‘Facebook’ Archives
Author: The Ibis Network Published: May 22nd, 2013
Many companies are striving to acquire more “Likes” for their Facebook
business pages and may have difficulty finding success. The more “Likes”
your page gets the better the odds that your page will be seen and
visited by your targeted audience while optimizing your exposure to
prospective clients in your extended network. Below are 5 helpful ways
you can increase your Facebook “Likes”, grow your fan base, and build a
powerful social-media marketing strategy.
1. Incorporate The “Like” Button On Your Company’s Website- This will
help your online visitors easily find your Facebook page and, in turn,
increase the chances of them “Liking” your company’s Facebook page.
2. Utilize Your Email Signature- Add an icon in your email signature
that will alert contacts to your Facebook page when they receive an
email from you. This is a simple and effective way to share your
business page with established and prospective clients.
3. Offer Incentives- Running promotions is an excellent way to gain more
“Likes” on your page. For example, those who “Like” your page will be
entered into a raffle or contest. This is a proven method to build your
fan base.
4. Stay Engaged And Interact – Give your fans a way to express their
opinions. Be sure to reply to posts made by your fans and stay active on
your page so people will see your company as a reliable source. Use the Facebook “poll” feature as a way to get users to engage and
submit their opinions, and to show that you really are interested in
hearing what they think.
5. Add A Link To Your Facebook Page On Your Blog- Blogs are becoming
more and more popular among businesses as a quick way to keep clients
informed and up-to-date on industry news and company events. A daily
blog presence also serves to build your reputation as an expert in your
network. Additionally, blogs can help drive visitors to your Facebook
page and your company website.
For daily social-media tips, visit our Facebook page: here
Tags: Audience, Blogs, Business Page, Business Pages, Drive Visitors, Email Alert, Email Icon, Email Signature, Extended Network, Facebook, Fan Base, Incentives, Industry News, Marketing Strategy, Media Marketing, Odds, Poll, Presence, Promotions, Prospective Clients, Raffle, Reputation
Category Facebook, Marketing, Networking Strategy, Social Media |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: April 29th, 2013
Facebook can be a fairly simple network to navigate through when promoting your business. Though, there are a few common mistakes business owners make. When you launch a Facebook marketing plan, planning ahead to develop a strategy is crucial to your success. Consistency is key. Listed below are the 4 most common Facebook mistakes made by marketers today:
Mistake #1. Losing Steam: Many businesses who create a new Facebook page in order to promote their company are enthusiastic and optimistic when the page is first launched, but as time passes, they tend to place less importance on the page, and in return, lose steady traffic and potential customers. In this case “build it and they will come” does not quite ring true. You should utilize Facebook every single day as part of your marketing strategy. Posting 1-5 times daily is generally regarded to be the optimal amount to keep your audience interested and your page active. Keep in mind, however, that over-posting could be equally as damaging (see below). Users should also update cover pictures, timeline banners and information often to keep the page up-to-date and fresh. Remember that this is a very linear process, and expecting immediate gratification will only set you up for disappointment. With a strong effort, you should begin to see significant traffic and development around the 90 day mark.
Mistake #2. Posting Too Often/Shameless Self-Promotion: Make sure your content is interesting, engaging, and interactive. Hold contests here and there. This may be counter-intuitive, but constant self promotion will get you nowhere fast. Naturally you are there to expand your business community and build your brand; that is best achieved through interesting, engaging and interactive posts, peppered with a little personal promotion. Hold contests here and there. If your audience is seeing the same posts all day every day, your “Likes” and traffic will surely suffer for it. Make sure to spread out your posts, and try to include some images. Keep in mind, you don’t just want them to come, you want them to come back.
Mistake #3. Not Responding To Users: You must respond to every single post made on your Facebook page. Many companies do not bother to take the time to read what their audience is saying. Correspondence from your audience is vitally important to your business, and by responding to posts and messages, you are relaying the message that you care about their opinions. This will encourage your audience to continue to be active on your page.
Mistake #4. Constant Re-Branding: When you are building your brand you want to make sure that it is recognizable to your audience. If you constantly switch your logo, colors or format for each social media platform you use, you will only create brand confusion. Businesses should be sure that all of their network brands such as color schemes, photos, fonts, background variations and wording all match so it will be clear to the consumer or visitor that all the platforms are connected to the same company.
