Social media is an invaluable tool for small businesses. The medium allows them to connect with consumers on a personal and interactive level. One of the major benefits of social networking is that it reduces marketing expenses and amount of finance investments. A well managed social media campaign can be far more successful than traditional marketing and is completely free.

Social media sites function as a large scale “word of mouth” connection between consumers. Positive reviews and recommendations by consumers is the most powerful tool available to small businesses and is a huge aspect of social networking.

The following guide will assist small businesses in developing a social networking campaign that will pull in consumers and increase company profits.

Yelp

Yelp is an excellent social networking site for local businesses. It allows companies to post their contact information as well as descriptions of products and services. Local users can comment and rate the quality of the business.

The more information a business adds to Yelp, the more likely their business page will show up in searches. Good reviews on Yelp encourage business and can increase profits.

Twitter

Twitter is an ideal social networking tool because it places small businesses in constant contact with consumers. Followers on Twitter can receive updates via a number of tools, including desktop icons and mobile phones.

The most successful businesses on Twitter offer a personal touch to their postings. It is best to use a voice that will appeal to the business’ target demographic. It’s also important that the postings include more than simple promotional material. Postings that are informative and entertaining will result in the highest number of followers.

Facebook

Small businesses can draw in new customers via facebook fan pages. The fan pages are by far the most customizable of the social networking options. Company’s can attach directions to their locations, coupons, product information, and virtually anything they desire.

The most successful fan pages are ones which encourage involvement. Frequently updating the status of the fan page with interesting and relevant information is one way to encourage consumers to purchase from the business.

Blogs

Blogs located on the company’s website encourages visits by consumers. Utilizing external social networking sites tends to drive traffic away from the company’s site and towards sites that are readily accessible like Twitter and Facebook. Placing an interesting and engaging blog on a company’s site will pull consumers towards information about the business which makes them much more likely to purchase products or services.

Company blogs should focus on providing engaging and relevant postings. How-to articles, fun facts, production information, and humorous postings are all excellent ways to pull viewers to a company blog. Optimizing search engine results is another excellent way to obtain more page views. This can be achieved by placing frequently searched words in the title of the blog and throughout the postings.

How to Increase Views and Followers

In order for a social networking campaign to be successful, small businesses must pull in large numbers of views and followers. This can be achieved a variety of ways, the most important of which is providing valuable and engaging content.

Offering contests or sweepstakes is an excellent way to pull in views and followers. If consumers believe that checking the sites often will result in free or discounted products, they are far more likely to become followers or frequent viewers.

Another way to pull in views is to connect the social networks to the business’ main site as well as to each other. This will allow viewers of one site to be drawn to all the others.

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Benefits of Social Media for the Small Business

I have never been a big fan of the four P’s:

• Product
• Price
• Promotion
• Place

It never seemed accurate to today’s marketing standards – let alone you: the consumer. So, if you haven’t heard of the Four C’s allow me to introduce them with a breakdown of each.

• Cost vs. Price: Businesses need to adapt to the consumer. It has been the other way around for so long that consumers have found out that they are the key to businesses growth. This is good AND bad because basic supply / demand economics are not thrown out the window rather changed to adapt on a daily basis on individual basis.
• Consumer vs. Product: Stop talking about the product – consumers do not care about this. Yes, it was great in the beginning of marketing but now the focus needs to shift. If your businesses doesn’t put the spotlight on them then you won’t close a sale.
• Convenience vs. Place: Stop trying to tell the consumer where they ‘must’ go to get ‘your’ product – it’ll never happen. We are a society of here and now – that applies to YOUR products as well.
• Communication vs. Promotion: This one is HUGE! Stop trying to ‘throw’ your message out there – start communicating with the consumer – open the line of communications and see sales soar. This goes beyond customer service – this is branding at a whole new level.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the four P’s vs. four C’s – what do you think?

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The Four C Model

If there ever was a time to try and comprehend social media it is now. The concept of social media isn’t difficult – the steps are practically one: engagement. As a college student I find it absolutely amazing of how many students don’t understand the power of this tool. While the majority of them have facebook profiles they don’t market themselves.

This is CRAZY!

Thriving companies are excelling from selecting the exceptional candidates who are already made a spot in their market. If you are interested in becoming a elementary school teacher and have been tweeting about the changes in the various school districts in the recent tax levy while doing a blog showing how students / teachers / parents can work together. In comparison to someone who just graduated from college.

Who do you think the school would choose? Well, if they were smart they would choose the individual who truly wants to be a teacher and shows it by doing research and displaying their knowledge on it. While this is just one small example the possibilities are endless.

