Boosting Response on Facebook: 3 Creative Ideas

I love this web site for its great articles on social media marketing. They're always on the lookout for the latest trends and tips on what's working for people, and this one posted just last week about Facebook ranks among their best.
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John Jantsch at Duct Tape Marketing recently shared with MarketingProfs.com  his insights about three tactics boosting response for him at Facebook. Feeling creative? With your next post, you might want to:

Use an image for your update. Forget the blah, blah, blah. Upload a photo as your next status update! Then add a little descriptive copy and a link to your blog post (which can go into detail about your big announcement) in the "say something about the photo" box, Jantsch suggests. "I notice that when I do this I get … more views and more engagement," he says.

Use a tab for a call to action. The space to the right of the About box will display four images (tabs) of your current pages or apps. The good news is you can create your own images in those spaces! Why not include a call to action in one of them? For instance, "if you want to send someone to a page to grab a free eBook, you can use an image to create the call to action," he advises.

Schedule your posts. According to Jantsch, scheduling posts is no longer a professional no-no, and it might even get you more TLC at Facebook. He reports that his scheduled posts are getting seen by greater numbers. Why? Perhaps Facebook favors direct posts over those posted by third-party tools. "I know off hand that my direct content gets 30-50% more views then content from Buffer," he notes.

The Point: A little creativity can go a long way online. Try a couple of clever tactics at Facebook to help raise your B2B social profile.


Until next time!
Mary Ann

The Flowers Charm Pendant
The Shop: MaryAnnFarley

Three Tips On Engaging Your Ideal Prospects Using Copy

In scouring the web this week for advice on how to write better Twitter copy, I came across this article by Michele Pariza Wacek, a marketing and copywriting expert. She doesn't talk here specifically about Twitter, but about copywriting in general, and her advice is wonderful! She graciously shares her advice with the New York Etsy Team below...

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Three Tips On Engaging Your Ideal Prospects Using Copy

by Michele Pariza Wacek

You’ve done all this work to get people to visit your website, only to have nothing happen.

No sign ups for your newsletter, no inquiries about your products and services, no sales, no nothing.

So what’s the problem? Chances are it has something to do with your copy not engaging your ideal prospects so they want to become your customers and clients.

What can you do to fix that? Well, the simple answer is your copy needs to connect on a deeper level to what your ideal clients find important. The difficult answer is how exactly do you do that. Below are three  tips to get you started:

1. Know EXACTLY who your ideal clients are. Look, you’re not going to be able to connect with them on a deep level if you don’t know who they are, what keeps them up night and what’s important to them. This is why you need more than just the demographic stuff (age, income level, etc.) you need to know WHY they’re struggling, what they most want in the world, what their values are, etc.

The more you actually know your ideal clients on this deep level, the more you’ll be able to use the words and phrases that truly engage them.

So how do you get started finding your ideal client? Ask yourself this — who are your favorite clients? Write down a list of your favorite clients and compare them. (If you’re just starting out and haven’t had any clients, think about the other people in your life you enjoy working with and describe them.)

Why are those clients your favorites? What do they have in common? (Look beyond the external descriptions such as gender and age, and instead think about mindset and values and beliefs.) Start there and see where it takes you.

Then once you have a picture of your ideal clients in your head, it’s time to look at tip 2.

2. Don’t write to a group (even if it’s a group of your ideal clients). Instead, pick one person and write to that person. When you do this, your writing will naturally sound more intimate. In fact, I would take it one step further and imagine yourself writing a letter to a friend. Your friend has a problem, you KNOW what could really help him or her. Wouldn’t you try and write an engaging, persuasive letter because you REALLY want to help your friend? That’s the way you’ll really start to connect with your ideal clients.

3. Use THEIR language, not yours. In other words, don’t spend hours and hours trying to figure out a cute way to describe what you do that means nothing, or worse, requires a great deal of explanation before anyone even understands what you’re talking about. The best (and easiest) way is to use the same words your ideal clients are using.

