Erik Qualman's Blog, page 618

Eight Ways To Protect Your Business From Cyber Attacks

From startups to Fortune 500 firms, one of the biggest security concerns for any business is a cyber-attack. That fear is understandable. Cyber-attacks can easily – and almost effortlessly – devastate a company’s reputation and finances. Just ask Sony, which spent $171 million to clean up data breaches to its PlayStation Network in 2011. Or talk to officials at the banks that lost $45 million in 2013.

It’s nearly impossible to make your business immune to cyber-attacks, but you can greatly reduce your risk and limit the damage. Hackers like to keep things simple. If you make your systems harder to get to, attackers are less likely to bother. Here’s how you can get started.

Use different passwords for different applications 

Using the same password for everything you do might seem easy, but here’s the problem. If cyber attackers crack your password at one site, they’ll quickly have your whole life. It’s a growing security issue for individuals and small businesses.

Your email should have a different password than your social media accounts, which should have different passwords than your bank accounts, and so on. That way, if one of your accounts is breached the others will remain safer for longer.

Create complex passwords

If your password exists in the dictionary, hackers have programs that can crack it in about half a minute. Make sure your passwords are not real words. Incorporate numbers, symbols or random capital letters.

Once you have complicated, unique passwords for all your sites and applications, change them often. Don’t worry about keeping them all straight. There’s an app for that.

Physically protect your hardware 

Even today, one of the most common ways technology is hacked is after a computer is stolen. Middle-of-the night office heists happen, and spies have been embarrassed when their laptops were boosted at a train station.

The laptop solution is obvious: Keep it with you or make sure it’s out of sight and locked up if you leave it in your car. At the office, retrofit desks with computer locks or invest in new furniture designed to deter computer theft.

Encrypt your data 

Encrypting your data means you’ve applied a code that can’t be cracked without a “key” or password. Doing this won’t keep you from being attacked, but it will keep the attackers from using your information. It will also keep hackers from encrypting your information for you and demanding ransom in exchange for the key.

Most computer operating systems have encryption capabilities. Make sure you activate it on all your company’s computers, and make sure employees who telecommute regularly or work off site occasionally do the same.  Any data that travel over the Internet is at risk – and while you’re at it, make sure your WiFi network is protected with a complex password, too.

Install anti-virus and anti-malware protection programs 

Installing anti-virus software is easy. In fact, most computers sold today come with it already installed, but that doesn’t mean your work is finished. The software still will need updated regularly or it won’t guard against new threats.

Many anti-virus and anti-malware programs can be set to update themselves automatically. If yours doesn’t, set up a reminder to do this at least weekly.

Hire a security consultant 

Sometimes it can help to think like the bad guys. That’s why security consultants are so valuable. They can analyze your hardware, software and procedures and figure out a way to destroy you. They won’t, though. They’ll help you fix the problems so that the real bad guys stay at bay.

An in-house IT person could handle such an audit for bigger companies, but it never hurts to have fresh eyes look at your setup. An outside audit every six months is a great guard against tunnel vision.

Delete unneeded information 

One of the basic rules of avoiding a cyber-attack is the less information you have, the less danger you’re in. Delete any business information on your computers that you no longer need.  Every few months do a purge of the company computers, making sure that they no longer have files the company doesn’t need.

Back up your data 

If all else fails, have a backup plan – or, in this case, backup data.

There are programs that will do this automatically, too. Run these once a week so you’re ready in case a hacker, or even a technical glitch, wipes you out. Make sure you store the backups off site or, at minimum, off your network on an external drive or unconnected computer.

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10 Useful Resources to Study Online

If you are looking for great learning resources, you can forget about spending lots of money on massive encyclopedia sets, because you can find everything you need on the web. Of course, you have to be careful where you get your knowledge from, because most online resources are not based on facts and deliver terrible misinformation. To help you choose wisely, we will list 10 safe and useful online resources that will advance your knowledge in any academic area of study.

TutorsClass

One-on-one tutoring lessons can be incredibly boring and distracting. There is no need to suffer through those hours when the method of tutoring is much more fun online. TutorsClass provides tutors with their own virtual classrooms, and you can easily learn from their innovative practices of sharing knowledge. Forget about memorizing facts from textbooks – everything is presented in a much more understandable way through TutorsClass.

