Posts Tagged ‘business’

Customized Facebook Apps

Jun

15

2011

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Social Media, specifically Facebook, has clearly surpassed the phase of just being a trend and has become a business standard. Having a Facebook page validates your Brand and allows you to communicate with huge audiences on a daily basis. But simply creating a Facebook account will only get you so far. You want to grab your audience’s attention, and get them to share what they’ve found with the millions of others on Facebook by getting them to “like” you. Accumulating “likes” is one of the main goals of having a business Facebook page, so we use a customized application to entice every visitor to click that button.

Not sure why “likes” are so important? They represent Brand support, and are visable to countless amount of people.  Each “like” means you are reaching and exposing the company to a new person and their list of Facebook friends.  All of these people will then be directed to your site, which will produce more “likes” and create a contact list that will continue to build upon itself.  In other words, it has the ability to go viral, which means reaching a limitless amount of people for free .

 

Using the AJ Ross Facebook, we can explain just how custom apps work.  The initial page that a newcomer will see is the key in maintaining interest.  Now that you’ve established the goal is to gain “likes”, we have to give a reason to click the button.  Using a masking feature to blur the contents of the page underneath allows the page visitor to see what they could be experiencing.  All they have to do to have access to the page below is click the “like” button:  a small and easy gesture for them, but a success in the eyes of the business.

 

 

Once you attain the “like” then you have to make it worth their while.  A professionally and properly put together page will keep visual interest, and having business relevant links will prove that your Facebook page offers much more than just a wall to view.  Still using the AJ Ross Facebook app as an example, you can see that we offer a variety of Marketing and Advertising related links to not only show what the company is about, but also to offer experience and knowledge so the page visitor knows there is something in it for them.

 

 

Once the Facebook user clicks on one of the different options, another technique used in the app is the light box feature.  This allows the user to view what they chose, but without directing them away from the business page.  They get a brief overview of what the topic is, and have the option to download more or to visit our site.  Other than the company Website, you don’t want the visitor to be guided outside of the app and Facebook page, so using this feature is a way of having all roads lead back to your business.

 

 

This is just one example of the many types of custom Facebook Apps we can create. The possibilities are endless with what can be created, and the more unique, the more attention it will get. Having a Facebook App allows your business to reach an unlimited audience and keep them interested enough to return to the page. Remember, anyone can have a Facebook account, so staying ahead of the curve with a custom app will give your business a sense of validity and be sure to improve its growth.  Start taking advantage of all the great advertising benefits of social media, and contact us to find out what kind of custom app makes sense for your business.

 

Competitive Marketing

Jun

03

2011

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Something crucial to remember when creating a marketing plan is anticipating your competitor’s strategy.  You could be doing everything right: providing the best goods with the best services and prices, and yet your competitor could be outshining your business.  It’s because they are doing one other major thing right, which is properly advertising.  Being the best at what you do is key in gaining a reliable reputation, but it means nothing if no one knows about it.  Having knowledge of what advertising techniques similar businesses are using will help you be a step ahead of them, and possibly allow you to use their marketing to benefit your own.  Below is a playful example of how you take your competition’s marketing and advertising and spin it to positively effect your business:

 

A retailer was dismayed when a competitor selling the same type of product opened next-door to him, displaying a large sign proclaiming “Best Deals”.

Not long after he was horrified to find yet another competitor move in next-door, on the other side if his store. Its large sign was even more disturbing- “Lowest Prices”.

After his initial panic, and concern that he would be driven out of business, he looked for a way to turn the situation to his marketing advantage. Finally, an idea came to him. Next day, he proudly unveiled a new and huge sign over his front door. It read, “Main Entrance”!

 

Although this is a great example of competitive marketing, there are other steps that should be taken before you throw up a sign.  First, objectively analyzing your own business and all it entails: the goods, service, prices and/or whatever else you are offering to consumers, and compare yourself to the competitors.  Before you start advertising ‘the best’ of something, make sure you can back it up, and be prepared to explain why what you’re offering is the better choice.

 

It is also necessary to understand who your target audience is, and make sure you are gearing your advertising to how they would want to receive it.  Different ethnicities, cultures, genders and ages all respond to things in different ways, so it is important to speak to your key demographic(s).  Other tools would be to note what your competitors did during peak and low sale periods, and use their triumphs and failures as guides.  Another extremely important tactic is pushing through when the market is bad in order to maintain your business’ credibility.  Staying afloat during hard economic times builds Brand assurance, and you’ll gain more exposure while your competitors sink.  In addition, taking advantage of new and changing advertising methods will benefit your business.  You don’t have to fear social media, phone applications, and advanced websites because they are extremely useful marketing tools.  They not only expose your business, but they gain validity with consumers regardless of the product or generation.  If your product is a cutting edge gadget, then an advanced Facebook page will speak to your technology savvy customer.  If you are an established company with more of a traditional product or service, then a user friendly Website can be creatively designed to help portray your business as distinguished while maintaining its values.

