Web Abbreviations

July 12th, 2010

Does TTYL, TYVM and SYL confuse you?  The rescue is here….  I found this website that will decode web and mobile phone abbreviations.

http://www.webacronyms.com/

Social Media Helps Customer Service

July 8th, 2010

Are you tired of long holds and delayed responses to resolve a business problem? Then look up the provider on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and write to them.

What people (or companies) do not realize is that social media messages ARE being read.  Companies will go through extra efforts to resolve your issue quickly because they do not want negative content floating around the internet about them.

I do not encourage making public messages, give the provider a chance to resolve it quietly.  Customer support services through social media is predicted to be the next big thing.

Tips For Using Twitter

July 5th, 2010

I was reading an article published by Social Times and they provide great information about the 10 ways to generate business on Twitter.  Enjoy!

Things to do…

  1. Actively build your network
  2. Tweet regularly and consistently
  3. Tweet content of value to your network
  4. Post about trending topics
  5. Improve your tweets
  6. Be retweetable
  7. Prune the list of people you follow
  8. Cross-promote
  9. Build trust
  10. Convert your network

For more information see http://bit.ly/8ZcEa2

Tips For an Effective Social Media Campaign

July 1st, 2010

Social Media Marketing is a long-term commitment and begins with planning.  Here are some questions to ask yourself before (or during) your social media campaign:

  1. What do you want to accomplish at week 2, week 4, week 8, 3 months,  and 6 months?
  2. What programs do you want to use?
  3. Do you know how to use these programs effectively?  If not, how will you learn?
  4. How much time are you going to commit each day or week to social media?
  5. How will you measure success with social media?
  6. How will you measure ROI?
  7. Do you have the proper Analytics reporting system in place?
  8. Do you have a website that you can drive traffic to and are you proud of your website?
  9. What kind of conversations will you have online?
  10. How will you handle comments and responses?

Remember, your online efforts develop over time and bear fruit in different stages of your campaign.  Do not give up.

Tips For Your Blog

June 21st, 2010

Lisa Abendroth, Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business reports:

Blogs can be used to announce new products (for example: “Just in — vintage Ferragamo heels”) or support past products (“new looks for that little black dress”), but the content needs to be both fresh and relevant so people will want to read your blog on a regular basis and, incidentally, receive repeated nudges.

Another objective your blog can serve is listening to your customers, provided you make it easy for them to comment on your posts. You should also monitor other blogs, especially those that relate to your brand or products. By listening, you can learn what’s on customers’ minds so that you can better respond to their needs and interests, which in turn keeps your content relevant.

The key is to find a balance between providing value to both your company and your customers. When you achieve that balance, integrity is rarely an issue.

Tips for Online Marketing in 2010

June 14th, 2010

I was reading a Blog by Amber Naslund and she  described “10 ways to get serious about social media.”   I pulled out a couple that I felt were right on the money.

1) Quit counting fans, followers, and blog subscribers like bottle caps. Think, instead, about what you’re hoping to achieve with and through the community that actually cares about what you’re doing.

2) Learn how to measure stuff, and quit making excuses for why you can’t do it.

3) Approach social media methodically, and with the same care that you would any other business investment you make.

4) Quit waiting for the water to be perfect before you get in. It’s not going to be, ever. Try something that makes strategic sense for your business.

5 ) Think long term, and commit to it. That doesn’t mean some of your experiments can’t be finite, but the overall approach has to be for good.

6) Focus on what you’re good at. Know the core of your business, and make that the center of your work, especially through the amplifier of social media.

7) Recognize that potential missteps shouldn’t paralyze you into inaction. Acknowledge that there are ways to recover.  Having a plan to pick yourself up is the key, rather than trying to avoid failure at all costs (including stagnation).

http://altitudebranding.com/2010/01/10-ways-to-get-serious-about-social-media/

Should I use Facebook or LinkedIn?

June 10th, 2010

One of the most popular questions I am asked is, “Which social media platform should I focus on?”  Well, to achieve the greatest results for your time I suggest the following, Facebook or LinkedIn.

If you are B to C (Business to Customer) then you should create a Facebook Fan page and interact with your customers on a daily basis.  Facebook offers a free page for your business called a Fan page.  The Fan page will allow you to promote your products, educate your audience, post events, post videos, post pictures and the opportunity for your customer to converse with you.

If you are B to B (Business to Business) then you should focus on LinkedIn.  LinkedIn is the most popular business network on the web.  LI is comprised of business professionals who are looking to do business with each other.  LinkedIn offers the ability to promote your company, provide status updates, give referrals, post testimonials, and look for new business opportunities.

The greatest features are that you can socialize any time and from any place (as long as you have an internet connection.)

-Jennifer Hampton


Don’t get discouraged with Social Media

June 7th, 2010

At my seminar this past week, I asked the participants for their “Aha” moment in Social Media. One gentleman said  he wanted to give-up and quit using social media in the beginning.  I asked why, and he said he did not see an immediate response from his social media efforts. This story is very common for beginners in Social Media…they quit just before receiving the prize.

Participating in social media for business purposes is a long-term commitment.  I have heard people compare social media to investing.  If you put your money in an investment and take it out 3 weeks later, it’s unlikely that you will make any additional money. Yet, if you keep it invested, over time you will likely increase your investment. Social Media behaves the same way. The longer you stay in, the greater the reward.

Social Media is not a quick fix.   Social media sites are facilities that promote building relationships. So jump in,  build relationships and don’t get discouraged.

Jennifer Hampton, CEO, Superior Virtual Office

The Big Social Media Question

June 3rd, 2010

Harvard Business Review posted a great Blog about evaluating your position in social media.  They asked the big question, “Do you live social?”  I found this article to be very useful when understanding the broad scope of social media.

David Armano wrote: (full article)

Do You Live Social?

Some have asked, Where does social media live? Is it marketing? Is it public relations? Is it IT or corporate? Is it a combination of multiple business units and functions, and if so, who leads the efforts and how does an organization choose partners? These are valid and complex questions, currently with no simple answers. Social media is still emerging and being defined in real time.

There’s a question missing from that litany, one that organizations or individuals rarely ask themselves… Read the rest of this entry »

What Should You Blog About?

May 13th, 2010

Every week people ask me, “Jenn, what should I blog about?”  Well, here are some ideas to get you going:

  1. Blog about real life stories.  People love to connect with other people, so keep it real.
  2. Blog about FAQ.  No one knows your business like you do.  So address one FAQ at a time and offer your expert opinion.
  3. If you see an article that supports your industry, blog about it.  Make sure you give credit to the original writer and then add your own story to it.  A good way to find articles about your industry is to set up “Google Alerts” and you will receive a daily email about the topics you want to hear more about.
  4. When you are writing, direct your message to the type of client you want to attract.  Are you writing to business owners or customers?
  5. Use good content.  Remember, it is always about content.

Jennifer Hampton, CEO,  Superior Virtual Services