• Always make sure the content is up to date. Think about he website that you visit the most and what attracts you to them. Make sure that your website has your latest products and solutions. And make sure that there are not services on there that you no longer offer. You don’t want to get a call from a potential client asking for something you do not have the capability of producing.
• Make purchasing easy. The Internet has made it so easy to shop around for the lowest price. And because of this, you need to make it as easy as possible for visitors to purchase what they want, when they want. Make sure to evaluate all the different routes a visitor could take in order to complete a purchase. Make it as easy as possible for these visitors to start and complete the purchase process will have a positive effect on your conversion rate.
• Integrate your website with your social media efforts. Make sure to have your website link on all your social platforms and on your website make sure to have badges for all of your social media platforms so people can easily connect with you on multiple channels. This will help with your search rankings; you will gain more exposure and increase referrals.

Getting all of these tactics may take a while, so it’s important to create a list and deadlines on when it is all due. It’s better to take your time and do it the right way. What other tips would you add to this list?

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“How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.” ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

“A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.” ~ Mary Kay Ash

“Day by day, what you do is who you become.” ~Heraclitus

“Falling down is how we grow. Staying down is how we die.” ~ Brian Vaszily

“Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed.” ~ Vaclav Havel

“Sometimes only a change of viewpoint is needed to convert a tiresome duty into an interesting opportunity.” ~ Alberta Flanders

1. Create a social media policy – A social media policy will clarify where your employees stand. In your policy, be clear about what employees can and cannot do, what’s appropriate, and how the things they share can affect the company. A great policy to refer to is the Coca Cola social media policy.
2. Plan ahead – Think ahead and brainstorm and bunch on scenarios of what people could write on your wall. Then figure out plans for handling these types of comments, whether they are good or bad. This will cut down on response times and eliminate confusion internally.
3. Don’t give everyone admin access. There are ways to allow employees to post on your social platforms without admin rights, so it’s best to do that. It’s good to only give people that need admin access the privilege, to help maintain control of your page.
4. Do not just listen; make sure to respond to comments and posts. Make sure that your walls are being monitored constantly and you set up alerts for when people write on your platforms or share one of your posts. Also, make sure you are on top of what is going on in the industry, so that you can educate your fan base on what is going on and become a resource for them.
5. Educate your employees. Make sure to have a thorough training session on how to use each platform, best practices, and what is expected of them. Create packets for them to take with them and also give them the contact information for a person that they can contact with any questions or concerns. Emphasize to them that if they are not sure about a post, they should consult with the designated person first. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

What other tips would you add to this list?

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• If the event has a Twitter hashtag then pre-promote your speech. The day before and the morning before your presentation, be sure to let people know you are speaking, what you are speaking on, and what time using the hashtag.
• Do not put more than 20 words on a single slide.  If people have to read your slide, you’ll lose them.  Use headlines and text to cue your stories, and pictures to amplify your point.
• Don’t stand behind the podium. A podium places an unnecessary barrier between you and your audience.  Talk with the audience, not at them.
• In order to be remembered, you need to use everything at your disposal.  A wardrobe is key.  Find something that people will remember. Have a signature color that you wear every time you present, something that people will take note of and remember.
• Show your pearlie whites and smile! It’s contagious.  Always start the presentation with a big smile and set cues for yourself to smile through out the presentation. The more people smile, the more positive they will be in general. It also helps to keep people awake.
• Give away something for participation.  I almost always give a signed copy of my book away to reward participation.  It helps with questions later and always gets you talking with someone after the presentation.

Above are just some of the key tactics, but it should definitely help get you started in the right direction. Remember, if you are energetic, your audience will be energetic. Make sure to be passionate about whatever you are presenting so it shines through. What other tips would you add to this list?

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Headline – This is the first thing your viewer is going to see. Keep it short and simple, so they can easily figure out what your page is all about.

Copy – Make sure that your sub-headline and body copy not only describe what you do, but it shows how your products and services solve issues and make people’s lives easier. Share about the various features and benefits of your products as well.

Customer Testimonials – These are a great way to gain credibility. Post 1 -2 sentence quotes or  short videos from your customers talking about your products/services.

