How to Ruin Your Facebook Page!

Tips to Prevent Damaging Your Social Media Reputation

Having your business present across multiple social media networks is absolutely necessary in this day and age of marketing. With that in mind, many companies jump on the social media bandwagon without fully understanding how to properly utilize these sites. Here are some social media practices to avoid (unless you want to ruin your Facebook page!):

Abandoning Profiles For Long Periods of Time

Despite the importance of social media sites, they tend to hit the backburner very often when more urgent and crucial tasks are constantly at hand. Updating your profile on a regular basis is vital to maintaining a stable social media presence. On top of that, you probably don’t realize how many times a day your social media sites are visited. If your company has a Facebook page, it’s going to show up on the first page of any search engine so remember to keep a steady schedule of updates.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

Posting multiple variations of a twitter update in a really short period of time won’t bring you more traffic… it’s just going to annoy people. As a result, you may lose followers. There’s nothing wrong with automating your tweets as long as it’s done with careful consideration.

Neglecting to Remove Spam

As you build a following on your social media networks, you’re bound to get hit with spam in the form of comments. Be sure to moderate the comments on your social media sites as that spam can turn away potential clients.

Selling Without Engaging First

The purpose of social media networks is just that, to network. You’re interacting with others, learning and establishing your brand. Don’t treat your profiles like a sale ad in the Sunday newspaper. You build value to your products and services by developing relationships through your interaction. When you start throwing up prices, it deters the value of what you’re offering.

Quantity Over Quality

Social media isn’t a popularity contest. Having 100,000 followers on Twitter won’t do anything but hinder the focus of your content. It’s more beneficial to direct your brand towards a manageable group that’s easy to interact with. A target audience will make your social media sites a better outlet to illustrate your message.

SOURCE: JD Rucker, “How to Use Social Media to Bum Out Your Customers in 2011”   http://www.flowtown.com/blog

Creative Insight: Picking the Brain of FBD2’s Design Team

“It’s All About The Eye Candy”

Last week, my lovely fiancée and I were browsing a local wine shop determined to pick out something new that we would both enjoy. Before I continue with this story, it’s imperative that I tell you I’m far from the wine connoisseur, so my future wife had quite the advantage over me. She was basing her selection on her knowledge of wine styles, reviews and varieties she had tasted before… I was judging my buying decision based on the label artwork. Classy eh?

While you’re probably laughing at my method, I wanted to tell this story to prove a point about the visual aesthetic of marketing. A large portion of the world thinks and responds to visual stimulus (not just us designers either.) When you put forth a strategic creative effort towards the presentation of your product, you’re not only demonstrating what sets you apart on a visual level, but you’re also giving that product an opportunity to attract a wider audience, even one that may be inexperienced with what you’re offering.

By applying this concept, a number of vineyards were able to put out a product that even a wine novice would be intrigued to purchase… yes, I’m referring to myself. What it comes down to is that it’s all about the eye candy. Don’t be afraid to go the extra creative mile with your marketing. A visually interesting design will always put you ahead of the competition.

Scott Bykowicz is the Marketing Coordinator for FB Displays & Designs  Inc. as well as a Graphic Designer on their creative team.

NEVER Answer The ONE Question Prospects Always Ask (If You Want Clients)

Whether you’re exhibiting at a trade show, attending a networking event or simply sitting down for a consultation with a prospective client, there’s a two-part question that’s bound to come up. The first part is always the good part; “I’m interested in working with you.” The second part of the question is where things get complicated; “How much do you charge?”

By answering this question on the spot, you will most likely lose the client. If their only focus is price, then it’s obvious they have no concern for the value of what you’re offering or the results they’ll achieve by working with you. People tend to buy in three ways: by emotion, by results and by value. They have to understand the value of what they’re purchasing otherwise, their buying decisions will revolve around the sticker price.

Instead of giving your rates on the spot, invite your potential client for a one-on-one conversation at a later date where you can explain your products or services and how their value will be beneficial to them. This initial meeting is also where you’ll be able to ask vital questions and learn about this potential client. You’ll also be able to get to the bottom of their problems and explain what solutions you can offer. By doing this, you’re illustrating the value of what you’re offering and giving the client a sense of relief towards their troubles. At this point, your products and services will basically sell themselves!

SOURCE: Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, http://www.site-reference.com