Are you planning a Facebook page for your business or organization?  Let me share a tip.  You want to ensure that you build a solid foundation, by using the appropriate presence and preventing Facebook problems.

As you probably know, Facebook was created to connect people, not to market a business.  However, Facebook is now the most popular social media with which to market your business, so you want to do this right.

One of the common Facebook problems I see is the improper use of a personal account.  Many people don’t realize the difference between a Facebook profile and page, and they set up a Facebook profile for their organization.  However, it is against Facebook’s terms of service to use a personal account for business or nonprofit purposes.

Others use a personal profile because it is easier to add friends through a personal account than adding fans/likes to a page.  I don’t recommend this as Facebook may remove your profile, and there are advantages of having a page.

There are many things you can do with a Facebook page that you can’t do with a profile.  Here’s a partial list:

• Facebook advertising (the quickest way to acquire targeted fans/likes)
• Analytics to determine effective posts, demographic data, and more
• Host unlimited fans/likes (profile limit is 5,000 friends)
• Ability to add Like button, Like box, and activity feed on your Web site
• Ability to add page administrators
• Last but not least, get your page listed in search engines!

It can be challenging to figure out how to set up your Facebook presence.  Here is a helpful link for some common questions about Facebook pages.   Also, here is the Create a Page link.

See examples of popular Facebook pages.  (This link can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look.)

If you have already created a Facebook personal profile for your business and you want to use a page, you may be able to migrate it over to a page with some work.  This may come with challenges, but it may be easier than trying to get friends to like your new page!

Feel free to ask me questions about Facebook problems here or directly on Facebook.

The other day I was reminded that having multiple Google mail accounts really can affect your online branding efforts.  Do you have more than one Google account, or old accounts that you don’t need any more?  You may not be aware that it can cause confusion and at worst, create bad branding.

Users may be confused when they see multiple Google accounts for the same person.  Which account should they be using?  Make it easy on people so they don’t have to guess.  They could be potential clients!  Evaluate which accounts you really need.

Here are locations where multiple accounts may appear within Google:

1. Your Google accounts will appear in Google Plus when users are posting.  There is an option of selecting an account which shows up in a drop down list in your status update when typing in a name.  People show up in the list that you are not even connected to!

2.  Your Google accounts  may show up in a Google Plus list when users are finding and adding contacts, even if you don’t have a Google Plus account!

3.  Your Google accounts may show in search results.

4.  Your Google accounts may show within Google Mail.

My advice is to delete old accounts, and merge existing ones if that makes sense for you.

Google takes measures to delete inactive accounts, which brings me to another point.  Make sure that you create a Google Mail mail account in your name or business name so that no one else can own it.  If you have a common name this is especially difficult, but you should try and be consistent with your naming across all platforms so that you won’t be confused with someone else.

How do you know if you have signed up for Google Plus with your Google account?

If you haven’t, it will say Join Google+ in the upper right drop down box from your name when you are logged in to Google.  If you have signed up for Google Plus, then “+ (your name)” will show in the upper left of your screen in the black bar.

There is a high abandonment rate of Google Plus users, so it is not surprising if you have signed up for an account and then forgotten about it!  It’s nothing to feel guilty about, but I do encourage you to get your accounts in order, and learn the platform so you will be in position when it becomes dominant in the social media marketplace.

How to Delete a Google Account

If you are going to delete a Google account(s), choose Account in the same drop down box under your name, for each account and look for this on the screen (see below).  Warning: it will delete all associated Google features!

When you click on the Close link, it will take you to another screen asking for verification.  Be sure you in fact do want to delete your account and that you do not want to save your Google calendar, documents, your AdWords account, or Google Alerts, etc.  (You will be given an option to link your AdWords account to another account.)

Spring is a good time to do some online clean-up.  You’ll be glad you did!  It pays to keep your Google house in order and to maintain your Google accounts.

;  )

At this point, Google Plus is like the wild frontier.  I’ve read a lot of history books about the Wild West, and this is it.  And until someone or something tames it down there will be lots of opportunity to stake your claim.  You could consider it akin to a land rush,  try and figure it out before everyone else does, and get as many followers as possible who will take interest and engage with you.

