Note from Diane: My new philosophy for 2014 involves 3 words .. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify. There is a well-known saying in the world of business coaching that suggest that if you are working hard your business isn’t.
Almost all small business owners work hard, (very hard), their businesses don’t work, they do. Most end up this way because they do not trust anyone else to do the job.
Taking a step back from your own business is difficult, a third independent eye is usually better at spotting problems that you simply cannot see but the good news is that once you spot them, and simplify them everything else will become a whole lot easier.
I’m slightly behind in my predicted lauch of my new 6 Week Small Business Coaching Program due to several factors involved in simplifying my offline business venture and starting a new online one.
So many business owners get bogged down in the day-to-day that things like Social Media Marketing is dismissed as not important but if you want your business to get the edge on your competitors add some of these tips to your marketing mix and stand out from the crowd.
Feature Article:10 Social Media Marketing Tips To Give Your Small Business The Edge
1. Create A Facebook Page Not A Personal Profile
Even though you may find going the extra step to create a Facebook page for your business a chore, it’s important to realise that’s why Facebook created Facebook Business pages and want business owners to use them for that purpose.
Sign up to Facebook as an individual and search for “Create a Page” in the search bar at the top of the page. Make sure you categorise your page correctly to make the task of finding you via a Facebook search as easy as possible.
Be warned! If you are running a personal profile as a business page, there is a chance Facebook will shut it down without notice, so make the switch as soon as you can (even if you are a sole proprietor or self-employed).
2. Create A Well Branded Facebook Cover Photo
Use the Timeline cover photo to communicate as visually as possible what you brand or message is about. (Ideally the size of the Timeline Cover Photo should be 851 x 315 pixels).
You can then reinforce your brand and position yourself in a leadership role using the smaller profile photo or logo. The size for this photo is 180 x 180 pixels (you can find a help page to bookmark by clicking here.)
Be warned! Facebook rules for covers advise “Cover’s cannot be deceptive, misleading, or infringe on anyone else’s copyright. You may not encourage people to upload your cover to their personal timelines. Covers may not include images with more than 20% text.”
3. Add Some Blurb To Your Cover Photo About Your Company
Once you start getting more familiar with all the Facebook page functions, you will find that a really cool way to add more info about your company and include some links if you want to is to add a description to cover photo when you upload it.
Add in a call to action and one or two related links either to your website or your product because lots of Facebook Page visitors click on the cover photos to take a closer look.
For all my images, editing and creating Timeline covers and photos I recommend Snagit By Techsmith. A free resource I also love is www.picmonkey.com
4. Twitter Is Used By Millions Of Businesses
Your Twitter username is extremely important in today’s media driven world, as it will make up part of your Twitter profile url – or the address you will be putting on all your marketing material directing people to “follow you” on Social Media.
As everything you say will be published to the world, try to keep your username short and your updates positive.
Most companies use their brand name as their username although you may want to build your brand around you and use your own. Once you have decided on your name, your Twitter address reads www.twitter.com/YOURNAME or YOUR BRAND or YOUR BUSINESS.
Unlike other Social Media sites, Twitter allows you to change your user name in an emergency.
5. Upload An Effective Twitter Profile Image
Ditch the default Twitter avatar and use a photo of yourself or brand logo.Twitter’s conversational style of one-to-one interactions mean that people will identify more with a smiling face than a logo.
Twitter recommends your profile image should be 73 x 73 pixels with an automatic reduction to thumbnail size of 43 x 43 pixels for the Twitter feed.
Tip! Twitter makes it very difficult to change everything on your profile immediately as it is an anti-spam measure, pace it all out over a period of a week to get started.
6. Create A Branded Twitter Header Image
In September 2012, Twitter rolled out a new version of its profile page that includes a Facebook-like header image. It is a large banner at the top of your Twitter profile with a background that can be customised with any image.
Your profile photo or image will be centrally located on top of this image so bear this in mind when you design it.
Use this an opportunity to make a call for action or a brand promotion opportunity. Be sure to list your website and Facebook page plus Pinterest or Instagram, this is valuable real estate.
7. Balance Tweets, RT’s, Replies And Never Over Promote!
Too much of one thing on Social Media drives people crazy … your reputation is on the line here.
Sprinkle in plenty of content, RT’s and @replies for good karma. Just like Facebook simply promoting your business in every update puts people off.
Retweeting people you hope to build a relationship with in business is a good strategy. Repost great tweets selectively and add your opinion too if space allows and you use the edit feature on programs like Hootsuite.
8. Sign Up To Pinterest As A Business
Just as you have done with Facebook and Twitter, another proven Social Media marketing platform is Pinterest. Once you are signed up as a business on Pinterest you’ll gain access to an array of of business resources including analytic tools.
Cross promote your Pinterest account alongside your other Social Media platforms and use it as a way to promote your website or blog, products and services in a whole new way.
9. Install The “Pin-It” Bookmarklet To Your Browser
The Pin-It bookmarklet let’s you grab an image or video from any website and pin it to one of your boards in an instant.
Tip! Pin every blog post you write and let your Facebook and Twitter followers know they can follow your blog on Pinterest too.
Installing this ensures that you can quickly and easily pin top content to your boards as soon as you have found it creating a visually stimulating environment that others can re-pin and share in a similar way to Facebook but the original link is the important detail especially if it comes from your website.
10. Create A Products And Services Board
As with all Social Media platforms you will soon find yourself with a bad reputation of all you do is spam your customers with marketing message and promotions all day long.
You are basically saying “hello, now give me your money!”
A good way to allow people to get curious naturally is to create a Products And Services board. Check out some Fashion brands on Pinterest to see some great working examples of this.
Social Media And Your Business Today
Social Media is probably one of the most exciting marketing media for small business owners since TV first started showing commercials, yet so few small business owners I meet understand it, know how to use it or use it effectively to generate leads and grow their business.
That’s why I decided to step out from behind my computer this year and help. I have created a coaching program that is designed to help any small business owner go from Clueless to Clued Up about Online Marketing in just 6 weeks.
Read all the details by clicking here and subscribe for news of the first Live Project Lifestyle Event coming in the Spring of 2014.
To your passive income march success!
Why@dianecossie? ↑ Diane Cossie is the internet marketing director of Contemporary Log Living Ltd, ace creative online marketer, WordPress ninja, business strategist, motivator and creator of the Project Lifestyle Club.
She has a passion for sharing tips on health, wealth & wisdom for business owners and entrepreneurs who are hell-bent on designing and fulfilling their own “Project Lifestyle” business.
Freshly Squeezed Resources For Optimum Health, Vitality and Beauty For Any Fellow Babyboomers Out There Who Insist On Looking And Acting At Least 10-20 Years Younger Than Their Passport Reveals They Are!