How can social networking help my business?

Let's start with another question:

What do most people do first when they are looking for information?

Yes, you guessed it – they search the internet using sites such as Google, Yahoo and AOL. Using blogs, social networking sites, digital PR and e-marketing in your business will give you:

• More opportunities to be found on-line by potential customers when using search engines


• Additional links and entry points into your website


• The ability to give useful information that can be used in their decision making process


• The opportunity for third party recommendations and reviews


• The ability to engage and converse with customers throughout their buying process and life as a customer.

Social networking (using sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube) allow you to converse with people interested in the products and services you offer and help you to answer their questions, increase your brand awareness and build their trust in your company.

They can also help to boost your search engine rankings as you will be piggy-backing on the social networking sites’ search engine optimisation (SEO) activities.

For example, uploading a video onto YouTube, then embedding it onto your own site helps people to see what you do as a company as well as giving them more opportunities to find you (because YouTube is checked more regularly by Google than your own site will be).

A mention of a new video on your blog, Facebook page and Twitter feed will also encourage people to take a look.

Best of all, you will be able to see which social media sites are best at attracting business, by looking at your website’s analytics to see how people are accessing your site.

It is important to remember that for digital PR to be effective, it must be planned into your marketing mix, just like any other form of promotion. That way, your messages will be consistent and more effective as the traditional and new media promotions will boost and build upon each other.

Want to know more? Please feel free to call me on +44 (0)1283 808460 or email me for a copy of our Beginners’ Guide to Social Media.

The Write Solution provides digital PR packages, social media consultancy and training to help you identify which sites to use, how to plan social media into your marketing and enable it to work for you.

I look forward to speaking with you,

Hannah

Hannah Sookias The Write Solution Tel: 01283 808460

http://www.copywritingandpr.com/

Digital PR - Blog Writing - Social Media Training - Articles - Features - Public Relations

Why the words on your website are important

Did you know...?

• You have just 3 seconds to grab a visitor's attention when they visit your website



• The first sentence is paramount - if you don't interest them here, they will hit the back button



• Your information should clearly state the benefits of what you do and why they should buy from you.

For example: which would you prefer to read:

"Thank you for visiting our website. XXYZ Company has been established for 40 years and we are committed to giving our customers excellent service and value for money.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our products and services so please call us if you think we can help you."

or

"Eye catching designs at affordable prices. Now that’s something to smile about.

At XYZ Company, we are all about happy clients. So, we understand that you want an outstanding creative design agency that gives results and who understands the importance of your budget, however large or small."

Top Tips!

1. It is really hard writing about yourself and your company. So ask trusted clients why they use you time and time again as this will give you a useful insight into the benefits they value.


2. Use a professional business writer (also known as a copywriter) to help you write your website text. The Write Solution for example, will help you to:

• understand who you are targeting


• clearly state the messages and benefits you want to get across


• write interesting, punchy, to-the-point text


• weave in search-engine friendly keywords and phrases

Want to know more? Read our article, 'Why Use a Copywriter' or give me a call on 01283 808460 - I look forward to hearing from you.

Hannah

Hannah Sookias The Write Solution Tel: 01283 808460

http://www.copywritingandpr.com/

Digital PR - Website Text - Blog Writing - Social Media Training - Features - Public Relations

5 Top Tips - Attending Business Networking Events

How often have you been at networking meetings where everyone you meet is all about 'me, me, me'?

They start the conversation trying to sell you something and quickly move on when it becomes apparent that you are not currently in the market for what they are offering. I personally think that these types of people are really missing a trick. Here's why:

Don't dismiss someone just because they won't buy from you personally
Even when someone is unlikely to buy from you, it is worth spending a few moments getting to know them and their business... after all, they usually have at least one contact within their business and social circles who will be in the market for what you are offering. And you never know, they might just have a contact who you've been trying to connect with or who is looking to place a substantial order.

Give rather than receive (use a 'how can I help you' approach)
Having a giving approach rather than a taking one can reap massive benefits. We've already established that people like talking about themselves, so turn their habit into useful information for you.

By asking this question means that people are more likely to tell you the types of clients they are looking for and which industries they sell into, which means you are more able to pass on their details to your contacts.

When they have finished, always say whether you have any contacts they are looking for and thank them for giving you such useful information. Continue by telling the types of clients you are looking for and ask them specifically if they have any contacts in those fields.

You'll be amazed at how much more productive your meetings will be by trying to give rather than receive.

Other people are your best PR
Being recommended is the best form of public relations (PR). People are much more likely to believe someone else that you and your products are brilliant much more than they will believe you. Getting to know people at networking events means they are still able to promote you to their associates and clients, even if they don't buy from you.

Find out what people remember you for
I always find it fascinating to discover how people remember me. At many of the networking events I attend, I give a 60 second pitch about who I am and what I do. By listening to how people introduce me to others is an interesting insight into what people remember from these and the types of topics they are interested in. I then use this information to develop other one minute promotions to build on their interest.

Research and follow-up is important
If there is a delegate list published before the event, do use it to prepare for the meeting. Go with 5 people in mind that you would like to talk to. Ask other attendees you talk to if they know any of them and ask to be introduced.

Always try to follow up meetings with emails, tweets or other social media messages to the contacts you have spoken to. These needn't be all work related - in fact if you can weave a social conversation, it is all the better. How much nicer it is to sign off an email saying. "I hope your son's team has a good game on Saturday" or "Good luck in the Great North Run at the weekend"? It shows you are interested in them as a person as well as their business and something you can build on next time you meet.

Hannah
Hannah Sookias
The Write Solution
Tel: 01283 808460
http://www.copywritingandpr.com/
Digital PR - Blog Writing - Social Media Training - Articles - Features - Public Relations