"I hate Facebook"... have you ever said that? I have. As recently as six months ago actually. I hated the act of following everyone into the eternal abyss named "Facebook". After all - I try to be a leader - not a follower. But guess what... I'm on Facebook.
Last weekend, my daughter had a show at her school and "Mister Tim" was there - and towards the end of his show, he tells all the audience that he'd love it if they friended him on Facebook. I promise - every kid in that audience probably went home and friended him. (and that's not even a real word but Facebook has now made it one, right?)
So today while driving to my local Target to get bath supplies and a Frappachino from the Starbucks there (which by the way has over 26 MILLION followers on FB), was thinking about how small businesses need to market their Facebook page. It's one thing to create a FB page, but it's another thing for small businesses get the word out there. What do I mean?
Well - look at that number for Starbucks - 26 MILLION and growing. Coca Cola - over 35 MILLION followers. Wow, right? But a small local business? They'd be lucky to have a few hundred followers. That's why it's important for them to market OFF LINE as well as online. Yes - remember the world away from the computer? (I know for my readers this is hard to comprehend, but let's use our imaginations, ok?)
Remember passing out business cards to people you meet on the street or in Chamber of Commerce meetings and luncheons? Is your facebook page printed on all your handouts? What about your flyers and brochures about your business? How about your invoices? Even putting your facebook url on your business vehicles is a great promotional tool. Maybe encouraging family and friends to put it on their personal vehicles to help your business? If you have a brick and mortar store, have a sign made up and put it in a highly visible spot when people come in to follow you on Facebook. Many people have it on their phones these days and will do it right then and there. There are a bunch of ways you can market offline to drive traffic to your online presence.
So think about it. You've created a Facebook page. Yay - you are now hip, right? Some businesses create a page, and think that they are done. WRONG!!!!! Sorry to bust your bubble but it just doesn't work that way. A static webpage works that way. You design a site and you put the information you need to get out there to your market and you put that URL on the above things to promote it. But not Facebook. Facebook is dynamic. It's constantly changing. People expect changes on Facebook. They want to hear the latest and greatest news about their friends - even if those friends are businesses they frequent. So if all you have on there is your name, address and a quick blurb about yourself - repeat after me - "BOOOOORINGGGGG"
Yes, you are reading this from someone who used to HATE Facebook. Yet, the fact of the matter is, Facebook is not going anywhere anytime soon. Suffice to say, it's here to stay. Businesses will create a Facebook page before a website (let's face it - it's faster, easier and that dynamic factor comes into play). It's easy to make changes to your Facebook page. Not only can you post your thoughts on there, but documents, notes, pictures, videos and more! Truthfully, between Facebook, Twitter and a Blog - you have all the tools you need to promote your business online FOR FREE.
I used Starbucks and Coca Cola as examples because they have more followers than any other business that I know of on Facebook (not saying I am right - just saying it's what I know) and I think they do a great job marketing their business on Facebook. I see ads for Starbucks on many of the pages I go to. Coca Cola has contests on their pages. Human interest info (how many of us know about their new Polar Bear thing going on right now?)
The thing to remember out of all this though, is don't let your Facebook page be static. Add interesting facts about your business like the history of xyz product ie how it has evolved through time, how people used it in the past, how people use it NOW, tips on saving money with it, ways it'll make your life easier!). Offer coupons to people that go to your page and LIKE it. Have a contest. Use it to post your newsletter every month. The secret is to keep it fresh and interesting so people want to go back to it each time you post something, otherwise, it's like offering last weeks newspaper in the waiting room of your business.
Don't forget to work it though. Not only do you need to focus on your Facebook page, but you need to go to your competitors and see what they are doing. Go to other businesses that compliment yours and like their pages. Post on their pages if they allow it. Be encouraging - but not spamming. Don't post on their page an add about your business but be interested in theirs!
