Talk and Tweet More With Twitter’s New Conversation Thread

Twitter, with its defining characteristics of conversation, makes our life easier in today’s world. It is one such platform, where individuals can gather and talk about what’s going on around the world - be it politics, sports, entertainment or emergencies.

But this popular social media channel was difficult to follow conversations on.

Twitter Conversations

With the aim to make its followers again fall in love with this social network, Twitter revamped the way Twitter conversations unfold in your timeline. This introduction has been marked as good news for its mainstream users who, for a long time, had been asking for a sensible way to follow longer conversations.  It has also released an update for iOS, Android and Web application with a new interface for conversations to take place and enhanced the sharing and abuse reporting capabilities.

This is undoubtedly a great update for the users who can now see the entire Twitter conversation between the people they follow in their timeline against the standalone @replies that have been sent. This will allow context-free tweets and users will get a better understanding of what’s being tweeted back in forth in a conversation.

Conversations are an important part of the Twitter world as it’s essentially how users interact with each other and build threads around any topic of interest. While Twitter’s native app allowed an individual to track and follow conversations if they happened to appear in their timeline, those apps did not make Twitter conversations an integral part of the user’s timeline.

With this new interface, conversations will appear in a chronological order in your timeline. The first three tweets that are a part of the conversation will be connected with a blue colored vertical line (as pictured above). In a nutshell, users can view more than one tweet at one time. Most importantly the entire Twitter conversation thread can be checked with a simple click on any one tweet. Users can also see the replies given by other people they do not follow.

Does Twitter Have a Plan for Android, iOS and Web Apps?

Yes, it most likely does. The biggest advantage with this update is that the iOS and Android apps also allow users to share any Twitter conversation with anyone over email. Android apps allow the users to share their tweets through direct messages and offers a ‘report tweet’ button in the app as part of the update.

Here lies the difference. Previously, this specific feature was available on third-party apps and this is not the end, there will be more updates. The new change has also brought the ability to report abuse or a spam tweet directly from Twitter to the Android app and Twitter Web interface. Although some of you had seen this feature on Twitter for iPhone before, it will be rolling out gradually to other users as well.

The apps now come in handy on phones with limited internal storage. But how, is probably your next question in mind. Twitter has reduced the size of its Android app for entry-level Android Smartphones. The twitter app is now half the previous size making it faster to download and providing more space for other apps in the phone.

The change in the Twitter conversation pattern will theoretically introduce endurance into the mix and thus keep people more engaged in micro conversation within real-time discussions. The video below explains more.

Images: Twitter

Big tech conference kicks off in Auckland

Hundreds of Kiwi software developers and IT professionals are in Auckland this week to feast on all things Microsoft at the country's biggest tech conference.

Microsoft's annual TechEd event kicked off at SkyCity Convention Centre last night.

More than 2000 people packed in to hear the opening address from one of the country's most successful exports, physicist Sean Gourley.

Gourley is the founder and head of San Francisco-based company Quid, whose software helps some of the world's biggest firms analyse vast amounts of data.

Quid's clients include NASA, Red Bull, Intel and Visa.

Gourley has so far recruited six Kiwis to work in his team of 52 but said he was always looking for more.

"We're hiring now, so look us up," he told the crowd.

TechEd is held in several locations around the world and this is its 18th year in New Zealand.

The four-dayevent features a solid schedule of breakout and panel sessions, plus the opportunity to get hands-on with new technology.

By Ben Chapman-Smith Email Ben

Why Twitter Is Making Handwritten Thank You Cards A Perfect Opportunity For Every Business

The NY Times recently wrote that more and more folks are using Twitter and txt to send birthday greetings.

This is a perfect opportunity to send hand written THANK YOU NOTES to your customers. They begin to appreciate it even more. Check out my video about it here or below.

Twitter Announces Plans to Acquire MoPub for $3.5 Million

The mobile market is becoming hugely important for online publishers. After all smartphone shipments now outpace those of “regular” phones worldwide and the mobile market is projected to generate $400 billion in sales by 2015.

So Twitter’s announcement today that it plans to acquire MoPub, a mobile ad exchange startup, makes perfect sense.

TechCrunch reports the purchase price will be $3.5 million.

MoPub offers publishers the opportunity to monetize their sites using direct ads, house ads, an ad network and real time bidding through the “MobPub Marketplace.”

