Archive for Social Media Platforms

Miss Kemya | January 19, 2012
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Automated Tweets Can Stunt Your Growth

Let me start by saying I know plenty of Twitter users who automate their tweets. I have no problem with this whatsoever. I do the same thing. However, some people schedule most, if not all, of their tweets. Here’s where the problem comes in.

You Can’t Schedule All of Your Tweets Because…

  1. Your scheduled tweet may refer to something that is no longer being discussed. Time moves fast on Twitter. Our attention spans are fleeting. For example, I’ve seen people retweet an event that has already passed. That’s a clear giveaway that your tweet was scheduled.
  2. Your tweets should be engaging. Not simply a “click this” or a simple “RT”. You should be commenting on tweets, asking questions, responding to retweets, @replies and comments. If you are doing this in a timely manner, you can’t possibly schedule all your tweets.
  3. You will miss the live interaction. If you are not engaging in live conversations, you’re missing the whole point of Twitter. Which means your Twitter strategy needs some CPR or you’re doomed to stagnant growth. That just stinks!

Having a presence on Twitter requires more than tweeting and retweeting links. It requires interactions, live conversations, and, if you’re on Twitter for business, it requires a STRATEGY.

Moral of the story: Social media is not a set-it-and-forget-it marketing tool. Scheduling posts is fine, most of us schedule posts. But you must keep up that live connection, that live conversation to successfully build your social media strategy. The same goes for Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+… you get the idea.

If you are a scheduling offender, try this approach. Make time to go live daily and often, and you should see a noticeable difference in the quality of your interactions with your social media friends.

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

How’s your Twitter savvy? Could you use a few tips to build your Twitter presence? Have I got an event for you! Visit my fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/PhiscoMarketing and “like” the page. Then click the “Events” tab and attend “Get Twitter Savvy NOW!” happening Thursday Jan 19th at 8pm ET. See ya there!

Category: Social Media Platforms, Social Media Strategy, Twitter | Tags: , ,
Miss Kemya | January 16, 2012
4 comments

7 Mistakes Twitter Users Should Avoid

So far, we’ve looked at several tips to build your Twitter strategy. First we used 10 Quick Twitter Tips to get you on the right track to building a Twitter profile and network. Next, we learned a few easy ways to build your Twitter following.

So here’s my thought: Instead of providing more tips of what to do, how about I switch it up and give you a few suggestions of what NOT to do on Twitter? The don’ts of Twitter are just as important as the do’s of Twitter.

7 Mistakes Twitter Users Should Avoid

  1. Don’t include a link with every single tweet. You can say something thought-provoking, ask a question or make a statement without a link. It’s ok. Your followers won’t click all those links anyway.
  2. Don’t go on a personal several-tweet rant. You just might irk me or someone else and get unfollowed. By the same token, don’t get into the habit of having a 30-tweet conversation with one person over Twitter. Call or DM that person.
  3. Don’t send several emails in succession. You’re not helping yourself with exposure at all. Spreading them out increases the likelihood your followers will see your tweets. In other words, if you send out 7 tweets in a row over the course of 3 minutes and I’m not on Twitter at that time, I’ll miss your content. If you spread those 7 tweets out, there’s a better chance you’ll catch me on Twitter and I can see your content.
  4. Don’t be so concerned with the numbers. Spammers will come and go all the time, which will make your numbers change daily. By the way, you can’t always tell a spambot by their profile. People follow and unfollow all the time with no reason whatsoever. Therefore, you should be more concerned with the quality of your followers.
  5. Don’t constantly sales pitch yourself. That’s a quick way to get unfollowed. You will definitely get on people’s nerves. Twitter is not all about you.
  6. Don’t tweet at everyone you follow to follow you back. It’s just tacky. Yup, I said it, T-A-C-K-Y.
  7. Don’t abuse the auto DM. I have received the same auto DM more than once from a person I followed, and you know what that tells me? They’re not paying enough attention to their followers, and they haven’t updated their auto-DM use. This gets on my nerves, and I guarantee I’m not the only one annoyed.