For daily social-media tips, visit our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TheIbisNetwork
Tags: Audience, Business Community, Business Owners, Consistency, Contests, Disappointment, Immediate Gratification, Launch Plan, Marketing Plan, Marketing Planning, Marketing Strategy, Mistake, Mistakes Made By Marketers, Personal Promotion, Promoting Your Business, Self Promotion, Single Day, Steady Traffic, Steam
Category Facebook, Marketing, Networking Strategy, Social Media |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: April 10th, 2013
Integrating a Facebook fan page into your marketing campaign can be incredibly beneficial in building your brand while attracting more traffic to your website. Facebook fan pages were specifically designed for businesses and model-individuals to share information, build their brands, and gain “fans”. Below are 4 ways you can utilize Facebook fan pages to get the most from the feature and help your Facebook marketing strategy.
1.) Keep It Fresh: By adding new information daily you are keeping your fans interested and providing them with reasons to visit your page frequently. You can also take advantage of widgets to link your Twitter feed, Flickr account or YouTube channel directly to your Facebook page to automatically post photos and videos.
2.) Interact with your fans and visitors: It is always a smart decision to interact with your audience, but you may have to make the first move. Posting questions or polls are easy ways to get your audience involved. You should post a variety of open and closed questions in hopes of reaching a larger audience.
3.) Promotional Contest: Adding contests to your Facebook page is an excellent way to add value to your page while offering an incentive. Offer your fans something they can’t get anywhere else, and they will continue to visit your page to see what else you may have to offer.
4.) Measure Your Success: Facebook Fan Pages offer a vital feature called Facebook Insights. This tool allows you to measure your page’s growth and interaction. Insights provides you with information such as the amount of “Likes” you are receiving and how much time your audience is spending on your page. By checking your measurements, you can see what tactics may or may not be working for your audience and then act accordingly.
For daily social-media tips, visit our Facebook page here
Tags: Audience, Contests, Facebook, Fan Page, Fan Pages, First Move, Insights, Interaction, Marketing Campaign, Marketing Strategy, Measurements, Open And Closed Questions, Polls, Promotional Contest, Smart Decision, Success, Tool, Traffic Website, Vital Feature, Widgets
Category Facebook, Marketing, Networking Strategy, Social Media |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: February 21st, 2013
Facebook has quickly become one of the best ways to promote a business, as it is the leading social-media marketing tool available. Facebook provides the potential to drive brand awareness to an unlimited number of readers. As Facebook grows, businesses continue to join the new environment in hopes of expanding their marketing strategy. Without proper knowledge of how to operate the premier social-media outlet, you can dig yourself into a hole by making mistakes in front of an audience. Below are four of the most common mistakes new Facebook marketers make and advice on how to avoid them to achieve a successful Facebook marketing campaign.
Not Providing An Adequate Amount Of Information: When people visit your Facebook page they want information. When there is not a name, location, etc., on your page, visitors will quickly move along. You must provide as much information about your business as possible. Add your logo to drive brand awareness, provide your name, telephone number, location and what you can do for your Facebook friend or guest. Adding specific or unique content will also help increase your Facebook marketing strategy.
Underestimating Time: Many new Facebook marketers underestimate the amount of time needed to create and maintain a successful Facebook marketing strategy. Setting-up a page and leaving it barren will get you nowhere. You need to update your page daily with current and captivating information. Set some time aside to develop a plan to avoid frustration. Planning time to post, comment, or check your progress will help your strategy operate smoothly.
Not Being Familiar With Facebook Tools: Taking advantage of the free tools Facebook has to offer is half the fun when marketing on the site. If you explore the available functions Facebook offers, you will be able to better your entire marketing campaign. Business owners that are new to Facebook tend to be in a hurry to get information out to the public, but taking only 10 minutes to play around with the platform could optimize and build your online brand experience.
Excessive Posting: Keeping your friends updated and engaged is the best way to manage your Facebook page, but excessive posting will become annoying. Be sure you are changing-up your information and you avoid posting the same thing over and over daily. People want to see current news you have to offer. It is safe to post new information 3-5 times daily. If you really want to highlight a promotion or new deal, consider changing the information within the post, this way people will not be reading the same information multiple times each day. Try to avoid solicitation.
