Have you got the online X factor? Does your website have buzz?
It used to be that to be popular in the digital realm, you needed a slick website, killer products, and advertising dollars. But in today’s competitive landscape, that’s only part of the equation. You need buzz too.
What is buzz? And how can your website create it?
Buzz defines what people say about a product or service online when they don’t have an incentive to say anything. It’s the stuff people are talking about with no prompting from us marketers. It’s what the @mentions are for and Twitter’s heart and mind.
And buzz is a powerful force — so much so that Netflix recently put it at the center of their marketing strategy.
But how do you create buzz about your company on the web? And more importantly, how do you keep it coming?
You can start by taking a look at your website's content. Is there newsworthy information about your company? Are there exclusive interviews or new products that people want to share with their friends? Create something like this, and people will take notice.
Of course, you’ll probably need a bit of help in order to get your message out there. That’s where things like social media come in. Social media is an excellent way to reach lots of people quickly and it’s easy to use. But, you have to be careful about the messages you share online.
You may have heard the phrase "any press is good press." And, that is true to a certain degree — but without a goal or a strategy in mind, any press can quickly turn bad and become a PR nightmare for your business.
Twitter is perhaps the best example of this problem online. Twitter users send millions of messages daily — but those tweets don’t always get the responses they expect (or want).
There are many ways to share your message on Twitter. You can tweet about special events, share new products, or even ask for user feedback. But if you want people to pay attention to what you’re sharing and respond with positive comments, you have to approach social media PR in a smart way.
For example, if your goal is to get people talking about a new product or service, the best thing you can do is ask users questions and use real language. If something goes wrong at your company – like a server crash – the best thing you can do is acknowledge that problem quickly and apologize for it.
Today’s consumers are savvy and they can smell out a promotional message from a mile away. If you want to create buzz, be yourself on social media and don’t try too hard to sell something – even if it is your own product or service.
And, if you do manage to create some buzz around your company, don’t expect that it will last forever. In today's fast-moving world of social media, there's always the next viral sensation to compete with. So keep creating new things and sharing them online so that you can stay relevant in your customers' minds.
When it comes to creating buzz about your company on the web, there really is no magic formula for success. But if you show your customers that you’re an authority and that you understand their problems, they will trust you and listen to what you have to say.
And once people start listening, it's relatively easy to get them to start talking and sharing.
For more information on how your business can use social media marketing, contact us at info@mstreetconsulting.com.
Source : http://www.mstreetconsulting.com/blog/have-you-got
has-the-online-x-factor/
Title: The 1.6 Billion New Year's Resolution Busters
Author: John Meseck
Date: January 3rd, 2013
Let’s face it – new year can be a mixed bag. We often set lofty goals for ourselves that are destined to fail before the end of the first month. The following will help you separate fact from fiction when it comes to setting achievable goals that lead to real results this year.
1. You will lose weight – then including it back on.
This is not just a resolution – it’s a straight up lie. There will be no one-size-fits-all diet that works for all people. Not only are there too many variables (we don’t know what kind of food you like, how active you are, or how much you weigh), but diets fail when they’re unrealistic (dieting is stressful and requires willpower).
No matter what diet plan you follow, weight loss usually occurs in stages and it always happens in increments. All diets tell us the same thing: eat less and exercise more to lose weight.
At first, you may lose a pound or two per week; then it will slow down to half a pound or less until you reach your target weight. Each individual is different – what works for you today, maybe won’t work tomorrow. The key is to figure out the right combination of diet and exercise that will work for your body and your life.
2. You’re going to quit smoking this year – but only end up switching brands
Again, this isn’t a resolution, it’s a lie. Quitting anything cold turkey has already proven to be difficult (that is why there are patches and prescription drugs specially developed for quitting).
If you’re set on quitting smoking, make sure that you have a game plan. For example, ask yourself why do you want to quit and how much are you willing to spend? Most importantly, pre-plan what activities will occupy your mind and hands when the urge to smoke creeps in.
3. You’ll watch less TV – but constantly check your social media accounts
Just because we watch TV doesn’t mean that it is without merit – watching habits can help us learn more about ourselves (and what we like to do) as well as help us entertain ourselves while allowing us to relax. It can also help us de-stress and reflect upon our lives.
4. You’ll quit your foul language this year – but keep up the cussing
There is nothing wrong with swearing – it can add a whole lot of spice and flavor to your personality. But — if you find that you’re constantly slipping into vulgarity and cursing like a sailor, then it may be time to take a look at yourself. Swearing is not about who you are; rather, it can be about what type of person you want to become.
5. Quit smoking weed this year – or keep smoking weed all year long
It is unprecedented that someone can smoke weed and not get addicted or “hooked” on the drug.
Conclusion:
Unfortunately, New Year is full of unrealistic resolutions that we can’t keep up with. We are just too busy trying to live our lives and accomplish things all the while working to pay our bills, pay off debt, and make enough money to save for the future.
But here’s a big problem: How many resolutions have you failed on? How many times have you set a goal that was way too ambitious and then missed it? Maybe you even made it seem like it was easy when it wasn’t.