SMM Toolbox – Visual Sites

Many social media sites now emphasize visuals–photos, videos, and other images. As a business owner you can utilize such sites to visually present your business, products, and services. Visual sites are a growing trend, and some already established networks, including Google+ and Facebook, allow site users to post videos and photos on their existing pages. Other sites, including those discussed in this blog entry, are strictly visual and rely more on images and video than text.

YouTube

Today, a great deal of social networking centers around multimedia. YouTube provides a beneficial forum for business owners to broadcast detailed images or dialogue about their businesses. If you recently remodeled or opened a new location, or would just like to show off your current location or products, creating a YouTube channel allows you to upload videos of your business, employees, and customers. You can also add dialogue and links to the videos to enhance your customers’ viewing experiences. Utilizing YouTube and video provides you with a way to visually present your business.

YouTube allows you to upload and store many videos, creating an entire archive of media content about your business. YouTube’s video statistics help you to track video usage and view trends of high activity to determine what works best for your business and to gain increased exposure. To enhance the visual appeal of your YouTube channel, you have the option of adding your business logo and a cover photo, similar to those used on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

YouTube enables you to track your video statistics.

YouTube videos can easily be embedded on your website, and the video links can be added to other social media pages as well, including Facebook and Google+. Customers using these sites will be able to play the videos directly on each site. It is important to keep in mind that people are interested in people. Posting videos of employees and happy customers will show potential customers that others appreciate your business and may attract an even larger following.

Pinterest

Pinterest is one of the newest and most-discussed forms of social media. It relies on “pinboards” of images that are created and then bookmarked by individual users. Pins are images that can be grouped in any way you like, on boards that site users create and name. As a business owner, you can utilize Pinterest to present images of your business or products and services. These images can be taken from your website and then added to your Pinterest boards. When customers see these boards and pins, they can “repin” the images onto their own boards. Their Facebook and Twitter followers will receive a notification that they repinned your image, and can then log on to find the image themselves. When you create pins, you have the option of making the pin a link to your website. Customers who view the pin will then be automatically redirected to your website. You can also add your website url as a caption.

Business owners can create Pinboards to highlight their businesses.

As a visual media, Pinterest allows for customization and flexibility. You can create a pin from virtually any image on your website, which customers can then access on their own and broadcast to their networks. Pinterest also requires little maintenance: once your Pinterest account and business boards are running, there is little follow-up work needed.

Instagram

Instagram is another photo-based social networking site. Instagram relies solely upon images, which can be edited using a variety of tints and shades, as well as photo effects. Images of food are especially well-suited for and popular on Instagram. As with YouTube, photos of your employees and customers will also be well-received and will provide effective positive marketing for your business. By posting images of your products and services and individuals associated with your business on Instagram, you can reach a new network of individuals.

With Instagram you can post images of your products in action.

Additionally, Instagram can be integrated with Facebook and Twitter, so your Facebook followers will also be notified of your Instagram posts. We discussed Instagram’s utility for businesses in our post on November 9, 2012, “Instagram for Businesses”. Please click here to view this post.

Social Media Toolbox Wrap-up

Social media sites are a great marketing tool allowing you and your customers to interact. Each type of social media offers different benefits, so be sure to maximize your social media marketing by posting the most appropriate content on the right social media sites. If customers respond to your posts, engage with them! The goal of business-oriented social media is not only for you to share information, but to also interact with your customers. Utilizing a wide range of networks suited to your business will help you to optimize your online social media presence. Explore the social network options available and find out which results in the highest customer response!

Social Media of all types can aid your business.

By Alissa Monti

SMM Toolbox – Facebook

Facebook is one of the largest and most well-known social networks. There are many ways that you can use it to market your business, products, and services.