However, I don’t recommend a frantic rush to homestead your property.  I’m more of the slow and steady wins the race kind of gal.  I think that before information overload sets in with all of the various apps and pages vying for your attention, it is a good idea to learn Google Plus and prepare your entrance.

The Original Pistol Pete, Frank Eaton, Sr. (A family friend)

Consider these facts.  Google is the search leader.  You can’t ignore the fact that one of the most popular companies in the world has entered the social media space with a robust platform.  I had my doubts at first.  It’s no secret that Google has had failed projects, like all other companies.  And the lack of support from Google principles since Day 1 made me wonder.  However, the signs are too clear to ignore.

Google Plus One

Generally speaking, Web sites and social media posts get a boost in Google search listings when people click on Google’s  +1 button.  What do you use to search?  Google owns sixty six percent of search  market share.

Who Sees Your Newsfeed?

Your Google+ connections are able to read 100% of your posts.  That’s right, whereas Facebook fans/likes see on average only 7% of your posts in their newsfeed.  Why?  Because Facebook has an algorithm called EdgeRank which allows only posts to show that are deemed “important” enough.  Shouldn’t you be the one to decide whether your posts are important?

These are two reasons why you should seriously take the time to get to know Google+.  My third and final reason is that this is a place where passion lies.  At this point in time, it seems that the photographers, marketers, tech folks, foodies and other engagers have definite ideas about what interests them and are here to tell about it.

This is the perfect place to be for young and emerging alternative energy companies, nonprofits and other non-mainstream businesses.  The Google frontier has opened up to pioneers.  I’m already tearing down my sod house, and building a structure.   Join me on the plains!  I’m at the Southwest corner of the watering hole at Tina Reed Johnson https://plus.google.com/u/0/104326242844936940335

How do you create work balance and focus in order to develop good relationship marketing?

I do yoga first thing every morning. It helps me to clear my mind, stretch my desk-bound muscles, and start my day on the right foot, so to speak. I also think about what is important to my business day because it is so easy to get overwhelmed. Hey, I’m not a yoga master and I don’t even say om in yoga, but the practice definitely helps me to center myself and focus on what’s essential.

I’m not talking about doing this, remember I’m not a yoga master (and I don’t want to get stuck this way)!

I call this a yoga master!

Trying to balance work demands  can be a challenge, especially with information overload in this day and age.  What are my priorities?  Should I tackle the redesign of my Facebook page?  Follow up on proposals?  Make more connections on LinkedIn?  When I’m totally at a loss, I have to remind myself of the Golden Rule.  What is the important thing in business or otherwise?  Treat others as you would have them treat you, right?

Relationship marketing is all about interpersonal connections with clients and prospects.   Responding to people who might be waiting on me for something should be the first priority.  Everything else will fall into place.  I call this being “centered.”

I think that you must have a good relationship with yourself first, and create a personal balance in whatever way you can.  You don’t have to be into yoga or meditation to find what centers you.  But you must have something to keep your sanity and get your focus!  Whatever that thing is, find it so you can develop good relationship marketing techniques to keep your potential customers and clients happy!  Then build whatever that is into your daily schedule for a more satisfying and successful business.

Hey, I can definitely do this to get centered.  I may even say a yoga om!

Saying her yoga om

What is SEO Web design?
This client’s comment shows that it pays to design a Web site on a search-engine friendly platform, and do keyword research for use in your content and links.  There is a lot to consider when building a new site, and these basics should be the foundation of your search engine optimization efforts, before you actually begin SEO!

We designed a new site from scratch using WordPress, which is a search-engine friendly content management system (CMS).  This suited our client’s needs for a basic Web site perfectly.  Blogs and social media can be added easily when he is ready, and he can even update text and photos himself!

Search engines must be able to successfully “read” your Web site in order to index it. One of the factors in search engine “readability” is the structure and navigation of your site (the layout of your site and the way pages are linked together). Nowadays, most Web site platforms are built with search engines in mind, so it is generally easy to build a basic site with few technical problems in this area.

Implementing chosen keywords into your site is crucial if you want your target market to find it. For example, people searching for a travel agent in Pittsburgh are finding this client’s site. The reason? Because keywords selected for this particular Web site have been woven into the text, navigation, links and tags throughout the site.

