WordPress and Facebook are Dynamic Partners for Business

I have been using WordPress for several years for my website as well as some of my client’s websites. I like WordPress‘ ease of use, dynamic themes and long list of functions provide by plugins. I also like that I can update content from my iPad and Android phone using the WordPress App for iPad and Android. As almost everyone knows  Facebook is the 800lb monster of Social Media. Its the place you want your business on to attract new clients, communicate with your existing clients and grow your business. The two platforms combined can give your business a dynamic jolt in reaching your goals and here are a few ways on how to accomplish it.

We used WordPress to build our websites RDZ Media Group and RDZ Media Group Mobile. Both websites serve different purposes but they both share many of the same functionality through Plugins. Plugins are like apps for WordPress. Plugins are small pieces of code that perform specific functions and there are several plugins that make integrating your WordPress website with a Facebook a breeze.

If you’re using WordPress you can search for plugins by typing in a name in the search Plugins area of WordPress. I typed in Facebook and got 34 pages of Facebook plugins with everything from Post to Facebook to creating Facebook pages from your WordPress website. That’s how popular Facebook is to the WordPress community. What we focused on accomplishing on our websites is to ensure that everyone knows about our Facebook Fan Page and to make our content shareable on Facebook. The latter is more important because of the changes that Facebook recently made to the “Share” function.

The 1st plugin we use is the FaceBook Share (New) plugin. This plugin creates the “Share”  button on every webpage and Blog post on your WordPress site. (See the image on the right or this Blog post). There are several easy to configure options like where to place the button on your site.  You can choose top, bottom or both. You can choose to have the button show on the right or left side of your pages/posts. You can choose to show the number of people who have shared your page.

The next plugin we use is Facebook Tab Manager. This plugin is great if you have a Facebook Fan Page as it creates tabs for your Facebook Fan Page from within WordPress. One of the best changes that Facebook made was to change the way their Fan Pages worked. Now its easier to create great looking Fan Pages and this WordPress plugin makes it easier.  The plugin lets you create new pages and link your existing pages to Facebook allowing you to share more of your content on Facebook. There is plenty of documentation on how to use this plugin as well as a support forum.

Our next plugin is Facebook Dashboard Widget. This plugin s not necessary but it is cool as it allows me to view my Facebook feed and add comments. I can also see friend requests, messages and invitations from my WordPress dashboard.

Although this method is not a plugin it is worth mentioning. When you build a Facebook Fan Page, Facebook offer several ways to display your Facebook page on other websites. We chose the one you see on the far right and we added the code to a HTML widget in the widget area and then added the HTML widget to the sidebar you see at the right. (BTW Please like our Fan Page).

Another good plugin for Facebook is Facebook Open Graph Meta. This plugin has a lot of power and a learning curve. To use this plugin you will need to create a Facebook App. The plugin provides good instructions on how to create the Facebook App and install the code in Open Graph. Once you’ve done all of this work you get to see who share and likes your content.

About the Facebook “Share” button. Facebook took a page from Twitter and the reTweet function by allowing you to see who shares your content on Facebook. Now when you add content from your website or make comments on your page subscribers, friend and fans can get your content on their Facebook wall and you get to see who shared your content. I posted a screen shot from my Facebook page after I shared a webpage from our Mobile site on “Mobile Compliance.” The post was shared and I thanked the person for sharing just like we thank people for reTweeting our Tweets.

This is an important addition because it speaks to what Social Media is all about. It allows you to continue conversations with people who like your content enough to share it on their wall.  That’s strong Word of Mouth that builds relationships that leads to brand trust and loyal consumers.

There are other plugins that allow you to share your content on Twitter like Tweetmeme and there are plugins for Google and LinkedIn. However, it all starts with unleashing the dynamic power of using WordPress for your website.

There Really Is an App For That

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Up until recently the majority of the apps I used were for business productivity, communication and project management. Lately, I am starting to use apps for home and personal use.

It all started when we decided to install a new floor in our kitchen. For some strange reason I have been on the mailing list of Lumber Liquidators and I noticed in one of their email newsletters  they have an app for iPhone/iPad to assist with choosing the right floor for your home. The app is nice it has information on the different types of hardwood floors, a flipbook of different floors in homes and a floor calculator to assist with how many boxes I would have to buy.

