Facebook Friday - 4 steps to a stronger Facebook page

Social networking is indisputably a global phenomenon. Its highly visible role in last year’s public uprisings around the world was only the latest example of a trend that has been steadily building for some time. A recent Forrester study of 95,000 Internet users in 18 countries showed that in addition to heavy social media usage in the U.S. and Europe, consumers in emerging markets are actually leading the world in social media usage and engagement. 

Find the rest here:

http://news.efrontier.com/rs/efrontier/images/Adobe_Going_Global_Social_World...

Small Business Tuesday: Another helpful free site.

Another  free online service that has been very helpful for small business entrepeneurs. 

Number Three:  LogMeIn.com

You can access your desktop any time you need with the robust, free version of this remote desktop management tool. Perhaps the best thing about LogMeIn.com is the ability to quickly log in and use software on your desktop from anywhere, regardless of whether or not the device you are on has the same software. 

https://secure.logmein.com/

 

Facebook Friday - Building your Fanpage

We all know by now that  having a strong visible presence in social media is critical to small business marketing.  The way people shop and compare items has changed; people do  not want to be sold to, they want to discover new and exciting things that can add value and beauty to their lives. 

There are many platforms and networks in use today, but the undisputed King of Social Networks today is Facebook.  Having a Facebook fan page for your brand enables you to make connections with people who are interested in what you have - be they existing customers or new friends just met. 

The key to successful Facebook marketing is to build relationships.  Talk to people. Seek out others who share you interests.  Exchange ideas, techniques - interact with your fans, often. People like to make connections, and will appreciate  your expertise and experience.  Once they get to know what you are about, they will be much more likely to buy from you. 

Face it, no one appreciates having BUY MY DOODAH yelled at them twenty times a day.  I've seen so many twitter users who just rebroadcast the same 'come see my shop, buy my xyz' and I got to tell you, I drop them fast as I can. It's boring and I think if they have nothing to say other than a poorly written sales pitch, well, I have better things to do with my time.  Unfollow. Goodbye. 

If you want to gain loyal, and engaged fans on your Facebook page, you have to give them something to talk about.  Post often, every day,  more than once if you have something to say.  Share tips, jokes, current events that relate to your shared interest and ask questions.  That is one of the quickest way to see who is really engaged.  The beauty of Facebook  marketing is the ability to have your message spread by your fans, then by their friends, and friends of friends. 

Building real relationships online takes time and a lot of work. You cannot just build a page and sit back and wait for them.  Go looking for fans.  Invite your current customers.  Like other pages with content similar to your own. Post there, get to know the people there and some will wander over to your page.  Put the link to your page everywhere  you can -  on  your business cards, your email signature, any printed work you do, etc.  

Media Promotion Opportunity -

Here's your chance to become a part of TrendE-News —Stationery Trends' monthly e-newsletter. Along with Industry News, each edition includes an Industry Profile, complete with photo, and an assortment of Fresh Picks.

The focus for this edition

will be: Thank Yous

If you’re interested in submitting products for the Fresh Picks section, please send no more than 5 images (at 300 dpi) with 10-word descriptions for each via email to Abby atstonline@stationerytrendsmag.com. If selected for the issue, more information may be requested.

Fresh Picks for the June edition are due Thursday, May 17.

Photos from the 2012 Indie Craftstravaganzaa

I just uploaded about 130 photos taken at the 2012 Craftstravaganzaa to the facebook galleries. 

http://ow.ly/aOwfw

Small Business Tuesday: Another Freebie you'll love...

 

Small business owners always need to find ways to save money.  There are many 'free'  services available on the internet, and most we've found to be about worth what we've paid for them.  

But luckily, not all of them.  I'd like to share another that I've found very helpful.

Check 'em out, I bet you'll love them too.

 

Number Two:  #Smallbizchat

A couple of weeks ago someone clued  me into a weekly interactive business chat on Twitter, called  #SmallBizChat. 

#SmallBizChat is online every Wednesday night from 8 till 9 pm, EST and includes a variety of discussions that small business people will find helpful. 

