Did you know people are talking about you and your company…. And what you don’t know CAN hurt you!
Today's post comes from social marketing expert Randy Hlavac. Many business managers have heard of social monitoring but think it is costly, complex, and require you hire specialists. These are all false. There are social monitoring systems which allow you to...
Checklist for a Great LinkedIn Profile
Show your full name – use the name people are likely to search on. For example, if people know you as Rich, it is better to use Rich than Richard. Upload a photo – let people see who they are connecting to. It’s good to be smiling; let your eyes show (no sunglasses)....
Do You Test Your Marketing Message?
A software company contacted us to share their tale of woe. They had invested a considerable amount in several marketing campaigns that produced fruitless results. They believed they needed to work with a marketing agency – they wanted agency expertise. But they had...
14 ways to Use Photos on Facebook for Retailers
When I visit Facebook, photos are the first thing to catch my attention. Images tell a story and evoke emotions in an instant. Photos compel people to share it with their friends. Do a search for articles on how to make the most of your Facebook page and most advise...
How Local Restaurants and Retailers Benefit from Location Based Services (LBS)
One thing I relish about my book club is discovering new restaurants. Book club members never disappoint with their selections. So when I arrived at a cafe for our meeting, I checked in on Foursquare, which is a location-based service (LBS). Those of us who use such...
35+ Twitter Ideas for Retailers
Retailers use Twitter to connect with customers, listen to feedback and share ideas. When you start using Twitter, the first two things you want to do is listen and respond. Find out what people are saying about your retail store and its competitors. If someone...
How to Use QR Codes in Retail and Restaurant Marketing
I rarely visit a nearby giant mall, so I don’t know where the stores are located. Whenever I go to there, I head straight to the map first thing. Rather than memorizing the locations of the stores I want, I use my phone to scan the QR code on the map to take it with...
Living in Gratitude
When you are running a business, it’s easy to get bogged down by the hundreds of details you have to attend to and your good mood can get lost in the mire. But it’s amazing how powerfully it can impact your business when you look past the little things that are going...
How Many Touches Make a Sale?
After you meet someone for the first time, you'll walk away knowing the person's name and maybe a tidbit or two. Every time you connect with that person you'll learn more, and that helps you decide whether that person is trustworthy and credible. Those connections,...
38 Twitter Ideas for Restaurants and Franchises
Twitter gives restaurant and franchise owners and employees a place to connect with customers, listen to customer feedback and get ideas. Yes, you want to promote your restaurant to compel people to stop by. However, focus on that too much and it's a recipe for social...
How to Amplify Your Social Network
is a powerful concept that is important to understand when you are setting goals for social networking programs. In my last two blog posts, I talked about what social capital is and how you can measure social capital. Amplifying an individual, business, or any...
3 Tools to Measure Social Capital
In my last blog post, I talked about what social capital is. Today I’m going to look at some tools you can use to analyze and measure your networks. When any type of group is created, be it a non-profit, a formal corporate hierarchy, a small business franchise, or...