Technology is always pushing us!
- At January 11, 2013
- By jeffs
- In business, Cell Phones, Search Engines, SEO, Social Media
0
It is really no secret that “Cloud” based services and mobile devises (Tablets) will rule in 2013. Here is are some more thoughts on what you can expect in 2013. Give us a call if you would like help with your online marketing.
Technology trends come and go but some are here to stay. Small business owners should expect to further embrace mobility, social media and cloud computing in the New Year, according to technology experts.
“We expect to see significant growth in cloud servers and cloud storage,” says Nick Pegley, vice president of All Covered IT Services from Konica Minolta. “The use of mobile devices is also growing significantly and helps in disasters too. If your desktop is in a damaged building, you can still use your smartphone or tablet to access data.”
In the wake of superstorm Sandy business owners are placing a greater emphasis on business continuity planning and Pegley expects more of that in 2013.
“More companies, even ones outside of the North East, are getting serious about protecting their company data from major external impacts,” says Pegley. “That includes backup strategies, procedures for dealing with office closures and communications plans for employees.”
Smartphone Popularity Continues
In the last couple of years smartphone sales have started to exceed PC sales, which demonstrates that people are using their mobile phones for more than making phone calls.
“Smartphones and tablets will be leveraged more heavily as businesses move beyond using them just for simple communications,” says Mike Pugh, vice president of marketing for j2 Global, a cloud services provider for small businesses. “Business systems, such as CRM, will go mobile enabling teams to input and access sales information on-the-go, driving higher levels of communication and productivity.”
Mobile apps will also become more prevalent for small businesses in the New Year, enabling them to be more connected, productive and use those moments of time that would be wasted if it weren’t for mobility, says Pugh.
Because the popularity of mobile devices and apps will continue to grow, small businesses will see more of a need to have a mobile-friendly Website. “Having a web presence is no longer enough,” says Jerry Nettuno, founder and CEO of Schedulicity, the online appointment scheduling service for small businesses. “Mobile users are increasingly using smartphones and tablets to research local businesses.”
Social Media ROI Will Be Examined
If 2012 was the year small businesses came to realization they had to embrace social media, 2013 will be the year they start focusing on a return on investment for their efforts, predicts Nettuno.
According to Nettuno, this year the small business conversation focused on getting the most for your investment will heat up.
“Small business owners will increasingly evaluate questions such as: Should I track website visitors or blog readers? Monitor analytics on Twitter or Facebook? Track comments, re-tweets or followers?,” said Nettuno. “Small businesses will focus on leveraging new tools, such as the new social media reports introduced by Google Analytics in 2012, to measure the value of their social media efforts.”
Cloud Adoption Explodes
For some time now small businesses have been hearing about all the virtues of taking their business into the cloud. In 2013 they will finally start listening. According to j2, in 2013 small businesses faced with increased competition and less than stellar economy will look to the cloud to save them money and boost their sales. Because of that experts predict there will be an explosion of cloud usage by small businesses.
“Cloud computing is coming of age,” says Pegley. “One of the advantages of cloud based storage is the ability to access company data even if the usual office environment is not available. It can be the difference between being able to carry on business and being closed for business.”
Small business owners can benefit greatly from other companies research.
- At January 9, 2013
- By jeffs
- In business, How To, News & Updates
- 0
Here are some great tips
to help supercharge your business this year.
Want to increase your chances of converting new leads? Want to improve your blog content and grow your readership? Want to capitalize on your sales trends from 2012? If you’re looking for insights about those topics, this week’s 5 on Friday can help.
1. How to Spot Trends in Your Business and Turn Them Into Profits
What did your customers buy more of or less of in 2012? Who were your best customers in 2012? Rieva Lesonsky shares tips that can help you learn from the past year . . . and grow your business in 2013.
2. 5 Content Ideas That Never Grow Old – and 5 That Grow Old Fast
Do your blog posts help to generate leads? Do you publish both evergreen and timely content? Get some creative ideas from Monika Jansen.
3. 7 Quick Tips to Optimize Your Content for Search
Is it easy for prospects to find your content online? Are you optimizing your images, videos, and social posts? Here’s a handy checklist from Monika Jansen.