 

 

Facebook Friday - Marketing on Facebook

Are you ready to put your brand out in front of the 850 million people?  That's how many set of eyes you could potentially put your brand in front of on Facebook.  Incredible, isn't it?  

Here are some time-saving tips for marketing your small business on Facebook.

A. See if your personalized URL is available.

Before you launch your brand presence on Facebook, check on your personalized URL to make sure it will be available to you.  Find one that's simple and easy to remember. The shorter and simpler the better, to help people remember it. 

B. Crossposting with Ease: 

Utilize other web-based (or smartphone) services to making cross posting quicker and easier.  Logging in and out of all the  different networks these days can be time consuming and frankly, a pain.  There are several services that enable users to post once, and have their message cross posted to other networks as well.  One i like is Posterous.com  I  have our AIC network set up through Posterous; it enables any of us to send one email, and  have our message and/or photos posted to Facebook, twitter, linkedin, g+, tumblr, posterous blog, and a few more minor networks you've probably never heard of.  Quick and Easy!  Another good one that I use on my phone is HootSuite. 

C. Use social plugins:

They’re free to use and are a quick and easy way to market your brand or message through referral traffic.

D. Use Facebook Insights

Export the Facebook Insights data to an Excel spreadsheet.. Super easy to see what type of posts and media worked the best for you, which got the most response from your audience. 

E. Provide location:

Did you ever run across a Facebook page or event and find it very interesting, only to have to search and search for their location?  Do not forget that you are posting your event on the World Wide web.  World Wide.  You can go on and on about the wonderful festival you have planned, but if people have to struggle to find out the location, they probably won't.  People have super short attention spans these days, in just a few seconds you have to grab their attention and give them the bullet points they want, or they will click away. If your guest sees right away that the event is local, he'll maybe check it out for more info.  Maybe even come, spend his money, tell his friends.

F. QR Codes

Setting up a QR code for your Facebook Page is a quick, simple and effective strategy for small or large businesses to use. QR codes can be used on many marketing materials.

They are very easy to set up, simple google QR code generator, and follow the simple instructions.  

 

 

Holiday Marketing... already??

Think it’s too early to begin listing your 2012 holiday line on Etsy?

I don't think so.  Now is the time media and press publications are finalizing their print plans for this year's holiday sales. Help editors and bloggers find your holiday items  on Etsy by listing your holiday line now with clear seasonal tags.

To keep things looking in line with the current season, use Etsy’s Rearrange Your Shop tool to move these holiday items to the final pages of your shop.

Free Webinar - Pantone Home present the colors and color palettes for 2013

In order to create the "magic" in the market place that ultimately leads to sales, colors for 2013 will need to coax and cajole, soothe or astonish, renew and replenish. At the same time, there will be the consumer's expectation of practicality – which colors will have staying power and can be relied upon as a steadying influence in unsteady times. 
On Thursday, May 17th at 12 noon EDT, log on to our live webinar to hear Laurie Pressman, Vice President of Fashion, Home + Interiors, present the colors and color palettes for 2013 that will be key to enticing the would be consumer or client.

Click here to register today

Free Business Tools that you can't live without.

Small business owners always need to find ways to save money.  There are many 'free'  services available on the internet, and most we've found to be about worth what we've paid for them.  

But luckily, not all of them.  I'd like to share a few that I've found very helpful, in fact some I can't imagine living without.  And yes, all free.  Granted, most  have a paid service available as well, but the free offerings have met my needs easily.   I'll try to feature one new service every week that small business owners will find very  helpful.   I'll call it…  Small Business Tuesday.  

Check 'em out, I bet you'll love them too. 

Number One: Dropbox

Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere, and share them easily. Any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically sync to all your computers, your phone or iPad, and the Dropbox website. Dropbox also makes it easy to share with others, too, you decide wh ich of your folders can be shared and which stay private.  It is super easy to use, easy to install, just easy all the way around.   This one is definitely one of my TOP  PICKS for anyone trying to organize their digital life.

http://db.tt/iBLyNEOi