Facebook Timeline is an Amazing Tool

Guest Post by Jon Loomer (a Facebook Expert)

Facebook Timeline is an amazing tool if utilized properly, so small businesses need to get on board to reap the benefits.

Reports have shown that Timeline increases the engagement window from about one hour to two and a half hours. Additionally, my own studies have revealed an increase in participation on custom tabs.

If you are frustrated that your engagement, likes and revenue haven’t all magically gone up since the change was made, you probably do not have a basic understanding of how Timeline can benefit you. The purpose of this post is to explain the four things that you as a small business owner should focus on to get the most out of Facebook Timeline.

Imagery

This one should be obvious. The new Facebook Timeline utilizes a 851×315 cover photo and a new 160×160 profile photo. You need to be strategic about your imagery. If the images you pick are boring or unprofessional, you will lose first time visitors.

This is a big deal. Before, all pages were largely equally as boring visually. The emphasis was on your content. Other than going to a default landing page, people decided whether or not to like your page based on what you wrote — and based on how your fans interacted.

Content is still important for retention of fans, but the main thing driving new fans will be how you present yourself visually. Consider your company’s branding. Show your personality. Take the time and possible investment to make a good first impression!

Custom Tabs

I’ll be the first to admit that tabs in the former format on my Facebook page went largely ignored. According to my Insights, people went to one of my tabs, but only because they had no choice (it was a default landing page). Overall, people really didn’t care about those links on the left hand side.

But that’s completely changed now. There are three tabs (in addition to photos) that are featured with 111×74 icons immediately below the cover photo. And while there is no longer a default landing page, fans and non-fans are visiting these tabs more than ever before.

It’s important that you be strategic about this. Don’t just convert the old tabs to new ones and think that your job is done. Do the following…

1. Make a list of goals and priorities of your company and Facebook page
2. Make a list of things that your fans and potential fans may be looking for
3. Collect assets (photos, videos, forms) that you can use for these tabs
4. Determine which three are most important to your company
5. Create tab icons that are consistent with your brand

Let’s say that your goal is to increase newsletter subscribers. Well, one of your tabs should highlight the benefits of your newsletter and provide an opt-in form.

Maybe you are a service company. One of your tabs should be a visual portfolio or highlight the services and packages that you can provide, complete with a contact form.

Or if you have a specific product or piece of content that you know your customers are looking for, feature that in a tab.

This is something that should take significant thought. Once you’ve developed your tabs, you should then consider order. You can always swap tabs in and out of the featured area to put more emphasis where necessary.

The hardest part for small businesses, of course, is actually creating the tab. I use ShortStack to create my tabs, and they have more than 60 templates to choose from to make the process a whole lot easier. You can read my review of ShortStack here.

Tell Your Story with Milestones

Facebook Timeline also allows brands to tell the story of their company in an interesting way with Milestones. Help fans get to know what you’re about and where you’ve come from by mapping out the many landmarks of your journey. When did your store open its doors? When did you hire your first employee, and who was it? When did you release that exciting product? Create Milestones to highlight these exciting things and provide images to help tell the story.

Pinning and Highlighting

One issue with the old Facebook format was that within hours or days of creating a post, it was buried forever. This was particularly the case with busy walls.

But now you can pick and choose posts that you want to emphasize and “pin” them to the top for up to seven consecutive days. That post then would always live at the top of your Timeline on the left side below your cover photo. This is particularly helpful for new product releases and contests, or anything which you want fans and non-fans to see first when coming to your page.

Additionally, you can “Highlight” a post for greater emphasis, making it stretch across two columns instead of the normal one. This is particularly useful for sharing engaging photos that are wider than they are tall. It also adds variation to the format of your Timeline, making it much more interesting to the eye.

Your Turn

What tips do you have for small businesses struggling to successfully utilize Facebook Timeline? Or if you’re one of those struggling, what are your questions?

About Jon Loomer
Jon is a digital marketing consultant with a unique perspective on social media. He was introduced to Facebook in 2007 while with the NBA (back before Pages) and has been using Facebook for business ever since. Stay in touch by reading his blog on JonLoomer.com, liking his Facebook Page (Jon Loomer Digital) or following along on Twitter (@JonLoomer) or Google+.

Marketing Tools, Training, And Resources.

Marketing Tools, Training, 

And Resources.

