Elf Designs» Marketing

Which Social Media Sites Help Your Search Ranking?

efindlow — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:16:08 +0000

You’ve no doubt heard of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and use it to help make your website more visible to your customers. But SEO is not the only thing you need to consider when you are trying to expand the reach of your business. Social media sites can help or hurt your business, so you need to make sure that you are using them to your advantage. What is the best social media site for your business? TastyPlacement, an internet marketing firm who specializes in SEO, performed an experiment to determine which site offers the best boost to Google search results.

TastyPlacement created six websites in similar-sized cities across the US, and after 10 months of letting the websites sit with no promotion, they used a different social media approach to promote each website for a month: Twitter followers, Tweets and Retweets, Facebook shares and likes, Followers to the business’ Google+ page, and Google+1 votes for the homepage. The sixth website was left with no promotion as a control. At the end of the month, TastyPlacement tracked the change in search engine ranking for each of the websites.

Not surprisingly, the sites that were promoted through Google received the biggest bump in search engine ranking on Google. By gaining 100 Google+ followers, the website ranking moved up an average of 14 points, and 300 Google+1 votes added 9 points to the search engine ranking. Facebook promotion came in second, with 70 shares and 50 likes garnering an increase of 6.9 points. Twitter was the least helpful social media site. Fifty tweets and retweets for the business website only yielded a gain of 2.88 points, and 1000 Twitter followers actually lowered the website’s search engine ranking by 1.

Of course, this experiment was done on a small scale and there are many variables that can affect the results. Also, the search engine rankings are for Google, so if you are looking at other search engines like Yahoo or Bing, these rankings will be different. But the experiment does prove that promotion through social media sites does affect your business, and every company should be mindful of this and use social media to their advantage. For more information about TastyPlacement’s experiment, click here.

Making a Good Impression with Email

efindlow — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:02:09 +0000

Small businesses, particularly e-commerce businesses, rely on the Internet and email to interact with their customers. And many customers expect as good or better service when they are communicating to you via electronic means. The lack of face-to-face interaction means that many non-verbal cues that people use to set customers at ease are unavailable, so business owners and employees need to go above and beyond to make their customers feel valued. Here are some tips to make sure you are doing everything you can when dealing with customer service emails.

First and foremost, you need to consider your email address. Ideally, customer service emails should come from an actual person’s name (i.e. fred@internetstore.com). This allows customers to put a face to your company, rather than feeling like they are sending out a question or concern into the ether. This is especially helpful when the customer needs to follow up on a previous issue; it helps them feel like they are continuing a dialogue if they can talk to a specific person. If you can’t use a person’s email, then try something like “customerservice@internetstore.com”. While not as personal as the above option, it does still keep the focus on the customer, and lets the customer know that there is a department that is committed to customer service. Try to avoid using something like “sales@internetstore.com.” This kind of email address shows customers that you are more concerned about making sales than fixing problems that they might have, and it can lead to more frustration with your company.

But you need to do more than just have a good email address. You need to make sure that you address your customer and their request correctly. Make sure to call use your customer’s name; it’s a sign you are listening and it will put them at ease. Then you need to restate the problem or question to ensure you are understanding the customer. Once you’ve offered your solution or answer, tell them that if they need more assistance they can contact you again at the same email address, or, if you are able, give them a phone number where they can reach you if you think they will need a more in-depth response.

These steps can help you connect with your customers and build trust, which go a long way toward your customers having confidence to deal with you in the future. Little things like proper email technique can make a huge difference in how your business is perceived, so do your best to make your interactions over the Internet as good as the ones you have in person.

Need a New Image for Your Facebook Business Page?

efindlow — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:34:15 +0000

With the introduction of Facebook’s Timeline, the way you use Facebook as a business is changing. While some of these changes may seem daunting, it is a good opportunity for you to rethink the way you use Facebook as a business, and perhaps come up with new marketing strategies to better take advantage of Timeline.

One of the big changes with Timeline is that you will no longer have a default landing tab for your page. Instead, tabs are now applications, and you need to pick two favourite ones that will show up beneath your header image. This is where you can encourage people to become fans of your business so they can access additional information and incentives. You can also pin a post to your page which promotes your apps for one week and links to them, so you need to be sure you are coming up with new ways to market your business each week.

The new Cover image for your Facebook page is where you can define your business and brand. You get an 850-pixel image that covers the top of your page, and you really need to make sure you use an image that connects with your customers. Facebook is implementing a number of rules about what you can post in this image. Facebook is banning any images containing promotional language, so you can’t post pricing or contact information, ask people to Like your page, or use any calls to action in your image. You are encouraged to use an image that captures the essence of your brand, or post a welcome message for your fans.

Timeline is a big change for Facebook, and you need to be mindful of this change and how it affects your business. But having a Facebook page is still one of the easiest ways to enhance your online presence, and Elf Designs can help ensure that you are using the site to your advantage. For more information about the new Timeline, check out the articles at Smart Blog and Small Business Newz. And if you need help navigating the changes to Facebook, contact us.

