Tag Archive for google

05 Nov 2011
business growth • marketing • mobile marketing • SEO • SMS marketing • social media • Text message advertising

Mobile Marketing – 7 Things You Should Do Right Now

More on Mobile Marketing

QR code

A QR Code

 

Yesterday I attended one of the free Action Planning Workshops for East Midlands  organised by Transformational ICT and E-business Club.  Once again I learned a huge amount and left feeling inspired –  I couldn’t get to sleep with all the ideas buzzing around in my head!

The Workshop was entitled “Developing a Mobile Marketing Strategy“.  This is something that every business needs to look at and take very seriously.  In fact,  I’d recommend you take action within the next 6 months if you want to stay ahead of the game in mobile marketing.  It’s expanding at the speed of light right now.

Here are just 7 points you can and should take action on before the end of 2011:

1. Make sure your website is optimised for mobile devices. One-third of UK adults now use a smartphone (Ofcom, August 2011), and 45% of UK internet users connect via a smartphone (Office for National Statistics, August 2011). Many leading UK businesses have not yet optimised for mobile…..

2. Once you have a mobile-friendly version of your site, make sure it is optimised for search – Google displays different results for mobile sites than for their static equivalent. People search for different things while out and about using a mobile device.

3. Consider having an App developed for your business. This can be even more powerful than a mobile-optimised website, as it sits on the “home” screen of the device. The user does not have to open a browser to view it, ensuring easy access and keeping your business in your client’s view.

4. Make use of QR codes in your mobile marketing. These are 2-dimensional barcodes that can contain virtually any information. A link to your website, details of your special offers, directions to your shop/bar/restaurant – what else can you think of? QR codes are free and simple to create. Scan the one above and see what happens!

5. When you create your App, integrate and use Push Messaging to keep in contact with those who download it. It’s a modern and permission based version of email marketing, but far better targeted because you’re only contacting people who have already expressed interest by downloading your App.

6. Use geo-location. Again, this can be built into your Apps. Ideal for “find your nearest” type of searches. Twitter and Google already use this.

7. SMS mobile marketing has been around for a while – have  you tried it? S ee my
previous post on this. You could also consider MMS advertising – fairly unique at the moment. Pictures always carry more impact than plain text!

I hope this has given you a few ideas. As with any new project, take some time to sit and plan your strategy. Start with research (maybe run a customer survey?) – what information or services do your potential clients want at the moment? What services or information could you provide via mobile devices in future? How often will people access the information and on what specific devices? What tools are relevant to users in your field of business? Check your Google Analytics to find out what percentage of website visitors are already accessing via a mobile device. And finally – don’t forget that social media and mobile marketing can and should be totally integrated. Both are necessary and vital components of your marketing strategy.

Need help with social media or mobile marketing? Start by contacting me on 01777 249075
or by email at info@naomijohnsonsocialmedia.co.uk

you can also TEXT

INF SOCIALMEDIA or INF SOCIALMEDIA + your email address to 60777

to receive your free copy of my booklet “10 Reasons Why You Need to Get Up To Speed With Social Media”.

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11 Oct 2011
facebook • facebook pages • google • linkedin • marketing • network marketing • social media • social networking • twitter • youtube

Social Media in Network Marketing

The Role of Social Media in Network Marketing

network marketing

image courtesy of duchessa: www.i-pix.it

 

I think it’s likely that most people nowadays know what’s meant by “social media” –  if you don’t, all you need do is browse around this website!   But do you know what network marketing is? A common misconception seems to be that it’s “pyramid selling”. Well, sorry, but pyramid selling is actually illegal – and who’d try to sell pyramids anyway??  :)  So, how about social media in network marketing?

Kleeneze, Avon, Herbalife, Forever Living, Utility Warehouse….

…. do any of these sound familiar?  Yes?  Well, they are all network marketing companies.  Network marketing (also known as MLM, multi-level marketing) is a simple business model. Individuals are recruited, but are not employed by the company. They are self-employed (usually as sole traders) and form part of a group or team.  Each team has various levels.  It’s up to the individual to sell products (which they buy at a discount)  to earn commission. It’s also beneficial to the individual if they can recruit others into their team.   The exact details vary between companies but there are incentives and bonuses for performance in both sales and recruiting. The larger the team, the greater the potential to earn more.

However,  this post isn’t intended to be an in depth study of network marketing as a business model.  Rather,  I would like to explore the role of social media in network marketing and why it’s a valuable asset. As it happens,  in addition to my social media business,  I am involved with two network marketing companies – Wikaniko and Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic.  More information is available on my Eco-Friendly Living website.

I’ve found social media invaluable in promoting my activities with these companies.  Of course, as with any business, social media in network marketing is not the answer to all your problems, but it does add value to the mix.  I’d go so far as to say it’s essential for network marketers.

