Posted by admin on December 14, 2010 under Online Business | 
Twitter is all the rage now; I wish I had a nickel for every time a client mentioned it. Succeeding in it is another matter, though, and at first it can be hellishly confusing.
When I first started, and was following dozens of people, I felt like I was in a busy sports bar during the Super Bowl. I remember thinking: I don’t know these people. I don’t know what they’re talking about. I must be in the wrong place.
It helps to know the rules and a little about the culture before you jump in. It’s not rocket science but it does take a little study and work.
1) Plan: First, think about why you’re even on Twitter.
Know what you want out of Twitter. Are you there for networking, building a brand, driving traffic to your blog? Determining this early will help guide your strategy and improve your odds.
2) Package yourself: First you need to pick out a Twitter ID. Consider your name first (I use @markivey); alternatively, you could use another name with your company, role or skills (example: @mediaphyte). You want something that will build your brand and/or illustrate your expertise.
And don’t skimp on your profile; make it sound engaging, and choose some nice wallpaper—this part is all about personal packaging (you can also customize your own wallpaper, using your company’s logo if you want). Study other Twitter examples because you need to get it right.
3) Follow the right people: Twitter is about following and being followed (more on connecting/conversing later) You can use the basic Twitter search or, better, one of the tools I recently reviewed like Twellow in my blog (www.ioncorporation.com/blog, date: Feb 6). These search engines can make life much easier for you by identifying the right people to follow.
Start with the influencers and industry experts in your industry. Find people with common interests and/or just people you want to track because they’re interesting. Check out some of the really big names here. Look for interesting directories and specialized lists; for instance, here’s 10 journalists worth following. And don’t forget your colleagues–you may have people all over your company tweeting. As one example, here’s a partial list of employees tweeting at Cisco.
4) Learn the lingo: Before you jump in and start tweeting, get up to speed on the lingo and abbreviations. Some common terms*:
• “tweet”: is a message.
• @ ID : A message with the @ sign preceeding the Twitter ID is a reply message; so if you want to send me a message, start with @markivey. (Note that your entire network can view this message).
• DM ID: Putting a DM in front of someone’s ID is a private message (you can only send private messages to people who follow you).
• RT: a retweet. If you find a post particularly interesting, you can copy and paste it and retweet it, as long as you give credit (tools like Tweetdeck have a RT button). (this is one of Twitter’s most interesting features, and how some Tweets go viral).
5) Manage efficiently: The last task is to download a “client” to manage your tweets and traffic. Twitter.com is ok for starters but you’ll soon want to move on to a better platform. These include clients like Twhirl and TwitterFox, which have built in search features, URL shorteners (which you’ll need) and nice interfaces to view and respond to your Tweets. Twitterfox is a Firefox extension, while Twirl is a downloaded application.
My favorite, though, is Tweetdeck.
What I love about Tweetdeck is you can arrange the people you follow into separate, manageable categories. I currently have four categories: “social media” (people who follow social media); “individuals” (business contacts, other influencers in other areas); Favorites; and “all.”
But you can set up categories for almost anything–influencers in your industry; friends/family/close contacts, sports/hobbies; special lists, like journalists or even by twitterers in your geographical area. Just add a new “pane” for each group.
You can also set up search features in separate categories to hunt for certain keywords, like your company name, personal ID or an issue or event (ex: China or World Series) . I have searches set up for “Twitter tools” and “Twitter tips.” The default search is search.twitter.com and Twitscoop, which reports on hot trends and keywords in Twitter.
One warning: Tweetdeck is a memory hog. It can also be addictive. Plan to set aside designated times, say 20 min. 3 times a day, to check it or you may wind up sitting there watching it for hours.
One way to become more efficient is to integrate Twitter into Outlook with a tool like Outwit. You can update your Twitter status and follow your friends without having to open any other applications.
Outwit allows you to schedule your Tweets to be delivered every minute to an hour, and dump them into a separate folder. This way you can check them at your leisure. You can also easily categorize them by name and save them, something you can’t do with Tweetdeck. One downside: your email box can quickly get overloaded (as if you need more email).
Posted by admin on November 30, 2010 under Online Business |
These websites help your company network, advertise, learn, grow, recruit, make new clients and more.
We get loads of hits everyday from our social media optimisation strategy and websites. These hits convert into work, valuable feedback, networking, sources of fresh marketing communications information and much more.
(Please Note: If we’ve missed your favorite social media site or you know of others worth mentioning, we appreciate you letting us know, so we can add it to this list.)
If your business limits its online presence to blogging, posting articles on article websites, advertising banners and search engine marketing it’s missing out. The Internet provides powerful networking opportunities that allow users to effectively target their audience by logging onto social media sites like LinkedIn, Digg, Facebook, Twitter and more.
