The Value Of Blogging For Your BusinessDo you still regard blogs as a means of expression only for teens to talk about their favorite bands, or citizen journalists to support the political party of their choice? While it's true that these types of pages exist by the thousands, a blog can also be a powerful business tool for a company looking to increase search engine exposure and to connect with clients. At Promise Productions Marketing Communications, we focus on blogging in a strategic way to build your business.
Having a Website is Not Enough
Company blogs are a rapidly expanding area of the Internet, and businesses that are currently communicating this way have established a significant advantage over their competition.
Chances are you already have a website, but blogs provide an effective means to expand your online presence, to connect with more clients, and to build traffic to your website. In fact, it might be easier to get your blog on the first page of Google, than your website! Let us show you how.
It Internet is now the main way your customers and prospects find out information about your company, your product or your service. The easier it is for them to find you, and the more information you can provide when they do, the better your chance to earn their business.
Four Steps to Effective Business Blogging
1. Write about something you know.
The hardest part about blogging for some company executives is finding subjects to write about. But these are the same people that have built a successful business - in part based on their industry knowledge and ability to serve their customers. These are the subjects that should comprise the majority of your blog entries.
What new products or solutions have come into your industry? What are the questions and concerns that are foremost on your customers’ minds? In what areas could your industry be doing a better job serving its clientele? All of these are ideal subjects for a blog.
2. Focus on helpful information, not promotion
While a blog can help to sell your product, you do not want your readers to presume that this is your only purpose for its creation. When written effectively, a blog should communicate information that is helpful to the reader, while subtly communicating how your company is suited to serve their needs.
Think of a company profile article in a business magazine. The article will contain information about that company’s history, employees and achievements. By doing so, the reader will learn more about the company and hopefully want to do business with them, without being hit with an overt sales pitch.
That same strategy should be utilized when writing a blog. And by toning down the marketing aspect, you may find your blog entries will be quoted on other business websites that are also looking to inform their readership without endorsing a particular product or company. The more places online in which your company’s name and capabilities are mentioned, the more traffic you can drive to your website.
3. Proofread, proofread, proofread
Although a blog can be written in a more casual tone than a press release or a marketing document, spelling and grammar are no less important. It doesn’t matter how interesting or informative your message if it is expressed in a way that questions your professionalism.
4. Get the word out
Don’t just post your blog on your website. Cross-post each entry to social networking sites such as Facebook, and promote the appearance of a new entry on Twitter. We are experts at maximizing your blog's effectiveness this way. So contact Promise Productions for strategic blogging at 972-822-3587.
Showing posts with label Blogging Outsourcing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging Outsourcing. Show all posts
May 14, 2009
Strategic Blogging - Give Your Business An Edge with Social Media Marketing
Strategic Business Blogging is one of the most important things your company can do to be and stay relevant to your marketplace. It is the essential first step in successful Social Media Marketing.
Sadly, many bloggers receive little-to-no benefits from all their investment of blogging time and effort. That is because they are not thinking like a marketing firm and lack the strategic distinctions that produce results like these:
• blogging that raises the visibility of your company's main web site
• blogging that stimulates new business inquiries
• blogging that doubles the value of your Public Relations efforts
• blogging that maximizes the results from Press Releases
• blogging that facilitates customer service
• blogging that does not distract from your focus on day-to-day business operations
The above benefits are exactly what our "Blogging For Business" service provides. By blogging for you, you can rest assured that your blog is providing the maximum value to your business, giving it an approachable and professional image, facilitating positive PR, and helping your web site be found by more prospects.
Here are some free tips towards effective business blogging:
• Have one employee be the main company liason for the blog. That person can oversee it, take pride in it, and receive content from others within and outside the company
• Make sure your blog has its own domain name and unique IP address
• Make sure your company's other social media assets all link to the blog (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, You Tube, CareerBuilder, BusinessWeek, Flickr, Wikipedia, etc.)
• Not every blog should be about you. Blog about related issues, marketplace developments, similar technologies, and interests that your prospects share in common.
• Re-post your press releases to your Blog.
Sadly, many bloggers receive little-to-no benefits from all their investment of blogging time and effort. That is because they are not thinking like a marketing firm and lack the strategic distinctions that produce results like these:
• blogging that raises the visibility of your company's main web site
• blogging that stimulates new business inquiries
• blogging that doubles the value of your Public Relations efforts
• blogging that maximizes the results from Press Releases
• blogging that facilitates customer service
• blogging that does not distract from your focus on day-to-day business operations
The above benefits are exactly what our "Blogging For Business" service provides. By blogging for you, you can rest assured that your blog is providing the maximum value to your business, giving it an approachable and professional image, facilitating positive PR, and helping your web site be found by more prospects.
"Your business blog is the perfect opportunity to speak to the community about your company, about your industry, and to respond to issues / questions that arise. Your blog is your opportunity to shine by being the good guy -- sharing, generous, and customer-service oriented. In turn, that creates the trust that paves the way for the best business deals." -- Marcus, president of Blogging 4 Business
Here are some free tips towards effective business blogging:
• Have one employee be the main company liason for the blog. That person can oversee it, take pride in it, and receive content from others within and outside the company
• Make sure your blog has its own domain name and unique IP address
• Make sure your company's other social media assets all link to the blog (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, You Tube, CareerBuilder, BusinessWeek, Flickr, Wikipedia, etc.)
• Not every blog should be about you. Blog about related issues, marketplace developments, similar technologies, and interests that your prospects share in common.
• Re-post your press releases to your Blog.
~~~
We hope this whets your appetite for the benefits a properly setup and managed blog can provide your business. Would you like us to set the stage for propsects to trust you and want to do business with you?
Promise Productions welcomes your inquiries on effectively promoting your business through marketing communications, including blogging, video blogging and social media marketing. Call our Dallas headquarters at 972-822-3587.
We hope this whets your appetite for the benefits a properly setup and managed blog can provide your business. Would you like us to set the stage for propsects to trust you and want to do business with you?
Promise Productions welcomes your inquiries on effectively promoting your business through marketing communications, including blogging, video blogging and social media marketing. Call our Dallas headquarters at 972-822-3587.
May 11, 2009
Engage Social Media Marketing with a Strategic Corporate Blog
POWER OF INFLUENCEWord-of-mouth has long been one of the most powerful forms of advertising. If a friend gushes about a recent experience with a great new product, or if you, instead, see the frustration in their face as they complain of poor service, you are simply going to be swayed by that experience. Even if you had a different experience with those same products or services, their opinion informs and colors your perception of that company -- be it a bank or the corner dry cleaners.
In fact, first-hand testimonial, endorsement or critique from the man-on-the-street is more credible than all the celebrity endorsements, clever ads, catchy jingles and promotions combined.
Social Media is word-of-mouth on Steroids -- meaning it is online and spread to many places for many viewers being influenced. Social Media is so successful today because you and I both are fed up with only hearing the manufacturer's best claims for their stuff.
We want to know reality -- both good and bad. Social Media does that; and if your company is not participating in the conversation, then the future of your company is probably at the mercy of some stranger's opinion -- simply because it was voiced through this power new media and your side of the story was under-told.
Social Media Marketing is so effective for businesses, because, by getting on your prospect's level and engaging in dialogue online, you earn their trust and also can quickly respond to any customer questions, issues or suggesting on how to make your product or service that much more attractive.That is why businesses have a wonderful opportunity with Social Media Marketing. And it is why Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, MySpace, Forums, etc.) has taken the Internet by storm. Everyone from janitors to CEO's checks out the first-hand testimonials on a product or service to save them time and inform the many decisions we make each day. Social Media Marketing, takes advantage of this to communicate positive branding to these prospects.
"Social Media is NOT a pushy sales pitch. It is informing your prospects, listening to them and then authentically sharing the positive benefits you look forward to providing your customers." – Marcus
STRATEGIC BLOGGING for BUSINESSES
The smartest first step for a company to take to harness social media marketing is blogging -- in a strategic business way.
Your business blog is an ideal way to compliment your web site and initiate a new business relationship because it let's the "looking perfect" guard down and let's your prospect see what you are up to and respond to you. This paves the way for a dialogue and it maximizes the trust that a new business relationship requires.
