Marketing with QR Codes

Have you noticed these funny little things everywhere?  They're QR Codes.

What are QR Codes?

QR stands for quick response and its very similar to a barcode.

QR Codes are more effective for marketing because they can store more information including web links, coordinates and text.

The QR Code digital pattern can be scanned with QR readers or barcode scanners on Smartphones. The images can be added to print ad, direct mail, posters and much more.  I designed this one for my car.

How can QR codes benefit my business?

QR codes create an interactive customer experience that gets attention. They are more dynamic than a business card or just a label with your website and email address. They allow prospects and customers to instantly connect to and act on information about your business, a special discount, or invitation to an event you're planning.

What can I link to?

You can link to anything, your website, Facebook Page or Twitter.  You could simply provide a message with your phone number.  It's best to link to something of  "value" for your customers to give them an incentive for connect to your site (e.g., to obtain an exclusive offer).

How do I get my own QR Code?

I used Unitag to make this one for free. You can make them with or without the branded image in the center.   It's really fairly simple, however, if you like I'll can create one for you.  Just choose whether you want to use an image in the center or not, include your QR message, use Paypal link below to send the payment and email me your image.

Once you have your own QR Code, you can use it on your business cards, print it on stickers, add it to brochures and posters and even put it on your car!

Custom QR Code

with logo $20.00 USD w/out logo $15.00 USD

Enter your QR Message or link

Creating a Facebook Page for your business

So, you're in business and you absolutely love it! It's your passion and you want to tell the world about it!  You've been telling everyone on Facebook about it but all of a sudden you notice you're being "un-friended".  What is happening?  Could it be that not everyone wants to hear all about your product or your opportunity?  While that may be unfathomable to you, it is a good possibility. Don't worry, it happened to me in the beginning too.

What you need is a Facebook Business Page.  This is going to be the foundation of your Facebook marketing.  It's going to allow you to draw in more of your target audience by sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm and still keep your friends. 

Here's a great video that will give you basic instruction.



For direct sales professionals or consultants, I recommend using your own branding and not your company name. For example, if your name is John and you sell widgets for Tommy's Tools and Widgets, do not name your page Tommy's Tools and Widgets. Instead, consider something like John's Handy Household Tips or John's Toolbox, something relevant to the business you are in, but uniquely identifying you.

Once you have your business page set up, you should share tips, tricks and other information that your target audience will find interesting.  Make a few posts there and then invite your friends.  Those who like what they see, will click Like to join and continue getting your business updates.  Be sure to check out my Facebook Business Page and click Like if you like what you see!

I'll go further into what to share and how to do it without spamming in an upcoming post.  Be sure to subscribe to this blog to get all the newest updates as soon as they are available.

How to Create a Facebook Profile

I recently conducted a Social Media Marketing session for a 22 year old, well established company that has many seasoned distributors who are brand new to social media. I recommended that they get started by utilizing Facebook. I started this post with the intention of creating a tutorial on how to create your personal Facebook profile, but found that there was "no need to re-invent the wheel". There is a great tutorial and video already available from AllFacebook.com.

Take a look at the link and video below and let me know if you have any questions.  I'm here to help and glad to do it!

Facebook Tutorial: How to Create a Facebook Profile




Remember, you can also connect with me on Facebook for daily Social Media tips and tricks and subscribe to this blog to get the latest news first!

Social media and the Queen...

The British Monarchy on Facebook

Over the weekend, I caught a bit of "The Queen", a movie about the royal family's response to the 1997 death of Princess Diana.  Before now, I haven't followed the royal family and didn't watch the royal wedding, so I was a bit surprised by the way the movie portrayed Queen Elizabeth II's dislike for Princess Diana.  But, what I really found interesting was how the film emphasized that the people wanted a public expression of grief from the royal family, as if they wanted to be included in the family's grieving process or at least know how they were grieving.

Could this have been the start of the "social media revolution"? 

