Here’s 10 tools that are essential for your marketing strategy:
There are tons of social media networks available today and list continues to grow. Every network may not be right for you, but you must find out which ones are important to your target audience before eliminating them. Here are a few that are essential to your marketing strategy.
Tools
Managing 10 different social networks daily can seem like a nearly impossible task, but these tools make it easy to relay a consistent message across multiple platforms.
1. Ping.fm: Ping updates your Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Flickr, Foursquare, and several other accounts with one app! They currently list 32 supported networks on their website and say they’re “always adding new ones.” Did I mention this tool is completely free?
2. Vitrue: Vitrue moderates Facebook comments, generates shareable coupons, and provides powerful analytics.
3. Disqus: Encourages interaction from blog readers by allowing them to respond from their email or mobile devices and receive notifications when other users post or reply.
4. Google Analytics: Find out which social network is the source of your web traffic.
5. bit.ly: Shorten URLs and track clicks and shares. You can also track your competitors clicks!
6. North Social: Create custom applications for your Facebook page.
7. Storify: Collect photos, videos, tweets, etc. online and share with your audience.
8. Brandwatch: Tracks your social media mentions.
9. Flowtown: Find out which social networks your customer and/or prospects are active on based on their email addresses stored in your database.
10. Klout: Scores your social media activity and allows you to see who you influence and who influences you on the topics you talk about most.
If you want help making social media part of your marketing strategy, then submit a brief!
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Monday, 27 February 2012
How to find out the right Marketing Channels for your Business
Here’s 10 channels that are essential for your marketing strategy:
Channels
There are lots of social media networks available today and list continues to grow. Every network may not be right for you, but you must find out which ones are important to your target audience before eliminating them. Here are a few that are essential to your marketing strategy.
1. Facebook: Use customized landing pages, tabs, videos, surveys, and other apps to keep users engaged. Read my previous post, 12 things every marketer should know about the new Facebook timelines.
2. Twitter: Customize your background, hold Q&A’s, and conduct surveys. Don’t forget to tweet often.
3. YouTube: Upload product demos and viral videos and integrate them into your website, Facebook page, and company blog.
4. Instagram: Share pictures of your team, retail location(s), events, products, etc. with iPhone users.
5. Tumblr: Post pictures, videos, and text, to your customized page. Your posts appear in a timeline similar to Instagram.
6. WordPress: Having a company blog will increase your search engine rankings. You don’t have to use WordPress so long as you are blogging for your business.
7. Linkedin: Connect with colleagues, employees, prospects, and customers via Linkedin. Also, post jobs, screen candidates, and request introductions from mutual contacts.
8. Google+: Business pages are still new in the Google+ community. Share blog posts and get in the same circles as your customers and prospects.
9. StumbleUpon: Share your company’s blog posts and other useful information that can easily be found by other users based on category of interest.
10. Foursquare: Businesses and brands can benefit from Foursquare. Offer deals provide tips and lists, and encourage users to visit your location.
Channels
There are lots of social media networks available today and list continues to grow. Every network may not be right for you, but you must find out which ones are important to your target audience before eliminating them. Here are a few that are essential to your marketing strategy.
1. Facebook: Use customized landing pages, tabs, videos, surveys, and other apps to keep users engaged. Read my previous post, 12 things every marketer should know about the new Facebook timelines.
2. Twitter: Customize your background, hold Q&A’s, and conduct surveys. Don’t forget to tweet often.
3. YouTube: Upload product demos and viral videos and integrate them into your website, Facebook page, and company blog.
4. Instagram: Share pictures of your team, retail location(s), events, products, etc. with iPhone users.
5. Tumblr: Post pictures, videos, and text, to your customized page. Your posts appear in a timeline similar to Instagram.
6. WordPress: Having a company blog will increase your search engine rankings. You don’t have to use WordPress so long as you are blogging for your business.
7. Linkedin: Connect with colleagues, employees, prospects, and customers via Linkedin. Also, post jobs, screen candidates, and request introductions from mutual contacts.
