Reasons Why a Business Should Consider Using Pinterest.

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Pinterest is a social networking website that allows you to organize and share ideas to something called virtual pinboarding.

When you find something interesting on the web, you can pin it using Pinterest and then organize your thoughts into individual pinboards based on categories that you select.

People are using Pinterest for all kinds of interesting things, like planning weddings, decorating their homes or even sharing their favorite recipes.

The possibilities literally are endless!

Here are the reasons on why your business should highly consider using Pinterest.

It Helps You Increase Your Brand Authority

To help position yourself as an authority in your field, share from a carefully vetted combination of sources to ensure your boards contain the most accurate and useful information available.

You Will Expand Your Reach

Use Group Boards and collaborate with popular pinners who have a large following to expose your brand and content to more people.

It Helps You Drive Traffic to Your Site

Pinterest users first have to be attracted to your pins and repin them to their boards.

You Will Have Access to a Variety of Pinterest Resources

No other social network offers as many free or low-cost, third-party resources as Pinterest does!

Offers the Ability to Command the Power of Images – and Words

You have the ability to command the power of words. Yet most people are so busy posting beautiful images on Pinterest, they forget that words still carry enormous weight.

Endows the Ability to Pin Related Content from Other Pinners to Your Board

On Pinterest you can use other peoples’ pins to stand with and add value to your own in a highly focused, controlled package.

Offers the Ability to Connect Pinterest to your Facebook Page

If pinning is part of your business strategy, this is an opportunity you shouldn’t ignore!

Pinterest Offers the Opportunity to Sell

E-commerce site such as Sellpin allows you to create a pin-to-pin “shop” for your goods for sale.

You Can Present and Share Video on Pinterest

The ability to share videos on Pinterest extends you many creative uses besides mere entertainment.

You Can Create Highly Targeted Marketing Opportunities

– By using Pinterest, you can create highly targeted marketing opportunities while making strong statements.

Undoubtedly, Pinterest is a great  Social Media tool for your Online Business Success.

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Why Content is the Life Blood of Your Business

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The internet is the answer.

The internet has now become, hands down, the go-to resource for people looking for answers.

Online visitors, your future clients or customers, are looking for quality information that’s going to solve their problem.

Your product or service can probably do it. Are you telling people about it? Online? If not, you’re missing out on a HUGE amount of business.

Here’s Why

Content provides the answers. This can be in the form of blog posts, videos, articles, white papers, photos, podcasts, and more.

By producing content that addresses the main concerns of your visitors, you’re proving you know your stuff.

The result?

You’re going to be the one getting the phone calls.

What About Google?

Let’s not forget the mighty search engine (and those other less-used search engines too).

By producing quality content that answers real-life problems, you’re not only going to be discovered by your future clients but also Google too.

In fact, it’s kind of an upward spiral. The more you get found in Google, the more people see you and the more people see you the more Google ranks you higher and so on.

When you’re producing content, you’re really doing it for two groups. One, the people you’re trying to help with your business. And two, the robots at Google who are scanning your stuff.

Without Content, Your Business will Die

That’s a bold statement. But it’s true.

Online visitors, your future clients or customers, are looking for quality information that’s going to solve their problem. If it’s not on your website, they’ll quickly bounce off to your competitor’s website.

Without content, the end result is that your website does little more than to act as sort of a digital business card.

Sure, it provides your hours of operation and business address, but is it providing the content that your visitors are looking for?

And don’t forget Google. If you’re not supplying content that Google can find, your website will get buried!

Being that over 90% of consumers in the U.S. are now looking online for their next service or product, this is kind of a big deal.

The conclusion then is if you’re not marketing online through good quality content, you’re not going to be in business very long.

Start producing content. Start sharing your knowledge. Create a blog. Do videos. Start a podcast. Your business and your pocketbook will thank you!

Naturally, if you need help with content or anything online, we can help!

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The 7 C’s of Marketing Your Business Online

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There’s no doubt now that regardless of what industry you’re in, you need to market your business online. The barriers to marketing online are low and the upside is huge!

While the benefits are almost never ending, here are 7 powerful reasons to get your business online and fast!

Credibility

Businesses that can be found online have more credibility. Why? Because your customers can get online and check you out.

More than ever, people are researching the internet before making buying decision. If you have a website that explains all of your services or products in detail, you’re more likely to get the sale.

Also, being online gives you a chance to list your qualifications. It provides a place to show off the associations you’re part of like the Better Business Bureau and so forth.

Cheap

Whoops! Did I say cheap? In business we say “cost effective”. For starters, getting a quality website up and running has never been easier. Gone are the days where you need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a company website.

It’s as simple as buying a domain, getting some hosting, and setting up a WordPress site – all of which can be done in a few hours.

Also, advertising your business is incredibly cost effective as you can set the exact amount you wish to spend and then see your immediate ROI. In fact, in many cases, you can produce amazing results advertising for free through places like Craigslist and Backpage. It’s a very low entry cost (free) with potential huge returns.

Customers

Your customers are online. Are they going to find you or your competition? Do all you can to get listed in the local search results. Learn to dominate your niche online. Be where your customers are looking for you.

Naturally you need to have a website, do some SEO, produce some great content, and connect through social media. That will put you in place to be found by your customers.

Connections

Once your customers have found you online, be sure to connect with them. With the various social media platforms, it’s never been easier to stay in touch with your customers.

You can increase traffic through your doors by offering specials through Groupon, Living Social, and Google Offers. You can build up customer loyalty by using tools like FourSquare and Facebook Places. You can even give customers “inside information” by connecting with them on Twitter or Facebook.

Close

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a salesperson that never calls in sick, works 24-7, and presents the exact right message to your customers every single time? You can! It’s your website!

Many companies still have “legacy websites”. These are the kind of sites that talk about a dopey mission statement, list hours of operation, and company address. Who cares!

Your customers are searching for a solution to their problems. Let your website (and your social media outlets) save the day! If done right, your website can “close” your customers automatically.

Customer Service

Because you’re a superstar at growing your business online, why not use the same tool to address all of your customer service concerns? One of the easiest ways to slim down customer service issues is to set up a F.A.Q.’s section on your website.

Want to address the concern immediately? Have one of your employees monitoring Twitter and get your customer an answer instantly. By interacting directly, you’ll resolve the problem quickly and your reviews on Yelp will skyrocket!

You can also use your awesome customer service skills to reward your best customers. As mentioned before, you can incentivize your customers by using platforms like Foursquare or Groupon. You can even offer secret deals if they join your mailing list or a special “elite members” closed Facebook page.

Cash

What business wouldn’t love to generate more revenue? Are you a brick and mortar business? What want or need does your business satisfy? Turn that expertise into an information product of some sort!

Let’s say you have a kitchen remodeling contractor. You can take your years of experience and create a series of how-to videos and sell them on your website.

What if you’re a product-based business? Let’s say, for example, you own a clothing boutique. You can create an online store that features your best clothing. You can even direct your in-store traffic to your website for special inside deals.

By creating on online portion of your business, it creates an additional revenue stream. It also takes your business from a local business to a global enterprise with unlimited income potential. In short, you become scalable.

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So there you have it. We’ve covered some of the basics of marketing your business online.

By doing just a little bit to market your business online, you’ll soon pull ahead of your competition. Do what it takes today to make sure you take advantage of the internet – the most powerful marketing tool ever invented.

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