Check out this great infographic put together by the team at Search Engine Journal. They’ve laid out a great way for us to take a look at some interesting facts and information about the insane growth of “Social” in the online marketing landscape. In particular, take a look at the steep curve of the user growth rate in all age ranges and demographics. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve had people tell us that social is not important because their users are “older” and don’t use Facebook.

Source: The Growth of Social Media: An Infographic

So what do you think? Is there still a demographic that doesn’t benefit from the use of a solid social media marketing campaign?

We all know that social media is a wonderful way to promote your business and give yourself a name among the public, however, managing it can often seem like a daunting task. This article will help you learn how to enter the social networking scene, how it can work to make your business more successful than ever before, and how you can become a hit on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Check Out the Competition

You want your spot in the social network to be unique; however, it still helps to see what makes other businesses succeed. Before you set up your profile, search for businesses that are similar to yours on the same social media site. For instance, if you are starting a Facebook account for a dog grooming service, check out similar services on Facebook that have a lot of fans. Try to envision what viewers find interesting about their profile, and then try to incorporate the same factors into yours.

Start Out Small

Just because you want to have a foot in every outlet of the social network doesn’t mean that you have to start out with accounts on fifteen different websites. It’s always best to start out small and work your way up rather than start out big and then fizzle from the stress of keeping up. Facebook is a good place to start out because it’s easy to set up and is one of the most popular forms of social networking. After you have your Facebook account up and going, then you can move onto other choices such as Twitter.

Finding Fans, Friends, and Followers

Social media helps to both attract new clients while keeping in contact with those you’ve done business with before. When you create your social networking profiles, it’s important to make sure that the profile is public and viewable by everyone; this will allow people who don’t know anything about you to look at your updates and then choose to become a fan or follow you online. You can attract people to your profile by joining groups on sites like Facebook. For instance, if you sell garden supplies, join some gardening groups and then get in on the discussions. Be careful not to make your group posts seem like an advertisement; instead, act like an expert and help to resolve people’s questions. By being helpful, you are much more likely to attract fans than if you seem like a misplace infomercial.

Stick with Quality, Not Quantity

Often, business people feel that, to keep up a social media account, they need to update their status every hour or so. While this would be fine if there was actually something worth spreading to the public, these bulk updates are often useless and just make readers bored. With too many updates, readers may become frustrated and block you from their newsfeed. Balance your updates, only publishing things that are worth the time of your readers and the time it takes you to write the message.

This is About Your Business, Not You

When people become a friend, fan, or follower on social media sites, it’s because they’re interested in your business – they’re not interested in you personally. So many businesses mix these two concepts up; instead, of sending out quality updates, they begin to throw out useless information about themselves. If you are a chiropractor, then send out important updates about things pertaining to your business or chiropractic health; don’t post updates about your sick four-year-old throwing-up on the kitchen floor. If you want to send out personalized status updates, then create a social networking account for yourself and invite your friends to follow you, while keeping your business account professional and on-track.

Creating Widgets on Your Website

Put a widget up on your site for your social networks. Widgets allow you to post your content anywhere on the web. By putting widgets on your website or command center, visitors to your site can keep up with your status updates, choose to become a follower or fan of your profile and it makes it much easier to get your users and friends to retweet or share your content across their social networks. While this gives you a great way to share information and keep in contact with potential clients, don’t forget that your website or command center is your central hub on the net: Although some of the big guys are doing it, don’t become so consumed with your Facebook or Twitter that you start directing clients to them rather than to the valuable information on your main site.

Don’t drive your followers nuts

You would think this one is just common sense, right? Unfortunately, there are lots of companies that are just starting out with social media think the best way to “promote” their brand is to publish a million tweets with a million different offers to sell their product. Remember: if it’s something you personally wouldn’t like to receive, avoid it. If all you are doing is tweeting the same promotional type information over and over again, don’t do it. Your goal in creating social relationships is to be helpful. People follow and respect brands that are helpful, not self-promoting, self-absorbed companies. A great use of social media is to answer questions your “friendsters” have that pertain to your industry, post useful links to industry articles, and engage your base.

By taking the time to start out small, observe the competition, and balance your work, the social networking system is a great way to earn business while making life-long friends of your clients. The social media is a must for any business that wants to thrive in this fast-growing internet world.

Created and Built on our proprietary Effect Engine platform As with all non-profit websites created and designed by our sister brand Cozality, Curamericas Global has many social, interactive, and communications tools needed to run a successful non-profit organization in today’s technological world. Curamericas’ Mission is to partner with under-served communities to make measurable and sustainable improvements in their health and well-being.

