How Social Media Platforms Work Together To Give Your Business Exposure

You can find plenty of information on why it is important to leverage social media to gain exposure for your website, but very few people tell you how it really works. Why is it important to have a Twitter account and an Instagram account? Don't they basically do the same thing?

When you work with our experts, you quickly realize that your social media presence is like a chain that requires all of its links to be strong for the chain to be effective. Your social media platforms all work together and it is important for you to understand how.

Not Everyone Is On Twitter

Believe it or not, you know people who do not have a Facebook account. You also know people who use Instagram instead of Twitter. The great thing about social media is that it has something for everyone and that creates diversity. In order to reach a maximum audience, you need to be on every social media platform at the same time.

The social media platforms can all be interconnected and you can have one message sent out to all of the different websites at the same time. All of your social media accounts work together to make sure that you do not leave any prospective customers behind.

Your Social Media Pushes People To Your Website

Your Facebook page is not an island unto itself. When individuals get Facebook pages, it is to connect with other individuals. When companies get Facebook pages, it is to drive more traffic to their corporate websites.

The best way to picture your overall online presence is to imagine it is like a wheel with spokes protruding from it. Each spoke is one of your social media pages and they all connect to the central hub, which is your website. Your social media pages all work together to increase your website traffic and boost revenue.

Some People Are Extremely Comfortable With Social Media

There is a growing contingency of Internet users who would rather utilize your company's Facebook page than your website. Instead of getting company updates from your website's news page, some people would prefer to get those updates on Twitter.

Your social media presence works hand in hand with your website to make sure that your corporate messages are getting out to everyone who wants them. If a customer prefers to use your company Facebook page, then set up a Facebook store and be sure to grab that revenue.

Viral Information Is Important To Many People

People love the allure of viral information. Social media is alive with rumors and breaking news that social media users believe cannot be found anywhere else. When someone sees a piece of information on social media in a viral way, that adds credibility to your company and brand. It is extremely difficult to describe, but going viral is an extremely powerful marketing tool and it is tailor-made for social media.

For example, let's say your company made a huge donation of cash and food to a charitable organization to help flooding victims in your area. Instead of putting out an official press release right away, you first allow the information to leak out online. Once the actual press release comes out, its value has skyrocketed because people already know what your company has done.

Social media management is just one of our services, but it can have a tremendous effect on your company's revenue. Give us a call or fill out our contact form and we will show you just how powerful social media can be and how much money it can really make your company.

What Can You Really Do With A Company Blog?

Good Internet marketing requires many different elements to be successful. It is more than just having an active social media page or having effective content on your website. A strong Internet presence requires you to utilize the resources that are available and maximize them to your benefit.

When you talk about Internet marketing, you will hear experts talking about the value of blogs. While it is true that a good company blog can add a lot to your online marketing, it helps to understand how a blog helps to gain the exposure you need. A blog, when used properly, is actually an effective online marketing tool that works on several levels.

Customer Interaction

One of the biggest marketing aspects of the Internet is immediate interaction with your complete client base. When you write an engaging blog post about your company or your industry, you want reader feedback to give you an idea as to what your clients are thinking. But if you want really make the most of your company blog, then it should not stop at user comments.

You need to turn your blog into an interactive forum where you post relevant information, your readers respond, and you engage in useful conversation. Why is a blog so good for this kind of customer interaction? Because customers tend to treat blogs as direct lines of communication with the company and that inspires customers to become passionate about the topic you are discussing.

Reliable Outlet For Company News

Customers looking for the latest news about your company will usually turn to your blog and not your website or your social media presence. The big reason for this is because the stigma surrounding websites is that they are never updated in real time and that it takes days, even weeks, for new information to get posted. Social media is not really seen as a reliable source of accurate information, even though you try to keep all of your social media pages accurate and reliable.

Instead of fighting these preconceived notions, you should work with them and use your blog as the only source of new company information. You can control the rumors about your company and keep customers informed about new developments when you use your blog properly.