The company claims it already serves thousands of mobile publishers.

Twitter plans to continue expanding MoPub’s existing advertising offerings to mobile publishers. At the same time Twitter hopes to integrate MoPub’s real-time bidding into its own ad platform.

In a post on the official Twitter blog, Kevin Weil, vice president of Revenue Product explained:

The two major trends in the ad world right now are the rapid consumer shift toward mobile usage, and the industry shift to programmatic buying. Twitter sits at the intersection of these, and we think by bringing MoPub’s technology and team to Twitter, we can further drive these trends for the benefit of consumers, advertisers, and agencies.

In a similar post announcing the planned acquisition on the official MoPub blog, CEO Jim Payne said the move would be a benefit to mobile publishers too. Speaking to the company’s customers he wrote:

It’s important to underscore that our commitment to you, the publisher, will not change. In fact, it will be strengthened. Twitter will invest in our core business and we will continue to build the tools and technology you need to better run your mobile advertising business.

Founded in 2010 by former employees of Google and AdMob, MoPub has nearly 100 employees worldwide and is focused on the mobile advertising market.

Founded in 2006, Twitter is a global microblogging platform with approximately 400 million visitors and 200 million active users each month.

Image: MoPub

Why Twitter Is Making Handwritten Thank You Cards A Perfect Opportunity For Every Business

The NY Times recently wrote that more and more folks are using Twitter and txt to send birthday greetings.

This is a perfect opportunity to send hand written THANK YOU NOTES to your customers. They begin to appreciate it even more. Check out my video about it here or below.

Confused By Changes To Facebook Advertising? This New e-Book Can Help!

In June 2013, Facebook announced some major changes to their advertising products. As with most changes in the social media environment, this has left many of us confused and feeling like we are back at square one. In response, and in an effort to help small businesses (and others) navigate these changes, ShortStack has teamed up with Jon Loomer, respected Facebook marketing coach, author, speaker and strategist to create and eBook, “How the Pros Use Facebook Advertising: The Most Up-to-Date Comprehensive Guide”.

This new eBook include best practices for promoting Facebook pages and apps - for free - along with suggestions on how to invest wisely in Facebook advertising so you get the most bank for your buck.

Here’s a preview of what’s covered:

• Chapter 1: How to Promote Your Page & Apps Without Spending Money on Advertising
• Chapter 2: Understanding the Value of Facebook Advertising
• Chapter 3: The most up-to-date Facebook’s Advertising Options
• Chapter 4: How to Get More Bang for your Facebook Ad Bucks
• Chapter 5: Facebook Ad Tools and Strategies Used by Successful Marketers
• Chapter 6: A list of the best Facebook Advertising Resources

This eBook will help anyone trying to weave their way through Facebook advertising! You can download a copy of the eBook here.

Give Your Brick and Mortar Store Curb Appeal

If you’ve ever bought or sold a home, you’re familiar with the concept of “curb appeal.” A home with curb appeal looks inviting from the street, with fresh paint, attractive landscaping and a well-maintained appearance making you want to go inside. The same concept applies to your retail store and with eCommerce growing by leaps and bounds, curb appeal is more important than ever in attracting customers to a brick-and-mortar location.

But too many small retailers neglect the concept of curb appeal from the get-go. Others let their once-sparkling storefronts disintegrate through lack of maintenance.

How can you ensure your store has curb appeal?

The secret is to look at your store through your customers’ eyes. Pretend that you’ve never been to your business before and take a tour.

Start with Parking

Drive to your store. Is the signage easy to see? If you had never been to the store before, would you be able to find it? Does getting to the parking lot involve a life-threatening left turn across six lanes of traffic, or is there an easy way to get in? Is the parking lot well-lighted and safe, or scary and dark? Are there plenty of parking spaces?

Take in Your Surroundings

Stop and look at your shop from the outside. Is the area outside your store clean and inviting?

Recently, I saw a new cupcake shop with a cute logo and yummy cupcakes in the window, but the whole effect was ruined by an overflowing trash can and disgusting food trash right outside. I didn’t go in. (The shop has since gone out of business…surprise, surprise.)

Yes, this technically isn’t your responsibility, but you can call the landlord or take a broom and trash bag outside yourself.

Watch the Signs

Do your store name, signage and displays clearly indicate what you sell?

