- 8:27 pm - Sat, Dec 1, 2012
3 Facebook Page Features That Will Help You Increase Sales This Holiday Season
Hey all! Hope you are all geared up & ready for this beautiful Holiday season. For some businesses this is a time to unwind and relax, for others, it’s the craziest time of the year! So, if you are part of the latter, don’t forget to include social media as part of your marketing strategy. Although there are a million marketing tactics on social media platforms we could talk about, today we’re only going to focus on Facebook Pages.
The past few months I’ve been noticing that a lot of business owners who are active on Facebook Pages often neglect the page’s marketing features. More often than not it’s either because they don’t think these features work, or they don’t even know of their existence! So, here are 3 must-use marketing features that when used correctly are sure to boost your Holiday Sales.
Let’s dig in.
Facebook Page Offers
Up first is Facebook’s Offers. Although you need to have 400+ fans on your page to utilize this feature, it is one of my favorite marketing tools. 
Here’s a quick example…
Facebook Offers allows you to customize your own thumbnail, headline, expiration date and even how many people can claim the offer.
There’s also a spot that allows you to write out the terms of the offer and even add a redemption code. Once your customers claim the offer, Facebook sends them an email with the offer details. It’s perfect to promote any new services or products you may be offering during the Holiday season.
Promoted Posts
Have you noticed the “promote” button on the right hand side of your timeline posts? Maybe you have clicked on it but have no idea no idea how to use it. Or, perhaps you’ve tried it a few times with no success. The truth is, promoted posts can be a little tricky if you’re not sure what you’re doing. Keep reading.
Facebook gives you the option to show your promoted post to either your fans or your fans and their friends. Personally, I think this is great. Not only are you able to reach your fans news feed, but your posts can also reach their friends.
Sadly, this is a feature that is often evaluated with negativity by a lot of page owners. I often hear things like “I’m not paying Facebook to promote my posts!” or “$5.00 to show this to my fans? Are you kidding me?” …Did you know you can cancel the post promotion at any time and Facebook will “pro-rate” your payment? You can spend as little as .18 cents! Is that not worth an additional 32 views?
So go ahead and give it a try! However, I must warn you not to go crazy with promotions. Using paid promotion on ALL your posts is not smart, but if you choose to promote your posts strategically, you can extend your reach outside of your Facebook fan base and as a consequence, increase your sales.
The key is to…
-Only promote posts that are worth the investment
-Think about the purpose behind your promotion. Leads? Sales? or Higher Engagement?
-Monitor your promotion’s budget often so you can keep track of your investment.
Milestones
On your status update window you’ll see a tab for “Offer, Event +” Click on that and a list of cool features pops up. Milestones included.
Has your company reached a big goal lately? A new sale record, a new line of products for the holiday season or even a new year’s partnership? Don’t be shy, announce it! Your fans want you to keep them on the loop and this is a great way to do so. Facebook will keep track of all your Milestones and your fans will be able to see them in a special space called “History” on your about page.
So there it is folks. These are 3 features you should be using strategically to bump up sales & baffle your fans this Holiday Season (and all year round).
Have you tried any of these features previously? Do you have any questions or comments? I would love to know what you think, so use the space below & get the conversation started!
Did you like this article? Then what are you waiting for? LIKE it & SHARE it with all your friends.
Love & tons of Christmas cheer for you & your awesome biz.
Talk soon,
~Kim
- 1:50 am - Wed, Nov 28, 2012
I’m NEVER Getting Rid Of My Logo! | Re-branding Your Online Presence Part II
So, hopefully after reading the first part of this blog series, you’re considering Re-Branding your business (fingers crossed). If you’re not, shame on me for not being convincing enough!… I’m sure that’s not the case & by now you are on the other side of the screen, game face ON and READY to completely dominate your brand’s image! Today we are going to concentrate particularly on translating (or establishing) your business’ brand online. Let’s get started.
In the previous blog we emphasize the importance of branding a new business concept or re-branding an existing one. So, if you haven’t read the first part of this blog yet, STOP right where you are and click here. Ever heard of the term “online presence”? Well if you haven’t, I’m pleased to inform you that your brand has one, and if it doesn’t (which I highly doubt), you are missing out on a GINORMOUS amount of leads & sales.
What is an online presence and where on Earth do I get one?
An online presence is exactly that; your brand’s “presence” on the “inter-webs” (Internet)- like Marie Forleo playfuly likes to call them. You online presence encircles all of your brands’ social media platforms, the online directories where you are listed, your website, your blog etc. The benefits of a great online presence? Creating that “Aha…!” moment that automatically intrigues ( and hopefully “hooks”) your ideal customer when him or her finds you online.
In the example above (Zest’s Facebook page) we can see how Zest translates their specific brand beautifully while displaying the company’s racing team (which is a big part of their marketing campaign).