The days of ‘just graduating’ college and putting it on your resume are long gone. Why not show on your resume how many followers you have – how many fans you have on your facebook fan page (yes, you need to have one) – to how many connections you have on your LinkedIn account.

Be active or be left behind but hey, if you want to move back in with mom and dad after college so be it.

Stop blaming the economy and start taking charge.

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College and Social Media

So, I’m checking my reader and come across Shoemoney’s and the contest he is running hitting up the Affiliate Summit come this January.

Why not toss up a blog post about why I should win and toss my hat into the ring?

What would happen if I get picked and I get to roll with these guys?

I know I would defiantly talk some hip hop with Jeremy – maybe tell the Dj to throw some Notorious on the 1’s and 2’s.

Nicky…well, I’d really like to talk shop with him. Just getting in the door wouldn’t mind hear some stories on this cat.

Neil…I’m not sure since this guy is cheap (j/k). I’d most likely see where he see’s the internet in the next 5 years .

George over at GetAd’s and Erin with AzoogleAds AM…again, not sure – just being honest. I’d like to see how exactly they work  and would be definitely interested to hear how social media is changing the marketing game online.

Barman…like to see if he really is a self-labeled pimp.

Let’s see if I do get picked give me the 2 G’s and I’m throwing it down on 1 hand of Black Jack. When I double down and take the table’s money I’m getting everyone a drink (s).

Yes, I’ve never been to one of these summit’s before but always wanted to. I say pick me and let the good times roll.

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All Bets Are Off

Yesterday I spoke on what exactly a sitemap is when it comes to your website and today I will go into detail on why exactly sitemap’s are truly needed. There are some things that websites do not necessarily need. A sitemap isn’t one. So the question is why exactly is a sitemap needed? A site map is not JUST for users but rather for search engine crawlers.

A crawler aka ‘bots’ if you didn’t know is something the search engines (Google / Yahoo / MSN / Ask / etc) send out on the web and…well, crawl your website. They look for relevant information – keywords / phrases and hundreds of other things. This is why SEO people are in demand (again, feel free to hit me up if you have any questions on it). These bots instead of going through every single page – which can be pretty long depending on the size – while having a sitemap will help speed along the process.

{click to enlarge}

So, why the big deal? Well, as seen to the left you are able to see if your website is ranking high on certain keywords/phrases as well if there are errors that might be found on the site. Google Webmaster allows An error could be something along the lines of a page that was published a year ago and you have deleted it since – it happens.

Why the black out outs?

The last thing I want to show off is one of my projects that is not 100% complete…plus, you never know the competition could be watching.

Nonetheless by being able to view this data it can gain new insights into not just those viewing your website but your customers.

Top Search Queries

How are people finding your site – did they search “niche product” or “product niche”? As simple as it would seem it opens up the doors between you and those finding your website.

Crawl Errors

Is there a problem with how bots are seeing your site? If so, this could be why your site isn’t getting indexed by them.

Links to your site

Whose linking to your site – which content is highly linkable. Helpful for updating your website.

Keywords

You have a niche on say knitting but your site’s keywords aren’t centered around yarn, stitching, and overall knitting. It’s time to change things…NOW!

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Why A Sitemap Is Needed

Well, I’m glad you asked. As I mentioned yesterday I would be diving into sitemaps a little more in-depth this week I thought the best thing to do is explain first what exactly a sitemap really is.

I have always made the analogy that a sitemap of a website is similar to that of a mall map. Stores can come and go and the map is constantly updated like that of a website. It will reference the main points of a website. An example would be under Customer Service you might find Contact Us – Billing Issues – FAQ’s – Online Support – Chat Support – etc…

Below is snapshot of the sitemap for a sports introduction site that’s currently in development:

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Since I use Wordpress pretty exclusively I have found a plugin that generates the content into an XML file (.com/sitemap.xml) – this is good news for when you submit your website to search engines. More on that later.

You don’t have to use a “plugin” and can actually create one yourself but then again why recreate the wheel, right?

So, why do you need a sitemap for your website? Well, as I stated earlier it could help a reader figure out where exactly something is. Remember it IS like a map – of your content. This is big for site that end up growing over the years.

The second reason you need to make a sitemap is for search engines and I will dive more into this tomorrow but by having them for web crawlers they are able to crawl your content quicker and index your site.

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What Is A Sitemap Exactly

I don’t know how many times I have to drive this home but I am dead serious about this. If you have a website from a blog to e-commerce you must. MUST have Google Analytics and have you’re sitemap submitted to google (and various other search engines).

These two minor steps will open up huge doors for you and your brand. It will answer the questions:

How are people coming to my site?

