SmallBusinessNewz

What if You Can't Depend on Social Networks?

So you could argue that the Achilles heel of most social media programs is that we’re all, in some way, increasingly relying on a variety of third party services and tools to augment our efforts online — and with that reliance comes an assumed risk that these services will remain accessible and dependable all the time, especially when we need them most.

Social Media and ROI

As the popularity of social media continues to change the way people interact with each other and with companies, The Aberdeen Group found that top performing organizations that are using Web 2.0 applications are getting better than usual Return on Marketing investment. (ROMI) The study divides the companies polled into Best-in-Class, Industry Average and Laggards.

Another Social Network for Small Businesses is Born

The options for small business-targeted social networking have increased lately. Last week of course, the Visa Business Network for Facebook was announced.

Twitter Usefulness for Small Business Folk

I don't know if you're much into social networking or not. There are a lot of mixed opinions on Twitter specifically, but Twitter just got more useful to the small business crowd. Our sister site WebProNews has launched a new tool for Twitter called Twellow that allows you to search and browse Twitter members based on their interests and bios.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Packaging?

As I reached for a piece of gum this morning out of my pack of Orbit, I noticed a URL on the package. That got me thinking about how businesses can use the actual packages of their products as marketing tools. A little later, I broke out a package of Kar's Blazin' Hot Peanuts which also not only included their company's web address, but they also incorporated another interesting web marketing strategy. The Peanut Principle

Business Focus and Social Networking

The concept of using social media for business purposes is not a new one, but it does still have a long way to go with respect to truly catching on.Visa has partnered with Facebook to help it do just that. They have introduced the Visa Business Network, which provides a means for business owners to really dig into social networking with other businesses.

Social Media Marketing Inexpensive?

Alright, so one of the weird little misconceptions I’ve been dealing with for a while now is the belief that social media marketing is, well, how do I say this? “Cheap.”

Will Your Social Marketing Produce Fruit?

Social marketing has quite an organic flavor to it and the garden analogy applies well. If tended well, your social marketing efforts can take off virally and yield a bountiful harvest with social goodwill being generated, credibility being established and the positive buzz grows at a quantum rate - everything having to do with having provided value to the community and becoming a key member of the community.

Curiosity Got the Customer

Evoking curiosity can be one of the most effective forms of marketing. When people see something they want to know more about, they are bound to pursue that information.Not only does this type of campaign inspire people to learn more about the product on their own, it tends to work exceptionally well as a buzz-generating viral campaign.The thinking here is that if it is interesting enough for one person to want to know more, it is interesting enough for that same person to mention it to other people.

Case Study on Good Social Media Marketing

Before I go further, I just wanted to say that I realize that I often point out companies whose social media efforts fail or fall short. It’s a character flaw, I promise. But, I really think it is because every time I take the time to dissect a campaign, I learn a little bit more.