Social Media

10 Tips for Small Business Social Media

Social media is a powerful marketing tool for your business. It gives you a 24/7 presence on platforms that people are connected to for most of their day — even when they aren’t actively using social media, people are tethered to their cell phones, which provide a constant influx of messages and notifications from social networks. To get the most out of social media for your small business, you need a plan. For this, the following tips will help:

  1. Follow relevant pages

Following relevant pages will help you with your social presence, because they let you know what is happening with your customer base, and regularly give you access to powerful content.

  1. Earn relevant followers

The more followers you have, the more impactful your social media presence will be. That being said, you want your followers to be relevant to your small business’ needs. To that end, use relevant hash tags on all of your posts, and use your other marketing channels to funnel consumers to your social networking pages.

  1. Use visual content

Social media provides people with a deluge of content that they scroll through quickly. Although prose content is great, you should also use pictures and videos often, as these receive 18% more clicks, 89% more favorites and 150% more retweets on Twitter alone.

  1. Use social media to provide customer solutions

No matter how well your small business treats its customers, some people will inevitably complain about something. In some cases, they will complain publicly on social media. While this is beyond your control, what you do about it is not. Instead of ignoring complaints online, use them as relationship and brand building tools by publicly solving the problem on the social network that the complaint was initially made on.

  1. Don’t ignore LinkedIn

While not as flashy as other social networks, LinkedIn has the unique ability to connect you with new employees and potential business partners — in addition to consumers. Be sure to create a business page on this social network.

  1. Don’t just talk business

A key element for social media engagement is entertaining your followers. To this end, you must regularly create posts that don’t mention your products or your business at all. Instead, discuss current events or something within your industry.

  1. Leverage your content outside of social media

If you are creating social media pages for your small business, then you should already have a blog. Your best blog posts should be shared on your social media pages; this will help drive more traffic to your website.

  1. Decide which social networks to focus on more

Although they are all great, some social networks will be better for your small business than others. You should join Facebook and Twitter no matter what, but beyond this, carefully consider what networks are more valuable for your company, because each one requires a time investment.

  1. Don’t push your products

Although it is okay to build product excitement on social networks, your social media pages aren’t the places to post overt ads. Instead, you should be building relationships with consumers.

  1. Pander to your target audience

You want your target audience to love you on social media. For your small business, few others matter. Use this fact to focus the type of content that you create to better build relationships with people who will likely buy your products.

Make your social presence matter for your small business

Social media can help your small business attract customers in unprecedented ways. Following the 10 tips listed above will help you a great deal in this regard.

Social Media

Interesting Facts About Social Media

In the early days of social media, it was viewed as a fad among teenagers and young adults. Today, it is not uncommon to see people of all ages on social media interacting with friends, family, businesses, celebrities, and politicians.  The constant growth of social media is changing the way people interact, how businesses advertise, and how celebrities and politicians reach out to their fans.  Here are some interesting facts we have found about social media:

With billions of people posting to social media sites on a daily basis, it is almost mind-numbing to think about the amount of information that is floating around the web. If a singer from South Korea can post a video that gets nearly 2 billion views and a few celebrities can take a selfie that literally caused Twitter to crash, one can only imagine what else is possible with social media. Social media is a constantly changing entity that is shaping the way we live in the 21st century.

Online Marketing, Social Media

What the #### is a Hashtag? – An introduction to the proper use of hashtags for small businesses

Everyone who has used social media has undoubtedly encountered the pound sign (#) followed by some version of unspaced text. While this may have seemed confusing at the time, this symbol or hashtag has become an important way in which the world communicates. But what is a hashtag? On social media sites, the (#) followed by text is known as a hashtag. Even with the uncanny rise of hashtags, many of us are still confused when it comes to how to use them and even more are confused when it comes to what they mean.

#HistoryoftheHashtag

In 2007, a developer, Chris Messina, suggested in a tweet that Twitter start using hashtags to group different topics. Even though Twitter initially rejected the suggestion, journalists began using the hashtag to update tweets about the San Diego forest fires. As a result, the hashtag quickly gained widespread use.