4. Want to Make the Sale? Don’t Wait Another Minute
Looking for ways to optimize your lead conversion? You’ll get practical tips from Rieva Lesonsky based on a recent Leads360 report.
5. 7 Top Blogging Tips From the Pros
Want to take your blogging to the next level? Monika Jansen shares her favorite tips from a Social Media Examiner article.
Have other sales, search, or content tips for readers? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Avoid small business traps
- At January 7, 2013
- By jeffs
- In business, News & Updates
- 0
Traditional Spending Habits That Can Drive Your Small Business into the Ground
Like most small business owners, you probably can’t remember the last time that you took a vacation. In this weak economy, you simply can’t afford to put your business on the back burner for any amount of time. Money is far too tight. Even if you’re watching your organization’s revenues and expenditures like a hawk, you’re still probably looking for ways to trim its budget, and even marginally increase your after-tax earnings.
To lay the groundwork for sustainable profit growth, you’ll need to go through your business’s finances with a fine-toothed comb. Over the past two decades, certain technological advances and cultural changes have dramatically altered the country’s economic landscape. To position your business to take advantage of these trends, you’ll need to do away with its most counterproductive spending habits. Use these five smart-spending tips to start moving your small business forward.
Reduce Your Hardware Footprint
If you’re like most small business owners, you probably don’t devote very much thought to your business’s overhead expenses. After all, the costs associated with your building’s power, Internet service and rent are more or less fixed. There’s no point in trying to change things that you can’t control.
Then again, you could have some control over your overhead costs. Depending upon how much power your business consumes, you may be able to slash your organization’s electricity bills by hundreds of dollars each year without making undue sacrifices. Modern laptops and tablets use far less power compared to old-fashioned desktop computers. What’s more, laptops are typically cheaper, faster and more compact than desktops, and can result in savings well over 50%. Each time one of your business’s old desktops wears out, replace it with a laptop or tablet.
Rein in Your Printing Expenses
Printer cartridges are expensive and environmentally-unfriendly. In fact, Xerox asserts that from 1991-2008 the company recycled 2 billion pounds of spent toner cartridges. Whether you use an old-fashioned ink jet or a fancy new laser printer, you’re probably not happy with your current printing costs. Fortunately, most cartridge manufacturers and retailers participate in cartridge recycling programs. These serve dual purposes: They can reduce your ink or toner costs and may keep millions of non-biodegradable cartridges out of the country’s landfills each year.
There are a few different ways to recycle your ink toner for great results. Major office supply stores like Staples and Office Depot offer in-store rebates of $2 to $3 per used cartridge. Dedicated cartridge wholesalers offer even more robust programs that permit business owners to exchange their unusable cartridges for an equal number of freshly-recycled devices.
Get Comfortable with Inbound Marketing
Most business gurus recommend retaining an inbound marketing specialist to craft your inbound marketing strategy and attract new customers to your business. Unfortunately, this can cost unseemly amounts of money and may take months to produce tangible results. If you’re worrying about the cost of your printer ink, you probably can’t afford to add yet another expensive service to your ledger.
However, you can afford to perform many key inbound marketing functions on your own. While you may need to outsource a few specialized tasks, the contractors with whom you’ll work won’t cost nearly as much as an inbound marketing specialist.
First, make each visitor to your website an offer that he or she can’t refuse. Commission an e-book or white paper that outlines your business’s mission or provides useful, industry-specific tips and offer it to your customers for free. Once they’ve gotten a taste of what your business can do for them, your customers will be more likely to purchase your products or services. Next, start putting out a weekly or monthly e-newsletter to supplement your daily blog posts. You’ll probably need a dedicated writer for this job. Finally, rewrite your website’s content to make it appealing to visitors and friendly to search engines. To ensure that this is done correctly, you might want to hire an SEO specialist on a contract basis.
