Tag Archives: social media

Better CRM with Custom Graphics

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CRM is software which pulls your business’ client data (veterinarians, auto shops and more) into their software accessed via a dashboard. It saves time and keeps a business connected to their clients offering reminder emails for services due, special offers and discounts and many marketing tools. Most CRM tools are reaching out to connect via text, auto CRM software offers a dongle for a car which can send info back to the shop. Should that dreaded Check Engine light flash on a call to your mechanic can determine if you need immediate help, or the issue can wait.

These CRM tools typically offer templates for the marketing media (emails, postcards, special offers, etc.). By creating custom postcards and emails you can brand your business—match to your website and equally important personalize your message and away from the cookie-cutter ads we all receive in our inbox.

Here is a series of postcards for an auto shop:


CRMMarketing Media

Stand apart from your competition with custom graphic design.

Online Reviews

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Reputation management has always been part of every business.  Online reviews have changed the playing field.  Instantly any review is live, with many platforms.

Recent statistics tell us 79% of customers trust online reviews.  Despite controversy over their legitimacy online reviews continue to gain momentum.  Consumers’ comfort is being fostered in part by businesses nurturing their online reviews and improving their internet presence.  In turn consumers use reviews as part of the information about your business in making their decision.

New businesses have sprouted offering to sell you reviews, or “Likes” on Facebook.  Yelp takes serious action against business posting fake reviews.  Don’t pay for reviews.

Yelp has broadened its scope to include not only photos, but now videos.  Clients can post a video taken at your business and upload on your listing page.  You can’t remove these.  Business owners need to be aware and perhaps set policies in place as appropriate.

Yelp has also opened its reviews to more apps and developers, which means Yelp reviews will be popping up on websites and mobile apps more and more.

If you’re feeling vulnerable take heart – there is plenty to leverage here to promote your business.

Reviews help drive your website.  People talking about your business (reviews, adding photos to your listings) catch search engines’ attention.  It’s a good way to stand out.

Managing your online reviews can be a chore.  Happy customers are wonderful and painless.  Any negative review is where you’ll spend your time.   Unfortunately unscrupulous competitors have taken to leaving negative or false reviews.  Taking a proactive approach keeps maximum control in your hands.  Responding to a negative review lets you send a positive message out to potential clients.  Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with your clients.

With so many platforms meet your clients where they are active:  Facebook, Yelp!, Google Business, Pinterest, Instagram…stay connected.

Online Reviews

Building a Stronger Online Presence

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Your website is the cornerstone of your marketing.  Keep presenting the fresh face of your business by updating photos. List new products or services; add new staff members photos and bios. Consider adding information pages or a “What’s New” page to show off your latest projects or products. If you’re ready to move beyond your cell phone camera or point and shoot camera give us a call for professional photography.  Time for a major website overhaul?  Redesign your website.

Email continues to shine as a marketing tool.  97% of cell phone users read email on their phone.  Let your website help you collect email addresses, if you’re using an email client (MailChimp, iContact, etc.) add their website widget to your desktop website, mobile site and blog.  Otherwise collect email addresses as you invoice, or have a signup sheet available.  When you’re ready to announce a special you’ll be ready.  I manage email newsletter campaigns as a service.

Social media is the choice many potential clients use to engage with businesses.  Every business needs a Facebook page and Google Business  page. Photographers and artists make use of Pinterest, Flickr; home construction or remodeling try Houzz and Pinterest; auto lovers frequent Instagram.   When you’re ready move into video and make use of YouTube, Vimeo and more.  For help read about my Webmaster Services.

97% of cell phone users go online with their phones.  The single biggest impact for your internet presence is a mobile website.  Make it easy for mobile users to receive your message.

Reach people on the platform they choose.

Read more    http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/mobile-technology-fact-sheet/

Facebook for Businesses

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The evolution of Facebook continues to be driven toward profit, now that Facebook is responsible to stock holders. The effects on businesses engaging in social media have moved from a fun and a useful tool to marketing to sluggish.

Large companies like Coca-Cola garnered over 80 million “Likes” to find Facebook didn’t result in a change in sales; it’s just a place for people who already like their product to let them know. But the value has been a way to reach your client base and reach out to them – engage, engage, engage.

But now Facebook has taken aim at organic page reach–resulting in a mere to 1 or 2 percent reach. Page Reach means the percentage of your fans seeing your posts. Nike with 16 million fans will now only reach 160,000. After aggressively marketing to the Facebook crowd, this is a huge hit for Nike. You can read the stats in your Admin panel to find out how many are seeing your posts.

Finding you are no longer reaching the very people who like you brand and want to hear from you is discouraging, but it’s the decision Facebook has made. Facebook has been changing the news feed for some time since it began adding content to your feed you never have “liked”. Now, you will hear more from those you haven’t liked and not all the posts from those you have liked.

For small businesses the value of Facebook – is for appearances and those posts which do get into feeds. Don’t give up. Adjust with the new change. You want to maintain your Facebook page for the future, as it continues to change, but it’s safe, for now, to give it a lower priority.

Facebook and Selling

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Social media remains difficult to track  – “Is it working?” Despite that businesses can’t ignore 500 million people on Facebook alone,and social media is not going away. Your business needs to find a way to engage.

The value of social media is not in the selling, but brand awareness and building loyalty – making a connection.  The small business is no less disadvantaged than the major retailer, which is the good news.  Studies are showing fans who seek out your Facebook page on their own will be loyal to your brand/business. Give an opt in from your website.

We’re eager to sell, but the best run Facebook pages aren’t filled with product – but stories, information, help hints and questions. Getting user comments and postings is the goal. Polls and games ending with an ad are strategies, but if you are short on time – simply post, ask a question – get opinions. 

While selling through social media is still a huge challenge – factor it into your business plan as a cost of doing business. Stay ahead of your competitors – who aren’t using Facebook!