5 things you can do for your business to start the new year

December 31, 2010

Forget the best-of-what-happened-in-2010 lists and top trends to watch in 2011. I’m tired of remembering and forecasting. Let’s focus on five steps to take now to grow your business.Happy New Year 2011

Yes, 4 of these 5 tips are actions to do online. They are things you can do. Now. With little or no cost, except your time. So, here’s how to kick start the new year:

1. Tell people you exist. Otherwise, they won’t find you.

There are lots of ways to accomplish this with websites, blogs and social media but my must-haves include Google Profile for individuals and Google Places for your business; and the Local Listings Center on Yahoo and also on Bing. Read the rest of this entry »


The Facebook math you should learn to improve your business fan page’s bottom line

November 29, 2010

You update your status on Facebook. You share your events. You post photos into galleries. And, you add video. All on your business fan page.

Your Facebook fans then all see all of your great content. Right?

Little chance.

Here’s a fact of Facebook life that all businesses need to know – and live by – to make your fan page work for you. Today’s tip comes with a huge assist from Jay Feitlinger, owner of StringCan Interactive, an online marketing and social media agency in Phoenix, Ariz. Jay attended a Facebook developer conference earlier this year and paid close attention to Facebook’s explanation of the formula used to determine what content shows up in your news feed.

Facebook's Edge Rank Formula for determining where updates appear in top news feeds

Facebook uses its Edge Rank formula to determine where page updates appear in top news feeds, Jay Feitlinger writes in Website Magazine this month.

Jay shares his take-away notes from the conference this month in Website Magazine, including the math that makes Facebook work. The bottom line for businesses: “If you post content on your page that does not follow the … formula you are wasting your time, as updates will not be seen by your fans,” Jay writes. Read the rest of this entry »


Offer discounts and coupons to your fans

October 31, 2010

Itʼs OK to post about your products and services on your Facebook fan page.Cadillac Jacks Sports Bar and Restaurant Facebook coupon

You want customers to know about your business, after all. But limit the commercial messages. A good guideline — direct pitches or commercial message should be 2-3 of every 10 you post. Read the rest of this entry »