Be Dynamic

Customers expect your website to be a formal source of company information. But a blog is expected to be dynamic and interesting. Rather than let your customers down, you should reinforce the dynamic element of a blog and use it to your advantage.

The dynamic element of a blog means doing things that would normally take weeks or months on a website. For example, you can decide to address customer concerns directly by creating a question and answer section on your blog that is updated regularly with answers to real customer inquiries. You can also post pictures and videos relating to your company that may not fit the format of your website.

A blog is an effective marketing tool that needs to be properly utilized if you want to enhance your Internet presence. Remember that a blog is not expected to be as rigid in structure and format as your website. The more that you do with your blog and the more you add to it, the more revenue-generating traffic you will generate for your website.

Four Ways To Improve Your Company Blog

Your company blog should be a magnet that attracts new traffic to your website and helps to expand your business. The most important rule about maintaining a blog that acts as an important part of your online marketing efforts is to add new and relevant content each and every day. But there are other guidelines your content should be following that will allow it to be more effective and increase your website's exposure.

Include Pictures

You can find websites that will offer you royalty-free images you can use on your blog as long as you include proper citation, and that will go a long way towards increasing traffic. But you can save yourself a lot of headaches if you take your own pictures and use those on your blog instead.

Invest in a good digital camera that is easy to use and that can be utilized by your marketing department. You can either take pictures as you need them, or develop a library of pertinent images that can be used whenever you need them. Colorful and relevant images will get people interested in your content and bring you more visitors.

Start Off Each Blog With A Sentence That Grabs Attention

Did you notice that the first sentence in this post was a real attention grabber. It got you interested enough in the content that you clicked on the link to read this article. A good blog post always starts off with a powerful sentence because that is usually the sentence that winds up marketing the piece.

When you look up blog posts through Google, the first sentence of each post will normally show up in the search results. In many cases, the index page of your company blog will also feature the first sentence of each post as a teaser to get people to read the rest of the article. That is why your first sentence needs to be powerful, to the point, and interesting.

Be Careful With Links

You will want to be careful when you include links in your blog posts. The best approach is to include links to pages inside of your own blog and maximize the exposure of your other content. If you really want to use external links, then it is best that you talk to a professional Internet marketing firm first.

Google and many of the other major search engines have changed the rules on including links in content. The links you include need to go to websites that are relevant to your content and they cannot be links you purchased. It is always best to leave linking in blogs to the professionals.

Always Pose A Question At The End

You just spent a few hundred words giving your readers information to think about. So now what? Now you give your readers a chance to start applying that information by posing a question at the end of your blog that gets the reader thinking.

After you read enough good blog posts, you will start to understand why questions at the end of posts are so effective. You will also understand how to craft a question that will get people coming back to your blog for more vital information.

Your company blog is the link between you and your customers. If you want to make the most of your blog, then you need to learn the techniques that drive more traffic.

What do you think you could do to make your blog more interesting for your readers?

LinkedIn Personal vs. Company Pages

Personal vs. Company Pages

Depending on what you choose to do with LinkedIn, you may need both a personal and a company page. Even if you are a small business owner, having both pages is often beneficial. A company page allows you to showcase products and services, while a personal page helps you network and establish credibility. Since you cannot list products on a personal page, a company page is essential if you have an online store.

Understanding the Role of a Personal Page

A personal page is strictly for individual use—it is not meant to represent a company or brand. To create one, you must be a real person with verifiable information. Your personal page is designed to help you build professional connections, generate sales leads, and establish yourself as an industry expert.

It also plays a crucial role in networking. Through status updates and shared content, you can engage with your audience and position yourself as a thought leader. Additionally, your personal page can link to your company page, creating a seamless connection between your personal and business presence on LinkedIn.

Why a Company Page is Essential

A company page allows you to create a dedicated space for your business, whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or managing a larger brand. This page helps establish credibility, showcase products or services, and connect with customers and potential employees. Without a company page, you may be missing valuable opportunities to grow your business.

LinkedIn company pages also contribute to your digital presence beyond the platform. Optimizing your business page can improve search engine rankings, making your company easier to find online.