Not just blogging, but STRATEGIC blogging
There are many ineffective ways to blog. That is why we offer the service of managing your blogging and social media campaign for you. We structure blogging in the way to promote a business the most. Here are the benefits at a glance:
• Setup in a Strategic way to maximize the impact of every action
• Written professionally for optimum persuasion
• Does not cut into your business management time
• Best Practices that Promote your main website's Search Engine Visibility
• Keeps your business cutting edge in the rapidly changing world of Social Media
Our social media optimization plans complement your unique business model, marketing messages and campaign goals. Whether it’s optimizing and distributing videos, creating official pages on social networks, distributing press releases or simply monitoring and enhancing online brand buzz, we have a social media marketing campaign for you.
Communicate and persuade best by getting on your prospects' level. Learn more about our strategic blogging and social media management programs. Contact us today at 972-822-3587.
Mar 14, 2009
Trust Based Marketing For Profits Today - Part 3 of 3
Six Steps To Generate Trust & Credibility in Your Target Market
Okay, enough theory. Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts of building trust. There are six steps to follow if you want to develop a trust-based marketing strategy:
1. Select a target market. It is much easier to build trust in a specific, target market. By focusing on a target market, you can demonstrate your understanding of your prospects’ needs, and tailor your solution in ways that resonate with your prospects. People are more likely to trust business professionals who speak their language, understand their issues, and have developed comprehensive solutions for their industry.
2. Develop educational products that prospects in your target market will appreciate. Most Web designers and other IT professionals want to show prospects how talented they are. That is necessary when you get into a competitive bidding situation, because you have come late to the game.
However, with trust-based marketing you establish your credibility and reputation before your prospects even have a need. The way to do this is by providing free information. Articles, speeches, newsletters, press releases, white papers, seminars, audio CDs, and simple surveys of your target market are examples of valuable information that prospects appreciate.
Your informational products should address specific problems that your target market faces. Sample titles might include: “The 10 Dirty Secrets About Web Design that Other Web Designers Don’t Want You To Know;” “Five Mistakes That Most Realtors [or your specific target market] Make with Their Web Presence;” and “How to Double Traffic To Your Web Site for Under $100.” You should be able to come up with dozens of truthful, interesting, attention-grabbing topics to present to people in your target market-- and many formats in which to present your content.
3. Build a list of prospects. Your list of prospects could become the most valuable asset you have in your Web design business. Once you have a list of prospects in your target market, you can continuously follow up with them in ways that establish trust and credibility. Capture prospect information by offering a free newsletter on your Website, any time you speak, and every time you offer informational products. Ask your network to let people know about the free information you offer (which is much easier than asking for referrals).
If you have a budget, you might also invest in advertising and direct mail to build your list. Use these techniques not to promote your services, but to offer a free report or subscription to your newsletter. Opt-in list building services, Google, and Yahoo search marketing can help build your list, too. All of these paid services are less effective than free strategies, but will allow you to build your list more quickly.
Note that staying focused on a target market makes it easier to build your list. For instance, if you focus on developing a Web presence for lawyers, you can easily obtain lists of lawyers, write articles for publications targeted at lawyers, and speak at conventions that lawyers attend. You can also develop information that lawyers specifically need, for instance, by comparing legal Websites to one another.
4. Follow up with prospects. Once you’ve chosen a target market, built a list, and created a few educational products, you can follow up with prospects on your list in ways that build trust.
Your newsletter or business blog is the best way to follow up with prospects. Every time you send it out, you remind your prospects that you are an expert in your field, not by telling them, but by showing them with expert insight and information. And, with each issue, you can promote additional opportunities through which your prospects can gain education and information from you, such as speeches, seminars, roundtables, eBooks, white papers, and articles on your Website and Business Blog.
Similarly, each time you follow up with prospects through other vehicles, you should offer other ways for them to get yet more information from you. For instance, if you speak in public, offer your prospects a free white paper that will interest them, and fits your expertise.
The more you follow up in valuable ways, without coming across as a salesperson, the more trust you’ll build.
5. Develop proactive referral systems that bring more prospects to you. Referrals are fantastic, because they bring you prospects that already trust you, based on the recommendation of somebody they respect. Unfortunately, many Web designers assume that referrals come automatically from satisfied clients. They don’t.
You have to ask for referrals from clients, and ask specific questions about people they know who might have a need for your services (e.g. “You told me that you’re on the board of the Chamber of Commerce. Do any of the other board members need help with their Web presences?”). You should also build referral networks with complementary professionals, for instance, by creating your own “mastermind groups” of professionals that meet on a weekly basis to help each other grow their business.
6. Be patient. Remember that it takes at least five favorable impressions with a prospect before he or she trusts you enough to contact you. Don’t destroy the trust you are developing by suddenly pitching your services, offering a free consultation (which prospects automatically translate to mean “sales pitch”), or asking for an appointment. If you offer enough valuable information to a focused market, soon people will begin calling you.
If you do want to contact prospects on your list, there are two effective ways to do it. The first is to follow up with a call after they take advantage of one of your information products or programs. Ask them for their advice and feedback, and offer to answer any questions they have. Don’t sell them anything; if they have a need, they will let you know. Then, send them a handwritten note thanking them for their time.
Second, create a research study or survey, and contact prospects to participate. Offer them a free copy of the study after you are done. Topics might include: “Top ten concerns [your target market] has about their Web presence;” “Benchmarking: How much your competitors are spending on their Web presence;” and “Web results: Top traffic drivers for [your target market].” Research studies show your prospects that you are an expert, and give them a great opportunity to share their issues and concerns with you.
If you follow these steps consistently, within six months to a year, you’ll have a huge database of prospects. They will call you first when they have a problem that you can solve. Best of all, you can achieve these results without a large investment of money.
~~~ OK, the following is the bonus section of this article! ~~~
Why Most Web Designers Will Avoid This Advice -- And Why That Is Great For YouMost Web designers will not act on this approach to business development. There are a few reasons why. First, many Web designers come from the “If I build it, they will come” school of marketing. They know they are talented, and believe that eventually people will learn about their capabilities. Unfortunately, this strategy only works in baseball movies directed by Kevin Costner! Average Web designers with superior marketing skills will almost always do better financially than brilliant Web designers who don’t make marketing a top priority.
Second, trust-based marketing strategies are somewhat unusual. It requires GIVING, believing that you will receive back in time. That is, it requires faith to make the up front investment of time and energy (and some money) to establish trust and credibility within a focused market. Most Web designers rely on traditional marketing approaches that push their services, and old habits are hard to break. They think too short term. Others try these approaches for a while and then give up, or don’t commit fully to implementing these strategies as a top priority.
Finally, many Web designers lack the patience and discipline it takes to focus on a target market and become a recognized expert in that market. They want business, and they want it fast. So they go to bidding sites, and battle dozens of other competitors from around the world to get jobs. If they would only invest a few months of effort to build trust and credibility, they would have all the clients they can handle for the long haul.
But all these reasons are good news for Web designers who do choose to base their marketing strategies on building trust. You can get the most desirable clients in your target market, while your competitors continue to slog it out. They will have to compete on price, submit competitive bids, and deal with prospects that don’t trust them enough to give them straight answers. You won’t.
I hope you make the right choice! We invite you to choose Promise Productions for your marketing communication needs. Let us cause your business to thrive in any conditions through integrated and strategic messages (and compelling visuals) that reach your ideal prospects with the understanding and solutions they long for!We're ready to learn about your goals. Feel free to call us today at 972-822-3587.
Mar 13, 2009
Trust Based Marketing For Profits Today - Part 2 of 3
Trust-Based Marketing and Its BenefitsTrust-based marketing builds trust with a somewhat unusual strategy. A key part of this strategy involves providing valuable education and information to your prospects up front, so that they perceive you as an expert. You don’t sell to them, or make pitches. Instead, you show you understand them.
That is, you provide insights about their problems, what those problems cost, and how they can solve them -- all within the area of your expertise. Once those prospects realize that you can help them, the more likely they are to call you as soon as they have a need.
"You have now moved from being a pushy nuisance to a valued service."
Marketing based on the development of trust creates entirely new opportunities for getting your prospects’ attention and interest. Once you learn how to build trust, you can stop those overused selling techniques, and everything will change for you:
* Prospects call you first when they have a problem. You can stop chasing them.
* You win more business sole source, before the prospect sends it out for bid. That’s because prospects perceive you to be an expert, and call you when they have a need.
* Your entire marketing program has a single point of focus: develop trust. Therefore, you can measure your marketing investment based on how well you achieve this goal, and continuously improve.
* Many of the tactics you use to build trust happen automatically, allowing you to spend time on other things.
* You can charge higher fees, and stop competing on price.
