Why Social Media?

It has the potential to eat up tons of time, scheduling it into your day means adding an extra activity into a crowded schedule, and the learning curve can be high depending on how technically savvy you are. So why get into social media? Customers!

Don't think of social media as an online time waster, instead, think of it as digital networking. There are tons of people for you to connect with. By skipping out on social media, you could be skipping out on an enormous number of new customers. Here are some specifics:

-Facebook has more than 400 million users. A bit of perspective: there are 300 million people in the United States. The average Facebook user has 130 friends and is connected to 60 pages, groups and events.

-There are nearly 12 million Twitter users. About 65 percent of them are under 25. Women make up 53 percent of the user base.

That's a huge market! Before you get too excited, remember that this is digital networking, not digital door-to-door sales. Don't spam users with links and useless content. It's like real networking--connect with people and engage them. Send useful links and take part in conversations. The benefit over face-to-face networking is that you can break up the conversation over time, you can connect to multiple networks at once, and you can do it from anywhere.

An easier inventory

Anyone that has to manage a business with a lot of inventory knows that nothing's more tedious than data entry. If you get hundreds of new products every quarter, the last thing you want to do is spend hours inputting each item. Some desktop programs will send you new items to download into your program, but they cost money. Other programs don't even have inventory options, you're stuck keeping track of them in a spreadsheet, or on paper. There are some online programs that keep track of updates for you. You don't have to spend hours updating your inventory every quarter. You don't have to keep using the same old programs and methods just because that's the way you've done it for years. It's time to upgrade! There are faster, better and easier ways to run your business. Ways to save you time and money. Check them out now!

Desktop vs Online

These days you can do just about everything online. From taking care of your finances--using online banking--to writing documents and creating presentations--using things like Google Docs--it's all online. It used to be that when you bought a new computer you also had to buy word processing software, music software, picture editing tools, and more. You can do all of that and more online and keep your desktop clean of clutter. Now you can even manage your Mary Kay business online--every part of it. Why ditch bulky desktop programs in favor of the internet? Here are a couple of reasons:

-With online programs, you don't have to worry about backing up your data. If your computer crashes all of your information is safe. 

-You can use an online program on any computer, and in some cases, on your smart phone.

-Web software developers can push updates and fixes to the program to users faster and more efficiently than desktop developers. Instead of sending out download CDs or new versions every couple of years, web developers can send out updates as soon as they are ready. That way everyone is using the most up to date version of the program at all times.

-Good web developers employ the latest virus blockers and firewalls for your safety. It might seem like a desktop program is safer, but many of them are open for easy attack.

-Your desktop program can't do it all. You might have to use several different programs to do everything one online program can do.

-Desktop software often comes with a set number of (expensive) licenses, limiting how many times and how many computers you can install it. An online computer can be used on any computer.

Those are just a few of the perks of using online programs. The best part about online programs is that most of them let you try them out for a while. So get out there put them to the test.

Keeping in touch with customers

Today's technology enables us to keep in touch with customers in a number of new ways. The next time you get a new customer, make sure you take down more than just their name, phone number and address. Ask them if they are online--Facebook, Twitter, email, LinkedIn, blogs, etc. Some online business management programs allow you to store this information about customers for reference. With their online contact info, you can quickly and easily reach them. Send an email marketing campaign to them, comment on their Facebook status or pictures, or connect with them on LinkedIn. 

Using online communication, you can easily pass on links containing coupons or helpful articles. If you schedule in some time to communicate online once or twice a week with your customers, you'll stay in their mind. A lot of people fear that always being online will distance us from people and hurt our face-to-face communication. I think it actually makes it more special. If your customers see you digitally all the time, either on Facebook or Twitter, imagine how surprised they'd be if they received a phone call or a hand written note. So just because the online world is growing, doesn't mean the older means of communication are going to die out. Here are some quick tips for communicating with customers:

-First, become a friend of your customers on Facebook and Twitter (if they are on those services. If you aren't, stop reading now and join!)

-Next, comment on their status updates, pictures and links. Occasionally send them something useful about a sale, but DO NOT spam them with merchandise--that's an easy way to get un-followed.

-Get to know them--thanks to online profiles, this is pretty easy!

-Every now and then (maybe once a month) send them a personalized, handwritten note. This will strengthen the relationship and make them feel special.

-Keep that cycle going and you'll build a loyal customer base in no time!

Who do you follow?

Do you have a Twitter account? If so, who are your favorite people to follow? Chances are it's not the people that are constantly spamming links and "deals." It's probably the people tweeting good content. The people that connect with you and bring something of value to the relationship. It might be a famous person with something funny or insightful to say, or a business colleague dishing out excellent advice. It's like life outside of the digital world--you decide which people to become friends with based on what benefits they'll bring to the relationship, and what you can offer them. Treat your Twitter account in the same way.

Whoever it is, there's a reason you follow them, a reason you like to read the things they write. Keep that in mind as you tweet your own content. If you want people to follow you, then you have to provide something they want.

Twitter
is a great way to network with others. Make yourself worth following!

Keeping your business information safe

Just because you're using a program that is based on your desktop, doesn't mean it's safe from hackers and viruses. In some cases, desktop programs have lower security than online programs because they don't have to stay updated against all the latest viruses. Here are some things you can do to protect your business information:

Password Protection

If the programs or websites you use offer password protection, use it! Make sure your password is not obvious, you'd be amazed the amount of passwords out there that are simply "password." A good password includes a few letters at least one number and at least one special character, something like @ or $.

Financial info

Make sure your financial information, and your customer financial information, is safe and encrypted. Some desktop programs store payment information in text format or easy-to-access files. If someone stole or hacked into your computer, they shouldn't be able to find that information easily (or at all). If someone steals the credit cards of your clients, you could be held responsible. Some online programs have integration with financial websites like ProPay, so payment and credit card information is encrypted and secure.

Back it up!

If your computer suddenly melted today, what would happen to all your business information? Would you still have it? It's important to back up your information on a routine basis. Use a portable hard drive, DVDs, or an online storage solution. If you use an online program, you never have to worry about losing your information, it's available anywhere.

Don't put your business and customers at risk, start practicing safe computer habits now.

Learning to blog through Facebook

If you're new to blogging, but you're a Facebook veteran, there's no need to worry. Facebook is like a more open, accessible form of blogging.

-Status updates are like micro-blogs. 

-For more in-depth updates you can write notes for others to read. 

-You gain friends by commenting on other posts and pictures, just as you would do to gain readers on your blog. 

-The comment and reply system on a Facebook wall is very similar to the comment system in most blogging tools. 

-Other things, like uploading pictures and inserting links are also similar. 

-You arrange pictures and notes into albums--similar to the way you arrange posts on a blog into categories.

-You put captions on photos and tag friends in them, just like you would put tags on a blog post so people know what's in it.

If you're a heavy Facebook user, you might be more accustomed to the world of blogging than you think. Practicing good Facebook habits--commenting, tagging, frequent posting--can help you form good blogging habits.

Later this week, we'll discuss the differences between Facebook Groups and Facebook Fan Pages.