Take advantage of these tools by asserting your company’s presence online and reaching more potential customers, business partners, employees, likeminded peers and friends. With a little bit of copywriting and some ongoing maintanence you can reap the rewards for our diligence.
linking people to your business
website : christophercopywriter.com
blog: christopher copywriter’s blog
Social Media/Social Bookmarking Sites. Share your favorite Websites and newsworthy articles with your business partners. They can comment and upload their own favorite articles and Websites. You can also create a member profile that directs traffic back to your company’s Web site. It also helps with your Websites rankings.
1. StumbleUpon: Open your online presence up to a whole new audience just by adding the StumbleUpon toolbar to your browser and “channel surfing” the Web. You’ll connect with friends and share your new Website discoveries,” as well as “meet people who have similar interests.” Fun. Fun. Fun.
2. Reddit: Upload stories and articles on Reddit to drive traffic to your site or blog. Submit items often so that you’ll gain a more loyal following and increase your online presence.
3. Del.icio.us: Social bookmark your way to better business with sites like del.icio.us, which invite users to organize and publicize interesting items through tagging and networking.
4. Digg: Digg has a massive following online because of its optimum usability. Visitors can submit and browse articles in categories like technology, business, entertainment, sports and more.
5. Technorati: If you want to increase your blog’s readership, consider registering it with Technorati, a network of blogs and writers that lists top stories in categories like Entertainment, Business and Technology.
6. Myspace: MySpace is a place for friends, for personal expression, for connecting with the world. You can alert all your friends at once with any length of blog entry. Now very popular for businesses too.
7. Ning: After hanging around the same social networks for a while, you may feel inspired to create your own, where you can bring together clients, vendors, customers and co-workers in a confidential, secure corner of the Web. Ning lets users design free social networks that they can share with anyone.
8. Squidoo: According to Squidoo, “everyone’s an expert on something. Share your knowledge!” Share your industry’s secrets by answering questions and designing a profile page to help other members.
9. Furl: Make Furl “your personal Web file” by bookmarking great sites and sharing them with other users by recommending links, commenting on articles and utilizing other fantastic features.
10. Tubearoo: This video network works like other social-bookmarking sites, except that it focuses on uploaded videos. Businesses can create and upload tutorials, commentaries and interviews with industry insiders to promote their own services.
11. WikiHow: Create a how-to guide or tutorial on wikiHow to share your company’s services with the public for free.
12. YouTube: From subjects like, “How to dribble a basketball,” to naughty party boy “Corey Delainey,” everyone has a video floating around on YouTube. Shoot a behind-the-scenes video from your company’s latest commercial or event to give customers and clients an idea of what you do each day and how you like to do it.
13. Ma.gnolia: Share your favorite sites with friends, colleagues and clients by organizing your bookmarks with Ma.gnolia. Clients will appreciate both your Internet-savviness and your ability to stay current and organized.
14. Propeller: A fun source of information on pretty much everything. Add your articles. Promote and demote others articles.
15. Kirsty: A colourful website for articles, features and information on life, the universe and everything.
16. Urlesque: A internet themed, video clip, article posting and sharing website.
17. Netvouz: Netvouz is a social bookmarking service that allows you to save your favorite links online and access them from any computer, wherever you are.
Professional Social Networking Sites. Join these online networking communities as a company or individual and take full advantage of recruiting and client opportunities, cross-promotional events, the chance to help out and more.
18. LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a popular networking site where alumni, business associates, recent graduates and other professionals connect online.
19. Facebook: Facebook is no longer just for college kids who want to post their party pics. Businesses vie for advertising opportunities, event promotion and more on this social-networking site.
20. MEETin.org: Once you’ve acquired a group of contacts in your city by networking on MEETin.org, organize an event so that you can meet face-to-face.
21. YorZ: This networking site doubles as a job site. Members can post openings for free to attract quality candidates.
22. Xing: An account with networking site Xing can “open doors to thousands of companies.” Use the professional contact manager to organize your new friends and colleagues, and take advantage of the Business Accelerator application to “find experts at the click of a button, market yourself in a professional context [and] open up new sales channels.”
23. Ecademy: Ecademy prides itself on “connecting business people” through its online network, blog and message-board chats, as well as its premier BlackStar membership program, which awards exclusive benefits.
24. Care2: Care2 isn’t just a networking community for professionals: It’s touted as “the global network for organizations and people who Care2 make a difference.” If your business is making efforts to go green, let others know by becoming a presence on this site.
25. Gather: This networking community is made up of members who think. Browse categories concerning books, health, money, news and more to ignite discussions on politics, business and entertainment. This will help your company tap into its target audience and find out what they want.
26. Ryze: Ryze lets members organize contacts and friends; upcoming events; and even job, real-estate and roommate classifieds.
