Facebook continues to be the most powerful social network on the planet with over 750 million active users.  Are you making Facebook a part of your online marketing strategy?

#1: Give people a reason to become a fan

Ever since Sally Field accepted her Academy Award with the words “You Like Me, You Really Like Me”  ”Liking” has become part of the perceived positive response to our marketing messages – and getting visitors to “Like” your fan page and interact with your brand messaging is a sure key to success.  Offer a free trial, coupon or even specialized information, and you can significantly increase fan conversion rates, while giving real value in becoming a fan – check this out…

TruTV’s fan page saw a 400% increase in fan conversions during the video promotion because they gave people a reason to become fans. 

#2: Stay true to your brand message

People who Like your brand on Facebook expect your posts to be at least somewhat related to your brand or industry – but you can be creative in delivering fresh info into your daily posts…

• Write about a current event and tie it to your brand or industry.
• Find and share a funny YouTube video loosely related your brand or industry.
• Ask your audience to post questions, pictures or stories about your brand to your wall.
• Repost the most interesting content back out as an update.c.

#3: Ask the right kind of questions

Get your fans talking on Facebook by asking interesting and entertaining questions. But did you know there’s a right way and wrong way to ask questions on Facebook? When done right, you can significantly increase your fan engagement and build some great relationships.  Ask questions that are easy to answer. Questions that require just one-word responses tend to get the most engagement. Remember, people LOVE to talk about themselves, so when you make it about them, they are more likely to jump into the conversation,

For example, Zappos asked a fun, easy-to-answer question. They asked, “What was your first concert?” They even attached a great video of one of their employees answering the question too. The response from this question was fantastic! 

#4: Include pictures in your Facebook updates

 

#5: Celebrate your business. brand milestones

Did you reach so many fans on your facebook page?  Is you Company celebrating an anniversary, is it George in shippings Birthday – ask your followers to celebrate with you.

Notice the high level of engagement on this Facebook update! 

#6. Run a Facebook contest

“To run a Facebook Contest, you’ll need to use a third-party app such as Wildfire,Strutta, North Social, Easypromos or Shortstack. You can also create your own iFrame app to accept the entries, but that will require programming. Facebook has many rules about how a contest or promotion can be run that you should read here:http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php. The main thing to consider is that you cannot automatically enter people who Like your page or post a comment on your wall.

“Your prize does not have to be expensive to garner a lot of entries and good buzz – just give away something your audience is interested in, you will create great buzz for you and your Facebook page.

Recently, the Facebook page Chocolate for Breakfast ran a contest giving away a box of truffles and had over 700 entries and over 400 new Likes in one week using the Wildfire application. 

#7: Measure your Facebook marketing!

The Facebook Insights dashboard provides a wealth of data on how users are interacting with your Facebook page and apps.

The power of publicity is a potent tool to build brand awareness about your small business. If your situation and timing is right, hiring a public relations firm can be a worthy investment. A seasoned professional will be able to construct a media campaign that will lead to measurable results. But when you choose your publicist – get it RIGHT!

The RIGHT Product

A great time to hire a PR firm is when you have a new product. We define a product as a person, place, service or thing  that’s available to the masses and consumable marketplace.  Making the proper investment into a cohesive marketing plan and determining first if your brand is viable and if there’s a trade or consumer market for that perspective.Another important factor is where your product or service will be sold and the best way to reach that audience. In other words, don’t waste your time doing a national campaign if your product is only available in three regional markets.  But using pr to drive brand reach and awareness is indeed at the core of what successful pr and publicity is all about!

The RIGHT Timing

Finding your ideal team, at the right time, is critical. Far too often, the work of a publicist who is hired too early or too late in a campaign is rendered obsolete. For example, publicists who work with magazines require more time — planning four months or more in advance — to secure coverage. But you also don’t want to start spreading the word before you’re ready. Some small businesses make the mistake of launching too prematurely.  A good experienced publicist will help you determine the TIMING and not have you wasting your money, time, and the media’s time –  remember a publicist media connections are gold and we don’t want to offer them or represent brands or products that we don;t believe in or feel have a real potential for success.  For the Internet and daily newspapers, a public relations blitz can be planned just a few months before a product or service is available. A good publicist is aware of how to time coverage for optimal results – trust them – thats why your hired them!