Last month I saw a new business with a great graphic displaying its name, “The Joint.” That’s a clever name for a medical marijuana dispensary, I thought. Then I got closer and realized it was actually a chiropractor’s office.

A logo or display of a spine or skeleton would have helped a lot here.

Make a Display

Do your store’s window displays draw you in? Do they convey the “brand” of your business (old-fashioned, chic, streamlined, modern, fun, creative)? Are your hours of operation easily visible to someone driving by?

Use signage, lighting and open or closed doors to tell people whether you’re open or not so they don’t waste time parking and get out only to be disappointed.

Put Out the Welcome Mat

When people enter your store are they greeted immediately? Does someone look up and smile at them, or do clerks continue their conversations or shoot them daggers for interrupting their day?

Since you can’t test this yourself, have a friend or family member your staff doesn’t know try it and report back.

Create an Experience

When someone enters your store does it feel as inviting as it looked from outside? Are there pleasant sounds and smells?

Depending on what you sell, you may want to add background music, scented potpourri or other sensory attributes to make customers relax, stay a while - and spend more money.

Sell It

In-store layout and signage are a science unto themselves. Paco Underhill is a retail expert whose books offer fascinating tips about increasing your retail sales through layout. One of his tips: Most people are right-handed and naturally go to the right when entering a store. Put your high-margin items there to get customers touching them.

Speaking of touching, did you know customers are more likely to buy something if they touch it? Those “Please don’t touch” signs near your breakable items might be a mistake.

Keep It Clear

Inside your store, can customers easily find what they need? Are sections of the store marked so they can see where to go? Is in-store signage, such as prices and sale items, clear and easy to read?

When a hot new gourmet grocery opened in my area, I was excited to try it. But the prices on the shelves were in such tiny type, I couldn’t easily compare and I never shopped there again.

Check It Out

Last, but not least, how enjoyable is the checkout experience? Is the line to wait clearly marked so shoppers don’t waste time? Do clerks acknowledge people waiting in line? (Just quick eye contact and a smiling, “Thanks for your patience. We’ll be right with you” can make all the difference). Do you place tempting impulse buys near the register to entertain customers and make more sales?

Visit any Sephora store for an example of how this tactic can make shopping more fun for customers, and more profitable for you.

Give your brick and mortar store a curb appeal checkup at least once a year to keep it inviting - and to keep things selling.

Curb Appeal Concept Photo via Shutterstock

Confused By Changes To Facebook Advertising? This New e-Book Can Help!

In June 2013, Facebook announced some major changes to their advertising products. As with most changes in the social media environment, this has left many of us confused and feeling like we are back at square one. In response, and in an effort to help small businesses (and others) navigate these changes, ShortStack has teamed up with Jon Loomer, respected Facebook marketing coach, author, speaker and strategist to create and eBook, “How the Pros Use Facebook Advertising: The Most Up-to-Date Comprehensive Guide”.

This new eBook include best practices for promoting Facebook pages and apps - for free - along with suggestions on how to invest wisely in Facebook advertising so you get the most bank for your buck.

Here’s a preview of what’s covered:

• Chapter 1: How to Promote Your Page & Apps Without Spending Money on Advertising
• Chapter 2: Understanding the Value of Facebook Advertising
• Chapter 3: The most up-to-date Facebook’s Advertising Options
• Chapter 4: How to Get More Bang for your Facebook Ad Bucks
• Chapter 5: Facebook Ad Tools and Strategies Used by Successful Marketers
• Chapter 6: A list of the best Facebook Advertising Resources

This eBook will help anyone trying to weave their way through Facebook advertising! You can download a copy of the eBook here.

Hiscox Small Business Breakfast: 7 Powerful Strategies Every Business Must Leverage

Great discussion today with Hiscox and some small business owners and experts.

There are LOTS of strategies, best practices and tools we need to grow our small businesses.

Of course as your technology evangelist, I know that using technology properly is one of those key things.

This morning I attended a breakfast hosted by Hiscox where some of the smartest small business growth folks around were in attendance. They included Ben Walter, CEO of Hiscox (who serves thousands of small businesses every year and knows their challenges); Melinda Emerson, @smallbizlady (a leading authority on the use of social media); Brian Moran (@brianmoran) (a leading authority on small business growth overall) and Jennifer Shin, of 8 Path Solutions (she creates innovative strategic, technical and data science solutions).