Making the Most of Your LinkedIn Presence

Company pages provide valuable analytics that help you track engagement and fine-tune your content strategy. Unlike other social media platforms, where frequent posting is encouraged, LinkedIn rewards quality over quantity. Aim to post meaningful content around five to seven times per week, ensuring it is relevant and beneficial to your audience.

Hard selling is not the key to success on LinkedIn. Instead, focus on creating engaging, informative content that encourages interaction. When you provide valuable insights and industry updates, you attract followers who are genuinely interested in what your business offers.

Why You Need Both Pages

Having both a personal and a company page allows you to maximize LinkedIn’s potential. Some customers may want to learn more about your business, while others may be more interested in your personal expertise and industry knowledge. Maintaining both pages gives people the option to engage with you on the level they prefer.

Additionally, if you are looking for job opportunities or partnerships, having a personal page ensures that potential employers and collaborators can connect with you directly. Meanwhile, a company page strengthens your brand’s reputation and reach.

By strategically managing both pages, you can expand your network, improve your brand visibility, and create new opportunities for business growth.

Marketing Where People Are Paying Attention

The Evolution of Marketing in the Digital Age

The world has changed significantly over the last 20 years. The Internet dominates our daily lives, smartphones are the norm, and computers have become smaller and faster. The business and marketing landscape has shifted even more dramatically.

Marketing used to involve hitting the streets to promote products and advertising through traditional media—TV, radio, and print. Those days are fading because people are no longer as engaged in those spaces. While they may still be physically present on the streets, their attention is elsewhere—on their devices, engaging with content online.

The Shift to Online Marketing

Today, online marketing has become the new standard because that’s where consumers spend most of their time. Social media sites have replaced traditional public spaces as the primary places where businesses can engage potential customers. Companies that fail to recognize this shift risk falling behind their competition.

While it is possible to attempt online marketing independently, it is far more effective to work with a professional who understands how social media marketing works. Here’s why.

The Complexity of Social Media Marketing

Contrary to popular belief, social media marketing is not something anyone can simply pick up and execute effectively. It requires both a deep understanding of the technology and insight into human behavior.

Successful social media marketing combines IT expertise with psychology, allowing businesses to connect with their audience in a way that feels natural and engaging. This skill set requires formal training and years of experience to master.

Social Media is Essential for Business Growth

If you want to attract new clients or customers, social media must be a priority. The transition from traditional media to online platforms has been massive, and this trend will only continue as younger, tech-savvy generations become the dominant force in the business world.

Advertising through conventional media is becoming less effective as more people turn to social media for information. Businesses that fail to establish a strong online presence risk missing out on valuable opportunities to engage with their audience and generate sales.

Competition is Fierce

Many businesses have already recognized the potential of online marketing and are investing heavily in social media campaigns. The competition is fierce, and keeping up requires expertise and strategic planning.

To stay ahead, businesses need someone who understands the industry inside and out. A social media professional can provide the insights and strategies necessary to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

The Digital Landscape is Always Changing

One of the biggest challenges of online marketing is that the Internet is constantly evolving. Algorithm updates, platform changes, and shifting trends can all impact the effectiveness of your digital marketing efforts.

For business owners, keeping up with these changes while managing day-to-day operations can be overwhelming. A social media professional stays on top of these updates, ensuring that your marketing strategy remains effective and adaptable.

Final Thoughts

Social media marketing is no longer optional—it’s essential for business success. By hiring a social media professional, you ensure that your business stays competitive, reaches the right audience, and adapts to the ever-changing digital landscape.

Investing in expert help can mean the difference between struggling to keep up and thriving in the digital age.

Why You Should Invest In An Online Marketing Firm

Internet marketing іs іmроrtаnt bесаusе іt aligns wіth thе wау consumers mаkе purchasing decisions. Studies bу analysts suсh аs Gartner indicate thаt increasing numbers оf consumers usе social media аnd rеsеаrсh оn mobile Internet tо carry out preliminary product and price rеsеаrсh bеfоrе making final decisions. Internet marketing enables уоu tо build relations wіth customers аnd prospects thrоugh regular, low-cost personalized communication, reflecting the move аwау from mass marketing.

