December 21, 2009

5 Ways to Use Social Media for Customer Service

You may be aware of Twitter, the 140 character news and status channel where Twitterers around the world are over-sharing what they’re doing. Hopefully you’ve already set up a business account and are actively using Twitter Search to mine for product and service mentions, and taking advantage of the platform as a customer service resource. If you’re not, you’re missing a huge opportunity to connect with an ever-growing population of consumers and professionals who respond well to Twittering companies with a purpose.

Here are 5 additional simple ways, some obvious and some obscure, to help small businesses leverage social media to provide stellar customer service. The social web is a place for everyone, but with the right tips, tricks and tools, savvy small businesses can redefine the nature of customer service. Read more >>

December 15, 2009

5 Advanced Social Media Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

Social media marketing and the businesses that utilize it have become more sophisticated. More small businesses are beginning to understand how to best leverage online tools to build a community and recognize that engagement and interaction are the foundations of social marketing, but most don’t know what’s next.

What follows are five advanced strategies for small businesses that may already have small online communities and understand how to create an online presence, but don’t know what to do next. Read more >>

December 3, 2009

Social Media Course for FREE!

Social Media FREE course for Beginners!


December 1, 2009

The best of the best on Facebook and Twitter – Do you agree?


Facebook

Best Facebook App

- Mousehunt
- Ghost Trappers
- FarmVille
- PackRat
- Pet Society
- Battle Stations
- Eyesores
- Mafia Wars
- Restaurant City
- Fish Wrangler

Read more >>

November 19, 2009

STUDY: Most Fortune 100 Companies Don’t Get Twitter

In August we reported that a large number of Fortune 100 companies have embraced Twitter, but how well are they actually using it? A study released today (PDF) by Weber Shandwick says the answer is not very well, and that the majority of Fortune 100 companies don’t really get Twitter. Though 73 of 100 companies had at least one registered Twitter account (up from 54 reported in an unrelated study released in August), the majority of them weren’t using Twitter effectively to engage their followers, weren’t tweeting often, and didn’t display any personality in their tweets, according to the study.

One major result of this ineffective use seems to be low engagement from followers. Out of the 540 total Twitter (Twitter) accounts registered by Fortune 100 companies, 50 percent of the accounts had fewer than 500 followers and another 15 percent weren’t being used at all. Read more >>

November 18, 2009

Keys to building quality relationships and things to avoid

I could go on and on for hours about how people abuse relationships because I am sooo passionate about the topic. Within Internet Marketing, I have developed some solid relationships with and would work with them, partner with them, and/or hang out with them at the drop of a dime. The problem here is that there are people that don’t understand there is big difference between someone that is a contact vs. someone that you have established a relationship with and the value of that relationship. Read more >>

November 12, 2009

The Ultimate Guide for Everything Twitter

Twitter Basics

twittericon

If you had no idea what Twitter was walking into this article, we’re going to start you off at the very beginning. To sign up for Twitter, go to twitter.com and click on “Get Started – Join!”. Fill out the information and voila – you have your own Twitter account. I set up two accounts; one on my personal name, and one for my business. It’s important to grab your names before someone else does, even if you don’t plan on using the account for a while.

twitter

Read more >>

October 29, 2009

The Most Common Social Networking Mistakes

skydiverMany businesses these days are venturing into the Wild West of social media, trying their hand at things like blogging and Twitter and creating profiles on social-networking sites. But along the way they’re making lots of mistakes.

These mistakes shouldn’t be taken lightly. How your business is perceived in the Web 2.0 world will affect your reputation and your ability to connect with customers, associates and potential customers. (Who wants to hire a company that can’t even manage an engaging, thought-provoking blog?) Read more >>

October 27, 2009

ABC of Online Networking

We all know that online networking is important, but for those just getting started it’s a huge landscape to navigate. Where do you invest your energy first? How do you choose the channels most beneficial for you? When do you make the crossover from virtual connections to handshakes?

Below I attempted to make sense of it all in the easiest lineage I could—the alphabet. For those just getting started, I suggest taking a peak and making sure you are hitting the majority of these in some capacity—and for those online networking leaders I suggest taking a peak and making sure your ego didn’t accidentally blind you from the basics. (hey, its been known to happen ) This list includes sites, people, engines, applications, and tips on how to best research, establish and network yourself online. Read more >>