We ended up purchasing an eco friendly Bamboo engineered clic floor. After we choose the floor we decided to paint the cabinets and after we painted the cabinets my youngest daughter who just started college to study Architecture informed us that we need to paint the kitchen. Barely one week of college and my daughter thinks she’s a design star. As we were discussing colors I said “there’s probably an app that can assist us with choosing the right color.” My daughter logs onto the Apple App store and downloaded an app that we used to take a picture of our kitchen, choose a color and paint over the picture to see how the color will look. In less than 5 minutes we made a decision on the paint for the kitchen.

Those two apps delivered on their claim and allowed us to make well informed decisions and removed the stress of purchasing the wrong product with out having to leave the house or do massive web searching.

As smartphone and tablet use grow and the app market continues to expand with  Apple claiming over 425,000 apps and Google with 250,000+ apps, now is the time to research how can an app assist your prospects with purchasing from you and assist your current customers with doing more business with you.

First lets talk about what apps are and are not.   An app is software used on a smartphone or mobile device like Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or iPad, as in “mobile app” or “iphone app.”  Then there’s “web app” or “online app” which is an abbreviation for “Web application” or “online application” — meaning software you access and use while online, via a browser, instead of software residing on your computer. Apps are not full software programs like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, etc. Apps are designed to fulfill specific functions on a mobile device or web browser.

Some of the benefits of having an app for your business are:

• An app can provide a differential advantage over your competition
• An App can create customer loyalty by being useful
• An app can improve the customer service experience through faster interaction.
• Apps extend your brand to smartphones & tablets
• Apps can create new revenue streams through advertising or premium services
• Apps can automate areas of your business reducing overhead expenses.

Some critical steps to take before you begin production of your app is  to review the App Stores for similar apps like the one you’re planning.  See how they work, what are their strengths and weaknesses and what would your app do differently that the existing apps don’t do.  Ask your customers what they would like to see in an app form your company.  Ask about what features are important to them and how do those features benefit them. Finally ask about what type of phone they use. You may not  want to build your app for both the Apple and Android platform in the beginning so knowing what your customers use may assist you with building an app that the majority of your customers can use immediately.

If you decide that an app is for you then there is more work like choosing a developer to design and develop your app.

After you’ve chosen your development company and production has begun you should begin creating your marketing plan to get the word out about your app.  Be sure to include press releases and social media in your marketing.

If all goes well you will have an app that your customers will enjoy and use often.  The benefits are they will write good reviews about your app and recommend your app to their friends which increases your R.O.I.

What’s New in Social Media Integration for Tradeshows and Expos

We’re gearing up for a couple of fall tradeshows and thought it would be a good idea to share some of the new cool tools that we’ll be using to network with other attendees and promote our participation in upcoming tradeshows. Tradeshows/expos are excellent opportunities to integrate social media tactics and tools, from tweeting to Facebook postings your company can create opportunities to meet attendees, exhibitors, and promote your business before, during and after you attend.

The first tool we’re using for the fall tradeshow season is Bloodhound (http://getbloodhound.com/) Bloodhound is a free app for events that lets you list your event and share your event details with other individuals. I like Bloodhound because I don’t have to download a bunch of expo/conference apps onto my phone or iPad for every event that I attend. I use my already existing facebbok or LinkedIn profile to promote myself and I can connect with attendees and exhibitors, announce which workshops I like and will be attending and share social media info with other attendees.

I  can access entire schedules for events and participate in sessions and presentations from my cellphone. I can also:

• Create a custom list of sessions to attend
• Set a reminder and never miss anything on the schedule
• View and share media like a PowerPoint presentation
• Find out where to go by seeing the location on a map
• Receive recommendations for other sessions to attend

For event planners you may want to consider going beyond just listing your event and use the full power of Bloodhound to assist you with promoting your event through use of:

• An Interactive Event Schedules
• Exhibitor Lists and Exhibitor Profiles
• Maps to assist Attendees Find What They Are Looking For
• See Who is Attending and Help People Connect
• Keep the Dialogue Going through Twitter
• Event digests so nothing is Forgotten

The benefit that Bloodhound provides for exhibitors that makes this app valuable is:

• Exhibitor profiles contain logos, tailored messaging, detailed contact information and media such as presentations, catalogues, and images
• I can create a custom list of exhibitors to visit
• I can easily pass along my information to exhibitors of interest by Requesting a Follow-Up
• I can find out where to go by seeing the location on a map
• I can receive recommendations for exhibitors of interest or popular exhibitors

These features assist your exhibitors with the most important part of exhibiting at a tradeshow, a list of interested prospects with their contact information.

