Smart Simple Marketing - Practical Strategies for Creating a Highly Successful Service Business » Social Media

Best Apps for Optimizing Your Facebook Fan Page

Sydni Craig-Hart — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:18:44 +0000

If you're using Facebook Business Pages to drive traffic to your website (which should be the goal of the page), you're likely quite interested in keeping up with the latest and greatest applications to help you get the most of out of this tool.

My friend Kristine Maveus-Evenson, President of Capture Hits, shared this great list of recommended apps that I want to pass along to you:

Static HTML (tabs 1-12) -- She likes this one because you can simply drop/insert HTML
JotForm -- No coding needed. Easiest way to add a capture form, though you won't get email list management.
Pinterest tab -- Offers easy sharing of your Pinterest board. (She's a Pinterest junkie and really likes this app, especially if you sell products with images!)
Wildfire -- For handling contests
Ecwid and InstanteStore -- FB friendly carts/ecommerce that works with a website and FB
PostPlanner -- Allows scheduling of posts to FB Page/group within FB. Haven't seen it impact Edgerank the way 3rd party apps do.
Booshaka -- For Fan of the Week. Why she likes this one? Stats! Great info about top fans and their engagement.
Forum for Pages -- Creates a tab to have threaded discussions exactly like a forum. Love this to keep the wall clean for engagement and the forum to talk about topics, provide support, etc.
Fotobabble -- Allows lots of engagement (one of her favorites) because fans can upload photos -- such as "show us how you use our product" -- and make it a fun contest to get engagement.
Coupon for Pages -- Allows/encourages sharing of coupons from fans to their friends.
Networked Blogs OR RSS for Pages -- 2 different apps that bring your blog into FB easily
YouTube for Pages -- Highlights new videos (or selected videos) you add to your YT channel.
FAQ tab -- Allows a section to capture questions and created a searchable database of FAQ.
Lujure - Great for customizing apps, particularly if you want to pull in content from elsewhere online. Easy to add images (eg. logo) to assist with branding. Love the hotspot function and drag, drop and resize nature of its features. $30 per month min buy in.
Shortstack - Easy template driven app builder with loads of options for customizing. Free basic sign up which is sufficient if only managing one Page and simple apps. This is where she sends beginners for their first attempt at DIY. Notice tabs a little slow to load at times, but so are all aren't they?

You can search for any of these apps by typing the name in search box inside your Facebook account and then following the steps indicated.

Personally, we've been using Static HTML and Networked Blogs for a while now with great results. I'm eager to try out the others and report back to you on my experience and the results. Which of these apps have you added to your Business Page? And with what result? Do tell by sharing your thoughts below!

Solutions For Your Productivity Challenges

Sydni Craig-Hart — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:00:42 +0000

I’m happy to announce that I am one of 7 experts taking part in The Productive Business Owner Telesummit, Oct. 17-21 (http://smartsimplemarketing.com/pbo). We each take a different approach but will all share solid information that can immediately be implemented for increased productivity.

Some of the things the speakers will share:

5 Simple Tips for Better Results on Facebook

Sydni Craig-Hart — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 21:00:34 +0000

I literally just hung up with my coach and wanted to share some insights on how you can gain better results with your Facebook Fan Page.

As I'm sure you've noticed Facebook is constantly changing their landscape and how the features work. So, what worked 6 months ago to engage your audience probably isn't working anymore.

Admittedly, I haven't done the best job of engaging my audience on my Facebook page, but I'm excited that I'm taking steps to correct this. Thus, I want to pass forward the quick lessons I learned today so that if you have a Facebook Fan Page, you can make some simple tweaks to start creating better connections with your audience:

Build More Trust Using Social Media

Sydni Craig-Hart — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 01:00:50 +0000

Want to get more customers and earn more loyal fans? Social media marketing could be a great addition to your marketing mix. This method of marketing can help you promote your solutions to your ideal customers. Using Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and other social media sites allows you to interact with and build a relationship with your audience in real time. You can take communication between individuals and turn it into an interactive, community experience.