Make Friends with Affiliates
When it’s employed correctly, affiliate marketing has the potential to increase your business’s visibility in dramatic fashion and earn you loads of money in the process. Thousands of enterprising webmasters are constantly on the lookout for promising new businesses with which to affiliate. These marketing experts are especially fond of businesses that offer high-end products or subscription services. If your customers often sign up for subscriptions or payment plans, you may be able to entice elite marketers by offering them ongoing “residual” cuts of your revenue.
As long as your affiliate marketing program offers competitive rates for new leads, you’ll be able to rely on a steady supply of well-trafficked websites to hawk your products and services. Every time an interested visitor clicks on your affiliate’s link, they’ll be directed to your landing page or e-store. Most affiliate programs enjoy high conversion rates and require little ongoing effort.
5. Hire Slowly, Contract Liberally
Your small business can’t function without workers. However, it might be able to function without full-time employees. These days, many low-margin businesses rely on contract workers to perform repetitive tasks or work on time-sensitive projects. Contractors tend to be hired for short, fixed terms and are usually paid flat fees for specific amounts of work.
Many contractors are talented professionals who can’t find steady employment due to the rough economy. If you’re looking to revamp your website or start a spin-off blog, consider contracting with a freelance programmer or blogger to do the job competently and cheaply. Alternatively, you could hire a new employee on a temporary basis and dangle the promise of full-time employment after a fixed probationary period. If circumstances change and the temporary employee does not meet your requirements, you can always choose not to proceed with the hire.
Thousands of American small businesses have used these money-saving tips to strengthen their bottom lines. In fact, many small businesses that have successfully reduced their overhead costs and established productive relationships with marketing affiliates aren’t so small anymore. Yours could be next in line for the big time. Make this dream into a reality by jettisoning your old-fashioned spending habits and building a leaner, brighter business.
Jessica Bosari, Contributor
This article is available online at:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/moneywisewomen/2013/01/04/traditional-spending-habits-that-can-drive-your-small-business-into-the-ground/
New Website ARS Heating and Cooling, LLC
- At January 4, 2013
- By jeffs
- In New Website, News & Updates
- 1
We have just completed a website for a new client ARS Heating and Cooling, LLC
ARS Heating and Cooling, LLC (formerly Andy’s Repair Service) is a third-generation, family owned and operated Heating, air conditioning and plumbing, installation and repair company located in New Jersey. Serving Warren, Morris, and Sussex counties since 1950.
Certified Heating and Air Conditioning Installation & Service
Top 10 Heads Of State On Twitter.
- At January 1, 2013
- By jeffs
- In News & Updates, Political, Security, Social Media, Twitter
- 0
- PRESIDENT OBAMA again maintained the top spot of all world leaders, with a vast 24 million followers, adding 15 million followers in one year. 2012 was an election year, therefore, the Twitter account continued to be managed by the presidential campaign staff. Obama continued to occasionally post his own tweets, signed with his initials. The 2012 re-election of President Obama broke several Twitter records. Following the news that he had been declared the winner, Obama’s account sent out the tweet: “Four more years” along with a photo of himself and the First Lady, which became the most retweeted tweet of all time. Throughout the day, more than 31 million election-related Tweets were sent out, creating the most tweeted-about event in U.S. political history. https://twitter.com/BarackObama
- PRESIDENT HUGO CHÁVEZ OF VENEZUELA grew his account by two million followers and maintained the #2 spot, although he had 20 million less followers than President Obama in 2012. When he found himself fighting an election campaign from his sick bed in Cuba, Twitter became his main tool for communicating with the electorate, a tool predominantly used for challenging his opponent and fighting the rampant rumors about his ill-health. There’s no doubt that Twitter had a hand in rallying his 3.8 million followers to secure his re-election in October. https://twitter.com/chavezcandanga
- In 2012, PRESIDENT ABDULLAH GÜL OF TURKEY increased his following by over 2 million people. An early adopter of Twitter, he tweets mainly in Turkish but important statements are also made in English. Following his visit in 2012 to Silicon Valley he tweeted, “This is the first time a Turkish president travels to this region of the U.S. Here is where technology that changes our lives is born.” https://twitter.com/cbabdullahgul
