Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Getting your Business Started with a Facebook 'Like' Page
While teaching my Social Media for Small Business Course, my students have been asking alot about Facebook. They know the potential to increase awareness about their business is there, but aren't sure how to get started. I thought I'd shed some light on the keys ways to maximize your Facebook business page and what you need to focus on when starting out...
So, you've created your 'Like' page...now what?
Engage - Entertain - Educate
People judge books by their cover and people will judge your business if you don't have the proper information laid out for them. Your Facebook profile picture is the first impression people may have about you and your business. Make sure it's something related, eye-catching and flattering if it is a picture of you. Most of all make sure you have one.
The whole purpose of Facebook is for friends to connect, share information, photos and updates about what's going on in their lives. If you don't do the same with your business page, you're missing out and the REAL Facebook users will notice this. Add friends as soon as you can and you'll notice the word quickly spread that you're now on Facebook!
Your wall is your main platform to interact with Facebook users and your friends. Be interactive, make posts, comments and share your status updates. Make comments on behalf of your business but make sure you only do when it's relevant. ie. Jane says: I want a sandwich sooo bad!' Joe's Deli says: Come on down to Joe's! Italian meatball subs are on sale today!
YouTube is the second largest search engine next to Google. People love videos and pictures and the more you can share when them , the more they're likely to share with others. Create some DIY videos or a tour of your shop, introduce your employees or give a history of how your business came to be. Pictures are also great and also show you're properly engaging yourself online.
Hope this helps! Happy FBing! :)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Getting Hired with Social Media
I read an article on 5 ways Twitter can get you hired and found it very interesting but still lacking. As someone relatively new to Twitter and although I believe I'm following the right people, isn't it about them following me? I have leveraged my own branded message in my profile description and am hoping this might push me in the right direction...up.
The explanation of #hastags is a great idea and I do plan to use this more in the future. If you're in the same spot as me, check out the article for some great ideas.
Knowing Twitter is a big deal, it's safe to assume Facebook can be utilized in a similar way. In 5 Ways Facebook Can Get You Hired I think the most important idea is the status update but then again, how much is too much? With all these businesses and marketers joining Facebook, isn't the whole point of it being lost? As I tell my students in my Social Media for Business Course, don't try to broadcast your message all the time else you will be despised and disregarded by the online community. The idea is to be social, affiliate marketing is fine but use it sparingly...I'm learning to take my own advice.
Personally, I'm finding Linkedin to be a fantastic resource. Not only are there some great job postings, the discussions are a great way to ask questions and get answers to any number of PR related questions. Right now, my favourite is HAPPO - Help a PR Pro Out. Check it out!
I've applied to a number of jobs over the past few weeks, a few of which could be insanely fantastic but still the fateful question remains...when's my interview date??
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Teaching an Old Dog New Computer Tricks
Last night while teaching my Social Media for Small Business Course, we started to dive into websites; Developing one, key points for design, layout and content. Developing a website seems to be the hottest topic for these small business owners with the reoccurring questions: How do people find me on Google?
In my class I've introduced Wix as a great platform to start developing a website on. It's free and although Flash sites are said to be on their way out, it's still a great way to initiate your business on the web.
One gentlemen said to me, "I wish it was easier. I want it to have a step by step 'click here' and next 'click here'." I thought this interesting as personally, I thought Wix was already easy...can it get any easier?
People need to remember to be patient with themselves, especially when learning something new. No matter what we're learning, it takes time and patience and after putting in the time, it BECOMES easy. There is no 'click here for next step' button in other applications, it just comes with practice.
Below I've listed 5 personal pointers for anyone looking to develop their own site and get online:
1. Be patient - Rome wasn't build in a day and your site won't be either. Start by developing your content and being sure to include the correct information. From there you can decide if you want to add pages, change your layout, colour scheme etc. Content is key; step two is visual appeal.
2. Be happy - You're teaching yourself a new skill, a technical new skill, even! How long did it take you to understand Math or read the Ulysses? be proud of yourself for taking a giant leap forward in your personal development.
3. Ask for help - This was always my biggest issue in school, I hated asking for help but it's something I've had to get over to better myself There are thousands of articles, videos and people out there who are more knowledge able then you when it comes to social media and online techniques...ASK THEM! It's what they have what you need and often, they're offering it for free. Who knows, maybe you have something they need too!?
4. Dive right in - The best way to learn french is to go to France; become a cook is to experiment with different recipes. Submerse yourself in it and get involved! Join discussions on Linkedin and Facebook. Start up a Twitter account just to see what happens and how it works. The more you use these online tools, the more understanding you'll have about how they work and the quicker that knowledge will come.
5. Optimize you SEO - Your SEO or Search Engine Optimization, is the most important tool to get yourself found my internet search engines. With Wix you can change this under the Settings tab. Be clear in the words and phrases you choose and consider how people searching for your business might do so. Also, keep in mind that this does usually take about a month for Google to properly index your site.
Hope this helps! Enjoy! :)
In my class I've introduced Wix as a great platform to start developing a website on. It's free and although Flash sites are said to be on their way out, it's still a great way to initiate your business on the web.