Here’s some of the top tips and issues discussed:

The type of business you are is important. Are you looking for high growth or looking to support your family? Depending on the type of business you are, this will impact what type of investments (time, money, and more) you will make in the growth of your business. This conversation also touched on how men and women work and more. Know what your goals for your business are and then plan accordingly.

Diversity is critical in the workplace. Ben shared that having a balance of diversity in talent is critical for business growth. This conversation was an outgrowth of our discussion on gender work styles. If you have people who are “mini-me’s” of yourself you won’t get a diversity of views and strengths in your company.

Flexible work forces. The healthcare reform (Obamacare known by many) will foster more 1099′s and those who want to work flexibly as they will now be mandated to have health care.

The millennial opportunity. Millennials (the young generation) are growing and it’s important that your business knows how to work with them. Ben masterfully expressed that at Hiscox they know young people might want to work different and not be so straight-laced as a “traditional company” so your business might need to know how to deal with this. On the other hand, Ben said that Hiscox invests quite a bit of money and time to train his young workers in how to be more professional.

Social Media is important. Businesses often don’t grasp the benefits of social media and they want to discuss the TECHNICAL aspects of social media versus first thinking about it as a content marketing and branding strategy.

Ben said that there are three benefits that technology enables small business owners to leverage.

To be faster (speed), Less friction (increased productivity) and access to scale (being able to easily replicate yourself).

Weeds vs Clouds: Are you looking forward or buried in the day to day of your business . Brian shared great insight about weeds vs clouds. The concept is that instead of being in the day to day weeds of your business and focused only on the day to day activities you need to be in the “clouds” and looking forward. You need to see what’s happening ahead in your marketplace and in your business (customers, products, etc) and plan according. Have a plan for growth.

Hiscox Small Business Breakfast: 7 Powerful Strategies Every Business Must Leverage

Great discussion today with Hiscox and some small business owners and experts.

There are LOTS of strategies, best practices and tools we need to grow our small businesses.

Of course as your technology evangelist, I know that using technology properly is one of those key things.

This morning I attended a breakfast hosted by Hiscox where some of the smartest small business growth folks around were in attendance. They included Ben Walter, CEO of Hiscox (who serves thousands of small businesses every year and knows their challenges); Melinda Emerson, @smallbizlady (a leading authority on the use of social media); Brian Moran (@brianmoran) (a leading authority on small business growth overall) and Jennifer Shin, of 8 Path Solutions (she creates innovative strategic, technical and data science solutions).

Here’s some of the top tips and issues discussed:

The type of business you are is important. Are you looking for high growth or looking to support your family? Depending on the type of business you are, this will impact what type of investments (time, money, and more) you will make in the growth of your business. This conversation also touched on how men and women work and more. Know what your goals for your business are and then plan accordingly.

Diversity is critical in the workplace. Ben shared that having a balance of diversity in talent is critical for business growth. This conversation was an outgrowth of our discussion on gender work styles. If you have people who are “mini-me’s” of yourself you won’t get a diversity of views and strengths in your company.

Flexible work forces. The healthcare reform (Obamacare known by many) will foster more 1099′s and those who want to work flexibly as they will now be mandated to have health care.

The millennial opportunity. Millennials (the young generation) are growing and it’s important that your business knows how to work with them. Ben masterfully expressed that at Hiscox they know young people might want to work different and not be so straight-laced as a “traditional company” so your business might need to know how to deal with this. On the other hand, Ben said that Hiscox invests quite a bit of money and time to train his young workers in how to be more professional.

Social Media is important. Businesses often don’t grasp the benefits of social media and they want to discuss the TECHNICAL aspects of social media versus first thinking about it as a content marketing and branding strategy.

Ben said that there are three benefits that technology enables small business owners to leverage.

To be faster (speed), Less friction (increased productivity) and access to scale (being able to easily replicate yourself).

Weeds vs Clouds: Are you looking forward or buried in the day to day of your business . Brian shared great insight about weeds vs clouds. The concept is that instead of being in the day to day weeds of your business and focused only on the day to day activities you need to be in the “clouds” and looking forward. You need to see what’s happening ahead in your marketplace and in your business (customers, products, etc) and plan according. Have a plan for growth.