Google Scholar

If you are on the search for academic essays, Google Scholar is the right search engine to use. Although finding the right pieces does take some effort, this is one of the best resources of free academic content which you can use for your research papers and other assignments.

The Rosetta Project

Learning foreign languages is far from easy, but The Rosetta Project will provide you with the inspiration and resources you need. The website features a publicly accessible digital library of information for over 1000 human languages.

Writinghouse

If you want to spend less time learning huge rules and standards on formatting text don’t hesitate to use the citation generator Writinghouse. Each person who studies or used to study knows how difficult it can be to make a bibliography list. Because there are different formatting styles and it’s impossible to be an expert in each of them.

Discovery Channel’s website

The Discovery Channel isn’t a non-profit organization, so you will have to pay to view some of the content on its website, but you can also access very valuable content free of charge. This is a better option when compared to History Channel’s website, because the latter isn’t based on empirical evidence.

BBC Learning

The website of the British Broadcasting Corporation features educational content of a wide range of areas, including media studies, health and nursing, sports and fitness, music, science, history, business, English, math, performing arts, and much more. Most of the resources are based on video format, which makes them more captivating and easy to understand.

E-Books Directory

This is one of the richest e-book directories on the web. All you need is an e-reader and you can forget about spending money on expensive books. The choice of legally-downloadable free books online is immense, so we recommend you to examine your alternatives before buying actual books.

WiBit.net

This video tutorial website offers programming lessons aimed at focused and linear content. If you want to learn programming from its basics or you already have the basic knowledge and you want to pick up new skills – this website will provide you with the material you need.

Open Culture

There are many website where you can find distance learning schemes, but Open Culture is your best resource of free university courses. This website was founded with a noble goal to enable access to high-quality educational and cultural media for the international lifelong learning community.

TED

TED is one of the most valuable online learning resources, where experts from different industries give speeches and lectures of nearly every academic specialty. If you need referencing content for your college essays, this is the first place to start searching.

Conclusion

Many people view the Internet as media that is degrading to our society and human values. The way you benefit from this media depends on your approach to it. If you have the will and devotion to learn new things, the Internet can be an unmatchable resource. It is difficult to find the right websites that offer material based on facts, but the list provided above will give you a head start in the quest for the right resources.

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Is Your Company’s Social Profile Getting Traction?

Social media is something every small and large business should be using.

You have multiple benefits to using social media ranging from free advertising, to providing excellent customer service to your customers, and increasing your word-of-mouth advertising. It is a helpful tool, but one that is often overlooked by businesses.

Just because you have a page, doesn’t mean you’re done. You need to make sure it is getting traction by updating it regularly and using it in the right ways.

Here is a helpful guide for helping your social profiles and social media accounts get more traction.

Updating Social Media Regularly

One of the most important things you can do with your social media profiles is updating them regularly.

If you have it set up but you fail to have a presence, you will lose fans and possibly customers. People want to know you are active and are providing relevant information regularly.

It also helps keep you in the mind of your customers. Don’t just post about your business or for advertising purposes either; reach out to your potential customers and interact with new visitors. Dead social media profiles either don’t get followed, or lose fans very quickly.

Some of the more highly regarded ones, such as Rick Bolander’s profile or even someone like Bill Gates, some of the few to crack the top 100 lists for social media that aren’t entertainment stars.

What to Update the Profile With

If you aren’t sure how to update it regularly, here are some tips for what to post. Ideally, you will post daily, but aim for at least every few days.

Weekly is the very minimum, but more than once a week is going to help you keep your social media profile fresh, including:

New products and services – It is okay to occasionally talk about your own business, but make sure it is not all you update your social media page about. Some good things to talk about are when you have new product lines, new services offered, or other new features of your business or website.

Photos – If you have photos of new products, your website or blog, or a brand new office where you are conducting business, feel free to share them.

Interesting articles and relevant blog posts – If you have relevant blog posts and articles within your industry, but not necessarily about you or your business, share them on your social media profiles. This shows you want to share interesting posts without self-promoting.

Casual interaction - Even with business social media profiles, you don’t only have to talk business. Feel free to ask fans about their holidays or how their summer vacation is going. Get people talking and interact with them.

Contests and promotions – Finally, have some contests and promotions through social media where your fans get the chance at winning stuff for following you. This helps you get more fans and keep your current ones, as a way to appreciate their viewership.

Reasons to Stay Updated

If you want to build traction on social media, you have to maintain your presence.