#WhatisaHashtag

A hashtag can be described as a label for content that helps other people find information on a specific topic. Anyone who is sharing information on a specific topic can add a hashtag to their message to associate their message with other messages of similar relevant content. Although the hashtag gained most of its fame through Twitter, other major social media sites such as Facebook, Vine, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Google+ now incorporate hashtags.

Hashtags have been ideal for following news stories and providing up-to-the-minute information about important events. In the case of natural disasters or huge stories, hashtags have become an information lifeline. Although hashtags were originally used for news stories, there has been a growing use of hashtags for business.

Hashtags for Business

Many major brands have incorporated the use of hashtags for business. If you are considering using hashtags for business, you should keep the following tips in mind.

  • Make sure your hashtags are relevant to your field, which will make your brand discoverable by users searching for those keywords.
  • Choose one specific account or set up a business account that will represent your brand. By doing so, you can ensure that users can easily find all of your relevant tweets in one location.
  • Creating your own unique hashtag is a great way to promote your brand. The hashtag should be short but descriptive. Most importantly, make sure you remind everyone to use the hashtag in all related tweets and in all promotional material.
  • Check out which relevant hashtags are trending and make sure you use it.
  • Test hashtags to make sure it is being used. Using a hashtag that no one has ever used will not produce results. The best hashtags are those that people are already using and are therefor searching for. One example would be #WereHavingaSale, which only one person has used and is therefor ineffective.

Ways to Use Hashtags for Business

1. Contest

    • One great way to use hashtags for business is to hold a contest and require that users use the hashtag to enter the contest. Make sure you understand the rules of each social platform regarding contests.

2. Connect with Other Users at a Conference

    • When businesses host conferences or meetings, you can easily find out who is there by checking the stream for the hashtag. This way you can send them a direct message and schedule a time to meet up directly.

3. Hold a Twitter Chat

    • Considering that Twitter is one gargantuan open platform, using a hashtag is one way you can designate who participates in the chat. On the other hand, there is no way to know if someone is responding to your topic or simply talking about and entirely different subject.

4. Check out Hashtags.org

    • Hashtags.org is an online service that groups hashtags and gives you an idea of what other people are discussing online. By knowing what is trending, you are destined to come up with ideas.

5. Use hashtags to learn more about your industry

    • Industry experts often use hashtags for articles and relevant news for your industry. For example, a company like Ready to Run would use #SEO or #SocialMedia.

Hashtags have moved well beyond just a current social media fad – transitioning to an online marketing necessity. In the coming weeks, Ready to Run will be discussing hashtags and a number of other social media marketing strategies. Hopefully, this introduction will provide some clarity on using hashtags for brand exposure online.

For a more indepth guide to #Hashtags, see our article: Facebook’s New Move: #Hashtags

Online Marketing, Social Media

Facebook’s New Move: #Hashtags

Facebook Announces Hashtags

facebook-hashtag-whiteA recent Facebook press release announced it has enabled “public conversations,” aka #hashtags, available starting June 12th. With this update, Facebook is joining other social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and Tumblr, using hashtags as a way to organize conversation and link topics from one user to the next. Hashtags used through these other social media platforms and shared through Facebook allow engagement with current followers and may reach new potential customers who are not already connected. It will also connect you to the greater conversation on the desired topic.

(For an introduction to hashtags, you may be interested in: What the #### is a Hashtag? – An introduction to the proper use of hashtags for small businesses)

In the press release introducing the new hashtag feature, Facebook explained that users are utilizing the new platform to talk about what’s going on around them. Whether it be a tropical storm, who might take the Stanley Cup, an episode of Game of Thrones, or a TED Talks symposium, events like these are getting millions of mentions.

By making these hashtags clickable and interactive, Facebook allows users a richer experience and engagement into a topic or conversation. Facebook also clarified, on ABC News, that hashtagged posts will still respect the regular privacy settings.

What is a #Hashtag?

A hashtags is a term or idea preceded by the pound symbol ‘#’. The term embeds the category, so that a user can click on it to connect with other posts or images on or about that topic. This is a major step for Facebook toward their goal of becoming more of a search friendly platform, in addition to its social networking base.

You can consider social networking sites as a huge filing cabinet. It is filled with thoughts, statements, questions, and comments about different topics. Hashtags are like the tabs of the folders categorizing these different topics.