Although your brand’s online presence is composed of all the previously mentioned sites, and they should ALL be branded, we’re going to hone-in specifically on your social media platforms.
How can I translate my brand’s image into my social media?
Piece of cake! Since we’ve been using Coke as our prime example, let’s take a look at their branding on Facebook.
This is Coke’s Facebook Page. As you can see, it displays a very well branded cover image with a matching, minimalist profile picture; perfectly displaying a clean, fresh look. If you scroll down to view the tabs, this is what you will find…
Each of these tabs are fully customized and contain great, eye-catching images. Let’s dive a little deeper into the custom tabs.
This is one of my favorite customized tabs by Coke. A simple, yet visually enticing welcome page that grabs the fans-to-be’s attention while enticing them to click LIKE in a subtle way. Did you know tabs can be used as landing pages for Facebook ads? More on that later.
With all this Facebook talk going on, you’re probably thinking that social branding is limited to Facebook….well, it’s not!
Let’s take a sneak peek of Coca-Cola’s Twitter profile. Notice how they give each of their social media platforms a unique look, while keeping their overall style consistent. Coke cleverly balances out classic elements (like condensation on a red layout) & fresh images to create a visual impact on their followers.
If we head over to Pinterest, we’ll find a similar pattern. Beautiful.
OK Kim, I’m not a BIG name brand like Coke. There’s no way I can brand my social media!
Not true. Let’s take a look at what one of my favorite local businesses is doing with their social media branding…
ARTini’s Art Studio, Gallery & Lounge is one of the most innovative business concepts I’ve seen in town. This gallery has designed amazingly simple artistic strategies that allow people to paint glamorous pieces of art, while enjoying their favorite drinks! But their art doesn’t just hang-out on their walls, it seeps in through everything they do and their social media isn’t the exception.
Take a look at their Twitter; it portrays a simple design statement that screams THIS IS ARTini’s space! I love, love, love it. Learn more about ARTini’s here!
So, there you have it folks, being a small business does not give you an excuse to slack on your social media branding.
But, I don’t know how to get all fancy with my branding…
I knew you’d think that. Well, as a small business partner in this economy, you’re probably trying to cut back on expenses; which probably means you don’t have a lot of marketing dollars left to invest in branding (or re-branding) your business. However, I strongly recommend that you hire branding strategists like my friends over at Launch Box Media (they are phenomenal and worth every penny of your initial investment). These guys can really take your business’ image to the next level…
However, if this option still seems out of budget for now… I suggest you hire a good freelance designer who can help you strategically beautify your brand ( I can recommend some awesome peeps in town, too).
If all else fails, try working out a trade of either the services or products you render in exchange for some good designs (we did that at The College Moving Company!).
I hope you found this article helpful ( and if you did, LIKE & SHARE it with your peeps)! If you have questions or comments don’t be afraid to start the conversation below.
Cheers,
Kim
- 7:06 pm - Tue, Oct 23, 2012
I’m NEVER Getting Rid Of My Logo! | Understanding The Benefits of Re-branding I
I’m NEVER getting rid of my logo, Got it?
Business owners tend to react defensively whenever the topic of re-branding their business surfaces. But hey, I get it. It’s absolutely normal to become attached to your old logo. After all, you’ve been through a lot together and he’s always been a good sport. However, a lot of businesses fail to realize they don’t have to part ways with their old logo! Coke didn’t, why should you? The truth is, it’s not about throwing your old pal away, it is all about enhancing it. Think of re-branding as a superb makeover. The start of a bigger, better you!
So… What Exactly is Branding?
Coca-Cola, one of the most popular brands in history, is a perfect example of what branding should look like. Showcased in our own backyard, Coke is proud to call Atlanta it’s home. It comes as no surprise that this corporate giant has been in business for 126 years, employing over 146,000 individuals who help serve Coke’s 3,500+ beverages to over 200 countries around the globe. Did you know…people drink an average of 1.8 BILLION Coke servings a day? Insane. But enough about all these stats (they’re making me feel teeny, tiny…)
My point? Coca-Cola has built a solid brand around it’s product. Wherever people see those curvy letters on a red or white background they automatically think “Coke.” That is the sole purpose of “branding.”
So let’s dive in. Branding is defined by the Small Business Encyclopedia as “The marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products.” In other words, your brand is your [business’] face. Therefore, the process of branding involves communicating your face in the form of a logo design and then incorporating that design into ALL of your marketing materials; your online presence and the marketing strategies you implement. From your invoice sheets to your Facebook Page, everything that has your name on it, should scream YOU!
But, I just started my business and I’d rather invest in something useful!
Most start-ups seem to toss branding to the backseat because they either lack the funds or simply don’t think branding is a big deal. But, it is! Having a solid, visually enticing brand from the start will save you tons of money in the long run, and I guarantee it will drive your sales significantly. Why?
