So, do you still think social media is a fad that we’ll all look back on and laugh at in the future? You can keep thinking that, but you’ll be stuck on the sidelines while social media continues to grow in 2009. In fact, let me give you 11 reasons you won’t be able to ignore social media this year. …more from Digital Labs (http://cli NULL.gs/n83SuB). Photo credit: Caitlinator (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/caitlinator/2613769263/).
11 reasons you can’t ignore social media in 2009.
Posted by ArcherTC on January 15, 2009 | No Comments »Century 21 moves its national TV money online.
Posted by ArcherTC on January 14, 2009 | No Comments »“Century 21, one of the first real-estate companies to advertise on TV, is pulling all national TV advertising in 2009 and redirecting its efforts and ad dollars to the web. With the beleaguered real-estate market showing no signs of a turnaround, the realtor has decided to play the numbers and go where the buyers and sellers are: online. Beverly Thorne, senior VP-marketing, Century 21, said in years past the company has spent up to half of its advertising budget on creative for TV, but a majority of that money will be redirected to its online efforts in 2009.” More from Advertising Age ( http://cli NULL.gs/6gVWAj). Logo credit: Canmorehomes.com
How to advertise now.
Posted by ArcherTC on January 13, 2009 | No Comments »Unsure what to cut and what to keep? This smart, 4-point checklist is your guide to recession-era advertising.
When money’s tight, the knee-jerk reaction for many entrepreneurs is to cut back on advertising. Unfortunately, the businesses that stop advertising simply drop out of sight, taking these entrepreneurs from slow sales to no sales–fast. It’s a risky move many may not recover from. Rather than eliminate your advertising in a recession, cut the fat from your campaign, and focus on the right media choices for the highest ROI. To figure out what to cut and what to keep, use this checklist to choose the right media for your business in this challenging economy…” more from Entrepreneur.com (http://cli NULL.gs/UX33ut). Photo credit: brianandmia (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/elizardi/1580611892/)
Here’s How Word-of-Mouth Marketing Really Works
Posted by ArcherTC on January 13, 2009 | No Comments »There’s an old saying in the world of advertising: Tell your story, or someone else will tell it for you. Now that mass marketing channels have fragmented and social media has blossomed, getting someone else to tell your story sounds pretty damn good. But, from the look of things, most companies just don’t get how this stuff works… more from Copyblogger (http://cli NULL.gs/0g5nt0). Photo credit: martinhoward (http://www NULL.flickr NULL.com/photos/martinhoward/100597002/)
How to network, beyond the basics
Posted by ArcherTC on January 2, 2009 | No Comments »As a small business professional, you want each networking event to yield more than a few handshakes, a couple of cocktails and some snacks. Here are 3 tips for taking your networking to the next level.
Define your goals. Networking events will be critical to the development of your small business. It will be a way to introduce potential clients to your work, to meet new business partners, and to learn from the lessons of your industry peers. So before you sign up, know why you want to go, who you want to meet there, and why.
Be prepared to “sell” your business. At any networking event, someone is bound to ask you that ever-pervasive question: “so, what do you do?” With your expected audience and your goals in mind, plan in advance how you will talk about your business. Make it a brief, but persuasive statement that will open the discussion to even greater interest in your work. Have doubts? Practice with your friends and business confidants.
Follow up the Web 2.0 Way. While well-designed business cards are an important part of the Networking 101 toolkit, an ever-growing number of professionals see the future online. LinkedIn (http://www NULL.linkedin NULL.com/) claims more than 30 million professional networkers from more than 150 industries. Its major European competitor, Xing (http://www NULL.xing NULL.com/), claims 16 million. And social-oriented portals such as MySpace (http://www NULL.myspace NULL.com/) and Facebook (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/)are investing considerable capital to themselves create business-friendly communities that automate “let’s keep in touch.” Don’t be left out: get online and invite your new business contacts to link up.
Author: Tammi L. Coles