Getting Analytical

One of the biggest challenges with being online is having the time to manage it.  Whether it is posting to Facebook, updating your website or answering emails, these activities take time.  One of the things that gets overlooked is taking an analytical approach to your online persona.  From Facebook and LinkedIn Insights to Google Analytics there are a number of free analytical tools for you to use to track your visitors and their interactions with you.

And you’re doing more than just watching.  If you learn from your Google Analytics for example that 90% of your website visitors are coming from Facebook then you know you need to prioritize keeping your Facebook page fresh and up to date.  If only 5% of your web traffic comes from Facebook then perhaps you need to take a closer look at how you are using the medium and consider changing your strategic approach.

Being strategic doesn’t have to take a lot of time and it doesn’t require the purchase of fancy tools.  But it is important and may be the most important few minutes you spend on your business this week.

A Second Look at Pinterest

Most of the focus on Pinterest from a business perspective has been about not being left behind. Companies who have made great gains in being “ahead” of the social media curve rushed to sign up in fear not having an account will make them appear behind.

Now that some time has passed, companies are starting to use it more effectively as a brand building tool, using it as a way to further engage their followers and fans and promote goods and services.

There is another way that companies and organizations can look at Pinterest however, which is as an internal tool.  Using Pinterest to track relevant articles and studies, vendors and providers can help strengthen your employee communications.

Organizations who don’t know where to start with Pinterest should consider starting the same place you would as an individual: what are your interests, passions, areas of expertise.  And then, just start pinning.

Why Don't They "Like" Me?

One of the biggest frustrations companies have with Facebook is the number of “likes” they have.  Small businesses especially are able to accrue some number of likes quickly by reaching out to family and friends but find building beyond that initial base challenging.  Here are a few ways to increase the number of people who like you:

• Offer “fan only” content – by providing information, photos etc. only to those who “like” your page will help convert people who were already aware of your page but just hadn’t taken the next step
• Study your insights – Facebook does a good job of letting you know what posts your viewers engage with.  Take note of the type of post, the time of day, day of the week and make edits to your Facebook posting calendar accordingly
• Consider running ads – the big brands do it all the time and since you control your daily spend and can target people by interest, location and more advertising on Facebook can help drive traffic to your page
• People love contests – even if it has a small prize, consider running a contest from the Facebook Page (make sure you review their terms and conditions first).  Contests are a great way to gather lead information, increase your “likes” and improve the overall virality of your page and your business

Facebook isn’t rocket science, but an effective page does need time and tending to yield results…and who doesn’t want to be “liked”?