You DO know that the money is in the list – correct? But how do you build a list of interested readers? Well, there are a number of ways, but today I’m going to tell you the #1 secret to list building. Oh, and it’s so simple too. Many business owners simply overlook this step BECAUSE it’s so simple!

THE SIGN-UP SHEET! There – that’s the secret! I told you it was simple! Who knew that a plain sheet of white paper could help you build your list?

Here’s what you need to do:

•Provide an incentive: On your sign-up sheet, ask your customers, “Would you like to receive emails every week (bi-weekly, monthly, etc) about new products or services? Tips and tricks? Specials just for subscribers”? Get them excited when they are actually IN your store or office!! They are more likely to sign up when they are in your location because they are already excited about what you have.

•Provide a space for first name, last name, and email address. Simple! And it doesn’t even have to look pretty.

•Find the best location for your sign-up sheet. Most likely at the point of sale, registration / appointment desk.

•Keep your list excited and enthused about your products or services. Send them valuable information. How to information and tips about your products, etc.

•Ask your list to share your emails. Give them a reward when they do.

Keeping track of your list:

This is easy! Use a service like Constant Contact or Aweber to keep track of your list and marketing emails. Find out who is opening your emails and who is forwarding them to others. WOW – your list is now your sales force!

If you do not have a brick and mortar location, having a sign-up sheet isn’t as easy or convienent. We just have to get more creative. Will you have a vendor table at a mixer or expo? Do you belong to a networking group where you are able to do a presentation?

Think of other venues and opportunities where you can build your list using a sign-up sheet. Share your ideas in the comment box below.

Do you know when to use “then” rather than “than”? How about “affect” and “effect”? Or something simplier like “your” and “you’re”.  We all make these kinds of mistakes – and I’m as guilty as everyone else.

When we are writing for our blogs, Web site content, marketing articles, or even our Facebook posts…we should be taking a long hard look at how we are presenting ourselves.  Like it or not, improper use of words counts as a first impression.

Check out this smart Infographic written by Brian Clark on the Copyblogger.com blog. “15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly”.

Can you think of any other English words that we use incorrectly? Share them with us below.

Eydie

Q. My Website designer is driving me crazy with all the things he wants to put n my site. Can you tell me what the important elements are? I just want a simple and clean look.  Nickie D.

A. I would be happy to, Nickie.  Simple and clean – that’s what I like to hear. Websites all gummed up with lots of extras will distract your visitors. So, stick to your guns.

Keep the following items in mind when building your Website. Remember, your website needs to inform your readers, be easy for your readers to navigate, and be interactive.

Quality Content:
Content is king, but, we can’t overlook the quality of your images. Images can
make any Website more effective, but overuse of images can destroy the load
time. We respond to images and sometimes decide if we are going to read the
content based on the image. Make sure you are using high quality images with a
Web resolution of 72dpi.

Depending on the type of business you have, I would add a headshot on your
About Us page. People like to know whom they are dealing with. It’s your first
impression, and it helps to build relationships.

Confusing Navigation:
This will stop your Website visitor in their tracks every time. Make it easy
for your visitors to navigate your Website so they find what they need.

Above the Fold:
Your compelling information should be seen at a glance. Your “above the
fold” content (content seen first when the Website loads) will give your
visitors a quick snapshot of what you are about and what they will find on your
site.

Bite-sized Chunks:
Did you know that reading is 25% slower online than reading print items? Your attention getting paragraphs should be short and to the point. Also, bullet points allow your visitors to easily scan your content more quickly. We’re all strapped for time. Don’t turn your Website into the next great American novel.

The Sweet Spot:
Our eyes gravitate to the upper left-hand side of a page. This is where you would
place your most important information. You need a way to capture email
addresses, so I would place a “Join Our Mailing List” Opt-in box as
close as you can to the upper left corner. Remember, the money is in the list.
Also, give them something free in exchange for their email address. A free report
or ebook works wonders.