QR Codes: How They Can Help Your Business

efindlow — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:02:18 +0000

No doubt you’ve seen them around. Small, pixellated squares placed in the corners of ads or on websites, inviting you to scan them with your smartphone. They are Quick Response codes, or QR codes for short, and they are fast becoming a very important marketing tool. How do they work, and how can you use them to your advantage? Read on.

QR codes are like bar codes, but they can store thousands of alphanumeric characters full of information. When you scan them with your smartphone, you can access whatever data has been stored in the QR code, from URLs, to links to digital content, to special offers and coupons. A QR code on your website or your ad allows you to give your customer much more information without cluttering your page or site with lots of text. You can also link to tutorials or videos, or instructions for your products. QR codes are also useful on your website because they show search engines that your site is being updated, which will give you better exposure.

So how can you best use QR codes to help your business? How about adding them to your business cards so people can automatically store your contact information? You can also add them to product tags or product listings on your website to give customers a coupon or special offer. Or place them in your ads with links to your website or location so that customers can find you. You can use QR codes in conjunction with apps like Likify to generate a QR code that links to a Like button for your Facebook page. There are so many options, it’s really up to you to decide how best QR codes will work for your business.

If you are interested in QR codes for your business and would like more information, please contact us.

The Internet of Things

MJ — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:41:09 +0000

Technology has evolved at an exceptional speed. Nowadays, a car is more than just a vehicle, it’s an intricate computer system, controlling things like the audio-visual system or the rear-facing camera that assists with reversing. Lost are the days where OnStar was the only roadside-assistance service. Now with virtually any smartphone a myriad of functions can be performed. The automobile has now, more than ever, been integrated with the Internet. This is just one example of how an idea, which has been around for over a decade, is becoming reality. The Internet of Things is finally becoming real!
The Internet of Things, first discussed in 1999, represents the idea that Internet connectivity might spread beyond the devices we’ve traditionally used, such as computers, laptops, and now smartphones. Objects are becoming more interactive and are communicating with the Internet. It is interesting to see this concept get manifested in both high-tech ways and simple ways. Even more interesting is society’s willingness to adapt and accept these ways. More and more individuals are shopping online and we will continue to see an increase in the number of individuals using NFC/Google Wallet to pay for things. If you don’t believe me, think of the following examples:

Existing networks – wireless networks and wi-fi-enabled devices are extremely common. We can see the use of these networks through the increase in tablet and cell phone usage. In addition, the Nike+ running shoe, for example, contains a sensor that sends information about your running pace to your Apple iPod.
Scanned codes – QR codes have grown in popularity and can be frequently seen in stores, on billboards, or through advertisements. QR codes link a real thing to the information world and virtually any object can have a distinct code.
NFC (near-field communications) – provides ways for devices, such as a smartphone, to wirelessly read information from a tag on an object, just by being in close proximity. This unleashes an endless way to track inventory or to provide individuals with ways to learn about a product. NFC technology is also turning smartphones into virtual wallets.

The Latest Interest Network

MJ — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:58:18 +0000

UberMedia has a fresh take on Social Networks with it’s latest project Chime.In. Chime combines Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit to create what UberMedia CEO Bill Gross calls an “interest network”. Like other social networks, Chime.in lets users share content with others. It has a newsfeed, profile pages and a system for following other users. The social network doesn’t have status updates, though. Instead it has “chimes,” which are a cross between a Facebook status update and a blog post. A chime displays a headline, the first few sentences of a chime, a piece of multimedia (an image, a video, etc.), a profile picture, interest tags and options for liking, commenting and sharing.

One of the most intriguing features is that users have control over their profiles, including the advertising and sponsors that run on the page. Users can include their own ads on the page and keep 100% of the revenue, or they can let UberMedia sell ads for their page and split the revenue 50-50. Gross believes that control over revenue makes Chime.in more appealing to publishers that want to monetize themselves in social media.

There are so many social networks available today, so it will be interesting to see how well Chime.In does. The revenue sharing could be the one feature that sets it apart however. Only time will tell.