Convenience

Online marketing enables уоu tо bе open fоr business аrоund thе clock without worrying аbоut store opening hours оr overtime payments fоr staff. Offering уоur products оn thе Internet іs аlsо convenient fоr customers. Тhеу саn browse уоur online store аt аnу time аnd place orders whеn іt іs convenient fоr them.

Reach

By marketing оn thе Internet, уоu саn overcome barriers оf distance. Yоu саn sell goods іn аnу раrt оf thе country wіthоut setting uр local outlets, widening уоur target market. Yоu саn аlsо build аn export business wіthоut opening а network оf distributors іn dіffеrеnt countries. Ноwеvеr, іf уоu wаnt tо sell internationally, уоu shоuld usе localization services tо ensure thаt уоur products аrе suitable fоr local markets аnd comply wіth local business regulations. Localization services include translation аnd product modification tо reflect local market differences.

Cost

Marketing products оn thе Internet costs lеss thаn marketing them through а physical retail outlet. Yоu dо nоt hаvе thе recurring costs оf property rental аnd maintenance. Уоu dо nоt have to purchase stock for display іn а store. Yоu саn order stock іn lіnе wіth demand, keeping уоur inventory costs low.

Personalization

Internet marketing enables уоu tо personalize offers tо customers bу building а profile оf thеіr purchasing history аnd preferences. Ву tracking thе web раgеs аnd product іnfоrmаtіоn thаt prospects visit, уоu саn mаkе targeted offers thаt reflect thеіr interests. Тhе іnfоrmаtіоn аvаіlаblе frоm tracking website visits аlsо рrоvіdеs data fоr planning cross-selling campaigns sо thаt уоu саn increase thе vаluе оf sales bу customer.

Relationships

The Internet рrоvіdеs аn іmроrtаnt platform fоr building relationships wіth customers аnd increasing customer retention levels. Whеn а customer hаs purchased а product frоm уоur online store, уоu саn bеgіn thе relationship bу sending а follow-up email tо confirm thе transaction аnd thаnk thе customer. Emailing customers regularly wіth special, personalized offers helps tо maintain thе relationship. Yоu саn аlsо invite customers tо submit product reviews оn уоur website, helping tо build а sense оf community.

Social

Internet marketing enables уоu tо tаkе advantage оf thе growing іmроrtаnсе оf social media. Аn article оn thе Harvard Business School Executive Education website highlighted thе link bеtwееn social networking аnd online revenue growth. Ассоrdіng tо thе article, а group оf consumers thаt responded mоst strоnglу tо thе influence оf social networks generated increased sales оf аrоund 5 percent. Yоu саn tаkе advantage оf thіs type оf influence bу incorporating social networking tools іn уоur Internet marketing campaigns.

Online Marketing Using Videos

According to Cisco, by the year 2017, 69% of consumer internet traffic will be from online video. If you think about it, that makes a lot of sense - video is a great way to satisfy the people's information and entertainment needs. Not only do they obtain the information they want, but they also become visually engaged in what you're presenting to them.

Here are some simple tips to get you started in using videos to drive more traffic to your website:

Use the Basics to your Advantage

Although you don't need to hire a professional videographer to shoot your videos, you do need to remember the very basics of lighting, audio and camera to make a polished video.

To see what you're presenting, make sure that sufficient lighting is available on the person or the object that's on camera. There's nothing more annoying than not being able to see the expressions on the presenter's face or the details of the item being shown.
In conjunction to presenting, ensure that a microphone is available to catch the presenter's voice. You wouldn't want your customers to miss out on the important information you're promoting.
While filming, ensure that you're holding the camera steadily and avoid quick and jerky movements. If you have the funds, invest in a camera stand so you don't have to hold it up throughout the filming process.
If you're the one presenting, keep it simple and always look at the camera. This is your way of keeping eye contact with your customers. Emotions are contagious, so remember to be passionate and excited about what you're presenting.