Don’t assume you will become famous on Twitter simply because you’re active every day. The value in Twitter lies not only in frequency, but with content and engagement. I just had to throw that bonus tip in to keep you sane.

If you’re active on Twitter I bet you’ve seen several of these missteps made and they might have made you cringe. So now you know what NOT to do on Twitter. This list should help prevent you from looking like you don’t know what you’re doing. Just keep in mind, we’re here to socially engage AND HAVE FUN.

Do you have any more Twitter don’ts to add to the list? Comment and share your Twitter peeves!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya
Category: Twitter | Tags: , , ,
Miss Kemya | January 10, 2012
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7 Ways to Build Your Twitter Following

Are you trying to figure out how to build your following and find your Twitter voice? Have you been tweeting for a while but you’ve been inconsistent? Are you working with a stagnant network? Have I got a few tips for you!

  1. Post unique content daily, as in not a retweet. Find interesting content on your own and share it with your followers.
  2. Comment and reply to other people’s tweets. And have something to add, more than a “nice post”. Tell them what value you gained from their content.
  3. Recommend people to follow. Recommendations are not just reserved for #FF, you may do this anytime, there are no rules. A perfect example: “You should follow @MissKemya for her marketing brilliance, cool blog posts and small biz advice”. You can tweet that whenever you like!
  4. Participate in tweetchats. This is a surefire way to increase your following. There are so many tweetchats happening on a regular basis, I add the ones I like to my calendar as appointments so I don’t miss them.
  5. Perform searches for people talking about your interests, both professional and personal, and follow those people. Search locally and internationally to build your network.
  6. Even though you’re tweeting as a professional, expose your personality so people can get to know you. Tweeters like getting to know each other, quirks and all.
  7. Tweet every day, as in 7 days a week. If you want to communicate with a variety of people, hop on Twitter several times daily and do all of the above.

If you’re still relatively new to Twitter, I suggest you take a look at my original post “10 Quick Twitter Tips” to make sure you’ve already got the basics covered.

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

I share more details of my personal Twitter strategy with Jason Shoup on Pluggio’s Blog - checkout the interview!

Category: Twitter | Tags: , , ,
Miss Kemya | December 30, 2011
2 comments

A Few Simple Ways to Leverage LinkedIn

Are you using LinkedIn to build your brand and increase the visibility of your business? If not, you should be! Assuming you already have your basic profile complete, don’t you want to have a profile that commands attention and makes people want to connect? Of course you do! So here are five quick tips to round out your LinkedIn activity and make your profile more robust.

LinkedIn Logo

Send email regularly via LinkedIn to your connections. I especially make sure to do this when I notice a connection isn’t posting updates or appearing active in any other way on LinkedIn. It gives them a reason to check back into LinkedIn. It also gives me a conversation starter and a chance to catch up with them.

Maximize those applications on LinkedIn. Why? People actually look at your apps, as they round out your profile and give a better picture of your professional interests. Portfolios, blogs and books, oh my! Browse the applications and select a few that you can use to enhance your profile. You can always remove or add an application, so see which ones will work best for your products and services. The applications are listed in the “More” drop down menu:

Get social and extend the conversation from LinkedIn to another social media platform. Use your Twitter address and/or Facebook profile or page in your comment signature. I’ve taken relationships from LinkedIn to Twitter and Facebook and beyond.

Personalize as much information as you are allowed on your profile. For example, LinkedIn allows you to list up to 3 websites. Did you know that you can modify the standard website names of “company website” “blog”, etc as provided by LinkedIn? No worries if you didn’t know, here’s how you do it, it’ll take you 2 minutes: under “edit profile” go to your website listings and click “edit”. In the drop down menu for Websites, choose “other”. This will allow you to give a title to each individual website. I’m sure you want the title of your company/blog listed here. This is an easy fix!

Join appropriate Groups, including local groups. Groups are a goldmine of information and opportunity! Don’t limit yourself to industry specific/niche groups; there are plenty of general groups that may spark your interest. And by all means, announce your presence, join in the discussions, and/or start your own! You don’t gain visibility by lurking. While you’re there, sign up to receive daily or weekly digests from those groups. And read the emails! No need cluttering your inbox if you don’t use the information. You can use these digests to catch up on discussion topics as well as target the more active members of the groups.