Social Share Buttons:
If you want to get more traffic to your Website then you are going to have to
add social share buttons. When someone likes what they see and read, they will
share it with their online community. It’s important for your business that you
add a way for people to share your site on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and
Pinterest. Oh, I almost forgot, add links for your visitors to reach out to you
on Facebook and the others. You want to build relationships, right?

Blogging:
Your Website should be a place where you can show off your expertise. By writing blog posts on a consistent basis, you are doing exactly that. Blog posts give your visitors something to do other than read – they respond to your post. You want them to leave a comment, and become part of your Website.

E-Commerce:
Are you selling products? Then I would highly suggest that you install a shopping cart. Always have a way that people can pay for products and services.

Animation:
Leave animation for cartoons and movies. Search engines don’t really like them, and it distracts your visitors.

RSS Feed:
That’s the small orange squarish icon you see on some Websites. If you have a blog, then add an RSS Feed so people can subscribe to your posts.

There you have it. Great content, quality images, easy navigation, important content above the fold, capture email addresses, quick scanning, join, and the ability to share, sell, and comment.

What did I miss? Share your ideas below.

Eydie

By March 30th all Facebook Business Pages will be converted to the new Timeline. Mari Smith, the Queen of Facebook, created an informative screenshot of her Timeline. Take a look at how she breaks down the various features:

One of the features we’ll be losing will be the ability to define a custom landing pages as the default page your fans land on.  The custom tabs, however, will still be there, as well as the “like-gating”.  According to Mari, each of your apps still has its own unique URL which means that you can still drive traffic to any landing page you wish.

There are some new rules pertaining to the new Timeline Cover. The cover image (851 X 315 pixels) may not contain:

• Contact information
• Call to action
• Arrows pointing to the Like or Share buttons
• Advertising

Eydie

Have you ever wondered what the difference between a Facebook Business Page and a Business Account is?  Often, I have business owners tell me that they don’t want their Business Page associated with their Personal Profile account. Lucky for them Facebook actually gives business owners choices.  Facebook allows businesses to create a presence in two ways.

1. Create a Business Page
2. Create a Business Account

Let’s take a look at both options…

Creating a Business Page:

Using your personal profile account, you are able to create a Facebook Page for your business.  Business Pages ARE searchable and indexed by search engines.

[NOTE: Personal Profiles ARE NOT searchable!  Often, I see business owners using their Personal Profile AS their business instead of creating a Business Page. This is not effective at all if they want to be found on Google, Bing, or other search engines.]

Your Business Page allows you the opportunity to promote your business, while also offering valuable information, tips, updates and even customer service.  On your Business Page you can upload a profile banner instead of simply your logo.

In addition, you can create a custom landing page. Consider this a mini-website inside of your Business Page. Here you can add more content, images, links back to your website, a map to your location, Buy Now buttons, and even capture email addresses for your email marketing efforts.

Having a Business Page is essential to every business owner who wants to grow their business.  Use Facebook as your Page to “Like” other Pages, and commenting on them will give you more visibility.

Now, there are some people who don’t want to create a Business Page which is associated to their Personal Profile account. That’s where a Business Account comes in.

Creating a Business Account:

So, what’s the difference between a Business Page and a Business Account? Lots!

Using Facebook’s explanation, “Business accounts are designed for individuals who only want to use the site to administer Pages and their ad campaigns. For this reason, business accounts do not have the same functionality as personal accounts. Business accounts have limited access to information on the site. An individual with a business account can view all the Pages and Social Ads that they have created, however they will not be able to view the profiles (Timelines) of users on the site or other content on the site that does not live on the Pages they administer. In addition, business accounts cannot be found in search, send or receive friend requests, or create/develop apps.” 

Other limitations may include:

• Inability to link to your Twitter account
• Basic information will be limited to year founded (no address, phone number, or hours of operation)
• Lack of detailed information about your business. Limited to website, overview, mission, and products
• Inability to tag friends in photos
• Unable to get a vanity URL.

While I appreciate the rationale behind not wanting to create a Business Page through a Personal Profile account, I also don’t see a clear benefit of creating a Business Account either.

