Something Smells a Little Fishy…

This is the story of Libbie (short for Liberation) the Lobster.  One day as Libbie was chilling in the lobster tank of a local supermarket in Florida a woman walked up to her.  She’d been told about Libbie and that because of her genetic makeup causing her shell color to be a bright golden orange color, she was a 1 in 30 million lobster. Wow, thought the woman, this is one special lobster. And so began her crusade to save Libbie. The woman had only days earlier attended a “How to Facebook” presentation. Armed with her new found confidence and understanding of how Facebook works, she posted a simple post asking for help from her Facebook friends. Que the magic.   As friends began engaging, the woman was quick to address each one whether like, share, or comment.  Through this engagement, the post was kept alive. So alive that in a mere 24 hours local news stations had picked up the story. The ball was rolling now! At 36 hrs the like, share, comment engagement continued as the story spread all over the country. It was being broadcast on news stations (CNN, Fox News, CBS,)  in Oregon and other cities on the west coast. The Huffington Post and other internet media sources got on board and soon reports were coming in that Libbie had made news over in Germany. Now International! Libbie was safely packed and shipped to a wonderful facility, The Seacoast Science Center in Rye New Hampshire. The woman that started this campaign is a writer and plans for a children’s book are underway. One simple post can change everything.

The point?  ENGAGEMENT. That’s the secret! When you are using Facebook and really want your message to be seen by the masses, it must be something people find interesting. Worded in a way to spark conversation. Once engagement happens, respond. Keep the conversation going and watch the magic happen for you!

 

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Social Media is…Social

 

 

 

 

 

You know those radio adverts that feature SHOUTING ANNOUNCERS speaking far too quickly to possibly be understood? Yeah, we call that advertising (or, to be more precise, broadcast advertising) and it absolutely should not happen on Facebook. I’m not saying that you can’t post photos of your products or announcements about sales or deals, but it needs to be done in a way that makes your posts feel like interesting stories with which your following actively wants to engage. The goal of a Facebook business page is to create a community, and to do that you have to give that community content they’re actually looking for. That could mean anything from expert how-to posts to funny videos of customers using your product in the field to games, apps, contests — you name it.

And when you do post something that’s an ad at its core — like, say, details about your newest product — make it casual and fun. Your fans are much more likely to comment on a photo that provides a fascinating VIP glimpse into the production process.

With over 750 million users globally on Facebook, Facebook marketing is a popular way to reach a wider target audience. Since Facebook marketing is totally different from any other type of marketing previously done on the Internet, it is important to learn how to use Facebook properly for business. Otherwise, it will cost you money, time and effort.

Tip #1: Keep it Social Before Selling

With the thought of millions of customers in short reach through Facebook, many businesses make the common mistake of pitching their product or service directly to the users.

The most crucial factor to remember is that people on Facebook are there primarily to socialize with other users. They are not primarily there to shop and purchase products. If you attempt to sell directly or hard sell to members of Facebook, you will not be successful.

However, if your business is serious about using Facebook as a tool to market your product or service, the first step is to create a Business/Fan page on Facebook and invite people to like the page. Use this page to create buzz around what your business has to offer. Your product or service should offer solutions to your target audience.

The next step is to post value driven content to the people on your page. You can post pictures, videos and other commentary that provides some kind of benefit to your target audience and fans. Urge your fans to take action by posting comments and queries pertaining to your post. The key here is to get them to engage with your page, and develop relationships with them. Since Facebook is an online platform where people go to socialize, ensure that it is an exciting experience for them to go to your page.

Tip #2: Increase Your LIKES or Fans

Why is it desirable for your business for people to click LIKE on your page? Every time you put fresh information on your page, each person who LIKED your page will see the post on their news feed.

Therefore, if two thousand people LIKED your Facebook page, there is a potential of up to two thousand people to see your post, and potentially create a viral effect. Jonas Swain for Bnetworking

 

What is Branding?

The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.

Therefore it makes sense to understand that branding is not about getting your target market to choose you over the competition, but it is about getting your prospects to see you as the only one that provides a solution to their problem.

 

Marketing is what you do, branding is what you are.

 

The foundation of your brand is your logo. Your website, packaging and promotional materials–all of which should integrate your logo–communicate your brand. There is perhaps no single element more important to your brand standards than the consistent use of your logo. Placement and sizing should remain consistent within each communication vehicle (e.g., letterhead, brochures, postcards, etc.)