- QUEEN RANIA, THE QUEEN CONSORT OF THE KING OF JORDAN, grew her account by over one million followers despite the fact that she continued to scale back her public activities since facing criticism that she was playing too prominent a role in “running Jordan.” On her Twitter account, followed by more than two million people, she describes herself as “a mum and a wife with a really cool day job.” https://twitter.com/QueenRania
- A fresh entry into the top ten in 2012 was RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV. He chooses to tweet in his native language and in English, with separate accounts for each. In 2010, a personal account in the president’s name was established in both languages and currently his Russian language @MedvedevRussia has the largest following. Following this trend, 2012 saw several other leaders open Twitter accounts in both their native language and English in order to reach a larger audience. These leaders are the prime ministers of Japan, Thailand, and Kazakhstan, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey; and the governments of Serbia and Montenegro.https://twitter.com/MedvedevRussiaE
- PRESIDENT DILMA ROUSEFF OF BRAZIL remained at spot #6 in 2012. At the time of her election in 2011 she had already 330,000 followers and while her activity dwindled after the election, her account continued to gain followers, indicating a desire on the part of the people of Brazil to connect with their leader. https://twitter.com/dilmabr
- When ARGENTINEAN PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNÁNDEZ DE KIRCHNER appeared on Twitter in 2010, Argentine politics were utterly transformed as Twitter was quickly established as the central battleground between politicians and citizens. During the re-election of Chávez in 2012, the Argentine president sent five messages in quick succession, congratulating Venezuela with “Your victory is also ours.”https://twitter.com/CFKArgentina
- COLOMBIA’S PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS was new to the Top 10 in 2012. At number 8, President Santos’ had grown his followers by well over 1 million since 2011. When the previous president Álvaro Uribe handed on the presidency to Santos, he expected his former defense minister to continue his policies. Uribe became a fixture on Twitter, proclaiming his record on security, education and helping the poor. As President Santos began to make it clear that he had his own agenda for Colombia in 2012, the tweets got tougher — today the president must stay attuned to Uribe’s tweets and respond to his citizens accordingly. https://twitter.com/JuanManSantos
- Remaining in the top ten in 2012 even though the country elected a brand new leader, is PRESIDENT ENRIQUE PEÑA NIETOIN OF MEXICO, in December. His tweet on election day, “Now is the time to start a new stage of work, for the good of Mexico,” was widely shared. https://twitter.com/EPN
- HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH MOHAMMED, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UAE AND RULER OF DUBAI ranked #10 of the world leaders using Twitter. In 2012 His Highness Sheikh Mohammed gained 910,000 followers in just one year to surpass 1 million followers. In a recent study, he was ranked as the second most connected Twitter user in the country. He regularly shared his thoughts, future plans, attended events and various achievements. Some saw his tweets as “an image of equality, encouragement and comfortable interaction with citizens.” On the sixth anniversary as Ruler of Dubai he tweeted: “I don’t wish to be celebrated personally. Instead, each year, a deserving group in our society shall be recognised. Last year, we celebrated the orphans. This year, we shall celebrate mothers, the force behind all our successes.” https://twitter.com/HHShkMohd
Welcome Back to Google Maps
- At December 26, 2012
- By jeffs
- In Cell Phones, News & Updates, Tiips
- 0
Google Maps already No. 1 among free iPhone apps.
If you were like me I dreaded the thought of updating my Iphone and loosing google maps. I had become completely dependent on my Google Maps app. When I did have to switch to Apple Maps I was shocked and frustrated just how bad it was. My opinion of apple products will be lower forever after tying to get used to Apples version of maps.
Thanks to CNET for clarification.
Google Maps didn’t take long to capture the top spot among free iPhone apps.
Driving back into iTunes earlier today, the app had already reached first place after the first several hours. It’s also garnered close to 8,000 reviews at this point, almost all of them earning five stars.
(Credit: Screenshot by Lance Whitney/CNET)
The new app offers all of the features that made it an iOS standard in the past but with a cleaner look and feel.
You can search for your destination by typing or speaking it. The app handles specific addresses as well as the names of businesses and landmarks. You can also tell the app whether you’re driving, walking, or taking mass transit. In return, Google Maps provides you with spoken turn-by-turn directions.