Microsoft Releases Windows 8.1 to Manufacturers

Small business owners may soon be getting the tools needed to add even more mobility and productivity to their operations. Microsoft, which last week announced its plan to acquire mobile phone maker Nokia for $7.2 billion, has released its Windows 8.1 update directly to PC manufacturers ahead of its mid-October availability at the consumer level.

Writing in the official Windows for Your Business Blog back in June at the time of Windows 8.1′s unveiling, Erwin Visser, General Manager of Windows Commercial Marketing at Microsoft explained:

We built Windows 8 to bring the most powerful and modern computing experience to businesses and to help professionals stay connected to their colleagues and clients from anywhere, anytime. Windows 8.1 advances this vision and introduces new manageability, mobility, security, user experience and networking capabilities that will be available later this year. And our goal for Windows 8.1: offer customers the best business tablets and versatile, next generation business PCs driven by the most powerful operating system designed for modern businesses.

The release of Windows 8.1 allows PC manufacturers to adapt their new hardware devices to the operating system. You can see a brief preview of the updated Windows 8.1 available on the company website.

Aside from the return of the iconic start button, Windows 8.1 offers some minor tweaks to the way the operating system works. See a full review of the refreshed desktop environment below.

But Microsoft insists the big news for businesses is how the Windows 8.1 environment increases both mobility and security in a world where multiple devices are a business reality.

First, the new Windows more fully integrates SkyDrive, Microsoft’s soon-to-be-renamed cloud storage service, making it easier to store files in the cloud and access them from any device.

For businesses with security concerns over mobile access to private networks, Microsoft says Windows 8.1 will also offer features like easy but secure sign in to virtual private networks like your company’s intranet site.

Better controls will also allow IT departments to limit access to company data through personal mobile devices. Microsoft says the system will allow personal devices to access and store company content but will also provide an efficient means to remove that content later without affecting personal data.

ComputerWorld.com reports that the full version of Windows 8.1 will be available at the Windows Store on Oct. 17. The update is free for customers who have devices running Windows 8 now. The operating system will be available for retail sale the next day for people running older versions of Windows.

Image: Microsoft

Social Media Exposed: Which Platform Is Best for Your Business and How to Get the Most From It

A recent survey by Brandify looked at over 20,000 small business websites to find out how these businesses are using social media. Specifically, they were looking at which social media links were embedded on the home pages of small business owners. They divided the small businesses into web-based and local (brick and mortar) in order to make comparisons.

Overall, results show extensive use of social media by small business owners. The social media figures for web-based businesses versus local businesses (with a physical location) are:

• Facebook (about 50% each)
• Twitter (47% web, 38% local)
• YouTube (23% web, 15% local)
• Google+ (18% web, 10% local)
• LinkedIn (15% web, 8% local)
• Pinterest (8% web, 5% local)

The evidence is clear - small business owners are keeping pace with the times by using social media to promote their business. But are their social media efforts worthwhile?

The fact is that not all social media sites are a good option for all businesses. It can take a lot of time to build and maintain a social media website, so as a small business owner, you have to be careful about choosing the right social media that will deliver results for your business. This means that you shouldn’t just get a Facebook page because ‘everyone’ has one - instead you have to weigh your options and choose the social media that is best for you.

Not sure where to start? We’ve highlighted all of the main social media sites found in the Brandify study below. The details will tell you what the site is, who should be using it, and tips on getting the best results.

Facebook

Who Should Use Facebook?

• B2C (Business to Consumer) businesses will see the best results with Facebook, although many B2B (Business to Business) companies have pages as well.

Why Facebook?

• Facebook is the largest social media outlet. It was founded in 2004 and in less than ten years has grown to over one billion active users. Because of this, most small business owners are familiar with Facebook on a personal level. However, if you’re new to the game, you should know that you can use Facebook to create a successful fan page for your business.

• Facebook is perfect for B2C small businesses because most of your customers are already on the website, spending plenty of time there each day. Fans ‘like’ your Facebook page, and then your company status updates are displayed in their news feed. Since fans have the option to comment, ‘like’ or ‘share’ the messages of your business, it’s an excellent way to build relationships with customers, have conversations, and spread the word about your small business.

• Facebook is a good option for brick and mortar businesses as well as online small businesses, and it can be a great tool to get more traffic to your company website. For example, a small business owner who makes jewelry and sells it online can use the Facebook page to post pictures of each piece and the link where fans can purchase the jewelry.