Don’t forget, when you’re sending an invitation to connect, nothing says spam more than the default canned message. And please don’t leave the message area blank, yes that still says spam. Take the time to write a couple of sentences about why you want to connect. For more info on that one, read my previous post on using a personal message to connect.

Now for the extra sizzle…

Are you doing all the above, yet still don’t feel like you’re making the most of your LinkedIn activity? Would you like to take your LinkedIn activity to the next level? If so, here’s a little known secret, it’s a biggie… use the question and answer section! It’s a section under that same “More” drop down menu that lists the Applications.

This is where you get to showcase your expertise, and highlight your brand. This is the happening section of LinkedIn, the place to be. If you have a specific niche, or are knowledgeable about particular subjecst, go here to ask questions and give answers. Ask any of the movers and shakers on LinkedIn and they’ll tell you, the Q&A section is where the magic happens!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Are we LinkedIn? Connect with me here – http://www.linkedin.com/in/kemyascott - and let me know you found me via this post. See you there!

 

Category: LinkedIn, Networking, Social Media Strategy | Tags: , ,
Miss Kemya | December 27, 2011
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Where Are Your Future Customers?

Sounds like a simple enough question doesn’t it? But, can you answer the question?

Let’s ask this another way. Where do your prospective customers go to find your product or service? Are they going to a brick and mortar store? Are they asking their peers? Are they mimicking the choices of their competitors? Are they performing online searches, based on their needs? Are they buying online at indie boutiques or big box e-retailers? Or are they lingering all over the place, waiting for a celebrity endorsement or a slew of testimonials before they make a purchase?

What does it matter, right? Your customers are everywhere aren’t they? Well, it’s slightly more complicated…

Target Customer

Now, let me ask, where are you marketing your business? Are you using the correct marketing channels to reach your customers? I know so many people are relying on social media to make them rich. However, social media is not the only answer. The marketing and sales process has existed since the beginning of time, and the fundamental process has not changed.  You still have to go where your customers are looking to buy your product or service.

I’ll address social media since that’s the general marketing tool of choice these days, especially for DIY business owners. If your customers are not looking for you on social media, all the tweeting and facebooking in the world will not create sales. If you don’t know your audience, there lies a fundamental flaw in your sales and marketing strategy.

Here’s a bit of advice: Define Your Target. Once you figure out your target market, you can find the social media platforms they most often use. Look at those platforms as the basis for your social media strategy.

If your customers aren’t around to hear your message, it really doesn’t matter how loud you shout it, nor how any times you say it, does it? So again, I ask my original question: where are your future customers? If you cannot answer this question, I suggest you figure out how to find them. They just might be looking for you too!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya 

Category: Marketing Strategy, Social Media Platforms | Tags: , , ,
Miss Kemya | December 22, 2011
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Don’t Point That QR Code To Your Home Page!

For those of you that don’t know, a QR code is a quick response code that is primarily used to direct people to a particular web page. You can use any number of sites to generate the code. Most are free; some are paid if you want a fancier looking QR code. You provide the content, usually a web page address, and presto, you get a QR code. You can then insert the graphic image of the code on your printed materials or anywhere you choose to.

QR codes are for smartphone users. You have to download a QR code reader app to use the codes. The app takes a picture of the QR code, and directs you to that particular bit of information – it could be a web page, vcard, or some other digital place.

QR codes are primarily used for mobile viewing. If your site is not optimized for mobile viewing, you’re missing the boat. Sure there are some people who embed their QR codes on their website, but that’s not where the value lies for the purposes of this post. Note: you can use your phone to point and click a QR code on a computer screen, it works!

There you have it, QR codes in a nutshell. Now for the tricky part: where to point the QR code? Here’s where the marketing strategy comes into play.

You’re already aware of the short attention spans we have these days. You need to give someone a good reason to click the code. May I share a tip with you? Do not design your QR code to point to a general landing page. The purpose of your QR code is to increase engagement and/or conversion. If you send someone to a general home page, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to share information with someone who is clearly interested in your business. Take them to a specific page that has a clear message or call to action. Here are three easy examples for using QR codes, each with a different purpose:

If you have a product for sale, you can use a QR code to point to your featured product, and include a discount specifically for QR code users.