You can quickly switch your view from traffic to public transit to satellite. In Street View mode, you can swipe your way around 360-degree panoramas of different locations.
There’s no iPad-optimized version just yet, just the one version for all iOS devices. Otherwise, the app marks a smooth return for Google to the iOS world.
Google Maps was kicked out of the App Store after iOS 6 debuted in September. Apple replaced it with its own Maps app as the default navigation program for iOS.
But Apple Maps proved to be a wrong turn for the company following complaints of missing locations, faulty images, bad directions, and a host of other glitches.
Apple was forced to fess up to its Maps mess, even going so far as to recommend that users turn to other Maps apps as alternatives. Scott Forstall, Apple’s iOS software chief, was reportedly fired over the Maps fiasco after refusing to sign a letter apologizing for the flaws in the app.
Can I take that picture?
- At October 10, 2012
- By jeffs
- In Facebook, How To, News & Updates
- 1
The question of what pictures we can use on a website comes up often. Here is a good article on when you can take pictures for your own use.
Know Your Rights: Photography in Public
Nearly every modern phone has a camera attached to it and subsequently more and more people are taking photos in public places than ever before. The shot might be as simple as snapping a picture of a parade or as tricky as recording video of a riot. Regardless of the reasons, the rules for photographing in public places are the same.
For the most part, your right to take photographs and video in public places in the United States is protected under the First Amendment under free speech. This includes snapping pictures of your favorite monument when you’re on vacation or taking part in a little citizen journalism. It’s not as cut and dried as you may think and it’s good to know your rights and the caveats that come with them.
The General Rule: If You Can See It You Can Shoot It
Your basic right is actually pretty simple: if you’re in a public place and you can see it, you can shoot it. This means as long as you’re in a public location you can legally take almost any picture. However, if you’re using a telephoto lens, parabolic microphone, or hidden camera to get a shot of a private property when you’re standing on public property you might have an issue if someone on that property has an expectation of privacy. So, what constitutes a public place? Most places are obvious, a park, a street, a soccer field—these are unquestionably legal places to take pictures of anything happening. But what about all those Instagram photos of food you’ve taken inside a business? That’s a little different.
Generally if a private property is open to the public (like a restaurant, retail store, tourist areas, etc) you are allowed to take photographs and video unless it is expressly posted somewhere on the premise that you can’t. In most cases it’s okay to assume you’re allowed to take pictures and video in a shop that doesn’t expressly forbid it. However, if a property owner (or store employee) tells you to stop, you have to stop. More importantly, use good judgement and assess the situation and environment before snapping pictures.
This also goes for citizen journalism. If you see an accident you want to record, public servant misconduct, or even TSA checkpoints, you can do so as long as you’re not interfering with police or medical operations. As far as the Department of Justice is concerned you’re also allowed to shoot video or still shots of police officers provided they’re on public land. Videotaping police officers is still a tricky situation without a concrete ruling, but the courts have leaned toward protecting your right to film officers. Photo by Christopher.
Where and When You Get Into Trouble
As with most laws you’ll find some exceptions to the rules. Photographing on any clearly marked private property is considered trespassing. As for public government property you’re mostly okay, however you cannot take photos of most military bases or inside most courthouses. A few other big caveats exist as well.
Just because some places are public doesn’t make them legal for photography. For instance, a bathroom is a public place, but people have an expectation of privacy in the bathroom, so photos are typically not a good idea. This is also the case with anywhere else people might expect privacy, including inside places like AA meetings or doctor’s offices.
The same goes for photos of people in a private space where they have an expectation of privacy, even if you’re on public property. So, if you can see in your neighbor’s window from the sidewalk while they’re showering, you can’t take that picture, even though you’re on public property (and you might want to tell your neighbor to close their curtains). The general rule is basically if you didn’t want someone covertly taking a picture of you in a semi-private place, it’s probably not a good idea to take your own picture. These rules may vary from state to state, so check local laws before you’re labeled a “peeping tom.” If you do get caught taking a photo you shouldn’t or if you’re accused of taking taking an illegal picture when you’re in the clear your response should be about the same. Photo by Julian Stallabrass.