* You can stop selling, and start having open and honest conversations with your prospects.
* People refer business to you even if they have never hired you, because they perceive you to be an expert and appreciate your valuable information and knowledge.
* You feel good about marketing your services beuacse you are truly providing value.
The Principles of Trust-Based Marketing
If you want to market your Web services on the basis of trust, it’s important to incorporate a few fundamental principles into everything you do. The following seven principles underpin the development of trust:
1. The more value you provide, the more trust you build. Most marketing and sales efforts focus on pushing your services and capabilities. This doesn’t build trust; in fact, it turns the prospect off. Who wants to waste time reading or listening to “just another pitch”? Instead, you can build trust by providing value. In trust-based marketing, value takes the form of free, or low-cost, educational products and services -- articles, speeches, newsletters, audio CDs, etc. Each of these products helps your prospects to understand their critical problems (within your range of expertise), and start to develop solutions.
2. Trust increases gradually. This is business, but it is also a relationship. For example, it takes five or more interactions with a prospect before they trust an IT professional enough to even consider hiring that person. Building trust is like taking a series of baby steps. It happens over time, as you provide a series of high-value interactions that benefit the prospect.
3. Trust is based on “pull,” not “push.” You build trust when you give prospects the opportunity to choose whether or not to take advantage of the information and insights you can offer. Instead of pushing your services onto them, let your prospects choose to take advantage of your valuable expertise. That way, you will have plenty of prospects who have given you permission to stay in touch with them (in ways that are valuable for them). When they have a problem, they’ll contact you first, because they know you and perceive you to be an expert. Often, they will hire you without sending their project out for bid, and you can charge higher fees.
4. Trust is fragile. Prospects are naturally and understandably wary. If you move too quickly, or push too hard to close a deal, you will turn your prospects off.
5. Some interactions build more trust than others -- and most cost almost nothing. Your newsletter, public speaking, articles, and testimonials can all build an enormous amount of trust. None of these cost much to implement. Newsletters and articles establish your expertise, and provide value to your prospects. Public speaking lets prospects see you in person, and makes them feel as if they know you. Testimonials provide “social proof” that others perceive you to be an expert.6. Authenticity and empathy build trust. Who here does not like feeling understood? By being open and honest with your prospects, and empathizing with their problems, you build trust. Prospects want to work with professionals who can step in their shoes and who understand the results they are trying to achieve. They also appreciate people who can serve as their trusted adviser, giving open and honest advice about how to move forward.
7. The economics of trust are incredibly powerful. It doesn’t take long to develop a group of prospects that know you and perceive you to be an expert in your field. Once you do, they will refer you to other people -- even if they don’t hire you. Within six months to a year, you can establish yourself as a recognized expert and thought leader in your market. You will have all the clients you want.
Our 3rd and final post will reveal 6 Steps To Generating Trust.
Got trust? Call Covenant Designs at 972-822-3587 for trust-savvy approaches both in print communications, professional web site design, and social medial strategies.
Mar 12, 2009
Trust Based Marketing For Profits Today - Part 1 of 3
Introduction
Trust-Based Marketing is the way to get all the clients and profits you could ever want in today's economy.
Businesses, like people, do not want to risk when their fears are stimulated and the only way to open their wallets is through trust.
Trust-Based Marketing overcomes the distrust factor of overly-slick marketing and is, instead, based on establishing your credibility in the marketplace. Trust-based marketing requires an initial investment of time and energy up front, but but reaps a RICH HARVEST enabling your business to land all the clients and projects you want within six months to a year. Best of all, trust-based marketing doesn’t cost a lot to implement.
The Fundamental Problem with Traditional Marketing
Traditional approaches to marketing suffer from a fundamental flaw: they PUSH your services and products at the prospect. As a result, prospects are easily turned off. Face it, they’re sick and tired of receiving hundreds of marketing pitches every day.
Whether you design a business Website that describes your services, use the sales gimmicks that most sales training courses teach, or depend on Pay Per Click to get noticed, you will face the following problems if you pursue traditional marketing strategies:
1. Prospects avoid you, because they don’t want to deal with yet another vendor or salesperson.
2. Prospects don’t always give you straight answers about moving forward.
3. You end up competing on price alone, instead of getting sole source deals. Your value goes down in the customer's eyes and your service gravitates towards being a commodity!
4. You spend more and more money on advertising campaigns that produce less and less results.
5. You feel frustrated, because you have to go through the indignity of pitching your services and skills only to receive rejection when you are sure that you offer a terrific solution.
Trust-Based Marketing Gets Inside the Prospect’s Head
There is another way than pushing yourself at customers. It has to do with attracting new business instead. Before we unveil it, consider what your prospects are probably thinking when they realize they need to invest in a new Initative, Image or Web Site. I will use Information Technology market (IT) as an example. When you get inside the prospect's head, here is what is typically going on:
1. I don’t want to hire an IT professional, but I have to. This makes me feel ignorant and vulnerable, because I need help and can’t solve my own problem.
2. I have no way of knowing if the person I hire is really the right person for the job.
3. I hear many stories about people being burned when they hire IT professionals.
4. Why can’t IT consultants speak a language I can understand?
5. I don’t care about technology. I just want to get business results. Technology is the means, not the end, and I wish these people would understand this fact.
6. This is going to be expensive, and I worry about not getting enough return for my investment.
The Root Issue IS TRUST
Underlying each of these thoughts is a common message. When it all boils down, your prospects are really saying, “I want to hire somebody I can trust who will give me results I can trust.” Therefore, developing trust becomes the key to attracting new business deals.
You have established trust when you meet four criteria:
1. Your prospect is familiar with you and with what you do.
2. Your prospect perceives you to be an expert in your field.
3. Your prospect believes that you understand his or her specific issues, and can solve them.
4. Your prospect likes you enough to want to work with you.
Trust-Based Marketing is the way to get all the clients and profits you could ever want in today's economy.
"You see, what is lacking today is not so much cash flow but rather credibility."
Businesses, like people, do not want to risk when their fears are stimulated and the only way to open their wallets is through trust.
This 3-Part article on trust based marketing is adapted from the writings of Andrew Neitlich.
Trust-Based Marketing overcomes the distrust factor of overly-slick marketing and is, instead, based on establishing your credibility in the marketplace. Trust-based marketing requires an initial investment of time and energy up front, but but reaps a RICH HARVEST enabling your business to land all the clients and projects you want within six months to a year. Best of all, trust-based marketing doesn’t cost a lot to implement.The Fundamental Problem with Traditional Marketing
Traditional approaches to marketing suffer from a fundamental flaw: they PUSH your services and products at the prospect. As a result, prospects are easily turned off. Face it, they’re sick and tired of receiving hundreds of marketing pitches every day.
Whether you design a business Website that describes your services, use the sales gimmicks that most sales training courses teach, or depend on Pay Per Click to get noticed, you will face the following problems if you pursue traditional marketing strategies:
1. Prospects avoid you, because they don’t want to deal with yet another vendor or salesperson.
2. Prospects don’t always give you straight answers about moving forward.
3. You end up competing on price alone, instead of getting sole source deals. Your value goes down in the customer's eyes and your service gravitates towards being a commodity!
4. You spend more and more money on advertising campaigns that produce less and less results.
5. You feel frustrated, because you have to go through the indignity of pitching your services and skills only to receive rejection when you are sure that you offer a terrific solution.
Trust-Based Marketing Gets Inside the Prospect’s Head
There is another way than pushing yourself at customers. It has to do with attracting new business instead. Before we unveil it, consider what your prospects are probably thinking when they realize they need to invest in a new Initative, Image or Web Site. I will use Information Technology market (IT) as an example. When you get inside the prospect's head, here is what is typically going on:
1. I don’t want to hire an IT professional, but I have to. This makes me feel ignorant and vulnerable, because I need help and can’t solve my own problem.
2. I have no way of knowing if the person I hire is really the right person for the job.
3. I hear many stories about people being burned when they hire IT professionals.
4. Why can’t IT consultants speak a language I can understand?
5. I don’t care about technology. I just want to get business results. Technology is the means, not the end, and I wish these people would understand this fact.
6. This is going to be expensive, and I worry about not getting enough return for my investment.
The Root Issue IS TRUST
Underlying each of these thoughts is a common message. When it all boils down, your prospects are really saying, “I want to hire somebody I can trust who will give me results I can trust.” Therefore, developing trust becomes the key to attracting new business deals.
