All sorts of business use Foursquare…restaurants, bars, gyms…you name it!  So, whatever your business goals and framework may be, there is a reasonably good chance that Foursquare can offer you some business benefits!  Foursquare is a great, easy way to start a simple customer loyalty program.  In the case of using Foursquare to build customer loyalty, be sure that your business is one that puts a great value on repeat customers.  Then, use Foursquare to implement a loyalty points system of sorts, or consider building a Foursquare contest which enters users based on the number of times they check in to your business.

Point blank, Foursquare is an easy opportunity to get creative with internet marketing.  If you are not looking to utilize Foursquare for the purpose of building customer loyalty, consider giving away a few freebies with Foursquare.  For example, a local Denver bar offers a free shot to bar-goers who check in on Facebook at the bar and offer the bartender proof via smart phone.  For whatever kind of business you run, consider some variety of free collateral with your logo stamped on it (anything to set your company into peoples’ minds).

When you begin to implement Foursquare into your marketing plan, be sure to take advantage of having an easy-to-update page where you can list specials, promotions, and events pertaining to your business!  Link up Foursquare to your other social media pages, particularly Twitter and Facebook.  Linking Foursquare to these other social media outlets makes updating and synchronizing everything much, much easier!  Just like Facebook and Twitter, aim to add friends to your business’ page.  These friends may be loyal customers, prospective customers, or other businesses.  Consider getting the help of other businesses and collaborating on some variety of Foursquare promotion or special.  For example, “dine at our sub shop on your lunch break and get half price off your ice cream at the shop next door!”

Remember, with Foursquare, to consider what keeps customers coming back.  Is it simply incentives?  Or can you build value into the experience such that customers do not even require incentives?

It’s up to you how valuable this new social media tool can be!

Why Relationships?

Relationships are what our society is built upon. Most people believe with the Internet and social media we are becoming better connected. However, many people have found that relationships have actually become harder to maintain than before. Since relationships are the foundation which our society exists we know they must carry over relationships to the cyber world. With this series we hope to help people better understand what it means to build relationships online.

Be Yourself

This should go without saying. However, the key to building any relationship is being yourself. You are most comfortable when you do this. Also, either as an individual or company, it will save explanations down the road if you are upfront and yourself from day one. No one likes two-faced individuals. So simply be yourself. This is something we have been taught all of our lives. It still applies today to the online world as well.

Don’t Over-Reach Your Boundaries

We are all busy people. Building relationships online can make us believe we can be connected with two or three times more people than we are in real life. The reality is even online relationships take time to develop and maintain. When building relationships online, be careful not to over reach not only the amount of connections you have, but also the number of platforms you use. With the expansion of social media it is very easy to take your place on every social media platform out there. But be sure to only take your place in places where you can maximize your potential. This is something we will cover in the weeks to come.

Branch Out

 This seems like a direct contradiction to the previous statement. However, this is not speaking of doing the opposite of over-reaching. When choosing which platforms you are building relationships through do not be afraid to branch out onto platforms you are not already active. Also, branching out can involve reaching out to business sectors which you might not typically reach out to. These can reap untold benefits. (Which we will speak of later in the series.)

Conclusion

We have begun to look at some simple keys to building relationships online. Over the next few weeks we will look at several places where building relationships are integral online. If you have a story of a strong relationship which you have built online, please share it in the comments below. Also, if you have an area where you would like to see us delve into relationship-building online as a blog topic do not hesitate to share that below either!

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It’s not Twitter…

It’s Pinterest.  Chances are, you’ve heard of it.  It’s all over Facebook, actually (you can connect your Pinterest account to your Facebook account, and can get Facebook status updates of Pinterest activity).  The idea of Pinterest is that it’s an online “pin board” (or bulletin board, really) that you can post and repost to.  Pinterest users can connect ot friends by liking their pins, commenting on their pins, and re-pinning their pins.

So, when you think of Denver social media and what it can do for your company, start thinking about Pinterest!

In particular, Pinterest is very popular among women.  This growing social media powerhouse mainly attracts women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s; and these ages of women are currently the top spenders in the United States.  It is often seen as a site to find and post inspiration.  Common pins and re-pins are related to fashion, interior design, and creative recipes.  Pinterest’s visual aspect and ease of use offer interesting opportunities for internet marketing.

When marketing your company via social media, consider creating a Pinterest account.  Pins that offer marketing opportunities might be anything from simply photographs of your products that link back to your website, or photographs that link to websites featuring your products in a different context or use.  Pinterest can also be used to do some market research.  Connecting to any “like”-ers from your Facebook page to Pinterest is an excellent idea to help find out what grabs the attention and inspires your customers and potential customers.

