Archive for the ‘blogging’ Category

 

Make Every Photo Instantly Interactive with ThingLink

Saturday, November 17th, 2012

Images and videos are king in social media.

What if…

+Each of your images had a specific call to action.

+Each of your images were interactive.

+Each of your images did more for you than just giving someone something interesting to look at?

It’s called ThingLink. And it’s free.

We made the image below as an example. Hover your pointer over it to see several icons appear.

Each of these icons is clickable and takes you to specific sites and calls to action.

We think it’s brilliant. Check it out.

ThingLink For Educators  

GettingSmart published this article replete with numerous suggestions educators could use ThingLink. We felt the most notable was to showcase the work of exemplary student achievements or performance by sending out a simple picture with accolades in ThingLink format.

Here is an example:

ThingLink for Marketers

Marketers (read: salespeople, content creators and curators, and all creative types) will love that each image now creates an immediate call to action.

+Want to convert a casual web-surfer to a customer? Direct them to your landing page.

+Want to create Follow/Like buttons all all your logos? Put a link on all your logos.

+Want that viral meme to do something for your business other than just go viral? Use ThingLink.

 The uses are as endless as your creativity. We love it.

ThingLink for Bloggers, Bands, and Beauties 

Bloggers: Even if you have an existing blog that you’ve been adding content to for months or years, the ThingLink plugin will help you convert all your images that aren’t working for you to do just that: to start working for you.

Bands: Have ticket stubs with a QR code directing your fans to your ThingLink photo on my site. Make a few info links on your photo to Spotify, iTunes,  or YouTube!

Beauties: If you’re a photographer or a model, you should be using this tool. We’ve found nothing better on the market that takes the visual and makes it more interactive than ThingLink.

If you try ThingLink, let us know what you thing…think.

 

 

4 Problems with Your Business Blog

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Whether your business has a blog, had a blog, or is getting a blog one thing is certain: you should have a blog.

Why?

The simple answer: you’re reading this.

The “herd mentality” is full force in social media and consumers are looking for engagement, not just a great product line. When they go to your website they must see the person behind the brand. They want want more than a pretty date, they want someone with a great personality as well.

Business Blog Tip #1: It’s Lifeless

Anyone can make a widget. But your widget must move, breathe, surprise and advice. Your blog must be alive.

The Fix: Recruit a passionate employee who has experience writing and see if they might be interesting in bringing life to your business blog. If your business can’t spare an employee, hire someone to do it for you (just ensure they understand your brand).

Business Blog Tip #2: It’s Old News

When potential customers come to your blog, they want to see that it’s updated and different than the last time they visited. Upon seeing a blog that is updated regularly, the consumer mind says “this company has things happening and they have news to share with me.”

The Fix: Have a blogging schedule. Update once a week, three times a week, or daily, but whatever you choose, keep a regular blogging schedule.

Business Blog Tip #3: It’s Salesy

We love to buy, but we don’t want to be sold.

We’ve all had experiences when ‘friends’ invite us over for a nice meal and then halfway through the second course the host transitions into a corporate sales pitch for product X. It’s gross.

And your customer will feel the same way if your blog is used like old bait-and-switch sales tactics.

The Fix: The other pages of your company website are for selling, but the blog is relational. Keep it relational.

Business Blog Tip #4: It’s Impersonal

Company blogs that read like text books remind people of … reading textbooks.

Going hand-in-hand with tip #1, bring a personal ‘voice’ to your blog and keep it consistent. Although the implementation of this concept varies from company to company, the blog’s tone must be conversational.

The Fix: When writing (or editing) a blog post imagine it being read by a specific customer of your product. Some writers even go so far as to post a picture of their ‘customer’ at their workstation while writing.

Take advantage of the social space available to your business by maintaining and growing a relevant business blog. Godin states it poignantly:

“How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?” Seth Godin, sethgodin.typepad.com