Inferno Promotions :: Marketing, Web Design, Graphic Design, Television, Radio :: Hobart, Tasmania

Keep Your Facebook Page Secure

Inferno — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:30:02 +0000

I think I would be asked at least once a day how can I keep my facebook page secure?

Here are my quick no brainer tips to make sure you are not sharing more than you want on Facebook.

1. Many companies collect page admins over time because they fail to remove old ones. Add up the social media managers, graphic artists, web designers and even interns, and pages can have dozens of admins. However, administrative privileges to your business Facebook page should only be granted to a handful of people and only for as long as necessary.

2. Do research before you use a third-party application on your page. You need to know what information the app accesses and make sure the developing company is as committed to security as you are, because if they get hacked, your information could be compromised. Any upstanding app will use SSL encryption, segregated databases, cloud-based redundancy, expiring passwords and expiring data purges, so look for these precautions from your third-party apps. You also need to make sure the app doesn’t ask for more information or access than it needs. There are many “spammy” apps that provide limited functionality, but ask for lots of information and access.

3. Everyone knows they’re supposed to change their passwords regularly, and to something that’s obscure enough to throw even themselves. However, there are so many instances of stolen passwords, I’d like to take it a step further: Never use the same password for two different web platforms.

4. Provide a safe haven for your fans, use Facebook’s Moderation Blocklists to keep undesirable content off of your wall. Click on “Edit Page” and then “Manage Permissions” to access and update your list. Simply type in the words you want filtered out and the Moderation Blocklist will screen not just your fans’ posts, but comments to posts as well. All blocked content shows up in a spam folder that’s visible to you, but not your fans.

If you need more help of have questions about social media please send us an email. dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au

Do you know who you are talking to?

Inferno — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:30:22 +0000

By understanding the people you’re trying to reach, you’re already on the right path to an effective ad. Ask yourself; Are you trying to reach someone that’s already interested in your product (today’s buyer)? Or are you trying to reach someone who may someday be interested in your product (tomorrow’s buyer)? Ads for Today’s buyer can be easier to create, as they may just be looking for a good price point, special promotion or extra service to get them to buy, so a hard sell or direct ad can work effectively in this case.

However, Tomorrow’s buyer may not even know about your product and won’t currently care, so you really need to interest and educate them with unique creativity. If you do this well, your company will be Front of Mind the day they are ready to buy. You’ll also want to keep in mind the age range, gender, and professional status of your target customer so your ad relates to the way they speak, and you choose the appropriate kind of radio station to advertise on. There is no point in running your ad on a station that appeals to a younger person if you are selling funeral plans.

Find out more about the secret life of customers. Email us today and find out how you can make your advertising more targeted. dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au

Radio ads that speak to your customers

Inferno — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:30:49 +0000

By creating a message that’s relevant to your target customers life, they’ll create an interest in your commercial, and want to know more. You need to get a listener WANTING to learn about your product or service, so their minds are open to absorb your information, this way you will achieve the duel purpose of calling your customers to action and also branding your product at the same time into their long term memory.

Illustrate the experience of using your product, show how your service benefits them, and use terms and concepts that paint a picture, not jargon that is used by people inside your business. If listeners can see it in their life, they’ll create a need for it. If you start an ad only with information about your company, you may lose the listener before they even realize they want what you sell. Give them a relevant reason to care about you first.

For more help with the secret life of customers send me an email at dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au

The Latest Direct Marketing Techniques

Inferno — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:04:48 +0000

If Direct Marketing is part of your media mix you will be interested in the following.

Direct Marketing is all about getting you message past the front door and read by the correct person in the household or business you are targeting. In order to do this you should consider the following when you are putting a campaign together:

Use a stamp vs. a bulk mail postage mark – Open rate on envelopes with physical stamps is 13% higher.

Make your letter look like newsworthy content – Content gets read, not advertising

Do not use an adhesive address label it radicly reduces the open rate

Use present tense – better response than past tense.

Do use the word “you” or “your” far more than “I” “me” or “we.”

Asking a question with the word you in it is one of the best ever advertising techniques.

Don’t, however, ask a question where the answer can easily be “no, and I don’t care.”

If you need help with the Secret life of Customers send us an email at dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au and we will help you talk to the right people with your next campaign

How do you attract passionate customers?

Inferno — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:01:39 +0000

The answer is CONTENT—interesting and compelling information that helps solve your customers’ problems.

It’s interesting content that drives people to push that Share button or say to themselves, “Wow! This is a great article! I think I’ll subscribe.”

Here’s an analogy: If a big-time investor invited you to pitch your business idea to him, how much effort would you make to impress him?

I’m guessing that you wouldn’t dare show up without a compelling idea and a well-thought-out strategy. And yet most businesses do just that when it comes to social media marketing.

Given the opportunity to influence an online audience of potential customers, they simply show up without preparing a compelling message. No wonder they don’t see the results they want with their social media campaigns.