8. Google+: Business pages are still new in the Google+ community. Share blog posts and get in the same circles as your customers and prospects.
9. StumbleUpon: Share your company’s blog posts and other useful information that can easily be found by other users based on category of interest.
10. Foursquare: Businesses and brands can benefit from Foursquare. Offer deals provide tips and lists, and encourage users to visit your location.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Benefits of Sponsorship
There are a few projects I’m working on that require me to generate sponsorship for a number of event. So this week I’m going to tell you about what is sponsorship, what are the benefits and what is involved in adding this tool into your promotional mix.
What is sponsorship?
Sponsorship can be defined as supporting an event, activity or organisation by providing money or other resources that is of value to the sponsored event. This is usually in return for advertising space at the event or as part of the publicity for the event.
What are the benefits of sponsorship?
• Sponsorship it provides a means of broadening your competitive edge by improving your company’s image, prestige and credibility by supporting events
• Sponsorship can help to enhance your company public profile
• Sponsorship can enhance visibility, image, differentiating the company from competitors, developing better and closer relationships with, customers – existing and potential
• Sponsorship can be strategic and well conceived. It can boost both short-term and long-term sales
• Sponsorship has a means of accessing a wide range of audiences and decision makers in business
• Sponsorship can heighten visibility due to positive publicity through media.
What’s involved in developing a sponsorship promotion?
• Analyse the current situation; look at which other businesses are sponsoring in the target area. Are competitors already doing this and is it providing them with an advantage?
• Define the sponsorship objectives: e.g. raise awareness of the brand; build an image; promote a product.
• Agree the strategy: how does the sponsorship fit in with other promotional activity?
• Develop the tactics: agree the details of what to sponsor, price, timing etc
• Define the target audience
• Consider what resources are needed to make the sponsorship a success.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact me at corporate@mistrymarketingevents.co.uk about the opportunities I have to offer and see if they fit in with your business and budget.
What is sponsorship?
Sponsorship can be defined as supporting an event, activity or organisation by providing money or other resources that is of value to the sponsored event. This is usually in return for advertising space at the event or as part of the publicity for the event.
What are the benefits of sponsorship?
• Sponsorship it provides a means of broadening your competitive edge by improving your company’s image, prestige and credibility by supporting events
• Sponsorship can help to enhance your company public profile
• Sponsorship can enhance visibility, image, differentiating the company from competitors, developing better and closer relationships with, customers – existing and potential
• Sponsorship can be strategic and well conceived. It can boost both short-term and long-term sales
• Sponsorship has a means of accessing a wide range of audiences and decision makers in business
• Sponsorship can heighten visibility due to positive publicity through media.
What’s involved in developing a sponsorship promotion?
• Analyse the current situation; look at which other businesses are sponsoring in the target area. Are competitors already doing this and is it providing them with an advantage?
• Define the sponsorship objectives: e.g. raise awareness of the brand; build an image; promote a product.
• Agree the strategy: how does the sponsorship fit in with other promotional activity?
• Develop the tactics: agree the details of what to sponsor, price, timing etc
• Define the target audience
• Consider what resources are needed to make the sponsorship a success.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact me at corporate@mistrymarketingevents.co.uk about the opportunities I have to offer and see if they fit in with your business and budget.
Monday, 6 February 2012
My Networking Top Tips
Studies show that 80% of all new business comes from networking, not to mention career opportunities, so use your time at event wisely. Here are my top 10 tips to help you on your way to becoming a highly successful networker, whilst having a great time…
1. Prepare – Make sure you arrive at the event feeling calm and friendly, so know where you are going and for what time, with plenty of business cards.
2. Make the First Move – Take responsibility and don’t come away from an event feeling you have missed an opportunity because no-one talked to you.
3. Start with Small Talk – Calm your nerves by making small talk with someone equally alone about something general: the venue, the parking, the weather or the refreshments.
4. Be Interested – Find out about the person you are talking to by asking questions, so that you can build a picture of them and in return they will be more receptive in hearing about you.
