The “Engagement Ring” for Social Media
The word ‘engagement’ has really become the catch phrase in the ‘new’ media. Social Media gets its social from the technical ability to engage others in a two-way conversation. This is a real connection and it’s happening everywhere you turn.
My post here is really a draft of one that will take me some time to prefect, but I want to get it out here and see if I can get some feedback and ideas as i invite you to comment and engage me.
The idea for the engagement ring is quite simple and is the basis of what I do on a daily basis. My business is in helping other business promote and develop new business. The very best way to do this in in the use of social media channels.
The idea of the ring is the structure of a sound business system. Your company ‘brand’ or identity is set, (both by you and the forces of the universe) and your mission is to draw the business in by finding the people that are looking for the solutions that you provide.
The best way for most small and medium businesses is to begin with the main business website, and here I recommend a WordPress blog. This will become the home-base, or mothership, of all your marketing and communication efforts.
The blog is a fantastic way to maintain valuable info and current content but the site itself has limited drawing power. What is needed these days is a search into the great new media world where your prospects are to be found.
In the social media universe the big players are not to be ignored. This is where Everyone is! Facebook is king but depending on your business not necessarily a place for you to attempt to engage your market. As an example if you are a B-to-B company then you’ll need to focus on LinkedIn and others.
The Social Media "Engagement Ring"
The particular platforms and interaction your business may need to develop will vary based upon your industry and market. In general terms I advise that every business obtain their business name on as many platforms as available. Even if you have no interest in the account at least obtain the name to keep it from competitors and others. Use the site Namechk.com
Of course I am a fan of outsourcing this task to a service like ours, as this is our brier patch. One way or another you need to get this done. The Business of social media is getting more and more important and the market for your customers is never going to be less competitive than it is today.
Engage me here, in any of the various ways offered, and I’ll be glad to share more. Hey, you don’t have to make it a commitment, or even a date, just a comment (which will give a sweet SEO backlink to your page too).
I can’t get enough!
Business Building Bluprint
Hubspot is a real leader in my industry and a great resource for information that I rely on. I would even go as far as say that you should do business with them for your web business building needs, if you have the budget for it. If you’re not that big then you should talk to me. You will get the same basic advice and skills on a smaller scale and budget.
Here’s a piece of advice that’s one of the best and relevant pieces I’ve seen. Rather than recreate the wheel here’s their slide show:
Your business needs to have a better web presence. You need more analytical information and more social media engagements. This is a process, and not a project. There is no ‘finished’ here. Your project doesn’t end because the world of the web changes so much and so fast.
Earlier this week I saw a quote online that your ROI is simply to still be in business 5 years down the road. Think about how many businesses are failing around us and think about where you want to be in 5 years. You have work to do.
If your business is big enough then you can and should hire a team to run this aspect of your company. If that does not make sense then outsource the work, and make sure that it’s making a difference. It is easy to get someone like us on your team, and even easier to get rid of us! 90 days is all I ever ask from a business to show some positive results.
Hopefully you are not still wasting your cash on yellowpage ads and the like. Think in terms of a budget along the same costs and put that towards you digital promotions.
How much online marketing budget should you plan? How many more sales dollars do you want?
Now Hiring: Social Media Manager Jobs Now
Where are you finding time to participate in Social Media? Are you using the these tools in your business? Do you know that that’s where your customers are and that that’s the single best way to connect with new and existing business? Marketing dollars get the highest return when invested in social media.
Social media is much more than you think it is. One of the best social site for many can be Amazon.com. Do you think of them as a social media site? They’re huge, and one of my favorite ways to connect on this site is to do video book reviews! Do you know how many people visit Amazon. Hello!
Currently there are thousands of people looking for social media managers to manage the online social presence of their companies, and there are very few people offering the service. This is a perfect time to begin a small business as a social media manager as the demand is huge! Fortunately the learning curve for this sort of thing can be an very minor road block.
One young woman has already spent the last year and a half growing from zero to a staff of people offering social media support and management for others. Her nearly-no-overhead business is now generating 5 figures a month! Now that’s great income in good times but these days it’s incredible. Follow the links here to meet her and learn how you can follow her lead.
Meet Kate and Learn Social Media Manager Insight
The growth rate for these services is fast a furious as demand seems to be insatiable. Social media has become THE media, and the show hasn’t even really started. These are exciting times in the new digital world.
If you are a business in search of someone to help you get a grip on your social media needs you need to tread carefully;y as the world is full of grossly under-qualified “gurus”. Be careful where you get your advice and start with monitoring your current status. Listening is not that difficult and is the 1st step. Begin your search locally and you’ll likely find someone willing to show you the way to the next level.