Facebook

Used by hundreds of millions worldwide, Facebook provides your business with the potential to reach a large number of people quickly. Facebook’s international basis can bring you into contact with customers who may be from other areas of the world and help you expand your customer base. Facebook allows you to share photographs, videos, or text-based content with your customers and let them know that you are committed to enhancing their experiences with your business. You can also set up polls or events. Each of these tools provides customers with the opportunity to interact with you, which can help expand your visibility and following. Your customers’ friends can see this activity and also interact with you and your business.

Facebook Insights help you track the number of people who view your posts.

Facebook Insights  provide you with a visual breakdown of your business page’s interaction with customers. Using Facebook Insights lets you see how effective your Facebook marketing is. Facebook Insights are available to business page owners and provide helpful charts, such as the one at left, to show you how many people view your posts and how many of them in turn comment, like, share or act on your posts. This can help you determine what types of content, photos or other posts work best.

In addition to Facebook Insights, business owners can set up Facebook ads. When setting up a Facebook ad, you can target specific audiences based on interests, lifestyle, geographic area, and other criteria. Your ad will then appear in the browsers of Facebook users who fit your geographic range and have the interests that you selected. The ad provides a link to your page, event, app, or website so Facebook users can easily reach your content while browsing Facebook.

You can also use sponsored stories to promote interaction with your business. A sponsored story briefly describes an action taken by an individual in relation to your Facebook page. For example, a sponsored story could state “John Smith and two other fans like Your Business”. This sponsored story can then appear in the right-hand margin and on fans’ newsfeeds, both on desktop computers and on mobile devices. Because of the newsfeed appearance and social context, these ads often outperform standard Facebook ads and have lower costs per click.

Sponsored stories can be used to promote posts about your business.

There are other payment-oriented ways of utilizing Facebook advertising, including promoted posts. When utilizing promoted posts, you will pay one rate to have whichever types of posts that you select (text, photos, etc.) display on the newsfeeds of page fans and their friends. You are also able to control interest groups and demographics. To learn more about utilizing Facebook for Business and setting up business ads, please click here.

Our Next Post…

Will examine visual social media sites, including YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.

By Alissa Monti

SMM Toolbox – Google+ and LinkedIn

As a business owner, you have many social media options available to you. The options may seem overwhelming, but all forms of social media can help you spread word of your business and provide you with beneficial, network-based advertising. The trick is to understand your options and decide what will work best for you. We will publish a series of blog posts discussing various social media networks and the ways that business owners can use them. In this post, we will present the benefits of Google+ and LinkedIn.

Google+

Google+ is still growing, but has many current users worldwide. This site allows users to create customized circles based on relationships and interests. For example, you can have circles labeled “friends” or “coworkers” or “fellow gym users”. Websites can contain the Google+ link, allowing page viewers to share content from these pages on Google+. If you add the +1 option to your own website, customers viewing your site can use this to publicly endorse your business, which will be displayed on your website, in searches, and in users’ circles.

Your customers can add your business page to their Google+ circles.

Google+ allows business owners to add videos and photos and create media-rich pages. The site integrates well with other Google products such as Gmail and YouTube, so customers who utilize those products can easily interact with you through Google+. Many businesses already have a Google+ social page, but by verifying your social page you can convert it to a Google+ local page. Doing so will allow your business to show up on Google maps and gives customers the option to leave reviews about your business. To learn more about Google+ local and social pages, click here.

Google+ also offers “hangouts” so site users can set up teleconferences with customers or employees around the country or around the world. Hangouts are open to up to nine people and can be used to create and share training videos, conduct long-distance interviews, network with colleagues, and share business news. Google+ hangouts provide a video platform from which to interact with others.

An additional benefit Google+ offers is its search engine optimization (SEO) potential.  Google is one of the most widely used search engines and utilizes a complex weighting system to rank internet pages. Whenever internet users conduct searches, the page results that appear are ranked in order of relevance, as determined by Google.  As a Google product, Google+ is weighted high and and a content-rich page can rank very easily, particularly in local search. Google+ results will appear higher in internet searches than other types of social media pages. This added exposure can help potential customers more easily find your business online.