5. Concentrate on Giving - Look for ways you can help others; advice, referrals, even friendship instead of focusing on selling to them as this will naturally follow.
6. Keep your Mind Open – Resist the urge to dismiss a contact if they don't seem to fit your needs because you never know when you might need them in the future.
7. Always Follow up – If you’ve promised somebody information, an introduction or a phone number, make sure you keep your word or you risk damaging your reputation.
8. Build Relationships – Be consistent and regularly attend events so that you become known and build trust with fellow attendees.
9. Have Fun and Relax – some events are social occasions, so treat them as such.
10. Enjoy the Event – If you enjoyed the event then tell your friends and colleagues, bring them along next time and help them network too!
1. Prepare – Make sure you arrive at the event feeling calm and friendly, so know where you are going and for what time, with plenty of business cards.
2. Make the First Move – Take responsibility and don’t come away from an event feeling you have missed an opportunity because no-one talked to you.
3. Start with Small Talk – Calm your nerves by making small talk with someone equally alone about something general: the venue, the parking, the weather or the refreshments.
4. Be Interested – Find out about the person you are talking to by asking questions, so that you can build a picture of them and in return they will be more receptive in hearing about you.
5. Concentrate on Giving - Look for ways you can help others; advice, referrals, even friendship instead of focusing on selling to them as this will naturally follow.
6. Keep your Mind Open – Resist the urge to dismiss a contact if they don't seem to fit your needs because you never know when you might need them in the future.
7. Always Follow up – If you’ve promised somebody information, an introduction or a phone number, make sure you keep your word or you risk damaging your reputation.
8. Build Relationships – Be consistent and regularly attend events so that you become known and build trust with fellow attendees.
9. Have Fun and Relax – some events are social occasions, so treat them as such.
10. Enjoy the Event – If you enjoyed the event then tell your friends and colleagues, bring them along next time and help them network too!
Monday, 30 January 2012
5 productive skills you need to consider to get ahead
Continuing on from 3 week we have covered: 5 key planning skills, 5 creativity skills, 5 key communication skills, here are 5 key productivity skills you need to consider to get ahead:
Productivity
1. Time management - I once had a boss who could never get to a single meeting on time. He would always turn up ten minutes late, red-faced, unprepared, looking like he had slept in a bush. He had a growing collection of excuses and apologies. Time management reduces stress and increases your respect.
2. Meeting management - Most of us hate meeting but they are a fact of business life. There are many tricks from firmly sticking to the agenda through to holding meetings standing up just before lunch. Whatever works for you if you can get meetings to be productive and under control you will get ahead.
3. Leadership - In business it really helps to be able to take the lead. Can you get people to follow you? Are you able to get people to do things they don't want to do for the good of the team?
4. Systems - If you are repeatedly re-inventing the wheel there is something seriously wrong. Effective systems bring consistency, efficiency and reduced costs. Learning how to create and implement both human and automated systems can go a long way to being more competitive.
5. Personal Productivity - What are your rhythms, when are you more sociable, detail-oriented, creative or lacking energy? Where do you excel and which areas are a struggle? Before you can lead anyone else you need to work out how to get the best out of yourself.
Bonus
You may have noticed 20 key skills identified in this list. But the bonus and most important of them all; the ability to switch off! It is so easy for the stresses and strains of business life to burn people out so you must develop the ability to relax and unwind.
Productivity
1. Time management - I once had a boss who could never get to a single meeting on time. He would always turn up ten minutes late, red-faced, unprepared, looking like he had slept in a bush. He had a growing collection of excuses and apologies. Time management reduces stress and increases your respect.
2. Meeting management - Most of us hate meeting but they are a fact of business life. There are many tricks from firmly sticking to the agenda through to holding meetings standing up just before lunch. Whatever works for you if you can get meetings to be productive and under control you will get ahead.
3. Leadership - In business it really helps to be able to take the lead. Can you get people to follow you? Are you able to get people to do things they don't want to do for the good of the team?