Best Practices

• With over one billion pages, you’ll have to make sure you carefully fill out your profile so people can identify the page with your business. When you do this, it is important to fill your page with the information that customers will be looking for first. The main ‘about’ and tab sections of your profile should contain a direct link to your website, your store hours, the menu of your restaurant, or any other information that people will need to understand and visit your business.

• Facebook has made it fun and easy to step up your level of engagement with customers. Use the tab feature to give your fans special offers or to run promotions like contests and giveaways.

• You can also devote some of your marketing budget in order to get new followers and to show off your business to prospective customers. You can pay for ads that show up on the side bar as users read status updates and play games. You can also pay for sponsored posts, where you select a status update from your page to be featured in the news feed of matched Facebook users who may be interested in your products or services.

 If you are a business currently using Facebook to promote your business, or one considering setting up a page, a great resource is Ramon Ray’s book, ‘The Facebook Guide to Small Business Marketing’.

Twitter

Who Should Use Twitter?

• B2C and B2B small businesses who want to deliver information about their products and services quickly and efficiently.

Why Twitter?

• Twitter is the social media equivalent of a cell phone’s text message. It was launched in 2006. When you sign up for your free account, you’ll create a user name that begins with the @ symbol (example, @ramonray), and then you can send “tweets” to your followers. Tweets are short text-style messages that are 140 characters or less.

• Twitter is a fast, instant way to get your information out, so it’s great for posting special offers, company news and important announcements that have to be delivered in a timely fashion. It’s not one-way either. Followers can retweet (RT) your message to spread it to their own followers and they can also reply to you directly.

• Twitter can get you more visibility because they give recommendations based on current followings. For example, if you’re a toy store (and you fill out your profile properly so you can clearly be identified as one), Twitter users who have followed other toy stores will get on-site and emailed recommendations of other toy stores on Twitter, including yours. This will help you get new followers and maybe even new customers.

Best Practices

• To help your tweets find people who aren’t following you yet, use hashtags (#) to categorize your tweet and make it searchable. For example, use #technology when you post about a new technology product you’re selling - it will make your tweet visible to anyone who searches that hashtag (thus reaching non-followers who may be interested in your business but don’t know about it yet).

• You can include website links within your tweet - for example, so that people can click the link and visit your company webpage. However, since you’re limited to 140 characters, you should shorten website links, using a page like goo.gl or bit.ly. This will give you more room for your message.

• Although it may seem that Twitter is all about one-way text messages, you should also be using it to engage with customers. Follow them back to learn more about them, and don’t be afraid to start a conversation. If you want to reply to someone, make sure you include their twitter name (example, @ramonray) in your tweet to ensure that the message is delivered to them.

YouTube

Who Should Use YouTube?

• B2C and B2B small businesses who need to share information in video format in order to show (not tell) what their business is about

Why YouTube?

• YouTube is a video sharing website that was founded in 2005. Users upload videos onto the website, give it a description and tag the video with keywords that help other users find your content using the search feature. Other users then have the ability to rate and comment on your videos.

• YouTube is an excellent social media choice for small businesses who want to SHOW their customers what they do, instead of just talk about it. YouTube videos that are especially informational or entertaining also have the ability to go viral, giving your business a huge boost of exposure.

• There are plenty of ways that businesses can utilize YouTube, such as video walk-throughs of your facilities, informational content about how your products are made or your services are delivered, and even as a way to give local on-air commercials an online presence. One example of how YouTube can be effectively used is for real estate agents to show off the properties they currently have on the market to prospective buyers.

Best Practices

• Instead of just setting up a basic account, small businesses can create their own YouTube Channel for the business. A YouTube Channel is basically a home for all your company-related videos. The bonus is that customers can become fans by subscribing to your channel, which will keep them in the loop when you post new videos.

• Whenever you post a video you will have the opportunity to put a description. Always make sure to clearly identify your business in the description, including your website link and contact information where appropriate. Since long descriptions are truncated, place this information near the beginning so it will be visible to everyone.

• You don’t have to be a pro to make a video, but follow these tips: be careful of a shaky picture when using a handheld camera, check audio quality to make sure people can hear and understand you, and consider including a call-to-action at the end of your video. For example, if you’re a small bakery who is featuring a video on how you make your cinnamon rolls from scratch, consider providing a unique link at the end of the video where the viewer can print a coupon to get 10% off their purchase of cinnamon rolls.

