Think about it, how do you make your decisions to purchase something or go somewhere new or even do something new? If you’re like me, it’s because you’ve heard some level of buzz about it and that right there is an endorsement, plus it might even sound exciting. In fact, people tend to listen to other consumers over any form of traditional advertisement from the business itself.
It’s all about relationships… at least for us.
We believe the number-one factor that will determine our success is our relationships with clients and would-be clients. They are everywhere, from that luncheon last week to the Facebook fan page, to the establishment you frequent, to gathering with friends. Everyone is a potential client. Now, it’s important to hear what I’m about to say next because I am an ANTI-SALESPERSON. It’s not about giving out your biz cards or your elevator speech to everyone at these places, it’s about showing a genuine interest in what THEY do and being a resource for them, whether or not it has anything to do with your actual business.
What’s the big deal? Why your website matters & tips for getting noticed:
By now you hopefully understand that your business should have some sort of Web presence. These days, customers and clients are looking for YOU and you need to be accessible. Putting your business in the phone book doesn’t cut it anymore and in reality, the Web has replaced these old school methods with tools like Google, Facebook and Yelp. Now we can type in key words and find exactly what we’re looking for with an abundance of information, images and reviews that give us a pretty solid impression about who we’re dealing with.
So what kind of impression are you giving people who find you? Are you even findable? Here are some surefire tips to get you noticed:
Get to know yourself all over again
When was the last time your business took a good look in the mirror since first starting out? I know, you think I’m talking crazy, but businesses are like people, who grow, change and refine their identity over time. When you started your business you probably came up with a logo and business cards and hopefully a Web site that communicated all the things you hoped your business would be… kind of like when parents dress their kids a certain way until they start dressing themselves.
Facebook is King (right now)
Yeah, I said it, but we know it’s only for right now. Google is a massive force, but that is why we should take notice of what’s happened here. For those of you who are still writing off Facebook when it comes to marketing your business or brand, maybe you should think twice. Yes, fostering a Fan Page takes time and energy, but your fans are your low hanging fruit. AND, your fans’ friends are the best kind of potential client because now you have a third party endorsement.
Neat, I think?
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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.