How will the new Facebook timeline page affect your small business?

Social media is a launch point for consumers looking for recommendations.  When you’re looking to buy a product, what do you consider the best referral? Word of mouth, of course!  It’s been that way for centuries, and that hasn’t changed.  Even if a product has great results or reviews online, glitzy ads or a brand that is skillfully presented, will you feel differently about it if everyone who has actually used it hates it? Or loves it? Absolutely.  Real users, real experiences, real reviews matter.  For small businesses, the new Facebook timeline can put you that much closer to your customers.

Social interaction on Facebook continues to develop an “across the fence” type of conversation. Friends, neighbors, family, acquaintances, co-workers and colleagues, they all want to share what they know with others. Why is that information so valuable? Because it’s their word. (more…)

If you’re a business owner, and you’re interested in getting to know mobile marketing a little better, we are offering a great seminar this month for you!

Mobile Marketing Tips & Trends

What Every Business Should Know About Mobile Marketing

What Will I Learn?

Some mobile FAQ’s we will be answering: What is a mobile website? Who needs one? How can I use the surge in mobile phone usage to my advantage? And if Geofencing, Push Notifications and Near Field Communication all sound like Greek to you, then this seminar is your ticket to understanding mobile! Each seminar will cover the latest mobile marketing trends and technologies, prove just how important, powerful and widespread mobile usage really is, and offer tips on how to get a leg up on your competitors through mobile marketing.

There are 2 different dates and locations for this seminar, so you can register for whichever one is most convenient for you. All will cover the same topics. (more…)

The niche social network Pinterest is gaining popularity, and seems to be catching on quickly. If you are unaware, Pinterest.com is a virtual pin board, where you collect and admire images found all over the web. It’s like a bulletin board, only you are pinning up web images, on an online board. You can pin whatever images you want, and you can sort and organize your pin boards based on your interests.

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For internet marketers and businesses alike, 2012 promises to be a movin’, shakin’ year for all organic, social and mobile trends! Despite the tough economic climate in 2011, the rabid run toward strategic mobile marketing as a primary retail sales tool continues unabated with updated analytics, tools and apps.

The growth curve and development of retail-focused mobile marketing is huge, particularly in generating  that retail sale in near-real time!  Push marketing and hyper-local ads with a social media support structure, along with emerging apps like Google Wallet make it easier than ever to search, shop and spend on the go. The benefit to consumers? Competition and price comparisons work in their favor in a big way, not to mention ease and convenience.  The benefit to retailers? Buying everything from a new phone to a gift card to a slice of pizza becomes simpler and more intuitive via your phone, providing opportunities to capture both impulse buyers and smart-search consumers.

It seems that social media has now entered the “public trading” stage, with:

• Google Plus giving Facebook a real run for the money this time around
• Social image sites like Pinterest capturing a big chunk of our online enthusiasm
• Linked In becoming the “Who’s Who” of professionals and companies, garnering information on people and corporate profiles that boggles the mind

Oh yeah…and who would have though that cool QR code would be considered old-fashioned or quaint quite so soon?

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Are you on Twitter? (We are, follow us @mannixmarketing) If you’re not, I suggest you try it out. Many of you are probably rolling your eyes and asking yourself, “Why learn another social network?” or, “What can Twitter do that Facebook can’t?” In a nutshell, Twitter can easily connect you to industry experts, world news, and even your favorite celebrities, where Facebook connects you with people you know. There are some exceptions to this with the new subscribe feature on Facebook, but Twitter is still winning the game in this respect.  You don’t have to have a mutual relationship on Twitter, you just pick who you want updates from, and you can tweet to anybody.

Consumers use Twitter for many different reasons. Some tweet to their favorite celebrities, asking questions that may be answered by the celebrity, or anyone else that views the tweet (most tweets are public). Some tweet to their favorite sports radio show, hoping to get mentioned on the air, or get a retweet. Some don’t tweet at all, and just follow their favorite accounts looking for breaking news stories, or updates on Kim Kardashian’s latest marriage. Corporations use Twitter to announce new products and/or updates for old products. Marketers tweet about upcoming events, or promote new products and services to their followers. There are many ways to utilize Twitter, and everybody does it differently.

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