5 Ways To Turn Up the Volume With Twitter |  |
- 5 Ways To Turn Up the Volume With Twitter
- Nokia Device Could Be Largest Windows Phablet
- Why Online Video is Beating Social Media
- Businesses Hit With $350,000 in Fines for Fake Online Reviews
- BlackBerry Could Go Private with $4.7 Billion Acquisition
- 14 Unorthodox Tips for Becoming Successful in Business
| 5 Ways To Turn Up the Volume With Twitter Posted: 25 Sep 2013 02:00 AM PDT
Twitter can be a great way to amplify your message…if you can get your tweets to be heard above the din. With about 200,000 monthly users and counting, Twitter can seem a bit overwhelming at times. As Lisa Barone explains, getting attention for your tweets can be challenging:
Fortunately, there are ways to increase your odds of getting heard at least by your target audience even with all the noise out there. Below are some tips you might want to consider to both crank up the volume of your Twitter account and fine tune your message to reach your target listeners. Social Amplification: Pump Up Your Twitter VolumeStart with the Right DataData on Twitter and other social media channels seems to be everywhere. Start by examining some of this information to see what it can tell you about Twitter users in general. Every person is different, of course, but understanding who is using Twitter and a bit about their preferences may give you insight into how to craft your tweets. For example, social media software company Beevolve has compiled data from 36 million Twitter profiles. And the results provide some major insights. For example, did you know the vast majority of Twitter users are young and that more women use the platform than men? The study shows the vast majority, 73.7 percent, of Twitter users are between the ages of 15 and 25 and 53 percent are female. How might this information affect the way you tailor your next Twitter message? Use Promoted TweetsYou don’t need to be a social media rock star to add major amps to your Twitter account. In fact, Twitter’s new promoted tweets are proving very effective at getting a message across. For example, when British Airways allegedly lost his father’s luggage, Chicago-based business man Hasan Syed paid more than $1,000 to give his promoted tweets the boost they needed. The effort paid off. Syed not only reached an estimated 50,000 Twitter users, his tweets were also picked up by major news media eventually bringing an apology from the airline. Imagine how far your message could reach. Do More ListeningSometimes the key to getting your tweets seen by your fans is to pay more attention to what your audience wants. As Lisa Barone explains:
You’ll likely need to try a lot of different approaches with your tweets in the beginning, just to find out what works. Then watch your audience and learn. Engage, Engage, EngageSocial media is all about…well, being social. There’s no point in trying to raise your voice unless you’ve found someone to talk to. For this, Lisa suggests some simple techniques. You can use keyword searches, look for people who have already retweeted one of your posts or find potential clients and customers on Twitter. Then, of course, chat them up, she suggests. Become part of their conversation, answer their questions or start a conversation of your own. Just get started! Be Sure to PersonalizeJust retweeting the latest news from your industry won’t do. Remember, anyone can do that and there are probably plenty of them doing it already. The real art of tweeting effectively is to add a bit of your own distinctiveness in every 140 character message, says Lisa. To do this, you must do much more than simply post the title of the article you’re sharing and a link. Try to dig a little deeper. Try to share what you think about the post too. What does it mean? What do you as a thought leader in your field conclude from it? You may also want to pick out a quote, an interesting point or an important statistic from the post you’re sharing. It will make your own tweet more memorable and sharable. Have any suggestions you could share about using Twitter more effectively? Crank Up the Volume Photo via Shutterstock The post 5 Ways To Turn Up the Volume With Twitter appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Nokia Device Could Be Largest Windows Phablet Posted: 24 Sep 2013 04:00 PM PDT
The phablet, a hybrid between the smartphone and tablet, seems to be coming of age. And a soon to be introduced model from Nokia may be the largest Windows device of its kind. For budget conscious small business owners and entrepreneurs on the go, the phablet offers phone capabilities and a larger screen size closer to a tablet without the cost of owning two devices. New Nokia Features 6-inch ScreenLeaked images (shown above) of the new Nokia 1520 via @EvLeaks show a device sources say features a 6-inch full 1080p HD display. The new Nokia device may also feature a 20 megapixel front camera and a polycarbonite body, CNET reports. Though the photo shows a yellow device, there is no confirmed information on the color selections available. October Announcement AnticipatedAn expected announcement of the new Nokia 1520 in late September has been put off at least until October, Reuters reports. Some sources believe the device will be unveiled at the recently announced Nokia Innovation Reinvented event scheduled for Oct. 22 That delay may be due to announcement of Microsoft’s plans to acquire Nokia for $7.2 billion earlier this month. Once announced, the new Nokia 1520 will join the ranks of phablets already on the market like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. However, depending on the price, yet to be announced, the device may have an edge over competitors with small business owners seeking another Windows device for their already Windows-based office environments. Image: EvLeaks The post Nokia Device Could Be Largest Windows Phablet appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Why Online Video is Beating Social Media Posted: 24 Sep 2013 01:30 PM PDT
