It Ain't Always Good

Business owners should not allow the fear of receiving "negative comments/feedback" from sites such as Yelp stop us from adding user-generated content to our sites. Instead, all feedback/conversation - complimentary or not, should serve as an opportunity for owners to hear 'the voice' of our customers. There are some key points that we need to keep in mind when responding to 'the voice' of our customers::

{1} : Feedback builds authenticity

Posting the comments received from our customers- positive or negative- shows that our customer's thoughts are meaningful and important to our businesses/companies.

{2} : Negative Feedback helps our business identify areas that may need improvement,

change and or more attention.

Although difficult to hear, soliciting feedback from our customers affords businesses owners immediate insight into the thoughts of our customers/community and their responses/feelings about our products/services.  Immediate response from our market/community saves our businesses valuable time, money and research.  Customer/community review can impact management decisions.

{3} : NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE DAMAGE CONTROL

Negaive feedback from our customers/community allows business owners to address and remedy concerns and issues about our product/service IN REAL TIME. 

 We are always seeking to meet the needs of our community and target market. Adding user-generated content to our sites helps us embrace 'the voice' of our customers. To benefit most from 'the voice' of our customers, be certain to relate content to company mission and/or vision. Sam Decker, Chief Marketing Officer of Bazaar Voice Blog - "You simply cannot hide. Social networks are making it easy for people to share their opinions – and they’re doing it in real time. Ignore customer opinions at your own peril".

Does your site allow feedback from your community?  Have you received 'less than stellar' reviews/feedbacl from your community?  If so, how have you handled the 'negative' feedback? 

What are your thoughts?

Strategy:: Content Marketing

#5    

Make it easy for your audience to transition from learning from you to buying from you.

Information is key.

Thoughts?

Is Your Social Media Campaign Segmented?

photo via here::special thanx

Most companies would not implement the same marketing campaign to a 25-year old as they would to a 70 year old.  So why aren't companies exercising the same diligence when implementing a social media marketing campaign?

It can be said that one reason most company's marketing campaigns fail is because they segment customers by the age demographic instead of generation. Have you ever purchased media by the demo age 25-54 or 50 plus? Both of these demographics consist of three distinct generations ( Boomer, Generation X and the Echo Boomer) all of whom like different products and services and who are motivated to purchase for very different reasons.

Just like all of your company's marketing strategies, your social media marketing strategies should  provide a generational breakdown of your customer database as well as an analysis of your overall target markets. This process yields a solid plan of action by defining who your market is, how best to reach them, and how to craft a message specifically designed to increase conversions for each specific generation.  Understanding how generations, not just demographics, respond will assist you in successfully market the same product or service simultaneously to different generations (without alienating any one generation), by appealing to their mindset.


How to make it happen?  Get involved with your community.  Be transparent about your business/brand.  Learn all that you can about their business/brand. Learn what makes their generations unique, study their mindsets, and the influence they have on each other.

 Rock solid target market research has always proven to yield the information needed to effectively target generational mindsets and get you on the road to a successful social media campaign.

How much does generational research play into your company's marketing/advertising campaign?
Let's talk.

Measure It...

You've LinkedIn, mastered Twitter, have your fair share of Blog followers and finally set up your Facebook Business Page - now how do you know if it's working for you?

Download this free video to learn how to measure your effectiveness.

How have you been measuring your effectiveness?

How Google Works

Four Square :: Unlock Your World

 Foursquare is the latest craze among the social media savvy. Members actively use the site to check in with friends from other social networks - including Twitter and Facebook. The Foursquare app that is downloaded onto any smartphone, lets members update each other of their whereabouts.  The same app can be downloaded and used by logging onto the Foursquare website.

So how can business owners help members "unlock the world of Foursquare?  After creating an account, members can immediately start to reach out to your friends from anywhere you are. Business owners establish a business account and can, also immediately start to use Foursquare as leverage to your marketing campaign.  Engage your Foursquare mobile clients with " 'Specials' which are discounts and prizes that you offer to your loyal customers when they check in on Foursquare at your venue".  Promote your business' involvement on Foursquare by posting the information on your Website, Blog site, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Need more info? 

Check out this short informational video

What's your thoughts on Foursquare?
 How will you use this platform to promote your business?

Let's Talk...

Does Your Landing Page Have Curb Appeal?

(pic via here::special thanx)

Visitors are great, but leads are better.  An effective landing page is essential to changing your 'Followers' to leads/clients.   It is the first point of contact for your potential clients.  Is your page's content a logical extension of the advertisement or link that initially brought potential clients to you site?  Is the page optimized to feature specific keywords or phrases (for indexing by search engines) ?  Does your page allow for interactions that a useful and pleasant experience for potential/actual clients?  Is it structured to appeal to your target audiences?


Information on your landing page should be relevant to the visitor.  If your landing page functions as reference type of page, then your marketing goals is to focus on lead generation and interaction with the visitor.  Effective landing pages meet the objective of the publisher with its success being measured by the revenue value of the advertising that is displayed on them.

Trying to persuade your visitor to respond and/or complete a transaction?  The goal of this type of landing page, referred to as transactional, is being the immediate or eventual sale of your product and/or service. 
If information is to be captured, the page will usually withhold information until some minimal amount of visitor information is provided, typically an email address and perhaps a name and telephone number as well – enough to "capture the lead" and add the prospect to a mailing list..


The overall goal of your landing page is to improve the percentage of visitors to your website that become sales leads and customers .  Frankly, to convert more visitors into sales leads or better still - clients.

Spread the Love...

{click here to enlarge image::special thanx}

Because of RSS feeds, the news you want to read about comes right into your inbox.

Your fav 5 {or 6, or 7, etc...} can be delivered directedly into our inbox!  I found this social media chart, constructed by Chris Watson and wanted to share it with you.  "What's so great about this mass entanglement of a {?}confusing algorithm"?  Chris points out 30 FREE websites that allow you to share your content and, in turn, have your community reciprocating the love...You said that you wanted to know how to reach your target audience!

He writes,"This visualization was made to inform {you} on how easily and effectively you can use the web to build an online presence through free sites. feeds amd monitor progress".  Yes!!  While the use of social media as a marketing tool, may be new for some of you, this diagram will assist you in taking the steps to learn about social media in general.  And,  how your own community can help tell your storie{s} and help extend your brand.