[New Video] The Key to Saving Money on Marketing (hint: Always Be Ideal-Client Focused)
August 13, 2012
Strategy. It’s kind of a buzzword when we discuss effective marketing. That’s because the only TRUE way to be effective and efficient (i.e. save money) is to be laser-focused on your Ideal Client.
Don’t know who that is? Watch today’s video and think about this checklist:
1. Who needs what you have so much they will pay anything to get it?
2. AND who loves what you do?
3. AND who do you enjoy working with?
If they pass all three tests, you have yourself an IDEAL CLIENT.
[New Video] Twitter for Non-Believers
July 25, 2012
Day three of our Entrepreneur Playbook Video Series and we’re ready to take on Twitter.
I have a confession to make.
I was a non-believer.
Card-carrying hater, actually. But – I connected my blog and occasionally checked out some folks. Followed sports writers. You know – nothing major.
Then….I got a client. Then another. Both from Twitter. Both LOCAL.
Weird, I thought. Ah, no….that’s opportunity knocking.
So – here’s my Non-Believer’s Guide Video Post in homage to the Tweet.
I know….yes, it’s still a debate in some parts – particularly in the one-man-band, overworked entrepreneur segment, that social media is optional. To that, I say — well, depends on your strategy.
Nonethless….ya win some, ya loose some. This weekend, I had a chat with a small business owner convinced…no, CONVINCED that because his kids loved social media, it must be completely irrelevant for his business (that is not a strategy discussed around marketing tables, but whutever). Even if you only argue with YOURSELF, sometimes we all need to understand WHY these tools (if used correctly) can help.
I don’t try to convince, but this one time, I really couldn’t help myself. Here’s what he said….and here’s what I said…..and see if it help YOU when you think about how to use social media sites to attract new clients to YOUR business. Stick around ’til the end…some VERY important information about YouTube that we will continue to build on this week.
The upshot? Not all social media is created equally. It depends on what you want to ACCOMPLISH. Not every business can use Facebook successfully for every purpose. Sometimes, LinkedIn makes the most sense. The point is: it’s about your strategy — and your customer.
In the next few days, we’ll talk about how to think about each of the social media options that are out there and how to decide if that tool will work for you.
10 Things You Should Tweet
June 7, 2012
Here’s one example of me following my own advice….this article is a must read:
Love it!
Stuck for content ideas? Check out this list….
April 3, 2012
We all get stuck once in a while….stumped. Utterly devoid of ideas. Especially when it comes to Facebook. Heck, even with our personal pages, we can sometimes lack for ideas. SO – to help rattle those good ideas out of you – how about keep a little checklist of these prompts? These are for those rainy days when you just don’t have a good idea…enjoy….
1. Pictures. Pictures, images and photo albums are rather popular with the fans. How does this generate likes? People are visual….that’s why Pinterest is becoming so big. An example? One of the top five Intel Facebook posts of 2011 wasn’t even technically a post; it was the photo album featuring images of new Intel museum in Santa Clara. The post was liked over 17,000 times and with over 1,000 comments.
2. Fill in the blank. Let fans share their own perspective with you. Example would be “I love cupcakes because _____” Believe it or not…this is one of the best performing posts. Please…make it relevant to your business or your industry 
’nuff said.
3. Questions. Asking fans to share their story or point of view is one of the most effective ways to increase engagement on your page. Though simple, this type of post is often overlooked by community managers. “Real or fake?” “What do you think?” “What is your story?”
4. Trivia. Your real brand fans as well as those who are not very well acquainted with your company would appreciate a little bit of trivia or sharing of historical company facts. This is a great one – especially if your company has a long history (or storied past).
5. Quotes. People love quotes. Use them! OK – but let’s make ‘em funny or in-keeping with your messaging strategy….
6. Videos. This one is a no-brainer. Videos, especially the unusual or funny ones, are always welcomed by fans. Rich media like pictures and videos are also one of the most shared formats on Facebook.
7. Celebrate milestones and say thank you. Did you reach an important milestone? Celebrate with the fans! When you reach 1,00o LIKES or you receive overwhelming response to a contest, THANK them!!
8. Call to action. If you want your content shared or your posts to be liked or commented on, ask! Simple “Like [or share] this post if you agree” or “What do you think?” would do the trick. However, use it sparingly.
9. Offer interesting challenges. Quizzes or trivia questions might be interesting to your fans.
10. Polls. Want to know something? Ask your fans! And if you run out of ideas or if your content calendar suffers from the “boring bug” just ask your fans what they would like to see on the page and deliver on their expectations.
And whatever you do, don’t automate your posts. Show your fans you care enough about this community to create a custom message specifically for them every day.
How To Attract New Leads and Clients on….Twitter.
February 14, 2012
I know, I know what you’re thinking. “Really? On TWITTER?”
Yes, Twitter. I used to dismiss it as a micro-blog that only famous people used, but after I started getting one…then two….now a consistent flow of clients, I admit it: I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Twitter, as it turns out, is a very powerful tool if used correctly. Here are the steps you need to take if you want to: target your niche, find followers who will be attracted by your content, and attract new customers and clients on this powerful platform.
Ready?
First, please take the time to upload a picture. Nothing says “I don’t care” more than that little egg icon. Let everyone see your face – or at the least, a pic you think represents your niche, your brand, or your quirky sensibility.
Next, fill out your bio with two and three word descriptions of you and BE REAL. Being real is the “secret sauce” of all social media….and the quickest way to showing your “realness” is to show your true colors. “Word nerd by day…. Red Sox Crime Fighter by Night” is part of my bio. These are REAL parts of me…and that is what Twitter is all about.
Third, assuming you have declared your niche to the Universe and yourself, it’s time to find your peeps. Your tribe. Find some leaders in your category and then look in their lists of followers. Assuming they are interested in the industry leader’s information, it also follows that if you are tweeting valuable info in that same category, they will be interested in you, too. A word about following too many in one short time period: Twitter frowns on that practice. I would go for quality and follow about 100 people each day. A subset of those folks will follow you back – and you’re off!
Next: start Tweeting. Ideally, you should be Tweeting 2-3 times each day. Set a schedule. 7am, 1pm and 4pm. This is when people normally break from their work or regular routine to check out the activity on social media. Once you have more followers paying attention to your content, you may see that your followers are night people – or weekend people. Whatever their schedule is, modify yours to mirror theirs. This way, your tribe will see what you have to offer more often.
More to come later on #Hashtags – the true power behind Twitter. For now, happy Tweeting!
mary jo cranmore
