School of Creative Business - Creative Entrepreneurship

Getting the Most Out of Facebook for Your Business

written by Jamie Wright

 It seems that nowadays you just can’t escape from Facebook, whether it is unwanted “friends” trying to reconnect with you, movies about the formation of the company or news reports regarding all manner of different controversies surrounding the social media giant. One thing regarding Facebook that should make business owners smile though is that Facebook can massively increase the profits of a website as part of an effective social media strategy.

When it comes to the benefits of social media marketing, then there really are only two companies that you should concentrate on – Twitter and, of course, Facebook. It is the latter of these though that still holds the most sway, even though Twitter is making massive strides in the field. So how exactly can you leverage Facebook to make your business more money than ever before?

The first, and largest, advantage of using Facebook is that it will provide you with a captive audience to advertise to for free once they have clicked the “Like” button for your page. Without the people there to advertise to though, this strategy would be useless, so how do you get people to like you? Well, the easiest way is to integrate a “Like” button on your own webpage, which visitors can click on to follow you. Providing your site is of a high standard and provides value to the visitor, they will want to be kept informed about future items for sale or promotions that are being run.

So, you have the followers now (although you should constantly keep trying to add to them) and now you need to make sure that you engage with them. When you only have a small amount of text to do this with then this can be tough, but it is by no means impossible. One thing that I have found is that when I actually take time to think about my posts, they convert much better. Many people simply think of their Facebook updates as a side though and write a couple of words in the hope that someone will notice. This is the wrong tactic; inspire people with your prose and make them think that they have to see the thing that you are making all of the fuss about! Making sales online is all about the way in which you can write, so if you neglect to concentrate on this then you are simply going to be dead in the water…

Although you are ultimately trying to sell to people through Facebook, you must never lose sight of the fact that it is a social platform and not a shop floor. People go on the site for human interaction – something that you can use to your advantage! Engage your followers and start conversations with them, polls for them to participate in and even competitions to win small prizes. People want to feel part of a community and when they do they will keep on coming back to your site and hopefully buying things occasionally!

Well, that’s that for the ways to make Facebook work for you. It will never replace some of the larger strategies that you have in place, but what it will do is give you that extra 10% to overcome your less socially aware competition. Keep it steady, keep it friendly and think about your posts and you should start seeing some profits from Facebook sooner than you might think!

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Jamie Wright is an internet marketing expert with a particular interest in social media marketing and internet marketing strategy.

 

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Looking for more solid tips on business ideas, internet & social marketing, and personal branding? Check out the School of Creative Business free email newsletter, Creative Business Ideas. It jumps off with a Social Marketing Tips E-course. Sign up here. If you know anyone who might like this post- pass it along to other creative entrepreneurs by clicking below on Tweet This or Facebook Like buttons

Image: watcharakun / FreeDigitalPhotos.net ; Image: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Rules of Creative Engagement

This video is terrific. A poetic take on social networking. Another creative praising the new way to communicate and engage with others- especially new customers.

Listen & Watch for Yourself!

 

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Looking for more solid tips on business ideas, internet & social marketing, and personal branding? Check out the School of Creative Business free email newsletter, Creative Business Ideas. It jumps off with a Social Marketing Tips E-course. Sign up here. If you know anyone who might like this post- pass it along to other creative entrepreneurs by clicking below on Tweet This or Facebook Like buttons.

Top 10 Best Software For Creative Business Owners

  Written by Kathleen Hubert 

Small business software is sometimes limited to accounting software and office suites, like Microsoft Office and OpenOffice.org. Small business operators often do not have a need for any other applications. As a business grows, it will come to rely on more sophisticated software, and software to perform other functions. Business software serves to increase productivity or track productivity, and it is normally only larger businesses that will be able to make and justify the investment needed to acquire software for these purposes. Also, in most cases, small business operators operate their businesses directly and personally and are able to monitor and manage productivity without the use of software. As a business grows, operators may become less directly involved in day-today management, and may come to rely more on software for business management.

Certain types of software are necessary and even critical in small business operations. Other software, while not essential, is still desirable and may be worth its cost, and may be worth the investment of time needed to implement it. The programs listed and described here might be looked upon as the top ten programs needed for small business. Some of these items are essentials, while others will be desirable, even if not exactly required

1. Operating System

Microsoft Office 2010 is the latest Microsoft edition of its trusty old office suite. By suite is meant a collection of applications that perform basic office functions. These include Outlook for email, Word for word processing, Excel for spreadsheets, Access for databases, PowerPoint for presentations, OneNote for drafting and using notebooks, InfoPath for form drafting and management, Sharepoint Workspace for drafting and editing of documents by more than one person, Lync for communications management, and Publisher for desktop publishing, as in making flyers, brochures, business cards, and other items for print. Office comes in a variety of different packages, from Office Home all the way to Office Professional. Office can be quite expensive, with the Professional version selling for $499.00. A free alternative is OpenOffice.org, released in 2000 and published by Oracle. OpenOffice is designed to be fully compatible with Microsoft office, and to be able to open and use documents and forms published with Office, but in fact it is not. OpenOffice remains limited in functionality.

3. Accounting Software

Accounting is often done manually in a small business setting, but accounting software will simplify and expedite the process, and may improve accuracy. Accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll can all be managed using accounting software. There are many different accounting programs on the market, including free programs like FUEL and Wave. Two premium small business accounting applications are QuickBooks and are Peachtree. These are considered easy to use and fully functional even in running auto loan business.

