Growing Your Business with Social Media

Social Media . . .

• Lets you build hundreds of thousands of online relationships.  One-on-one conversations via social nedia channels allow for extremely personalized service unmatched by other marketing channels.
• Helps you reach the end-user of your product or service.
• B2B organizations can acquire customers via Social Media.  65% have acquired a client through Linked In; 40% through Twitter; 43% through Facebook.
• Conversely, Facebook drives the most customer conversions for B2C organizations.  77% of B2C companies have caquired a customers through Facebook, and 51% have acquired a customer through Linked In. 
• More than 80% of Gen Y, the largest consumer group in history, is influenced by user-generated content when considering a purchase.  51% of them rated it more important than the opinions of their friends and family.
• Improves your website's search engine optimization (SEO) by increasing your organic search presence.  Google's algorithm has swayed more and more toward rewarding websites that create stellar content for readers, not search engines.
• Blogging and creating other content containing keywords mportant to your business will better optimize your website.
• Repurposing content across several networks allows you to grow a following across multiple channels.

Social Media Management Program

Ideal Lifestyle Concierge will manage your social media strategy:

• Account setup and maintenance
• Creation of content
• Data entry and database maintenance

There is a setup fee to get started, followed by an ongoing maintenance fee based on your specific needs.  We are a one stop shop; allowing you to define your level of involvement in the process.

A Social Media Primer

Social media is about interacting with and sharing information with others online.  Social media allows users to become part of a virtual community.  Today's most influential media are outlined below:

Facebook

A company Facebook page allows informal communication with Facebook "fans". It also allows "fans" to communicate with you and share their experiences (good and bad). Companies can share photos, videos, and links. They are also able to invite "fans" to special events.

Google+

Google+ is similar to Facebook. However, is also linked to Google recommendations. Google recently began ranking companies much like Zagats ranks restaurants. The rankings are highly searchable. The majority of users use Google to search the web.

Twitter

Twitter enables users to send and read short (140 characters) posts known as "tweets". It allows more informal communication with "followers" than Facebook and Google+. Twitter is the one of the top 10 most visited websites on the Internet.

Blogger & WordPress

Blogger & WordPress are tools to compose and post longer communications such as blogs, articles, newsletters, podcasts, and press releases.

Constant Contact

Constant Contact allows users to create and send newsletters, surveys, events, coupons, offers, etc. to your database of clients and prospects. The service provides information on how many users are actually opening emails and what they are specifically clicking on (links). The information helps users to customize communication strategies. Constant Contact also provides a tool to create a weekly digest of social media posts. This digest can be e-mailed to a contact database, encouraging additional interaction across multiple channels.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a social network that allows users to visually share, curate, and discover new interests by pinning new images or videos to their own or others' pinboards. Members are encouraged to interact with the content by reposting it, sharing others' pins on Facebook and Twitter or via e-mail, and even embedding individual pins on their website or blog.

Linked In

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with over 175 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals. LinkedIn profiles rise to the top of search results, letting you control the first impression people get when searching for you online.

Need to Know More?  Check out this episode of Chick Talk where I discuss social media management.  The discussion starts at about 16:00 minutes. 

Pin It! Making Pinterest Work for You

Pinterest is growing in popularity as the hottest new social network. And yet, people frequently tell us, "I just don’t get Pinterest."

According to Compete, a clickstream data provider, unique visitors to Pinterest.com increased by 155% in one month, from December 2011 to January 2012. In December 2011, Pinterest made Hitwise’s list of top ten social networks, sitting at #5 and beating out big names like LinkedIn and Google+. Hitwise delivers reports on internet usage from the world’s largest sample of online consumers.

So what’s going on? Below, we’ve compiled some basic information for you about the Pinterest phenomenon, and how you can start taking part in it.

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a social network that allows users to visually share, curate, and discover new interests by pinning new images or videos to their own or others’ pinboards. Members are encouraged to interact with the content by reposting it, sharing others’ pins on Facebook and Twitter or via email, and even embedding individual pins on their website or blog.

Pinterest defines itself as a social network meant to "connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting. " There is a visual emphasis, and the social network is very much focused on the concept of a person’s lifestyle. It enables you to share your interests and preferences with others and discover those of like-minded people. 

How does Pinterest connect you to potential customers?

Any business that relies on driving a high-volume of website traffic to increase sales should consider joining Pinterest. Using the Pin It button on your pages ensures that every single one of your pins includes a link back to the source.  So, pinners can encounter your content and visit your pages in just one click.