Website Type:

Custom Build, Dynamic PHP / Zend Web Application.

Tecnologies Used:

• Custom Super Administration Panel
• Javascript / JQuery
• PHP 5+
• Facebook API / FBML
• Twitter Application Development through API
• Custom API
• Custom Built MySql Database
• XHTML / CSS 4 and 5
• Donation Management Module
• Shopping Cart Donation Module
• PayPal Integration
• Custom XML Application
• Many Other Features
• View All Features

Other Services:

• Search Engine Optimization
• Social Media Integration with Facebook / Twitter

Visit Curamericas.org

Social media is a fast, direct way to communicate with customers and prospects. From the first email sent in 1971, to the domination of Facebook today, social media has come a long way. In fact, being connected to the world around us has never been easier or accessible than it is today.

There are some social sites so large they are larger than the population of most countries, and others that cover every niche known to man.

One of the best things about Facebook is it’s uniformity. As a small business you can post as much information and content as you can create, but the actual design and layout of your business page is the same as everyone else’s. That’s the good part. The bad part is that trying to differentiate your Fan page from everyone else’s means that you must customize what people see when they land on your Page.

No doubt you have seen custom Fan Pages. When you land on a particular Page, instead of seeing the Pages wall or feed, you see what is in some cases a “welcome page”, and in others what is basically a mini website within Facebook (like those of Carsmosis and McCreary’s Beach).

These are often used to promote deals, call attention to new products, or simply welcome visitors with an attractive branded splash page. Anyone with a Fan Page can create one, but it takes a little effort. Here’s how.

1. Create your Facebook Fan Page (If you have not already done so)

On the left side of your Facebook News Feed Page, select the Pages link and follow the instructions.

For set-by-step instructions on building a Facebook Page, follow this easy wizard:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

2.  Create a Welcome Image

Using a graphic design program such as Photoshop or Fireworks, create your welcome graphic. Remember the max size of this image cannot be larger than 520px wide, and 800px in height.

If you do not have a graphic program, no worries. You can either contact us for an affordable design, find a local graphic designer to create one for you, or use the GoSo applets free images that are included. A word of caution however: For a potential customer, this is perhaps the first impression of your company. Be sure to portray a professional image. As with your website, if you are not willing to put the time or effort into a clean professional design, do nothing.

3. Search Facebook  for “GoSo Welcome”.

In the Search bar area of the site, search for “GoSo Welcome” and hit enter. This should bring up the GoSo Welcome Applet.  Select it.

Did we mention the best part? This app is 100% free.

4. Click on the “Install Applet on Your Page” Button.

5. Choose your Business Page.

This part is fairly straight forward. Follow the online instructions and choose the Page you created in Step #1 (or a page that you created previously).

6. Upload Your Design

Choose your design from your computer, then hit upload.

If you want to make your link “Clickable”, just enter in the Domain Address into the “Link URL” space provided, and be sure to click “Link this image”.

7. Save, Preview, Done!

Hit Save & Preview and watch the magic happen. You now have a professional Facebook Welcome Page, that took no time at all and cost you either little or no money. How cool is that?

If you know of any other great small business applications like this that would help out the small business community, please share it below.

With the growth of the internet, the online world has provided both customers and producers with new ways to list, sell, and purchase products. Up until this point, looking for a vehicle online has still been a tricky process. While there are plenty of classified sites available, most of them have only a handful of listings, leaving potential buyers confused about where they should look and those who want to sell their vehicle scrambling to list their car on every available site.

This is where Carsmosis steps in. Carsmosis is a new approach to the idea of selling vehicles online. Working to serve both those looking to buy a car and those who want to sell, Carsmosis is more than just a classifieds site – it is also an online community.

Whereas classifieds are only devoted to listing vehicles or items for sale, Carsmosis is strongly linked to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Users can become a fan on facebook, giving them a chance to keep up with all the newest listings, and dealerships or individual sellers the opportunity to reach a larger group of potential buyers.

The social aspect of Carsmosis doesn’t end with Twitter and YouTube; Carsmosis is a networking site within itself, providing users with different ways to interact as they discuss vehicles with one another.

While traditional classifieds simply list a vehicle and leave the research up to you, Carsmosis gives users a chance to leave reviews of their experiences with certain makes and models. Considering a car? Let the Carsmosis reviews remind you that the backseats can be uncomfortable in a certain model. With honest, unbiased reviews, users have the opportunity to get the full picture and find a vehicle that best meets their personal needs.