One gentlemen said to me, "I wish it was easier. I want it to have a step by step 'click here' and next 'click here'." I thought this interesting as personally, I thought Wix was already easy...can it get any easier?
People need to remember to be patient with themselves, especially when learning something new. No matter what we're learning, it takes time and patience and after putting in the time, it BECOMES easy. There is no 'click here for next step' button in other applications, it just comes with practice.
Below I've listed 5 personal pointers for anyone looking to develop their own site and get online:
1. Be patient - Rome wasn't build in a day and your site won't be either. Start by developing your content and being sure to include the correct information. From there you can decide if you want to add pages, change your layout, colour scheme etc. Content is key; step two is visual appeal.
2. Be happy - You're teaching yourself a new skill, a technical new skill, even! How long did it take you to understand Math or read the Ulysses? be proud of yourself for taking a giant leap forward in your personal development.
3. Ask for help - This was always my biggest issue in school, I hated asking for help but it's something I've had to get over to better myself There are thousands of articles, videos and people out there who are more knowledge able then you when it comes to social media and online techniques...ASK THEM! It's what they have what you need and often, they're offering it for free. Who knows, maybe you have something they need too!?
4. Dive right in - The best way to learn french is to go to France; become a cook is to experiment with different recipes. Submerse yourself in it and get involved! Join discussions on Linkedin and Facebook. Start up a Twitter account just to see what happens and how it works. The more you use these online tools, the more understanding you'll have about how they work and the quicker that knowledge will come.
5. Optimize you SEO - Your SEO or Search Engine Optimization, is the most important tool to get yourself found my internet search engines. With Wix you can change this under the Settings tab. Be clear in the words and phrases you choose and consider how people searching for your business might do so. Also, keep in mind that this does usually take about a month for Google to properly index your site.
Hope this helps! Enjoy! :)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Now Hiring -insert dream job- !
It seems I know more than a handful of skilled yet unemployed people in the Communications industry (among many others) and I'm soon to be one of them.
Hopping from short-term contract to short-term contract with marginal pay is not what I had in mind for my 'career' when I entered school for Public Relations. The 'tips' I find online are hardly 'out of the box' thinking. So what's the deal?
I was top of my class, I volunteered for more special events and promotions gigs then anyone I know. I was elected Logistics Chair by my class for our event (I think that's saying something.) I landed myself a fantastic internship where I learned from the best of the best about writing, special events, advertising, marketing and communications in the corporate world. I've traveled the world and have a through understanding of various forms and methods of communications as well as a broad sense of the world we live in. I'm detail-oriented, hard working and left standing on the platform as the train of 'dream employment' drives off.
I've searched for months and don't get me wrong, I'm exceptionally grateful for the job I do have. It's in my field, I'm learning buckets of information about social media for business and developing myself as a social media strategist and the people I work for are great. But this is a temporary position and soon ending.
The saying 'it's not what you know, it's who you know', keeps jumping into my head and I want to swat it with a bat. I can only make so many new acquaintances in the industry without actually being very far in it. UPS should have called me back when I applied; maybe I should invite them to my Tupperware party.
I have a blog, I'm on Linkedin, I have Facebook and Twitter, I really don't know how many more connections I can make and hints I can drop without begging.
Maybe I'm too set on my 'perfect job'. Is it too much to want to work for a great company? To be proud of what they do and enjoy going to work every day? To better myself by working there and in turn, better them and their image? To have fun and make friends at the same time? Personally, I don't know many people have their 'dream job' but I can't lose faith, I know it's out there and I know it shall be mine!
What's that saying?...oh right...Keep Calm and Carry On.
Hopping from short-term contract to short-term contract with marginal pay is not what I had in mind for my 'career' when I entered school for Public Relations. The 'tips' I find online are hardly 'out of the box' thinking. So what's the deal?
I was top of my class, I volunteered for more special events and promotions gigs then anyone I know. I was elected Logistics Chair by my class for our event (I think that's saying something.) I landed myself a fantastic internship where I learned from the best of the best about writing, special events, advertising, marketing and communications in the corporate world. I've traveled the world and have a through understanding of various forms and methods of communications as well as a broad sense of the world we live in. I'm detail-oriented, hard working and left standing on the platform as the train of 'dream employment' drives off.
I've searched for months and don't get me wrong, I'm exceptionally grateful for the job I do have. It's in my field, I'm learning buckets of information about social media for business and developing myself as a social media strategist and the people I work for are great. But this is a temporary position and soon ending.
The saying 'it's not what you know, it's who you know', keeps jumping into my head and I want to swat it with a bat. I can only make so many new acquaintances in the industry without actually being very far in it. UPS should have called me back when I applied; maybe I should invite them to my Tupperware party.
I have a blog, I'm on Linkedin, I have Facebook and Twitter, I really don't know how many more connections I can make and hints I can drop without begging.
Maybe I'm too set on my 'perfect job'. Is it too much to want to work for a great company? To be proud of what they do and enjoy going to work every day? To better myself by working there and in turn, better them and their image? To have fun and make friends at the same time? Personally, I don't know many people have their 'dream job' but I can't lose faith, I know it's out there and I know it shall be mine!
What's that saying?...oh right...Keep Calm and Carry On.
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