For daily social-media tips, visit our Facebook page here
Tags: Amount Of Time, Audience, Brand Awareness, Business Owners, Campaign Business, Facebook, Free Tools, Frustration, Half The Fun, Hurry, Marketers, Marketing Campaign, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Tool, Media Marketing, Number Location, Page Visitors, People, Proper Knowledge, Telephone Number
Category Facebook, Marketing, Networking Strategy, Social Media |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: January 23rd, 2013
Last week, from their Menlo Park campus, Facebook announced an improvement to the popular social networking site that grabbed the media’s attention. The new feature called “Graph Search” allows you to draw connections between you and your Facebook network to find trusted recommendations to restaurants, places, events, businesses, and professionals from a specific industry (e.g. doctors, lawyers, etc.). The new Facebook feature is comparable to search engines like Google and Bing, but instead of having to search through one of the aforementioned popular search engines, you can simply search within Facebook for something to do, which business to use, or where to eat, through the collective wisdom and experience of your network. Below are three tips on how to start preparing for the release of Graph Search, as Graph Search is in “very limited” beta testing and not widely available. Facebook users who want to try the new search tool can join a waiting list, and Facebook will alert you when the service comes available. You can sign-up for the waiting list here: http://www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch
1.) Launch Your Strategy: Make a strong effort to build a following among your audience, Graph Search will eventually change how people discover your business. Your success will depend on how popular your business Facebook page is now, and how popular it becomes in the future.
2.) Add Data: Add as much information about you or your business as your profile allows. If Facebook users don’t add an increasing amount of data to their page, they will not reach the full potential for attracting attention from their network. Be sure to update your page fully by adding as much information possible such as your name, location, and URLs. Be sure to fill out the About section on the page in its entirety. All of these basic steps will contribute substantially to you or your business showing up in searches performed by other members.
3.) Give Your Followers A Reason To Interact With You: Update frequently and provide valuable and compelling information. Graph Search should prove to be a valuable tool to attract more traffic, new connections, and “Likes” on your page.
Invest some time in exploring the potential of Graph Search and the reward could be immensely beneficial. Failing to invest the time may result in your competitors having a serious marketing advantage over you.
For daily social-media tips, visit our Facebook page regularly: http://www.facebook.com/TheIbisNetwork
Tags: Audience, Beta Testing, Collective Wisdom, Doctors, Facebook, Followers, Google, Graph Search, Lawyers, Menlo, Menlo Park, Menlo Park Campus, New Feature, Popular Search Engines, Profile, Restaurants, Search Google, Search Tool, Social Networking Site, Waiting List
Category Facebook, Marketing, Networking Strategy, Social Media |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: December 19th, 2012
Facebook was originally created for college-age adults as a tool to help while school was in session. Now, Facebook is not only for college students but is literally for everyone. Businesses lately have been opening their doors to more and more social-media networks. The most popular being Facebook, and more specifically Facebook fan pages; after all, Facebook is still the leading social-media network with over 800 million users. The number-one way you can have a successful Facebook fan page is to look reputable to your online fans. Here are some easy tips to help your Facebook fan page look more reputable:
Choose A Professional Name For Your Facebook Fan Page: This may seem obvious but choosing a professional, well thought-out Facebook fan page name is essential. The main thing to remember is to keep it simple. Stuffing the name with a ton of adjectives and keywords will potentially hurt your viral growth rate and make you seem unorganized, and let’s face it, unprofessional. Sounding generic is something to avoid, as well. Sounding generic can make your existing fans cautious and less likely to become engaged on your fan page. Another reason why you should avoid sounding generic is that Facebook can actually take away your ability to post or interact on your page if you look suspicious or fake.
Upload An Impressive Cover Image: Your cover image should be just as professional as your name. For example, a nice professional picture of you, your business or your co-workers is fine. Remember to keep it authentic. A picture you grabbed off of Google will probably not do the trick. People also tend to get tired of things very fast in the social-media world. Updating your cover image once a month will keep fans interested and will make your page look more attractive and fresh.
Explain Yourself: In your Facebook fan-page edit box, there is an area designated for you to explain your website. It is crucial to take the time to explain yourself or your company to your fans. A short summary will suffice while giving them a sense of familiarity. You can potentially build a bond with your fans this way, and they will be more likely to trust what you are doing and who you are. You should also add a link to your website. The link can be used as a back-up source to show you are a reputable business or individual and can also be used to drive more traffic to your website.
Give Contact Information: To optimize your Facebook fan page for local searches, it is highly important to include your address, city, state, and zip. An increasing amount of people are turning to social media for answers, and this is an easy way of providing your fans with contact information fast. Another benefit is that Google places a higher importance on Facebook fan pages with specific information, such as your business’s phone number and address. This tip can effectively improve your over-all population awareness and your brand.