At the end of the movie, the Queen states that times have changed and that the monarchy must "modernize".  I started wondering how all of this would have been different had it happened now, 14 years later. Of course we could compare it to the royal wedding fanfare, but weddings are a time of positive publicity and celebration, not the grief and controversy around Diana's death.

In the film, the Queen is appalled at the desire of the people to have a public funeral.  I wonder how would she have felt if it had been broadcast on Facebook like Michael Jackson's funeral, (which I did watch parts of on FB)? Even with her recognition that there was a need to modernize (according to the film), it wasn't until last year that the British Monarchy joined Facebook.

So, why does any of this matter and what does it have to do with anything?  I simply found it interesting since I work with people from many generations and backgrounds with varying "attitudes" towards Social Media, some with concerns about the transparency of it all, and some who just don't understand why people want to know what you're doing all the time. For the most part, I think its just another example of how "we don't have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it." (Erik Qualman)


What do you think?  Feel free to post your comments below.

Why Social Media? Why Now?

If you're still asking yourself why you need to get involved with Social Media Marketing, here is a wonderful demonstration of the impact Social Media is having on today's culture.



Click here if you can't see the video above: http://youtu.be/3SuNx0UrnEo

Compare the data from the video above with this one to see the growth in just two years!



Click here is you can't see it: http://youtu.be/NhPgUcjGQAw

5 Simple Rules

While Social Media can be an excellent networking and business marketing tool, there a few basic rules that everyone should follow, whether promoting themselves or their business.

Rule One: Think Before You Post.
Know that anybody can and will GOOGLE you. Many posts show up openly in Google searches and anything can be copied, pasted, shared, re-tweeted, etc. Don't post anything that you don't want your mom, your friends, your employer, your clients, your professor or a recruiter to see. It's that simple.

Rule Two: It's not all about me!
If all you do is post about what you had for lunch and complain, you will not get much benefit from these tools. The best way to be successful with social media sites in general is to be engaged. It's a two-way conversation. So, actively go out and "engage" with people who have similar interests to you. You never know where that online conversation may take you.

Rule Three: Don't Drink and Post!
This is pretty self-explanatory. The same goes for positing and driving. Posting and drinking and posting and driving are downright stupid and can be dangerous. If you're not sure about this one, refer to Rule #1.


Rule Four: Use Good Grammar.
I know it's often hard to express everything due to the limited characters allowed. That's why certain symbols and abbreviations have become common shortcuts. But that being said, there's no reason to have ugly grammar errors.

Rule Five: Don't Be A Debby Downer!
Be positive! There's enough doom and gloom in the world, so don't add to it with a whole bunch of negative posts and complaints.

Getting started: There's No Need to Re-invent the Wheel

Image

Sometimes when we start something new, we think we have to start from the ground up.  I've been trying to determine where to start with this blog.  What basic information should come first?  I've decided that there is already a LOT of information out there, so there's really no need to duplicate it exactly.  I'm going to share some great links here about getting started with Social Media Marketing, focusing on Facebook since 51% of Americans already have Facebook accounts.  Since my goal is to keep it simple, I want to provide the most basic information first.  My concern is that with my technical background, my simple may not equal your simple.  So here are some great resources to get you started.  What I want you to do is note any questions that you have in the comment section below so that I can gauge if these links contain truly "simple" direction, okay?  Let's get started:

How to Create your Personal Facebook Profile
If you are part of the 49% NOT on Facebook yet, it's simple, start here.

To Build a Facebook Page, you need a Facebook Profile
This will help you understand the difference between a Facebook Page (for your business) and a Facebook Profile (all about you).

Facebook 101 for Business: Your Complete Guide
There is a lot of info here. It may seem complicated if you don't have a full understanding of the links above.

Now, review these links and let me know what you think.  I'm here to help and glad to do it! Post your questions below and we'll figure it out!

It's finally here...

No one is too small to put themselves on the social map. Social networking is the most productive and cost effective form of marketing/advertising currently available.

I specialize in teaching small business owners and direct sales professionals to manage their own social media marketing campaigns. Let me show you how simple it is to create your social network today.