What To Do If Someone Says You’re Trespassing
First up, the easy answer when you’re accused of trespassing: if you walk onto clearly marked private property without permission you’re trespassing and you should stop taking pictures and leave. If an employee or security guard tells you to stop taking pictures because you’re on private property, stop taking pictures. Things get tricky here, if no signs are posted saying you can’t take photos but it’s a public area, you’re technically allowed, but it’s up to you if it’s worth the trouble to haggle over the details with a security guard. You likely have the right, but if you’re questioned directly you should seek legal counsel.
Regardless of whether you’re in the right or wrong, no one is allowed to take your camera away from you in a public place. Even if you’re trespassing, the property owner and the police cannot have your camera (or film or SD card) without a court order. Which brings us to the last caveat, publishing or uploading photos online. Photo by Dru Bloomfield.
Pay Attention to Where and What You Upload Online
Your rights for taking photographs don’t stop when the picture is snapped. If you place those photos online or sell them the situation changes. While you have the right to take pictures almost anywhere, publishing certain photos might get you in trouble in civil courts. Thankfully, the distinction is pretty clear.
You can’t use someone’s likeness for commercial purposes without their express permission. This means you can’t take a picture in a public place with recognizable faces and then sell it to Coca-Cola or a stock photo company (you can, however sell them to news organizations or use them for art). The same goes for many famous landmarks and some National Parks. You can freely shoot the photos, but selling them for commercial purposes may require a permit or additional fee.
You also can’t publish a photo that paints a person in a false light. For instance, if you took a picture of me fake-punching Stephen Hawking with the caption: “Taken moments before Thorin punched Stephen Hawking in the face,” I would probably want to take you to civil court (assuming I didn’t actually punch Stephen Hawking).
Finally, you can’t publish a photo that gives away private information about someone. This includes photos like the aforementioned AA meeting or doctor’s office along with any other situation where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The last concern you should have is your own rights when you publish photos online. Some popular web services like Instagram require you to grant usage permission to Instagram when you upload pictures. This doesn’t mean they get ownership of your photos, but it does mean they can use them any way they like. Other services, like Flickr, allow you to set who can and can’t use your photographs. If you don’t want to sell or make public any of these pictures make sure you’re using a service that leaves all the rights in your hands and be sure to check out Creative Commons for an easy way to license your photos.
In general, the mantra of “If you can see it you can shoot it” will keep you safe from legal prosecution in the United States, but not all countries and states are the same so check out local laws before shooting. Finally, if you feel your rights are violated, seek professional legal advice. You can also print out attorney Bert P. Krages pocket-sized pamphlet so you always have a list of your rights handy.
Disclaimer: the above isn’t meant as professional legal counsel and is meant to help you familiarize yourself with the basics of the laws of photography in public. If you’re unsure whether you are on public or private property your best bet is check before you snap photos. If you’re concerned about a specific case or situation you should contact a lawyer.
Reposted from http://lifehacker.com/5912250/know-your-rights-photography-in-public
Photo by Banalities.
As if we needed another reason to dump Internet Explorer
- At September 18, 2012
- By jeffs
- In News & Updates, Security
- 0
Zero-Day exploit in Internet Explorer(Update #2)
It appears that another exploit is being actively used to install malware. This time, there is an exploit in Internet Explorer versions 6 to 9. This means, that all Windows operating systems until Windows 8 are affected.
Microsoft has acknowledged in the Security Advisory (2757760) that there is a problem and that they are analyzing it. According to Microsoft, the remote code execution vulnerability may corrupt memory in a way that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user within Internet Explorer. An attacker could host a specially crafted website that is designed to exploit this vulnerability through Internet Explorer and then convince a user to view the website.
According to various researchers, the exploit is used to install the trojan “Poison Ivy”.
The only solution available at the moment for Internet Explorer is to deactivate Java Script and Active X. However, doing this basically means that you can’t browse anymore 90% of the websites you usually visit.
It is strongly advised to use other browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) until Microsoft delivers the patch.