In addition, your website logo should be somewhere on the Cover of your Facebook fan page or used as your profile picture to preserve and optimize your reputability.
For daily social-media tips, “Like” us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheIbisNetwork
Tags: Adjectives, Age Adults, Co Workers, College Students, Facebook, Fan Page, Fan Pages, Fans, Google, Interact, Look Attractive, Media Networks, Nice Picture, Opening Doors, Page Nbsp, People, Professional Name, Reason, Tool, Viral Growth
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: September 26th, 2012
It may be easy to convince yourself that you don’t need a Facebook page for your business. After all, you’ve gone this long without one. But if you’re interested in building your business and connecting with potential clients in your community, not having a Facebook page puts you at a disadvantage. As evidence, we compiled the following three reasons your business would benefit from having a presence on social media’s most popular site.
Reach: Okay, we’ve said this before but … The top reason you need a Facebook page is the number of people who check in with the social-media giant every day. Facebook is hugely popular and the most visited website in the country. That means, a Facebook page provides you with a platform to reach out to the millions of members who keep on top of their status updates, fans, friends, and followers. The trick, of course, is finding the right audience. Which is why the first goal should be to connect with people in your region and industry. The Internet may be a vast resource able to connect with people half way across the globe, but your goal should be to build a community of locals who may be in the market for your particular services.
Connectivity: In the ever-changing world of social media, Facebook may seem like old hat. But, though it’s no longer the newest or latest craze, it does have the benefit of already having established itself. And by “established itself,” we mean it’s inescapable. That means, Facebook allows you to connect with and link to just about anything you’d ever need, including your blog, Twitter profile, and an impressive list of applications to further increase the functionality of your page. If you can think of something you’d like to do with your page, there is likely a way to make it happen.
Competition: Not having a Facebook page for your business puts you behind the times – and your competitors. It may be a case of “everybody else is doing it,” but it’s true. The more ways you have to explain, educate, and engage potential clients, the better. So, in an increasingly technologically connected world, you can’t afford to be the only business in town that’s trying to connect with customers using 20th-century tools.
Tags: Articles, Audience, Blog, Facebook, Fan Page, Followers, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Friends, Functionality, Globe, Internet Resource, Josh Millar, Latest Craze, Loan Originators, Locals, Marketing, Marketing Tools, Media Giant, Members, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Networking, Networking Strategy, Networking Suite, Old Hat, Presence, Reason, Social Media, Status Updates, The Ibis Network, Tips
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: June 20th, 2012
If there were a shopping plaza that had 900 million regular customers, you’d be among the thousands of businesses clamoring for a storefront on the property. After all, the chance to offer your services to that many people at once would make closing new business almost a mathematical certainty. Chances are there are a handful among those 900 million that are looking for exactly what you’re offering. This is the thought behind social-media marketing and, specifically, marketing on Facebook. Sure, naysayers will tell you it’s a waste of your time and won’t develop anything other than a penchant for procrastination. But with that many potential customers within reach, it’d be crazy not to give it a try.
Here are some thoughts on social-media marketing on Facebook …
Focus on the Goal: Everyone wants other people to like them. It’s human nature and the reason behind Facebook’s ever-expanding popularity. But just because there are 900 million members on Facebook, doesn’t mean you have to make friends with each and every one of them. Focusing on the goal means focusing on business. You’re reading this because you’d like to find new ways to drum up business and make money, not because you need more online friends. Use your fan page to target opportunities and potential clients in your industry and region, not to boost your self-esteem and build your virtual ego. Keep it straight and professional. Making a connection with three people in your area will do more for your bottom line than racking up big numbers of out-of-state admirers.
Avoid Sloppy Mistakes: Fill out your page. Don’t leave it blank. We’ve said it before and we’ll likely say it again. Nothing makes you look more uncertain, unprofessional, and unattractive than a half-filled out fan page without a picture or logo. Keep your info fresh, sharp, and easy to digest. While you’re at it, make sure anything you post is short and easy to read too. Include pictures and stick to a somewhat regular schedule. In short, don’t keep ‘em guessing. Avoiding sloppy mistakes means paying attention to detail. And details often make the difference between success and being totally ignored.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help: One of the great things about social media is that it’s like math. It’s not so much the equation, as it is the answer. There are multiple ways to gain a business advantage on Facebook and other social-media sites. For example, it’s great to share your knowledge and build your reputation but Facebook can also be a tool for learning. So if you’re stumped or curious, ask someone. Sometimes posting a question about something related to your business or your clients’ interests can be an excellent way of, not only starting a dialogue, but learning something from your online fans and followers. Listen closely to their answers and you may discover a trick or two that leads you to new business.
