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What’s Said on Facebook Can Be At the Root of Unfriending

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin1

Election season is upon us and during this time political discussions heat up. I met with a networking group this morning and the topic of Facebook came up. Business owners are concerned that the opinions they post on their personal profile may affect not only their friends’ but their customers’ perception of them too.

They should be worried! A new study by Pew Internet & American Life Project made headlines in the Global Post, on March 14, 2012, revealed that 10% of people unfriend on Facebook due to contrary political beliefs.

So how can business people handle Facebook comments so they don’t offend or cause unfriending?

Choose One- Profile or Business Page? Facebook is all about boundaries starting with who you “friend” and where – on your personal profile or on your business page. It’s important to decide how you want to “friend” business associates and some experts say its’ safer to connect with these contacts on your business page. If you think this doesn’t work, you need to check out Elmer Laydon on Facebook who has 1600+ followers on his personal page (he only friends people he knows) and more than 300,000 followers on his business page The Whisper of God.

Set Your Boundaries. Some people can’t decide, so allow anyone who “Likes” them on Facebook to be their “friend.” However, if you don’t want business associates who are “friends” to see political or religious discussions on Facebook, then click the public link below your post and select which group of “friends” will see your post. Yes, before you can do that you need to view each of your friends’ profiles, click the link button, and commit each person to a friends’ list.

Set Your Limits. It’s funny how sensitive conversations about politics, religion, sex, etc. fare better than a curt remark on Facebook. Like email, Facebook doesn’t fully express the tone of the content and sometimes context is lost for the reader. That’s why having limits to what you post is a smart idea. If you’re concerned about how the comment will be “read”, then don’t say it. Remember too what you say has a very wide audience– when you comment on someone else’s post or photo, your “friends” and all their “friends” will see what you wrote.

Regardless of your political views, Faecbook is a savvy way to expand your business’s web audience. Call me if you want Facebook to work in harmony with your website or blog marketing.

Posted in facebook | Tagged , |

Get Your Website Smart Phone and Tablet Ready!

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Vanessa Wood

Can People View Your Website via Smart Phones or Tablets?
How Does Your Website Look on a Smart Phone or Tablet?

“Timothy D. Cook, said the iPad last quarter outsold the number of personal computers sold by any individual manufacturer.”
NY Times, March 7, 2012

Announcing the release of the iPad 3 on March 7th, caused us to look back on one of our most read posts from our blog, “Is Your Website Smart Phone Friendly?” It’s hard to believe that the iPad was introduced to consumers in January 2010. Sales have been out-of-the-ballpark as well of sales of other brands of tablets like the Kindle Fire and Nook.  How well your website performs on a smart phone is also true for the slick and wildly popular new tablets.

The tide has changed in how people view the internet. The business world and home usage has been populated by the desktop personal computer, up until very recently. Desk top computers were relied upon to surf the Internet and view websites. When a computer died or aged out, it was replaced with another desk top. When a new innovation was released (like the latest version of Windows), users would flock to buy a new computer.

However, and this is a huge turn of events: Forrester Research forecasts that desktop computers will only be 20% of computer sales by 2015.

We suspect that change will be greater and faster, as that’s the way of the technology sales and conversion. Now, here’s why this matters to you and your website: What do smart phone and tablet users see when they visit your website?

Now more than ever, it’s essential to look at your website on your own phone or tablet – borrow a friend’s if you have to. You want to make sure that the important elements can be readily viewed and accessed.

This is our “one-two punch” to keep hand-held users engaged on your website, improve your website and the mobile device experience.

Text Phone Number

Open up your website online (on your PC or Mac is OK). Mouse over your phone number. If you can highlight one number at a time, then you can be sure it is “text”. If the whole number highlights or a larger area highlights, then it’s likely your phone number has been created as an image. Phone users rely on text phone numbers because they can simply click or touch the number to dial it. Wouldn’t you like customers to be able to easily call you? They cannot do this if your phone number is a graphic image.

Flash Dead Zone

Handhelds cannot display “Flash” software. Neither does the iPhone or it’s big brother, the iPad, No Flash. If your website uses Flash, all these users see is “a dead zone”, an empty box with nothing in it! I worked with a client last year whose entire website was developed in flash. It’s turns into a white page on a white background without having Flash. Even the navigation menu is in the Flash file. Phone users see it as a white screen with no links to go to any of the secondary web pages. That won’t help you get any new business!

Your successful Internet Marketing begins with being seen online… on desktop computers and now more than ever, on smart phones and tablets!

Is your site ready? Call Ronnie at Mac And cheese Web Marketing (203-877-3777) to ensure your website can be seen on all hand-held devices like the smart Phone and tablets and don’t lose potential business.

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Just For Jewelers: Visuals Sell! Use Images for Greater Impact and Sales Online

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Vanessa Wood

Who said “A picture is worth a thousand words?” I’m sure it was a wise internet marketer!  Words draw people into a website, after all text is the meat and potatoes of search engines. However, it’s what people see that will keep them on your site, pique interest in products, and familiarize them with your independent jewelry store.

Opt for Quality.  We’ve all seen websites where it’s obvious that a storefront was photographed with someone’s low-resolution phone camera. We’ve also seen product that is blurry or photographed at an angle that doesn’t fully show the design.  One of my pet peeves are people, interiors, and products photographed without proper lighting so shadows make them look foreboding or ominous. When using images, it pays to use high quality commercial photography provided either from your supplier or by hiring a freelance photographer.

Show Your Best. Your best may not be the most expensive piece in your store. Your best may not be something you’ve personally designed. Your best should always be the style and quality that represents the selection in your store.  For example, if you’re a silversmith who has made a couple of 14k gold pieces— these are probably not the best representations of your work. Or if you specialize in luxury watches, photos of earrings will only dilute your product line.

Post, Post, Post.  Photos of products don’t just live on websites anymore! Post a photo whenever there’s an opportunity.  If your local Chamber of Commerce is holding a town-wide event, post a photo of your product or store on the Chamber’s Facebook page. When you claim your location in an online business directory… post a photo(s).  When updating your own Facebook page post photos… they’ll show up in the band of photos at the top of your page, to keep the page looking refreshed. There are dozens of opportunities to post photos online, so fire up your computer and get ready to post.

Ask for Photos. It never hurts to ask for a photo opportunity because you can get a wonderful testament to your independent jewelry store and product. Why not ask to take a photo in your store when an engagement ring is purchased? Ask customers to post photos of their purchase gift wrapped, or when it’s opened, or on their wedding day.  If you sell religious jewelry, ask people to post their Bar Mitzvah or First Communion photos. Don’t miss out on making your customers part of the sharing online… just ask!

Tell A Story. Throughout the year you’ll be involved in events that can’t be described in just one photo, but call out for a series of photos or a video.  These are occasions when you can loosen up and use your digital camera or phone to take a series of pictures. Goldsmiths who are commissioned to make a custom piece of jewelry can photograph the process. Gem dealers who make special trips to acquire unique stones can photo the highlights of the trip. A designer jewelry trunk show becomes a story.  A Chamber event hosted in your store. There are probably several events that you take for granted, but would be of interest to your customers.

Engage your customers and prospects with photos. Share the fun and people will look forward to more! Want more? Click here to get Rare Gems: 5 Hot Web Marketing Tips Just for Jewelers. It’s our gift to you during Just for Jewelers Week.

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