You have established trust when you meet four criteria:
1. Your prospect is familiar with you and with what you do.
2. Your prospect perceives you to be an expert in your field.
3. Your prospect believes that you understand his or her specific issues, and can solve them.
4. Your prospect likes you enough to want to work with you.
Our next post will cover the enormous benefits of trust-based marketing.
Got trust? Call Promise Productions at 972-822-3587 for trust-savvy approaches both in print communications, professional web site design, and social medial strategies.
Got trust? Call Promise Productions at 972-822-3587 for trust-savvy approaches both in print communications, professional web site design, and social medial strategies.Feb 10, 2009
Using Social Media for Positive PR
Refer to our previous post for an overview of how Social Media has changed the face of Public Relations. Because what the public sees on the Internet often makes up most of what they know about your business, managing your online image is very important.An unhappy customer has access to the same Internet as your business does. And these days a happy customer tells 3 people, but an unhappy one can now use the Internet to tell 30,000 people! In addition to the need to maintain high customer service standards, you want to get the positive PR on your company our there on the world wide web.
As Lee Iacocca said "you can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere." Social Media is a great tool for getting your ideas "out there" to be responded to. Instead of just being at the mercy of what everyone else is saying online, our Social Media optimization services advocate using Social Media to your advantage is about creative persuasion (aka marketing) and getting across why your prospects should WANT to do business with your company. We call that "Marketing Communications" and it is how you attract the business success you want.
Here are the Top Five ways to use Social Media for beneficial PR.
1 • Instead of the happy customer just telling 3 other people, put them on your blog so the goodness can spread to all the areas your blog is broadcast to. Better yet, do a video feature on your website and blog (it does not have to be fancy, just real) so prospective customers can see and hear someone who appreciated the value of what your company offers.
2 • Blogs are great for positive PR for two basic reasons. First, you yourself write them so you control the content. (Or hire professionals like Promise Productions to ghost write your blog entries in a marketing-savvy way). Second, you can moderate any comments that outsiders make -- filtering out those who would devalue your content.
3 • Put your Press Releases on Your blog. These newsworthy announcements deserve the extra boost in awareness that your blog's (when properly setup) RSS feed can give it.
4 • Be your own publicist. A publicist is there to accentuate the positive spin on whatever their client does. Don't distort the facts, but feel free to utilize Social Media to announce donations made, how your employees volunteer at other charitable organizations, community involvement, to explain the positive motivations and intentions behind company actions, changes and so forth.
5 • Put positive PR out there on other blogs. Find complimentary blogs with common interests and leave a positive footprint there. Comments and testimonials, when done in a win-win fashion and not a self-serving, opportunistic style, can let readers of other blogs know what worked for you. Pay it forward. Think of this as a place to share your positive comments and testimonials.
For Strategic Blogging and Social Media Optimization services call Promise Productions at 972-822-3587.
Feb 8, 2009
Social Media Strategy For Positive Public Relations
Today, everyone gets their information online and does a reality-check against advertising hype by seeing what "the people" have to say through social media (Blogging, Facebook, Myspace, etc.)
Your customers and prospects are getting information about your company online before doing business with you. The days where there were just 12 channels on TV, a dozen radio stations in town, one newspaper per city and died with the 60s.
So isn't it time you managed your company's Image and Public Relations where your customers are -- Online and in Social Media. That is why businesses must replace their old PR approaches with ones that impact social media networks.
Public Relations is about creating a POSITIVE link between the company and the public. Public relations is all about creating and maintaining relationships. Relationships can be between an organization and the public, management and employees or business to business. Distrust of the polished News-anchor is at an all-time high. The public is now thoroughly into Social Media for trustworthy reports about your products and services.
Social media and SEO are constantly evolving, but thankfully, our team knows the latest features, strategies and networks that help distribute information, increase visibility and monitor results.
The days of constructing intricate press kits and snail mailing to editors at publications are gone. In fact, those very publication’s days are numbered. The ones that have survived are the ones that successfully transitioned their information where there readers are -- online.
With all the social media options out there, where do you start? The three main social media outlets to manage are — Bloggers, Facebook and Twitter.
Bloggers now have just about as much clout as the seasoned newspaper columnist. You cannot afford to dismiss blogging's ability to sway public opinion. As we know, customers feel better about a brand and will be more loyal if they believe the company cares about them.
NEGATIVE PR
There is a fly in Social Media's ointment: it is easier than ever to attract negative PR! It used to be that you had to have some credentials in the industry to launch a complaint that would stick.
But today there are a dozen major sites that readily accept any complaint against your company without verifying it. (RipOffReport, for example, along with a host of others) Sadly, these complaint sites make money by charging the business to "undo" the negative PR.
So while the little guy now has a voice (as he should) on the one hand, there is a scam going on and some honest businesses are getting hurt more than they should. Were this in the traditional days of PR and the mud slinging was being done in the newspaper, you could have protested under Libel, but as it is cast as "a customer's opinion" such hearsay is much harder to remove.
POSITIVE PR
This is all the more reason why now is the time for business to protect their well-earned reputation with positive PR. Stay tuned for our next blog post on utilizing Social Media for Positive PR and Optimum Search Engine Visibility.
Your customers and prospects are getting information about your company online before doing business with you. The days where there were just 12 channels on TV, a dozen radio stations in town, one newspaper per city and died with the 60s.
So isn't it time you managed your company's Image and Public Relations where your customers are -- Online and in Social Media. That is why businesses must replace their old PR approaches with ones that impact social media networks.Public Relations is about creating a POSITIVE link between the company and the public. Public relations is all about creating and maintaining relationships. Relationships can be between an organization and the public, management and employees or business to business. Distrust of the polished News-anchor is at an all-time high. The public is now thoroughly into Social Media for trustworthy reports about your products and services.
Social media and SEO are constantly evolving, but thankfully, our team knows the latest features, strategies and networks that help distribute information, increase visibility and monitor results.
The days of constructing intricate press kits and snail mailing to editors at publications are gone. In fact, those very publication’s days are numbered. The ones that have survived are the ones that successfully transitioned their information where there readers are -- online.
With all the social media options out there, where do you start? The three main social media outlets to manage are — Bloggers, Facebook and Twitter.Bloggers now have just about as much clout as the seasoned newspaper columnist. You cannot afford to dismiss blogging's ability to sway public opinion. As we know, customers feel better about a brand and will be more loyal if they believe the company cares about them.
NEGATIVE PR
There is a fly in Social Media's ointment: it is easier than ever to attract negative PR! It used to be that you had to have some credentials in the industry to launch a complaint that would stick.
But today there are a dozen major sites that readily accept any complaint against your company without verifying it. (RipOffReport, for example, along with a host of others) Sadly, these complaint sites make money by charging the business to "undo" the negative PR.
So while the little guy now has a voice (as he should) on the one hand, there is a scam going on and some honest businesses are getting hurt more than they should. Were this in the traditional days of PR and the mud slinging was being done in the newspaper, you could have protested under Libel, but as it is cast as "a customer's opinion" such hearsay is much harder to remove.
POSITIVE PR
This is all the more reason why now is the time for business to protect their well-earned reputation with positive PR. Stay tuned for our next blog post on utilizing Social Media for Positive PR and Optimum Search Engine Visibility.
Call the professionals at Promise Productions at 972-822-3587 for effective Internet Marketing, Web Site Visibility and Social Media Optimization.
Feb 7, 2009
Strategic Blogging & Social Media for Business Profits
Social Media is all the buzz today because nearly everyone online today uses it in some form or other. It is growing and developing rapidly and the excitement is warranted. Did you ever wonder if you could harness this giant wave to some degree to benefit your business? This blog post is about just that!Social Media Grows Up
To start with, blogging and social media was not originally created as a means to advertising. (but it can be used for that purpose.... keep reading) Social Media originated as a place where the average Joe could share what he was passionate about and inasmuch as that included a product, service or company, he gave his personal "thumbs up" as it were.
The enormous mass of individuals now doing this daily, has given rise to serious attention by Web Site Developers, Search Engine Marketers, Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Optimizers.In fact, more progressive Marketing Communication firms such as Covenant Designs, now include Social Media and Strategic Blogging in their skillsets.
In short, Social Media means that word-of-mouth has firmly moved online. Individuals now consult the "community wisdom" of other people who have already experienced a product, company or service before they commit to action. Studies prove again and again that the opinions and messages on the Internet are the decisive determining factor over friends, coworkers and traditional authority figures. The idea is that this is a pool of unbiased individuals, and that many people "can't be wrong."