Tags: Admirers, Articles, Audience, Big Numbers, Bottom Line, Ego, Facebook, Fan Page, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Handful, Human Nature, Josh Millar, Loan Originators, Marketing, Marketing Tools, Mathematical Certainty, Media Marketing, Mortgage Marketing, Naysayers, Networking, Networking Strategy, New Business, New Ways, Page Don, Penchant, Popularity, Procrastination, Professional Networking Suite, Realtor Marketing, Realtors, Self Esteem, Storefront, The Ibis Network, Three Steps, Tips
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: March 28th, 2012
Facebook is hard to escape. At this point, it may take more effort to stay off Facebook than it does to just sign up and give it a whirl. Its growing influence and reach means, not only is it difficult to avoid, it’s increasingly misguided to even try. By which we mean, it’s the website Americans spend most of their online time visiting and, therefore, businesses should be eager to get in front of Facebook’s continually expanding membership. Why not? Setting up a fan page is a relatively painless process and will instantly give you access to a database of local people, professionals, businesses and organizations with whom you can share your content, contact info, and connections. To help make it easier to get on board and begin taking advantage of the social-media giant, here are some of our past tips, hints, and suggestions carefully compiled in one place with links to source materials and further resources …
Give It A Proper Name: Sure, it seems easy enough but choosing a smart name might mean something entirely different to you than it does to a search engine. The best name to use, if you’d like to be found more often in searches, is the exact name of your business. Using clever phrases or your web domain may seem like a good way to separate yourself from Facebook’s 500 million active users, but more often than not it’ll make you less likely to be found by the very people you’re trying to attract.
Invite Your Friends, Contacts, And Clients: You can’t attract people to your page without first letting them know it’s there. Invite everyone on your contact list to become a fan of your page. Then add a “Become a Fan” button to your website or blog and watch your visibility grow.
Use Apps: Though you may think your job is done once you’ve got your contact and business info up, you’re not. Facebook offers a multitude of resources and applications that can make your page, not only more dynamic, but more functional and interesting to visitors. Have a glance through the available applications and choose those that seem to fit your business and audience. For example, there are many options to link your fan page to your other social-media sites and blog. If you’re keeping a business blog, kill two birds with one update and have your blog post automatically sent to your Facebook page.
Encourage Participation: Try to view your fan page the way a potential client or curious web browser would. Having a page that is interactive, updated regularly, and offers interesting info and ideas will keep people visiting and once they are, more accepting of any directly promotional materials you post. If you set up a fan page and only update it with messages urging visitors to buy, buy, buy, you’ll likely have, not only bored them, but assured that they won’t return. As always, communication and relationships are the key to a successful social-media campaign. Restrain your urge to advertise and, in time, you’ll reap the benefits of your efforts.
Advertise: Facebook offers an advertising platform that allows you to buy a simple ad that you can target by location, age, or interests. That means, your ad appears before exactly the audience you want to attract. It’s not free, but if you’re serious about building your fan page, it’s a good way to start adding fans outside of your regular everyday reach.
Tags: Business Info, Clever Phrases, Contact Info, Contact List, Contacts, Exact Name, Facebook, Fan Page, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Friends, Further Resources, Job, Josh Millar, LinkedIn, Loan Originators, Marketing, Marketing Tools, Media Giant, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Multitude, Networking, Networking Strategy, Page Nbsp, People, S 500, Search Engine, Social Media, Social Networking, Source Materials, The Ibis Network, Web Domain, Website Visibility
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: January 17th, 2012
Here’s the thing … Telling yourself that Facebook is child’s play and there’s no way you could benefit from setting up a fan page isn’t going to build your business or attract any new clients. In fact, businesses both big and small are finding new ways to generate leads and potential business through social media. Of course, some are more successful than others but all of them will see more success than they would if they just did nothing at all.
Here’s the what, why, and how of setting up a Facebook fan page for your business …
The What: This is the easiest part to explain. A Facebook fan page is similar to a regular Facebook page but rather than updating your friends and family on your whereabouts and personal life, you’ll be sharing information about your business and communicating with a network of potential clients and existing customers. Sure, you’ll need to build that network first but with a bit of effort and creativity, you’ll find there’s a good reason so many companies feel it’s important to be represented on Facebook.