If you’re hosting an event, put a QR code on the event program and have it point to the event’s Facebook page for attendees to post live comments and pics.

If you’re looking for a job, put a QR code on your business card and have it point to your LinkedIn profile or digital resume.

Yes, I happen to use QR codes, that’s one of mine below. If you’re at a computer you can point your phone to your screen and click it. Go ahead, you know you want to.

As you can guess, QR codes give you a huge opportunity to direct people exactly where you want them to go. QR codes are still relatively new, so do not assume because you have this code on anything people will understand it or use it. Period. It’s a fun new tool, but it’s still a mystery to many. So if you’re going to use a QR code, have fun with it and make it worth your effort.

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: Marketing Tools, Social Media Platforms | Tags: ,
Miss Kemya | December 13, 2011
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Quick Tip: Choosing Social Media Platforms

Which social media platforms should you use? Now you know I’m not going to say all of them! But I am curious, which platforms are you using? More importantly, are you using them all effectively, or do you have a mix of profiles that aren’t really working for your business?

Consider these factors as you join social media platforms:

  • how often you can post
  • what you will post
  • how and where your prospects communicate on social media
  • which social media platforms your competitors are using
  • your business offering

I know there are tons of social media choices out there, and there seems to be no end in sight. However, take this key factor into account: the most effective ways to communicate with your audience. After all, isn’t that one of your main goals, to reach your prospects and clients?

For example, do you have a visually based business (ex. photography, culinary)? Your business could take great advantage of Facebook and Pinterest because you can post photos of your work. Is your business technical in nature? Submitting your blog posts for syndication as opposed to trying to fill a photo bucket may be more helpful for your business. Are you building a public speaking platform? Creating your own YouTube channel may be a great avenue for you. Do you offer a back office B2B service? LinkedIn may become your best friend!

Once you take into account the nature of your business and the market you’re trying to reach, you can get better informed about the most beneficial social media channels for your business. Whatever you do, don’t sit idle. Jump in and join the conversation!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya 

Category: Marketing Strategy, Social Media Platforms, Social Media Strategy | Tags: , ,
Miss Kemya | November 14, 2011
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Interview: Social Media With Females With A Mission

Have you heard? I was recently featured as a guest on Females With A Mission Blog Talk Radio program, where we discussed the do’s and don’ts of social media.

Here’s a snippet of the social media items and tips we discussed:

  1. Figure out your reason for joining a social media platform before you join. Next, take the time to learn a social media platform before you jump in. Each social media platform has its own bells and whistles that make it unique. Understand the features and decide how best to use them, then you can participate in a meaningful way. Hear a couple of tips to figure out where to start.
  2. Google plus profiles and business pages are relevant for SEO. It’s Google, you need to learn how Google+ works!
  3. Cross-posting content 100% doesn’t make for a unique engaging experience unless you take the opportunity to offer something different to entice people to seek you out and follow you in more than one place.
  4. Options to make your Twitter account and tweets more personal if you have employees at different locations.
  5. We discuss the Big 4: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus.  Why use each and all of them?

As you know, social media alone will not get you anywhere without a strategy. Social media takes work, it’s not as easy as it looks. If you need help to develop your social media strategy, or have questions about why you should use the platforms, catch the program here:

Listen to internet radio with Females With A Mission on Blog Talk Radio

 

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: Guest Posts and Mentions, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tools, Social Media Platforms | Tags: , ,
Miss Kemya | November 3, 2011
2 comments

Social Media Tips To Promote Your Live Event

You’re having an event and you want to use social media exclusively to promote the heck out of it? You have plenty of local friends and fans you engage with daily, so surely they will come to support you in person at your event right? Not so fast…

Here’s what I urge you to remember when you’re promoting a live event in the social media space: getting people to leave the house is harder than you think.

What will compel your online friends to leave their house, spend their time and money and come support you?