When members are browsing through pins, they also have the ability to share posts through Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail. This feature is great to boost social sharing and get fans and followers to spread the word about your brand.

Where do I find Pinterest?

Pinterest operates on an invitation-only basis. You can ask a friend with an account to invite you or request an invite directly from  www.Pinterest.com.

How can I start marketing with Pinterest? What should I put on the Pinboard?

• Add the Pinterest follow button to your website. Promote your presence on Pinterest through your other social networks, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter. 
• Consider launching a Pinterest contest and write a blog post to promote it. 
• Feature visual content. Often, the biggest challenge for B2B companies wishing to use Pinterest as a marketing channel is a lack of visual content. So, use the content you already have—

Infographics with industry data.

Pictures of your customers’ smiling faces.

Headshots of your company executives, or pictures from the last firm mixer.

Videos of experts at your firm speaking at industry conferences and events.

• Start using clear beautiful images in your blog articles with the point of pinning them to pinboards.
• Host a contest asking users to create a pinboard on their own account to demonstrate what they love about your brand, products, or services. 
• Become the go-to Pinterest account for pins about a certain subject or topic relating to your industry. 
• Add links in the descriptions of your pins to drive traffic back to your website.
• Use hashtags to tag pins and make content more search-friendly.

Where can I find examples of great Pinboards?

Check out the accounts for Chobani, Oreck, Mashable, and General Electric for some super ideas on how to implement Pinterest as part of your company’s marketing strategy. 

I get it now. How do I get help?

Think you’d like to integrate Pinterest into your firm’s Social Networking strategy, but need a little more help to get started? Contact us at Ideal Lifestyle Concierge. Call 305-371-0077, or e-mail CustomerService@IdealLifestyleConcierge.com.

Looking for Summer Fun?

We live in a destination location, and summertime offers South Floridians a great opportunity to enjoy all the area has to offer.

Take advantage of the season's slower pace, reduced traffic, and special discounts to plan a season of memorable outings with family and friends. Let the list below get your creative juices flowing.

Don't have time to plan a vacation or staycation? Call Ideal Lifestyle Concierge at 305-371-0077 to help you plan! Our team will recommend the best restaurants and events, make your reservations, secure your tickets, and even help you plan for out of town guests. We look forward to hearing from you!



Miami
Romance Month (June 1 to 30)
Kiss me in Miami . . . visit www.MiamiAndBeaches.com/program/romance/
to discover the four steps to love with a romantic escape in Miami.


Spa Miami (July 1 to August 31)
Greater Miami and the Beaches is renowned for luxury spas that are ranked among the "Best Spas in America," and are the favorites of spa connoisseurs throughout the world. During Spa Miami, enjoy special treatments for $99 at Miami's premier spas. www.MiamiSpaMonth.com


Miami Spice (August 1 to September 30)
Miami Spice is a mouth-watering restaurant promotion showcasing the very best of Miami cuisine. Top restaurants offer three-course meals (Lunch $22, Dinner $35) featuring signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs. Discover the tropical fusion of ingredients that makes Miami dining so wonderfully out of the ordinary. An epicure's paradise awaits you! For more on these restaurants and fine dining in Miami, visit www.ILoveMiamiSpice.com


Fort Lauderdale 
Super Summer Savings (May 1 to September 30)
Discover a passion for diving. Charter a fishing boat for an afternoon adventure. Spend the day relaxing and revitalizing at the spa. It's all part of a vacation that goes beyond the ordinary. Discover another side of summer and yourself in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Find unique two-for-one offers to get your personal journey started; visit http://www.Sunny.org/SuperSummer/
   
BAMM (June 1 to 30)
Broward Attractions and Museums Month (BAMM) kicks off June 1. Discover 16 local museums, unique attractions and cultural centers for the price of one membership. During the month of June members of any one of the 16 cultural institutions in Broward County, and South Palm Beach County receive free general admission to all participating venues. Begin the cultural tour by visiting www.BAMMinfo.org


Spa Chic (September 1 to 30)
It feels so good to be pampered. So this fall, take a moment - or an hour, or a day - for yourself during Lauderdale Spa Chic. Greater Fort Lauderdale's most sublime resort spas invite you to indulge in luxury for less. Restore yourself with the full Spa Chic treatment - aromatherapy massage, facial, loofah scrub and reflexology - all for just $99 (a 50% savings). Start the journey to relaxation at http://Sunny.org/SpaChic