In 7 Reasons Why Video is the Fastest Growing Online Ad Format, I share Forrester, Cisco and Forbes research on why video is beating social media as a small business marketing platform. The biggest reason, however, may not be found in a research study. First, I must mention that I do use and value social media. While some communication channels are better than others (depending on goals), all have value. The problem is with the "silver bullet" perception. During these past few years social media has gotten more hype than just about anything. It's been a great bandwagon to jump on and just about every online marketing guru under 60 has. It's been a party for slick marketers and sales people who've financially capitalized on the hype. Whether it's because of that hype, or despite it, business owners are now experiencing a social media hangover. As the Manta Small Business Wellness Index showed, over 60% say they "don't see any ROI" on their social-media activities. That's a lot. Regardless of why business owners say they see no ROI (return on investment), it's forced them to seek an alternative – and that alternative is video. Video is Beating Social for Emotional ReasonsThe shift from social media to video is not surprising for another big, fundamental reason. Every business owner, manager and marketing director in the universe wants to know what they're getting for their marketing dollar. Even if they fully realize there's no guarantee on ROI, they want to know what "the deliverable" is. With social media, that's hard to grasp. With video, it's not. With video you see what you're getting and, if it's done right, you get excited by it. Unlike social media, there's an immediate emotional connection. It touches our senses. And, when it does that to us, we have no reason not to believe it'll do the same to the people we're trying reach. So, the big differentiating factor between social media and video as a marketing platform is one you may never see in a Forrester report. It's the bedroom conversation between a business owner and his, or her, spouse:
Bedroom Talk Photo via Shutterstock The post Why Online Video is Beating Social Media appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Businesses Hit With $350,000 in Fines for Fake Online Reviews Posted: 24 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT
Writing fake online reviews can land your business in serious trouble and cost you more than you gained in reputation or sales. Just ask 19 businesses caught in New York’s “Operation Clean Turf.” The undercover investigation snagged SEO companies and small businesses engaged in an activity Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman is calling “astroturfing.” Schneiderman’s office defines astroturfing as the “practice of preparing or disseminating a false or deceptive review that a reasonable consumer would believe to be a neutral, third-party review.” The technique is a form of false advertising, according to the state Attorney General. An announcement from Schneiderman’s office says the investigation uncovered businesses that allegedly created false accounts on review sites like Yelp, Google Local and CitySearch. The companies then hired freelancers in the Philippines, Bangladesh and Eastern Europe to write reviews for between $1 and $10 a piece, Schneiderman’s office said. Schneiderman’s office shared some of the ads allegedly posted on sites like Craigslist, ODesk.com and Freelancer.com like this one by an SEO company:
Sting Uncovers Businesses Writing Fake Online ReviewsSchneiderman’s office uncovered the fake online review writing activities with a year-long sting operation. Posing as proprietors of a yogurt shop in Brooklyn, investigators called local SEO firms about problems with negative reviews on sites like Yelp. Some SEO firms contacted offered fake review writing as part of their “reputation management” services, Schneiderman’s office said. The investigation also uncovered hundreds of fake profiles created on social media review sites and complex techniques used by companies to mask user IPs and hide the true identities of these accounts. Nineteen companies entered into agreements with the attorney general’s office to pay between $2,500 and $100,000 in fines and avoid further prosecution. This isn’t the first time writing fake online reviews has resulted in legal troubles. Recently, Yelp filed suit for writing fake reviews against a San Diego law firm, claiming it had faked some of its own reviews on the site. Fake Photo via Shutterstock The post Businesses Hit With $350,000 in Fines for Fake Online Reviews appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| BlackBerry Could Go Private with $4.7 Billion Acquisition Posted: 24 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT
If your business routinely uses BlackBerry products and services, you may be wondering how a possible acquisition taking the company private affects you. In the short term, not much probably, experts say. BlackBerry announced Monday Sept. 23 it has signed a letter of intent agreement with Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited to take the company private. After a 60 day due diligence period and approval by the majority of stockholders, Fairfax Limited and a consortium of investors would acquire BlackBerry for $4.7 billion with current stock holders receiving $9 per share. The acquisition would mean that, for the first time since going public in 1998, BlackBerry would no longer be traded publicly and would no longer need to share details about its revenue and other internal operations publicly. BlackBerry Seeks to Focus on NicheBut the acquisition might also mean the company will be shifting direction in its business model with greater focus on its business services and less on its consumer products. Prem Watsa, Chairman and CEO of Fairfax, hinted at this new direction in a prepared statement issued with the announcement:
In a podcast on the industry watcher website CrackBerry, consultant, writer and former equity analyst Chris Umiastowski said the company will almost certainly be looking to focus on the enterprise and security niche of its business. In an announcement issued Friday Sept. 20, BlackBerry unveiled a restructuring plan with greater focus on the “enterprise and prosumer market.” Specifically, the plan calls for a change in the company’s smartphone portfolio with a decrease from the present six leading devices, including five smartphones and one tablet, to four. It also calls for a focus on enterprise systems like BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, a device management, security and app management service available for Apple, Android and Blackberry operating systems. The service helps businesses maintain control of company data while allowing greater mobility for employees and more use of personal devices for work. See more on BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 below. The company says 25,000 commercial and test servers for the service have been installed to date, an increase from 19,000 as of July 2013. Founded in 1984, BlackBerry is a global leader in wireless technology. The company’s introduction of the BlackBerry mobile device in 1999 revolutionized the mobile industry. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry has offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Image: Blackberry The post BlackBerry Could Go Private with $4.7 Billion Acquisition appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 14 Unorthodox Tips for Becoming Successful in Business Posted: 24 Sep 2013 05:00 AM PDT
