Twittering, tweeting, tweeple....we're at the start of a whole new dictionary that starts with "tw"! Some of you may be heavy into Twitter already and others may not even have signed up. I'm a recent adopter myself, but I've learned a few neat tricks that make my Twittering much more user friendly.
* http://www.TweetLater.com is a great resource that allows you to input multiple updates at one time, to post at future times of your choosing. So instead of needing to log on and update all day long, you can just go to TweetLater, post a day's, week's or month's worth of updates, and they'll all go up with no further effort on your part. Now sometimes you'll want to post instant updates, like that you're sitting at a cafe in Paris or something. You can still go to Twitter direct to do that, or, even better go to:
*http://.ping.fm, where you can link up all your social networking sites, so that one post goes up instantly across them all. No more logging into FaceBook, updating a message, then going to Twitter, then to LinkedIn, etc. You can do it all at one time on ping.fm.
*Also in your Twitter arsenal should be http://www.TweekDeck.com. This super handy application loads onto your computer and it will tell you anytime someone is tweeting about you, recommending you or re-tweeting what you post. How cool is that?! And if you click the little magnifying glass at the top of Tweetdeck, you can input the names of other topics you'd like to follow. I my case, I used the little magnifying glass to follow any tweets with the words "public relations." Now they pop up automatically.
Experiment and try some of these timesaving tools to make your time online more productive and fun!
Barbara Wayman, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, an award-winning ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at www.bethebluetree.com
This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included.
©2009 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Inexpensive Ways To Attract Visitors To Your Website
Wouldn't it be great if once we finished all the work of creating a website, people flocked there of their own accord? I wish it worked that way, but alas, we have to get them to visit.
Here are some quick tips on increasing your traffic:
• Make sure your web URL is on every, and I mean EVERY source of information you send out. (Your URL is the address people type to get to your website, like www.cocacola.com.) That includes your business card, email signature, letterhead, footer of your invoices, direct mail materials, brochures, etc. Gather up all the materials you mail, email and send out in other ways and check to see you haven't missed anything.
• When posting comments online, write your website like this: http://www.yourwebsite.com, not just www.yourwebsite.com. When you include the http stuff it makes your URL a link so people can easily just click and visit you, rather than having to retype or cut and paste.
• Don't have a flash website, have an .html one. You can ask your web programmers to see what kind you have. Flash sites have lots of cool graphics and movement but they are notoriously hard for search engines to find. If you have a flash, start thinking about changing it over to .html in future so that people who are searching for your type of product or service can more easily find you.
• Use Google Analytics. It's a fantastic FREE service Google offers that lets you track and measure your site traffic in amazing detail. I would be lost without it. You can get it at http://www.google.com/analytics/. Once you start driving more traffic to your site you'll want to see how you're doing. Google Analytics will tell you.
• Consider authoring articles and posting them to online article aggregators like http://www.amazines.com and http://www.ezinearticles.com. You can draft a piece of around 450 words about your area of expertise and provide a little bio of you and link to your site. It creates more avenues for people to find you.
• Give people a reason to go to your website. Offer something free for them to claim and then put that offer on your business card
and email signature. I created a 5 part e-course on how to make reporters sit up, say "Wow!" and cover your story. What can you offer that makes use of your expertise?
Implement these tips and watch your web traffic climb upwards.
Barbara Wayman, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, an award-winning ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at http://BlueTreeMedia.com/ezine.html
This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included.
©2009 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.
Here are some quick tips on increasing your traffic:
• Make sure your web URL is on every, and I mean EVERY source of information you send out. (Your URL is the address people type to get to your website, like www.cocacola.com.) That includes your business card, email signature, letterhead, footer of your invoices, direct mail materials, brochures, etc. Gather up all the materials you mail, email and send out in other ways and check to see you haven't missed anything.
• When posting comments online, write your website like this: http://www.yourwebsite.com, not just www.yourwebsite.com. When you include the http stuff it makes your URL a link so people can easily just click and visit you, rather than having to retype or cut and paste.
• Don't have a flash website, have an .html one. You can ask your web programmers to see what kind you have. Flash sites have lots of cool graphics and movement but they are notoriously hard for search engines to find. If you have a flash, start thinking about changing it over to .html in future so that people who are searching for your type of product or service can more easily find you.
• Use Google Analytics. It's a fantastic FREE service Google offers that lets you track and measure your site traffic in amazing detail. I would be lost without it. You can get it at http://www.google.com/analytics/. Once you start driving more traffic to your site you'll want to see how you're doing. Google Analytics will tell you.