Although unassuming in concept, Social Media does something tremendous and priceless -- it bridges the TRUST GAP, thereby paving the way for prospects to sample YOUR product or service.(for more about successfully bridging the confidence gap in your marketing, click here)
Businesses have an increasingly vested interest in promoting themselves in a cost-effective manner in this lean economy. Businesses should all be very aware and very concerned about managing their image -- their PR on the web.
You see, your official company web site is a formal presentation of your company. Your company blog, on the other hand, is where you get down on your customer's level to interact, share, and listen to THEM. Customers like that and will reward you with business for being EXTRA responsive to their needs. And we all know that no business will survive long without serving their customers where THEY live.
This does not mean that any old blog will do. It all revolves around smart strategy to setup, produce content and distribute your blog around cyberspace. That is where Promise Productions Strategic Blogging Services come in.
Social Media Strategy Tip:
Social Media can cut both ways -- customers can complain or endorse you -- fairly or unfairly, and now their opinion has a forum and a life of its own that spreads its influence. Just think, a rant on RipOffReport will hang around for 10 years even if you ended up making that customer happy later on.
It has become danerously easy for an individual to sling mud at your company for any reason and you not to even know it is hurting your sales! Obviously it pays more than ever to provide great customer service.
What a smart business does is implement a social media strategy for all kinds of GOOD PR to be spread around the Internet, and have that overwhelm any NEGATIVE PR that threatens to soil your company's image.We market your business to make our best prospects like doing business with you and give you their thumbs up! Want to know more? Contact Promise Productions at 972-822-3587.
Social Media & Strategic Blogging Business Campaign Management
More Profit Through Smarter Marketing Strategy
Word-of-mouth has long been one of the most powerful forms of advertising. Approval from someone that you know and respect can be stronger than all the celebrity endorsements, clever ads, catchy jingles and promotions combined. Now you can tap into that same persuasion power through social media management. Why? Because word-of-mouth has moved online.
Enter Social Media
50% of adults use social media -- a growing online dialogue regarding any topic that people are passionate about. Anyone with an internet connection, an opinion and a few moments of free time can engage in social media via blogs, message boards, forums and social networks. Through these channels, people exchange thoughts and feelings, recommend products and services and spread online content to their ever-widening fabric of friends, family, acquaintances and coworkers.
Social Media Powers Business
85% of 18-34 year olds use social media networks to communicate. Social Media allows you to get involved in your customers’ lives and let them feel that their voice is heard. Monitoring the social media landscape lets you tap into conversations about your brand—encouraging positive comments and addressing any negative ones before it’s too late. Businesses that listen and act on these voices experience growing customer satisfaction and increased market share, and benefit from an invaluable competitive edge.
How can your Business benefit from Social Media?
By claiming your spot in the social circle. When you develop unique pages and/or applications within social communities, such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, you can speak to customers on their level and take advantage of their friend networks.
Social Media Management
Business need to approach Social Media in a strategic way. That’s why we develop and manage custom social media optimization (SMO) plans that complement your unique business model, marketing messages and campaign goals. Whether it’s optimizing and distributing videos, creating official pages on social networks or simply monitoring and enhancing online brand buzz, we have a social media marketing campaign for you.
Social Media Optimization is the quickest way to gain brand recognition in a familiar environment for your customers. Social media marketing and Blogging takes SEO (Search Engine Optimization) one step further—in addition to increased visibility and traffic, you also increase the scope of your campaign by gaining access to massive and maturing networks of friends and family.
Whereas your web site "stays put" as it were attracting visitors to it, our Strategic Blogging service actively broadcasts your messages out to prospects, not just referring business back to your company's web site, but proactively suggesting your services to prospects who would never have known about your company otherwise.
Learn more about our social media management programs. Call us at 972-822-3587 today for a free consultation.
Word-of-mouth has long been one of the most powerful forms of advertising. Approval from someone that you know and respect can be stronger than all the celebrity endorsements, clever ads, catchy jingles and promotions combined. Now you can tap into that same persuasion power through social media management. Why? Because word-of-mouth has moved online.Enter Social Media
50% of adults use social media -- a growing online dialogue regarding any topic that people are passionate about. Anyone with an internet connection, an opinion and a few moments of free time can engage in social media via blogs, message boards, forums and social networks. Through these channels, people exchange thoughts and feelings, recommend products and services and spread online content to their ever-widening fabric of friends, family, acquaintances and coworkers.
Social Media Powers Business
85% of 18-34 year olds use social media networks to communicate. Social Media allows you to get involved in your customers’ lives and let them feel that their voice is heard. Monitoring the social media landscape lets you tap into conversations about your brand—encouraging positive comments and addressing any negative ones before it’s too late. Businesses that listen and act on these voices experience growing customer satisfaction and increased market share, and benefit from an invaluable competitive edge.
How can your Business benefit from Social Media?
By claiming your spot in the social circle. When you develop unique pages and/or applications within social communities, such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, you can speak to customers on their level and take advantage of their friend networks.
Social Media Management
Business need to approach Social Media in a strategic way. That’s why we develop and manage custom social media optimization (SMO) plans that complement your unique business model, marketing messages and campaign goals. Whether it’s optimizing and distributing videos, creating official pages on social networks or simply monitoring and enhancing online brand buzz, we have a social media marketing campaign for you.Social Media Optimization is the quickest way to gain brand recognition in a familiar environment for your customers. Social media marketing and Blogging takes SEO (Search Engine Optimization) one step further—in addition to increased visibility and traffic, you also increase the scope of your campaign by gaining access to massive and maturing networks of friends and family.
Whereas your web site "stays put" as it were attracting visitors to it, our Strategic Blogging service actively broadcasts your messages out to prospects, not just referring business back to your company's web site, but proactively suggesting your services to prospects who would never have known about your company otherwise.
Learn more about our social media management programs. Call us at 972-822-3587 today for a free consultation.
Jan 11, 2009
Why Every Business Needs a Blog and a Video
And the Market Exposure Promise Productions Can Give You
The Critical Need for Social Media for Your Business Website
Social Media has taken the Internet world by storm. A tidal wave has crashed upon all websites that exist. It may well be that the biggest change of 2008 preparing us for the new landscape of 2009 is this huge shift in the Internet: Social Media, Blogs and Video.
• Social Media: connecting, sharing, and marketing. Social Media (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) is designed to be shared, make connections between like minds and spread information, trends, and personal views better than if you had your own printing press!
• Blogging: a kind of social media, blogs are the cusp of "what's new" in products and services and announcements. Business Blogs are not personal diaries, but rather a customer-friendly way to share value and promote yourself. (learn about strategic business blogging)
• Video: Computer power, fast Internet, and today's software all make the most powerful form of communication aside from one-on-one available to your business – Video. What's more, the Internet now eagerly welcomes your business video in thousands of places. As if that was not enough, Social Media shares and spreads information in hours far beyond what all the TV Networks in the world. This gives your business video presentation ripple power!
Last but not least, here is another significant rule-changer: Google recently announced a major shift in the way that web pages are ranked. Yahoo and MSN are already following suit. How high your business' web site appears in the list of results for your customer's search is increasingly determined by two new factors:
1• How MANY web sites link to yours and how GOOD (how reputable and popular) are those web sites.
2• Search Customization: what you get in your search results may not be what the business next door gets. Your results are now filtered and rearranged based on past internet history and personal preferences.
Since the search engines are how 85+ % of customers find the businesses they get products and services from, how does this change your Online Marketing? There are three vital opportunities for action:
1• You need to Re-SEO your web site. What worked 6 months ago is rapidly fading. You need fresh research to determine what 2009 customers are search ing for, make your site as friendly as possible using the current SEO best practices, and ADD to that landing pages for EACH significantly searched for term. That starts with smart online research and you can learn more about our research process here.
2• Start and Maintain a Business Blog: The web and especially Social Media thrives off of fresh information. Use your blog to create links back to your business web site. Use your blog to inform customers, educate them on the questions they ask as well as the questions they should be asking. Provide a place for comments and customer interaction. Spread your message with your blog's RSS feeds to other interested prospects and blogs. (get started)
3• Add Video Everywhere. Add videos to your web site to provide your information in a way that is as fun as it is informative. Add marketing videos to your Blog and to Social Media sites to reach prospects cost effectively you never could until now. Video gets shared. Video gets remembered. Video gets results.