You need to show you care about who is following you by interacting and posting regularly.

Updating your information, posting links to relevant articles, sharing photos and getting people talking are all helpful things to do.

Photo credit: business2community.com

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Getting Technical With Social Media

Looking for a job in IT?

Add social media to your search, and it may get easier. Between the biggies, like LinkedIn and Twitter, and even the more social sites like Facebook, you may land the perfect job, or at least get a lead or two to help you on your way.

How will social media help your search?

By getting the word out on your social media, you’ve got a big start.

• Of course, you want to clean up and complete any loose ends on your LinkedIn profile and connect it as best as you can to the IT world. Make it look desirable for anyone looking for asset management and any other facet of IT you want. Some people on LinkedIn strive to get that above 500 count of connections, because then your profile doesn’t state a specific number, it shows 500 plus connections, which is a number that shows you’ve got big connections in the business world, a desirable attribute to many companies.

• Don’t forget the not so professional sites, though. You never know who may see a post on Facebook or tweet about your job search and pass it on to a friend or colleague who could get you somewhere.

• Before an interview, spend some time on the company’s social media sites and the person’s whom you’ll be interviewing with LinkedIn page. The more familiar you are with a company going into an interview, the more advantage you’ll have.

Researching through business social media

• Admittedly, it’s tough applying for a job via a company’s website. So many people do it that you really need a standout quality to get any notice. However, by following their social media, you may get some insider tips that could connect you to be just not a number or application.

• Again, don’t just follow LinkedIn profiles of major IT players. Follow them on Twitter as well. More and more companies are using social media to promote their business, any job openings and other pertinent information about them. By seeing direct Twitter feeds, you may get the jump on the position, as well as some insider information.

• Use social media to hone in your application, cover letter and résumé on exactly what they want – you can discover a lot of what they want on social media.

Some key qualities IT is looking for:

According to CRN.com, certain attributes are key in finding an IT position, especially at a higher level.

• Versatility – being able to adapt, learn and wear many different hats is a big part of this job. Make sure you can showcase your versatility on paper and in your interview.

• Specific skill knowledge – Being adept in applications like Linux, Python and other web applications is crucial. Also showing the ability to learn what you don’t already know is an important part in landing that IT job.

• Driven, loyal, customer-centric attributes – showing you can understand your customers and their needs are important, even when they don’t. These are personality qualities, not things you learn, so if you’ve got them, you’re a step ahead, and don’t be afraid to let it show.

IT is tough to get in now, but it’s a great place to be if you can.

Use your social media, your positive go-getter qualities and that dream job will be yours.

Photo credit: Intergratedtechnology.com

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How Social Media has Changed Us

It would appear that social media is here to stay. To come to any other conclusion would require looking away from the facts or foretelling some unpredictable calamity or sudden and dramatic shift in user habits. Because quite simply, the numbers don’t lie.

 

For one, there are hundreds of social media sites, many of them with robust and active user bases. While it’s true Facebook and Twitter get all of the attention (for good reason; Facebook has approximately 1 billion monthly users while Twitter manages a quarter billion), let us not forget the popularity of Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, Google +, and of course, Pinterest. And let us also not forget that we spend a ton of time on these sites. How much time? Up to 114 billion minutes per month, just in the United States. To say that social media has played a role in shaping the 21st century would be a bit of an understatement.

 

And yet, the reach of social media is so wide-ranging that it can be sometimes difficult to pinpoint how social media has changed the world – and in turn, us. While it’s true that we’re collectively on social media a lot, thanks to our unlimited 4G data networks and ever present genius phones, does our connection with social media as a society go further or deeper than that? Most definitely.

Social Media in the Work Place

It’s important to consider that social media refers to far more than just Facebook and Twitter. By definition, any media (read: medium) that promotes social interaction is a social media. In the workplace, this can be an instant message program that is shared among employees, private company Internet forums, open bulletins, or company blogs.

 

What these mediums provide is a means of sharing and discussing information. Whereas in the past, a traditional company hierarchy might prevent an idea from reaching the desk of the person who could conceivably bring it to fruition, now information can be easily disseminated from person to person. Social media in the workplace creates transparency.

 

What social media allows for is the sharing of ideas, which ultimately can help promote problem solving, create solutions, and change best practices. Often, the person in charge of devising a solution does not in fact have it. This is where social media in the workplace can come in. It is the ultimate problem-solving tool because it opens up the brainstorming session not just to the individuals in the board room, but the entire organization. While decision by committee might bode poorly in the art world, in business, it’s an asset.