Social Media Your Strategy For Success

With most network marketing schemes,  you’re aiming to sell products and recruit new team members.  Chances are that a high percentage of potential buyers, and potential recruits, are already on the social networks.  It’s your job to find them!   At the least I’d suggest setting up a Facebook Page (preferably with a custom landing tab as these have been shown to generate more “Likes” – and a Twitter account.  You might also consider getting yourself established on LinkedIn, to gain professional credibility.  There are a number of discussion groups on LinkedIn for network marketers.  YouTube would also be an excellent channel for promoting your products and sharing the benefits of joining your team!

Once you’re set up on the social networks,  you need to find potential customers and team members.  Don’t post a string of updates promoting your latest products – that will turn people off immediately.  It’s all about being subtle,  not shouting about yourself. Post links to interesting information about your niche,  e.g. general health and wellness if you’re a Herbalife or Forever Living distributor. Search on Twitter for tweets asking about your company or products,  or just general information related to your niche.  Follow “thought leaders” in your field of interest and begin engaging with them.  It’s OK to post “sales” updates occasionally,  but no more than 10-20% of your posts should be self-promotion. Set up Google Alerts for topics around your niche,  browse a selection of blogs and share links to these.  You might find this post useful if you’re not sure of the best way to do this.  Give value to your followers and always invite comments and questions.  If someone responds to your update,  always reply and invite further engagement.

Don’t expect things to happen overnight –  it will take weeks or more likely months, to build up a following. It can be hard work to keep your community engaged – you have to keep at it and not abandon your Facebook or Twitter accounts for long periods.  If you’re not sure of the best way to maintain your presence on social media,  you might consider getting help from a professional.   Your social media strategy will pay dividends in the long run, but plenty of patience is a must!

Are you in network marketing? Need advice on setting up and using social media accounts?  Start by contacting me on 01777 249075
or by email at info@naomijohnsonsocialmedia.co.uk

you can also TEXT

INF SOCIALMEDIA or INF SOCIALMEDIA + your email address  to 60777

to receive your free copy of my booklet “10 Reasons Why You Need to Get Up To Speed With Social Media”.

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03 Sep 2011
business growth • marketing • SEO • social media • social networking • twitter

9 Useful Twitter Tips

Twitter

Twitter Tips

I’ve recently started tweeting a series of Twitter Tips and have been pleasantly surprised to find that they seem to be appreciated, judging by the number of retweets and mentions that they’ve generated. Having recently read Dan Zarella’s article on “The Science of Retweets”, I’ve also been paying closer attention to the timing of my tweets.

A colleague recently recommended a Twitter tool, Buffer, that not only tells you the best times for you to tweet (based on performance of past tweets), but allows you to pre-schedule any number of tweets in a “buffer” so that they then get posted automatically at the scheduled times. It even suggests tweets for you if you find yourself lacking inspiration! Since using this I’ve found my followers increasing more quickly than before, and I’m also getting more engagement. I highly recommend Buffer!

I’m going to post my Twitter tips here and I hope that they will help some of you. Why not build up a series of tips related to your own business and see if they help to build your Twitter presence?

looking for a job? the majority of companies (>80%) now use social media as part of their recruitment.

don’t sit back & let everyone else tweet, jump in on a conversation, offer help, build your community & earn trust.

remember you can now add photos to your tweets in the update field – just click the camera icon. Photos get people interested!

more followers -> more reach for your tweets. Use search function, find people in your niche, follow & start conversations

Bear in mind a tweet has a very short lifetime. Approx. 90% of engagement happens within the 1st hour of tweeting.

link to your profile everywhere – Facebook, LinkedIn, your website/blog, email signature, biz card. Be easily found!

fill out your bio using the max. 160 chars. Who are you & what do you do? Include website link and a good head shot.

don’t tweet in textspeak – be creative and make best use of 140 characters, leaving a few for ReTweet

the ideal time to get retweeted is around 4pm EST (9pm GMT) on a Friday

Did you find these helpful? Please let me know in the comments, and feel free to add some of your own tips. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter to get more tips!

You can contact me on 01777 249075
or by email at info@naomijohnsonsocialmedia.co.uk

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27 Jul 2011
google • google places • SEO • social media

Google Places – Have You Claimed Your Business Listing?

Google Places-What’s That?

google places listing for Naomi Johnson Social Media

my google places listing

I’ve been reading recently about Google Places, having already listed my social media consultancy business.  Just out of interest,  I did a quick Google  search for accountants, solicitors and dentists in my local towns.  I think you’d agree that all of these businesses are likely to be searched for pretty frequently,  as almost everyone is going to need them at some time or other!   Nowadays, local searches are vitally important and help to cut through the “noise” of so many businesses competing for search engine rankings.

I was amazed, although admittedly not completely shocked, to find that for my nearest town (about 10 miles away),  not a single one of these businesses had a Places listing.   The other (larger) local town (16 miles away) had a good number of dentists, accountants and solicitors listed on Google Places.