There is much you can do to build upon a site for users and SEO, such as adding stories, photos, videos, and feeds to active social media profiles. If you have a blog on your site to regularly add new content then that is a big plus. The key is to regularly add quality content to your site that is relevant to your keywords and site topic, to keep people coming back.

Web Analytics
It typically takes several months to see the results of SEO after starting the process. Search engine optimization should be ongoing, not a project done overnight. It is a methodical process in order to improve your Website long term.

Patience and hard work is needed to increase Website traffic, but it is worth it in the long run. Check your baseline Web analytics and sales reports and see what’s happening! If you are not seeing progress, then it’s time to change it up!

Lastly, check out Andrew Goodman’s article ”It’s the End of SEO as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).”  In the article, he talks about changes in the SEO industry and what it means to be on top of Web marketing in today’s Internet. Makes those Web analytics even more important!  But that’s another story…  ;-)

Why do you want a balance with technology?

To Build Your Business

Personally, I do a lot of networking in the community.  I think it’s essential to developing close relationships, and you can continue that development online, especially through social media.  Make sure you get those business cards, and that you ask how to connect on LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.  This can be a fruitful way to develop leads and referrals!

Face -to-face communication can also be an effective way to build trust and credibility.  How often have you met someone in the community, had lunch and then set up a business deal?  People tend to trust those that they have a personal connection with.  It takes much longer (never for most people) to get trust and credibility online.  You can’t just throw up a Web site or Facebook page and expect sales, right?  It doesn’t work that way, and it’s not that easy!

If you’ve reached a point where you have online credibility and effective marketing in place, then you may be able to drive all of your sales online.  I still think it’s wise though to have a balance of online and offline communication, and maintain that balance with technology in all walks of life.

Heaven forbid the Internet or social media site goes down.   I’m not talking about your email provider having a hiccup, but entire networks being inaccessible, sometimes even country-wide–like Egypt in 2011.  I remember a time last year when a portion of the Internet was down in California.  I’ve never experienced that wide-spread of an outage before.

Hey, it’s time to call up a friend or prospective client instead of emailing, messaging or texting!  You can’t build successful relationships solely on technology.  There is one big lesson I have learned.  The relationship with your client is the most important thing in your business.  So what if you have a written contract to prevent any misunderstandings, and email status on a weekly basis?  That’s not good enough!  Personal contact is crucial if you want to have a successful and growing business.

2011 outages: Time Warner (November), Apple and Microsoft ( August), Amazon EC2, Verizon LTE and Yahoo! Mail, Microsoft, Sony’s PlayStation Network ( April), Bank of America (March).

For Health & Wellbeing

You know, they say that laughter is the best medicine.  It’s not really the same when you write “LOL” in a post, text or email is it?  You aren’t sharing that hearty slap-on-the-back you could give in person, and what about that belly laugh that feels so good?

Besides, humans are social in nature.  We need each other, and we need to disconnect and relax!  Why enjoy a cup of coffee alone?  So I don’t drink coffee, but about 57% of the adult population does, on a daily basis!  (If you really want to relax you won’t be drinking coffee, right?)  Having a home office kinda forces me to get out and meet up with people, which is a good thing!

This blog is part of a series on relationship marketing. How do you achieve a balance with technology?  Any tips or words of wisdom?  I’d love to hear them!

You want to develop a relationship with potential customers to make your first sale, and for repeat business.  In this day and age, people expect a response within 24 hours or sooner via phone, fax, email, overnight mail, and now immediately via social media and texting.  Customers appreciate it when you are acting with their needs in mind. They are looking to you for a solution to a problem, or they wouldn’t reach out to you.

Communication, Not a One-way Street

Blockade #1

I’m on a mission to develop a custom avatar (likeness) for my personal brand. I’ve found a social media professional with a *great* Web site presence. We connect on LinkedIn, and set up a time to talk. I don’t hear back, so I send a nice message.  Apparently they forgot about our phone conference, so we set up a second one as they are leaving town.

By now, I am really looking forward to this conversation as I need some guidance. I really want a unique graphic to represent me online, and I want to make it happen now!  I have a business I’m growing here.

