LinkedIn- Network of Decision Makers

Marketing is evolving. It’s less about one off interactions and more about building trusting relationships through relevant content. Status Updates are the most effective way to start a conversation, drive word of mouth, and engage directly with your target audience. ~ LinkedIn

If you own or operate a business, I believe that a web presence (business profile) on LinkedIn is a MUST. LinkedIn has evolved into a platform for business professionals. With more than 225 million members worldwide, LinkedIn is a powerful way to reach the “Decision Makers” and “Top Influencers”. Another reason why I think LinkedIn is worth paying attention to is that, according to statistics, it is 277% more effective for lead generation than Facebook or Twitter.

Members are 2 xs more likely to recommend a company they follow.

Market your business on LinkedIn and to the Online community by creating a LinkedIn Company Page. Raise awareness of your brand, promote career opportunities, and educate potential customers on your products and services.

LinkedIn recommends the following:

1. Post status updates- Share company news, industry articles, thought leadership pieces or ask followers to weigh in on hot topics. Posts will appear on your Company Page and in the news feed on the homepage of each of your followers (desktop, tablet and smartphones). When followers like, comment, share – your message spreads to their networks and builds viral distribution.
2. Share rich, relevant content – Share images, infographics, or any compelling content that you’ve developed which can help to build a relationship with your target audience. Share news with specific LinkedIn members –Target your update based on our unique criteria. It’s a powerful way to deliver highly relevant content to the right audience.
3. Encourage virality – Ask followers to like, share, and comment on your updates. This helps spread your message to their entire network.
4. Monitor follower & page stats- Keep an eye on company update metrics so you can fine-tune your messages and increase engagement. Use follower analytics to gain a deeper understanding of your follower base, community growth, and engagement levels. Leverage page analytics to learn about page traffic & activity.

To get started using LinkedIn Today, Click Here.

Follow Lord & Griffin IT Solutions’ On LinkedIn. Get company updates, company news, industry articles and thoughts on industry trends.

7 Reasons To Have A Facebook Page

Like Lord & Griffin IT Solutions on Facebook

Top 7 Reasons you should have a Facebook Page:

1. Self-promotion – If you want to get your business out there, Facebook is a powerful tool. Facebook has about 1.11 billion (active March 2013) users, ^ ^{a b} “Facebook Reports First Quarter 2013 Results”. Facebook Retrieved 2 May 2013.
2. Interaction – Interaction and engagement is very important in today’s socially connected world. Followers and potential customers want to connect with you. They want to feel your humanness (whodathunk?). Facebook enables you to do so almost effortlessly. Followers can comment, like, or share something you posted, and most of all, your followers can connect with you, and other followers building a sense of community.
3. Online presence – Having a Facebook page enables you to: 1.) build an online presence where you can connect with your followers. 2.) have an opportunity to reach the over 1 billion Facebook users. 3.) target specific or different kinds of markets and demographics as well as increases relevance through SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
4. Drives traffic to your site – By adding your URL (http://www.sample.com/i.e. or web address (http://www.abcxyz.com) in the description area, in posts, or in comments, you have the possibility of driving traffic to your website.
5. Analyze market – Want to know who your followers are, what the best time to post, who sees it, who is talking about your page, and your reach? Facebook gives you the ability to do so (30 likes first). Think of it as Facebook Analytics!
6. Easy to manage and update – You don’t have to be a programmer to manage or update your page. It’s as simple as updating your profile’s status or uploading pictures.  Post, comment, reply to an inbox; Remember Reason #2!
7. It’s free! – O.K., maybe this should have been #1. Who doesn’t love FREE stuff?  Facebook gives you all the above and It’s Free*!

It only takes a few minutes… and It’s Simply:

• Choose a category and a Page name that represents your business.
• Pick a logo or another image that people associate with your business to use as a profile picture.
• Write a sentence about your business so people understand what you do.
• Set a memorable web address for your Page that you can use on marketing material to promote your presence on Facebook.
• Choose a cover photo that represents your brand and showcases your product or service. It’s the first thing people will see when they visit your Page.

Today, almost everyone is on Facebook and businesses are expected to have a Facebook Page. Grow your business, build your brand and develop relationships with your customers. Be forward-thinking, join this trend now.

*Though, a valuable tool, a Facebook page does not take the place of your website. Having your own domain (realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control) makes you a member of the biggest community of the world, the Internet. Remember to Read the Rules and Terms of Service on Facebook.

Using #Hashtags The Right Way

Facebook finally announced that it now supports clickable #hashtags. For the longest, I couldn’t understand why some of my friends were using hashtags on Facebook (#gmfacebook). The Geek in me kept saying “They don’t work on Facebook! [these idiots]”.  Evidently they were somehow innovators.. Not.

What Are Hashtags?

A hashtag is a word or a phrase prefixed with the symbol #.^[1][2] It is a form of metadata tag. Short messages on microblogging social networking services such as Twitter, Tout, identi.ca, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr, Google+ and finally,  Facebook can be tagged by putting “#” before important words, as in: (#hashaway #facebook #hashitout). You get the picture.

In the case of Twitter, hashtags can be clicked, and once clicked, you are taken to a page that displays comments on that topic to everyone on Twitter.

Hashtags do basically 3 things:

1.  They allow you to find comments on your interest easily.
2. They help identify trending topics.
3. They are clickable allowing you to click and be taken directly to a page displaying all those tweets on that particular topic.

So Why Now?

Until now, hashtags didn’t work on Facebook. You couldn’t search for comments using #hashtags on Facebook, there weren’t really a trending topics functionality on Facebook, and you couldn’t click on them.

Facebook calls the addition the first step of  “a series of features that surface some of the interesting discussions people are having about public events, people and topics.” See more “Doing Facebook Hashtags the Right Way“

Now that we know hashtags on Facebook do work , let’s discuss how you can use them the right way, use  them to attract potential customers and even discover trending topics and new markets by using them.

Now with hashtags on Facebook, you’ll be able to join in on emerging markets, conversation and news events relevant to you and your customers!

So how do you create hashtags on Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter? Simple, here’s how:

Step 1.

Come up with a hashtag that you want to start using. #makeitunique #brandspecific

Step 2.

Create a fanpage or account/ profile for that hashtag. So if you want to create a hashtag called: (#lordgriffinits) lordgriffinits, use that name as the name of the fanpage.

Step 3.

Tag the page or keyword (metadata) in your wall post. Once you tag the page, the at symbol will disappear and will leave a hyper linked hashtag in or after your comment!

Whola!

So, once you share the post or status update with your friends or followers, they like the page, they can use the #hashtag too. The Social network site will recommend this page or post to your friends. Now you have viral growth and a way to find new followers and trending topics!

So what are you waiting for? Start creating you own hashtags Today! For FREE Consultation, Call Us Today. 888-404-8282 or email: sales@lordgriffin.net