• Consider authoring articles and posting them to online article aggregators like http://www.amazines.com and http://www.ezinearticles.com. You can draft a piece of around 450 words about your area of expertise and provide a little bio of you and link to your site. It creates more avenues for people to find you.
• Give people a reason to go to your website. Offer something free for them to claim and then put that offer on your business card
and email signature. I created a 5 part e-course on how to make reporters sit up, say "Wow!" and cover your story. What can you offer that makes use of your expertise?
Implement these tips and watch your web traffic climb upwards.
Barbara Wayman, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, an award-winning ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at http://BlueTreeMedia.com/ezine.html
This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included.
©2009 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Susan Boyle - Lessons in Authenticity, Timing and Technology
“What we’re all striving for is authenticity, a spirit-to-spirit connection.”
--Oprah Winfrey
It's official: British singing phenom Susan Boyle's video clip is the most downloaded in a single week in the history of the Internet. She's made fans of Oprah, Jay Leno, Elaine Paige, Simon Cowell, Demi Moore and millions of people who have watched her sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. With a three minute performance, Susan Boyle rocketed from the depths of obscurity to the heights of fame in a matter of days. What can Susan’s experience teach business owners?
Authenticity -- As a culture we've become so cynical and jaded. Susan seems like the real deal and it is so refreshing. It's a reminder that you don't have to try to make your company appear bigger, faster or better than it really is. You only need to discover what your unique talents are and give them voice.
Timing - I read online that Susan tried out for Britain's Got Talent many times but until this year she never progressed to the final round. Was her voice any different in prior years? Probably not. Perhaps in those years the gatekeepers couldn't see beyond her age or appearance to give her a chance.
Timing plays a huge role in success and persistence pays. If your brand’s story isn't being heard the way you'd like, consider Susan's example to inspire you to keep trying. You never know when the stars align and your story fits a perfect need of the moment. The only guarantee is if you don't try, it will never happen.
Technology - The people have crowned Susan Boyle a winner, not the media. From YouTube to susan-boyle.com, to email, blogging and Twitter, tens of millions of ordinary folks got on the computer and turned this woman into a global superstar almost overnight. It's a great example of the power of the online world. There's no reason why your brand cannot capture people's attention online too, if you're savvy and give them a reason to care. If you haven't made your company's online presence a key factor in your marketing strategy, let Susan Boyle be your wake-up call.
© Barbara Wayman, APR, BlueTree Media, all rights reserved
--Oprah Winfrey
It's official: British singing phenom Susan Boyle's video clip is the most downloaded in a single week in the history of the Internet. She's made fans of Oprah, Jay Leno, Elaine Paige, Simon Cowell, Demi Moore and millions of people who have watched her sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables. With a three minute performance, Susan Boyle rocketed from the depths of obscurity to the heights of fame in a matter of days. What can Susan’s experience teach business owners?
Authenticity -- As a culture we've become so cynical and jaded. Susan seems like the real deal and it is so refreshing. It's a reminder that you don't have to try to make your company appear bigger, faster or better than it really is. You only need to discover what your unique talents are and give them voice.
Timing - I read online that Susan tried out for Britain's Got Talent many times but until this year she never progressed to the final round. Was her voice any different in prior years? Probably not. Perhaps in those years the gatekeepers couldn't see beyond her age or appearance to give her a chance.
Timing plays a huge role in success and persistence pays. If your brand’s story isn't being heard the way you'd like, consider Susan's example to inspire you to keep trying. You never know when the stars align and your story fits a perfect need of the moment. The only guarantee is if you don't try, it will never happen.
Technology - The people have crowned Susan Boyle a winner, not the media. From YouTube to susan-boyle.com, to email, blogging and Twitter, tens of millions of ordinary folks got on the computer and turned this woman into a global superstar almost overnight. It's a great example of the power of the online world. There's no reason why your brand cannot capture people's attention online too, if you're savvy and give them a reason to care. If you haven't made your company's online presence a key factor in your marketing strategy, let Susan Boyle be your wake-up call.
© Barbara Wayman, APR, BlueTree Media, all rights reserved
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Three Secrets of Marketing
In over 15 years of doing marketing communications work, I’ve picked up quite a few tips on how to best get the job done. From start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, my three marketing secrets make a significant difference.