Incorporate Social Media

Once you have edited your video, use the different social media pages to distribute and post your videos; this may include posting it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. Remember that the more outlet you have, the more likely people will stumble upon your page and view your video.

Add Links

After people watch your videos, they will likely want more information about the ideas and/or items that were presented. This is your chance to re-direct them to your website. Often people visiting a website can be converted to a customer. But even if visitors don't end up purchasing anything, the traffic to your site means an increase in ranking in search engines.

Content

Remember, use videos as your voice to the online community. You don't need a complicated idea or expensive production to make a compelling video. A simple "how-to" of the products you're selling will be useful to your customers. Customers enjoy watching simple and creative videos of products they have recently bought and its many uses - take advantage of that.

The process of making a video may seem like a daunting task, but research has shown that it is an effective medium in reaching your audience. Use the above tips and get started on filming your online video now!

The Top Four Emerging Social Media Trends

We’re finally in a world where we feel that most businesses understand what kind of an impact social media can have on their bottom lines. That being said, even though social media has become an increasing priority, businesses are still taking their sweet time wading into the waters of social marketing. Much of that sense of caution comes from the constant changes in the industry. Keeping up, never mind staying ahead of the proverbial curve is more challenging than ever. Making sure you’re kept abreast of what’s coming next isn’t just something that’s ‘nice to do,’ it’s becoming essential.

This week’s post takes a look at some of the emerging trends in social media and what we feel will be significant conversation pieces in the coming months.

Tweet Up, Facebook down

Don’t misunderstand us – Facebook is still king of the hill until further notice. They have 1.18 billion users, 58% of which are active daily. Facebook certainly won’t be going away anytime soon. That being said, they have hit a bit of a plateau and are even beginning to experience a slow decline among users from the younger 13-17 age demographic.

Twitter on the other hand? They’re going public and with it – they’re increasingly being thrust into the spotlight. Additionally, Twitter’s gaining users – especially in the key demographics that Facebook is losing them. Why? According to Pew Researchers – it’s because there’s A.) less drama on Twitter; and B.) It’s easier to fly under parents’ radars. In addition, industries are beginning to flock to Twitter in droves, consolidating its place as a strong customer service platform.

Marketing and Snapchat. Two great tastes that taste great together.

If you’re not familiar with Snapchat, it’s essentially a program that allows users to send out messages called ‘snaps’ out to a broad populace that self destruct after a set period of time. Just last April, 5 million active users were uploading over 150 million photos a day! People like the fact that the photos are deleted from the server and as such – Snapchat has moved into a nice niche for folks who aren’t as trusting of traditional social media platforms.

In fact, companies are just beginning to experiment with the Snapchat phenomenon, asking customers to share their stories or interact with them while they’re in a particular store, or destination. It’s also greatly helped increase engagement with in-store promotions. While the genesis is still largely crude, it won’t be long before you begin to hear more about Snapchat and it’s taking a seat next to Facebook, Vine, Twitter and YouTube as a significant mover and shaker in the Social Media realm.

Collaborative is mainstream

Last year was certainly the year of the sharing economy – or, if you will – the collaborative economy. Over the course of the past few years, individuals have gained the ability (and power) that comes from bypassing traditional channels to voice concerns or heap praise about a particular brand. Now, we have seen just how powerful that force has become as new technology has made it easier for people to directly deal with other people.

Where is this all headed? We believe that we’re just scratching the surface here and that business models will evolve out of fundamental changes brought about by the sharing economy. Folks won’t wait for brands to answer their needs, but instead address them through other novel approaches. Just in the travel industry alone, we’re seeing more guided tours, transportation choices, home-cooked meals from the locals and well… the incredibly lucrative business of renting out rooms or unique accommodation outside of your traditional hotels/hostels. Fundamentally, these services are brought about as exchanges with peers, rather than a retailer. Expect to see more of that in the future.

Video is scorching

YouTube is experiencing 100 hours of video being uploaded an hour. Vine and Instagram are doing almost half that. More and more companies are embracing these short videos as quick, completely inexpensive and efficient ways to tell their story. If a picture can tell a 1,000 words, videos can tell millions!