Remember, it’s easy to like or tweet with someone you’ve never met. Why? Social media has its own set of social etiquette rules at work. Think about it this way: you can befriend people on social media with ease and enjoy conversational banter. You’re not face-to-face, so the pressure’s off. In other words, there’s a lack of commitment as compared to befriending someone you see in person on a regular basis.

Therefore, getting someone to attend a live event, no matter how much social media engagement you share with them, adds an entirely new dynamic to your relationship. Also, keep in mind the number of people with whom you regularly interact with on social media. Quantity really does matter when it comes to event promotions!

Keeping all of this is mind, here are a few tips you can use when promoting your event in the social media space:

  1. Encourage attendees to talk about the event waaaaay before it happens. Start conversations about what will happen, who’s going to be there, highlights, etc.
  2. Make it look like “the place to be”. Make sure you specifically invite people who have a sizable local following and those who will talk about it on multiple social media platforms before, during, and after the event. Even if they can’t attend the event, they can still promote it!
  3. Assign a Twitter #hashtag to the event and remind people to use and follow the hashtag for updates.
  4. Create the event with an RSVP option on multiple platforms and promote it across those platforms. The more exposure you can generate for your event the better.
  5. If you’re on a panel or in a vendor space, promote the event like you own it! See my earlier post on why event vendors need a promotional strategy for further insight.
  6. Encourage people to live tweet/post about the event, share pictures on Facebook, blog, etc. during and after the event.

Probably one of the most important things to remember when promoting an event via social media is repetition. You must have a real strategy when you’re promoting on social media, and repetition of posts is crucial to ensuring your audience is well-informed about the event. Just don’t be a pushy spammer and get on people’s nerves.

Events that have people engaged throughout the entire process always look like great events don’t they? There’s a reason why – the attendees share the experience and make you feel like you were there. Everybody’s joining in the conversation, asking questions, sharing pics, blogging about their experience, etc. Of course that event was awesome, look at the buzz around it!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: Events, Marketing Strategy, Social Media Platforms | Tags: , , ,
Miss Kemya | September 28, 2011
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Social Media Success In 60 Minutes A Day

Think 60 minutes a day on social media is impossible? Hear me out. There was a time when I thought all the tips on successfully engaging on social media in 1-2 hours a day were impossible. That’s because I was reading all those articles when I first started using Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, so of course my learning curve killed the whole 60 minutes notion. I would use social media for hours at a time trying to figure it all out. Sound familiar?

Let’s go beyond the initial process of learning how to use each platform. Once your profiles are complete, and you become experienced with engaging, posting, and sharing content, you can do social media in 60 minutes a day!

If you’re like many professionals, you’re spending too much time on social media. You don’t have to admit it to me, I know you have those days.*wink wink* I have 2 quick tips to maximize your efficiency on social media for business purposes. These tips may just change your life!

Tip #1: Use a social media dashboard
There’s plenty of options to choose from. You can choose Hootsuite, TweetDeck, MarketMeSuite, Sprout Social, etc. There’s too many to list, but use at least one of them. You’ll be able to 
  • see the bulk of your profiles on one screen
  • schedule posts, and
  • engage from one dashboard as opposed to several individual platforms.

If you don’t currently use a dashboard for the majority of your activity, it will change your outlook on social media. This will eliminate the need to log into several platforms and toggling between platforms all day, which will be a MAJOR time-saver. I’m speaking from experience here.

Tip #2: 20-20-20 Minute Rule of Engagement

You can effectively engage in 60 minutes a day. Now, I’m not saying I only use social media for an hour a day. After all, marketing is my business, and I participate in tweetchats, perform research, build lists, schedule posts, revise my profiles, etc. However, on those busy work days that I don’t have much time to engage, I make sure I get in an hour of visibility and engage with my social media pals. I commit 20 minutes in the morning, 20 minutes mid-day and 20 minutes in the early evening, and you can too! This will give you enough time to

  • greet your followers/fans
  • post updates to your profiles
  • post original content
  • re-post content
  • engage with several people across your platforms
  • respond and reply to questions/mentions, and
  • maintain a visibly active social media presence.