27. Tribe: Cities like Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, New York and Chicago have unique online communities on tribe. Users can search for favorite restaurants, events, clubs and more.
28. Ziggs: Ziggs is “organizing and connecting people in a professional way.” Join groups and make contacts through your Ziggs account to increase your company’s presence online and further your own personal career.
29. Plaxo: Join Plaxo to organize your contacts and stay updated with feeds from Digg, Amazon.com, del.icio.us and more.
30. NetParty: If you want to attract young professionals in cities like Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Orlando Fla., create an account with the networking site NetParty. You’ll be able to connect with
qualified, up-and-coming professionals online, then meet them at a real-life happy-hour event where you can pass out business cards, pitch new job openings and more.
31. Networking For Professionals: Networking For Professionals is another online community that combines the Internet with special events in the real world. Post photos, videos, résumés and clips on your online profile while you meet new business contacts.
32. Naymz: A search engine optimised professional networking site which ranks out of ten, ones professional reputation amongst reviews from ones peers and those who know you.
Niche Social Media Sites. Consider linking up with one of these Social Media Websites to narrow down your business’s target audience. You’ll find other professionals, enthusiasts and consumers who are most likely already interested in what your company has to offer.
33. SEO TAGG: Stay on top of news from the Web marketing and SEO (search-engine optimization) industries by becoming an active member of this online community.
34. Pixel Groovy: Web workers will love Pixel Groovy, an open-source site that lets members submit and rate tutorials for Web 2.0, email and online-marketing issues.
35. Mixx: Mixx prides itself on being “your link to the Web content that really matters.” Submit and rate stories, photos and news to drive traffic to your own site. You’ll also meet others with similar interests.
36. Small Business Brief: When members post entrepreneur-related articles, a photo and a link to their profile appear, gaining you valuable exposure and legitimacy online.
37. Sphinn:Sphinn: Sphinn is an online forum and networking site for the Internet marketing crowd. Upload articles and guides from your blog to create interest in your own company or connect with other professionals for form new contacts.
38. BuzzFlash.net: This one-stop news resource is great for businesses that want to contribute articles on a variety of subjects, from the environment to politics to health.
39. HubSpot: HubSpot is another news site aimed at connecting business professionals.
40. Tweako: Gadget-minded computer geeks can network with each other on Tweako, a site that promotes information sharing for the technologically savvy.
General Social Media Sites. The following social media Websites provide excellent opportunities for businesses to advertise; promote specials, events or services; and tend to feature published and knowledgeable employees.
41. Wikipedia: Besides creating your own business reference page on Wikipedia, you can connect with other users on Wikipedia’s Community Portal and at the village pump, where you’ll find conscientious professionals enthusiastic about news, business, research and more. Get creative.
42. Newsvine: Feature top employees by uploading their articles, studies or other news-related items to this site. A free account will also get you your own column and access to the Newsvine community.
43. 43 Things: This site bills itself as “the world’s most popular online goal setting community.” By publicizing your company’s goals and ambitions, you’ll gain a following of customers, investors and promoters who cheer you on as you achieve success.
44. Wetpaint: If you’re tired of blogs and generic Web sites, create your own wiki with Wetpaint to reach your audience and increase your company’s presence online. You can easily organize articles, contact information, photos and other information to promote your business.
45. Frappr: Embed a Frappr map and guestbook into your company’s Web page so that you can pinpoint exactly how users find your site, discover in real-time what they have to say about your company profile and services, and create an “interactive, fun and engaging” spot for visitors.
46. Yahoo! Answers: Start fielding Yahoo! users’ questions with this social-media Q&A service. Search for questions in your particular areas of expertise by clicking categories like Business & Finance, Health, News & Events and more. If you continue to dole out useful advice and link your answer to your company’s Web page, you’ll quickly gain a new following of curious customers.
Job Sites. If you want to secure high-quality talent during your company’s next hiring spree, you’ll need to maintain a strong presence on popular job sites like the ones we’ve listed below.
47. Mycareer: A popular source of jobs for the job hunter in Australia. Owned by Fairfax media who bring us the Sydney Morning Herald everyday. Post your CV for recruiters to find. Get detailed personality type information.
48. SEEK: Australia’s #1 recruitment, career and employment site. It has special sections for 100k plus executives and offers helpful tools and job hunting sector statistics.
49. CollegeRecruiter.com: If your firm wants to hire promising entry-level employees, check CollegeRecuriter.com for candidates with college degrees.
50. Monster: Post often to separate your business from all the other big companies that use this site to advertise job openings.
51. Sologig: Top freelancers and contractors post résumés and look for work on this popular site.
52. AllFreelance.com: This site “offers self-employed small business owners links to freelance & work at home job boards, self-promotion tips” and more.