These three actions address position your message to be received, heard and responded to. They also, when managed smartly, create a MASS of buzz about your company, creating relevant links back to your company web site and thereby boosting its visibility in search engines to your customers.
Promise Productions knows traditional and the new marketing. We provide online research to match your value presentation exactly to what your best prospects are already asking for. That translates into serious profits!
We provide strategic blogging and will even blog FOR your company so you know you are getting the most from your business blog. We know SEO and can design search engine friendly web sites from a marketing mindset. We provide cutting edge video solutions that drive your message home, educate, and motivate your audience to take specific actions. As all our promotion and visibility services are done in a strategic marketing way you can rest assured that you are not wasting your precious advertising budget.
Choose to excel in 2009 with smarter marketing communication -- call Promise Productions at 972-822-3587. Get A Quote
For More Information:
• The Power of Integrating Your Marketing
• Strategic Blogging
• Effective Web Site Design
• Web Site Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Dallas Video Production
• Our Commitment to You
The Critical Need for Social Media for Your Business Website
Social Media has taken the Internet world by storm. A tidal wave has crashed upon all websites that exist. It may well be that the biggest change of 2008 preparing us for the new landscape of 2009 is this huge shift in the Internet: Social Media, Blogs and Video.
• Social Media: connecting, sharing, and marketing. Social Media (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) is designed to be shared, make connections between like minds and spread information, trends, and personal views better than if you had your own printing press!
• Blogging: a kind of social media, blogs are the cusp of "what's new" in products and services and announcements. Business Blogs are not personal diaries, but rather a customer-friendly way to share value and promote yourself. (learn about strategic business blogging)
• Video: Computer power, fast Internet, and today's software all make the most powerful form of communication aside from one-on-one available to your business – Video. What's more, the Internet now eagerly welcomes your business video in thousands of places. As if that was not enough, Social Media shares and spreads information in hours far beyond what all the TV Networks in the world. This gives your business video presentation ripple power!
These three giants have emerged on the scene and changed all the rules!
Last but not least, here is another significant rule-changer: Google recently announced a major shift in the way that web pages are ranked. Yahoo and MSN are already following suit. How high your business' web site appears in the list of results for your customer's search is increasingly determined by two new factors:
1• How MANY web sites link to yours and how GOOD (how reputable and popular) are those web sites.
2• Search Customization: what you get in your search results may not be what the business next door gets. Your results are now filtered and rearranged based on past internet history and personal preferences.
Since the search engines are how 85+ % of customers find the businesses they get products and services from, how does this change your Online Marketing? There are three vital opportunities for action:
1• You need to Re-SEO your web site. What worked 6 months ago is rapidly fading. You need fresh research to determine what 2009 customers are search ing for, make your site as friendly as possible using the current SEO best practices, and ADD to that landing pages for EACH significantly searched for term. That starts with smart online research and you can learn more about our research process here.
2• Start and Maintain a Business Blog: The web and especially Social Media thrives off of fresh information. Use your blog to create links back to your business web site. Use your blog to inform customers, educate them on the questions they ask as well as the questions they should be asking. Provide a place for comments and customer interaction. Spread your message with your blog's RSS feeds to other interested prospects and blogs. (get started)
3• Add Video Everywhere. Add videos to your web site to provide your information in a way that is as fun as it is informative. Add marketing videos to your Blog and to Social Media sites to reach prospects cost effectively you never could until now. Video gets shared. Video gets remembered. Video gets results.
These three actions address position your message to be received, heard and responded to. They also, when managed smartly, create a MASS of buzz about your company, creating relevant links back to your company web site and thereby boosting its visibility in search engines to your customers.
Promise Productions knows traditional and the new marketing. We provide online research to match your value presentation exactly to what your best prospects are already asking for. That translates into serious profits!
We provide strategic blogging and will even blog FOR your company so you know you are getting the most from your business blog. We know SEO and can design search engine friendly web sites from a marketing mindset. We provide cutting edge video solutions that drive your message home, educate, and motivate your audience to take specific actions. As all our promotion and visibility services are done in a strategic marketing way you can rest assured that you are not wasting your precious advertising budget.
Choose to excel in 2009 with smarter marketing communication -- call Promise Productions at 972-822-3587. Get A Quote
For More Information:
• The Power of Integrating Your Marketing
• Strategic Blogging
• Effective Web Site Design
• Web Site Marketing
• Search Engine Optimization
• Dallas Video Production
• Our Commitment to You
Jan 2, 2009
Top 10 Business Relationship Traits
In keeping with my last post about the quality of your Business Relationships determining the quality of your success in 2009, there could be no better way to launch the new business year than with a quick grounding in the Top 10 Traits of successful business relationships and business networking.
Networking is more than just shaking hands and passing out business cards. Remember, successful business rests on the foundation of successful relationships. What follows are the Top Traits to build and maintain good business relationships:
These relationships are forged in value and trust. Those who only fleece their customers like sheep without shepherding them, soon lose them.
1. Follow Up On Referrals. Every successful networker does this. Because personableness will make you stand out, online videos and phone calls are often more effective relationship-building tools than a voicemail or text or email. Those who do not follow up on communication lost the momentum of their first impression and your prospects will stop wasting their time trying to deal with you for greener pastures.
2. Positive Attitude. No one likes to be brought down. Negativity drives away referrals but a positive attitude makes people want to associate and cooperate with you. Positive business professionals are like magnets. Others want to be around them and will send their friends, family and associates to them. This is more than an inauthentic smile and chipper platitudes, a truly positive way of being comes from the inside out.
3. Enthusiasm / Motivation. This follows on the heels of the above success attitude. When you think about it, you can see that people who show the most motivation, close the most deals and get the most referrals. When you truly want to serve your customer, your customer gets excited about being served and wants to do business with you. Give what you want to get -- it's the timeless golden rule.
4. Trustworthy. When you refer one person to another, you’re putting your reputation on the line. You have to be able to trust your referral partner and be trusted in return. Neither you nor anyone else will refer a contact or valuable information to someone who can’t be trusted to handle it well. Likewise, when you commit to doing business, large or small, with someone, the other party has a large say in how it goes and you need trust to make the outcome a smooth success. Trust has to be repeatedly demonstrated. A business relationship is not a thing like a pencil you can leave sitting on a shelf for months and expect it to be right where you left it; it is a living organism that requires nurturance.
5. Good listening skills. Listening shows you care -- its that simple. Our success in business depends on how well we can listen and learn. The faster you and your customer learn what you need to know about each other, the faster you’ll establish a valuable relationship. Communicate well, and listen well.
6. Continuous improvement. Those at the top of their game, like Michael Jordan, are never too good to practice the basics. Always look for areas to improve and the customers you will want the most will appreciate where you go the extra mile for them.
7. Thanksgiving & Appreciation. Gratitude is sorely lacking in today’s business world. Expressing gratitude to business associates and clients is just another building block in the cultivation of relationships that will lead to increased referrals. People like to refer others to business professionals that go above and beyond. Thanking others at every opportunity will help you stand out from the crowd.
8. Enjoy helping. Desire the best for your customer in tangible ways. That is called "service." Helping others can be done in a variety of ways, from literally showing up to help with an office move to clipping a helpful and interesting article and mailing it to an associate or client. Those who have mastered good business relationship maintenance keep their eyes and ears open for opportunities to advance other people’s interests whenever they can.
9. Be Sincere. Insincerity is like sand in your salad. You can offer the help, the thanks, the listening ear, but if you aren’t sincerely interested in the other person, they’ll know it! Sincerity comes from the heart. Those who have developed successful networking skills convey their sincerity at every turn. One of the best ways to develop this trait is to give the individual with whom you’re developing a referral relationship your undivided attention. That leads to authentic appreciation.
10. Work your network. The word "work" is in network; master networkers don’t let any opportunity to work their networks pass them by. They manage their contacts with contact management software, organize their e-mail address files and carry their referral partners’ business cards as well as their own. Don't wait for the other party to follow up with you. Set up appointments to get better acquainted with new contacts so that they can learn as much about them as possible so that they can truly become part of each other’s networks.
What is the common thread in successful business relationships and in profitable networking? It is to value long-term relationship building as opposed to making a quick buck and then dropping them.Are you serving or using your customers? Do you want to be served or to be used? Businesspeople who take the time to build their social capital are the ones who will have new business referred to them over and over. The key is to build mutually beneficial business relationships.
