Social Media And The Small Business

Recently for class we were asked to find a local business and do some research on their social media page. I chose a local business in the next town where I personally know the owner. Social media has been brought up to them many times, but they don't seem to think they need it. I actually don't think they advertise at all, except for their very poorly put together Facebook page. Looking at it is actually very funny considering they actually skipped posting in 2011 all together. What is sad is that the potential that Facebook offers to small businesses is something that is overlooked far too often.

So I am going to take it upon myself to give some of my opinion on what you should do to improve your small business's social media presence. (Keep in mind these are my opinions, in no way should these be taken personal, just my thoughts on the matter.)

1. Capitalize the name of your business. Yes, I know this seems obvious, but you may be surprised. I understand some people may not capitalize the name on their logo but your business is still a proper noun. This is not high school, have some respect for yourself and capitalize your name.

2. Have a profile picture AND a cover photo. Yes, Facebook offers cover photos now. Mine is a picture of my golden retrievers after a bath. It's adorable. But you can have one too! You just click on that huge blank space above your name and profile picture. Put pictures of your business, put pictures of your products, put a picture of your staff, put a picture of your services, put a picture of your logo, just put a picture. This is another way of grabbing your audience's attention fast when they first click on your screen.

3. Have a good profile picture. If this is for your personal page then who cares, post that picture of you throwing back a bottle wine, but for your small business lets be professional. If you are putting your logo, make sure it is good quality. Not a small thumbnail that no one can see unless they zoom in to 400%. Also don't use a pixelated photo, ask who ever made this logo for you for the original file because it just looks sloppy. I understand its only Facebook, but this is FREE advertising. Take advantage of it. If you don't believe me, look at another business's profile in the same market as you and see what they have done for their profile picture. Also, If you are using a picture of yourself, like a lawyer for example, try to get a professional photo, I have so much respect for the people that get a professional photo taken for their LinkedIn, use it for Facebook too.

4. Update daily if you can. Just more than once a week. Give your audience something to look forward to, and something to draw them into your business. Make them want to use your business.

5. Pictures, pictures, pictures! Post pictures whenever you can! A lot of social media is very visual right now, look at Pinterest and Instagram. If someone see's an appealing photo they are more likely to click on it. Also photos drag people in to like and comment on these photos. Also, if you have access to a photographer, or a professional camera, or photo editing software, use these resources. The better your picture looks, the better you look.

6. Respond to comments or posts made by your audience. Engage with your audience. They took the time to comment or post on your page, thank them or strike up a conversation with them. Make them feel special and you are more likely to continue to get their business, and they will probably tell their friends.

7.Link your other social media outlets together. I don't mean post on one place and have it spread everywhere, while that does actually make life easier. But on your Facebook page, add your Twitter page or Pinterest Page or Instagram or whatever you have. Let your audience explore every part of you. Also let them get the opportunity to follow you on these pages.

8. Coupons and incentives. If your business provides services, put coupons and incentives on your page. Make incentives for people to "like" your page or to follow you. Such as, "Like my page and get a coupon for 25% your next order." These work all the time because everyone likes a deal. Also, if you have coupons or specials circulating, make them accessible through your page. If anything, Facebook and Twitter has only made my shopping problem worse by doing this. So trust me, it works. Another thing that works is contests! People love contests! See who can make the best sandwich or who can use your product for the most things! Get creative!

9. Make sure your photos are not copyrighted. When it gets down to it, use your own photos. Last thing you need is someone knocking down your door because you stole their images.

10. Have fun with it! A social media presences is going to take time to build, but I promise you, it will be worth it. Make it as unique as your business. This is your time to have fun with something.

The Difference Between Formal and Informal Language: CJN 691

In our society we use both formal and informal language. But what exactly is the difference between the two, and how do we use them differently and appropriately?

Formal language is the type of language you would use when talking with someone who outranks you, such as your boss or another superior. When using formal language, it is important not use slang or other words that make you sound unprofessional. When writing in the formal language, it is also important not to use abbreviations always try to spell out the full word (can't vs. cannot).

Informal language is the language you use when you are with your friends or family. In this instant you might use slang or other words that connect to that group of people, also, when writing it is okay to shorten words or use quick hand.

Buzzfeed: Procrastination Enabler.

