Executionists - We Get Web Done

By Jansen Granflor

A common misconception about social networks is that you have to be on them 24 hours a day to see results for your business. The truth is, all you have to do is create a basic profile on a handful of social media networks, like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, that your clients or customers already log onto. It doesn’t have to tell your entire company history, just some basic information regarding what you do, links to your website, and solid contact information. Your goal is not to gain thousands of fans and followers on these sites, but to spread the word around to a more specific clientele. The average computer user now uses social networks like Yelp to find businesses and reviews on products and services from real people. By linking your website to your social media networks, you can leverage testimonials from actual customers to web surfers. One positive review from a happy customer can open the door for so many more.

Social media profiles and company blogs are often setup by small businesses, but never maintained. The truth is social media information is very simple to update and can be used for marketing, customer service, and feedback via comments. It can also make you, the small business owner, seem hip and trendy in the eyes of your customers. The fanbase you build with these tools will bring you more business, and if you run out of things to say, you can post updates by simply announcing limited-time promotions or discounts, or introducing new products or services. Remember to always improve your SEO (search engine optimization) by linking your business to as many online directories and websites as possible, as this will not only put you on the map in your neighborhood and field of specialty, but it might also get you some media coverage, further boosting you up in Google search results.

Placing social media links on your homepage will help you increase web traffic, but keep in mind you don’t want your potential customers to link to a social media profile that hasn’t been touched in months, so update early and often. You can also use social media to get to know potential customers, by listening to their comments, and responding to their inquiries. Sometimes, they will be upfront and ask for a product or service you don’t offer, or tell you your prices are too high. You can address and reward them directly, and get to know them by name, which leads to referrals, and more business. It’s a sales pitch that doesn’t feel like one. Use social networks to tell your customers who you are, what inspired you, where you started your business, and how you got it all started. Set up a blog as a way to speak to your customers indirectly, and they can read and comment if they choose to.

Socializing is only half of social networking – the other half is networking, so use your social hub not only to get more customers, but perhaps you can meet better vendors, and cheaper suppliers. Social networking sites increase competition, but you can embrace your competitors, and exchange tips and feedback since you both experience similar issues on a regular basis. If you have a problem you can’t solve, maybe a similar business has a solution, which you in turn can pass on to help another business owner. Social media creates buzz, helps networking, and, of course, increases business for everyone. It’s a genuine way of getting to know your customers, and it doesn’t take too much of your free time, and can actually be fun, and engaging.

Jansen can be reached at jansen@executionists.com

1) Organic Traffic: With their Universal Search protocol, Google has started showing press releases in organic search results. If your press release is well-optimized, it can rank for two to three days in Google organic results. The press release can also get traffic from Google News and other news aggregator websites.

2) Link Building: You can use your important keywords as anchor text and link them to relevant pages on your website. When the press release is distributed these links will be picked up by distribution partners. Links from many of these sites will not be counted, but some of them will.  No matter how big or small your business, link building within your website is a great way to get aggressive on the web.

3) Reputation Management: If someone has criticized your company, one sure way to get the criticism off the first page of Google Blog Search or Google search results is to issue multiple press releases. Of course, if you want to do a professional job, then you need to get external links to your press releases and bookmark and tag these releases.

4) Bloggers and Web 2.0 Audience: Many bloggers subscribe to online press release distribution services like PRWeb. If your press release interests them, they might blog about it and give a link to your press release or your website. If you consistently reach out to this audience, you can get significant links, traffic and sales from them.

5) Traffic from Traditional Media: If your press release interests journalists, they will follow up with you and write a story about your business.This will most certainly lead to a short term boost in your website traffic and sales.

By: Milind Mody

Article Source

Being a recent college graduate, many of my closest friends have been dispersed throughout the world… literally.  As a result, we have resorted to email blasting one another on a weekly basis to catch-up on the ever-surmounting events of our lives.  One week we got on a particular topic, a passion which all of us share.  One of my friends suggested that we should start a blog, which as everyone knows has skyrocketed to be quite the social craze.

The reality is that these days millions of people are blogging on everything you can imagine. I am blogging about blogging!  The important question is, however, can a blog bring you more business?

The answer is “YES!” if this can be accomplished with good content, strategy, and commitment.  If a blog has intrigued you one time or another, perhaps the following benefits can help boost your confidence to invest in a blog:

•    The opportunity to offer expert advice about your service or product.   Give advice or your opinion about the latest events within your industry.  By doing this, you appear authoritative and are more likely to create interest from new clients and customers.

•    Blogs allow you to directly communicate and educate your customers of your businesses’ news.  Whether you blog about a new product, up-and-coming service, or latest offer, it can potentially capture your visitors and lead to direct sales.  In today’s tough economic times, why not differentiate your company from the competition by creating a personal connection with your audience?

•    Websites with blogs rank higher in search engines than those that don’t have them.   Having a blog allows the opportunity for hundreds of keywords that will be picked up by search engines.  Blogs with frequently updated content are more likely to be promoted by engines.

•    A blog allows your prospective clients and customers an inner perspective on your company.  Viewers will learn your opinions and practices on a more personal level.  This will build a level of trust and they will be more apt to visit your website and purchase your product or service.

•    A low cost and easy way to build a web presence.  User-friendly blogging tools such as Typepad or WordPress make it simple and fast to access and manage your posts.  Once you get your blog up and running, it’s not difficult to keep your blog updated with fresh content.

•    Blogs are an open source for you to reach a greater audience.  You can easily connect with interesting people from all around the world, creating new business contacts which you may not have had with a normal website.

Here are a few blogs we have customized for our clients either used as websites or simply a customized section to broadcast news:

http://www.minutemanparking.com/

http://richardsonmiddleschool.org/

Now that you’ve heard the benefits of a business blog, get blogging!  Contact Executionists at 310.754.3807 for a free consultation on how we can help jumpstart your website!

By Jeanelle Rabadam
Executionists Marketing Team
email: jeanelle@executionists.com