Are You Wasting Your Time on Social Media?

We all know social media can be a powerful tool in the facilitation of conversation with customers, but could it also be a waste of your time? There is so much information floating around out there that it can be almost overwhelming, and a huge sinkhole for our valuable time. But, do not worry. Here are some pitfalls to avoid when engaging with social media:

Following too many blogs
I recommend subscribing to blogs that are relevant to your industry. However, be picky in the selection of which feeds to follow. Following a blog will do no good if you do not have the time to read it. It would be a good idea to set a timer and read no longer than you allow yourself. This will prevent sinking too much time in reading feeds and will allow your time to be better spend by responding to posts and engaging in conversations.

Reading every tweet, every Facebook post, and every other status update
Along the same idea as following too many blogs, there is just WAY too much content out there for anyone to keep up with. Follow people because they have something valuable to say, but once you begin following a crowd, it becomes difficult to read every single post. Don't feel guilty if you miss some posts, many are duplicates and no one can possibly know everything going on at any given time. I would advise making a favorites list or group to ensure you can catch everything from the most relevant people.

Following or friending too many people that are not a part of your community
Just because you receive a request does not mean you necessarily have to accept it. If you will not receive any benefit from the connection, why make it? Too many friends/followers will not provide you greater stats, it will eventually raise the question of whether you are spamming social media networks. Again, be picky and don't let anyone that is not relevant to your business or industry take up too much of your valuable time.

Checking social media networks too often
Some people I know try to constantly check their social media account to keep themselves up to date. This is not a useful endeavor. It is a huge waste of time. Instead, block off about half an hour for yourself to spend reading and replying to social media. Resist the urge to check up on your accounts every hour and use the time saved to create original content of your own.

Getting over involved in too many social media sites
Keep it to the most relevant sites to your immediate fan base. I would advise Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and blogs or forums. Beyond that, only join a network if it is industry specific and extremely popular within your industry. Do not be afraid to ask your customers where they spend time online and do not be afraid to try something new. Give your new ideas time to see if it works, and then change your strategy if you find it is not suiting your needs.

Social media is a great resource, but it can be a huge sinkhole for your priceless time. Follow these tips to save yourself time and gain the most social media has to offer you and your company.

How to Get Your Business Found in Google Local Search

Ever typed a business name or category into Google and saw a list of Google Maps results and their corresponding addresses plotted on a map? Well, that would be Google Places, a great feature of that allows businesses to list their addresses on Google Maps and be found when someone does a Google search for your industry near your location.

So how can you get your business to come up on a map in search results? EASY! Just list your business with in Google Places. Log in with your Google account (or you can create one), then follow the instructions to list your business. The important thing to remember here is that you want to be found in Google's local search, so you MUST list a local phone number. An 800 or 900 number will not work because these numbers do not have a local area code. Thus, you should list your local number to ensure you get the results you are looking for.

This is a great feature of Google, and an excellent tool for businesses because these results are front and center in search results and offer customers a visual of your location. This is essentially free advertisement in search results. Get your business listed today!

Oldest Twitter User Passes at 104

Ivy Bean, thought to be the oldest Twitter user, passed away July 28th in her care home in a small English town at the incredible age of 104.

Bean was very popular on Twitter, boasting more than 56,000 at the time of her death. She had tweeted over 1000 times and was also an avid Facebook user (which she joined at the ripe age of 102).

The news of her death was posted on Bean's Twitter account (@IvyBean104), which had been informing followers about Bean's deteriorating condition over the past few days.

The post reads:

Ivy passed away peacefully at 12:08 this morning...I'm sorry it took me so long to tell you but it was a very difficult thing to do.

Mrs. Bean shows us that social media knows no bounds. Networks such as Facebook and Twitter are open to anyone and everyone that wish to participate. You will be missed, Ivy.

How to Help Yourself with Yelp

These days most customers are either reading and/or writing online reviews for just about every business out there. Before buying a car, they may research the dealership. Before hiring a mover, they may check for reviews online. And, believe me they are going online and posting reviews if they feel ripped off or cheated.

As a result, services such as Yelp have become an important factor in the decision making process of consumers. What does this mean for you? It means a few things, actually.

First, your business should be on Yelp. Yelp allows businesses to create listings with the information necessary for consumers to find you. You can 'claim' your business to add phone numbers, store hours, menus, product offerins, etc. I would advise claiming your business and adding as much information as possible so potential customers are able to easily find you.

Also, stay on top of what customers are saying about your business online. If a customer posts an irate review that is full of errors or false information, Yelp allows business owners to dispute a review. Be sure to keep tabs of what customers are saying about you, then use the information to better yourself. If the reviews are untrue, dispute them and have them removed. You ultimately need to tap into what your customers think of your business, and Yelp is one of the places where people are really talking.

When Blogging, Avoid PR and Marketing

I know this sounds contrary to the goals you have for online marketing, but trust me. A blog that gives viewers information rather than attempting to sell them something will do wonders for both your image and your sales.

If you are maintaining your blog correctly, it should become a repository of analysis, opinions, tips, and tools that are provided by your company for the benefit of your customers. The insight and expertise that this type of blog can demonstrate is far more useful than any PR pitch or marketing stunt.

Avoid trying to sell your readers in your blog, this is not the place. Add information that provides value to your readers. Remember that your knowledge and opinions are priceless to your customers. If you don't have an opinion on a certain topic, feel free to poll your readers and get a feel for the view of your community.

Remember that blogging is your chance to take your mind off of marketing. Do this, and you will realize that the analysis you provide will sell your company better than any press release ever could.

QR Codes Now Appearing on Sanitation Trucks

QR codes now appear on roughly 2200 New York City Department of Sanitation trucks.  The QR codes pull up instructional videos that tell residents how to recycle.

Proving that QR codes may be the way consumers initially interact with companies in the future, the NYC Sanitation Department is leading the way with this public outreach effort.

Didn't I tell you yesterday this technology was going to be big?

Calvin Klein Replacing Racy Billboards with QR Codes

Calvin Klein billboard with QR code

Calvin Klein has replaced two of its billboards in New York and one in Los Angeles with a bright red QR code rather than another racy image of scantily clad models.

QR (short for quick response) codes are barcodes that can be scanned with a smartphone camera and then used to pull up special features or additional advertisements.  The code in the Calvin Klein

Previous Calvin Klein billboard

 billboards links to an exclusive "uncensored" commercial followed by links to share the ad with Facebook and Twitter.

These codes are appearing more frequently in traditional advertising in an effort to increase consumer engagement with brands.  This is an up and coming trend that is already popular in Japan and should be watched carefully by small businesses.  It may prove worthwhile to invest in this technology and include your own QR code in future advertisements.  The more consumers interact with your brand, the more likely they are to associate with and ultimately stick with the brand.