If you want a business relationship with Promise Productions and our profitability strategies to go to work for your business, call us today at 972-822-3587.
Jan 1, 2009
The SOCIAL in Social Media
Why Relationships will Make or Break your business in 2009
The unique part of social media is the "social" part, which is about creating connections and relationship based on something in common. Many businesses are only a fraction as successful as they could be today because they have neglected the "relationship" in their business relationships.
Many businesses do not understand marketing and end up only TALKING AT "Consumers" instead of really seeking to understand and provide value for their customers. Conversely, business that master marketing as the art of GIVING, can create both loyalty and millions in revenue.
Even a company like AT&T that deals with masses of customers and cannot be individual with them still lives or dies based on successfully meeting their client's needs. While that is simple, it is profound. No company is too big or too successful that they do not live or die apart from SERVING.
Enlightened self-interest initiates positive business relationships. Unenlightened self-interest in business is looking to not have to serve, but only be served. That does not work. There is a direct link between the stocks that are up or down and the companies that successfully serve. Your value equals the amount of service your business provide.
Current Example: Starbucks started humble and provided a service: quick, high-quality coffee in a SOCIAL environment. They got cocky started pushing what THEY wanted instead of what the customer wanted. Service suffered in every sense of the business word and they are now being humbled and struggling to stay afloat. The customer need change, the price-points changed, their service attitude changed -- but they did not and they quickly found themselves on their way to being passed by. Only by revamping their service, and their attitude towards service are they holding what market share they have left.
Enter Social Media
2008 has witnessed the maturity of social media for both personal and business interests. A whirlwind of advancements and features have taken social media from its infancy to a force to be reckoned with.
In 2008, advertising agencies were the first to lead the way with the business use of social media by mining sites like MySpace, Facebook and Linkedin for demographic information. Others had some initial success at mining email addresses for spam.
While these activities were grey at best, they underscored a vital truth: any online area where people reveal their age, gender, likes and dislikes is a gold mine for presenting a marketing message to the right audience.
In the last half of 2008, MySpace became the preferred arena of 12-24 year old's whereas Facebook became the #1 adult social media site.
Imagine the transformation: a core human need was suddenly being addressed with new media -- the impersonal online world suddenly had "friends". Friends that would listen to you. Friends that would read your blog. Friends that would welcome you. Friends that liked what you liked.
Friends that would affirm and contribute -- sharing back in a relevant way. Masses flocked to get this need met in astounding numbers, proving yet again that if you meet a real need, the power is profound.
The business side of this phenomena is equally compelling. How many big business deals were actually conducted off the phone and outside the conference room from the golf course, to the gym locker room, to the steak dinner etc in a SOCIAL setting.
Social Settings, from Starbucks to a business lunch provide a VITAL VITAL ingredient -- TRUST from a more authentic conversation -- one with less "agenda" and push to it. Time is invested to listen and understand -- demonstrating that the relationship is valued.
Personableness and authenticity is what humans require in order to trust. How we feel about a thing determines our actions, and as a buyer, that applies to everything across the board from whether we pick tea or coke at a restaurant to whether we buy Ford or Honda. When we don't trust, we are unable to listen, and cannot hear value or opportunity -- killing action and killing relationships.
It becomes clear that your business needs a marketing agency like Promise Productions that understands this and is poised to harness it in a way that benefits your clients and your bottom line alike.
Social Medial provides connections. Shared interests. An easy way to both broadcast and tune in to what you like and are about. Connections form relationships. Business relationships are likewise built on providing the most benefits.
Who's Your Friend?
What is the "take away" from the ongoing evolution of social media to Your interest in success, in clients, in profits?
Let me answer that by first asking what is a real friend? One that will go out of his/her way to be and do FOR you. The opportunity in 2009 is to harness social media to develop MEANINGFUL relationships. Businesses LIVE AND BREATHE meaningful relationships.
Businesses who are not affirming their customer's needs and going out of their way to supply them will whither away. In today's online world, websites and blogs must be developed as integrated marketing communications pieces to show that your business understands your prospect and offers meaningful value. Neglect this and your business will whither away.
Since you are reading this, congratulations, it shows you are willing to give service in order to get market-share and profits. You are now primed for rewarding business relationships!
You have to GIVE to get. While the bottomfeeders spend most of their time looking for the magic shortcut to not really have to give and still scam their way into getting, the true successes of 2009 will be those who realize:
• You can't love everybody meaningfully so you have to define/target your audience.
• The most valuable business relationships are based on understanding, listening to and responding with communication that demonstrates a real solution to your prospect's needs.
How we apply this to your business in 2009: Promise Productions offers:
• Market analysis to identify your ideal customer and the way to use, not just traditional media but also web sites, blogs and social media to present your value to them.
• Web Site Analysis, what is right and wrong with your current approach and how the message targeting, the visual presentation and the programming needs to change to catch the market share you deserve
• Strategic Blogging provides meaningful content, useful content along with links back to your site where its search engine visibility improves and a relationship can be formed.
• Professional visuals: in today's image-dominated world you have to have the right look to be taken seriously and even listened to. We do just that with graphic design, digital photography, and professional video.
The unique part of social media is the "social" part, which is about creating connections and relationship based on something in common. Many businesses are only a fraction as successful as they could be today because they have neglected the "relationship" in their business relationships.Many businesses do not understand marketing and end up only TALKING AT "Consumers" instead of really seeking to understand and provide value for their customers. Conversely, business that master marketing as the art of GIVING, can create both loyalty and millions in revenue.
Even a company like AT&T that deals with masses of customers and cannot be individual with them still lives or dies based on successfully meeting their client's needs. While that is simple, it is profound. No company is too big or too successful that they do not live or die apart from SERVING.
Enlightened self-interest initiates positive business relationships. Unenlightened self-interest in business is looking to not have to serve, but only be served. That does not work. There is a direct link between the stocks that are up or down and the companies that successfully serve. Your value equals the amount of service your business provide.
Current Example: Starbucks started humble and provided a service: quick, high-quality coffee in a SOCIAL environment. They got cocky started pushing what THEY wanted instead of what the customer wanted. Service suffered in every sense of the business word and they are now being humbled and struggling to stay afloat. The customer need change, the price-points changed, their service attitude changed -- but they did not and they quickly found themselves on their way to being passed by. Only by revamping their service, and their attitude towards service are they holding what market share they have left.
Enter Social Media
2008 has witnessed the maturity of social media for both personal and business interests. A whirlwind of advancements and features have taken social media from its infancy to a force to be reckoned with.
In 2008, advertising agencies were the first to lead the way with the business use of social media by mining sites like MySpace, Facebook and Linkedin for demographic information. Others had some initial success at mining email addresses for spam.
While these activities were grey at best, they underscored a vital truth: any online area where people reveal their age, gender, likes and dislikes is a gold mine for presenting a marketing message to the right audience.
Because of social media, Word-of-Mouth was moving online.
In the last half of 2008, MySpace became the preferred arena of 12-24 year old's whereas Facebook became the #1 adult social media site.
Imagine the transformation: a core human need was suddenly being addressed with new media -- the impersonal online world suddenly had "friends". Friends that would listen to you. Friends that would read your blog. Friends that would welcome you. Friends that liked what you liked.
Friends that would affirm and contribute -- sharing back in a relevant way. Masses flocked to get this need met in astounding numbers, proving yet again that if you meet a real need, the power is profound.
The business side of this phenomena is equally compelling. How many big business deals were actually conducted off the phone and outside the conference room from the golf course, to the gym locker room, to the steak dinner etc in a SOCIAL setting.
Social Settings, from Starbucks to a business lunch provide a VITAL VITAL ingredient -- TRUST from a more authentic conversation -- one with less "agenda" and push to it. Time is invested to listen and understand -- demonstrating that the relationship is valued.
Personableness and authenticity is what humans require in order to trust. How we feel about a thing determines our actions, and as a buyer, that applies to everything across the board from whether we pick tea or coke at a restaurant to whether we buy Ford or Honda. When we don't trust, we are unable to listen, and cannot hear value or opportunity -- killing action and killing relationships.
It becomes clear that your business needs a marketing agency like Promise Productions that understands this and is poised to harness it in a way that benefits your clients and your bottom line alike.
Social Medial provides connections. Shared interests. An easy way to both broadcast and tune in to what you like and are about. Connections form relationships. Business relationships are likewise built on providing the most benefits.
Who's Your Friend?
What is the "take away" from the ongoing evolution of social media to Your interest in success, in clients, in profits?