On This Page You'll Find Some of Our Most Prized  Resources For Marketing Online Along With Some  Examples Of Each Form. You Will Also Find Some  Very Helpful Training On What To Do With Your  Leads As Well As Some Video Tutorials. Marketing online is by far the best way to build your business  but the fact is, that it can be difficult at times.  We'll help out in any way we can.  The main thing is to stay consistent and keep pushing forward.  Get these and have a better success and big leap on your business.

     

     

Facebook Prospecting Mistakes to Avoid

Women who like their friends use Facebook for, if not blinding Schadenfreude and jealous rage? Even when I sign onto Farmville, I can feel my uterus curling into an angry fist. I pray that my frenemies' virtual corn crops will wilt.

In a recent survey conducted by a coupon company, 83% of female respondents admitted to being annoyed with friends' Facebook presences. 

It some sort of funny and sad for most people who go like crazy prospecting and pitching sales on Facebook in similar ways... the wrong ways.

Social media like Facebook is a interactions with close friends, acquaintances and inner circles of your life.

Instead of focusing on building rapport and make a good relationship first, desperate opportunity seekers act like an amateur, look like a sexed up horny teenager and they want to jump in the bed right away. 

That approach does not work to well for creating a long love and it certainly does not work too well when you make a friend request and pitch your business at the same time.

We already know that Facebook is a marketer's haven, full of people who hangout. You probably have pitch your business and products on your wall. Thus making more of your friends screened off your posts and unsubscribed your news feeds. 

Is that Wrong?  Well, ah maybe not, probably yes, bottom line is you have to do that properly.

Most people are excited and aggressive to make sales, get more prospects and present their new found business, but some of them are clueless about how to correctly approach people and burning out their sales on the first instance.

Aha, you have caught up, realizing about it that you probably are doing some of these mistakes already.

What I have found is... it is might even you... most people don't do it all and certainly they do not do them consistently.

One good advise  I got from my mentor, and from other expert giving advise on this subject is  to set yourself apart from the pack by mastering these skills

Here is one video that will make a great impact on your skills about prospecting on Facebook.

Make no doubt about it, please leave your comments and share your insights on how we can improve.

10 Ways for Managing Email Effectively

By Sté Kerwer

You may not be getting a lot of emails right now but trust me, one day you’re going to open up your inbox and find it full to the brim. Before that happens, take the time now to set up a system and get organized. Here are 10 tips for managing email effectively.

Handle all your email through one account

You’re probably using a domain email address because it looks more professional, but if you’re like most bloggers you have several. Foreward all of your email addresses into one so you only have to monitor one account. The best account to do this with is a Gmail account because it will allow you to change the outgoing email address to reflect your domain address. Simply go into your settings, then into your “Accounts and Import” and add your domain address where it says “Send email as”.

Set up folders and labels

Set up folders and labels so you can immediately file away emails as soon as you’re done answering. This makes it easy to retrieve when necessary and it keeps your inbox clear so you don’t miss any incoming mail in the clutter.

Process only once or twice a day

Unless you’re asked for an immediate response, no one is expecting you to answer your email as soon as it hits your inbox. Turn off all alerts and close the window. Check your email once when you log on in the morning and again at the end of the day. If you’re feeling really brave, forget about the end of the day and only check in the morning.

Handle it once and be done with it

Handle all emails as you open them. If you read through everything first you’re just going to have to read it again when you get ready to handle it. Open it, reply and file, all in one smooth motion.

Be brief

People send emails because they don’t have time for a complete over-the-phone conversation. Neither do you. Be brief.

But be cordial

However, it’s also important to remember that it’s much easier to misinterpret meaning when you’re dealing with email. Make sure you’re especially cordial so there’s not misunderstanding.

Check for errors

People don’t necessarily expect perfect spelling and grammar in an email. But remember how easy it is to misinterpret the meaning? One wrong word is all it takes. Check once for errors and then send it on its way.

Organize your contacts

Most email accounts offer you the ability to store and organize contacts. Use it. Why waste time hunting for email addresses all the time when all you have to do is save them once and you’ll have tthem at your fingertips with the click of a button? Organize your contacts into groups, too, so you can easily differentiate between friends, family, clients and members of your network.

Keep email templates on file

If you find yourself typing out the same email all the time, either set it up as a draft or create a file so all you have to do is copy and paste. This is especially helpful if you want to let someone know you received their email and you’ll be responding at a later date.

Add a signature

Google Gmail allows you to add a custom signature that’s included at the end of every email. Set it up once and forget it. Include a link to your website and/or contact information, your sales page, or any other pertinant links you find yourself adding to every email. It’s a great time saver.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!