upload your own banner in the header, and control registration and voting dates. You can also control the frequency of voting according to IP, and limit voting to friends of the entrant.”

Contest Tab

Contest tab is only $30. For that price you can build awareness of your brand with user-generated photo content. The potential to go viral is huge. You can customize with CSS, view real-time analytics, and add share and invite buttons. Additional app options include access to related apps: My Restaurant Tab, Photo Contest Tab, Hotels Tab, Real Estate Tab, and Rent Your Home Tab.

One Way Commerce

If you’ve read the statistics on mobile shopping, you’re aware of the direction commerce is heading. This full e-commerce system allows you to create an instant storefront on your business page. Inventory is tracked, emails sent, and it integrates with QuickBooks and Salesforce.com. The app is FREE and takes only a few minutes to get started. You can create custom banners, upload graphics, and add like buttons to each product. Now there is no excuse to not be selling online!

Join my Mailing List

If you’re on Constant Contact, this app should be a no-brainer. Why not have a tab to grow your list? Enough said. Here's mine. (I made it while in Constant Contact.)

Networked Blogs

Another helpful app. If you’re blogging, have your blog autopost on your business page (also works on a personal profile). All you have to do is register your blog and prove you are the author. Here's mine.

SlideShare

If you use slideshare.net, you need this tool to import your presentations to Facebook. Supports PowerPoint, Keynote, and more! It’s easy to synch the accounts. Just find synch under the application. One disadvantage is you cannot view without going to the app page.

Cueler

If you’re on YouTube autopost videos you upload to your business channel on Facebook. It’s super easy. Just add the Cueler app and tell it what your YouTube username is. Cueler adds a tab and stores your latest videos there as well as posting on your wall (and in fans’ newsfeeds). Body Essentials uses this well.

These are just a few of the apps I like. Also consider a review app. Have one that’s worked for you? Please share in the comments below. If you need help managing your social media presence, just call 715-584-6773.

How to Optimize a Website for 2012

It has been over two years since I answered the question, “Does my Small Business Need a Website?” if you still don’t have a website, stop reading this right now and call me at 715-584-6773. If you do have a website and want to get maximum results from it in 2012 and beyond, read on.

*Let me also tell you a little secret, it is NOT the job of a website developer to ensure that your site gets found, to write quality SEO content, or to use marketing techniques to make more conversions! Though some developers offer SEO services, most will simply create aesthetically pleasing webpages. You need someone like me, Terra L. Fletcher, to do the rest. I’ll be the first to tell you – I’m not the world’s best web developer. Sure I can do a simple site, but I rely on a strong network of really good developers if you want a really nice website. What makes Fletcher Freelance different is the combination of quality SEO content (with a no-typo guarantee) and the infusion of proven marketing techniques that will help your website do what it’s supposed to – SELL! (And you just thought you needed a site to look pretty and keep up with thejones.com.) So how do you take your attractive – but possibly not worth its hefty price tag website – to the next level? There are two key opportunities here, Search Engine Optimization and optimizing for conversions.

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization or SEO basically means that your website will get found in search. There are several elements that will make search engines more likely to crawl, index, and rank your website. Sites are ranked based on relevance, authority, popularity, and legitimacy.

At my internet marketing classes I have a tendency to give away the two big secrets to SEO. First, content. Content needs to be relevant, unique, and of high-quality. The right words are imperative! Second, links. Quality inbound links are not easy to attain, but they are essential. Links need to be from relevant websites (gambling or adult sites, won’t help you for example).

In addition to the big two, your site needs to be user-friendly. Ask yourself if your site is well structured, clean, and easy to use. If you want an unbiased opinion email me today, terra(at)fletcherfreelance(dot)com; ask for a website review.

Optimizing for Conversions

When a visitor happens upon your website through search or even going directly to your site you need a site that is going to convert. By that I mean that a favorable percentage of viewers do more than just browse your site, they buy something. To get people to buy, you must have strong, clear calls to action. Don’t assume they will know where to click, how to buy, to call, or stop in your brick-and-mortar location. Ask them to! This ties in with usability as well. Make it easy. Design should not be overwhelming or detract from your message, either.

Provide visitors some assurance that you will do what you say. Online, your reputation is everything, especially if they have never encountered your business before. Prove why your company is the best choice. Include testimonials; provide guarantees; display credentials, industry affiliations, and awards.

The structure of your site is also important. Make it easy to get to your most popular products or services from the home page. Remember you only have 6-8 seconds for a visitor to decide to stay on your site.

Need some help? If you’re looking for SEO assistance, there are things to watch for. There are tons of questionable companies. Don’t trust anyone who says they can guarantee you a rank. No one can do that directly. Want to try it yourself? Take a class. Want to hire an expert? Give me a call at 715-584-6773.

What’s worked for your site? Share your SEO tips in the comments below.

Ads Reviewed by Terra L. Fletcher

I begin today with a marketing technique that gives marketers a bad name, the fake bill. I remember years ago getting phony phone book bills when I worked for my parents. Because then they advertised heavily in the publications, it would’ve been easy to pay a fake bill.