LinkedIn

As a social media tool, LinkedIn not only allows business owners to reach customers, but also enables them  to interact with their colleagues and potential employees. LinkedIn is intended for professional interaction, and as such is ideally suited to business interaction. Potential employees can post their resumes, qualifications, and educational history, while business owners can list job postings and news about their company and industry for other users to follow, and view resumes to recruit potential employees. LinkedIn contains groups for people with related interests, so local business owners or colleagues can create forums for dialogue. These forums are used to discuss local concerns or business trends, as well as to share ideas. Once you have a LinkedIn profile you can set up a LinkedIn business page to provide detailed information about your business and its offerings.  Potential customers viewing these business pages can learn more about your company, as well as products and services that you offer. They can also follow you for updates and other information.

In Our Next Post…

We will discuss Twitter and Foursquare, and their potential business applications.

By Alissa Monti

Managing Your Reputation Online

In today’s world, managing your reputation online is extremely important. However, as a small business owner, you have many other priorities, and who has the time to set up and manage a plethora of review sites?  Having an outside company willing to help you with your online reputation is a great way to have cost effective and efficient reputation management.    There are many companies offering Reputation Management products, so it’s imperative to understand what needs to be done; how Reputation Management services can help; and what the long-term benefits are for your business.

Online listings allow people to post reviews about your business.

Setting up Business Listings

Get started managing your reputation online by setting up listings on sites that pertain to your business, you never know where people are looking.  There are many review sites, directory sites and search engines offering free business listings, so setting them up may be time consuming, and having a third party’s help can be critical to minimizing your costs, after all, your time is valuable.   These listings are a great way to provide your information for many people to see, so it’s key to supply all of the essentials. Depending on the site settings, some of the extra details you provide may help with SEO, and could end up ranking as well!  Basic listings will include:  address, links to websites, descriptions of the business, hours of operation, payments accepted, and pictures.

Maintaining consistency lets customers locate you easily.

Keeping the information consistent helps eliminate confusion for potential customers.  Even simple things like deciding to abbreviate ‘street’ or providing your office suite number should remain the same for all listings. Generally, providing complete information for your listing will allow your business location to be marked on a map.

Online Reviews

The business listings provide a place for customers to write about their experiences–good or bad–with their company, but also enable you to post responses to these reviews.   Posting responses can aid in engaging your customer base and demonstrates your involvement with their experiences. Often, potential customers will read your reviews and make a decision whether to use your company. According to most studies, 70% of local consumers use reviews before making a purchase, so it’s increasingly important to pay attention to what people are saying about your business and act accordingly.  Although there are guidelines and regulations for posting reviews, customers are essentially able to say what they want, whether is it true or not.  This can be problematic; however, when posting responses, the best approach is to be personal yet careful of your wording so you don’t add fuel to the fire.

Many review sites have noticed the number of false reviews that have been posted and have made huge strides in recent months to decrease and eventually eliminate the fake reviews altogether.  The opportunity to post a review from an ‘anonymous’ user is no longer an option on sites such as Google+Local, Yelp and YellowPages.  From a business perspective, this change will create a better way for you to connect with users writing reviews; decrease the number of fake reviews; and provide genuine feedback that you as an owners can use to better your businesses.

Responding to customer posts demonstrates your interest in customers’ experiences.

Customers may post positive or negative reviews, and there are many benefits to responding to both kinds of posts.  Responding to negative reviews shows potential customers that you are willing to accept responsibility for an issue and work hard to resolve it.  It’s important to respond to the reviews with a clear head–having someone removed from the situation edit the response before posting it can be beneficial, because once it’s posted there is no taking it back! Reputation Management services can provide this third party interaction and aid you with responses.

On the other hand, if you choose to ignore negative reviews or come across as overly aggressive in your responses, your actions may work against you.  Potential customers may see a negative review without a response from the owner and decide to take their business elsewhere. Coming across as defensive can also harm your business, so when responding to reviews think of how others will interpret your response and never pass blame to the customer.  No matter what the review says, always let your customer know you value their feedback.