So, instead of fumbling through the file cabinet aimlessly, simply search a hashtag (which is searching a specific topic) or click on an existing hashtag to automatically be directed to the search page. By doing this, you will be shown all posts using that same tag, listed in chronological order.

So What Will This Mean for Your Business or Brand?

Facebook’s use of hashtags will not cause an abrupt change to your online marketing campaign strategy only enhance it. Here are some helpful best practices when hashtagging:

  • Incorporate hashtags into your posts, but do not only post a hashtag or overuse them. The tag should add to your message but not be the only element of that message.
  • Create a hashtag specific to your company that goes with your message and encourage followers and current customers to use it and create conversations around that hashtag.
  • Incorporate topic-specific terms that reach a targeted audience which has interests related to your product or services, such as #business or #NewYork.
  • Be sure not to over-tag. Limit your hashtags to 1 – 3 per post and be mindful of terms that others are already using and searching organically. This will help to reach a new audience that was not previously connected with or aware of your brand.
  • When tagging terms that require multiple words, they must be written without a space between, as one word. To help readers discern each word and understand what is being written, be sure to capitalize each new word, for example #SocialMedia or #PoliticalCommunications.

Hashtags allow for more brand interaction and a greater conversation because they link all similar tags in one easily searchable location.

Online Marketing, Social Media

3 Easy Tips for Businesses & Brands on Pinterest

Pinterest for Business

Pinterest is taking off as the fastest growing social media site and is the fourth largest traffic driver surpassing Yahoo. The site is based on the idea of “pinning”, or including visual content, on “boards” with themes. Pinterest provides its users with endless varieties of information and visually pleasing photos.

Users can browse boards, “like” images, comment on them, and “re-pin” them on to their own boards. The images can link back to websites which might include content such as recipes, do-it-yourself instructional material, blogs, or business websites.

Many businesses have found that the simple yet striking visual content display that Pinterest provides draws viewers and traffic to their websites, increasing interest, improving SEO and building an online community.

Pinterst referrals improve marketing ROI and spend more!

Wayfair, the second largest home goods retailer by revenue, found consumers referred from Pinterest:

  • Spend an average of 70% more money than visitors referred from non-social channels
  • Are 10% more likely to purchase than any other social media site
  • Actually spend about 10% more money on the purchases they make!

While Pinterest strategies for business and brand marketing are vast and include many techniques, we will discuss three simple methods that are useful to new business users to improve your ability to draw new viewers to your boards and ultimately to your website and products.

Our 3 easy tips are:

  1.  Use evergreen topics
  2. Hold contests
  3. Create and share community group boards

1)      Evergreen Topics

While an initial thought would be to start a board with images of only your product, new potential users might not search specially for this one item or category.  Posting images of common or familiar situations where your product is being used can draw viewers to want more information and link to your specific website.  Evergreen content such as beauty tips and how-tos consistently rate highly on the Most Repinned count in Pinterest Web Analytics.

One company that is successfully using this technique is ELLE magazine – for example, their “how-to” pin on hair care drove very high page views and repins. The website wikiHow, which focuses on how-to guides, is also a successful Pinterest user.  By pinning unique, high-quality items on curated boards, they were able to connect with pinners looking for instructional information on a daily basis.

2)      Contests

Holding contests on Pinterest is another way to draw visitors to your boards. Contests can take a variety of forms.  For example, Pinterest members could be asked to curate boards on a specific topic, which would be judged by celebrities in a particular field or interest area.   The travel site Jetsetter challenged users to develop boards on four travel themes, which were then judged by well-known media personalities.  As a result of the contest, over 50,000 images were pinned in less than a month, and the Jetsetter page views were increased by 150%.

Another type of pinboard contest involves members re-pinning images or posts from other social media sites on to their own Pinterest boards, or being rewarded for finding all the pieces of a puzzle or a specific number of images.  Other types of contests could involve getting the highest number of re-pins or votes.

Running a successful contest using Pinterest involves setting goals and objectives and knowing your audience. It is also important to review the Pinterest guidelines for contests before you start: http://business.pinterest.com/logos-and-marketing-guidelines/

3)      Group Boards

Group boards are an excellent way to engage customers and drive traffic to your business. A group board functions just like a regular Pinterest board but allows other people to also pin to the board in addition to the board creator. Group boards can be shared on a small or large scale depending on the goal.