The Evolution of Online Shopping

MJ — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:24:56 +0000

If you think back five years ago, did you do online shopping? The majority of people were uncomfortable with the idea of inputting their credit card online, for fear of identity theft or fraud. These days, it’s rare to find individuals who aren’t comfortable with purchasing goods online, especially with the rise and popularity of online secure checkouts, such as PayPal. Even with the rise of streaming and app purchases, consumers are more and more willing to use the internet to make purchases. Online shopping is a huge industry. Amazon reported $34 billion in e-commerce sales last year, while Wal-Mart earned $6 billion. With Amazon’s focus on its release of its tablet, this is giving room for another company to take the throne to become the next technology giant. It has been reported that Wal-Mart has put together a team of 70 developers, computer engineers and researchers – @WalmartLabs – in an aggressive attempt to position itself at the forefront of social and mobile commerce. It is expected that within the next two to three years, there will be a definite blur between offline and online shopping. The trend is expected to be that products viewed both online and offline will offer information such as: who else likes this product, what are the reviews, the people who bought this product what else did they buy. Wal-Mart is attempting to provide one experience for both online and offline shoppers. The search for all goods, whether electronics or fashion, will have to be perfected. The largest focus of @WalmartLabs’ will be creating what has been deemed a “social genome.” Facebook has emphasized the social existence and discount sites has revolutionized social buying. It is expected that consumers will demand that social media is incorporated in their shopping experience, both online and offline. @WalmartLabs is planning to launch something similar to an in-store Twitter in the next three to four months. This will allow customers to tweet about what they like, or what’s on sale. Additionally, they can ask where something is or a question about a product, and an associate will answer. Shopycat, a Facebook application, uses social media profiles and comments to generate gift ideas, will launch in the US right before Christmas. It will help give you ideas that will make purchasing gifts easier. Buzz created via social media will give Wal-Mart information about “it” items – i.e. when they should stock products related to basketball. The company can look at buzz generated on social media and this will be an indication of when to stock these products. It will be interesting to see how Wal-Mart revolutionizes the online shopping experience. Remember that this retail hegemony was one of the first to implement and perfect one-stop shopping.

Picking the Best Name Could Be Your Golden Ticket

MJ — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:08:11 +0000

It was recently reported that the top two ways to earn money online in 2011 is through 1) mobile app development and 2) purchasing domain names. Let’s explore the potential of purchasing domains. Yesterday, I read that RealEstate.com recently sold for 8.25 million! This made me wonder what the price tag was for some of the most expensive domain names. I found that:

Insure.com, sold to QuinStreet for $16 million in 2009.
Sex.com, sold for $12-$14 million in 2006.
Fund.com, sold for $9.99 million in 2008.
Porn.com, sold for $9.5 million in 2007.
Business.com, sold for $7.5 million in 1999.
Diamond.com, sold to Ice.com for $7.5 million in 2006.
Beer.com, sold for $7 million in 2004.
Israel.com, sold for $5.88 million in 2004.
Casino.com, sold for $5.5 million in 2003.
Toys.com, sold to Toys ‘R Us for $5.1 million in 2009.

The “.xxx” domain was approved earlier this year. Huntingmoon.com is currently holding an auction for domain names, which ends on October 6th. There are 888 domain names up for sale, with “sextape.com” having the largest reserve price of 2.5 million. The above stats show you how much money can be made with the selection and purchase of the right domain name.

Here is a list of sites you can purchase domains from:

Boxcar – a new website where domain names are available for purchase at a low prices.
Flippa – a well known site for domains, where you can purchase entire websites.
GoDaddy & GoDaddy Auctions – a great site to purchase domains. GoDaddy Auctions hold auctions for domains.
SnapNames – purchase domains which have just expired.
Sedo – a site where you can buy and sell domains, for a small cost.
BrandStack – sells mostly logo designs. Many designs come coupled with a domain.
NamePros – huge community of individuals buying and selling domains.
Facebook Marketplace – you can purchase anything on here, including domain names.
eBay – buy it now or auctions for domain names.

Have any thoughts for domain names I should purchase? Share your ideas!

Hello Google Wallet!

MJ — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:26:08 +0000

The ability for individuals to tap or swipe their phones to pay for things was made reality yesterday with the launch of Google Wallet, on the Samsung Nexus S. This marks the first digital wallet on the market and the evolution of how we can pay for things.
Currently, the only credit card that will be compatible with Google Wallet are Citibank MasterCards, which is one shortcoming. However, yesterday Google announced its step to license NFC technology from various other credit card companies, such as American Express, Visa, and Discover. Consumers also have the choice to load a Google Prepaid MasterCard.
Google is currently offering $10 to individuals starting to use Google Wallet. In addition to the ability to pay for goods and services, the real benefit of Google Wallets will be to deliver the Google Offers deals service, allowing individuals to enter loyalty cards into their Wallet. The end product is to have the ability to send promotional deals to customers on the basis of where they have shopped or where they are located.
If you have any questions, check out Google’s FAQ.

Searching the Internet for the Environment

MJ — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:19:19 +0000

Ecosia is a typical search engine in that it will help you find what you are looking for on the web. The difference is that through searching, Ecosia gives back to the rainforest. The way this works is that if you saw an interesting sponsored link and decided to click it, the sponsoring company pays Bing or Yahoo, who then gives a portion to Ecosia, who then uses it to support the WWF efforts in the Amazon rainforest. Not only does Ecosia donate money, but you can view their business report here, and see all the money they have donated here. By making all of their records public Ecosia believes that this will ensure their credibility. In the first year of operation, Ecosia was able to generate over 125,000 Euros.