Using the Internet to Benefit Your Business

Staying connected to your customers is a great way to help your reputation online and in turn will help your business.  Use the directory, review and social media sites to your advantage by posting articles, specials and upcoming events.  Having that online connection can help tremendously with your overall reputation.  Just remember to keep your cool when responding to reviews; always add detailed information to listings; and be active on social media sites, and you should see positive results.

By Hannah Morrish

Social Interaction through Social Media

Interaction through Social Media

Social media is a form of interaction that you and your customers share. Providing customers with the opportunity to “like” your Facebook posts, follow your tweets, and +1 your Google+ page engages customers and allows them to keep up with advances in your business, but responding to customer interest opens a dialogue. Through this dialogue you, as a business owner, can gain an idea of what customers most appreciate about your business. Customers may provide you with valuable feedback about aspects of your business that are functioning extremely well, as well as let you know of areas that may need improvement. Some social media sites, such as Facebook, include notification services that allow customers to see what new posts you have made on your social media page. These services, such as the Facebook news feed, track your customers’ interactions with you and broadcast these interactions to your respective social media networks. This interaction expands your social media reach  and enhances its effectiveness.

Facebook

Many business owners are familiar with utilizing Facebook to post content about their businesses and to advertise events. It is important to remember, however, that customers will become more engaged with your business if you interact with them through your Facebook page.

Allowing customers to leave posts about their experiences with your business or to upload photographs of their visit enables them to become involved in a dialogue with you and with other customers. Additionally, when they upload these photographs or leave posts about your business, their friends will receive notification through their own news feeds. News feed notifications allow your business’s name to spread to an even larger social network. As a business owner, you can also upload photographs of customers at your business and allow customers to tag themselves. The photographs in which they tag themselves will then appear in their own photo collections on Facebook. Friends of people who are tagged in the photographs you posted will then see your business when viewing these photographs.

Posting photographs of events allows customers to see other customers enjoying themselves.

You can also take photographs at events or at any other time during the year and post them on your social media sites to show customers what kinds of events are available. Junction Bar and Grill posted photographs from a St. Patrick’s Day party on Facebook. These photographs show groups of people enjoying themselves. Customers who view these images will see other customers enjoying themselves, and can then post comments or tags. Your company’s connections can expand exponentially in this manner and reach audiences of which you may have been previously unaware. Customers can also share photographs and posts on their own timelines, using the share option available  on each posting on your business timeline.

Allowing your customers to provide feedback or to offer an opinion demonstrates your interest in their experiences with your business and shows that you are interested in their points of view. Additionally, this type of interaction encourages them to visit your Facebook page, and likely your business, more frequently to check for responses and other customers’ postings.

As an alternative means of communication, you can begin an interactive conversation with customers  by posting either an open-ended question or a poll. Customers can then leave feedback and answer your questions, and this action will be visible to their friends on their respective news feeds.

Facebook offers custom polls with graphic designs.

The Barrel Saloon posted a poll that asks customers about their favorite kinds of Christmas trees. This question is not directly related to the company’s business, but is a topic likely to be relevant and of interest to many customers.

Posting amusing questions will engage customers and consequently their friends will be made aware of your interaction through news feed notifications. Polls and other posts, however, have the added benefit of increasing your page’s EdgeRank with your customers and with their friends. EdgeRank refers to the algorithm that Facebook uses to determine which stories appear in an individual’s news feed, and is dependent upon factors such as relationship to the post’s creator; the weight Facebook assigns to the post type; and the time since the post’s creation. Every Facebook user’s news feed is different because Facebook takes personal interests into consideration when assigning  EdgeRank scores. Thus the same posting by the same business will receive a different EdgeRank score for each person who interacts with the page. Because of EdgeRank, if one of your customers “likes” a post that you make, they will then be more likely to see later posts that you make. For more information please visit http://whatisedgerank.com/ or http://www.insidefacebook.com/2011/12/27/edgerank-and-graph-rank-defined/.

