Every year about this time many of my clients seem to be in a huge rush to get new projects and updates done. For vendors that sell products this makes sense, as the holidays are upon us, but for others it’s not so urgent. Maybe it has more to do with just trying to get one more thing done before the year is out. But, I’m not complaining.
The recent oil spill on the gulf got me interested in other disasters created by private businesses who don’t have the prudence to allocate the proper attention and funds to environmental safety. This video is from Carlan Tapp, a photographer, journalist and activist. It talks about the Clean Coal TVA Fly Ash Spill, of Kingston, TN in 2008. This disaster went largely unnoticed by the media.
One of the most effective marketing tools for any business is a website. For professionals focused on weddings it’s even more important, because often times we don’t have or need have a brick and mortar office. Therefore, the website becomes the most important business platform.
The key components include:
1. Should I build my own website or outsource it?
2. Do I need a blog?
3. Should I avoid Adobe Flash completely?
4. SEO
5. How much does it cost to maintain a good website?
Social networking has taken advertising and marketing to new levels. Learn how to leverage basic techniques to build and maintain your business.
The key components include:
1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Blogging
4. Website Integration
5. Social Networking vs. Traditional Advertising
What Online is social networking?
It is a community of internet users who share common interests. Once some joins a community they can then “socialize” with other members. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.
How can I use social networking to increase my business?
1. Facebook
This website is the current king of social networking because it has so many members and has near total modern society acceptance. It is a great way to reach people locally and in markets that you don’t live in. To really get the most out of Facebook you need to do the following:
Step 1: Create a personal account and add friends, start with relatives and close friends. From there add friends that you think may be interested in your business.
Step 2: You need to complete your profile and socialize. If you already have a blog, be sure to link to your posts on your account.
Step 3: Create a Fan Page and invite all your friends.
Step 4: Create a Group and invite all your friends.
The key to Facebook is staying very active and posting frequently. If you post interesting things all the time, your friends won’t filter your posts. Try not to make every post related directly to your business on your personal profile as to not turn off your real friends.
2. Twitter
This website is instant information, unlike Facebook you could have thousands of twitter follwers without actually knowing most of them. Twitter consists of short posts that can have links to photos or other websites. It’s a great way to send traffic to your website.
Step 1: Create twitter account and try use an ID that has some relation to your company. For instance, my ID is “305photographer”
Step 2: Design a background that has some info about your company and looks good.
Step 3: Post any new content from your website and blog, and any promotions.
Step 4: Follow as many members as possible.
Monetizing twitter is less complicated then Facebook but can be just as effective at sending traffic and creating buzz about your company.
3. Blogging
A blog allows you to create fresh related content about your company on a frequent basis. Updating your company website pages and portfolio may not make sense for your company because the info may not need to change. Your blog becomes the main area of your website for generating traffic and making your website more suited for seach engines.
Step 1: If possible create a blog using WordPress and install it on the same server as your website or buy a new domain – cathyphotosblog.com for your blog.
Step 2: If your are not using your blog as your main website you should try and style it as close to your main website as possible.
Step 3: Write meaningful and indepth posts that are directly or indirectly related to your business.
Step 4: Link to your blog posts on your Facebook profiles, this will alert your friends of your business in a subtle manner.
Blogging is the core of social networking, every you do online involves writing so practice your writing skills to get the most of this activity.
4. Website Integration
Your website should have a blog associated with it and you should link any of your other social profiles in appropriate areas. This allows you to leverage all your advertising opportunities without doing the same thing over and over again.
Step 1: You need a good website that allows you to easily incorporate a blog.
Step 2: Just any old web presence won’t necessarily help you so at some point make sure your website looks very professional and covers all your business needs.
Step 3: Hire a professional if you need help, your website is the most important advertising part of your business. You literally can’t get clients without one.
Leveraging your website and social profiles allows you to gain as much traffic as possible to your business. Done correctly you will get good traffic of local people who might want your services and not just some random internet users that can’t help you make more money.
5. Social Networking vs. Traditional Advertising
You need them both. Social networking has made web based advertising just as important as traditional methods. Both can help make your company successful. The best part about social networking is that for the most part it’s free but very time consuming.
Conclusion
So how much is a client worth to you? If it’s worth your time, then you have no reason to not social network within your community. It’s a great and cost effective way to attract legitamite clients to your business.
You ever felt like you’ve taken on far too many projects? I find myself in that situation but in reality I must really enjoy being in this dilemma. I think being very busy makes me more creative because I have to think quickly and in a concise manner to have some success. Through sheer necessity I’ve gone from disorganized to an excellent time manager. So I guess, maybe right now, for this second, I must be doing ok.
Of maybe I’m just not busy enough.
P.S. – I am accepting freelance projects contact me for details.