Social media builds trust – and it can build it faster than traditional forms of media. For example, you may be familiar with email marketing, email newsletters and different types of broadcasts that are sent via email. It can take you weeks, months or even longer to develop relationships with those people using email marketing. Although the relationship develops over time, it can be a little slower than you anticipate.

Social Media Mistakes You Should Avoid

Sydni Craig-Hart — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:00:58 +0000

Social media is becoming more and more of an essential tool for businesses of all sizes. But unfortunately, due to the newness of the medium and a lot of accompanying misleading hype, many businesses are led astray. Either due to their own misguided social media attempts or using bad advice from inexperienced “social media experts”, businesses are making mistakes left and right.

If you’re confused by how to use social media to grow your business or are worried about your social media usage, make sure to avoid these three common mistakes:

Mistake #1 – Putting too much value in social media.

Putting all of your business eggs in the social media basket is never a good idea. Social media can definitely have an positive impact on your bottom line – but it’s a tool to be used in one part of your overall marketing plan. Don’t invest time in social media to the downfall of the rest of your plan. You need to incorporate social media into your overall inbound marketing strategy and make sure that it coordinates with the rest of your efforts. This means having high quality, relevant content to promote, an informative, easy to navigate website to send your contacts to and a plan for following up with leads. Many businesses make the mistake of growing their Twitter followers or pumping up their Facebook presence and ignoring their other marketing responsibilities. Social media is important, but a small part of the overall picture – be sure to create balance in your business for best results.

Mistake #2 – Using social media haphazardly.

Social media is easy to start – spend just a few minutes signing up and you can have an account ready to go. But just because it’s easy to get started doesn’t mean that you should use it just as nonchalantly. Many business owners get a cold splash of reality when they realize that their midnight updates or inconsistent posting schedule aren’t getting them the results that they want. Don’t jump into social media without having specific goals in mind. Focusing on specific strategies to achieve your goals will keep you from getting distracted, avoiding precious time or wasting valuable financial resources. If the tool of social media is used without strategy, it won’t be very effective at all.

Mistake #3 – Focusing too much on the sale.

Consumers *choose* to be on social media networks – they don’t have to be. And they won’t follow you or look forward to your updates if you’re too focused on selling to them. Selling on social media should be a side benefit to the real goal – building a relationship with your target market. If you do nothing but pitch your products and ask people to buy your product or service, you are going to repel the very people you're trying to attract. Balance your sales pitches with helpful information, and you’ll have a winning combination for social media.

Avoiding these social media mistakes will help to position you as a resource that your audience can trust. This will allow you to develop strong relationships that will support your revenue goals for years to come.

Top 5 Reasons Why Social Media is an Essential Tool

Sydni Craig-Hart — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:00:08 +0000

Social media – it’s one of the most overhyped words in online marketing – so much so that many service professionals have thrown the baby out with the bath water and given up. However, when you learn to use social media consistently and correctly it can be a great boon to your business.

Here are five reasons why social media should be an essential part of your marketing toolbox:

Social media is here to stay!
Social media has grown exponentially in the past few years, but few realize the sheer speed at which it’s grown. Food for thought – it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users and it took television 13 years to do the same. Facebook doubled that amount in less than nine months – they added 100 million users in less than a year! So many people are involved, it’s impossible to ignore any longer.

Social media is simple to learn.
Unlike other forms of marketing online that require a lot of technical details and understanding, social media is relatively easy to implement once you learn the basics. It’s just a matter of defining your message, finding your audience and spreading the word. And most importantly, being social!

Social media can connect you directly with your target market.
Small business owners are always looking for ways to meet the needs of their market – and there’s no better way to do that than through social media. It might take months or years to develop a relationship with a member of your target market via email marketing. But social media is like personal networking on hyperdrive. You can connect with your market in real-time on issues that they care about and become part of their trusted network of friends and advisors.

Social media helps build consistency.
When it comes to marketing your business online, consistency is key. Inconsistent marketing efforts will produce disappointing results. Fortunately, social media makes it easier than ever before to be consistent with marketing. You can set up your updates ahead of time – a week at a time – and let them run automatically. This consistent presence helps build your brand and produces better results.