Google+

Google+ is emerging as a powerful new way of communicating with customers. Aside from event postings, photographs and videos that you can place on your page, adding other types of content attracts customers to your page. While there, they can explore the links and media that you have available and can then “follow” your page by adding you to their circles. Customers can also select the +1 option to endorse information you have provided to their respective followers.

Google+ can help you broadcast videos and future events.

The Ferrari posting advertises an event to car enthusiasts; provides a link; and also includes a video. There are 281 +1s for this page and 17 individuals have responded to this posting. Postings such as this allow customers to engage with the dialogue and to share their interests and opinions with their own networks and with business owners. The more activity you generate, the more likely your Google+ page will  be seen by others.

Additionally,  if your customers add you to their Google+ circles you can then add them as well.  Doing so allows you to engage with them on their Google+ posts and encourages reciprocation and mutual exchange. As an added benefit, you will become more visible to the other members of your customers’ Google+ circles. You can also add other businesses to your circles.

Twitter

Posting brief snippets of content about your business can easily grab customers’ attention, and allowing them to “follow” you on Twitter ensures that your customers are able to keep up with news about your business. As with other forms of social media, your customers can respond to these postings. Additionally, your customers can retweet these postings to allow their followers to learn more about your business. You can also post quotes or facts that you find interesting or funny. These posts may not directly relate to your business, but will engage customers and help to spread your business’s name. The posting from Surfin Turf Landscape will appeal to gardeners, landscapers, and butterfly enthusiasts alike. Twitter users can retweet the posting, as someone did with this one. Replies to this tweet can also be added, or the tweet can be added to a Twitter user’s favorite postings list.

Twitter can be used to provide advice to followers.

Twitter allows site users to upload photographs, so adding a photograph to your tweets can provide more detailed information that cannot be contained in the site’s 140-character maximum. Posting photographs, or catchy tweets, engages your customers and provides a forum through which they can respond.

You can also follow others who follow you or utilize Twitter search to identify other topics and Twitter users of interest to you and your business. Doing so will further spread your business’s name and insert it into a wide range of conversations. For example, automotive mechanics may follow other automotive mechanics or individuals who tweet about auto repairs. Following other Twitter users encourages them to reciprocate and demonstrates your engagement with others. Additionally you can respond to postings that other users have made.

Using Social Media to Promote Your Business

As described, social media provides you with a powerful platform from which to promote your business. No matter which types of social networking sites you use, you can share content with your customers and encourage them to interact with you. Promoting a high level of customer involvement allows customers to engage with you and your business and can result in a more interested and dedicated customer base.

By Alissa Monti

Social Media: A Small Business’ Ultimate Gift

With the holidays here, shoppers are more reliant on the internet than ever before. Shoppers will be browsing the web searching for the best deals, therefore it’s best to gear up your social media sites for the holiday season. The ultimate gift that any business can use to their full potential this holiday season is social media.

There are many ways you can use social media as your “holiday advantage”. But because these tactics could be as long as Santa’s list, here are a few helpful tips to show your business’ holiday spirit through your social media sites.

Make your list, and check it twice!

Before you begin your social media campaign for the holidays, make up a little check list of the goals that you would like to reach. Whether it is 500 more likes on your page, or to let your fans know about the “Coats for Kids” drive, make sure your goals are measurable and achievable during the holiday season.

Decorate Your Page

Whether it is a blizzard of snowflakes as your cover photo, or a bow wrapped around your logo, a little decoration shown on your social media accounts can attract shopper’s eyes as they browse the internet this holiday season. That little hint of winter elegance can draw shoppers to see what your business has to offer for the season.

What’s your favorite holiday memory?