Google+

Who Should Use Google+?

• B2B and B2C businesses can both benefit from Google+, although it is currently underutilized by both

Why Google+?

• Google+ is a social media site that launched in 2011 and already has 500 million users. Although not as popular as Facebook and Twitter for small businesses (yet), small businesses are slowly but steadily moving to Google+ because of its unique features. In Google+, people follow your business by adding you to their circles (sometimes called ‘circling’ you) - and by doing so, they’ll get all the latest updates that you post on your Google+ page.

• Joining Google+ is important for all small business owners (B2B and B2C) because it can improve your SEO efforts. Google+ content is treated the same as regular webpages in Google search results. Therefore, by claiming a Google+ page and keeping it updated with new posts, you’re increasing your company’s presence on the web and allowing Google to learn more about your business (and thus rank you higher in organic search results).

• Google+ can be particularly beneficial for businesses with a local, physical location. For example, if you own a restaurant in a particular city, you can claim a Google+ Business page (for social media and SEO purposes, as described above) but also a Google+ Local page - and when you have Google+ Local, your restaurant’s address, phone number, hours, reviews, menu and more will be highlighted in search results.

Best Practices

• You can create a Google+ account quickly if you have a Gmail address. Or, to claim your pages, go to this website. Select Local Business to claim your local page (which is just a listing of address, phone, etc). To get a full social media account (and get SEO benefits) click on Company, Institution or Organization.

• If you write content for your business website (such as a side blog on your main company page), you’ll want to take advantage of Google Authorship. When you link your Google+ page to the websites where you contribute, your content will receive a higher ‘authority’ ranking, making it appear higher in search results.

• Consider using Google+ for an interactive event, called a Google+ Hangout. Up to ten participants can join a video discussion and your fans can watch. Hangouts are a great way to discuss your business, conduct interviews, or provide your fans with a free webinar full of useful industry-related or just plain fun information.

LinkedIn

Who Should Use LinkedIn?

• B2B businesses will see the best results with LinkedIn.

Why LinkedIn?

• LinkedIn is a professional network, more aimed at finding professional contacts than ‘friends’ and ‘followers.’ It was launched in 2003 and currently has more than 225 million members around the world, about 74 million being from the United States.

• LinkedIn is a great way for small businesses to find people they know, and people they WANT to know. You send and receive ‘connection’ requests - all of which have to be approved (i.e. no one can add you if you don’t allow it). The website then builds an elaborate contact network. The people you’ve accepted are direct connections, but based on those connections you can then view second and third degree connections to meet other professionals in your industry.

• Small businesses can benefit from two different memberships that LinkedIn offers - profiles and company pages. For example, a B2B business that sells technology solutions can create a page for the company (and update it with company news and announcements) and then also create individual employee profiles. This results in greater exposure and provides a direct channel for interested parties to contact the senior management, HR or other professionals they need to work with.

Best Practices

• Professional networking is made easy with LinkedIn via the Advanced Search feature. First, think about who you want to connect with - which industries, companies, job titles, geographic locations, etc. Then use Advanced Search to filter results and get exactly what you’re looking for. You then have the option to send a message or request a connection.

• Get new connections and valuable insights by joining LinkedIn Groups. There are groups dedicated to all types of industries and professionals, so join in and participate regularly to make new contacts and learn more about your industry.

• Take time each week to tend to your LinkedIn pages. Update employee profiles and company pages regularly to keep activity and exposure up. Another great feature of LinkedIn is the ability to see who has viewed your profile, so spend some time each week checking out these potentially hot leads.

Pinterest

Who Should Use Pinterest?

• B2C and B2B companies who can benefit by sharing visual images of their product or service

Why Pinterest?

• Pinterest is a relatively new social media site, launched in 2010. It is basically a gallery of photos, organized by topic, in a pinboard style. Other users can choose to follow one or all of your ‘boards,’ thus keeping them in contact with your business.

• Pinterest works great if you already have a website for your business where you post pictures. By creating your free Pinterest account, you can post the same pictures - when users click on your picture in Pinterest they are automatically brought to your original webpage, thus boosting your traffic.