The RIGHT Platform

Needless to say, the digital world has vastly changed the parameters of public relations. Blogs and social media campaigns using Facebook and Twitter are paramount to a strong media push. We suggest that our clients also have use manage their twitter and facebook accounts – having someone who spells the language of the social media platform and is not just posting “sale pitches” is so important in evaluating the success of these platforms.  C.I. Visions is a big supporter of  integrative cause marketing, which includes philanthropic work to enhance our clients’ image and often leads to strong media impressions.  We encourage our clients – like us – to be the change they want to see in the world – putting out proactive actions that expand the model of “selling” your product makes both good sense and great cents$$$

The RIGHT Match

Follow your instincts.  Do you like this publicist?  Is the agency size and structure similar to your own company.   You are not buying an image.  Your company and product are your image – align with partners that understand that – and remember publicists are great with our gift for talking – I have heard time and time again of agencies that have sold potential clients a big line of bull and not delivered on their grand promises.  Again, look for an agency that has the long-term connections, someone who the media likes and has a proven track record with and speak with their previous clients to get a feel for their credibility.  Bottom line – trust your gut!!!  I also ask my clients to make their dreamlist of media outlets where they would like to see their brand mentioned – and even ask for a wish list of specific outlets — including television, newspapers, magazines, blogs, websites and social media channels — where they would like to be covered.  I tell clients upfront what is do-able and just what is not going to happen!

We are our clients brand ambassador. Its our job to tell your story. If my team does not believe in your brand,  it won’t work and we will not represent you.

Blonde Thinking…but my roots do need a touch up!!!!

Carol A. Ientile

Carol A. Ientile, the blonde thinking at the helm of C.I. Visions/cientie@civisions.com

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending my boyfriend’s Grandfather’s-okay, “Pap Pap’s”- 85th Birthday party! It was a night full of fun consisting of fabulous food, great company, and the ultimate dance party. While preparing to meet the family (and by family, I mean the huge Italian family who all seemed to know everything about me) I had to figure out just the right outfit to wear. Talk about stressful! As you can imagine, I wanted to look as best as possible…put together, polished and well, absolutely fabulous! I took a stroll in some of NYC’s great stores, yet nothing jumped out at me. I wanted to appear attractive, yet stay more on the conservative end.  Oh yeah, and actually be able to afford the dress without setting up monthly payments.

AHA! Enter Ali Ro. This line has exactly what I was looking for. Not only are the dresses extremely trendy and cute, but this dress did just what I wanted. I felt great, looked like a million bucks and most importantly did not show too much skin. It was absolutely perfect and so appropriate!  So there I was, dancing with “Pap Pap” in an above the knee, synched waisted dress that was too cute for words. A fabulous print, a great cut and beautiful detail. I could not have asked for a better dress! It was definitely a hit and I received compliments all night.  Ali Ro is my new go-to for all sorts of occasions!

After recently looking through old family folders, I realized that throughout my childhood I was raised a typical girly girl. I took ballet and violin lessons, had a best friend named Barbie, and played dress up like it was my job. Some of my earliest memories are of me trying on my mother’s clothes, and applying sloppy makeup that I was sure looked fabulous.

It’s funny how our past can resurface.

Today I would consider myself a seasoned girly girl. I still love to dance and, although I gave up playing with Barbie quite some time ago and stopped playing violin once I reached college, through much practice, I like to think I now know the tricks of the trade when it comes to applying makeup. And needless to say, dressing up in glamorous clothes continues to be a passion of mine.

You can only imagine that I was on cloud nine when I was told that I would be wearing some of Sherri Hill’s newest designs on Monday. As I slipped into one dress after another, I couldn’t help but think that five-year-old me would have been in awe by the gems, jewels, glitz, and glam that I was now experiencing.

I can only describe Sherri’s new styles as nothing less than exquisite. The extreme amount of detail and thought that clearly went into making each dress made me feel as though I was wearing a piece of art.

Both the little girl in me, and my 21-year-old self could not have been happier at that moment.

One dress in particular must have struck a chord with Sherri herself, because she asserted that I need an event to wear something sparkly to. I could not agree with her more. Since then, I have desperately been trying to find a reason to wear one of the beautiful dresses, but for the moment the girly girl in me is plenty happy with the fact that I had the opportunity to dress like a princess.

xo