The people that use social media the most use it for fun. The one thing that is the most annoying is seeing nonstop advertising on your news feeds. If you’re trying to connect with your customers and actually want them to see the few advertisements that are on your page, try connecting with them on a more intimate level. One way to get the attention of your fans is to start the conversation with them. By proposing a question for your fans to answer, such as their favorite holiday memory, or posting fun facts about the holiday season, they will be more inclined to share, comment or like your post, by exposing your message and future messages to a wider audience.

A Special Gift for You!

Who doesn’t like a deal? By offering your fans exclusive discounts, sales, or giveaways, they can be more inclined to spread the word about your business.   Whether it’s an exclusive coupon for those that share your post or making someone the fan of the week on your Facebook page, offering your fans some type of reward can drive them to spread the word about your business.

‘Tis the Season

The holiday season is definitely an eventful time of year, so let social media be your event coordinator. By posting special sales, charity events, food drives, or even special giveaway days- social media can be your key to getting people involved and creating opportunities to get more business. Not only is this a great way to get your fans to participate or attend your events, but it’s a great way to show that your company cares about your customers.

Don’t forget to try and include all of the holidays during this December, not just the one you celebrate. By providing your fans with a little business holiday spirit, you’re more than likely to see a large increase in business and in your social media activity as well.

By Katie McGinnis

Promoting Events with Social Media

Whether you are planning a special sale, advertising meal specials, or holding a once-in-a-lifetime event, you can use social media to let a wide network of people know about your events. Different forms of social media allow you to spread word of your events in different ways, but it is important to remember that the style and content of the event promotion should be intended to attract customers.

Promotion

Facebook wall posts can be used to broadcast event information to all page viewers. These events are open to all who would like to attend. The posts contain information about events that are available to patrons, and present all necessary information for patrons wishing to enjoy the event.

One-time event postings can be used to reach many people at once.

Some events may be recurring, and can contain attention-grabbing images.

The Il Palio Restaurant post advertises a concert at the restaurant and provides the time, artist, and phone number for reservations. This is a one-time event, but recurring events, such as classes, can also benefit from Facebook posts.  The image at right highlights yoga classes available at a spa. Information regarding time, price, supplies, experience level, and location are all available. This posting also includes a photograph, which is a great way of attracting customers to the event. Images such as the one in this posting will stand out in customers’ newsfeeds and catch their eyes. Customers can post comments or like either of these postings.

Google+ can also be used for event postings. For example, Google+ updates can provide the information customers will need to attend a lecture. Additionally, they can comment on the posting, and +1 it so that it will appear on their own page.

Google+ also offers customers the ability to respond to event postings.

Twitter is another beneficial way of promoting events. Using 140 characters or fewer, you can post a brief explanation of your event. Twitter also allows users to link their formal events through tweets. Your Twitter followers can thus learn about your events, even if they do not use Facebook or Google+.

Formal Event Pages

Formal event postings allow you to write explanatory text, send out invitations to a handful of people or to thousands of people, post photos, and track who will attend and who cannot attend. Customers can post comments about the event and you can respond to them. Additionally, an event that is categorized as “open” allows your customers to send out their own invitations to the event so that their friends can attend as well. Facebook events allow for a great deal of customer interaction with your business.

Formal events allow you to track attendees and give attendees the opportunity to interact with one another and you.

Google+ also allows site users to set up formal events. Formal event postings can provide the event information, and also allows those who have been invited to the event to RSVP. Open events without an RSVP option can still permit comments on the event and can still be shared.

Google+ also offers formal event creation.

Event postings can also be used to promote charity events sponsored by other organizations.

Updates can  be used by one business to advertise for other businesses or events. This type of posting has the added benefit of promoting a charitable cause and demonstrates the posting business’s investment in the local community and community concerns.

