Changes

Change is inevitable. Just look at Facebook. Tee hee.

Well, I may not be Facebook but thanks to a great professional opportunity coming my way, it is likely that Simply Social Media will go by the wayside as I become a FT employee of a company with a social media division. I know! It's exciting, right?

Stand by for another week and I will share EXACTLY who it is I am going to work for and detail how I will be better able to serve clients.

Please, pass it on. And follow me @tracykuethe on Twitter.

a very basic reason to use Linked In

If you ever find yourself waiting at Starbucks for your appointment to arrive and are not sure who you are looking for...quickly pull up their Linked In profile and if you are lucky, they will have a profile picture and tada!, crisis averted!

why use LinkedIn?

As I was clicking around today on LinkedIn, this information truly struck me:

 {stats taken from my LinkedIn profile}

My 356 LinkedIn connections translate to this! Look at the reach I have if I just utilize this great tool.

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If so, is it 100% complete? Be sure to get recommendations and add a profile picture, do everything you can to make it work for you.

Please send me an invite, I'd love to meet you. View my LinkedIn profile here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tracykuethe

making connections: using your email signature effectively

Do you have a Twitter and Facebook account? Do you have a blog too? If so, share this information on every email by taking advantage of your email provider's option to include a signature. I will walk you through how to add permanent signature in Google's Gmail.

When you have your Gmail account open, in the upper right hand corner you will see this blue wheel. When you click on it, you will be given the Mail Settings option. Click that.

A page will open that accesses a TON of settings that you can tweak. Scroll down a bit and you will see the signature box, shown above. This box gives you functionality to include hotlinks, photos and much more. Choose those which will be most effective for you and your business.

Here is how my signature looks at the end of each email I send:

Tracy Kuethe, Social Media Strategist
Phone: 513.307.2303
Email: tracy.simplysocialmedia@gmail.com
Blog: http://simplysocialmedia.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/simplsoclmedia

Not only have I included all of the links I determine to be important, but I use bold type for my name and title. Make it easy for your customers and potential clients to contact you...through any channel they choose.

Do you have a custom email signature? 

conducting a poll on your facebook page

You might ask: why would I do that? OR what kind of question do I ask?

You want your customers to interact on your page. And although you are promoting your business, the premise of Facebook is truly to be social. So instead of trying to do true research, it seems more acceptable and well received to ask questions such as: have your kids returned back to school yet and the give three options:
YES
NO
CHILD FREE.

If this poll engages your Facebook page fans they may stick around and click around on your Facebook Wall, or better yet, click through to your website.

This is a snapshot taken from Local 12's Facebook page.  This pool resulted in over 400 interactions and a handful of comments. My educated guess is that is many more visits and responses than a typical day.

One word of caution. Be sure to UNCHECK the box that says: Allow anyone to add options. Pizza Hut recently had a run in with a jokester which subjected them to some bad press until it was resolved. Save yourself the embarrassment by learning from their mistake.

Do you do polls/questions on your page? What questions have been most provoking? Please share in the comments.

facebook landing pages

If you are not yet a fan of a Facebook business page, often times you are greeted with a specialized message that is designed to really catch your attention. Here is an example from the Cincinnati Reds:

Another tactic is to offer first time Facebook visitors a special incentive. The Montgomery Inn offers a $10 discount, click the link to view and find out how to get your discount.

The "landing page" is a great place to make a great first impression. The Boomer Esiason Foundation does just that with theirs:

Have you noticed a particularly good campaign or business page on Facebook? Please share it in the comments. Also, if you are a business seeking help to develop a landing page or custom profile picture, please contact me for a consultation and price quote. Small businesses are my specialty!

Welcome to my newest client: Dare To Dance

Today I can officially announce that Simply Social Media has signed a new client, Dare To Dance.

Dare To Dance is a fabulous dance studio located in Blue Ash. In their own words:


Conveniently located in the heart of Blue Ash, Dare to Dance has one goal in mind: offering the best Cincinnati dance experience possible, at affordable prices. It is a place where everyone can learn to dance, relieve daily stress, and improve their self-confidence in a social and relaxed atmosphere. No matter your level of dance knowledge; from beginner to advanced, Dare To Dance offers something for everyone and for every budget.

I can personally attest to the fact that Marco and Connie are a joy to work with. Look for frequent updates and slight changes on their Facebook page and also the introduction of an email newsletter. Your first class is always free at Dare To Dance so if you have an interest in ballroom, Zumba or learning a new dance for your upcoming wedding day, please visit the Dare To Dance Facebook Page and LIKE them. 

Would you like help in the areas of Facebook, Twitter or email database management? Contact me for a consultation.