53. Freelance Switch Job Listings: Freelance Switch is the freelancer’s online mecca and boasts articles, resource toolboxes, valuable tips and a job board.
54. GoFreelance: Employers looking to boost their vendor base should check GoFreelance for professionals in the writing, design, editing and Web industries.
55. CareerBuilder.com: Reach millions of candidates by posting jobs on this must-visit site.
56. Career Journal: The Wall Street Journal’s Career Journal attracts well-educated professionals who are at the top of their game. Post a job or search résumés here.
linking people to your business
Posted by admin on October 12, 2010 under Online Business |
Broadband internet is must for the success of any global business. However, for the smallest of small businesses, a tougher issue can be choosing between the best business broadband plans. Every business broadband plan have its own merits and demerits and one need to look for the features carefully before selecting one.
There are many businesses who have recognized the benefits of internet access but are still using traditional dial up services which tie up the telephone line. Well, a dial up connection is better for home use but not for business where you need to have a fast internet connection. On the other hand businesses which have switched to business broadband plans have been already benefited by increased sales, greater cost savings, better productivity and improved employee satisfaction.
There are a number of benefits of a business broadband connection for business such as:
• With a business broadband plan you don’t have to face the problems associated with a dial-up connection via a telephone modem where you need to spend a lot of time connecting to the modem every time the connection fails.
• With a broadband plan, you can enjoy uninterrupted internet connection with virtually instant access to any information or service.
• Plus, with a broadband plan you have your telephone line free. This means you can make and receive calls even when you are online.
• In case you are having a global business, with a business broadband plan you can deal with your global clients in a better way. Plus, you can more effectively market and sell your goods and services to a global market.
• As a broadband internet connection is fast you don’t have to wait anymore for even the heavy Flash websites to open. Here the download speed is up to 40 times better as compared to dial-up connections.
• With a business broadband connection you can also search and check out potential customers on the internet, and also download all kinds of information, graphics, materials and guidance required for your business.
• You need to pay a fixed monthly charges for using the business broadband Internet connection which is quite affordable when you look at the benefits you would be enjoying. There is no need to pay anything extra no matter how often you use it.
There are a number of broadband internet providers offering higher speed and symmetric broadband services to meet the growing needs of major companies, corporations and organizations in both the public and private sectors. While selecting one, always remember that your business is more likely to be on a LAN with multiple users and printers and servers to take care of. You just need to locate broadband internet providers within your locality and choose the best one.
Posted by admin on September 24, 2010 under Online Business |
Media advertising is a general term which refers to conveying a business marketing message through any form of advertising media. Of course, all advertising is media advertising – but there are important differences between the different types of advertising media. Different media offer different ways to promote your products, services or brand image. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most important media and how they can help you to reach your target markets.
The internet has changed the way the world does business over the last decade, including in the field of advertising. Online advertising is an increasingly important element of advertising strategies for companies in nearly every economic sector, starting to overshadow traditional advertising mainstays such as newspaper advertising and magazine advertising. Advertising online can be more cost effective than print advertising and is also easy to track, monitor and fine tune as needed.
To learn more about what internet advertising formats such as ppc advertising can do for your business, have a look at information pages and resources which are dedicated the topic. Here you’ll find an in-depth look at how internet advertising works and more importantly, how they can work for your business.
Every business needs to keep their advertising strategy up to date to meet the demands of an increasingly competitive global business environment. Regular analysis of market trends and consumer behavior as it relates to your target markets are essential for continued growth – and your advertising strategy needs to be carefully planned to ensure effective campaigns which provide an optimal return on investment.
Making accurate cost-benefit analysis of different advertising media is a complex task which should be undertaken with great care; for this reason, many firms prefer to leave it to the experts.
Your business can make the most of its resources by outsourcing media planning and media buying to professional buying media services. These firms have the expertise and the inside track on media advertising across all formats including online advertising and traditional media and can usually find the perfect match for your company. Any advertising agency or marketing firm you work with should be chosen carefully. You’ll usually get the best results from agencies who understand your industry and your market.
If your budget allows, your company should look at using TV advertising or radio advertising to really make a splash for your brand. Broadcast media advertising can reach the general public as well as being carefully target to different consumer demographics or even for business-to-business advertising. These media outlets can work with you to determine how to provide you with the best ROI.
Long used in the US, outdoor advertising is an increasingly common advertising medium in the UK and across Europe as well as elsewhere in the world. Roadside billboards, signs on the sides of buildings and other outdoor advertising media offer an effective way to promote events and build brand image at a surprisingly low cost. You can find a lot of outdoor advertising opportunities on a variety of websites and through targeted companies. From roadside and building advertisements to ambient advertising, transports, venues and more, there are many outdoor advertising possibilities to consider.