• When they come to my site where are they going?

• What is the most popular page?

• What are my site’s keywords/phrases ranking?

• Where am I when it comes to competition?

By allowing yourself to answer these questions you will without a doubt increase your revenue. An example would be finding out what exactly is your most prominent page on your site and then optimizing it so users can see you are offering a new product or link to another portion of your site.

I will be doing a step-by-step on sitemaps this week and start on analytics next week. People need to be made aware of these things.

If you’d like a 1-on-1 feel free to use the contact form and I’d be more than happy to help you out.

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Analytics & Webmaster = Customers!

It has been quite some time since my last post. Since then I’ve been trying out The Google Wave and so far not too impressed with it. The possibilities I am but as it is still in “PREVIEW” stage still a downer. Too buggy.

Besides that I soft launched an encouragement site at MSSG.ME – this has taken off like crazy. I am surprised daily by the weekly emails I get regarding how people need to be uplifted and encouraged, on a daily basis. I say “soft launched” because I’m still developing it more.

I bought MSSG.ME a year ago for another purpose – a business I wanted to really start but since everything else in life has taken over and the domain was wasting away I felt like something needed to be done.

I’m always working with the ever-so-talented Sky 7th who amazes me with his lyrics. Trying to get a launch date of Christmas/New Years seems to be quite difficult but the movement never stops. We are wrapping up the editing of his second video off “Trouble On The Way” {which is free for download}. This following month we will be shooting MORE video’s which are still in development but I will say this. Get ready.

On the flip side I am working on a directory site that will blow some keywords out of the water. I will have about 75% up by Thanksgiving in time for Christmas shopping {online}. More on this as I develop it. I had to take a few days off after creating close to 1,150 pages…yeah, it’s like that.

While 2009 has been great the things that are set in motion for 2010 will be simply  AMAZING!

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Quick Status Update

Google Wave Screen Shot

I got the golden ticket much to my dismay. I immedetly clicked on the google wave invite link and looked around…nothing. As much as I viewed the video of the possibilities right now there is nothing you can really do.

Wait. Cancel that. Yes, yes there is but on one condition: connections. It’s all about being connected. In the early stage of “preview” (look at the snapshot – upper left hand side) – that’s what developers name a product BEFORE beta – BEFORE alpha. Preview. Simple but true and to the point. A quick over-view:

• The bots are still being developed.
• Extensions (plugins) are nice but not all released.
• Chrome is the best for viewing Google Wave.
• “with:public” is your best friend when you first get invited.
• The invites I sent out (w/ screen shots) have yet to be received. No clue on why.
• Expect delays…A LOT!

I’ve found that when you’re in a ‘public wave’ it will crash. Something will happen where too many people are trying to read / write / update / etc to the same wave the servers can’t handle it. It’s still new but still interesting.

Any other google wave users out there want to link up? Use my contact form to send me your email @googlewave.com address.

More updates as they come!

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Google Wave First Impression

Show me your friends and I will show you your future. In the law of attraction the principle relates to this same statement:

1. Know exactly what you want.
2. Ask the universe for it.
3. Feel, behave and know as if the object of your desire is already yours (visualize).
4. Be open to receive it and let go of (the attachment to) the outcome.

While I’m not ‘huge fan’ of #2 (As I believe in God) but nonetheless the fact of the matter is going to a ‘higher power’. In marketing / sales / business / life – you gravitate to those with similar views / morals / ethics. You are attracted to them.

It’s the law of attraction. You can’t deny it but you can adapt and change.

I will give you an example. A few years back I went through depression – I was a pretty negative person which to this day I still do not understand and bet most depressed people couldn’t really give specifics – just generalized ‘cons’. I decided it was a time for a change. The help of family – friends – church I was able to get over this hurdle.

I haven’t looked back ONCE. I don’t plan on it and never want to be in that state of mind ever again. It’s dark. It’s lonely. It’s boring.

From that day of change I have stopped looking at the negative aspects of people and trying to bring out the good stuff. Yet, before I go any further I will say that I am not blind to the ‘bad stuff’ – what I would rather do is not dwell on it. I would insist on ways around that obstacle. There are always problems in life and business – how do you want to solve it? Wallow in self-pity and blame everyone else OR pull yourself up and get moving.

It’s not going to be easy – it’s going to be tough. It has been for me. Then again that’s the way I like it. Stay busy: active mind is the best thing. Keep focused on your objectives and goals and work towards them. When a wall comes into play look at it and come up with a plan to go over or around or even blow it up.

After awhile you can’t help but smile at each wall because you know of the rubble behind you. Keep going – Keep staying strong.

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The Law of Attraction