The Why: The short answer is there are 250 million users logging into Facebook each day and it’s the website Americans spend most of their time visiting when they’re online. In other words, your business should be represented on Facebook because everyone is on Facebook and, in order to build business, you need to go where the people are. Fortunately, having a Facebook fan page also means better search-engine results as well. That means, not only will you be able to capitalize on the millions of users already on Facebook but you’ll also be more easily found through search-engines such as Google and Bing.
The How: This is where it gets more difficult. Unfortunately, you won’t have much success if you register a page and then don’t ever update it, login, or fill out the appropriate information. So here are some quick tips. Once you’ve got a page registered and filled out all of your business info, have a look through the available applications to get an idea of the ways you can maximize your fan page. Using the provided apps is easier than ever and can, for example, import your blog posts, set up additional tags for reviews, polls, and contests, in addition to helping facilitate contact between you and any potential clients that stumbled across your page. Also, take advantage of the available badges to place a link to your new fan page on any other online properties you have. The more you advertise your site, the more visitors you’ll have. And be sure to use Facebook as your fan page. In other words, log in as your business and “like” other pages, make comments, and participate in the online community. It’s a great way of spreading the word and getting your name out.
Tags: Articles, Business Info, Child Play, Child S Play, Creativity, Existing Customers, Facebook, Fan Page, Fan Pages, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Friends And Family, Good Reason, Google, Josh Millar, Leads, Loan Originators, Logging, Marketing, Marketing Tools, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Networking, Networking Strategy, New Ways, People, Personal Life, Realtor Marketing, Register, Search Engine Results, Search Engines, SEO, Short Answer, Social Media, Social Networking, The Ibis Network, Tips
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: October 26th, 2011
Pretend your Facebook fan page is your house. Now how inviting a home would it be if you didn’t have furniture, appliances, heat, plumbing, etc.? The answer is not very. It may look nice enough from the outside but you certainly wouldn’t have many guests if, for example, they were expected to bring their own seating, water, and heat source. The same principle applies to your Facebook fan page. In order to attract visitors and keep them long enough to get them to like your page, become a fan, or contact you, you’ll need to take advantage of any available apps and tools that add function, make it easier for you to maintain your page, and – most importantly – attracts visitors and potential business.
Here are some applications to help your business take full advantage of its Facebook fan page …
RSS Graffiti: Visitors to your Facebook page will need something to look at beyond your address and phone number. That means content. RSS Graffiti greatly reduces the stress of coming up with content to share on each of your social-media accounts by automatically sending your posts and tweets to your Facebook fan page. Easy to set up and free, RSS Graffiti can be used with any website or social application that has an RSS/Atom feed.
Schedulicity: Unfortunately this app will cost you a monthly fee but for less than $1 a day it adds a tab to your fan page that allows visitors to schedule an appointment with you directly from Facebook. And, while it can be a benefit to you and your existing clients, it’ll also help you find new clients. After all, making it easier for people to find and book your services can only help boost your business and your fan page’s functionality.
Contact Tab: Much like Schedulicity, this Facebook app makes turning visitors to your fan page into new contacts easier. With Contact Tab, you can collect all of your contact info in one place – from your address to your social-media accounts – and also add a map to your location and a form to send you a message directly from your fan page.
Pagemodo: Pagemodo makes it easier than ever to customize your Facebook fan page. Though the app comes with a price, it also comes with a variety of customizable templates that will take your fan page from dull to dynamic. You won’t need any coding or design skills, either. Features are easily added and include slideshows, video, contact forms, maps, and the ability to hide content behind a “gate” that requires interested visitors to first like your page before they can access the info.
Poll: Just what its name suggests, the Poll application on Facebook allows you to add a poll question to your page or profile. The poll shows up as its own tab and is great for gathering information from your fans and visitors.
More suggestions here, here, and here. Previous article on LinkedIn apps here.
The Ibis Network / www.theibisnetwork.com
Tags: Appointment, Atom, Benefit, Business Apps, Contact Info, Facebook, Fan Page, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Functionality, Furniture Appliances, Graffiti, Heat Source, Josh Millar, Loan Originators, Locat, Map, Map Location, Marketing, Marketing Tools, Media Accounts, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Networking, Networking Strategy, Phone Number, Plumbing, Principle, Professional Networking Suite, Realtor Marketing, Realtors, Social Application, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategy, Stress, The Ibis Network, Tips, Tweets, Water And Heat
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: July 12th, 2011
Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has more than proven itself to be an effective way to embarrass yourself, friends, and family online. But as the popular social network has grown, so have the opportunities for businesses hoping to capitalize on the millions of members logging in each day. No longer is social media only for college kids and online voyeurs, creative brands, businesses, and major corporations have found marketing success using social media, and no network is bigger than Facebook’s.