 

Every business will have a competitor at some point.  Whether you are the number 1 in your field and you are looking to maintain your current status, or you are lost in the mix and want recognition in the industry, competitive marketing and advertising can make the difference between the two levels of success.  Like the retailer did in the joke, know your competition, look for a way to turn the situation around and don’t be afraid to ‘put up the sign’.

 

Professional Networking – Help your company’s bottom line

Feb

07

2011

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I hear the groans already… I hate networking. I’m uncomfortable talking with strangers. Well guess what, networking is probably one of the best ways to grow your business. The heart of any business is the connection it has with other businesses and individuals that it can call upon to help meet its needs. Networking enables businesses that do not compete with each other to refer, share leads and find creative ways to partner. Networking events help you advance professionally.

No matter what type of business you have, it is all about relationships and how people perceive your talents. Your fellow business people are a vast resource. Focus on the quality, not quantity, of your connections at networking events. You’ll get better results by making a few good connections then by handing out dozens of business cards indiscriminately.

Most networking veterans agree that it’s hard to beat a face-to-face meeting to make the best contacts. The best lead generator is a handshake — the human touch.

Networking may sometimes seem insincere pretentious or even manipulative. There are always going to be people that judge someone by their position or image but there are many people who really want to build a true and mutually beneficial relationship.

You might consider yourself shy or self-conscious to go out and meet people. Networking does require a degree of boldness. The more you do it the easier it becomes and you will enjoy the adventure. The key is to smile and take interest in other people’s interest. Listen to what they have to say. Listen and learn.

Some pointers about networking:

Go with a goal. Have a firm reason to be at the event and know what you want out of it. Are you looking to acquire new prospects, meet colleagues for possible collaborations, and create name recognition for you and your business.

When someone asks you what you do make sure you can communicate not only your business, but also its benefits, in a clear, concise manner in 15 seconds or less. Is your message crisp and to the point? Is it compelling? This is not the time to give a dull, dry description. This is the time knock people’s socks off and rally make your company shine

Leave the resumes and sales pitches at home. Networking is networking. Sales is sales. These are social events. If you are there to sell yourself, most likely you will fail. Nobody wants to be sold when the environment doesn’t call for it. Be genuine and sincere.

Remember networking is a good thing. It’s about building relationships. As easy as networking sounds—and it really is pretty straightforward—it takes time build and it takes time to be good at it but it’s worth the time and energy. It will help build your client base and you might even find some new friends.

Why Business Needs Social Media

Jun

05

2009

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In today’s ever increasing and fast-paced business world, the methods used to market have hit a time of growing pains. Marketing is moving in a direction that requires less people and more technology. For some people this is second nature, some are learning as they go, and others are having a hard time leaving the old ways of doing business behind. There is a technical term for this growing pain; it’s called “Social Media.”

To better understand why social media is so important, we have to look at what it does for business in 2009 and beyond.

If you’ve ever wondered what Social Media is, it’s simple. It is a collection of various sites on the Internet with the purpose of keeping people connected on a global scale.   It quickly became a tool for business networking because of its ability to reach a mass audience without the need for travel or attend every social event possible.

What are some of the most popular Social Media networks out there at the moment?

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Social Media and SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Everyone that has a Website understands that people don’t come to you; you need to reach out to the people when they search for a word or phrase that relates to your business on a search engine like Google. By using Social Media, it offers benefits to your SEO efforts which in turn puts your business in front of more people interested in your services and/or product(s).

Link building :

The more websites your company’s name appears on, the higher you’ll rank on Search Engines such as Google. Search Engines see your name appearing repeatedly and recognize your company as being legitimate as well as an important source for users to know.

Fresh Content:

Search Engines rate your Website based on new content. As content on sites such as your blog increase, it creates more keywords; more keywords lead to more opportunities for your business to be found online. Fresh content also offers users a benefit to coming back to your Website.

Social Media and Networking

While nothing can ever replace the value of face to face networking, Social Media allows you to reach more people than your business’s geographic location allows. Email and the Internet already changed business by allowing people to work on the same projects overseas; now it’s doing the same with business networking and consumer marketing.

Establish new business contacts or update existing ones all simultaneously from your phone. Promote your business or get answers to questions from real professionals while you work instead of some support line. Test new ideas and get real reactions, not statistics. Build credibility as an expert by answering questions and posting beneficial blogs or advice. Someone is more likely to do business with you if you’ve already given them helpful advice or written consistent blogs on topics that are helpful than cold calling or simply meeting someone and telling them about your services.

Social Media isn’t a tool that will bring overnight success.   It takes time to build up a network of people to be social with, but once you start you’ll find if they are part of one of your social networks, they’ll join the others. Every social contact offers the possibility of all of their contacts becoming one of yours and the cycle continues with every new contact you make.

Social media is a basic tool; it’s how you apply it to your business that is limitless. Look at it as a window into how you do business and how your knowledge can really benefit those looking to do business with you. Let the world see what you really have to offer and they’ll add you as a friend, re-tweet you, post your blogs, ask questions, thank you for your advice, and become followers.

Business is about relationships; now you have the chance to build them anywhere in the world from your desk and from that, with time, face-to-face.