We’re also using Lanyrd (http://lanyrd.com/) lanyrd bills itself as the “Social Conference Directory.” Everyday registered users receive email listings of upcoming conferences/events on the topics they are interested in. Users can then choose to follow the event and see which of your Twitter followers are also following the event.  Lanyrd has been great for informing me of events that I didn’t know about.

Use free bar code scanning apps for your mobile phone to scan this code.

Custom QR codes have become part of tradeshow marketing as it allow attendees with smartphones to receive special offers and tradeshow related information by using a free bar code scanner on their smartphone and scanning any of our custom built QR codes. You can learn more about QR codes by reading an earlier Blog post “QR Codes a Key Ingredient for Marketing Success.”

If you plan to use QR codes in your marketing please follow this advice.

1. Test your QR code – It really sucks when the code is so small that scanners cannot scan the code or the code directs traffic to a 404 webpage. If you have a hard time scanning the code or goes to the wrong webpage imagine how other people will feel when they attempt to scan it.

2. Inform people what the code is. QR codes have been popular for years in Asia and Europe but QR codes are just gaining popularity here in the US. Do not assume that people know what the code is and how to read it. Also there are different types of QR codes out there so let people know if they need a special reader.

3. Direct Internet traffic to your Mobile Website – If you’re using QR codes to direct Internet traffic, please have a mobile version of your website built. Traditional websites are built for larger screens and mouse clicking. Mobile website are built for smaller screens and scrolling. If you send mobile traffic to your traditional website you are not providing a good user experience and will probably turn away visitors who became frustrated with your website.  I will write more on mobile websites in an upcoming Blog Post.

If you have a favorite tradeshow/expo app, tool or website please post it here for everyone to learn from.

QR Codes a Key Ingredient for Marketing Success

Use a free QR code or bar code reader to See the message on this QR

Earlier this year I talked about the benefits of developing a Mobile Marketing plan. If you’re still on the fence about mobile marketing then here’s a product that may provide you with that key ingredient you need to execute a successful mobile marketing plan.

QR (Quick Response) codes are a special two dimensional bar code similar to standard bar codes found on the side of everyday products with a difference in the size and shape. The size and shape of QR codes allow them to be scanned by smartphones to deliver a lot more data than the standard barcode.  QR codes have been around since 1994 and are now starting to find marketing success in the U.S.

How do they work?

QR codes  are used to transfer information through barcode readers that can be found on most mobile devices. Anyone with a camera phone (some may require a bar-code reader) can scan a QR code and one of several things will happen:

1. Your smartphone will redirect to the website listed in the QR code.

2. You will be sent a coupon or discount from the QR code owner

.3. The business’s contact information will be instantly stored on your phone.

4. There are several other options of what can happen once you scan the code – the choice is yours.

Actual capacity of the data stored on a QR code depends on the content type … they can incorporate numerical, alphanumerical, binary, or even Kanji/Kana Japanese letters as data. There are also 4 error correction levels (redundancy backup) and 40 symbol version settings which reduce the maximum capacity of final content. Typical usage is 300 characters or less.

QR codes provide mobile phone owners a faster way to get information and that is why they are becoming more popular with consumers. For marketers QR codes provide an excellent way to track the effectiveness of their mobile marketing campaigns. There are some successful campaigns that had engagement rates of up to 60%, which far exceeds normal direct-mail response rates.

If a consumer sees a special offer on a product label, they can immediately scan the QR code and be directed to the website for more information or have access to the the special promotion on their cell phone.

One of the most attractive features of QR codes, from a business standpoint, is that you can change the content delivered via your QR code pretty much on the fly. Today, you may want to offer a 20% off coupon to all consumers who scan your QR code. Tomorrow, you may want the code to provide consumers with a quick tutorial on how to use your product.

Why Implement Mobile Marketing?

Mobile marketing is now, it’s not a fad or a phase. The latest Pew Smartphone Adoption and Usage July 2011 reports that one third of American adults – 35% – own smartphones.  Some 87% of smartphone owners access the internet or email on their handheld, including two-thirds (68%) who do so on a typical day. We have additional stats on the current state of Mobile Marketing HERE.

So as you can see, QR codes provide a lot of options for businesses and almost any business can find a way to take advantage of them. Whether you are promoting a product or a special service, incorporating an interactive QR code will give you a new way to get the attention of your target audience.

Although these funny looking little codes may not seem like a lot, they may be the key ingredient to growing your business and increasing profits.

