Archive for business
FourSquare: What’s in it for Small Businesses?
So what in the world is FourSquare anyway? At first glance it seems to be another mindless game for people who have too much time on their hands. You score points for checking and snag the title of Mayor when you’ve checked into a location more times than your friends. So who really cares?
While new FourSquare users may find taking the time to check in at their everyday stomping grounds somewhat pointless, I’ve found a much more meaningful use for it. I take supporting locally owned businesses very seriously and FourSquare has created an easy way to accomplish this goal with amazing success. I already tweet about the businesses I frequent, but being able to ping them on FourSquare is like Twitter on steroids!
FourSquare allows me to:
- Add previously unlisted businesses, giving them exposure they wouldn’t have had before
- Share their specific address, map location and phone number so new visitors can follow my lead and drop in to try them out
- Offer tips (to do’s) and shout outs detailing why I frequent their company and what makes them unique
Mashable recently discussed how FourSquare is making waves in local communities:
Pioneering a Deeper Connection Between Place and Patron: Twitter offers a way for businesses to connect with their customers online. FourSquare puts location in context and extends that connection to the offline world. The model of the location-based game is such that any venue willing to make an extra effort can get to know their socially active customers on a more personal level, and even encourage meetups in their space. Of course, it’s a two way street, as FourSquare users are unconsciously contributing to the relationship by sharing tips and to-dos with the entire FourSquare community. As a result, information is being shared and stored by users — similar in fashion to Yelp — but presented in a way that makes it immediately helpful. It’s community on a whole new level.
So if you’re ready to make a bigger effort to support your favorite locally owned businesses, sign up for FourSquare and shoot me a friend request! Then download the mobile app for your iPhone, Blackberry or Google Android and start sharing your favorite places with others. To me, it’s all part of treating others the way I want to be treated 
What do you think? Is there any real potential here?
P.S. Sometimes there’s even a little something more than a warm, fuzzy feeling in it for you. Check out the growing list of companies offering freebies to their mayors here.
10 Social Media Lessons Learned From Blissdom
I have used this description several times throughout Blissdom but last year someone (not trying to steal I just cannot remember which blog it was that I read – if it is you please tell me) but they said BlogHer 2009 was like a theme park. It was something you did not want to miss so you rode all the rides, ate all of the food and just soaked up the thrill, excitement and adventure. So true, I did not want to miss a second of BlogHer 2009 (or 2010 coming up) but if that was indeed BlogHer, Blissdom was like a spa. It was relaxing, invigorating like a good exfoliation and all the knots of who am I and why do I blog seem to have been massaged right out! I attended every session possible, had amazing conversations without losing my voice and best of all I was able to observe.
When it comes to marketing and social media I have some anecdotal notes:
1. Less is more. No swag is better then junk swag. If you give me swag make it memorable and something I will use with a lasting impression (i.e. Lands End Canvas Bag, food, jewelry, etc.).
2. Brands Need to Get Creative. Throwing stuff at me is old school now; I want to be impressed and won over. Hosting a lunch with your product and having your branding on the menu, allowing us to sample the differences in what you offer and using your product for decor; fabulous. Great job Arnold Food, Conagra Foods and Hunts!
3. Preplan! Get creative and introduce yourself before I arrive and leaving stuff for my family was a huge plus! I learned more about your companies before I arrived and felt more inclined to thank you and introduce myself. Bravo to Hallmark and Orville!
4. Twitter = Brand Exposure. At Blissdom everyone was tweeting and if you don’t believe me visit the Social Studies report and you’ll see the waves being made online and if you’re brand got exposure – good for you!
5. Interact. A product is great but when I can talk to an educated representative that makes the sparks fly! If I have questions I can get them while I’m at the conference verses remembering to email or connect later.
6. Sponsorship with Integrity. Blissdom encouraged sponsorship but gave a guide for bloggers and let companies be noticed with a sponsorship page. Great tactic and throughout the entire event I was only handed one thing that was spammy – a plus and guess what I left it behind and the brands represented in a cheap white bag weren’t remembered!