By Alissa Monti

Black Friday and Social Media for Businesses

The holidays are right around the corner, and we all know what that means; holiday shopping. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, and essentially kicks off the holiday shopping season. With hundreds of deals floating around the Internet, one of the best ways for companies to reach customers is through social media. More companies are utilizing platforms like Facebook, FourSquare, and Twitter to advertise deals and promotions. 30% of all mobile device users utilize social media applications, meaning customers have constant access to social media sites at their fingertips. Learn the best ways to promote Black Friday deals, just in time for the shopping season to begin!

Best Buy’s over photo reminds page visitors to stop by on Black Friday and to use their Page for previews on the upcoming deals.

Check-in Specials

While customers use Facebook to socialize, many also connect with Facebook pages for brands and stores. Post your Black Friday shopping deals and promotions to your Facebook timeline, days before the deals go public. One way you can get customers involved in your Facebook page is by asking users to “check-in” to your store on Foursquare to receive a deal such as 20% or 30% off. Customers can do this by checking-in to the store from their mobile device and showing the cashier, who will then take the discount off their purchase. This is a great way for companies to get customers to visit their Facebook and Foursquare pages and show activity. A check-in notification will also show up on the customer’s Facebook and Twitter pages, which will alert their friends as well. Offers like this will make customers feel as though they are receiving the best deals possible.

Foursquare lists some examples of Special Deals provided for customers who have checked-in.

JCPenney encourages holiday shopping!

Page Activity

Another way a company can use Facebook to incorporate a Black Friday deal is by generating “likes” to on their page. For example, a company can post a photo or a link of a certain product or coupon and instruct users to “like” the photo to receive a deal on that product. Some companies will even offer promotions that are limited to fans of their Facebook page, which is a great way for your company to reach out to customers who want to receive special promotions and deals through social media.

With the rise of digital and social media, the best way for companies to keep up with the times is to advertise using these platforms. Especially during the busiest shopping day of the year, Black Friday, customer’s are always looking for a good deal on their favorite Christmas presents. Combining a customer’s love of a good sale and their favorite products through social media is the best way to attract interest in your company. Shoppers are always looking for ways to save money; social media can help find these deals at the tips of their fingers.

By Courtney O’Brien

Instagram for Business

Instagram is a mobile photo-sharing app that makes your photos look like they were taken by a brilliant photographer. It allows you to take a photo and then edit it through a number of filters and tools to create a visually pleasing photo. Once you’ve added your filters, the photo will be posted to your Instagram profile.  Once you’ve uploaded it to your Instagram feed, you can also choose to share the photos to your other social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as well.  (Think of it as a Twitter, but with photos.)

When people follow your account on Instagram, it gives them the ability to like and comment on your photos which can get the buzz going about your company. The more followers you get, the more viral your company becomes. Not only are you connecting with your customers on an intimate level, but the application you’re using to do so is free too!

If you’re considering using Instagram for your business, here are some quick tips on how have the best, “Instagramming experience” possible for your business.

Show how delicious your donut is.

Show Off Your Products

Instagram is the perfect place to show what your business has to offer. Whether you are testing out your newest brew of beer, or wearing your fresh pair of sneaks, show it off on Instagram. A good photo creates a way of life and shows how the products are actually being used. If you can create a specific lifestyle that your products have to offer the more attracted people are going to be to your product. The more likes you get on specific photos, the better the understanding your company has for what your customer base is looking for.

All-Access Pass

SMM bought themselves fun new chairs to sit on while they work!

Give your followers the inside scoop with anything that involves your business. Allow Instagram to be the ultimate VIP pass to know everything about your company. Post pictures of your work environment, a few photos of your employees, a behind the scenes look at any event or fundraiser you’re a part of. Take photos of how your products are made, what types of materials you’re using or who you’re meeting with.  By doing so, you’ll make your followers feel they have a deeper connection with your company and are more likely to tell others about your business.

#hashtag

You’ve probably heard the term “hashtags” being used because of the increasing popularity of Twitter, Google+, and now, Instagram. A hashtag is a “tag”, that can be added to each photo that you post or comment that you make. Hashtags are used to categorize your photos by other users using the same hashtag. When users search Instagram for photos, they search for photos categorized with specific hashtags.