Sorin Mustaca
GoDaddy websites down
- At September 10, 2012
- By jeffs
- In Announcements, News & Updates
- 0
Our websites should all be fine one or two clients may have email issues but remember the recipient of any email you send may be down
According to TechCrunch, many customers are reporting that web hosting giant GoDaddy is down — taking out all kinds of websites with it.
A Tweet from the official GoDaddy account said: “Status Alert: Hey, all. We’re aware of the trouble people are having with our site. We’re working on it.”
The company is also saying to users who Tweet at them: “We’re aware of the issues people are experiencing and we’re still working on it. Thanks for your patience.”
TechCrunch is also reporting that customers say e-mail from GoDaddy websites is also down.
Mashable is reporting that the security leader of Anonymous is taking responsibility.
GoDaddy websites down
Print | Comments (0) Posted by Joe Allen-Black September 10, 2012 02:25 PM
The most cost effective advertising
- At July 12, 2012
- By jeffs
- In Facebook, Social Media
- 0
This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum,
This is something we have talked to many of our clients about social media the most cost effective advertising and is impossible to ignore
5 Signs Your Small Business Should Be on LinkedIn
1. You Employ 1-50 People
LinkedIn distinguishes companies by many factors, not the least of which is size. As a company presence on LinkedIn, your small business will likely fall into one of two categories: 1-10 employees or 11-50 employees. Not surprisingly, the former category hosts the largest number of small businesses, with 854,000 accounts.
Don’t get discouraged by the “competition,” though. Users will be able to discover your company using LinkedIn’s advanced search tool, which enables users to narrow results by keyword, location, industry and company size, among other metrics.
With that kind of specificity, your business can’t afford to not be on LinkedIn. After all, people are probably already searching for you, or at least for similar companies. It’s an opportunity for visibility that otherwise goes to waste.
2. You Have Something to Say
Share content on LinkedIn by creating updates and company announcements natively on the platform. You can include links to external websites, images and YouTube videos. Once shared, your update will post to the activity feed on your company overview page and to the homepages of LinkedIn members who follow your company.
You can also opt to share blog posts within a widget that lives on your company page. Check out Mashable’s “Recent Blog Posts”, for example: These updates live separately from the aforementioned announcements (which are stored in the activity feed on a page) because they refresh automatically as your blog updates, and will not post to your followers’ homepages.
Like many other social platforms, LinkedIn users and the network itself discourage update spam. That means you shouldn’t overload your followers with excessive, self-promotional content — you’ll lose followers fast.
3. You’re Hiring
LinkedIn is a network for job seekers and professionals. Thus, it makes sense that you would use it to post your latest job openings, whether they’re full-time positions, consultant opportunities or freelance projects.
It’s also a great excuse to open a LinkedIn account if you haven’t done so already. You’ll draw more interest to your page with updates, such as job openings, press announcements and general company news.
You may post an available job to LinkedIn for $295 for a 30-day period. Once posted, these jobs will not only appear in search results, but also in the “Careers” tab on your company page.
4. You Need Advice
Before signing up for a company account, browse the company pages of similar businesses to see how the moderators manage the content and direct the conversation. Learn what type of content shares well, whether it’s blog posts, company announcements or sexy images.
If you have a personal account, find groups that speak to your industry (e.g. Women in New Media or Developer & Technology Professionals) and ask for advice from fellow users on how to create a strategic company presence on LinkedIn.
5. You’re a Non-Profit
Your charity or service organization most definitely has a place within a professional network. In fact, non-profits may enjoy more benefits on LinkedIn than regular companies and, in fact, LinkedIn encourages it.
As a non-profit, you may choose to either create a LinkedIn company page, a group or both. Determine how invested you want to become in the platform, and then create your presence around your goals.
Company pages like charity: water’s are useful for general information, updates, events and job offerings surrounding an organization. But a LinkedIn group page can host richer discussion and engagement, though it requires moderation and management to guide the direction of the group. You may appoint more than one person for the job, but keep in mind that you’ll need to put in some work to make a group truly valuable for your non-profit’s supporters.
Whether for personal or business purposes, how do you use LinkedIn to build your professional network and skills? Share your experiences and tips in the comments.