Recently I received this bill for “Business Week.” I don’t subscribe to that, but I do get “Bloomberg Businessweek.” How easy it would’ve been to sign a check and send this out. This dirty marketing trick really irritates me! If you look closely you will see the words “Not a bill.” Then don’t make it look like one! 

 The reverse side makes it more apparent that this truly isn’t a bill, but who really reads their bills anyway? You’ll never catch Fletcher Freelance sending out anything like this on the behalf of myself or any of my clients. I’m all for creativity, but against outright deception.

This ad for Geico didn’t really strike me as extraordinary. In fact I flipped right past it without a second glance. But my three-year-old noticed it (upside down) from across the table. Now, I keep my little one as sheltered as possible, mind you. I keep the television off all day. Sure he might catch an occasional commercial while I’m watching football on Sunday, but that’s really about it. But get this, he says, “Mom, that was Geico. They save you money on car insurance so you can get a nicer car.” Really? Wow, kudos Geico – if my overprotected three-year-old got that, your marketing team must be doing a good job!

Here is an ad that did catch my eye. I think it was primarily the simplicity and use of a bold color. The main headline for this Discover ad is, “#1 cash rewards program.” But there are only a couple other lines of content in this ad. And the call to action, “It pays to switch. It pays to Discover.” is followed by both the phone number and the website.

As always, if you have a marketing piece you’d like reviewed please mail it to me, terra@fletcherfreelance.com. And share your thoughts on these ads in the comments below.

NYC Ads Reviewed

Having just returned from The Big Apple, I thought I’d share some of my favorite ads and marketing pieces that I encountered.

“It’s a chalice, not a glass.” I liked this ad because I believe that the glass you drink from does change your beverage experience (just as we equate packaging with product). Though I can’t imagine tracking the ROI on a Times Square billboard, Stella Artois gained my attention. Brewed primarily in Belguim, Stella Artois is imported and distributed by Anheuser-Busch. They’ve been using prestige appeals for years. In the UK their slogan was “Reassuringly Expensive.” 

“Skin as dry as toast?” I saw this display through a window. I think I was walking near Rockefeller Center at the time. The simple, yet striking visual display caught my attention long enough to snap a picture. Finding their website, I discovered the nice match of simple and striking there as well (a nice consistent brand image). The company says, “We create handmade bath & body products and hand crafted home ware with the utmost attention to detail using natural ingredients with African origins. Rain products are responsibly handmade with love and care for our customers, craftspeople and the environment.” Who wouldn’t love that?

Here’s an idea that I didn’t include in How to Market to Tourists. This idea works because almost no one I met in New York City was actually from NYC. Several of the restaurants I ate at gave a postcard with the check. Some of them I mailed out, but I saved this one. I really like it, despite the backhanded dig at copywriters. (And please forgive the profanity.)

As always, if you have a marketing piece you’d like reviewed please mail it to me, terra@fletcherfreelance.com. And share your thoughts on these ads in the comments below.

Your Corporate Blog in 2012

If you thought starting a blog was easy, good. If you’ve had no problem coming up with fresh and relevant content, great. If you don’t have a plan to make your corporate blog work for your bottom line in 2012, read on.

Get Focused

Choose a topic. Even if you’ve been blogging for years, the start of the year is the perfect time to plan your “big picture.” What is the focus? The most successful blogs have a clear theme and are written for a specific audience. Ask what your goal is: To educate? Inform? What is your perspective? What makes you a subject matter expert? Who are you writing to? Answer the above. Then write a mission statement for your blog.

A Word about Content

So you’ve got your mission statement, and broad ideas. Now drill it down. Match your bullet points with things you’re passionate about. Take your brainstorms, decide which ideas you’d like to work on first. Combine several ideas if possible, this will result in truly unique content. Now get out your calendar and fill in topics and when you’ll post on them.

Get Famous

So you’re producing great content, but no one’s reading it? It’s hard to stand out in a global blogosphere. Follow these tips to boost your blog’s readership in 2012 and beyond. First record your current stats. What are your traffic, comment rate, and/or conversions?

Because your blog is a reflection of you and your business, publicize it to like-minded individuals. But remember, it’s not all about you. Highlight the benefits of your blog, benefits to the reader, that is. Focus on building relationships. If your blog is the primary way you hope to position yourself as a subject matter expert, you need to be engaging. Be specific. Leave comments for others. Reply to comments left for you. Personalized comments reflect genuine interest.

Don’t forget to ask for comments. This is the call to action on your blog. Don’t assume readers will leave a comment if you don’t ask. And don’t be a know-it-all. Ask, “What did I leave out?” And allow your readers to disagree with you. (You’re welcome to disagree with me at anytime!)

Social Media

If you’re not using social media, you’re missing out. Your blog can truly go viral, with the right exposure. Using tools like Networked Blogs, you can even have your blog automatically published elsewhere. There are tools you can use to autopublish on Facebook, Twitter, even LinkedIn. 

Do you need help developing your blogging or Internet marketing plan for 2012? Call me (Terra) at 715-584-6773. If you have a corporate blogging experience (good or otherwise), please share in the comments below.