The internet connects us with people all around the world. Websites are much more affordable and user-friendly than they used to be. Social media provides us with a way to spread our message and communicate with people in near real-time. And blogging is as straight-forward as typing up an email and clicking “Send”. So if you’re…
Category Archives: Small Business
When in Doubt, Think “In Real Life”
“In real life” is the common phrase used to distinguish offline relationships from online ones. As the number of business transactions, customer service conversations and brand building efforts occurring online grows, understanding how to communicate and build relationships virtually becomes that much more important. The good news is: there is no trick to be learned….
If Facebook LIKEs are your only goal, you’re doing it wrong
Having goals for your social media efforts is a highly recommended and encouraged practice. How else can you determine if your content, level of activity and time are paying off? It’s the type of goals you choose to set that typically demonstrates if you have a short term or long term approach to social media…
Why Social Media is not Optional
There are a couple major social media mindset shifts that I feel need to occur. One of them is the notion that social media is used by angry customers to blast your business, so you better avoid “going social” with your brand to prevent negative publicity. The fact of the matter is that people are…
Why “Not Provided” is “Not Helpful”
Some people are stats addicts by nature. Others track and analyze website statistics because it’s part of their jobs. Google Analytics has the reputation of The Most Correct Website Statistic Tool Available, but it seems that the privacy setting added by Google a year ago has now resulted in 39% of Google searches being marked…
Why It’s Dangerous to put all your Eggs in Facebook’s Basket
In looking back at the changes made to Facebook fan pages in the past year, you’ll quickly see how the challenges facing business owners using Facebook as a main driver of their social presence – and in some cases, of their entire business – have piled high. Facebook changed its algorithm on September 20, 2012,…
3 Considerations with Social Media ROI
Social media ROI and how well (and if) it can be measured is a common pain point for those businesses unsure or doubtful that social media is necessary as part of their larger marketing mix. The truth: You definitely can (and should!) track and measure your social media efforts. “Tell me how you measure ROI…
Why a well-designed website does not mean your website is well-designed
I’m a stickler when it comes to things like website navigation and customer usability. I don’t know if it’s just my nature or the years I spent working in consumer behavior research, but my opinion of a brand, its products or services, its customer service and the overall brand experience is largely affected by how…
Why Twitter is the most difficult – and simple – social platform
Whenever I speak with clients who are either interested in adding social media to their business plan or who have somewhat of a presence they are working hard to grow, the most common frustration I hear is: I just don’t get Twitter. The other platforms I use and understand, but I can’t get my head…
Why Not Following Back on Twitter Can Hurt Your Business
Many would argue that Twitter is – hands down – the best social media platform to use to build a community around your brand. With Twitter’s real-time nature and fast-paced, conversational style, you are able to talk to, laugh with and answer the questions of multiple people nearly simultaneously. Twitter is the social platform that…