If you use their services, send them a testimonial. LIKE their postings. Not only does this help them, but it helps you too because it gets your name out there more. Create a page for your BUSINESS - not just a personal page for your name. You want your business name out there each time you click on "LIKE" on a page. Use your logo as your picture on that business page. You want brand recognition here just as much as you do anywhere. The more people see your name, the more they will remember you when they need your product / service!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Fire Me! Please!
I got FIRED. Yep. Fired. Hence, the reason for this blog to begin with. Fired. I've had my share of jobs in my life - all custom tailored around myself the last thirteen years to work around me being home for my daughter. But each one I left on my own terms. I haven't had too many the last thirteen years though as I've mostly been self employed. When I decided to go back to work this year, it was a big decision for me. I'd arranged a job with an European shoe company that I felt would do well in the US market.
I quickly got to work learning about shoes. How would this European urban shoe fit in here? What buyers should I contact? What magazines and papers need to know they exist? I got started on a press release and quickly got it out to about fifty newspapers and magazines. I started calling around to places like Nordstroms, Macys, and other department stores that I thought might be a fit. I was on top of the world. I loved what I was doing.
Last winter was a tough one - we had incredible snow storms and ice and such across America - traveling was difficult to say the least but once spring came, the skies were looking clearer and so were the possibilities of getting out and selling more. A trip to New York City ensued. Meetings with buyers was a new experience and quickly learned you have to think quick and have a backbone and stand up for what you believe in. Buyers can let you feel very small if you let them.
So, here I am, learning about the shoe industry - something I had never been involved in before. What I didn't realize was that I also had to learn to deal with the company I worked for too. Keep in mind, I have worked for large corporate companies as well as small "mom and pop" companies. This time it was different though. They spoke English, yes, but their natural language was Portuguese. I quickly realized that when I was speaking to them on the telephone, I had to stay very focused and listen very closely. Many times I hung up the phone feeling like I only understood a fraction of the words spoken to me. I hoped I had heard the important words and often sent an email to my boss for clarification of our conversation just to make sure I was correct.
Summer comes along and things are moving forward. People are starting to look at the collection, which by the way, are starting to get better design wise. Amazon.com and I are speaking frequently about the collection. Magazines are starting to publish my press release. I'm getting excited at this point, right?
I wake one morning and my uncanny sixth sense tells me to read email immediately. It's 5:00 am my time - 10:00 am in Portugal. Those days I woke up earlier so I could work on their time as well. I grab my cell phone, which is never far from my reach, and there's an email from my boss asking me to come to Portugal. I'm ecstatic at the thought and get to work on the details. They were releasing the new line and wanted all the agents to come see it, put in input, etc. I knew I was going to be tested. I was extremely nervous.
Long story short - the trip went okay but I got back early Monday morning and by Tuesday morning I was FIRED! Apparently, the trip didn't go as well as I had thought. I was devastated. People that haven't been fired abruptly have no idea how this feels. Neither did I at the time. When you hate your job, you mentally prepare yourself that if you got fired tomorrow, it'd be okay because you hated it anyhow. You often have a backup plan (and if you don't - make one!!!). I didn't hate my job nor did I have a back up plan. It was a huge smack in the face. Things were just starting to roll and I got punked. It sent me into a huge depression this summer which was really hard for me to dig out of. I took the summer off of work to spend time with my daughter and think about my next step in life. (Hence this blog!!!)
It's November now. I look back and think of last January as a long time ago. The snow on the ground is a far distant memory but know it's coming back again. Sadly. Why haven't I moved to a warmer climate? Even the UK has less snow than Ohio!
A lot has happened in this year. I've loved, I've lost, I've learned. I've become more determined. I've found my footing again and am making strides to move forward and learn from the past and to see the future with clear lenses and not rose colored ones. (How cliche' .. hmmmm). I want to say "it took me fired to make me realize...." but I just can't. I want to say it made me a stronger person. Time will tell. But here I am again - with my heart and mind in my hand - willing to move forward and try to live life again. Every day, I am finding my way more and more. Hopefully soon, it will be very evident what the universe has intended for me to be when I "grow up".