#1. It’s all about psychology. Think about it, in today’s modern world, small business brands often compete with The Big Guys in some shape or form. Let’s be honest, we are all pre-conditioned by the big name brands (who btw spend millions of dollars annually in producing the most captivating marketing media) to react when a visually stimulating logo design crosses their path. Why? Because we’re bombarded each & every day with top-notch marketing.
#2. As a result, people trust big name brands. If you pop-up with your awesome business start-up and you don’t have a brand to back it up… people won’t trust you. Believe me, I’ve been there.
But, I’m an established small business. Re-branding is for The Big Guys!!
Alright. Deep breath!… I’m sorry, but you are wrong my friend. Amy Porterfield always says something like, “There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Find someone who’s doing what works, and emulated it.” WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY DONE IT. Branding is a never ending process. As your business grows and conquers new horizons, it must reinvent itself. The same is true about branding.
In the past two years, our business start-up, The College Moving Company has gone through it’s fair share of branding and re-branding & re-branding a little more. We have seen incredible results! And though we are nowhere near perfection, we’re living proof that BRANDING MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
But, I’ve already invested money in my current brand…
Guess what? You DON’T have to spend a lot of money to re-brand your concept! I’m no graphic designer and most of The College Moving Company graphics are made on PowerPoint. Yes, you heard right! Power point. Now I’ve gotten a little fancy and I spent a whole $30.00 on stock images & a temporary Photoshop license. So, whether you’ve just started a new business venture or you are an established entrepreneur, branding/re-branding doesn’t have to cost you loads of cash.
Yes… I know, now you are going to tell me you DON’T HAVE TIME. Well, none of us do but you can always hire out a branding specialist who can help you figure it out!
Whatever your circumstances may be, there’s absolutely NO EXCUSE. Stay tuned for the second part of this blog post where I’ll show you how to translate your brand to social media platforms & for those of you who are DIY kind of people, I’ll give you a couple pointers on how to re-branding on the cheap! :)
If you liked this blog post LIKEEEE it… Share it with your peeps on the social webss. I know you’ve got GREAT insight on this topic, so don’t be shy! Start the conversation on the comments below!
Cheers!
(Source: thesocialmediascoopblog)
- 10:50 pm - Tue, Oct 16, 2012
How To Customize Your Facebook Page’s URL In Under 1 Minute
It’s always fun to “stalk” other business’ Facebook Pages; find out what they are up to and how they get their audience to engage in their endeavors. From big name brands like Coke, to local business; I have a couple of “hero” pages, whom I respect and totally admire. However, I frequently come across Facebook Pages that haven’t yet harnessed their full potential.
Let’s be real, more often than not, when people hear about your business or brand, they’ll do one of two things, if not both; they will look you up on “THE Google”, or they will “Facebook you”. Either way, it’s a fast an easy method to get a feel for who you are and what you have to offer.
That being said, let’s talk about the #1 sinful mistake I see most often on Facebook Pages…
“Un-customized URL’s”. Ahhhhh!! How is this possible?….. Just kidding, I get it. Most people don’t even know this feature exists!
Why is this even important? I have a business to run, Kim! You might say; well, not only will customizing your URL give you “online cred” by allowing your fans to find you easily and hence, provide you with more leads, when utilized correctly. It will also help you drive more traffic to your Page from external web pages like your website, blog, social platforms and even online directory listings.
(I’ll cover the details on that particular topic in an upcoming blog, stay tuned!)
So, let’s get down to it and give your ugly URL a make over .
STEP #1:
Navigate to your Admin Panel and Click on “Edit Page”.
(This is my Page…yours should look just like it)
STEP #2:
Next, click on “Update Info” and type in your desired URL. Now, before you chose your URL, I want you to think about it for a minute. Facebook only allows you to edit this URL two times during your Page’s lifetime. So, make sure you pick a URL that includes your Page’s name or something your audience will quickly recognize. Mine for example is KimberlyJimenezSMS.
Step #3:
Once you decide on the right URL, type it in. If it’s available, Facebook will give you the green light & Baaaaaam! You have your own, personalized Facebook Page URL. It’s that simple.
So, go to your Facebook Page RIGHT NOW and customized your own URL, right away! It will only take you a minute. I promise.
Now it’s your turn. Does your page have a customized URL? If so, share with us how & where you utilize it. You can answer in the comments below.
Did you like this article? LIKEEE it…Share it with your peeps and join the conversation on the comments below!
- 3:46 am - Sun, Oct 14, 2012
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INANIMATE OBJECT?
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- 9:03 pm - Sat, Sep 22, 2012
Inspiration is an eternal circle that arises in the mind, improves externally & comes back to the soul.
- 8:59 pm
Infographics
- hello. hello.
- Kim here! I'm not a graphics designer, merely a graphic admirer -- lately I find myself amused with visually appealing data, which we all call Infographics (at the moment). So I wonder... where does one find such inspiration? How do you draw a line between structure and creativity?