It’s no secret that you don’t become successful in business by doing the same thing the others guys are doing. Being able to take calculated risks is all part of the fun of being a small business owner — and understanding how to differentiate your business from the rest is a special skill most entrepreneurs spend their careers honing. That’s why we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs, the following question:
Here's what YEC community members had to say: 1. Sell Joy “Stop focusing on selling your product or service; instead, focus on the joy your company creates, and let that drive your growth. Scale the joy. Systematize how you deliver the joy. Sell the joy.” ~ Corey Blake, Round Table Companies 2. Become an Expert in Something “If you’re an expert in one aspect of your business, you’ll be able to share your expertise and drive new business because of it. Contribute to publications that reach your target audience, and they’ll come to you for more expertise and assistance.” ~ Kelsey Meyer, Contributor Weekly 3. Deliver Happiness “I am a huge fan of the Zappos “delivering happiness” movement. I think that the paradigm for how companies and customers interact is changing in a big way. When I see examples of terrible customer service, it makes me shake my head. Delighting your customers is the fastest way to grow a hugely successful business.” ~ Patrick Conley, Automation Heroes 4. Befriend Your Competitors “I meet with anyone who is or could be competitive. Competitors could be your acquirer; you could merge with a competitor, or you could buy them. So it’s best to position yourself as best as you can without revealing strategy.” ~ Sarah Ware, Markerly 5. Don’t Be Afraid to Fire Customers “You cannot please everyone, so find the customers who fit your company, and don’t waste your time on customers who don’t.” ~ Suzanne Smith, Social Impact Architects 6. Remember Business Is Personal “Business is personal. This is contrary to every cliché you will hear about leading an organization. But at the end of the day, all you have as a business person in the 21st century is your relationships — not factories, widgets or pipelines.” ~ Panos Panay, Sonicbids 7. Don’t Work All the Time “When I was young, I used to pull all-nighters a few times a week and would average only a few hours of sleep a night. Looking back, my life was totally unbalanced. I was far less productive and extremely unhealthy in general. Now, I have dinner with my kids, work out every day, do yoga, maintain a reasonable balance and get way more done than when I “worked” more hours.” ~ Danny Boice, Speek 8. Do Things That Don’t Scale “These are the words of the great Paul Graham, and we have implemented this to great effect at DJZ. At the beginning of a company’s existence, you often have to undergo time-consuming tasks to recruit customers that wouldn’t make sense on a huge scale (e.g., personal thank-you letters to customers or gathering new signups in person). These initial unscalable gestures are what ignite the flywheel.” ~ Michael Simpson, DJZ 9. Run a Half Marathon Every Year “When you’re the founder of a startup, your company is on your mind all the time. In fact, you can run into some major personal issues by not being able to properly “shut off” from business mode. I’ve found that signing up for a major athletic event like a half marathon is a great way to de-stress. It forces you to train every day and focus on something besides your business.” ~ Eric Bahn, Hustle Con Media 10. Break Rules “Sure, rules are great. They create momentary stability and processes we can all adhere to, but breaking them for the right reasons can lead to breakthroughs, unique experiences and stories that build businesses and brands in unimaginable ways.” ~ Henry Glucroft, Henry’s / Airdrop 11. Don’t Try to Do It All “Get out of your own way. It’s easy to get caught up trying to do everything in a business when really you should be focusing on removing yourself as a bottleneck. Entrepreneurs should spend their time building systems and plans for their business and watching things happen. Being CEO doesn’t mean you have to be doing all the work.” ~ Matt Wilson, Under30Experiences 12. Say ‘Yes’ More “Success is rarely, if ever, a straight line. And sometimes, the things that are slightly off track or seem a bit outside the lines are the things that may yield the biggest results. So I recommend you say ‘yes’ to interesting things, people and experiences. Those are usually where the action lies.” ~ Eric Koester, DCI 13. Motivate Employees “If you own a business, you should realize that your employees are your most valuable asset. The best way to motivate them is to allow them to share in the success of the business. You can call it an incentive for strong productivity and performance, or you can call it profit sharing. When employees have a vested interest in the business, they become self-motivated and work hard to be successful.” ~ Jay Wu, A Forever Recovery 14. Buy a Watch “My most unorthodox tip for becoming wildly successful in business is buying a watch (any kind!) and actually wearing it (every day!). Being punctual in business is key. No one likes to be held up or waiting on an associate who is running behind. Be early to every meeting, finish meetings on time, and never get caught saying, ‘I’m sorry, I lost track of the time!’” ~ Kim Kaupe, ‘ZinePak Success Photo via Shutterstock The post 14 Unorthodox Tips for Becoming Successful in Business appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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