Navigation – Make sure to have your navigation at the top of all your pages so that it is easily accessible. You don’t want people getting frustrated and leaving your site because they can’t get the information they are looking for.

Images – Use images that support the copy. Many people are visual learners and absorb things better when they can actually see them. Also, pictures of humans can actually help people emotionally connect as well.

What other tips would you add to this list?

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1. Content Marketing – You must be able to provide relevant informative content to get your target audience’s attention. To generate leads and revenue, you need to offer something. Some options for content include, in-house created content, licensed content, videos, demos, or webinars. The marketers in your office need to become authors.
2. Review Analytics – It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, everything in marketing can and should be measured. Marketers should be held accountable for creating a set of measurements that make sense for your business. Knowing what everyone is held accountable for will encourage collaboration.
3. Embrace Technology - It’s not going away. We need to embrace it.  Even if you’re not a marketing automation pro or a web analytics guru, chances are your job requires technological know-how. These systems can be really be helpful if used correctly, so stop being afraid and start learning. This could be saving you a lot of time and stress.

Other skills that your marketing team to embrace are communicating online and being able to present a product without directly selling it. Things are definitely shifting now. What other skills would you add to the list above?

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• First, figure out what your goals are regarding social media and write them down. Then create a plan that explains how each person’s interaction will helps attain your goals.
• Communicate your goals and plan in a clear way to your employees. Show them how their participation will make a difference and what exactly they need to do.
• Highlight the “Dos” over the “Don’ts” from your policy. Make sure to focus the discussion on positive behaviors in your governance.
• Address any issues with posts. Most people want to do the right thing even if they make mistakes. Identify problem areas for your organization and create additional guidance around them.
• Encourage people to speak for themselves, not the brand, even when they are talking about the space and the company.

The tips above will definitely get you started in the right direction! It’s great to be able to empower your employees and build a strong community at the same time. Has your company started integrating social media into it’s marketing mix?

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Below are some other elements that you must pay attention to when revising your home page.

Headline – This is the first thing people look at when they come to your site. Your headlines tells them what the rest of the page is about so keep it clear and simple.

Copy – This includes sub-headline and descriptions. Do not just tell your audience what your products are. Get creative and tell/show them how your product can solve their problems and make life easier. Also, remember to list the features of your products, not just the benefits.

Customer testimonials –  This can be 1-2 sentence quotes or a short video of a customer describing your products/services.

Navigation – Put the navigation bar at the top of the page where it’s easily visible.

Offer Valuable Information – Give your clients the opportunity to download your latest whitepaper, ebook, or webinar. This will definitely have them coming back if the information is good!

What other tips would you add to the list above?

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• Create the right message. Make sure your words speak to your target audience because if they don’t get it, they are not going to be interested.
• Ensure that the look and feel of your brand reflects your company personality and vision.
• Use the same logo, colors, fonts and copy language across all boards. You want people to recognize your brand no matter what platforms or marketing channel they are viewing. The more consistent the branding is, the more likely they are to remember your brand.
• Regardless of the size of your business or budget, invest in an expert opinion to ensure you have cohesive messaging and brand presence.
• Create brand guidelines, so that when logos or tag lines are used in other areas it is consistent. This will also make it easier to maintain consistency when items are printed in various locations.

The most important step to start with is creating the message. Once you have your branding finalized, the next important step is to create a guidelines book. Creating a branding guideline handbook will ensure that the brand will be used consistently over a long period of time.

When was the last time you looked at your company’s branding? Does your message convey what you want your audience to hear?

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The solution DataSource provided was tapping into their own wide network. DataSource found partners who could meet high quality standards and short turnaround times at favorable costs. DataSource streamlined the entire process, from simplifying ordering to developing a customized accounting system that input a monthly summary directly into the company’s system.

The results generated from the new solutions incuded:

• A 25% reduction in print costs
• Distribution savings of 35%
• Turnaround time for a rollout has been reduced from 5 to  7 days to within 24 hours
• The company now has a firm handle on print and fulfillment costs due to their accurate automated accounting information