If your business hasn’t claimed its Google Places listing yet,  did you know that you could be at risk of losing your ranking?  Businesses that have claimed their Place  are listed at the top of the rankings – you may have noticed that red “pin” symbol  (but perhaps didn’t know what it meant)??    Here’s the search page for dentists in Worksop……

google search results

 

Have you claimed your Google Places listing yet? (it’s totally free).  If you need any help with this,  don’t hesitate to get in touch.

I’d also love to hear your comments if you’ve successfully claimed your listing and have found it beneficial in helping your business  get found.

You can contact me on 01777 249075
or by email at info@naomijohnsonsocialmedia.co.uk

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21 Jul 2011
blogging • business growth • facebook • google • linkedin • marketing • SEO • social media • social networking • twitter

Promote Your Business With Social Media – 5 Smart Tips

blog

Chances are, if you’re in business, you’re aware of the “digital shift” that has taken place over the last 20 years or so. First it was the internet and email, then the world wide web – and now we have the social media revolution. Did your business set up a website 15 years ago along with thousands of others? It’s virtually unheard of nowadays for a business not to have its own website.

The last two years or so have seen a truly seismic shift, with an almost universal adoption of social media. But it’s no longer used just for “social” reasons – the various platforms represent a huge opportunity for businesses to promote and market themselves. Here are a few tips if you’re feeling left behind in the social stampede.

  1. Find your voice – remember that social media is 21st century word of mouth, so be yourself – write as you’d speak to current or potential customers. Don’t put on an act.
  2. Set up your Twitter account – begin to build a following. Follow key influencers in your niche and try to establish relationships. Always be subtle; don’t sell overtly. Tweet at least 6-8 times per day- keep people interested. No-one will follow an account that’s inactive.
  3. Create a Facebook page for your business – add as much information as possible, using keywords appropriately. Include good photos of your products. Post at least 4 updates per week, and again keep things subtle; engage with your fans and ask them for feedback. Use the Questions app to create polls about topics relevant to your businesss.
  4. Join LinkedIn – the premier B2B social network, but completely relevant for any business. It’s vital to complete your profile as fully as possible, including your previous work experience, education, and recommendations from clients. LinkedIn profiles rank very highly on Google – you do want to be found by potential clients, don’t you? Join relevant LinkedIn groups, take part in discussions, answer questions – begin to position yourself as an expert in your niche.
  5. Create a blog – perhaps the most important of all. Your blog is your “home base” – where you should send people looking to find out what you do and what you can offer them. Link all your social media profiles to your blog and vice versa. (As you will notice I’ve done). Update your blog at least once a week, and always on a regular basis. This is vital for good SEO – fresh content always ranks highly. Remember to use keywords in your blog posts, titles, and tags.
  6. Stop Press – get yourself an invite to Google Plus. The new social network launched at the end of June 2011 and already has well over 10 million users – the growth has been phenomenal and there are lots of very exciting features. As yet it’s not set up for business use, but this will be an imminent addition. If you would like an invite, let me know.

I hope the above points have given you a few ideas to get started on your social media adventure. If you’re still feeling confused and overwhelmed, I may be able to help!

And please feel free to let me know your top tips! Feedback is always very welcome.

You can contact me on 01777 249075
or by email at info@naomijohnsonsocialmedia.co.uk

| 2 comments | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
14 Jul 2011
blogging • business growth • google • SEO

Back To School?

 

Hardly anyone uses a typewriter nowadays – technology has advanced dramatically but it can’t hide a lack of basic skills. Do you need to go back to school?

typewriter

I came across this article on the BBC News site today. What the writer says regarding today’s standards of spelling and grammar is certainly true, in my experience. Although I trained as a scientist, I do take pride in my written English and am perfectly capable of spelling correctly and writing grammatical sentences.

If, during my travels online, I notice an error in spelling or grammar, it hits me immediately and I have to admit to feeling a certain degree of smugness – surely it’s not too much to expect web authors to be familiar with basic written English?? OK, English is obviously not everyone’s mother tongue (no matter how much we might like that to be the case!) but it should be easy enough to find someone – a friend or colleague would probably be happy to oblige – to proofread the article. It really doesn’t give a good impression for a business website or Facebook page to be full of spelling errors and clumsy grammar. There could also be adverse SEO effects…..I’m sure that Google likes correct spelling.

The most frequent errors seem to involve use of the apostrophe – e.g. “you’re” and “your”, “it’s” and “its”, “they’re” and “their”. Apostrophes are mostly used to shorten 2 words into one – “you are” becoming “you’re” and so on. However, many people apparently believe that the apostrophe denotes possession – mixing up “it’s” and “its”, where the latter is the possessive.

Other common errors involve the use of “a” or “e” in words such as “stationary” (not moving) or “stationery” (paper, envelopes etc). Oh and we won’t mention “i before e except after c”!!

The strange thing is, most email and word processing software comes with a spell checker – so why not use it if you’re not sure?

Alternatively, if you would like your article or blog proof-read, just give me a call on 01777 249075, or drop me an email, and I’ll be happy to help.

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