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Someone referred me to www.howsociable.com for online “stats.” I was intrigued, but wasn’t quite sure what to make of it when I got in there and was given a number for the Liquis visibility score. We were given a 34, but out of what and what does that mean? Don’t get me wrong, it was totally fun to see those little twinkling circles in anticipation of my result… kind of like that feeling you get when tallying up your results for one of those silly magazine quizzes. But, just like the latter, I was met with disappointment at the realization that it isn’t real.
Why us, why now?
After reading Seth’s Blog post that poses the questions, “Why us, why now?” … It got me thinking. According to Seth, those questions are the only thing between you and a sale. Really? I never really thought about it that way before. Then I started to think, what is it about Liquis that has kept us in the game? More importantly, what is it about us that has resulted in an especially busy season for us currently? Here’s what I came up with…
My takeaways from Social Media AZ #SMAZ
I truly walked away from the #SMAZ event a smarter person. I’ve been using and working with social media since before all the hype, but with the hype, comes LOTS more to keep up on. Here are some of my key takeaways from Social Media AZ (#SMAZ). Also, if you attended the event or can add to my notes below, please do so!
Generational Profiling
It sounds so negative, but it could be useful. Ponder your brand for a second. What does it mean to you? What do you think it means to others? Then think about how the four Ps of marketing (product, promotion, price and placement) fit into your audience perception. Did you ever consider that each generation will relate to your brand differently, and thus, your marketing and promotional efforts as well?
Measuring social media efforts
Measuring the impact of how social media affects your business profits or brand reputation could very well be the most sought after report of any business in a time when viral buzz = sales.
Not long ago public relations efforts were solely gauged by press clippings from good old fashioned mags and rags and then calculations involving the publication’s circulation stats gave you numbers of impressions. Now, with a large part of publicity efforts being focused on social media, how the heck can you gauge results at all? Well, like any clipping report, it’s not going to be 100 percent accurate, but I think someone is going to think of something to get it pretty darn close… According to David Berkowitz, we’re already there.
Best Free File Sharing Tool Around – Dropbox.com
I have recently installed the Dropbox file sharing tool and it has continues to blow me away. Dropbox is easy to set up and very easy to use, and too good not to share! So let’s get into it…
Developing a visual brand with a plan
You know what a vision board is, right? Well, the great thing about a vision board is that it’s a visual representation of all your hopes and dreams and when you look at it frequently, you become subconsciously focused. Although most often used for obtaining personal goals, this concept can also be applied to companies in order to realize their brand and direction. more…
Cool tools for electronic and social media tracking
If you’re our fan on Facebook or get our Quarterly Liquiscene newsletter, you have already been tuned into this, but I think it’s just too good not to share again here.
There are some really neat tools out there that can help you find out what cyberspace is saying about you, your business, your product or anything else that pertains to your work. Utilizing these tools are a great way to discover public opinion as well as give you the opportunity to respond to conversations that involve you.
Social Media for Business
A lot of people are on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and more, but what a lot of people don’t know is that these can all be very valuable business tools. The point of social media is to be, well, social. You have to actively and regularly participate in the conversations and make sure to contribute your expertise as well. So what does that have to do with your business? Well, it’s building a network of relationships, and let’s face it, people tend to do business with people they know. Think of social media as a virtual game of golf with a potential client, business partner or someone who might even have something valuable to help YOU.
Beverly Kidd dishes about social media
I attended a Gangplank Brown Bag lunch presentation today given by Beverly Kidd discussing “social media through an old media lens.” She didn’t attempt to school us all on any groundbreaking social media topics, but rather gave us an inside perspective on how she has found incredible value with social media, mainly twitter.
A Million Mini Card Ideas
When I came across these mini cards I couldn’t stop thinking of cool ways Liquis and our clients could use them. The possibilities seemed endless! These mini cards come from Moo and what makes them universal is not only their size and surprising durability, but the capability to make each card unique with a different design.
Brand messaging that talks back
It used to be that when I ordered fast food, I received what I wanted (hopefully) in a rather plain paper bag with little more than the franchise’s logo. Today though, it seems the formerly quiet bag is talking back to us. Witty and humorous, the packaging lends itself to possessing its own unique personality.
What makes a good newsletter?
Well, first it takes a good audience. I do not recommend purchasing a list and spamming the heck out of them. If you’re just starting out, ask current clients and contacts if they’d be interested in receiving your newsletter. If your newsletter has been around a while, let people sign up themselves via your Web site or other means.
Are business cards still important?
Remarkablogger
When I get a business card, I generally jot down a few notes on the back about how I met the person, possibly their twitter name and even some characteristics that will help me remember them later or provide a conversation starter should we ever touch base again. Then I throw it away.
Buzz words are bad
Whether you are a small business and wear both the internal and external communications hats or you are a hotshot in corporate America, ponder this for a moment…
No one is listening to you! Okay, I take that back. No one is listening to you if you are speaking to them in the verbal vomit that is buzz words. Buzz words are an automatic turnoff and most of the time words like ROI and synergy sound more like bla bla bla. more…