Running a business? 7 must-have social-media tools

Whether your company is new, just starting to turn a profit or already successful, as an entrepreneur you should be constantly evaluating the tools that will help get your business to the next level. 

What social-media tools make the most sense for you? It depends on your company size, your industry, and your social-media goals. It also depends on what type of social networking you enjoy and see yourself continuing to use.

7 critical social-media tools to consider for your business:

1. Facebook – With major corporations previewing sales on their Facebook fan pages, this 500-million-plus user site isn’t just for tweens and college students anymore. Its fastest-growing demographic is people over age 35. To add fans and generate excitement, consider promoting special offers or holding exclusive contests.
   
   
2. YouTube – Most likely you’ve been on YouTube and chuckled at a video or two, but have you thought about how it could help your business? Perhaps your products can benefit from dynamically creative video overviews? Your marketing strategy can include a viral video strategy that gets you wide exposure at a relatively low cost.
   
   
3. LinkedIn – This is the place where professionals power network. Answer questions for the site’s nearly 80 million users or ask them, scope out who’s viewing your business’ profile, update your status with your needs and successes.
   
   
4. Twitter – Twitter is the social network to watch. With almost 200 million users and growing at a phenomenal rate – up 343% year-over-year as of September 2009, Nielsen reports. New features such as lists and retweet tracking are helping users form new connections. A new interface includes a dynamic right panel featuring videos and images – no need to open a new window to view.
   
   
5.  Basecamp – A robust and cost-effective Web-based project management and collaboration tool. Basecamp features to-do lists, milestones for important due-dates, file sharing, blog-style messaging, wiki-style writeboards, time tracking, and integration with the first-rate group chat product Campfire. Basic plans for small businesses begin at $24 a month.
   
   
6. Foursquare – The Foursquare secret? Good, old-fashioned discount coupons, delivered in a new and engaging way. Via Foursquare (or other location-based apps) you can offer instant discounts – just like the ones many businesses place in direct mailings – to customers who are not only interested in your business, but who are physically near your business. And, at least to start, you can try the service at no charge.
   
   
7. Your blog and local/specialized forums – If you can write well and have the time, blogging can be a powerful (and free!) way to raise awareness about what your business does. The content updates also help your site’s search rankings. Reach a wider audience with guest posts on popular industry forums. If your business is local, neighborhood forums may be a good option.

Ask for feedback

Not only should you have comments enabled on your website, but you should also ask your friends, families and allies for personal feedback on your work. And most important of all, after you have finished your project – ask the client what she thinks. The benefit is twofold: 1) you get a chance to improve and 2) the client feels valued. Getting someone else’s opinion – positive or negative – will help you to become even more successful.

Always carry a notebook around with you

No matter what the vehicle – PDA, iPad, legal pad – remember to take notes. You may come up with valuable ideas when you are commuting, exercising, waiting in lines, etc. Don’t think that you will just remember it. Writing it down helps you react to and start formulating plans around ideas.

Take the time you need

This is so important and it can’t be mentioned enough. Same as with the tip about learning to say no. Once you have said yes to a project, make sure you take the time needed to do the best work. Handing over a project that is not up to your client’s expectations will leave you with a client who won’t be back AND a negative reputation. Your clients are your best references and no one wants a partner who overpromises and under delivers.

How To Build An Online Brand

The new challenge faced by new and established companies : getting people to trust your online presence enough to click. 

Branding is so important in any business on or offline

1. Message deliver must be clear
2. Will create business credibility
3. It can create a connection between the product and the clientele
4. Buyer motivate


Surely, there are other ways to become successful in any business endeavor, but there is nothing more certain than having a recognizable, appealing and unique brand that customers/buyers and clients can easily associate themselves with.  For more information on branding go to http://www.jabstudio.com 

Take the time you need!

This is so important, it can’t be mentioned enough. Same as with the tip about learning to say no. Once you have said yes to a project you need to make sure that you take the time needed to do the best you can do. Handing over a project that is half done will not only give you a client who won’t come back, but it can give you a bad reputation. Your clients are your best references to show in the future and no one want a freelancer who leaves the work half-finished.

Craft a marketing/business plan

This should be the first thing you do. Even if you have all the details in your head, putting them on paper will help communicate your goals internally and externally. Not only will the plan compel you to think through challenges before they occur, but it will also be a lot easier for you to obtain help from potential business partners or investors when you have a solid business plan to show them.