Below we offer a few helpful hints and tips to building and benefiting from your Facebook fan page …
Online/Offline: The anonymity of the Internet offers people an excuse to do things they wouldn’t in everyday life. Scroll through the comment section of an average news story online and you’ll see how eager people are to engage their most obnoxious instincts. But having a successful social-media marketing campaign means treating people with the same respect you would if you ran into them at an industry or community function. In other words, slow down your sales pitch and develop a relationship with your Facebook fans before pushing your services.
Use Apps: Though you may think your job is done once you’ve got your contact and business info up, you’re not. Facebook offers a multitude of resources and applications that can make your page, not only more dynamic, but more functional and interesting to visitors. Have a glance through the available applications and choose those that seem to fit your business and audience. For example, there are many options to link your fan page to your other social-media sites and blog. If you’re keeping a business blog, kill two birds with one update and have your blog post automatically sent to your Facebook page.
Encourage Participation: Try to view your fan page the way a potential client or curious web browser would. Having a page that is interactive, updated regularly, and offers interesting info and ideas, will keep people visiting and, once they are, more accepting of any directly sales-oriented materials you post. If you set up a fan page and only update it with messages urging visitors to buy, buy, buy, you’ll likely have, not only bored them, but assured that they won’t return. As always, communication and relationships are the key to a successful social-media campaign. Restrain your urge to advertise and, in time, you’ll reap the benefits your efforts.
The Ibis Network / www.theibisnetwork.com
Tags: Anonymity, Articles, Business Info, College Kids, Corporations, Everyday Life, Excuse, Facebook, Fan Page, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Friends And Family, Helpful Hints, Instincts, Josh Millar, Launch, Loan Originators, Marketing, Marketing Campaign, Marketing Tools, Media Marketing, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Multitude, Networking, Networking Strategy, Networking Suite, News Story, Page Nbsp, Professional Networking Suite, Realtor Marketing, Realtors, Sales Pitch, Social Media, Social Networking, The Ibis Network, Three Keys, Tips, Two Birds, Valuable Marketing
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: March 9th, 2011
By now, if you haven’t heard of Facebook, it’s likely because you’re still busy trying to program your VCR or you have a Victrola that needs cranking. Which is to say, it’s everywhere. But how does a professional use Facebook to build their business, generate leads, and meet potential clients? First, you have to set up a fan page for your businesses or brand. After that, you have to get the word out. The page won’t do the work for you. So here are some tips on finding an audience and keeping their interest …
Give it a Proper Name: Sure, it seems easy enough but choosing a smart name might mean something entirely different to you than it does to a search engine. The best name to use, if you’d like to be found more often in searches, is the exact name of your business. Using clever phrases or your web domain may seem like a good way to separate yourself from Facebook’s 500 million active users, but more often than not it’ll make you less likely to be found by the very people you’re trying to attract.
Promote Your Page: Like anything else, if you want people to know about something, you have to tell them. So take advantage of Facebook’s widgets and badges and add links to your page on your business website, your blog, and anywhere else you can think of. The more opportunities you create to promote your page, the more likely you’ll have a burgeoning fan base before long.
Advertise: Facebook offers an advertising platform that allows you to buy a simple ad that you can target by location, age, or interests. That means, your ad appears before exactly the audience you want to attract. It’s not free, but if you’re serious about building your fan page, it’s a good way to start adding fans that aren’t in your family or social circle.
More Facebook tips from The Ibis Network here and here.
The Ibis Network / www.theibisnetwork.com
Tags: Advantage, Advertise, Advertising, Audience, Badges, Blog, Business Website, Clever Phrases, Exact Name, Facebook, Fan Base, Fan Page, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Josh Millar, Loan Originators, Marketing, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Network Www, Networking, Networking Strategy, Professional Networking Suite, Realtor Marketing, Realtors, S 500, Search Engine, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategy, The Ibis Network, Tips, Vcr, Victrola, Web Domain, Widgets
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: September 8th, 2010
As of July 2010, Facebook had more than 500 million active users. So if you’re among those who still don’t believe they need to incorporate social media into their networking strategy, ask yourself how many people you’re reaching with your current marketing approach. If the number is anywhere south of 700,000, it might be time to register for a Facebook fan page and give online marketing a try.
