Are You Blogging Yet?

For those of you who aren't blogging yet, what are you waiting for? 

If your business is committed to social media marketing then a blog  (a page on your web site) should be an integral part of your marketing plan. 

Your blog is an easy way to frequently share your ideas, knowledge, promotions and other useful information.  It's much easier to post a blog entry than update content on your web site. And if you're positioning yourself as an expert in your industry, a blog is the perfect place to reinforce that notion. 

Many people ask, "What should I write about?"  With some planning, it's easy to identify topics and ideas by simply paying attention to the questions you get asked every day.

Stop putting off  the launch of one of the most important, inexpensive components of your marketing. 

To get started, contact Jocelyn today.

Testimonials: Let Your Clients' Satisfaction Work for You

When it comes to marketing, there's nothing more valuable and credible than sharing what satisfied customers have to say about your business. Testimonials are an effective way to build interest in your products or services.

Your prospects are interested in hearing the first hand experiences of your clients and understanding the specifics of how you helped them.  Here are some ideas on how to obtain and use testimonials in your marketing:

·         Make it a regular practice to follow up with clients regarding their satisfaction with your services or products.  When the feedback is positive, ask for a few sentences describing the value of their experiences.

·         Show an example of a valuable testimonial to get the client started. Or draft a testimonial that your client can revise or simply approve.

·         Ask for permission to use the testimonial in your marketing campaigns.

·         Use the name, title and company name of the client offering the testimonial for credibility.

·         Collect multiples testimonials and use them in your print and online campaigns including social media.

·         Include a headshot of the person offering the testimonial to maximize it's effectiveness!

Facebook: Pages for Business vs. Personal Profiles

I've recently come across clients, prospects and business associates who are contemplating whether or not to use their Facebook personal profile for business purposes. While it can sometimes be cumbersome to maintain more than one page, there are many reasons and benefits to using a Facebook Page for business.

If you are using your Facebook personal profile to promote a business you could risk having your page shut down by Facebook (it's in violation of their rules). But you're also missing out on the tools and capabilities that are only offered to Pages for business. Here are a few:

1. Facebook Insights

Facebook provides a lot of data to help you analyze how well you're reaching your fan base, the best times to post and which content gets the best response, just to name a few things. But Insights are only available for Pages, not Profiles.

2. Advertising

If your posts are only reaching a small percentage of your fans, Facebook offers Pages various advertising options. Even with a limited budget you can get greater engagement from your fan base through advertising via Promoted Posts, Marketplace Ads and Sponsored Stories.

3. Facebook Offers

For Pages with over 400 fans, create an offer (a special deal or promotion, for example) that can be redeemed online or in person. Limit the number of offers and set an expiration date. When someone takes advantage of your offer, all of their friends see it creating a viral effect. This is great for both product and service based businesses. 

4. Schedule Future Posts

Did you know that you can set up content to post at future dates and times with a Facebook Page?While many people use third party tools to do this, you can now schedule future posting from within Facebook.

5. Manage your Page with Admins

Give employees or social media consultants access to help manage your business' Page by making each of them an Admin. With Profiles, you must give out your personal login and password in order to give access to your page.

There are many other benefits of using a Page for business vs. using a personal Profile. Click here for more information on Pages from Facebook.  Comment here with your thoughts.

Local Listings and SEO

Need to improve your local business listings online so potential customers can find you?

Check out GetListed.org. Simply enter your business name and zip code to find out which where your company is currently listed and where to add it. According to GetListed.org, by claiming your listings, you'll have more control over how search engines index you and you'll improve your ranking and traffic.  Find lots of local SEO articles and advice at GetListed.org too.

Live Twitter Chat: Rev Up Your Holiday Marketing

You're Invited to a Live Twitter Chat

Holiday Marketing Ideas for Your Business

Who: Hosted by Jocelyn Murray @jocelyn_mktg

What: The holiday season is the busiest time of year for many companies. Restaurants, retail stores, salons and many service based businesses earn a majority of their income during the holidays. Join our Live Twitter chat for some marketing, advertising and social media ideas that will help you maximize your business' success during the holiday season. Live Q & A too.

No registration required. You just need to login to your Twitter account to participate.

When: Thursday, 11/15 7-8pm EST

Where: On Twitter~ Search for Hashtag: #holidaymarketing and follow me @jocelyn_mktg

How Color Impacts Your Company's Branding

There are several large companies that can be identified just by their brand colors or color combinations. When you think Home Depot, you automatically think orange. Mention Dunkin Donuts and everyone can visualize the exact pink and orange hues in their logo. See a brown truck pulling into the driveway, you know it is UPS even before you see the name on the vehicle. Smaller businesses can learn a lesson from these corporate giants by using color effectively and strategically in their brand messaging. A brand’s strength lies in its ability to pop and which colors you chose for your business is an important decision

I like to chose interesting and unique color combinations when designing a company logo. It really makes a business stand out from a crowd and get noticed in today’s competitive marketplace. For instance, not every attorney has to have navy or burgundy logos. There are lots of green or grey hues that are not only professional and conservative but striking as well. Think outside the box! Dare I even say that a regal purple would work quite well too! You may be surprised. If the corporate symbol is very conservative, interesting colors might be just the thing to kick it up a notch so people take notice. Conversely, if the design is a little more bold, I would probably suggest a more conservative color palette. It is all about the balance - looking professional yet forward thinking.

I also advise clients to use their brand colors on everything that they put in front of clients or potential clients to achieve the highest impact. If it is a professional office, then make sure your colors are consistant on all stationery, brochures, and direct mail. Tie in the colors to your email marketing and website too. If your business is retail or restaurant use the colors in the decor, on shopping bags, menus, uniforms and promotional items too. Stay away from any colors that your biggest competitors are using to avoid any confusion.

Make sure that your color selection for your brand is appropriate for your company. It's hard to envision a sunny yellow being appropriate for a funeral home or a drab brown for a restaurant. There are all types of data available on the psychological responses to colors but keep in mind that color is also very subjective and not everyone has the same responses. Also, the hue and intensity of a color can make all the difference. When you think green you might think nature and calmness, but if it is a neon green it can be quite jarring and have the opposite effect.

Color selection is vital when branding your company, but be aware that even the best color choices will not save a logo that is poorly designed. In preliminary design concept meetings with clients, I always prefer to show clients designs in black and white first. If the concept works great in black and white (which is important for faxes, newspaper ads etc.) then color selection becomes the icing on the cake. Plan something delicious with your branding and people will take notice!


By guest blogger Michele Kelly
Principal of Graphicways Design
Orange, CT

Make Your Social Media Marketing Work Harder

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your online marketing efforts:

1. Create Customer Centered Content
Plan and create content based on your goals and vision that will entice your audience to engage.
• Make it relevant
• Use content that's conversational and personal
• Solve customer problems
• Encourage participation
• Create a strong call to action

2. Get Visual
Pictures and videos can be even more effective than words when it comes to social networks. From images of your products to video snippets of a demonstration or class, visuals can tell a story or illustrate a product or service benefit effectively. Frequently updated photos and videos can also improve your search engine optimization.


3. Blog
Blogging allows you to become a thought leader and provides a voice for your campaign. Use content and conversation that speaks to the needs of prospects and customers. In addition to improving your search engine optimization, companies that blog generate 88% more leads per month than those who do not. Companies who blog have 55% more web site visitors according to Hubspot.

4. Integration
Integrate your social media efforts with email and other marketing tools. Include your social media icons as well as social sharing options in all your email marketing. Encourage your audience to connect with you on multiple platforms to maximize your exposure!