Using a 20-20-20 guideline will give you enough time to stay visible on a daily basis on social media. Use a timer if you have to! If you incorporate the use of a social media dashboard, you will be able to maximize your 20-20-20 time even further by mixing in scheduled posts with current posts, and you will maintain an even more engaged presence. Welcome to my 20-20-20 rule, it works!

So you see, there’s merit to all those “you can do social media in an hour a day” articles. If you’re having trouble with time management, challenge yourself with my 20-20-20 rule. Can you do it?

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: LinkedIn, Marketing Tools, Social Media Platforms, Twitter | Tags: , , , ,
Miss Kemya | September 24, 2011
2 comments

Stagnant Social Media Profiles: No Icons Required

I know you’ve seen those companies that have a bunch of social media icons and links on their website asking you to connect with them. But have you noticed for some companies, when you click on the icons, they have outdated profiles, or profiles they don’t really use much? These companies don’t post frequent updates, and they look like they really just put the icons/profiles up for show. Why do some companies do this? Are you one of them?

Here’s a tip to remember when including social media buttons on your website and promo materials: stagnant profiles stink! Nobody said you have to list every single platform you’re registered on. So why list them all? Instead, list the sites you use regularly, and your brand will be stronger for it. Why? Your level of engagement will look more appealing, and your audience will be more apt to connect with you across the different social media platforms.

Remember, you do not have to keep an actively engaged presence on every single social media platform that’s out there. Nor do you have to promote every single profile you set up. As you continue to regularly engage on more platforms, add those social media icons to your website and promo materials. In doing so, your social media activity will remain an effective asset to your business.

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: Social Media Platforms | Tags: , ,
misskemya | September 21, 2011
2 comments

Too Many Social Media Choices, I Can’t Decide!

I can’t count how many times I discuss social media with business owners and they feel like they can’t get the hang of a particular platform. Or they feel like they should be using them all, and they get completely overwhelmed at all the options popping up pretty regularly. Here’s my advice: don’t feel coerced into stretching yourself across all the social media platforms out there. You won’t have time to run your business! Here’s the one thing these business owners (and maybe you) don’t understand: Not all social media platforms are created equal. They each have a purpose, user group, frequency of use, their own language, etc. 

Start with the most commonly used platforms and learn the ropes. Read some articles/how-to’s on each platform. Review the FAQs, user guides, and take a look at your fellow business owners. Which platforms are they using? I read comments on LinkedIn all the time from business owners still trying to figure out what they should be using. It’s ok to ask. Then you can check out some of the newer platforms and give them a try, but don’t be so quick to invest so much time on them. Again, you have a business to run! If you’re still having trouble, and really want to learn what to post, how often to post, and how to develop a dynamic profile that generates business, consider hiring a marketing professional for help.

Why didn’t I say hire someone to post for you a couple of times a day? Your social media activity should be a part of your overall marketing strategy to build your business. Yes, there is a strategy! Hiring someone to tweet for you won’t build your business if you don’t know what you’re supposed to be tweeting! You can’t hire a ghost blogger if you don’t have a marketing plan to decide what you want your blog to cover. Quite frankly, knowing what to post is just as important as how often you post and engage. 

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tools, Social Media Platforms, Social Media Strategy | Tags: , , , ,
Miss Kemya | September 15, 2011
6 comments

Develop Your Blogging Strategy

Blogging requires a strategy. A strategy of “post an article and they will come” doesn’t work. Do you realize how crowded the web is? Of course you do! Whether you’re new to blogging, a sporadic blogger, or you’re still on the fence about it, here’s some tips to help you start developing your blogging strategy:

Design: There are several blogging platforms (WordPress, Tumblr, Blogspot, etc.) and there are differences among the options, so take a look and decide which is right for you. If you’re going to choose one of the free themes offered with your chosen platform, please please please do not use the theme as-is. Nothing says “newbie” or “not serious” more than using a standard template theme. Make it your own by using the options available with your template, such as:

  • custom color schemes
  • fonts
  • sidebar alternatives
  • custom backgrounds.