Keep in mind that successful advertising with Pinterest also requires a good deal of creativity: think about creating a versatile board that is not just about your products, but that does have your product as the main focus.  For example, if you are marketing a company that sells kitchen appliances, throw a few pictures linked to smoothie recipes alongside your blenders!  Make a grill board complete with the grills, the poolside view, and some gourmet burgers linked to their recipes.  Also, remember that, although pins link the websites they were acquired from, the pin image is what actually draws the user in.  When considering the appearance of your own products for pins, make sure they appear enticing!

Another important thing to keep in mind when marketing with Pinterest is that on that particular site, your brand is defined by what you post.  Therefore, consider how your brand image is portrayed through the pins and ‘pinboards’ you create (and use it to your advantage)!

Above all, remember that, like any social media outlet, Pinterest is about exposure and connecting with customers.  So, like any social media, make it count!

Oh, and have fun with it, too.  Which is pretty easy to do when you are using Pinterest!

Content, Content, Content

We hear the word content all the time. But what do we actually mean when we say it? When we speak about content here in our world it means something a little different than what the average person might assume. Content is anything worthy of posting or publishing on your website, email or social media channels. Content many times takes the form of textual blog articles, though it can also be videos or infographs. When we use content we want it to properly tell the story of our brand, company and what they stand for.

Compiling Content

We feel this concept is crucial to grasp. When compiling content to post it is best to slowly compile posts over time. Spending time to compile the content allows for the best content to be placed in the posting schedule. When the content has been compiled and reviewed before scheduling and posting a company can then select the content which best fits the brand. This helps shape how the viewers of the content see the company and its brand.

Proper Content

There are several points which exist under the proper content topic. First, is the content that the company seeking to post appropriate?  A company should post not only content which is not only appropriate in a general sense, but also content which is appropriate to what they feel embodies their company and is of value to their target audience. This second point on proper content deals with the direction a company wants to go with their brand. Proper content will help steer the company’s target audience towards what it is the company brand stands for.

Original Content

This should be a no brainer. When scheduling content to post a company should schedule original content posting, not just curating content from other sites. This helps build a business’s reputation. Sharing original content also shows the target audiences that a company is comfortable and confident in the validity of the content they post. Posting original content is also yet another way to help shape how a company builds their brand. The perks of sharing original content continue and outweigh any perks which a company may gain from sharing other content.

Credible Content

Viewers want to know what they are seeing is credible. Why would a person spend time reading something which brings no value to them, or that they wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing? This is not going to happen. So when compiling a list of things to share with your viewers, make sure the articles are from credible sites. These sites will vary by industry.

Topical Content

Speaking on the variation of industry, seeking out content to compile for a schedule should involve topics related to the company and its brand. This topical content can come from the two places previously mentioned. When posting topical content a company can also build relationships with similar businesses. This allows for businesses to build their credibility in this way also.

We have seen several ways in which compiling content for a posting schedule can work. What are your thoughts? Are there any other strategies which you employ when you compile content for your social media publishing schedule? If so, share them in the comments below!

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Tablets in the building, in the lobby, at the table…you get the picture!

Station a tablet in the lobby of your business office: maybe it’s there for customers who are waiting to peruse company information and statistics.  Maybe the tablet is stationed in the lobby so that customers can do a search that corresponds with a map of the building and business departments.  If you are a restaurant owner or manager, you could put the menu on a tablet!  It’s a whole lot easier than coming up with a spiel for the day’s specials.  In summary, tablets can be used either as a source of information, or as an entertainment source…or, both!

Publish a tablet-only magazine or newspaper

An updated idea of the old e-zine, a tablet-zine is a great way to advertise and draw in customers.  While you save paper (and trees), a tablet page-turning magazine is more fun to scroll through than the same information would be on the internet.  The tablet, while still an internet solution for a paper product, offers more in the realm of tangibility than simply a website (however, you still get to put your website development skills to use).

Make it a game

Take advantage of apps: turn anything into a game.  Maybe it’s a game that simply helps you advertise your products and services, or maybe it’s a game which allows for users to put their points towards something.  Either way, make it fun, and maybe a little bit addicting.

Take advantage of connectivity

Remember, the great thing about tablets is connecting with others.  Whether that’s making sure that people can share one tablet, or that people can connect over multiple tablets, there is always one goal in mind: being well connected.  For example, at an event, you might consider using a tablet as a 21st century version of a guestbook.  Event-goers enter through the front door, grab a nametag, and proceed to the tablet to sign their name, email, and a short message.  What a great way to connect with people!

So, as you can see, tablets offer a lot of opportunities for mixing up your marketing tactics.  Tablet use does not mean you have to change your campaign completely.  Think about adding, not subtracting!  What can a tablet add to your campaign?

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