The Basics for a Successful Blog

When creating a company blog, it is important to keep these 5 useful tips in mind:

1) Have original content that is focused and helpful

2) Offer lots of lists

3) Cross promote

4) Easy to navigate

5) Have prominent subscription options

When you’re ready to start your blog, make sure you pick one blog site instead of dividing your resources between many. You’re already busy, why make it harder on yourself? It can also be hard to keep track of various blog sites and what you have posted, and to establish a following.

Blogger.com is a great website when starting out as it’s easy to begin, as all you need is your name and email address. Once your account is set up (this takes a matter of seconds), you can start blogging! It is clearly laid out how to blog using only text, or to make use of pictures, links, videos and more great tools! By using pictures and videos especially you can get people sharing and talking, which increases your followers and your credibility.

Also try to blog often (at least once a week). This increases your chance of turning up in a search engine and can also increase your credibility.

More tips are given in our fantastic Social Networking class, which is offered across Ontario. For a full course description as well as course dates and locations, visit http://www.escomputertraining.com

Social Networking and Small Independent Consumer-Based Business -Part 2

We have discussed why it is important for the small-business owner to adopt social media practices, but here are some useful tips for putting this great tool to use.

ES Computer Training will work with you to develop the correct plan for you and your business, recognizing that as a small business owner, your time is limited.

1. Know what's out there.

2. Identify which customers are using social media, how they are using it and what specifically they are using.

3. What do you have to offer these customers? How will they benefit?

4. How accessible are you online to your customers? Can they have a direct conversation with you via social media?

5. Do you or could you have the resources to evaluate how effective your social networking efforts are?

6. Are competitors using these channels and if so, how? Will this affect your business?

7. What is your business strategy?

Once these questions have been answered, we can help you determine the resources and time commitment necessary for your campaign. We have worked with agents, brokers, advisors and planners, all of who have invested time in creating a social network that has grown their business exponentially.

The plan, resources, time commitment and associated costs can and will be laid out for you. This will allow much of the efforts to be taken on by support staff while leaving important personal tasks to you and still allowing you the time to maintain and grow your business' success.

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Social Networking and Small Independent Consumer-Based Business -Part 1

Many independent brokers, agents, planners and advisors are reluctant to adopt Social Media.  It is not that they reject the possibilities but that, with the day to day rush of running their business and responding to client needs, they do not have time for the added burden of working on Social Networks.  Most sense the cost of entering these channels will be significant, if not in terms of $ (most vehicles are free), then in terms of time.   Time is and will continue to be the most scarce and precious resource of any Small Independent Consumer Based Businesses.

To the point, the Average-Joe Small Independent Consumer-Based Business Owner is neither stupid nor unaware of the need to constantly improve customer communication channels and methods.  Most CRM Social Media Experts preach and skim the surface of the problem with no real solution offered.  The message is the same: “you need to communicate,” “You need to improve access,” “you need to review," “ You need to mine,” “ you need to post”…  Lots of you need to, very few plans as to exactly how!

In our next blog (yes, now that we've got your attention we'll make you wait for it!) we'll tell you exactly how ES Computer Training can help you plan out the social networking strategy that will help you to establish your business as a succesful social media presence.

To help get you started, check out our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/escomputertraining for helpful social media tips and tricks.

You can also follow us on Twitter (anneleroux)

Happy networking!