Here are a few sites that let you build the image code online and then download it.

• qrcode.kaywa.com (URL, text, phone #, or SMS; also size options)
• qrstuff.com (numerous data types; also color options)
• goqr.me (URL, text, phone #, or vCard; also variable size options)
• keremerkan.net (URL only; also color and transparency options)
• gaigalas.net (URL only; uses Google API)
• Mobile Barcoder (Firefox Plugin)
• QR Code Tag Extension (Firefox Plugin)

Here are a few sites that let you download a QR Code reader for your mobile device. Its best to use your mobile phone to go to these websites.

1. i-nigma.mobi
2. kaywa.com
3. neoreader.com

Business Success Depends on Farming Clients Not Hunting New Business

A few weeks ago I was presenting to Supplier Diversity personnel from corporate America and I explained to them how Minority Business owners see them. I used the picture on the left to illustrate my point. Business owners are traditionally hunters, we’re always looking for new business, and new territories to mark. We also see corporate contracts as big trophy prey and many times we spend our energies hunting the faster corporate prey only to get tired lose the prey and go hungry

The more successful approach that I’ve learned from growing RDZ Media Group into a multimillion dollar business comes from farming and cultivating our current clients and not always being on the hunt. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t hunt for new business but should you refocus more of your energy to becoming a valuable vendor to your current clients they will hunt for you and their hunting comes with personal recommendations which almost always seals the deal.

Cultivating and assisting your current clients with meeting their objectives produces a larger Return on Promise (TRUST) that gives your current clients the TRUST to recommend you to anyone and everyone who may have a need for your product/service.  Should you have 10 clients that TRUST you enough to always recommend you, you have a pack of hunters that can cover a larger territory and eventually catch those fast nimble corporate clients.

Cultivating and farming your current clients can also create opportunities for your business to diversify into new areas of business growth.  The company we are today looks nothing like the company we began in 2003 and that’s because of the opportunities we took advantage of based on our client’s wants and needs.

An example of how our clients opened up new areas for us is our EDC app (Electronic Data Collection) for the iPad and

Android devices.  In 2003 we create a flash based application for PDAs that allowed us to collect contact information from people we interacted with during the Seagram’s Live Concert tour.  We created the app because it was difficult figuring out the handwriting on the contact cards and many times we had the wrong phone or email address. The app was faster and was less prone to data collection errors. After the tour ended in 2007 we didn’t think anything of the app until last year when we were approached to build our EDC app for the iPad. We built the app and made several improvements and it was a success for Seagram’s Gin and Absolut.  We continued tweaking the app and have used it successfully with 4 other clients and growing and our EDC app  became the cornerstone of our app development.

App development was nowhere to be found in our 2003 marketing plan but our desire to provide more for our clients and understanding their needs caused us to look for better solutions (INNOVATION).  That INNOVATIVE idea lead us to new markets and business opportunities that we would not have had if we never decided to create a better way to solve our client’s problem (FARMING & CULTIVATING).

With the rise of Social Media I believe its important to farm and cultivate your existing clients. While you are growing your Facebook Fan Page to 100,00 fans and your Twitter followers to 100K+, who will abdicate on your company’s behalf?  Who will be the Brand Ambassadors for your company posting your company’s merits and qualities for their followers to see?  Clients who value your company and appreciate the extra you do for them are your Brand Ambassadors and they can lead more business to your door than you can by hunting on Social Media platforms.

Farming and cultivating your existing clients is not difficult. It requires a mindset of being of service to the client assisting the client with achieving their goals and creating win-win scenarios.  Zig Ziglar said it best “You can have everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

Tips for Farming and Cultivating:

• Follow your client’s industries – This will assist you with learning about challenges and opportunities.
• Schedule regular phone conversation – Take the opportunity to learn about your client’s goals and challenges.  Don’t make it a sales call to talk about your business.
• Get involved in client activities – Attend the client’s family day BBQ and support events that are important to your client. You may find additional opportunities to assist your client and grow new business.
• Ask to be apart of planning sessions – The best time to be proactive is during the planning phase. It allows you to see the larger picture and can be a source of additional opportunities.
• Be INNOVATIVE – Be willing to take a risk, do something you’ve never done before, grow into a new area of business.  Our best business successes began when a client asked us “Can You Do This?”

You can spend a lot of time hunting those fast corporate contracts or you can farm your current clients and  have them join the hunt with you bringing testimonies and accolades as ammunition. Which would you prefer?