My senior year of college, I starting noticing these funny articles on Facebook, things such as "If "Parks and Rec" Were An Old-School Nintendo Game" or "19 Signs You Might Be Comet From "Full House"" and obviously, since I was probably writing a creative brief Duck Brand duct tape, I kept clicking on these links.

Then one day I did the unthinkable, and honestly, the end of the world as I knew it... I went to the source itself. I went on buzzfeed.com.

I must have gone from article to article to article. I couldn't believe the amount of unnecessary articles that I felt compelled to read. I really probably could have lived without knowing the nine celebrity tweets I missed that day. But for some reason, I need to know, and it is usually very funny and makes me happy.

Buzzfeed also shows real news. They had minute by minute coverage of the Marathon Bombings, and they keep updates on the Government Shutdown. But for a website with so many useless articles, why do we feel compelled to read them? Even if I am not on Buzzfeed's website, I find these articles on Facebook or my Twitter, sometimes even my Instagram. I even just googled "why we are compelled to read buzzfeed" and my results included "32 Reasons Robert Downey Jr. Is The Most Perfect Man In The Universe." Obviously, this is true, and yes when that popped up I read it. Buzzfeed uses their headlines to grab the attention of various consumers. When people click on their links it adds to their website referrals, especially when after reading these articles we are compelled to share them with the friend we feel most relates to these articles. They amount of referrals Buzzfeed receives a day is probably astronomical, and honestly the more popular Buzzfeed, the more useless articles we get to enjoy.

Buzzfeed, while also having writers on staff, allow their fans to submit these articles. That is right, you too can submit to this tremendous time waster! I haven't tried it, but it seems rewarding. You should try it. Tell me how it is.

So my fellow Buzzfeed addicts, read on friends, read on.

Social Media: "Come break into my house!"

So recently a story broke out about teenagers who broke into Brian Holloway's house and threw a house party while the ex-NFL star was in Florida for Labor Day Weekend. While enjoying his weekend, Holloway's son got word of a party going on at the New York home and told father. Kids at the party were saying that Holloway's son was actually at the party, even though he was in Florida for school.

When Holloway logged on twitter, tweets were flooding about this awesome blow out that about 300 kids were enjoying at his home. The kids were actually tweeting to him and taking pictures of them trashing his house.

Social media sites like "foursquare" and even Facebook and Twitter, allow you to check in where you are. When Foursquare came out, you got certain badges when you check into certain places. But one problem that came with "checking in" is that people know where you are at all time. There have been other cases where people have checked in at the gym or checked in at a hotel and realized they had been robbed when they got home. Yet people continue to do it whenever they log on. I will admit, I am guilty of checking in places, like when I'm at the bar or on vacation. I'm not even sure why I do it.

So that is my question, why do we feel the need to tell people where we are, even people we do not know?

Shopping: Impulse or Word of Mouth?

Anyone who knows me knows I am an avid shopper. I shop for various reasons, but my favorite excuse is what I like to call "retail therapy." My best friend even got my a little wall hanging that says "It's not shopping, it's retail therapy." Love it.

For me though, I do some serious research before I buy something. I look up information about new makeup I want to try (recently the Naked 2 pallet, not that I actually know how to use it), I look up reviews about a new coat I am thinking of buying, a new pair of shoes, I am shocked my mother survived prom dress shopping with me, new handbags (my biggest weakness), even covers for my laptop. And these are not even large commitment purchases. You should have seen me when I needed a new car: I had graphs, I had statistics, I had reviews and when I finally settled on my Toyota Corolla (great car by the way) I was convinced I had made the right choice. Looking up this information makes me feel better about my purchases. It gives me satisfaction that I have made the best choice possible for me.

At this point, I have become pretty good at finding the reviews I need. Most of the time, I can find reviews on he product right under the product I am looking for. Other times I look at their Facebook, or Amazon, or even do a simple Google search.  

But I am curious...How many other people do as much research before they commit to buying something? And where do you look?

You Can Major in Social Media.

So, this past summer I gained a new addiction. It wastes a lot of my time, some may say it rots my brain, it is a gateway addiction, and it costs me $7.99 a month.

Netflix is like that friend that is a bad influence, but for some reason you are attracted to it. Not only am I addicted to instant streaming movies, it has also branched other addictions such as The Office, Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother, and my newest obsession... Mad Men.