Group boards go under different names but have the same general purpose.

  • Shared Boards
  • Contributor Boards
  • Community Boards
  • Collaborative Boards

The benefits of using group boards for business are vast and diverse. The boards invite engagement and brand awareness. You will expand your network by inviting others to pin on a common theme. Pins can also be catered to specific topics that may be blog subjects, allowing bloggers to share pin each other’s content that is useful.

Group boards are a great way to share contests (tip #2). Having all associated pins in one place allows users to easily navigate all similar content. It will also help your business to judge the contest without having to scour the web and hope that pins were hashtagged.

You can use these boards to share your content, tips, how-tos, training materials and resources with people with similar interests.

Group boards are also excellent for planning events and creating a buzz. Use the boards to share ideas, venues, marketing materials, menus and table decoration ideas, to name a few. This is also a good place to raise money for cause-related events.

Additionally, designers and other creative professionals can use these boards to better connect with their client’s style and preferences. By inviting your client to share, they can pin design or decorating ideas that will ultimately cut time from evaluating an individual style or desired motif. By using pins, translating customer’s expectations becomes much more efficient.

Brands should remember to keep their theme relevant to the interests of their target consumers. Stay engaged and comment on good pins. Today’s consumer loves to feel connected and listened to. Customers that have regular interaction with brands on social media are much more likely to make a purchase.

As you start to use Pinterest for your business, you can read about some of the successful techniques companies have used to boost traffic to their Pinterest boards on Pinterest’s own business blog.

Pinterest provides a new and rapidly growing way for your business to connect with a community of users. Developing boards based on evergreen content, holding contests and sharing group boards are three simple ways to begin to engage your audience and attract new customers.

For ways to improve your business or brand’s online presence and effectiveness, contact Ready to Run Designs for a free evaluation.

Online Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Website Design

Online Marketing Primer

As a business owner, researching the seemingly endless online marketing options may be overwhelming at first. The internet is full of web development companies and online marketing firms that try to convince business owners to invest in all kinds of products and services. If you are uncertain about the best way to start promoting your brand online, the following provides simple ways to start an online brand for a small business.

Social Media Strategy

Online Marketing for Small BusinessesSocial media sites are great tools for businesses to connect to customers, capture new leads and improve its website’s rank on major search engines, such as Google, Yahoo and Bing. However, as important as it is for a business to have social media accounts, it is even more important to use them appropriately.

  • Do a few things well: Rather than try to be on every social media site, pick only a few that are most likely to have your target audience and actively participate on them.
  • Understand the platform: Different social settings can call for very different behavior, which is also true for social media. Try to look at the ways other users already interact on the social media site to get a better understanding of the ways to participate.
  • Monitor social media sites: Customers use social media to communicate with businesses and expect responses to be made promptly. Failing to check social media sites can result in customer dissatisfaction.

Developing a Professional Website

A professional website does not mean complex or expensive per se. In fact, a small business should create a website that is well laid out, easy to navigate and engages the target audience.
Small businesses drive website traffic with the following:

  • Demonstrate Value: Keep the language clear and easy to read. Avoid industry jargon and focus on the benefits of your products and services.
  • Mobile Design: Allow customers to visit your website from any location with mobile and tablet version.
  • Frequent Updates: Websites that are active with frequent updates are heavily favored by search engines. Consider adding a blog to your website and publishing content on a regular basis.

Local Business Search Optimization

Local business search sites are a powerful tool for allowing customers to find your business online. These are websites that provide reviews and other information about businesses, such as Superpages, Yelp, Citysearch etc. In addition to submitting a website to major search engines, find business directories that will help potential customers find you online.

  • Provide details: Add as much relevant content in your listing as possible, including contact information, link to your website, photos, videos and the products or services the business offers.
  • Update information: Remove any out dated content, such as old contact information.
  • Niche directories: Local directories that are relevant to your business can provide better results. These directories also appeal to an audience that is interested in your industry and will likely drive more traffic to a website.
  • Build over time: Avoid submitting to as many directories as possible all at once. Search engines look unfavorably on businesses that just spam directories.