Add your social media follow buttons, and make sure people can easily share each post. There are options that make this pretty simple, so do a bit of research on sharing toolbars if you need to. Remember, visual appeal always makes the first impression!Whats Your Blog Strategy

Purpose: Decide what you want your blog to do. If you’re blogging for business, I’m thinking your blog’s purpose will be to:

  • drive traffic to your company website
  • engage in dialogue with your audience
  • offer a platform for you to promote your services.

Am I guessing right? Ok, so if you need to build traffic to your site, you have to creatively divert a reader’s attention from other sites to yours. Which means you have to go find your audience, and entice them with dynamic content that will draw them in. Remember a couple posts back when I said Define Your Target and Decide Where to Market? The same concept applies here: find out where your audience gets their content. Research your competitors’ and industry leaders’ sites. What do you like about them? Is it their layout and design? The content? How often do they post? What platform are they using? You may notice similar characteristics among these blogs, good or bad. At least you’ll get hints about what to do or not do.

Function: Get creative with the functionality of your blog. You can use your blog to

  • communicate your expertise, events, awards, affiliations
  • encourage your employees to post relevant articles
  • encourage your clients to leave comments and provide feedback
  • take polls and run contests and tie them into your Facebook fanpage.

Make subtle design updates, and rotate highlights to keep people interested and engaged. Remember, people can subscribe to receive your posts, and if you keep the layout the same there’s no reason to explore the full blog site. Plan to make design updates and you’ll keep an attentive audience. The possibilities are endless!

Share: You’ve done all this work putting together a fantastic blog and it’s time to share it with the world.

  • Add your blog address to your email signature.
  • Add it to all your social media profiles.
  • Explore blog syndication to help drive traffic.

When it comes to sharing specific posts, you have to share often. You can’t expect to tweet out your new post once and get traffic. The same goes for Facebook. You have to continue to share your post for maximum visibility; you already know how quickly we skim through our timelines and news feed. Don’t take for granted we saw your single tweet about a new post. Just don’t get too excited and re-post too often. Talk about your articles and use different verbiage as you share them so we don’t see the same intro for it each time. Keep it fresh and interesting. Post your articles regularly on your profiles and engage your followers in the topic; they’ll be more apt to reading and sharing your blog.

Simply put, blogging is more than posting articles. If you’re reading this post, you found it because of the strategy I chose about my blog and my business. Blogging is an investment of your time and resources, and should be considered an integral part of your marketing strategy. If you don’t commit to it as a strategic investment, your blog may wind up floating along in the cloud and no one will see it…

Next, read Part 3 of 3 in the series:“3 Tricks to Ruin Your No Time To Blog Excuse”

Ciao,
Miss Kemya 

Did you know this post has been published on Social Media Today? Check it out here: http://socialmediatoday.com/misskemya/358032/develop-your-blogging-strategy

Category: Blogging, Branding, Marketing Strategy, Social Media Platforms | Tags: , , , ,
Miss Kemya | September 13, 2011
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3 Reasons to Blog For Business

You’ve heard this a hundred times already. Well, I’m telling you again, blogging is a great way to build your brand in your own words. In order maintain a successful blog, you have to build a following and keep your readers engaged, so make a plan to build momentum. For all you non-believers and sporadic bloggers, here are 3 reasons to blog for business, not personal discussions, not family pics, we’re talking blogging for business:

Traditional website content is static. Think about this: If you visit a company’s website and they don’t have a blog or dynamic content, how often do you revisit that website? Want to know why you don’t visit that site often? It’s because website content is traditionally static, if you’ve seen it once, why would you keep going back? Note: if you’re not tech-savvy, it’s much easier (and less expensive) to keep up a blog than it is to update an html website.

Blogging is 2-way conversation.  This means your audience can communicate with you directly on your blog via comments and sharing. Traditional websites are one way conversations: you talk, and your audience listens. But they can’t comment or “engage” with the company. Engagement is the name of the game today!

Business blogs offer you an excellent way to show your expertise and share knowledge and resources. What better way to engage with your target market? You’re essentially selling your qualifications to your audience. For example, upon reading my blog content, you can understand my personality, my niche, and my target audience. This is an excellent tool for consultants to share their knowledge and level of expertise.