With a little time and effort, your Facebook page will quickly increase your ability to communicate with your community, advertise your services, network with other professionals, and meet people who may be looking to buy a home or refinance a loan.
Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your new Facebook page …
Invite Your Friends, Contacts, And Clients: You can’t attract people to your page without first letting them know it’s there. Invite everyone on your contact list to become a fan of your page. Then add a “Become a Fan” button to your website or blog and watch your visibility grow.
Take out an Ad: Sure, it’ll cost you but setting up a small ad on Facebook can lead to new fans and further promotion of your page. Add an image and a catchy headline and start cultivating the resulting relationships. More here.
Share Information: Share links and articles to establish yourself as an expert in your area. Post business updates on your wall. Include your newsletter subscription information on your page. Post info on upcoming events. Start a group page for your community. Ask questions. Answer questions. Get involved.
Customize Your Page: Add applications. Facebook provides easy-to-use applications that allow you to connect your page to your blog, Twitter, Flickr, and many other social-media sites. The more content and connectivity, the more opportunities there will be for people to find you and your fan page.
-
Josh Millar / The Ibis Network / www.theibisnetwork.com
To learn more about the Ibis Network’s Professional Networking Suite for Realtors and Mortgage Professionals which features these valuable marketing tools:
* Your own Real-Estate or Mortgage blog updated daily with original content
* Monthly e-newsletter ready to send to your contact list
* Social Media set-up on the 8 major networking sites
* Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of your business website
Visit: http://www.theibisnetwork.com/networkingsuite.html
If you’d like a free Real-Estate blog designed for you… no strings attached – click here: http://theibisnetwork.wordpress.com/want-your-own-real-estate-blog-for-free/
If you’d like a free Mortgage blog designed for you… no strings attached – click here: http://theibisnetwork.wordpress.com/want-your-own-mortgage-blog-for-free/
Tags: Business Updates, Catchy Headline, Contact List, Current Marketing, Facebook, Fan Page, Flickr, Free Loan Officer Training, Free Realtor Training, Free Training, Information Share, Josh Millar, Little Time, Loan Originators, Marketing, Mortgage Loan Officers, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Network Www, Networking Strategy, Newsletter Subscription, Page Josh, Professional Networking Suite, Realtor Marketing, Realtors, SEO, Share Information, Small Ad, Social Media, Subscription Information, The Ibis Network, Tips, Tips And Tricks, Website Visibility
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
Author: The Ibis Network Published: April 1st, 2010
10 tips from the co-founder and CEO of Sprout …
1. Don’t Lose New Visitors
2. Provide Fresh Content
3. Give Your Audience A Reason To Become A Fan
4. Update Away – But Put Yourself In The Fan’s Shoes
5. Be Smart With Your Images
6. Encourage Interaction In Your Posts
7. Nothing Spreads The Word Like Photos
8. Monitor And Engage
9. Determine Your Strategy In Advance
10. Treat Your Fan Page Like An Online Ad And Optimize
Click here for full article. From iMedia Connection.
-
Josh Millar / The Ibis Network / www.theibisnetwork.com
To learn more about the Ibis Network’s Professional Networking Suite for Realtors and Mortgage Professionals which features these valuable marketing tools:
* Your own Real-Estate or Mortgage blog updated daily with original content
* Monthly e-newsletter ready to send to your contact list
* Social Media set-up on the 8 major networking sites
* Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of your business website
Visit: http://www.theibisnetwork.com/networkingsuite.html
If you’d like a free Real-Estate blog designed for you… no strings attached – click here: http://theibisnetwork.wordpress.com/want-your-own-real-estate-blog-for-free/
If you’d like a free Mortgage blog designed for you… no strings attached – click here: http://theibisnetwork.wordpress.com/want-your-own-mortgage-blog-for-free/
Tags: Articles, Audience, Ceo, Co Founder, Contact List, Facebook, Fan Page, Free Mortgage, Free Real Estate, Interaction, Josh Millar, Marketing Tools, Mortgage Marketing, Mortgage Professionals, Network Www, Networking, Networking Strategy, Networking Suite, Optimization Seo, Own Mortgage, Own Real Estate, Professional Networking, Professional Networking Suite, Realtor Marketing, Realtors, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Shoes, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategy, The Ibis Network, Tips, Valuable Marketing
Category Facebook, Networking Strategy |
