Well it may be your phone, computer, television that is making you sick!

I found this great post on Twitter this morning (see Twitter is full of interesting info). How to clean your technology – and why! Read it to see why it talks about the Yuck Factor!

Did you know that your phone may test positive for E. coli?

If you are online then you might know about SEO, (site engine optimisation). If you don’t know about it, do a search on the web, there is a great deal of information, although some is quite technical. I did a quick search and came up with this.

Your content should contain words that will help people find you and help search engines know when to include your website, but it still has to be interesting and engaging content.

The opening sentence in the offending article this morning read:

Accommodation in Daylesford could be a difficult option for someone to help to make, the main reason we’re stating this really is that lots of individuals want to invest within resort fits that are occasionally insufficient for that vacationers, therefore which makes it tougher for the accessible resorts to handle many site visitors.

I rest my case.

Use key words, but use them in a way that makes people want to use your services, not scream in horror!

Man with a headache, perhaps after reading an article liberally scattered with keywords?

It’s relatively new, but hardly a phase. Founded in 2010, by January 2012 it was reported to have more than 11 million unique visitors.

It works by users creating pinboards and pinning images to their boards, either from the web or uploaded from their computer. Like all social media you have followers and likers and people can re-pin your image (or pin) to their board.

There are heaps of business applications, although businesses who naturally have lots of images (tourism, arts, design and retails such as homewares, books, fashion) have  a natural headstart.

Where possible, pin from your website and when people click on the pin, they can see the URL to your site.

Think about:

Pinboard competitions

Setting up a board that others can pin to as well

You can pin products (such as apparrel, and gifts) and include a price tag

Pin an infographic about your business sector (there are lots and lots of infographics on Pinterest)

Have a board featuring your best clients

Keep it beautiful and creative

A quick search on the web will leave you with millions of ideas on how to use Pinterest in business, this is just a quick overview.

A few tips on etiquette:

Keep the original URL in the link

State the source of the photo

Credit those whose images you are using

As with all the others – Enjoy yourself!

Pinterest Infographic

Twitter is a micro-blogging network of real-time posts of 140 characters or less.

And I love it.

Some of the many benefits I have received from Twitter include:

Considerably extended my network

Extensive professional development through following experts at the very top of my field, most of whom are extremely generous with their information.

Entertainment – there are a lot of clever and witty people on Twitter

Feeling part of something bigger (which as a sole operator in a small business is worth a great deal to me)

But best of all:
Business.

I have made contacts through Twitter that saw me as the Local Hero in Small Business Victoria in 2010. As the Local Business Hero, I was invited to speak about my work. One  of the organisers who attended recommended me to his client, a large business in western Melbourne and now my biggest (and one of my favourite) clients.

There is a great deal of information online about how to set up an account, and I can help you with that … and with developing a strategy, (which is crucial).

Just remember you don’t have to ever see Justin Beiber’s name or follow any stars, celebrities or anyone that you are not interested in.

If you haven’t already – give it a try!

Personally, I enjoy looking at some of the more creative covers - what is your favourite?

What does this mean for your business?

1. That many companies and organisations use Facebook to promote their business so it is very competitive and you have to work to get noticed.

2. That many companies and organisations use Facebook to promote their business do you want to miss out on this enormous opportunity?

Facebook pages now use Timeline which I think is much more attractive than the old pages, but means that you really need to post lots of photos and other images.

A lot of people get confused between a Facebook page and a Facebook profile.

Although social media needs to be social to work – it is important to remember that when you are posting to a business facebook page what you post will reflect on your business.

My advice is to keep your page business related and use your profile to catch up with friends, relatives, gossip or whatever you use it for.

Some ways to use your Facebook Page:

• Business tips, competitions, how to videos
• Look for as many ways possible to interact with your Facebook community such as using questions and discussions.
• Get some ideas by looking at how your competitors and similar businesses use Facebook.

You’ll have fun, but you need to try to keep up with regular posts.

Ascend Public Relations and Communications Facebook page

The fastest growing part of Youtube is the ‘how to’ video.

YouTube has developed its own How to video – How to use video for marketing. Some good ideas that might get your creative juices flowing.

Do you need to be a video pro?

You only need to spend a small amount of time on YouTube to know that there are plenty of amateur videos there along with some that would have cost a fortune to make. No-one wants to see a wobbly/shaky bit of film, but similarly, plenty of organisations are creating interesting and popular videos just using their iphone or flip camera.

Or you can use a program like Animoto which animates still photos into video that can be loaded to YouTube.

Infographic from Social Media Sonar http://socialmediasonar.com/youtube-infographic

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

They are all popular for bringing traffic to your website, marketing your brand, helping you to listen to and learn from your customers.

Future blogs will look at each of these platforms and the potential they provide for your organisation.

social media icons

LinkedIn describes itself as …. the world’s largest professional network with over 120 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.

You can join put up your own profile on LinkedIn or you can develop a page for your company.

One of the advantages of LinkedIn is that it comes high on google searches. So if someone googles you, they are more likely to see your linked in profile than something that you have since regretted on Facebook!

Individuals and organisations use LinkedIn to find career opportunities, new clients and to build professional reputations. LinkedIn can connect you to jobs, sales leads and business contracts.

A word of warning – LinkedIn is only to your advantage if you have a decent profile. Spend time on it, make it engaging, ensure that it is accurate and get a good photo!