In the News: Staying Abreast Minute by Minute

Increasingly, individuals are turning to social media platforms to consume news. On Reddit, the “Front Page of the Internet,” 62 percent of users use the site for news, and upwards of 30 percent of Facebook users do the same (a number which adds up to roughly the entire population of the United States).This revelation should perhaps come as no surprise, given:

 

The amount of time people spend on social media platforms; and
The unique news-sharing properties of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter

 

The in-the-moment nature of Twitter, for example, means that in many cases news breaks there before it reaches official channels. Whether the news that gets passed around these social sites is always accurate is beside the point. There is a perception that these sites are good sources of news, and at the end of the day, more and more people are relying on them.

Friends: Real and Otherwise

Social media is now the top Internet activity. Not cat videos. Not, ahem, “adult” content. But social media. Conceivably, this means that more and more individuals are participating in relationships with friends and family. But is this actually the case? The numbers paint a more ambiguous picture.

 

Recent polls have begun to show an appreciable dissatisfaction with social media. Ironically enough, people have begun to blame these platforms that are built around building relationships on hurting their relationships. With unlimited 4G networks making it easier than ever to log on at a moment’s notice, it can sometimes be difficult to actually put the phone down. And this digitized version of life can hurt real-world relationships.

 

It should be noted, however, that painting sites like Facebook and Twitter in such a doom and gloom fashion is a bit unfair. Many people quite enjoy their time on these platforms, and do take advantage of the many benefits they afford. Others utilize them to network with people they might not otherwise be in contact with. It can be easy to forget that social media platforms – be it Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn – are merely tools. Can you fault the tool for the behavior?

It’s a New World

Regardless of how you interact with your friends, consume your news, or participate at work, there can be little doubt that social media has changed the world. Whether it’s for better or worse is up to the individual.

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Infographic: Web Design Industry Analysis

The following Infographic was sent to the Socialnomics team by Cid Carver, this post was produced in collaboration with Visual.ly.

Web Design Industry Analysis
Professionals vs. Amateurs

The infographic below portrays the role of professionals vs. amateurs in the current web design market.

Until recently, the market offered only two kinds of solutions. B2B solutions for developers who create advanced websites in a professional process by converting custom graphic design into code. And B2C (DIY) solutions targeted at amateurs wishing to create one basic business website by modifying pre-designed templates in a “fast, fun & easy” process. Now, a third segment has emerged, disrupting the website design market – an independent B2B solution for professional designers wishing to create advanced websites for their clients, with custom tailored designs and without writing even one line of code or hiring developers.

Webydo-Infographic

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Swimwear Industry Surfacing With Social Media

Social media reaches far and wide. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for or what you are promoting, it can go far on social media.

As for the pageant world, social media is especially big.

Whether it’s about how to start a pageant career, where the best pageants are, who the big names are or tips on how to find success there, from makeup tips, to perfecting your talent to what to wear, social media is a big player.

Finding out about pageants through social media

Most pageants will have some following on social media; they use it as an important marketing tool.

They’ll use social media for announcements, deadlines, and specific pageant information. Because it’s easy to follow and get instant information, those looking to be part of this world need to stay informed on the social media sites about what and where the best pageants are or they could miss out.

Many related sites, like the swimwear industry will be helpful here, as well, as they have important insight and valuable say in the pageant industry, so they are good ones to follow, too.

Finding out tips for competition

Following some big names in the pageant industry can offer up free insider advice on the do’s and the don’ts of competing in the pageant world.

Contestants can follow some of their past favorites, judges or experts to learn some of the best ways to compete, finding private instruction, and what judges are looking for.

Finding out what to wear

No one wants to go to pageant in the wrong wardrobe choice.

From gowns to swimsuits, these are important decisions. A pageant swimsuit can make or break a contestant; she definitely wants to be in the right one.

The big names in pageant fashion will have social media showcasing their most current creations, and what is hot on the pageant scene. Not only is a great way for them to promote and market themselves, contestants can get ideas of what the look of the year is by following fashion on social media.

To stay current, check out pageant fashion on social media pages like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Finding out current style tips

We all know hair and makeup styles change decade to decade, but they also transition year to year.