What are your thoughts about a Business Page vs. a Business Account? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Eydie

Q. I get daily requests from my Facebook friends to Like their pages. My feeling is that I would rather Like someone’s Page because it interests me and I see value in it. I don’t feel as if I should Like a Page because they want more fans. What’s your take on this? Am I being too picky? Lynn B.

A. Here’s my answer, Lynn…It’s all up to you.

According to a study done by ExactTarget.com, “A click of the ‘Like’ button means different things to different people. It creates an opportunity for further engagement, but it is merely one step toward the types of meaningful, cross-channel relationships marketers need to succeed.”

Also mentioned in the study, close to 40% of consumers Like company Pages on Facebook to publicly display to their friends that they like a particular company. In addition, people will Like certain pages to receive discounts and promotions.  Another 34% of Facebook users will Like a Page so they can stay informed about company activities. Nowhere in the study did I see that people will Like a Page for the educational value they receive. Odd, because that’s one of my main reasons for liking someone’s Page.

My feelings are that many Facebook users will Like a Page to merely show support to their friends. I, too, get requests from my Facebook friends to Like their Page. But, if I Liked everyone’s Page, then my wall would be overrun with even more status updates I really don’t care about. Let’s face it, I’m not always interested in what you post – nor are you always interested in what I post.

Personally, I prefer to Like business Pages which offer me valuable content. Am I learning something from them? Are they offering me information I can use in my business or personal life? If I Like their Page and interact regularly, will I be able to gain credibility in their eyes? Is the company using their Page for customer service? And yes, I’m always on the lookout for a free offer, coupons and promotions.

On the side of the Page owner, such as myself, many strive to build up their numbers. The larger the audience, the higher the chances are that someone will take the bait. But, are they building a quality fan base?

Myself, well I prefer quality. I would prefer that people like my Page(s) because they WANT to, and that they are gaining value from my status updates and not just because I’m building my numbers. Of course I want a large following, but not at the expense of quality.

What I often see are Page owners posting a status update saying, “I only need 20 more people to Like my Page to reach my goal of 500″.  When I see that, I see a business only interested in the numbers, and not the quality of fans. Truly interested fans will eventually buy from you. Uninterested fans won’t. Why are they wasting their time on getting uninterested people to Like their Pages? Just so they can say, “I have 2,000 fans…Look how great I am”.  I suppose that those 20 fans could be interested, but why not entice them, instead, to become fans by posting the benefits of liking the Page. How will they gain by liking your Page?

So, Lynn, if you feel strongly about NOT liking someone’s Page – then don’t. Like what you like – not what you don’t like. Would you buy something you don’t like? Nope – you wouldn’t.

Anyone want to offer a debate on this subject? I’m willing to listen and learn! Leave your opinions below.

Eydie

Q. Sounds like Pinterest is the newest and latest social networking site. Would
you be able to tell us about it and would it be a business tool? Dale S.

A. I was afraid someone would ask me about Pinterest one of these days. I’m not
using Pinterest, so I’m probably not the one to ask. However, you did. So, I’ve
done some research. Actually, I went to my daughter to explain it to me…and some help from Social Media Strand.

You’re right, Dale, Pinterest a hot social site. Much like social bookmarking sites like Digg, Stumbleupon and Delicious, Pinterest allows you to create virtual bulletin boards and then “pin” things up on them. Think of these bulletin boards as similar to your refrigerator door covered with your kid’s paintings.

You are posting things that you want to share with others, like vacation or wedding photographs, recipes, or fabric swatches of your new curtains. Post pictures of your pets, kids, shopping trips…anything at all! You create a board, give it a title and description, and your good to go.

According to Pinterest, you can pin something to your virtual bulletin board in two ways:

1. You can pin an article you find on the Internet to a virtual board that you’ve created. Keep in mind that Pinterest is image based so you’re unable to pin something that doesn’t have a picture.
2. You can browse Pinterest for more content. Check out pinboards created by other people. You can find everything from DIY to fashion
   to news and blog sites. When you find something you like hover your mouse over the image, then click to “re-pin” it.

According to the Pinterest, iPhone app description, “browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests”.