If you need help tuning your mind into the secret life of customers send us an email and lets talk about the best way for you to find passionate customers. Email dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au

Want to increase your Facebook fan engagement?

Inferno — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:52:23 +0000

You want to get your business in front of your fans. But how do you do that? Too many page admins resort to posting the same status updates over and over as a solution. But in the long run, that technique becomes annoying to fans.

To get more comments, tailor your status updates to ask for your fans’ opinions, stories and even advice. The comments will float your post to the top of your fans’ news feeds, giving more fans the opportunity to interact.

If you’ve tried asking your fans for input but you’re still hearing crickets, it’s time to look back over your status updates and evaluate your posts. Are you posting more about your company or your community?

Facebook users want—and will respond to—relevant content. A car company that posts nothing but advertisements in their status updates won’t get nearly the response they would if they posted information about tire recalls, car seat safety test results and tips to improve gas mileage. Give your fans a reason to chime in by creating status updates that discuss issues they care about.

If you are spending time on Facebook and social media and are not happy with the results send us an email and lets discuss how you can benefit from targeted social media. Our email address is dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au

How are you responding to upset customers?

Inferno — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:31:57 +0000

Did you see the facebook page of the circle this week after George and Yumi didn’t put their brain in gear before engaging their mouth? Mistakes happen, but it is how you handle it that makes the difference. Have a look at the comments and decide if you think that their apology was handled the right way.

No matter what you sell or what industry you’re in, you’re going to experience negative word of mouth.

You know, those customers who are expressing their complaints on social media.

It just happens.

Things break, problems come up and employees have bad days. But it’s how you handle it that separates you from everyone else.

Great response starts with great listening.

Set up Google Alerts for your brand and industry keywords.
Keep a close eye on your Facebook page.
Listen on Twitter.
Make a list of any forums or communities where your customers congregate and regularly check in on them

Avoid these situations:

The criticism is on a really small blog or forum, and your response will only bring attention and credibility to an issue nobody saw in the first place.
It’s a blatant attack that’s clearly rude and outrageous—and anyone who reads it can see the critic has a personal problem.
A known crackpot who is only looking to pick a fight.

There’s just no way to win in these scenarios. So stay out, move on, keep your head

Show empathy, communicate in a friendly tone and use your real name. And if the forum supports it, it helps to include your actual photo.

It’s easy to yell and scream at an anonymous company. But when someone shows up and says, “Hi, this is Kim and I’m so sorry for the trouble…” it changes everything.

The critic now realizes he wasn’t yelling at a giant, faceless company. He was yelling at Kim. Quickly, the anger fades—and you’ll often get an apology.

Any time you win an argument online, you’re losing. All anyone really remembers is that you’re combative.

This doesn’t mean you can’t respond, explain your side of the story and start a conversation. You just need to be in the right mindset:

Don’t get emotional.
Remember, it’s a real person. Just as they see you as a faceless company, it’s easy to see them as just another complainer.
The critic is actually doing you a favor. They’re helping you learn to be a better company. For every person who actually speaks up, many more walk away quietly, never to return.

If you need help getting your client communications right send us an email dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au and we will help you with the Secret Life of Customer

Businesses are Investing in Social Media

Inferno — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:17:06 +0000

Borrell Associates found that small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB) will double their social media advertising budget in 2012.

Borrell found that social media marketing ranks third in online advertising spending.

Awareness Networks found in their State of Social Media Marketing study that 70% of businesses plan to expand their social media presence, while half of marketers intend to improve their social media management practices and tools.

Although businesses are increasing their investment in social media, they are more reluctant to put large advertising budgets toward it. Awareness found that 75% of businesses spend $10,000 or less, with most businesses solely investing people’s time toward the effort.

Even with people being the primary resource dedicated to social media, most businesses are only employing a small staff for their social efforts, with nearly three-fourths of businesses using 3 or fewer employees.

With limited budgets and staffs, it’s no wonder that marketers found resources to be their number-one challenge to their social media efforts.

Are you having trouble with social media? Do you find it confusing? Are you getting a return from social media?

We can help. email dcounsell@infernopromotions.com.au and talk to us about what is right for your business.

Benefits Derived from Social Media are Increasing

Inferno — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:10:27 +0000

In a survey of 700 marketers from all over the globe, Wildfire App discovered that nearly all marketers find value from social media and that 75% of marketers plan to increase their media spending in 2012.

The top two benefits highlighted by these marketers are increased brand awareness and the ability to engage in dialogue directly with their customers. This compares similarly to the 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report where we found 88% of marketers also indicated increased exposure to be the number-one benefit of social media marketing.

Small businesses have reached a tipping point in social media use where only 10% of small businesses surveyed in the Ad-ology 2012 Marketing Forecast said they would not use social media marketing in 2012. That’s down from 24% in 2011 and 39% in 2010.

I recomend you read this great article from Social Media Examiner www.socialmediaexaminer.com/5-social-media-marketing-trends-new-research-2/