4. Systems - If you are repeatedly re-inventing the wheel there is something seriously wrong. Effective systems bring consistency, efficiency and reduced costs. Learning how to create and implement both human and automated systems can go a long way to being more competitive.
5. Personal Productivity - What are your rhythms, when are you more sociable, detail-oriented, creative or lacking energy? Where do you excel and which areas are a struggle? Before you can lead anyone else you need to work out how to get the best out of yourself.
Bonus
You may have noticed 20 key skills identified in this list. But the bonus and most important of them all; the ability to switch off! It is so easy for the stresses and strains of business life to burn people out so you must develop the ability to relax and unwind.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
5 communication skills you need to consider to get ahead
Continuing on from 2 week we have covered: 5 key planning skills, 5 creativity skills, here are 5 key communication skills you need to consider to get ahead:
Communication
1. Written - Most people in business spend a lot of time communicating in writing. You will spend a good few hours a day fighting your inbox. Add to this reports, proposals etc it's certain you will need to sharpen your word power to succeed.
2. Social Networking - We are not all comfortable socialising, some of us struggle to make small talk. It is a key skill to learn though, it is true what they say, and sometimes it is about who you know than what you know!
3. Speaking - Public speaking ranks high amongst the worlds most popular fears. You must overcome it and the best way is to practice. It might feel more comfortable working from the safety of your desk but at some point you are going to have to present. Better to have some experience under your belt before being forced to perform unprepared when it really counts.
4. Sales - You might think you do not need to sell but we all have to sell every day. In normal life we sell, persuading your partner of family that you really need that new purchase, getting out of that parking ticket ... persuasion skills can come in very handy indeed.
5. Negotiation - If you can't sell perhaps you can negotiate. A lot of the skills are the same but you will find people who have been in business for a while can drive a hard bargain. If you do not have the skills you will lose out each and every time.
I will be back with more tips next week on Productivity.
Communication
1. Written - Most people in business spend a lot of time communicating in writing. You will spend a good few hours a day fighting your inbox. Add to this reports, proposals etc it's certain you will need to sharpen your word power to succeed.
2. Social Networking - We are not all comfortable socialising, some of us struggle to make small talk. It is a key skill to learn though, it is true what they say, and sometimes it is about who you know than what you know!
3. Speaking - Public speaking ranks high amongst the worlds most popular fears. You must overcome it and the best way is to practice. It might feel more comfortable working from the safety of your desk but at some point you are going to have to present. Better to have some experience under your belt before being forced to perform unprepared when it really counts.
4. Sales - You might think you do not need to sell but we all have to sell every day. In normal life we sell, persuading your partner of family that you really need that new purchase, getting out of that parking ticket ... persuasion skills can come in very handy indeed.
5. Negotiation - If you can't sell perhaps you can negotiate. A lot of the skills are the same but you will find people who have been in business for a while can drive a hard bargain. If you do not have the skills you will lose out each and every time.
I will be back with more tips next week on Productivity.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
5 creativity skills you need to consider to get ahead
Continuing on from last week 5 key planning skills, here are 5 creativity skills you need to consider to get ahead:
Creativity
1. Imagination - Many people neglect their creative side feeling that it is better to be all about the logic, but in fact some of the most successful business people are also the most imaginative.
2. Inventiveness - If you can imagine it you can create it, and if you create it then you can sell it! Look around you, think of the things you buy and use, someone had to have the idea before it was built and sold to you. You might be surprised how few mad inventors there are, more products are invented in a office than a garage.
3. Problem Solving - A big part of surviving in business is about solving problems fast and effectively. An employee who is good at keeping their head in a crisis while fighting fires is a worthwhile asset to any business.
4. Brainstorming - Some people think brainstorming is all about having stupid ideas while ridiculing the contributions of everyone else while drinking coffee and eating biscuits or cakes. Perhaps this is why brainstorms get a bad name? If you can brainstorm great ideas, fast then you will be one step ahead.
5. Making connections - Some of the best ideas have simply been about connecting two otherwise unconnected ideas together. Could you invent the next iPhone App?
I will be back with more tips next week on Communication
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