Social media makes businesses more personable and approachable.
Other forms of online marketing can put layers between you and your ideal customers. But with social media – you’re right there! You get to see what they are up to, what they are reading and what they care about, and they get to know you too. It’s win-win!

What does this mean for your business? When used correctly, social media can create more visibility, opportunity and profits for your business. Take the time to research your target market and see how they are interacting on social media so that you can determine how best to use this tool to achieve your goals.

Protect Your Readers and Yourself When Blogging

Sydni Craig-Hart — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:00:04 +0000

Blogging about your business is by far one of the best strategies for driving traffic to your website, educating your target market and connecting with ideal prospects.

However it's important to think about setting realistic expectation for your readers, as well as protecting your business interests while you are freely expressing your thoughts.

This quick article by Mashable highlights a few critical points all of us bloggers should take note of as we strive to add value to the marketplace and grow our businesses.

http://mashable.com/2011/06/16/blog-legal-tips/

Networking Tips for Introverts – 6 Easy Steps

Sydni Craig-Hart — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:19:01 +0000

Let's face it. Not everyone loves networking. For some the very thought makes them queasy.

Yet, inherently, most service professionals know that effective networking is often the fastest path to generating more cash for their business. So if you are on of those who would rather do yourself bodily harm then attend a networking event, what are you supposed to do?

I found this article, written by writing coach Ali Luke, to be insightful and extremely practical:

http://www.dumblittleman.com/2011/06/six-easy-networking-tips-for-introverts.html

Especially the point about not over-analyzing what did or didn't happen. It's really easy to be your own worst critic, but being too hard on yourself will only undermine your efforts to grow your business. Instead, strive to work with your personality and become an effective networker while pushing the boundaries of your comfort level.

Check out Ali's article and let me know what you think by posting a comment below.

Marketing a Service Business with No Marketing Budget

Sydni Craig-Hart — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:00:21 +0000

Marketing a service business will inquire an investment of your time and financial resources. What if you don't have a lot of money to spend on marketing? Now what? Does that mean you simply cannot market your service business and your only hope is waiting on the sidelines for someone to hire you? Not at all! Today is the day you learn that marketing a service business with a minimal budget is not only possible, it's easier than you think.

One of the first steps in marketing a service business is to get your branding in place. Make sure your business name, your tag line and your logo are all connected – that they send a consistent, positive and results focused message. Your brand is what prospective clients will remember you by. You've only got a few seconds to make a first impression, especially online, so make sure you have your ducks in a row -- everything about your brand should be clear, concise and consistent.

Once you have these critical elements in place, it's time to use them. The most important thing you need, once you have a brand, is a social proof. You need to be able to showcase how others have benefited from working with you. If you have a contact who will recommend you to their colleagues and friends, you have the beginnings of a client base. If you are just starting out your business and don't have any success stories to share, you need to create some.

I'm not advocating that you do anything unethical here. Don't make up a testimonial or pay your Mom to write one for you. Instead, offer a sample of your services free of charge to a friend or acquaintance in exchange for their positive feedback. (Obviously you have to over-deliver on what you promised!) Post the testimonial and their headshot on your website and you have just begun marketing your business! Repeat that action a few of times and your success stories will start shaping up.

OK, so you have a little branding set up and you have a testimonial or two. Now it's time to get out there and make yourself known. Leveraging social media is a great way to do this! Here are a few tips to get you started:

Get social- create a page on Facebook, a profile on LinkedIn and a bio on Twitter. Schedule 30 minutes each day to update your profiles, connect with ideal prospects and participate in conversations. Your goal is to share helpful information that relates to your services and positions you as an expert, but be careful to , not go into sales mode. Let folks know who you are and how you have the answers to their problems. Don't just tell them you have the answers- give away a little bit of your expertise and show them you have the answers.
LinkedIn is another great site to use for marketing your service business. This site is excellent for connecting with people you know- former employers, colleagues, college connections- and they can set you up with other people they know.
Getting great results with social media marketing is all about being strategic in your efforts. This means you want to spend your time on sites where your target market hangs out, engage others in conversations and get to know then and then follow up with them to expand your network.
Don't get caught in the trap of spending TOO much time on social media sites. It's easy to lose hours posting and connecting to people. Set a timer if you need to. Accomplish your goal and then move on with the next part of your day.