Let me answer that by first asking what is a real friend? One that will go out of his/her way to be and do FOR you. The opportunity in 2009 is to harness social media to develop MEANINGFUL relationships. Businesses LIVE AND BREATHE meaningful relationships.
Businesses who are not affirming their customer's needs and going out of their way to supply them will whither away. In today's online world, websites and blogs must be developed as integrated marketing communications pieces to show that your business understands your prospect and offers meaningful value. Neglect this and your business will whither away.
Since you are reading this, congratulations, it shows you are willing to give service in order to get market-share and profits. You are now primed for rewarding business relationships!
You have to GIVE to get. While the bottomfeeders spend most of their time looking for the magic shortcut to not really have to give and still scam their way into getting, the true successes of 2009 will be those who realize:
• You can't love everybody meaningfully so you have to define/target your audience.
• The most valuable business relationships are based on understanding, listening to and responding with communication that demonstrates a real solution to your prospect's needs.
How we apply this to your business in 2009: Promise Productions offers:
• Market analysis to identify your ideal customer and the way to use, not just traditional media but also web sites, blogs and social media to present your value to them.
• Web Site Analysis, what is right and wrong with your current approach and how the message targeting, the visual presentation and the programming needs to change to catch the market share you deserve
• Strategic Blogging provides meaningful content, useful content along with links back to your site where its search engine visibility improves and a relationship can be formed.
• Professional visuals: in today's image-dominated world you have to have the right look to be taken seriously and even listened to. We do just that with graphic design, digital photography, and professional video.
Enjoy the rewards of positive business relationship, call Promise Productions at 972-822-3587. Get a Quote
Dec 17, 2008
Word of Mouth Has Moved Online
If you've read our other entries, you see that Promise Productions offers multifaceted ways with the right visuals and right exposure to connect you with your best prospects for optimum growth.
Recently we've expanded our marketing communications with Strategic Blogging, and for good reasons:
1 • Strategic Blogging puts your products and services in front of a world of bloggers already interesting in learning about the categories and topics you deal in.
2 • Strategic Blogging the less formal presentation of useful information to customers increases your trust factor – paving the way for positive business relationships.
3 • Strategic Blogging is a powerful new tool for Search Engine Optimization as relevant links for key terms point back to your web site -- effectively raising its page rank.
4 • Strategic Blogging is designed to be Shared. Comments, blog directories and RSS feeds find their way to your prospects in places your website cannot access.
Now here's the 5th reason: Word Of Mouth Has Moved Online.
Everyone knows that a timely endorsement by a trusted source makes all the difference in which company your prospect chooses to get their business needs fulfilled. That is why, Social Media – of which Blogging is a key component – needs to be utilized in your company's marketing plan.
Blog readers learn about your business and other Bloggers spread it FOR you. That's right, engage a volunteer army of word-of-mouth through
(1) comments on blogs, and
(2) other bloggers responding to and point to your business' blog.
OK, that part about an "army" is an exaggeration -- UNLESS your blog is professionally promoted by a service like ours.
Your prospects want someone to speak their language. That is what they hear, trust and respond to.
Example: you want to know which of the many new video cameras to buy. Well you cannot just call up Sony itself and get a response. But all too often the local brick and mortar shop does not carry that exact model or your questions are about an upcoming model not on the shelves. The big box stores carry too many items to be an expert on any one of them. The big manufacturer does not talk to the individual customer one-on-one -- too bad for both parties.
Enter Social Media
With Social Media you can search for the inside scoop: the Blogs, a YouTube video, a enthusiast interested in the same thing, user groups, etc.. Now this arena of information provides two vital elements (and wait till we link this back to marketing!) --
(1) an individual in-the-know who will respond one-on-one to your specific needs
(2) a frank conversation without a salesy agenda getting in the way to spin the facts
OK, back to the speak-your-prospects-language part and how that turns into business GOLD...
Social Media is the new word-of-mouth with answers to just about anything. A person's physical network of friends, colleagues, associates and experts could NEVER be as big or well-informed as this.
Face it, your customers are turning in ever increasing numbers to Social Media to get a trusted answer on the
product or service they want. These days, the casual word from an equal online who speaks their language is more trustworthy and powerful than the overly-expensive and overly-slick presentation from an ad agency or manufacturer.Buyers are sick of being patronized. Today's customer is saying, "value my needs enough to tell me something REAL instead of something you think will make yourself a quick buck. When I see that you value me, I will value you enough to buy."
Blogging can do that – with honesty, integrity and strategy. The successful company in 2009's marketplace is responsive enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the individual customer because it understands that to value the customer is to value itself.
Want your quality product and service to receive its fair share of today's marketplace? Have something great that just needs the right visibility? Then call 972-822-3587 and ask how you can start a profitable business relationship with Promises Production.
Dec 12, 2008
Internet Marketing Consultants, Dallas Search Engine Optimization Company, SEO SEM Firm
This way they, and you, can spend time closing deals instead of trying to sell.
There is a lot more to successful Search Engine Marketing than throwing in a few relevant keywords into your content and meta data to affect your rankings in the search engine results pages. An effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Search Engine Marketing (SEM) campaign takes several skill sets and each one provides the necessary ingredients for the combined success. While there are no magic bullets to overnight success, SEO is an extremely wise medium-term investment in today's economy where your profit -- or lack thereof -- is now directly tied to your search engine visibility.
Chances are your prospects are searching online for your products and services and you need to appear -- at the right place and right time -- to get their attention, win their trust, and rake in the profits.
In fact, the investment into a professional Internet marketing campaign can yield returns on the dollar up to 35 times higher than traditional advertising.
At Promise Productions, we partner with you. We look at your goals and work to attract your ideal customer. We can improve your site, create entirely new search engine friendly sites and employ pay-per-click to the right audience. Our goal is to forward your business goals.
In order to best present you to your prospects, we first get to know you. Then our SEO copywriters and technicians go to work developing optimized web content that is persuasive to both consumers and search engine spiders.
In 14 years of practicing SEO, we have ALWAYS find key phrases that the client did not know potential customers were using to find their product or service in the search engines. It is true, you are missing some of your best customers because you are trying to communicate with them like YOU communicate instead of how THEY communicate. Our extensive keyword research uncovers and repairs those communication gaps so that prospects welcome your message and are more inclined to WANT to do business with you.
Professional Keyword Research translates into Gold for You
Think of this -- literally every word, spelling variation, and phrase associated with each product and service you offer is a potential doorway that pre-qualified customers can enter your business.
The right keyword research results in tons of new marketing channels through which to reach new customers. See the power of ranking high on the Internet?
As a part of our Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing services, we develop and implement each of the following:
INTERNET MARKETING SERVICES
* Search Engine Optimization consulting strategy
* Search Engine Competitive Analysis
* Current Website Consultation
* Competitor Website Positioning Analysis
SEO STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION
* Search Engine Optimization strategies
* Internet Marketing strategies
* Search engine strategy development
* Key phrase marketing
SEO COPYWRITING
* Search Engine Optimized copywriting
* Keyword and key phrase research analysis
* Keyword and key phrase development analysis
* Keyword and key phrase frequency analysis
* Keyword and key phrase proximity analysis
* Keyword and key phrase weight analysis
* Meta Tag Development (Title, Content, Description, Alt, etc.)
SEO CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT
* Search engine rankings
* Website rank monitoring
* Search engine marketing
* Search engine promotion
* Internet marketing
* Pay per click campaigns
* Pay per click campaign management
* SEO campaign results reporting
BLOGGING FOR SEO
* Professional Written Blogs that link back to your web site
* Blog Promotion in directories, RSS feeds and more
CONTENT IS KING
Lesser SEO firms try to trick the system with gimmicks that never last. The fact is that your web site will be visited and responded to because it has truly useful content. Content is King.
Understanding that, our Search Engine Optimization copywriters know how to effectively develop keyword and key phrase-rich copy designed to improve your website rankings and get your website in front of pre-qualified customers – those actively looking for a specific product or service through a search engine. The sooner you have an SEO copywriter optimize your website content, the better chance you have of ranking above your competition.
CONCLUSION
Success in the search engines requires multiple strategies that must integrate for optimum results. SEO must serve your marketing campaign with intelligent integrated strategies that attract, not just traffic, but profits. Promise Productions has the comprehensive skill-sets you need to take your company to the next level.
Call Promise Productions to "Turn On The Results" -- 972-822-3587.
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