1. Consistency Is Key
If I had only one piece of marketing advice to offer, this would be it: The secret to effective marketing is consistency, plain and simple. A press release here, an ad buy there, a brochure that looks one way and a website that looks another … these hit-or-miss efforts are doomed to failure and are just a waste of your money.
TIP: Don’t dabble at marketing.
If your budget is limited, invest in a good, solid marketing plan and then consistently execute just one part of it until you can afford to do more. Don’t let it fall down on your list of priorities. If you think marketing can be of value to your company, start doing it, even in a small way. And then don’t stop. You’ll see results.
2. Amplify What Makes You Different
As teenagers we desperately want to blend in with our peers, never imagining we’ll one day embrace the very things we worked so hard to hide. In business, marketing yourself and your brand is much easier if you have memorable qualities that stick in people’s minds.
Don’t be afraid to be distinctive. Barbra Streisand’s strong nose, Warren Buffett’s frugality, Cary Grant’s elegance – these qualities are entirely authentic but hard to duplicate.
TIP: Take a moment to think about your business persona or company. What do you have that others don’t? If you’re not sure, do a quick review of competitor websites or think about comments you’ve received from others. Now how can you amplify those qualities?
3. It’s All About Third-Party Credibility
Okay, now I am going to tell you some gossip.
Did your ears just perk up? Would you have had the same response if I had said, “Now I am going to tell you all about me.” Probably not. What someone else says about you will always carry more weight than what you say about yourself. When thinking about your company’s marketing, look for ways to build your reputation with others.
Reporters, editors, bloggers, customers, business and government leaders are all examples of influential audiences who could be spreading your message. It’s your job to make sure they know and understand what makes you special.
As an illustration, one of my clients, a luxury motor coach modification company, proactively invited the Mayor and City Administrator to come take a plant tour and learn about the company. Later when the firm was ready to expand into a new building and needed help with zoning permits and the like, those key relationships were already forged.
TIP: Take a look at the marketing you’re doing. Are you missing any important audiences? What one thing can you do to reach out to them?
Barbara Wayman, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, a free ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at www.bluetreemedia.com/ezine.html
This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included.
©2009 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.
1. Consistency Is Key
If I had only one piece of marketing advice to offer, this would be it: The secret to effective marketing is consistency, plain and simple. A press release here, an ad buy there, a brochure that looks one way and a website that looks another … these hit-or-miss efforts are doomed to failure and are just a waste of your money.
TIP: Don’t dabble at marketing.
If your budget is limited, invest in a good, solid marketing plan and then consistently execute just one part of it until you can afford to do more. Don’t let it fall down on your list of priorities. If you think marketing can be of value to your company, start doing it, even in a small way. And then don’t stop. You’ll see results.
2. Amplify What Makes You Different
As teenagers we desperately want to blend in with our peers, never imagining we’ll one day embrace the very things we worked so hard to hide. In business, marketing yourself and your brand is much easier if you have memorable qualities that stick in people’s minds.
Don’t be afraid to be distinctive. Barbra Streisand’s strong nose, Warren Buffett’s frugality, Cary Grant’s elegance – these qualities are entirely authentic but hard to duplicate.
TIP: Take a moment to think about your business persona or company. What do you have that others don’t? If you’re not sure, do a quick review of competitor websites or think about comments you’ve received from others. Now how can you amplify those qualities?
3. It’s All About Third-Party Credibility
Okay, now I am going to tell you some gossip.
Did your ears just perk up? Would you have had the same response if I had said, “Now I am going to tell you all about me.” Probably not. What someone else says about you will always carry more weight than what you say about yourself. When thinking about your company’s marketing, look for ways to build your reputation with others.
Reporters, editors, bloggers, customers, business and government leaders are all examples of influential audiences who could be spreading your message. It’s your job to make sure they know and understand what makes you special.
As an illustration, one of my clients, a luxury motor coach modification company, proactively invited the Mayor and City Administrator to come take a plant tour and learn about the company. Later when the firm was ready to expand into a new building and needed help with zoning permits and the like, those key relationships were already forged.
TIP: Take a look at the marketing you’re doing. Are you missing any important audiences? What one thing can you do to reach out to them?
Barbara Wayman, president of BlueTree Media, LLC, publishes The Stand Out Newsletter, a free ezine for people who want to know how to leverage the power of marketing and public relations. Get your free subscription today at www.bluetreemedia.com/ezine.html
This article may be reprinted when the copyright and author bio are included.
©2009 Barbara Wayman, BlueTree Media, LLC.
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