Now, you may be wondering to yourself, how do you find out what words your ideal clients are using? Ask them.

Do a survey or ask a question on social networking forums or groups. See what language THEY use to describe their problems and what they’re looking for to solve it. Then use their words in your marketing copy. (Yes, honestly, it really CAN be that easy.)

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Thank you, Michele, for this great advice!

Until next time,
Mary Ann

"Into the Woods" medium-sized print
The shop: MaryAnnFarley

Tips on Developing Your Own Elevator Pitch: Part 2

Fake it 'til you make it…

Developing your own pitch involves writing down what you are about. Start by picking one or two major points about what you want people to know, and come up with sentences you can say aloud.

The idea of the elevator pitch is that you should be able to repeat this effortlessly to someone who knows nothing about your craft, and have them walking away with a clear idea of what you are about.

Like a job interview, you want to tell something about yourself without sounding too rehearsed or long-winded. If you can't say it in a minute, or if they don't understand your statement, then it's too complicated.

Some other points on how to craft a good pitch:

• Keep it short and simple (under a minute is good)
• Use clear language that anyone can understand
• Create an impression for your audience
  

Once you have come up with several solid sentences describing the core of your work, practice repeating it in front of a mirror or record yourself to hear how you sound. Learn to say it in different ways. Similar to your handmade goods where practice makes perfect, your pitch should be presented in a way that reflects your own voice effortlessly.

Remember, if you can't talk about your own work confidently, then chances are you won't stand out in a crowd. And the only way to be confident is to practice your presentation and gauge what works for you.

By coming up with your own elevator pitch, not only are you creating a stronger presence for yourself, you are solidifying the concept in the minds of your audience. And you never know who happens to be a part of your audience!

-by Lisa
http://lisafu.info

Marketing Made Easy: Converting Potential Customers to Actual Buyers

How many times have you thought to yourself, "People say they love my items, but how do I get them to buy from me?"

While there may be many factors that inhibit a buyer from purchasing your items, (offerings, price, timing, location), there are several really easy tips on how to work the odds to convert potential customers to actual buyers.

Pay Attention to Cues
A lot of times potential buyers are on the fence about something. If they take the initiative to send you an inquiry, use that to your advantage. Give them an incentive to ask further questions. For example, a lot of brides-to-be ask if I offer envelopes for my invitations. I reply by giving them their answer, (yes), and add extra information by telling them that I offer envelope printing for their convenience. That little extra information may be the feather that sways the decision to purchase.

Offer Exemplary Customer Service
A lot of times, people like to ask questions even if they're not buying. Answer every query as if they are an actual buyer. You never know who they're connected to. Word-of-mouth promotion is one of the biggest keys to being successful, and buyers are more likely to believe their Aunt Judy's words of praise than your ad on a random blog.

Use the Web to Your Advantage
Speaking of blogs, you can use the web to your advantage. By setting up a blog, a photo account, and mailing list, you create your own little circle where you can make your customers feel like they're a part of what you do. Set up "inside the studio" tours, blog about your mistakes. Give visitors a step-by-step process of what you do. People love to see the human side, and that you're not just there to take their money. Compile a list of where you have been "featured." This will give people more confidence in your talents, and they will gladly pay for those talents if they know others appreciate it as well.

The Power of Suggestion
Suggestions can be pretty powerful when you've gotten their attention. Now that you've answered their questions, you can include a little direction for them on what to purchase for what occasion. I can attribute direct sales by giving people helpful suggestions on which set of note cards would be great for Grandma, or what gift set would be perfect for their newly-wedded friends.

Remember, purchasing decisions are an emotional thing. And shoppers who buy online lose a bit of the personal connection, so it's up to you to provide that as a selling point. By appealing to a potential buyer's needs, chances are that even if you don't close that sale right away, they will keep you in mind for when the time is right.

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Lisa
http://fubabee.etsy.com