Similar to Yahoo Answers, the Carsmosis Answers section allows users to post their questions and wait on others to reply. A best answer is then voted on. Questions do not have to be related to specific vehicles. If your question involves anything automotive, then you are welcome to post it in this section.

Although there are some classified listings that allow you to use their site for free, most of the larger websites require membership fees. On Carsmosis, users can list vehicles without paying a dime while reaching a large group of people who are seriously interested in making a purchase.

Is it time to completely give up on the idea of buying a vehicle with other online classifieds? Not really; however, Carsmosis and their network of over 200 partner sites (including Oodle.com) gives individuals and dealers alike the chance to go above and beyond what traditional classifieds could ever hope to offer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to buy a new car, sell your old one, or both, Carsmosis is definitely a site that deserves your attention.

(Please feel free to re-post and share with your friends.)

Welcome to part 2 of “Does My Website Suck?”. In the first article we looked at 5 questions to ask yourself to see if, indeed, your website sucks. If your site failed miserably in the first round, don’t feel bad. This is why we are here; to understand our weaknesses, fix any problems, and ensure you have a great website that exudes results. Marketing online, building a business around your website, and creating a great user experience is a very difficult thing to do. Often, I will come back to these points and realize that the MediaTown website is failing in a couple of categories. As with everything on the web, building a great website is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Be sure to check your site often and remember you can never have the perfect user experience.

Here are questions 6 through 10 to ask yourself and find out if your website really does suck. If you have any questions, as always, leave a comment or contact us to chat.
 

6. Is My Website a Good Business Representative?

If you were going to hire someone to go represent your business to the public, would you choose a scraggly-looking, unshaved teenager off the streets with “killer” tattoos on his arms and the seat ripped out of his baggy jeans? Of course not! However, that’s similar to what you’re doing when you put out a website that looks disorganized, cheap, or that you just didn’t spend much time designing. A website is one of the best ways to reach a wide variety of potential customers; make sure that it’s a representative worth showing.

7. Is There a Reason for Visitors to Return?

Let’s face it: If someone plans to come back to your website, then they expect you to have new information when they return. Update your website frequently and post the date at the top of your page. For example: “This page was updated on May 20, 2011″. Also, use your text to inform visitors that more information is coming soon. If you sell Border Collie puppies, then display pictures of the newborns and then say “More pictures coming next week”. Always keep adding, updating, and changing your site so that visitors will have a reason to return.

8. Can I Update My Site with Ease?

Updating your site is, obviously, one of the only ways that you can encourage visitors to return again and again. Updating your site gives you the opportunity to share new ideas with your site guests, advertise old products, and promote new services. To keep from having an old, out-dated website that sucks, make sure that you have an easy way to keep changing your site. To make updating your site easier, you might need to purchase a laptop, sign up for internet service from your house rather than going to the library or office, or switch to a different web design program.

9. Am I able to Track and Analyze Visitor Details?

Although this doesn’t seem that important to a mere beginner, tracking and analyzing visitors can be extremely helpful to better website development. Service such as Google let you put a free tracking device on your website after you register with them. These tracking and analyzing services will let you see how people are finding your website, what search engine queries get visitors to your site, and how long visitors stay on each page on your site. This information can help you to improve your website by pinpointing the type of visitors your site is attracting and how you can better serve them.

10. Does My Website Load in Less Than 3 Seconds?

When you visit a website, you don’t want to find yourself tapping your foot as you wait four or five minutes for the page to load; your visitors are no different. A perfect website loads in less than three-seconds. While waiting a minute may not actually be that long, it can feel like an eternity when you are sitting behind a computer desk. Websites that take a long time to load often make visitors frustrated or disgusted; not exactly feelings that will help promote your business. You can make your site load faster by switching to a different web builder, cutting down on graphics, or optimizing your images. No matter how good your page is, if it forces visitors to spend a long time looking at a blank screen, then your site definitely sucks.

So, maybe you’ve learned something today. Maybe you’ve finally discovered what everyone else already knew: That your website really does suck. While this can be a sad realization, it is not too late to change your ways. By using the questions and tips contained in this article, you can easily improve your design and make your website something that you can be proud of.

If you spend any time browsing sites on the web, then you probably realize that a website can be good, bad, or just down-right ugly! When you design a website, you feel like you’re putting your baby out for the world to see: What could the internet world do but adore your precious creation? Sadly, there are many proud small business owners who have websites that, to be perfectly honest, just suck. This is part one of a two-part post. We thought it might make it easier to grade your websites suckyness (or greatness), by breaking up the questions to ask yourself below. If you’re afraid that your website may fall into the crap category, here are ten questions that you should ask yourself to solidify that feeling.

