Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Social Media Marketing and The Advertising Dollar Not Spent

Social media has done wonders for small business advertising. Print ads, radio ads, and television ads are effective, but the cost can blow a huge hole in your budget with no guarantee of success. Spend your entire advertising budget on a traditional media campaign, and a poorly-designed ad or a bland slogan can wash your money right down the drain.

Social media, on the other hand, is free. And it’s everywhere. To be clear, we’re talking about things like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., plus industry-specific sites - any friend-finding, spread-the-word-type site that allows you to create a profile and promote your brand. These virtual coffee shops can be a godsend to the small business owner, and it only takes a single post to become the latest buzz. Of course, random posts generally don’t find much of an audience. To maximize your showcase, it’s important to have a plan.

Be Everywhere

Don’t limit yourself to a single platform. Create a company profile on all available sites, and tie everything together. For example, announce on Facebook that you’ll be attending a conference at such-and-such, then live-Tweet your enthusiasm throughout the event. If someone is following your company on Twitter, chances are they’ll be interested in what you learn and will re-tweet to others. Then you become the company with the cool insider knowledge about the up-and-coming things in the doodad industry.

Make it Easy

Your company should already have a website, and your website should have a blog. Each page of your site and blog should also have the various "Like" buttons for Facebook, StumbleUpon, Reddit, Twitter, etc. It’s so easy for someone to see something interesting and click a button - suddenly, your page just found a few hundred new viewers. If those buttons aren’t there, the only way to share is to copy and paste the address of the site, log into Facebook, and make a big post about it. People won’t do it, they’ll just move on. If you want people to advertise you for free, at least make it easy for them.

Get Friends and Followers

The best social media strategy is useless if your mom is the only one reading it. Friend and follow everyone you know. Some companies actually sell friends and followers, but there is a question as to how real these people are - if your brilliant posts are going to a neglected account, they are useless. A good way to populate your list is to put yourself out there, just like in real life. Comment on someone else’s post, and put links to your various pages in the signature of your email (if you don’t already have a custom signature, get one).

Don't Be Spammy

Now that you have all these friends, don’t turn them off by advertising 24/7. Don’t come across as a constant ad - let people see that there’s a real person behind these posts, and that the real person just happens to make some really awesome thingies. Sure, it’s fine to post about upcoming specials, new product debuts and such, and you definitely should. But also post normal everyday things. Just check in to say hi, or complain about how this humid weather is slowing production of the whooziwhatsits. Don’t forget holiday posts - you should always, always remember to wish your friends and followers a happy holiday. It puts you out front as a nice company, one that remembers "what’s really important". If you can tie it into your sale on thingies, all the better.

Don’t Make it All About You

Yes, the point of all this is to promote your business, but you don’t want to be seen as the semi-spam who occasionally has good sales. You want to be seen as in industry insider who’s more concerned about disseminating industry news and knowledge, and just accepts the added exposure as a side benefit - in fact, only about 20% of your posts should be directly about your product. Re-tweet interesting things from other people, post links to a talented up-and-comer related to your field.

You may be trying to corner the bobble market, but you came across a young artist who designs custom bobble-keepers. Post it (with pictures) - he gets exposure and feels flattered for attracting the interest of such a highly-esteemed bobble-maker. You get his esteem, and his attention - when your spring collection debuts, he will dutifully re-post it and you’ll reap the benefit of his followers. Not to mention the fact that your other friends and followers will see you as a company that supports rising talent, and a source of all things bobble.

Social media is more than a workplace distraction. In fact, you know that employee who always seems to be on Facebook during office hours? Appoint her head of your social media campaign. Social media is a powerful tool that uses word-of-mouth (the most effective marketing tool ever) and takes it to a global level, and it’s free. Not taking advantage of it means you’re leaving huge swathes of potential customers out in the cold.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Considering Possibilities of Luxury Villas

If you are about to take a vacation, you have likely already started thinking about the various housing options that are available for your stay. Of course, there will be many to choose from and you will have to think about what will best suit your needs. But if you are looking for some extra relaxation, you may want to consider staying at some luxury villas during your time away.
There are many places that you can stay at while you are on a trip. If you plan on staying for an extended period of time, you may find that choosing to stay at a villa can be the best choice for you. Not only is it more reasonable than continually paying for a hotel, but it comes with much more quality and privacy than you would get at other lodgings.
It's a good idea to check the internet and learn more about your surroundings before your trip. This can give you a good idea of where you are going to be staying at and also what is available in the area. Of course, you will likely realize that the surroundings are even more beautiful in actuality than a photograph can ever reflect.
In consideration of these settings, you may find that it is better for you to choose your villa when you have arrived at your destination. This is sometimes the easier choice because you have a full concept of what is surrounding you. Alternatively, the option of virtual tours can be useful if you have time to choose before you depart for your getaway.
Consider factors like pricing and what it means for you during your trip. If you are traveling on a budget, then look for something that will fit well within your means for places you can stay at. There are actually numerous villa locations that remain affordable for those who are traveling on budgets but still want to stay somewhere nice.
Regarding pricing, it can always be beneficial to compare prices around what is available. Some choices will naturally be higher priced than others, but this can be for various reasons. If you compare before you make your decision, you should be able to get the best value for what is available in the area and still have some money available for spending during your stay.
You might even be able to get a discount depending on your traveling plan. This isn't always a possibility, but it is something to consider if you are a frequent traveler. If you are curious about it, ask your travel agent or even contact the lodging itself to learn more about what is possible and open to you currently.
Treating yourself to a stay at luxury villas can be a great way to enjoy your time away. If you are looking to maximize your peace and enjoyment of your trip, this is a great way to begin. If this sounds like an option that may interest you, you should consider it further and explore all of the possibilities b

Monday, March 5, 2012

Cross The Street game

Description of Cross The Street game:
Serve your customers as a street waiter and get there orders across the street.
Game controls:
Use arrow keys to play the game.

Mame - Do game

Description of Mame - Do game:
Pick up the beans by using the chopstick and move its to the different plate.
Game controls:
Use mouse to interact.

Sue's Diet game

Description of Sue's Diet game:
Sue feels a bit fat. Help her choose the right foods. The light shows you which foods have the least amount of calories.
Game controls:
Use mouse to play the game.

Sue' s Sandwich Shop game

Description of Sue' s Sandwich Shop game:
Help make some delicious sandwiches.
Game controls:
Use mouse to interact.

Cafe Waitress game

Description of Cafe Waitress game:
Serve the customers well and earn maximum score. Click with your mouse to take an order, clean the table, place an order, get food as well as dispose the wastes. You can click the back door to call the worker to clean the dishes, refill coffee cups, refil
Game controls:
Use mouse to interact.