To stay on top of the latest trends (to glitter or not to glitter?), check out social media regarding style for pageants. Following some past winners or other experts is a good way to start, whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube.

The pageant world is big, and so are the players in it, from the swimsuit designers to the judges.

It’s tough competition, and to get an edge, contestants should not only promote themselves positively on social media, but they should also follow those big name players so as to stay just that much ahead of the competition.

You never know who you may end up finding on social media.

Photo credit: swimoutlet.com

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6 of the Fastest Growing Industries in the U.S.

Some people might argue that there aren’t any industries booming in the U.S. Well, they would be wrong, even though the nation recently went through a recession. Whether you’re looking to change jobs and start fresh in a growing industry, or want to invest your hard-earned cash in one, there are plenty of options available to you.

With that said, here are six of the fastest growing industries in the U.S.

Generic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The generic pharmaceutical industry comprises of the manufacturing and marketing of specific medications that have the same active ingredients as brand-name medications. The biggest benefit of generic medications is they’re much cheaper than brand-name, which is something that many Americans are seeking today to save on prescriptions.

The industry generated about $52.8 billion in revenue in 2012, and that number is predicted to increase to more than $72 billion by 2017. The major companies in the industry include Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sandoz Ltd., and Mylan Inc.

Solar Panel Manufacturing

It’s predicted that new solar photovoltaic technology will rival or surpass the growth of wind energy in 2013, as demand continues to increase and industry consolidation continues to brighten forecasts for solar manufacturers. The Bloomberg New Energy Finance projects an increase of 20 percent in the annual rate of solar installations in the future, while wind power slows by 25 percent.

The industry generated about $4.6 billion in revenue in 2012, and that number is predicted to increase to almost $7 billion by 2017. The major company in the industry is SunPower Inc.

Pilates & Yoga Studios

Despite competition from popular gym brands across the nation, Pilates and yoga studios have become one of the biggest booming industries in the nation. Not only are people becoming more aware of the consequences of poor dieting, but they’re also realizing how a lack of exercise affects the body and mind. Sure, running and going to the gym is always an option, but people are always looking for a new and more exciting way to stay in shape.

The industry generated about $6.9 billion in revenue in 2012, and that number is predicted to increase to more than $8.6 billion by 2017. There aren’t any major companies taking over this industry – yet.

3D Printer Manufacturing

The 3D printer manufacturing industry produces printers. These printers are then used to create three-dimensional objects by laying down consecutive layers of material. This new technology is only in its beginning stages of production, but product developers are already able to design and print different items that are used in other industries like automotive and construction.

The industry generated about $1.7 billion in revenue in 2012, and that number is predicted to increase to more than $3.2 billion by 2017. The major companies in the industry include the 3D Systems Corporation, Stratasys Inc., and the Z Corporation.

Hot Sauce Production

Believe it or not, hot sauce production is one of the biggest industries in the U.S – and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. Much like ketchup has been for years – although, salsa recently surpassed ketchup in sales – hot sauce is becoming a staple condiment in American kitchens, showing no signs of cooling down. As you might know, this industry manufacturers sauce from hot chili peppers and other ingredients. These products are then packaged and shipped to grocery wholesalers, specialty food stores, and supermarkets.

The industry generated about $1 billion in revenue in 2012, and that number is predicted to increase to more than $1.3 billion by 2017. The major companies in the industry include the McIllhenny Company and Reckitt Benckiser PLC.

Green & Sustainable Building Construction

Many American contractors coming back from working contracting jobs in the Middle East are finding new jobs back home in green and sustainable building construction — this construction sector has grown an average of 10 percent between 2010 and 2012. The primary objective of this industry is to build energy-efficient structures, like LEED-certified buildings, using sustainable materials made from recyclable goods and plastics.

The industry generated about $103 billion in revenue in 2012, and that number is predicted to increase to almost $288 billion by 2017. The major company in the industry is The Turner Corporation.

If you need a new career or want to make money, consider these six industries.

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Creating the Perfect Posts for Facebook

If the Facebook page for your business is seeing a decline in activity, it might be time to switch up your game plan, and that means changing the way you write posts.

Below are some suggestions to help you get started.

1. Be Compelling

If you want to grab your audience’s interest, make it impossible for them not to read. For instance, rather than saying, “Check out how we’ve decorated for Christmas,” what you could say instead is, “We decked the halls!” and leave it at that. Your audience will naturally want to click to find out more and see pictures.