1. Why Do Visitors Come to My Site?

Click on the internet button and then go straight to your website, only this time look at it through the eyes of the guest rather than the host. What makes visitors want to come to your website? Are they coming for the right reasons? Are they getting the information that they are looking for when they scroll down your page? Make a list of reasons that visitors might be visiting your site and then make another list of reasons why you want visitors to come to your site; work to improve your site so that it will continue to serve those who already visit it while also reaching out to those who it has yet to serve.

2. Easy Navigation?

We’ve all been to those horrific sites full of broken links and hard-to-find navigation bars. Having a website that is hard to navigate is a big sign that it probably sucks. Although it may seem to take a lot of time, place navigation bars on each page in a place that they are easy to see and organize links according to their importance. Always check all your links before you publish your site to the internet.

3. Do I Present a Solution?

Everyone online, from news reporters to bloggers, are more than happy to complain about the problems facing consumers and the general public. While it’s fine to point out a problem on your site, it’s much more important to present a solution. If you spend an entire page talking about dishonest lawyers who over-charge for their services, don’t just end the text by saying “Contact our firm to get in touch with a lawyer today”; instead, take the chance to explain how your law firm is different than the others that you mentioned.

4. Do I Make Money?

If someone asks you why you have a website, you might tell them that it is to grow awareness of a problem, to promote your business, or to get you in touch with new clients. Whatever your reasons for creating your site, it all leads back to one thing: Money. The main purpose of any website is to generate income by influencing visitors to buy a product or pay for a service. Is your website making you money? If you can’t answer “yes”, then your site probably sucks.

5. How Do I Stand Up Against Competition?

Check out similar websites and see how yours stands up against them. For instance, if you’re selling herbs from your home, look at other online herbal suppliers and see if your website is as good as theirs. While you may be a small business, there is no excuse for your website to be pathetic. When you check out the competition, take notes of what they do that makes their site better or what you like best about them, then implement this information into your own website.


In business, we can be nice, or we can be honest; Honestly speaking, being nice will not help you sell more products, fill those tables, or increase your service customers. Take an honest look at your website and grade it based on the above questions. Come back, checkout part 2 for our final group of website suckyness questions, and remember that improving the user experience on your website, will improve and build a great customer base. If your site flunked the first set of questions, don’t feel bad, a staggeringly large number of sites offend the senses, are hard to navigate, or frustrate the user into leaving. The first step in fixing a problem, is admitting you have a problem.

Talk soon,
MTM Team

APMs tools support the dealer website and drive more traffic directly to the sales pro, by creating a virtual command center for your online and social marketing efforts. Another MTM Property!

Website Type:

Custom Built, Dynamic Web Application.

APM’s Mission:

Increase Personal Sales for Every Sales Professional. We believe passionately in the power of online relationship building through online marketing, social media, and personal websites. APM’s flagship products are TeamWebsites and MetrixManager (Automotive) CRM. Together they work as one unit to allow traffic to flow to dealership websites.

Tecnologies Used:

• Custom Super Administration Panel
• Javascript / JQuery
• PHP 5
• Facebook API / FBML
• Custom API
• Sencha EXTJS Rapid Development
• Custom Template Builder
• Custom Built MySql Database
• XHTML / CSS 4 and 5
• +More

Other Services:

• Search Engine Optimization
  (#9 for Automotive CRM after only 7 days)
• Social Media Services (Find APM @autoprometrix)
• Custom Facebook Page (Take a look)
• Complete Marketing Plan and Implementation

Visit AutoProMetrix.com

Carsmosis is the world’s first truly social automotive directory. We are a fast-growing specialty Vehicle Directory site and gateway to everything automotive.  With our extensive Facebook integration and partnerships with companies like Oodle.com, Carsmosis.com is truly a cutting edge automotive listing website.

Website Type:

Custom Built, Dynamic PHP / Zend Web Application.

Tecnologies Used:

• Custom Super Administration Panel
• Javascript / JQuery
• PHP 5
• Facebook API / FBML
• Custom API
• Custom Built MySql Database
• XHTML / CSS 4 and 5
• +More

Answers.Carsmosis.com

Have a question, get the answer quick with Carsmosis:Answers.  Have a great experience to share, or a terrible one for that matter, share it with the world by reviewing your vehicle.

Visit Carsmosis.com