• An example might be a hair salon that posts pictures of the hairstyles and cuts they have done. They would organize pictures in Pinterest galleries like ‘short cuts,’ ‘prom hairstyles,’ and the like. A teen searching for ‘prom hair’ on Pinterest might then stumble upon this Pinterest page. They then can follow you to get cool hair inspirations, and visit your website to obtain your services.

Best Practices

• Make sure your photo boards are well categorized and organized so people can find exactly what they’re looking for. Post multiple boards so people have a reason to stick around and browse.

• Include the “Pin It” button on your own business website. This will place a small Pin It icon near the images on your site. This means that people who visit your site and like what they see can easily pin your images to their own Pinterest pages - maximizing your exposure and giving free advertising that links everyone back to your company website.

• When you gain new followers, make sure to follow them back. This will give you crucial information about who your customers are and what they like. It may also spark some creative ideas for your business, such as new products or services, and new ways to connect with your customers (for example, via promotions).

General Social Media Best Practices

The guide above should help you choose a couple social media sites that are best for your own small business - but when proceeding, there are a few more general tips that you should keep in mind for ANY social media site.

For one, no matter which social media outlet you’ll be working with, make sure to fill out your profile completely. Your social media profile should be specific and make it clear that it belongs to your business. Include things like your website address, physical location, phone, and business hours.

Next, engagement should be the key of any social media website option. You should schedule time every week to maintain your page - if not every day. Use the time to update your status, share messages and company information, and respond to fan questions and comments. You should also consider starting a blog on your company website - a weekly blog post is a great way to update your social media with new information about your business or the industry in general.

Finally, you have to spend time promoting your social media pages in store and online. The Brandify survey looked at businesses who had embedded social media links on their home page - so make sure you’re social media is front-and-center on your business site. You can use one social media to promote another (for example, by telling your Facebook fans about your Twitter account and asking them to join you) and if you have a physical location, make sure to promote in your store as well.

Small Biz Technology is devoted to helping small businesses with technology in the modern era. Make sure to browse the archives for additional help with your social media endeavors, and as always - stay tuned for the latest social media news and advice.

Why Email Marketing Is Small Business’s Best Friend

With all of the forward thinking hype surrounding social media marketing, its older brother, the email campaign, is often seen as something of a relic of a past. But for small businesses, email campaigns are still an important part of any marketing toolbox and may even drive more sales than social media campaigns.

Consider the following if you’re contemplating launching a new small business email marketing campaign.

Email Marketing and Social Media

A recent study of online marketing techniques found that email marketing generated new customers for online retailers at a rate of roughly 7%, while social media had a conversion rate for new buyers of less than 1%. That’s a huge finding and it’s a little bit surprising to everyone who’s been saying email is old news and social media is the way of the future.

I’m by no means saying that you should deactivate your Facebook account and pledge to never post another photo to Instagram again. There’s no one way to market online that will cover all your bases. Those forms of online marketing that rely on social networks do work, and they’re a great way to build a brand image and interact with customers even if they don’t always directly translate into immediate conversions.

That said, social media should be thought of as more of a long game, big picture strategy, with email working to gain more short-term conversions.

Tips for Small Business Email Marketing

Of course, like any online marketing, you need to have a strategy for your email campaign. Throwing together some text and sending it out willy-nilly is not the way to get that 7% conversion rate.

Try some of the following tactics to grow your subscriber list and send out high-quality emails that will actually be read:

Subscription Calls to Action

Post subscription calls to action on your blog, at the end of website pages and even on your social media pages. It’s no use sending out awesome written content if it’s not going to land in any inboxes.

Content That’s in Demand

Send the content subscribers want. Upon sign-up, allow subscribers to choose whether they want deals, business updates or tips about products. This ensures that subscribers will stay subscribers, and it gives you an idea of what kind of content is most popular.

Editorial Calendar

Create an editorial calendar. Know well in advance what you’re going to send out so you don’t find yourself scrambling to produce something.

Brevity

Keep it brief. Make sure that readers can quickly scan your content and get all the major information. Ideally, they’ll be interested enough to read the whole thing, but no one is going to commit to reading a big block of text without some idea of whether or not it’s relevant.

Check Spam Regulations

Don’t land in spam folders. Before you send anything out, make sure that it complies with all of the major spam regulations so it doesn’t get automatically funneled away from inboxes.

If you’re looking for more tips for getting an email campaign off the ground, Forbes’s offers a guide to email marketing for small businesses.

Email Photo via Shutterstock