For those of you that do not know, Mad Men is an hour long drama about an advertising firm on Madison Avenue. It is based in the 1960's. Mad Men centers around the dashing Donald Draper, the creative director at Sterling Cooper (later known as Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce) and his provocative lifestyle. So, because I am an advertising major, I was told that I need to watch this show, and obviously the first five seasons are on Netflix.

So I am midway through season five, Peggy has just asked the rest of the copywriters "am I the only one that can drink and work at the same time?" and I'm laughing because I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was hysterical. So as I am about to tweet this little quote, it dawns on me: social media was not an actual thing in the sixties.

I mean, I am not stupid, obviously social media was not around in the sixties, but in the past decade, give or take a couple of years, social media has blossomed into a normal, everyday function. Without even thinking really, I just reach for my phone and open Facebook for something to read.  I know if I need a quick recipe, I can find it on Pinterest, or fast news can be found on Twitter.

Social media, however, has branched into more than just a quick hobby and a way to creep on old classmates and exes. Social media is a career now. In order to be successful in public relations or advertising you need to know not only the basics, but how each social media outlet works and why. I mean, what do you think Don Draper would do if he had to walk into Jaguar with a social media pitch ready? Not that Mad Men is an accurate view of the advertising world, but his typewriter doesn't exactly connect to WiFi.

Over time every industry has undergone changes to enhance their business. Every industry has had to adapt to new technology and new ways to promote themselves. Social media has become a huge part of that. I know the first thing I do when looking for a new hair salon or when I want to try to a different restaurant is look for not only their website, but their Facebook page. Facebook, along with websites such as Twitter and Pinterest and many other sites, has allowed the expansion of customer word of mouth, and it also allows businesses to personally connect with their audience.  A lot of the jobs that I am looking at now demands knowledge of social media, lucky for me I grew up in the generation that introduced it, so even though I complain about Facebook's newest look, and I can still follow it (for now).

We have came a long way since the sixties, I wonder what they will think of next.

It's the end of the world as we know it, and everyone hates iOS 7.

On September 18, 2013, Apple launched the  iOS 7 operating system.

The long awaited iOS update was released on the East Coast at 1:00 pm. So as soon as that clock stuck 1:00, Apple nerds were frantically accessing their settings to check for their update. I'm not proud of it, but I was one of these people. And yes, I kept refreshing until I saw it, and yes every time that error message popped up from too many people downloading at once, I kept pressing cancel and restarting it.

I couldn't explain to you why I so excited for that update. I'm not usually the kind of girl who waits in line waiting for the newest Apple product. I'm defiantly not one who buys the new iPhone as soon as it comes out because, if I don't have an upgrade, I am not shelling out the cash when my old phone works just fine. But there was something exciting about a new layout. Maybe because it was the first time Apple had changed their iPhone layout since the introduction of the first generation iPhone. Or maybe because I am taking a social media class, and the buzz lately was unstoppable. Who knows.

Anyway...

That night, on the T coming home from class, I decided to read my Twitter feed. I only check it every so often, so it usually will last me the whole trip if I leave my book at home. You'd imagine how surprised I was to see that people either loved their new iPhone update or wanted to chuck it out the window. And of course, I started to get nervous wondering why I actually liked it. I was curious if I missed something huge like it will spontaneously combust if I'm not polite to Siri.

Then one of my friends, who I actually told to download it, texted me freaking out about how awful it was and that she hated it. This lasted till roughly 1:30 in the morning (Sorry Katie). Then I went on Facebook, and the outrage continued. Including an article by BuzzFeed called "19 Ways iOS 7 Is Causing The Actual Apocalypse." So, from here the disappointment continued. People threatening their dogs, people threatening their families. It was bad. People REALLY hated this update.

So I'm reading all these posts and articles, and I am starting to find things that bug me about this update. Like actually bug me. How could reading social media actually make me hate an update? And then I saw a saving grace... "19 Tips You'll Need To Master iOS 7" by www.businessinsider.com. And all of a sudden. Everything was okay. I reduced motion, I found spotlight, and I found a pretty kick ass control panel (no more flashlight app!).

So everyone... take it from me... iOS 7 GETS EASIER! Everything will be okay. We will survive.

Now, take a deep breath and text someone you love on that fancy new keyboard.