Peace ~ Love ~ Happiness
Marianne
I quickly got to work learning about shoes. How would this European urban shoe fit in here? What buyers should I contact? What magazines and papers need to know they exist? I got started on a press release and quickly got it out to about fifty newspapers and magazines. I started calling around to places like Nordstroms, Macys, and other department stores that I thought might be a fit. I was on top of the world. I loved what I was doing.
Last winter was a tough one - we had incredible snow storms and ice and such across America - traveling was difficult to say the least but once spring came, the skies were looking clearer and so were the possibilities of getting out and selling more. A trip to New York City ensued. Meetings with buyers was a new experience and quickly learned you have to think quick and have a backbone and stand up for what you believe in. Buyers can let you feel very small if you let them.
So, here I am, learning about the shoe industry - something I had never been involved in before. What I didn't realize was that I also had to learn to deal with the company I worked for too. Keep in mind, I have worked for large corporate companies as well as small "mom and pop" companies. This time it was different though. They spoke English, yes, but their natural language was Portuguese. I quickly realized that when I was speaking to them on the telephone, I had to stay very focused and listen very closely. Many times I hung up the phone feeling like I only understood a fraction of the words spoken to me. I hoped I had heard the important words and often sent an email to my boss for clarification of our conversation just to make sure I was correct.
Summer comes along and things are moving forward. People are starting to look at the collection, which by the way, are starting to get better design wise. Amazon.com and I are speaking frequently about the collection. Magazines are starting to publish my press release. I'm getting excited at this point, right?
I wake one morning and my uncanny sixth sense tells me to read email immediately. It's 5:00 am my time - 10:00 am in Portugal. Those days I woke up earlier so I could work on their time as well. I grab my cell phone, which is never far from my reach, and there's an email from my boss asking me to come to Portugal. I'm ecstatic at the thought and get to work on the details. They were releasing the new line and wanted all the agents to come see it, put in input, etc. I knew I was going to be tested. I was extremely nervous.
Long story short - the trip went okay but I got back early Monday morning and by Tuesday morning I was FIRED! Apparently, the trip didn't go as well as I had thought. I was devastated. People that haven't been fired abruptly have no idea how this feels. Neither did I at the time. When you hate your job, you mentally prepare yourself that if you got fired tomorrow, it'd be okay because you hated it anyhow. You often have a backup plan (and if you don't - make one!!!). I didn't hate my job nor did I have a back up plan. It was a huge smack in the face. Things were just starting to roll and I got punked. It sent me into a huge depression this summer which was really hard for me to dig out of. I took the summer off of work to spend time with my daughter and think about my next step in life. (Hence this blog!!!)
It's November now. I look back and think of last January as a long time ago. The snow on the ground is a far distant memory but know it's coming back again. Sadly. Why haven't I moved to a warmer climate? Even the UK has less snow than Ohio!
A lot has happened in this year. I've loved, I've lost, I've learned. I've become more determined. I've found my footing again and am making strides to move forward and learn from the past and to see the future with clear lenses and not rose colored ones. (How cliche' .. hmmmm). I want to say "it took me fired to make me realize...." but I just can't. I want to say it made me a stronger person. Time will tell. But here I am again - with my heart and mind in my hand - willing to move forward and try to live life again. Every day, I am finding my way more and more. Hopefully soon, it will be very evident what the universe has intended for me to be when I "grow up".
Peace ~ Love ~ Happiness
Marianne
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Say what you mean dangit!
We often don't say what we mean for a number of reasons. We try to be politically correct. We learn this at such a young age. Funny how we teach our kids to be truthful but teach them to smooth things that they say over. I remember my daughter telling me that things tasted bad when she was two or three years of age. My husband used to be horrified and tell her not to say things like that. She, of course, would return the favor by saying "But it's the truth!" I laugh at it now but my feelings were hurt at the time. It does, however, make you stop and think about what you are saying, doesn't it? "Tell the truth... unless it'll hurt someones feelings"... does a "white lie" make things right? How old is the question "honey do these pants make my butt look big?" I'm pretty sure that men are taught from the moment they are born to say "No dear - you look great!" See! Usually another "white lie"!
