Come See Me!

10/27/11 - On Thursday October 27^th I’ll also be making an appearance at the Shawano Country Business Expo to be held at the Menominee Casino in Keshena. The keynote speaker will present at a luncheon from 11:30am-1pm after which the expo will continue. I hope to spend some time learning about area businesses and their recent marketing triumphs and challenges.

11/1/11 - Wanna know what’s new in search and social media? Wanna hear it from an expert? Come see me Tuesday November 1^st at 8am. I’ll be presenting for the spotlight during the Orthopedic and Spine Therapy Breakfast Connection at Farm Inn on Main in Shawano. I’ll be sharing all the latest and greatest tips and hints to get your website found.

While you’ve got your calendar out, take a look at next year; it’s just around the corner! Do you have any trade/association/organization conferences you’ll be attending? Do you need someone to speak to your group on Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Facebook for Business, Presenting a Professional Image, Customer Loyalty and Relationships, Marketing Basics, Demographics, or a related subject? Please call me today 715-584-6773! I’ll be filling up my 2012 calendar soon.

Thanks and I hope to see you soon!

2012 Website Tips, a Sneak Preview

I know it is a little early to be thinking about 2012, but is it? It is always a good time to get your website poised for the future and SEO is a long-term project. I came across a minor error on my site and thought it would be a good time to address 2012 site readiness. So let’s make our to-do list together.

1. Give your site a checkup. It’s hard to know where you want to go, if you don’t know where you’re at currently. My favorite sites for checking your rank and visibility are Alexa.com and LocalVisibility.org.
2. Similarly, you’ll want to revisit your keywords. Are you still looking to target the same audience with the same services? You may find that your focus has shifted and your keywords need realignment.
3. Update your content. Content is king, remember! Update your site to include any new products. Update your personnel listing. Add social plug-ins. List any current promotions.
4. Plan your online marketing for 2012 now. Start lists of blogs, articles, and status updates that you’d like to use for the new year. In slower times, build up your articles and posts so they are ready to go when you’re busy. If you’re not sure where to find content, ask the people that answer phone calls and emails to write down questions they receive. Use your online networks to your advantage. Ask your communities and followers what they’d like to see in the year to come.
5. Check your links. Where are your incoming links coming from? Are the sources varied, relevant, and reputable? Do all of your outgoing links still work?

What’s on your list for the new year? Share in the comments below.

Why Twitter Won’t Help Your Business

Allow me to repeat, the title of this blog is “Why Twitter Won’t Help Your Business.” I’m sure I could write a blog where the reverse is true, but today I’m telling you why Twitter isn’t my favorite social networking tool (and yes, many of these same cons could apply to other networks).

Overpopularity, Noise, and Content

There’s just too much noise. It’s hard to sort between the useless “I’m just getting out of the shower” and “I’m having an omelet for breakfast” and actual useful morsels. Because so many twitterers tweet from their phones the site is becoming even more bogged down. No one cares about the mundane details of your daily life! (Or maybe that’s just me. I guess if you like reality TV and wouldn’t mind having no pictures and reading it instead of hearing it…)

Much of Twitter is a numbers game. It’s all a competition to see who can get the most followers. In my world, it is quality that counts, not quantity. Everyone knows that the closer you get to your target market, the higher your conversion rate will be. Why waste your time broadcasting to the world when you could be having smaller conversations at a deeper level? I think this social network is anti-social. People forget to be where they are physically; they’re too busy living life virtually.

Popularity is a double edged sword. When something is really popular, it isn’t cool anymore. Twitterers have a tendency to assume that everyone reads their tweets. This can result in a faulty, inflated sense of self. (I have tens of thousands of followers. I had a conversation with a celebrity.) People also forget that it is quite possible that everybody did read their tweets. So, you thought you were having a conversation with a couple of close friends? Nope, I read about it, too.

Character Limit

As a copywriter, it’s hard for me to say this, but some things just can’t be said in 140 characters or less. And as a writer I have a hard time even texting. I just don’t like to see words spelled wrong!

Time Waste

Let’s not even discuss the time waste factor. If you thought Facebook was bad…

But hey if you’re interested in trying to fit in your own shameless self-promotion on Twitter, that’s fine with me. Just ease into it, get to know the pace and rhythm. Learn the rules, written and otherwise. And if you have success, I’d be happy to hear how you did in the comments below.

How to Keep Your Business Busy Year Round

Most businesses have a measure of seasonality. Some go almost dormant through the fall and winter months, but there is something you can do about it. If you market yourself year round, you’ll be busy year round. And remember that most forms of advertising do not elicit immediate response. It will take several marketing messages to reach your target. The job cycle from initial ad to last job generated from a specific ad campaign could be several weeks or several months. Follow these additional tips to keep busy year round.

Don’t Blame

Sure, it’s easy to blame the public for not responding. It’s even easier to blame “the economy.” But the truth is there are still plenty of people out there who want or need your services and have the means to purchase. Change your marketing message and try again. Consider hiring a marketing expert to improve your advertisement response rate.

Invest

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. Now is the time to invest in your business. If you view purchases and marketing as expenses and not investments, you must change your viewpoint. Every dollar spent should focus on generating a positive return on investment. Companies that invest in their business now will see short-term results, but will also be poised to take on more business as the financial state improves in the months and years to come.

Diversify

Some of the most seasonal and weather dependent businesses have found a way to keep busy year round. Garden centers offer everything from fall mums to teaching indoor gardening for the winter months.

If you find yourself with time to spare don’t twiddle your thumbs. Clean the store room, write newsletters ahead (then you have them ready when you’re too busy to write), do some internet marketing, write thank you notes to your best customers, or volunteer your time and resources for a good cause.

Be Transparent

Remember that relationships are more important now than ever. People will come to your business for more than what you sell. They come because of who you are and what you stand for. And because they like you and enjoy doing business with you. Your brand image and personality should shine through in all your communications. Let people know which charities you donate to and what values are important to your organization.

If you’re actively working on your business, hold yourself accountable, diversify, and build quality relationships, your business will boom year round.