4. Management Information Systems

Businesses involved in direct sales can benefit from the use of lead management software. This is true in both business to business selling and business to consumer selling. Two well known makers of this software are ACT and Leads360. Locally installed leads management software will normally involve an investment of a few hundred dollars with a short learning curve. The function is also available online, with database management on a remote server and log-in privileges given to users.

8. Inventory Management Software

Companies that maintain inventory can benefit from the use of inventory management software. Inventory may be a small business’s single largest expense. Use this software to create packing lists and inventory reports. QuickBooks and NetSuite are two big names in inventory management software.

9. Project Management Software

Project scheduling and management are important functions in any construction or maintenance business. Project management software provides for estimation, planning, scheduling, and cost control. Two full featured project management software releases are 4PM and Clarity.

10. Document Management Software

Document management refers to drafting and editing of documents for distribution, normally in PDF form. Information can be readily and conveniently shared in PDF form. The best known of all document management or PDF programs is Adobe Acrobat. Acrobat has been in release for over ten years, and is currently in version ten. To buy Acrobat from Adobe will cost over four hundred dollars. There are less expensive alternatives for PDF drafting and editing, including even freeware.

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Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at auto loans.

 

 

 

Clip art Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

What Your Business Needs To Do To Connect More On Twitter

Watch this funny video on how to connect more on Twitter. Laura from Get the Dash keeps it simple and to the point on why connecting with others on social media sites are super easy.

The Video

 Twitter Marketing - What Your Business Needs To Do To Connect More On Twitter

 

Tips on Creating a Creative Business Brand in a Slow Recovering Economy

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An outstanding business brand is one that can withstand an up, recovering or down economy.  I've heard and listened to many news reports about of the world is suffering from financial crisis and that small and big  businesses are feeling the impact of this slow recovery.

This is when your creative business branding campaign is put to the test. Indeed, when businesses like yours are competing for what remains of the market, you have to double your efforts at making your brand withstand and thrive.  What is also essential in these times is to never discount the impact of quality and customer service. These are important factors that hold promise to deliver more to your clients and keep your business going.

Are You Recession-Proof?

Business branding seems to lose its vigor during recession. People tend to buy base on logic and needs, rather than impulse or perceptions. Therefore, you have to maintain or improve the kind of value,  and benefits that your product promises. This is a big thing - must not lose focus on in your branding and marketing efforts. 

If you want to add more value to your brand to make it better able to withstand the challenges of a suffering economy, here are areas of your branding system that you must focus on:

• During a slow recovery period, many businesses  tend to cut back on their marketing efforts. But actually,this is the time where you need to strengthen your marketing efforts.

• Create more aggressive marketing programs to be able to capture a bigger share of the market.

• Assert yourself on consumers who are affected by the recession by offering better value on your products.

• Promotions must highlight quality and economic benefits.

Helping Your Brand Survive

When recession has hit the consumers, buying becomes a less desirable practice. This will largely impact your business' efforts. 

Try using the following practices to keep your business thriving:

1.) Never change your brand identity. Try to restructure the messages you are trying to deliver but make sure that it stays within the context of your basic brand identity.

2.) Utilize this time to appeal to your customer's needs by performing a more thorough market research. Create a survey asking them questions on their needs and expectations. 

3.) If your business' products are mostly high-end, do not simply revert to dropping prices. Instead, try improving the value and quality of your products so that customers will have a better quality spending habit.   "Expensive = Good"

4.) Be open to potential new customers. In times of a slow recovery, people are in the process of re-evaluating their spending habits. This is your opportunity to come into the picture and offer your business as a possible solution.

Ensuring Brand Stability

Consumers change their buying patterns during a slow economy,  but creative business owners must remain committed with their branding strategies. However, you do have to make slight and appropriate changes though, such as increased sensitivity to this new buying attitude exhibited by consumers. During slow times, you have to stay committed in helping your customers attain quality service and products that add value. This is your winning formula. And with increased dedication to your business brand, you will also increase the loyalty of your patrons.

Final Note...

Don't let this slow recovering economy get you down. Use it to your benefit. Customers are looking for products and services that helps them get ahead. Produce what they want - it make things happen.

 

Yeah... what are you doing to make it happen for your business? Leave a comment below.

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Looking for more solid tips on business ideas, internet & social marketing, and personal branding? Check out the School of Creative Business free email newsletter, Creative Business Ideas. It jumps off with a Social Marketing Tips E-course. Sign up here. If you know anyone who might like this post- pass it along to other creative entrepreneurs by clicking below on Tweet This or Facebook Like buttons

Think Differently: A Tribute to Steve Jobs

It makes me feel great when someone calls me crazy or different. That means that I am truly working my calling. Steve Jobs worked his calling to the fullest to create wonderful and beautiful products.

So its ok to be a little crazy - I think and strongly believe it's a requirement.

 

1% Inspiration, 99% Perspiration - Make it Happen

The 99% is a think tank for creatives and entrepreneurs. Just the place for us- creative entrepreneurs. This site has wonderful and insightful information that will inspire and make you take action. Below are a few resources I found to be very helpful in understanding myself as an creative and as a entrepreneur.

Execution

Nobody's Perfect: Why We All Need A Margin For Error

Can't Start, Won't Start: Tricks for Overcoming Procrastination

Why Creative People Need to Be Eccentric

 

Organization

Do-It-Yourself Project Management (And How Behance Does It)

10 Time-Saving Web Tools

10 Online Tools for Better Attention & Focus

 

Video Presentation

Linda Rottenberg (CEO and Co-founder of Endeavor)  works with entrepreneurs around the world on a daily basis, helping them grow their businesses for maximum impact. In this 99% talk, Rottenberg shares tips for new entrepreneurs and addresses some of the key challenges that creative startups face. This is a must watch video- Great Tips!