You probably know what I am going to say next, right? Well, the conversation didn’t happen, because I never received a response. This is from a person who claims they make 7 figures online, and apparently is viewed as an expert. What do you think?  Is this good customer service?

Blockade #2

I am so excited to be designing my new business card! I have an awesome logo, and need to start networking asap.  I can’t stand to use my “temporary” card any longer!  I want something different and memorable and have some good ideas. Things are happening, and I need a designer, quick!

I email specs to my logo designer, but got no response.  (I have a feeling her quote was too low, but she didn’t want to tell me that).  So I started searching for someone local, and met a graphic artist (shop local, right?). They told me what the charge would be, and asked me to email the specs.  So I did, but never received a response, even after calling and leaving a phone message.

I had a chance to see this designer many weeks later and I reminded them who I was. They finally remembered and said that I was “on their list.” Hmmm. I told her I thought they weren’t interested because they hadn’t responded. They apologized but said they were too busy and gave me excuses. Is this any way to communicate with customers? Not if you want to stay in business!  Good customer service will keep people coming back.

Lost Opportunity

In these cases, there was no opportunity to develop a relationship because it didn’t get any further than an initial conversation. Not only does this turn a potential customer off, but it will prevent them from being a source of business leads or referrals. It leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth, and may even cause a worse problem.

This is where it gets scary. As you know, with social media any incident can go “viral.” I dislike that word, but it’s effective. With sharing, retweeting, and +1ing anything can potentially be shared on networks to the devastation of one’s reputation.

Remember that commercial where they say, “and they told two friends, and they told two friends.” Ahhhh! Just don’t do it, don’t ignore people that are trying to support you! Any response is better than no response.

Make sure potential customers aren’t going through a detour, away from you and towards your competition, because you didn’t take the time to respond.  The lesson here is to make sure you take the time every day to communicate with your potential customers!

I always recommend that customers going online have a customer service plan in mind.  Who is going to respond to posts?  Answer email?  Answer the phone (heaven forbid!)?  If staff knows what their responsibilities are, you will have more online success.  And hey, if that’s you doing everything, good customer service comes first!

And this is my $.05 for today.

This blog is part of a series on relationship marketing. I’d love to hear your opinion! Please post your comment below, I know we all have stories to share!

In order to develop a relationship with your potential customers you need to be willing to reach out and communicate effectively on a regular basis.  As you know, engagement with your customers is a crucial part of your business, and it isn’t any different online.

As a matter of fact, it is vital to be open and giving with strangers.  One way to be open and giving, and to increase engagement is by sharing things about yourself.  People want to know you before they do business with you.  They will be more interested if there is a personal connection, which may lead the way to a future business relationship.

Let’s put this in context.  Say I have a Facebook business page and it’s all about my product.  Well, a lot of other people are selling the same product.  What makes my product different than theirs? Nothing! And that’s the point.  Why should someone buy my product when they could easily buy from someone else?  Because they like me!  We created an online relationship with each other, by engaging in common interests.

For example, I like to garden and I occasionally share photos of the produce I’ve grown.  We have a pomegranate tree in our backyard, and November is National Pomegranate Month.  I’ve shared this in my email newsletter and included it in this blog.  I could also post it on Facebook where it is very easy to share photos!

POMEGRANATES!

Lucky Fruit is Share Worthy

These fruit are considered a symbol of abundance, fertility and good luck in Greek culture.  I’ve picked this one from our tree, and I’m sharing it with you to pass on good luck. Feel free to share it with your online friends! ; )

Hey, not everyone is interested in gardening or produce, but you get the idea right?  Sharing something personal about yourself allows others to get to know you better, and creates an opportunity for others to engage with you.  (I’m not talking about bombarding people with pictures of your children or grandchildren, those probably belong on your personal profile.)

Create a list of your interests (they should be on your profiles anyway!), and choose an activity or hobby you would like to talk about.  Then see if people respond.  Sharing personal stories or interests (especially with photos!), also helps to “brand” your personality.   Stale, boring profiles and pages will not illicit any activity, and engaging is the name of the game.  So, let’s start sharing! Who knew fruit could be so lucky?

This is the first blog in a series.  Since many people already have a presence on social media, I chose to talk about relationship marketing.  If you find this helpful, please comment below and share this with your online friends!  Pay it forward! ; )