7. Creative Sponsorship. The brands that sponsored and believed in the bloggers were represented well. Hosting dinners for groups they wanted to interact and connect with, buying business cards with coupon codes and holding dinner focus groups to maximize the knowledge and potential.
8. Social Media Footprint. If you are a blogger what is your impact? What do you do for brands and what can you do for them? Do you have metrics and proof that you are what you say you are?
9. Case Studies. Barbara reminded me that a case study doesn’t have to be complex. One page but it shows a result and how you achieved this result. Get busy Bloggers!
10. Transparency and Passion. If you’re a blogger be yourself but think of who you are and who will want to invest in you. If your raw and rough around the edges be that but don’t expect a soft and fluffy brand to sponsor you! My Blissdom spa experience was truly wonderful! Those that were greenies like me could be who they are or let their hair down and drink out of a plastic cup and be okay – I’m still alive! The ego’s were checked at the door and for that I am so appreciative! If you still don’t believe in mixing with this space of mom bloggers you are missing out!
Big Brands and Social Media Verses Small Business
My local chamber of commerce is amazing and recently I had a great cup of coffee from the Grand Traverse Pie Company and we talked social media and technology for small business. It was a great conversation but it left me thinking about some of what I said. You know when you say something that you must be feeling or thinking and it comes out for the first time into words and then you have to ponder what you said to see if you meant it? Well, that’s how I felt after making this statement:
“Most small businesses want me to give them the information for free on how to do something or get started but brands are starting to pay.”
Okay, reread this a few times.
Yes, even after I read it I’m not sure I mean it or if it means what I think it means OR if I like what it says.
The reason I said this was because of my recent experience with some new start ups that want all of this time from me through email and phone conversations – then they tell me I am not in their budget. I’ve had consultations where I literally feel raped, used and left with nothing. I’ve had social media strategies and proposals ripped off and used with no credit to me – even awards won and again no credit.
I’ve yet to have this happen from a “brand” and when I say brand, I mean a company that has actually branded themselves and have a reputation. I know, I might have been stupid a few times, overly excited and passionate verses business savvy, so I do take some of the blame. But it’s also partially why I feel that bloggers and people like myself are leaning towards brands that have contracts with PR companies – we’re less likely to be taken advantage of.
Is the Light Bulb On Yet?
If you still don’t get it, let me spell it out for you – small business and start ups need to not just want everything for free but really begin to recognize that there are free resources, guides, webinars and services out there – but it is necessary to budget for social media and digital marketing.
Here is what I hear often:
“Oh, I have a cousin who does web design – he went to college for it and he did my site and will keep it up to date.”
“My neighbor’s son is really into Facebook, he’ll set up my pages and get Twitter ready for me with followers, etc.”
Here is what I see:
A website made with a free template on a WordPress platform and things are all messed up with the business owner not knowing how to make things better; they’re left with no knowledge on how to handle the backend and be self sufficient.
A Facebook personal page instead of a business Fan Page, or a group with promotions or activity that is not allowable by Facebook. The teen knows Facebook for them but not for business.
The Fat Lady Sings
I’m not really fat but I’m singing. If you’re a small business or start up here is what I am singing: Bloggers and small fish that do consulting we do want to work with you and help you. It is up to you to find the right fit for your company but don’t take advantage and be sure to budget accordingly; you get what you pay for.
Eco-Friendly Virtual Tools for Your Business
A few years ago when I started doing business online I found scanning and faxing documents cumbersome and a waste of time and paper. The papers had to be filed or at least shredded and recycled, there was the time to print the documents out, sign them and then scan and email them to the client or fax the contract. After struggling with this I tried an Efax program but most of the time it did not work (please do not pitch me after this – I am not interested) so I still ended up wasting time and guess what I was still frustrated.
My virtual assistant at the time suggested echosign to save trees and time. I fell in love at first use and I’ve never turned back! The online program lets me download documents, create signature lines or special notes and inserts and then send them off to clients for an e-signature; which is then filed in my echosign account. The company offers a free account for up to five signatures but if you’re doing business or have more than one signature required for a company the paid account at under $20 per month is worth the fee. After over one year of doing business this way I have not had one glitch, complaint or issue with using echosign – which means I can highly recommend going green, saving time and using echosign.