Marketing your service business without a budget really is possible. It just takes time, effort and some creativity to show ideal prospects who you are and how you can help them solve their greatest challenges.

5 Proven Steps to Creating Products Your Clients Want to Buy

Sydni Craig-Hart — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:15:31 +0000

An information product (info product) is just that - bundled information on a specific topic. Instead of working with a client in a coaching, consulting or similar setting, you are documenting your expertise and providing it to them in a self-study format. An info product can be a checklist, a cheat sheet, a special report, an MP3 audio, a CD, an eBook – the possibilities are endless! (For an example, check out the FR*EE training course available on my website “5 Simple Steps to More Clients, More Visibility and More Freedom!” Any format that is appealing to your target market and allows you to share quality information is a potential for an info product.

Info products are a powerful revenue stream because they help you leverage your knowledge. Typically, you provide a service and get paid for it once. If you want to earn more, you’ll have to get more clients and provide more services. And, let's face it; there are only so many hours in the day. By creating an info product you can get paid again and again for the same information AND help more people than ever before. You also brand yourself as an expert in your field. Launching your own info product will give you greater visibility in your industry and attract more prospective clients to your practice.

Info products can also be a terrific lead generation tool for your business. Customers who purchase your product may eventually become private clients. After their purchase, you can offer them specialized opportunities to work with you personally so you can give them additional support and guidance. Once they see the benefits of your expertise in your info product, they’ll understand the value of your private services and be more likely to buy in the future.

Keep in mind that in order to sell information products you need to have a ready, waiting audience to sell them too. This means that in order to launch a product successfully you need to have a community ready to purchase what you have to offer. By regularly conducting market research and staying in tune with your customer’s wants and needs, you can be sure that you’re developing a winning product. For more on how to conduct market research for your product, read "How to Know Exactly What Your Ideal Client Needs" on my blog.

Here are five proven steps that you can follow to create your own profit-producing info product:

Select one specific problem – Your info product should be focused on solving one specific problem for your reader. Doing market research will help you identify which “hot button” issues are important to your ideal clients. Make sure that your materials are relevant to their needs and practical to apply.
Choose a low price point for your product – You want buying your product to be a “no brainer” for your audience. They should see the value that you’re offering and immediately want to purchase because it’s such a great deal.
Make your information easy to implement – Your audience will only get the benefit of what you have to offer if it’s easy for them to take action on what you share. Break down your topic into a “step-by-step” format that is easy to digest. Include photos and images to break up the content and make it simple to read. You can purchase inexpensive images from Dreamstime or iStockPhoto, or from Flickr for fr*ee (under the Creative Commons license).
Promote your product – Start with your own list and offer a preview call to share great content and launch your product. Promote the call through email marketing, via social media and through your power partners. Be sure that everyone in your network knows about the call and collect registrations so you can keep in touch with the participants going forward.
End your preview call with a strong call to action and irresistible offer to the next step – After you deliver a content-rich presentation in your preview call, let listeners know how they can take the next step with you. Offer your landing page link for your info product and make the offer irresistible! Consider giving a discount or special bonus for short period of time to motivate listeners to buy now!

Adding info products into your revenue mix is a terrific way to diversify your income and create more visibility for your business. By taking the time to create an info product geared directly to the needs of your ideal clients, you’ll be able to make more mo.ney and serve more clients than ever before!

YOUR ACTION PLAN FOR THIS WEEK

Do market research and pick one “hot button” issue that you can solve for your ideal clients with a targeted info product.
Create your product – you can create an ebook, MP3 audio recording, checklist, cheat sheet or special report. Pick a format that will help your ready to easily enjoy the benefits of what you are sharing.
Focus your product on “how to” information that your audience can take action on immediately. Step by step instructions and action plans work well.
Pre-sell your product by holding a teleseminar or webinar event. Promote the event on your email marketing list, via social media and through your power partners. Be sure to deliver great content and leave your listeners wanting more!
End your presentation with a strong call to action and let the listeners know where they can purchase your product.