If you are a social media fan and have real talents in digital communication you may want to consider a job or a business as a social media manager. Several good training programs are now available via some of the most reputable internet marketers. Chose your products carefully and expect that the downside risks are generally very low. Marketers like Ryan Deiss, who has an impeccable track record, is among the best and brightest to offer digital products that seem to be of the highest quality and value.
Social media jobs are just amazingly hot. If you are inclined to a career in this area then you are certainly in the right place at the right time. This affiliate program that I’m promoting here is the most exciting thing I’ve seen in a long time. It is right up my alley and I intend to be a client, student and fan for a long time. If this sort of thing is for you then join me. Best wishes and hang onto your seat!
Hot Mamas-to-be. Blanqi’s Given Birth. Now What?
Well, let’s be honest. I have no interest or skills in running a fashion business, and especially a maternity line. But that small matter aside a business is a business, and they all need to be promoted. Grow or die.
Blanqi 
is a new maternity thingy that I, with my man-afflicted-brain, think of as an athletic supporter for your baby bump. It’s a comfort and control thing. If you’re interested then get over there and see it for yourself.
As for the ideas I have about promotion I am offering the following unsolicited advice. I first became aware of the Banqi line last evening on the 11 o’clock news. A local reporter did a nice puff piece on this local business. Moms doing their thing, and making a business. Wow. Very good news. I’m all for it.
The challenges to get a new product created, and put it into some major retailers have been overcome. The Blanqi items are there in the mall, and it’s time for the next step, blasting out of the atmosphere into zero gravity. Welcome girls.
My advice from my little promoter chair is pretty basic but it’s helpful to me to play this role out in my head…This sort of think is good practice for me. If Blanqi hired me the advice I’d be giving [ off the top of my head in no rational order..] is:
1. get a Press Release out now about the local news coverage. A google search under ‘news’ yielded no result. – get a press release out via PRWeb.com, [even if it's only the $80 version.] Issue 1 or 2 a month as news-worthy events or milestones are reached
2. keyword research – what are the hot keywords that you need to be using in your copy to attract more sales and what are the ones that lead to sales? Watch your google analytics in your web pages and start building this vital list.
3. Offer some free ‘thing’ on the web page to begin building your email list. there are countless maternity stories and articles that you could offer as a free digital download. I’d think about getting little celebrity interviews about an actual pregnancy and offer the mp3 audio to your registered users. think behind-the-scenes VIP list – email lists are money
4. Articles – start filling the article directories with pregnancy articles from every conceivable angle. Backlinks from these will add to your web juice.
5. Your Facebook page is nice but need pimping out with a larger graphic and call to action. Engage with polls etc.. it’s mostly fine now but extra pages of interest will help. Ask some questions and take some risks here. these are your friends, and they’ll be your most gentle crowd.
6. your alexa.com ranking over 3+million and PageRank of 2 is weak but has established an online presence. You need to build this hard and fast with on and off-page promotional strategies. Build Web 2.0 properties like Squidoo, Hub Pages, YouTube channels etc to bring in more horsepower. Maintain a small budget of $200-500 per month to outsource all this and keep it up forever.
7. Phone-size your Blanqi. Moms-to-be with Blanqi money have smart-phones and mobile optimized site is soon-to-be standard
8. build a photo site – like Flickr.com where fans can upload their baby(bump) photos! Get them in the act and bring in ever more content.
9. commit to online privacy and security and make it obvious that no facebook security woes are going to catch your fans off guard. Make it a digital Blanqi to control the web risks with comfort and style!
10. see NameChk.com and start registering your brand’s name in social web sites. Posterous, foursquare, Flickr, and other top properties are available now. They will disappear if you don’t act quick. Youtube, Twitter, and WordPress are already gone. I’d commit to another brand-line like “BlanqiMoms ” “blanqilines” “blankiwear” “blankershaper” as a plan-B
11. Keep having fun. You seem to be and the be yourself and trust you gut is the best advice for anyone that’s made it this far. You seem to be having a good time with the journey and that really is a joy to watch. Thanks and cheer to your unstoppable success!
bonus – have you set up a Google Alert so that you’ll receive a notice whenever Blanqi is mentioned online? If you have you will get an email telling you about this article not long after I hit the publish button.
Go Get’em!
What Web Traffic Strategy?
It’s not really hard to get traffic to a web site. Here’s how some of the pro’s do it. Get yourself some business by building your own strategic web a little each day. If you spend a little to outsource this with someone I would look for 4-10 times your investment (ROI) in new business. Low-cost low-margin business like haircuts and fast food need to look at other strategies (think social media)
Do it yourself or hire it out. Here’s the real truth about how it’s done. This stuff works and it’s not rocket science.
Soon we’ll need to talk about other methods, and then the real problem, conversion. Just try and wrap your head around this for now.