Hashtag examples.

How do I make one? In order to create a hashtag, you simply add “#” before the word you want to tag. One tricky thing about hashtags, is that they do not allow for spaces, so something like, “World Series” would be tagged as “#worldseries”.

How can you use this as a business?  Say you own a donut factory, and snap a photo of your ridiculously delicious donuts hot out of the oven.  By hashtagging the photo with #donuts, or other related terms (#food, #dessert, #tastytreats – the possibilities are endless), you are making your photo available to anyone searching Instagram for those terms.   An added bonus is that someone can click through to your hashtag from a friend’s photo that also used the tag – almost a passive sharing of your photo (albeit indirect).

CAUTION-Don’t post too often

We’ve all seen it. The person who posts too much about the same stuff that no one cares about. You don’t want to be this person on Instagram because no one wants to follow these accounts. Make sure not to post every hour of everyday. Instead, a post once a day will suffice. Maybe even two. Anyway, only post the things that you think people will like. Eventually you’ll get the feel for what your followers respond to the most.

Think of your Instagram identity as a mullet- business in the front, party in the back. On your Instagram account not all posts should be trying to sell a product or be only advertising. Too much business in the face can be unattractive to your users. Use your business Instagram account to give your business the character you want your customers to see- a little party in the back never hurt anyone.

The moonman is a historical symbol of MTV, what is precious to your business?

Be a Storyteller

“Pictures speak louder than words.”-Duh. Post pictures of your brand in action. Post news about your company, where it’s been, where it’s going. Make your followers the first to know about what’s soon to come, and encourage your followers to tag your company in any product they use or have. By creating an identity for your company, people are more likely to recognize it. Hopefully, once they hear the news about your company, they’ll spread the word too.

Make it fun!

One of the best ways to attract your followers is to give them a way to interact with your company. With Instagram, one of the best ways to do this is by creating some type of photo contest or promotion. Give them a topic to base their photos off of with a hashtag. Back to the donut factory reference, tell your followers to take a photo of them with one of your donuts, and then hashtag it; #Bestdonutever @YourBusinessName for a free donut on their next visit.

By Katie McGinnis

Jimmy Fallon participating in his #DIYHalloweencostume hashtag.

Coca Cola showing his cool.

Politics 101 for Businesses

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney – 2012 Presidential Candidates

It’s voting season- which means every social media site is flying with a number of different opinions about which candidate they are going to vote for and why. Although you may not think about it, posting your personal political opinions on your business page could potentially turn away customers. When using your social media sites, it’s best to keep your business persona separate from your personal beliefs. With every post you make, it’s possible that someone is going to disagree with it; especially when it comes to politics. To keep your business from making anyone angry, here are a few tips on political etiquette for your social media sites during voting season.

Business Persona vs. Personal Views

Don’t butt heads with your customers!

You wouldn’t go into the office everyday in your pajamas and slippers. Why? Because it’s unprofessional. Most of your customers support your business for what skill, trade or product you have to offer, not what your political beliefs are. So, why would you want to share your (very strong) personal views with your customer base? When it comes to voting season, isn’t it best to stay neutral on your social media sites rather than risk the chance of losing customers?

Encourage Voting and Political Literacy

Encourage Voting!

Now, I’m not saying you don’t have to go under the radar completely. Encourage people to get out there and vote. Most people already know who they’re going to vote for; the article you  posted with a funny cartoon probably won’t change their mind. It would be better to encourage your customers to keep up with current politics, than to push your own political beliefs. If your customers don’t know who they’re voting for yet and are interested in educating themselves, your Facebook page is the last place they’ll turn to for information.

Try to keep your personal opinions away from your business page. Taking a political stance can risk damaging your business’ reputation, ultimately being counter productive. Even little things can have a large impact on the way your customers view your business.

By Katie McGinnis