So, against my better judgment, I signed up for Pinterest. Moments after signing on via Facebook, I received a ton of emails telling me that I’m being “followed”. Like Twitter, you are able to follow people and you can follow other boards. Following a board means you are only following that specific board, and not following everything that the person has pinned.

But, can you use Pinterest for business? For the answer to that question, I went straight to Google and ran a search. This is what Social Strand Media had to say about how to use Pinterest for business:

1. You can create boards for types of products you sell.
2. Add boards for “things we love this week” or “Sale items”
3. Service providers can create boards for “Tips and Tricks”
4. Create a public board where you can get input from your customers, such as “Top picks”
5. Once Pinterest opens its doors to everyone (and no longer invitation only), consider offering a discount to just Pinterest subscribers – all they have to do is follow a specific board or like a specific pin.
6. You can also tweet your pins.
7. Add a Pin It button to your website, or specific product pages so you make it easier for others to share your products/company with others.
8. Bloggers, you can add a pin to your blog or website to allow easy sharing of your content.

Are you using Pinterest? I’d be happy to hear from you. How are you using Pinterest? What tips can you share with us? Would you like us to follow you – leave your Pinterest link below.

Eydie

Well, it’s Wednesday – and that means I’m coaching small business owners at the Orange County Institute for Women Entrepreneurs (OCIWE) in Santa Ana, California. Today is part two of our Business Blogging Bootcamp, and everyone is busily writing their first blog posts.

We’re taking a bit of a break right now so I thought I’d ask my readers a question. If you were in my class right now, what one question would you ask me about business blogging?

Ask your question in the comment box below.

Eydie

Dear Eydie,

Q. I’m ready to begin marketing my business online, but with so many options available I don’t know where to start. Do I start networking on LinkedIn? Colleagues of mine tell me I should sign up for a Twitter account first and others say Facebook is where I would make the most impact. What do you suggest? Bewildered in Banning

A. You are right Bewildered in Banning! There are many social media options from which to choose.  Yours is one of the most common questions I’m
asked.  “Where do I start?” Business owners who haven’t started marketing online, other than with their Web sites, are being told they need to get with it and begin networking and building relationships online, but no one is telling them where to start.

I’m here to tell you that, as a business owner, your starting point should be creating a business blog!

Now you are asking, “How do I network on a blog and how will a
blog work for my business?”

Well, let’s take a look at the big picture.

1. Google search engine spiders love blogs. They love the fresh, consistent content. They love the links, they love the images, and they love the engagement! Blogging is the best way to organically optimize your Website.
2. With the right keyword-rich content, a blog will attract your target clients to your website.  People who are searching the internet for your products and services will use specific keywords to find what     they are looking for. When writing your blog posts, the subject matter should be valuable and informative. Educate your readers
   about what is happening in your industry, product uses, how-to information, or anything that makes your readers see you as the expert in your field.  People love doing business with experts.
3. Blogs are interactive, so make it your home base.  By funneling your LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook connections to your blog you can continue your conversations by giving more information, more value, and helping them solve their problems. All roads should lead to your blog.      
4. Capturing email addresses on your blog will give you the opportunity to send them even more great information. Consistent email marketing will help keep you top of mind. Give your blog audience something free in exchange for their e-mail address; like an industry report or a free e-book.
5. A business blog is also a way for you to learn about your clients and potential clients. Listen to what they have to say about their needs and about how they feel about your products and services. Put on your thick skin and be ready to hear the bad comments as well as the good ones! However, take the bad and use it to make your business better.

Business blogs are here to stay and they are an ideal tool for you to use to demonstrate your expertise and increase your credibility. Someone once told me to think of it as gifting your readers with your knowledge and wisdom.  Blogging is your opportunity to capitalize on all the knowledge and skills you have accumulated over the years by teaching what you know to others who need and want information.  Help others to solve problems and overcome challenges while building relationships, loyalty and trust. Because we all know that people do business with people they know, like and trust!

Friends, please share your advice with Bewildered in Banning. Leave your thoughts in the comment box below.

Eydie