Did you know blogging also substantially increases your SEO rankings? Once I learned just how significant blogging can be to your overall marketing strategy from an SEO standpoint, I knew I had to start blogging!

Blogging is an investment of your time and resources, and should be considered an integral part of your marketing strategy. It’s inexpensive to start on any number of blogging platforms available today, and that’s why I encourage business owners to set up an active blog for their business. However, you have to work at blogging just like you would any other tactic to build a following and generate interest. You can’t post an article once a month and expect your site traffic to increase ten-fold. Don’t get into blogging thinking your content will be miraculously found by your target audience. Blogging requires a strategy to drive traffic, subscribers, and actively engaged readers. However, with forethought and dedication, your blog can develop into a valuable tool and asset to your business.

Next, read Part 2 of 3 in the series: “Develop Your Blogging Strategy“

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

*If you want to use a blogging system pre-wrapped in a neat little package with training, support, article submission services, and designed to develop your brand, feel free to take a look at My Branding System.

Category: Blogging, Branding, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tools, Social Media Platforms | Tags: , , , ,
Miss Kemya | September 10, 2011
4 comments

Upcoming Event: Do I Play or Pass?

We all need to network in some form to build our businesses, and there’s nothing like face-to-face events to get the ball rolling. But there’s too many choices, so what should you do? You have an idea of the types of events you’d like to attend. You’ve done a bit of research on each event, and you’ve given consideration to 5 important factors (we discussed these in a previous post). Now it’s time to make a decision: should you attend an event or not? Don’t wing it, make a calculated decision.

Where should I go?

Decide how many events you can reasonably attend on a monthly (or quarterly) basis. Mix in some out-of-the-ordinary mixers, luncheons, breakfast meetings, evening socials, and conferences. Don’t stick with what or who you know, go out on a limb and shake it up! I try to attend at least one event that on the surface has absolutely nothing to do with my business. Do you know how much fun this can be? You’ll be out of your comfort zone, and you’ll meet an entirely different cast of characters. I love getting a fresh perspective on what other professionals are doing. It lends to my creativity and it also keeps me in the loop in the community.

I hope I know someone there…

A major mistake people make when deciding to attend an event is this: will I know anyone there? Then if they don’t know anyone there they won’t give it a try. Why not? Your business depends on your effort, not mingling with your friends. I use this as the very reason to attend an event. You need to meet new people to keep a fresh perspective and increase your network. Don’t rely on following people on social media to build your circle, hit the pavement and build the circle face-to-face with your prospects. And connect, don’t stay on the sidelines and hold up the wall or take a seat in the background. If I make an effort show up, I stand front and center ready to interact.

I can’t make the event, now what?

If you can’t attend an event, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun, networking, and information! Here’s just a few ways I keep up with events I’m unable to attend to still take part and benefit from a networking perspective:

  • Follow live tweeting/hashtags, lookup the event on Facebook to see if there is post-event discussion.
  • Read blog post summaries from the attendees after the event. Post comments, ask the bloggers questions and gather more information.
  • Review the event agenda and speaker bios – contact a speaker you’re interested in and contact them. If you’re intrigued by their expertise, let them know you didn’t get to hear their presentation but you’d like to find out more about the subject.
  • Find event attendees you can reach out. If they’re in your industry or affiliated in a way, maybe you should be connecting with them anyway!

So you see, there are many things to consider as you plan your event calendar for the year. But the key is to PLAN. In summation, here’s my 5 takeaways to managing your time and effort to attend professional events:

  1. Don’t leave your marketing to chance… make a plan and execute it, events included.
  2. Don’t let finances hinder your networking efforts, get creative and get the information you need.
  3. Follow up on new and existing connections. You do yourself and your business no good if you attend every event yet do no follow-up.
  4. Find an interesting mix of events within and outside your comfort zone to keep your self motivated. Networking should be fun!
  5. Use your estimated return on investment of time, money and resources, as your best guide to making the decision to attend an event.

Get out there and engage with the right people to develop your business!

Ciao,
Miss Kemya

Category: Events, Marketing Strategy, Networking, Social Media Platforms | Tags: , , , ,
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