Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Social Media Mistakes to Avoid


Social media has made it easier than ever for businesses large and small to reach out to potential customers. Unfortunately, social media has also made it easier than ever to make gaffes and blunders that can alienate customers and damage your company’s reputation.

Because social media is a marketing tool that cannot be ignored, businesses must learn to use it wisely. The following are the most common social media mistakes businesses tend to make and how to avoid them:
Going in without a plan. A recent article by Pamela Springer for Forbes.com points out that starting a social media marketing campaign is a waste of time and money if you don’t have any type of plan. Using a scatter-shot approach and creating a profile on every available social media outlet isn’t necessarily a good idea. Researching which social media platforms would best reach your target consumers and determining which of those platforms is the best fit for your business is worth taking the time to do before you get started.



Incomplete profiles. Springer also notes that it is a mistake for a company to not take advantage of every branding opportunity offered by social media platforms. Incomplete profiles appear unprofessional. If you are going to use a particular social media outlet, then take advantage of every opportunity available on that outlet to post your company’s logo, images, information, and appropriate links on your profile. In addition to the social media profiles you initiate for your business, be sure to check for profiles that may already exist in places, such as Yelp and Google Places. Take control of those profiles and update with accurate information.

Not listening. Once your business has established a social media presence, it is critical to keep in mind that a social media platform is exactly that: social. SocialMediaToday.com lists not focusing on relationship building as one of the biggest social media mistakes businesses make. Do not lose sight of the “social” aspect of social media. Take the time to interact with customers, including addressing any negative comments, in a genuine way. If your customers feel your company truly cares about and addresses their concerns, they will be much more likely to remain a loyal customer and even better – help spread the word to other potential customers.

Not being involved. Because a successful social media marketing campaign does take a certain investment of time – even if it’s only a few minutes a day – it is tempting to farm the task of social media management out to an intern. Performancing.com points out that while younger employees might be more tech-savvy and in tune with the latest social media trends, it’s crucial that business owners be personally involved in their company’s social media campaign to ensure the values and standards of the company are upheld.

Help is Available
If planning, implementing, and maintaining a social media marketing campaign seems like a daunting or time-consuming prospect, it doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect. Contact Flyline Search Marketing to find out how we can help your business build and maintain a successful social media presence.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

How Small Business Can Benefit from Social Media

Small businesses enjoy a resource that was unheard of twenty-five years ago. Social media has opened a door for entrepreneurs and hustled in a new era of communication. Small businesses can learn to utilize social media and social networking to increase their market share, promote their company, and expand their name recognition.

Each of these assigned roles within social media will increase traffic to your website, inform your customers, and engage them in an interactive role-play where they are an active participant. The Los Angeles Times recently ran an article entitled, “Social media giving small firms a boost.”  
It profiled a small start-up business owner, Dede Parise, who used the power of social media and social networking to increase her business contacts to 15,000 potential customers within a year. This is amazing. Social media can be used to grow your small business and achieve a level of success and exposure with simple networking. And, one of social media’s greatest achievements is the cost. Networking on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs are free. Your only cost is time.

Facebook: Facebook allows small business owners the ability to create a page and post product information, display pictures of their inventory, and engage customers with meaningful dialogue. Small business owners can also track how many people “liked” their page each week. This will give you a sense of how successful your social media campaign is.

Twitter: Small business owners can benefit greatly from Twitter. Twitter allows businesses to tweet up to 140-character blurbs. Businesses can post specials, advertise upcoming deals, or impart their customers with useful information. Frequent postings keep your company name on the mind of your followers.

LinkedIn: As a small business owner, you can use LinkedIn to connect with former colleagues, college classmates, neighbors, and fellow entrepreneurs. As you increase your connections and develop contacts, you gain a new audience and potential customers through their connections.

Blogs: Having a personal blog on your company website is another tool to stay connected to your customer. Engaging your customer with helpful information, informing them of important product features, and upcoming sales will increase customer loyalty, brand recognition, and company profile.  And, each of these factors is important when you are trying to grow your business.

The Wave of the Future
Social media’s role in today’s business climate will only increase as time moves on. It has become woven into the fabric of our business world. As a small owner it is important to harness social media and social networking to increase your client base and company growth.

Now is the time to jump on the social media train and head for destinations uncharted for your company. But, like a good roadmap, using these tips will have you arriving at your destination on time and in good spirits. 




Sunday, October 16, 2011

Getting the Word Out about Your Home for Sale Using Online Tools

Social media is an extremely useful, versatile platform. While social media is well known for a wide variety of feats, including everything from reuniting long lost loves to improving the bottom line of a business, it’s becoming increasingly better known for something different altogether: helping people sell their homes and move.

In a sluggish housing market, more and more homeowners are successfully using social media to get the word out and get their homes sold. But how?


Get a New Address…

Web address, that is. No matter how many social networking sites and platforms you utilize, it’s crucial to have a website to link back to and direct potential buyers to. That website can be as simple or elaborate as you feel comfortable with. However, there several key ingredients that will make your site more successful: 

·        A blog. People are drawn in a by a good story. Not only are blogs a good place to talk about events like moving and an upcoming open house, but they are also great for expanding on what’s special about your property. What renovations, upgrades or additions have you done on your home? A blog gives you plenty of space to elaborate on the details that set your home apart from the rest.

·        Videos. Photos are great, but videos are even better. Video tours of your home are an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to showcase your home. You can also post those videos on social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook or link to them via Twitter.

·        Calls to action. It’s important to have your contact information available on your website, including information, such as your e-mail address and phone number. However, go one step further by including the opportunity for visitors to share your website via Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.


There’s No Place Like My Home

A recent article on MSN Real Estate included a clever use of Twitter by a homeowner in a prime neighborhood. Ruta Fox just happened to live near several celebrities and used that fact to fuel Tweets and gain interest in her home.


Even if you don’t happen to live two blocks down from Madonna, you can still feature the best aspects of your home and its location as incentives for potential buyers. Aspects, such as top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods or proximity to attractions like museums and performing arts venues, can all be worth mentioning in Tweets and status updates. And, don’t forget to include that link back to your website.


Going Viral

Crowdsourcing is one of the great advantages of using social media to get the word about your home for sale. Updates to your social media platforms not only let your friends know you’re selling your home, but these also allow your friends to let their friends know, and so on. Sending out moving announcements also help spread the word.



…But, Not Too Viral
It may be easier than ever to share information and updates about the home you’re trying to sell. However, it’s also just as easy to overdo it. Avoid overkill by pacing your posts and by not repeating the same posts ad nauseum. Do update your social networks with new information and do use your contacts to help you through the selling process by soliciting helpful comments and advice. Before you know it, your next status update will be: “Sold!”