2. Emphasize the Positive

Post material that will make people laugh and smile, whether it’s a link to a funny video, a joke or a humorous quote. Everyone wants to feel good, so it only makes sense that posting “feel good” material can be a great way to win people over.

3. Share an Intriguing Fact

When you’re trying to promote an article or a blog post, sharing an interesting bit of information from that article or post in your status update can entice readers to click so they can see more.

4. Offer Tips

Starting posts with “TIP” written out in all caps is an excellent way to get the attention of your audience. This works whether you are posting advice, newsworthy information, checklists or updates.

5. Give Updates

When you endorse another person’s status update or content, especially with adjectives such as “excellent” or “remarkable,” users respond better to the post than they would otherwise.

6. Remember Questions Aren’t a Necessity

Wait until you have a well-developed base of fans before asking for their opinions. Once you have that fan base established, then the feedback from them will follow.

7. Urge People to Act

Have an awesome image that’s worth sharing? Don’t be afraid to ask people using Pinterest to “pin” it. Havahart does a great job of this on their Pinterest.

8. Be Up Front

Let users know right off the bat what they can expect when you post something. Especially if it’s a video or an audio clip that you decide to post, they’ll appreciate knowing in advance how long it is.

9. Leverage the Power of the P.S.

A “P.S.” never fails to catch a reader’s eye, so ending your posts with one from time to time isn’t a bad idea.

10. Keep Links Brief

Don’t copy and paste a long URL to post in your updates. It’s much better to use a smaller link like a bitly instead.

11. Use Visuals to Your Advantage

Putting text overtop an image is a great way to grab and engage your audience. PicMonkey is one example of a tool that does this.

12. Encourage Comments

For optimal results, try a reciprocal approach. Ask for fans to tell you their Twitter handles in return for you following them back. Another reason to do this: Comments are weighted heavily when it comes to what the newsfeed displays.

If you’re trying to promote your business on Facebook, it’s absolutely essential that you create the best posts you possibly can. Try using the tips listed above today, and watch as you start getting the results you want!

 

 

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Are Your Marketing Efforts Social Enough?

2014 may be your year to be more social.

No, that doesn’t mean more happy hour Fridays or dinner parties, but it does mean getting your marketing efforts into the social media pages.

More and more companies, both small and large, are marketing with social media, and it can almost be a red flag if you’re not.

Between basic advertising and reaching out to customers, social media has a lot to offer, and being easy and affordable; you should use it as much as possible.

Where to be social:

Facebook

When people think of social media, most of them think Facebook, despite the fact that we hear the smaller venues are becoming more popular. Facebook is still the major player. Facebook also offers you a variety of ways to promote your business.

• Offer promotions and discounts via your Facebook page. You will get more regular followers who will in turn post your media on their pages. The more followers you get, the more website and customer traffic you’ll see.

• Post pictures of your customers promoting you. For instance, if you own a bakery, offer a free cupcake to someone when they post to your page a picture of them with your product, whether wearing a t-shirt of yours or holding a bag or box from your business and enjoying your product to promote you.

• Keep an open forum where customers can dialogue with you. Remember, it may not always be good, but a public positive resolution may be a good result from a negative encounter.

Twitter

Twitter offers just as much, some of it the same as Facebook, but you also have some different options.

• You can tweet pop up specials, and though you are offering discounts, you may get a lot more customers.

• Tweet about press releases, promos and anything else that involves your business.

You also have Instagram, Vine, YouTube and Pinterest, great for posting photos and videos of anything business related, from new products to finished projects.

How to be social

You do need to be consistent, ethical, creative and a good digital citizen to run good social media that will benefit your business.

• Post consistently, but not too often. Your followers will look forward to hearing from you without getting annoyed.

• Speak positively. Only say nice things, keep the negativity to yourself, whether it’s about your competition, your customers or the weather.

• Think how to make your posts fun and creative, and keep them coming. Your followers will be more likely to share them on their own social media profiles.

• Keep up communication and rapport with your customers and clients. In our busy, disconnected world, people like to be noticed and find that connection.

You may be adept enough to run your social media, or you might want to think about a social media director to take this on.

Things like content writing, maintaining consistency, building rapport and producing sharable content are all major components, so you want it done well, whether it’s by you or someone else.

Make 2014 your year to be social. Your business will thank you for it!

Photo credit: rubikin.com

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