What about the politicians? White lie city. I don't even want to think about all the commercials that will be starting up again soon on the television. The thought makes me cringe. The twist their words to make just enough of what they are saying be the truth. I have a friend (who will probably read this and laugh) who knows how to say just enough of a story to make himself be truthful and honest. I call it half truths. I can usually tell when he thinks he's talking to the average person and call him on it by saying "ok now tell me the rest of the story". Politicians are the same way.
What about the times we tell people that it's ok that they just insulted you? Words come out of peoples mouths before they realize it and when they see the hurt look on your face, apologize. In return, we say to them, "Oh hun ,it's ok - I know you didn't mean it". Why do we give people free passes to hurt people? Why can't we say in return what we think about their comment? Are we scared to be honest back to people? They didn't think twice when that comment blurted out of their mouth. Address what they just said and bring it to the table with you. Often, things said by people stems from rumors they heard from other people. We often walk away from those conversations wondering exactly what they heard from someone and who that someone was. Wouldn't it be refreshing if we stopped and said something like... "I can see how you might be concerned about that issue, but let me tell you the truth so we can dispel this incorrect information."? It can take courage to do that, but wouldn't you walk away from that person knowing that you said your peace? Usually people say that if you defend yourself too much, people think you are covering things up. Sometimes that is true. It's hard to just keep your mouth shut. Occasionally, though, it just feels good to set things straight for yourself.
It's a fine line between those "white lies", political correctness and being polite. If you speak your mind too much, you are thought of as vulgar, or creating drama. If you are too quiet, you are a pushover. This thought is making me think about the lessons we have learned along the way - like I mentioned earlier - "the truth is necessary unless ......" It's that grey area that confuses kids. Those kids grow into future adults.
Christmas is coming. Last year, my daughter called me out on the Santa issue. I'll be careful what I say here - but we'll just say... I was called a liar by her last year. Again - those white lies surface and bite you in the butt!
What about the politicians? White lie city. I don't even want to think about all the commercials that will be starting up again soon on the television. The thought makes me cringe. The twist their words to make just enough of what they are saying be the truth. I have a friend (who will probably read this and laugh) who knows how to say just enough of a story to make himself be truthful and honest. I call it half truths. I can usually tell when he thinks he's talking to the average person and call him on it by saying "ok now tell me the rest of the story". Politicians are the same way.
What about the times we tell people that it's ok that they just insulted you? Words come out of peoples mouths before they realize it and when they see the hurt look on your face, apologize. In return, we say to them, "Oh hun ,it's ok - I know you didn't mean it". Why do we give people free passes to hurt people? Why can't we say in return what we think about their comment? Are we scared to be honest back to people? They didn't think twice when that comment blurted out of their mouth. Address what they just said and bring it to the table with you. Often, things said by people stems from rumors they heard from other people. We often walk away from those conversations wondering exactly what they heard from someone and who that someone was. Wouldn't it be refreshing if we stopped and said something like... "I can see how you might be concerned about that issue, but let me tell you the truth so we can dispel this incorrect information."? It can take courage to do that, but wouldn't you walk away from that person knowing that you said your peace? Usually people say that if you defend yourself too much, people think you are covering things up. Sometimes that is true. It's hard to just keep your mouth shut. Occasionally, though, it just feels good to set things straight for yourself.
It's a fine line between those "white lies", political correctness and being polite. If you speak your mind too much, you are thought of as vulgar, or creating drama. If you are too quiet, you are a pushover. This thought is making me think about the lessons we have learned along the way - like I mentioned earlier - "the truth is necessary unless ......" It's that grey area that confuses kids. Those kids grow into future adults.
Christmas is coming. Last year, my daughter called me out on the Santa issue. I'll be careful what I say here - but we'll just say... I was called a liar by her last year. Again - those white lies surface and bite you in the butt!
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