The DreamPix Studio

Social Media Faux Pas

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I’ve often used the analogy that the rules of etiquette governing how a brand should engage in social media are similar to the rules associated with being invited to someone’s home for dinner.

But what happens if you make that dreaded social faux pas?

A small business located North of Boston is feeling the wrath of its 6,000+ FB friends after making an incentive post in the wake of the marathon bombing. Although it wasn’t intentional they have offended their “hosts” or in this case their customers.

Here are a few rules of thumb on how to reply to posts from irate customers:

1. Accept the blame, refrain from making excuses, and if possible offer a remedy.
2. Never delete comments unless they are offensive to others or contain profanity as it will only incense your customers and quite possibly provoke a heightened attack. If you must delete the comments wait several months until the discussion dies down and no one will notice that the comments have disappeared. On the bright side, the shelf life of this public spat is fairly short!

Can a BLOG help your business?

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The term BLOG comes from the two words Web and Log. It is a discussion or an informational web page compiled of multiple entries or posts that are usually displayed in reverse chronological order. Most BLOGS are interactive in the sense that they allow readers to post comments.

Many of my clients visibly cringe when I suggest that they include a blog on their website. The idea of writing a weekly article seems a daunting task to many business owners. However, the rewards that can be reaped by sharing valuable information are priceless.

Put the image of a lengthy dissertation to rest and instead, think about a BLOG as the opportunity to share blurbs of information about a topic on which you are an authority. Certainly, anyone in business can up with an informative paragraph or two about a product that they sell. It is a matter of disciplining yourself to regularly embrace the platform.

Here is how I have worked blogging into my hectic schedule. I belong to a local BNI chapter where each member must present a 60-second commercial to the group about their business on a weekly basis. I use this opportunity to simultaneously develop a weekly blog post on the same topic.

How successful is my BLOG? After taking a close look at my website analytics I learned that the day of the week when my website has the highest number of hits is on the day of my blog post. I decided to look at the analytics data for my website after speaking to a friend. She built her website using SharePoint and therefore uses SharePoint analytics to view the number of people who have visited her site, how many times these people have visited her site, and a list of files that have received the most views.

Above all, data analytics is a fantastic tool for businesses to gain insights into their websites. While it may be difficult to specifically measure the benefits of sharing information, I embrace the philosophy of givers gain. If I am providing readers with information about a product that they want to know more about then my BLOG is a success.

Why Use WordPress?

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Many business owners struggle to choose the website platform that is best suited for their company.

Whether an existing website requires updating or a new site is being launched, I often recommend using WordPress as a platform and here’s why:

  1. WordPress is an open-source PHP based platform that is free, but essentially priceless. You will never be at a loss to find someone who can work on your website and, with the vast number of developing contributors, the program itself has been perfected.
  2. WordPress is a CMS platform (Content Management System) which means that it is designed so that a layperson can easily make content changes and upload photos, videos, and documents.
  3. More and more people are using mobile devices and tablets to find information on the internet. Most of the newer WP themes are mobile-friendly if not responsive so that they look good and function well on any device.
  4. Lastly, WordPress websites can easily be upgraded to accommodate your expanding business needs. It is easy to install plug-ins that offer additional functionality such as payment processing, password-protected areas, or landing pages.

There is a number of free WordPress website themes that perform as well as custom themes. I happen to love the Genesis Framework and Child Themes offered by StudioPress.

Givers Gain in Social Media

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During a social media discussion with a client who builds custom cabinetry, they mentioned the outpouring of annoying emails they had received regarding a photo from their website that had been pinned on Pinterest and had gone viral. The photo depicted a backsplash on a kitchen bar that was created using corks. All of the referrals she said, were ‘do-it-yourselfers’ who wanted the how-to information and didn’t want to hire their company.

I launched into my spiel that compares social media to being invited to someone’s home for dinner.

In short, an invited guest one would:

    • Never show up empty-handed
    • Would to be a good conversationalist
    • Would never monopolize the situation … all in hopes of being invited back again and again.

The attention generated on Pinterest was in fact a GREAT thing. Rather than being annoyed, I suggested that they offer solutions to those interested in duplicating the design.

There’s no harm in sharing a few secrets of the trade in order to build trust and become an authority in your field. There’s no doubt that givers gain on social media platforms.

Choosing a Domain Name

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Your domain name can hugely impact the way people and robots perceive your website. Likewise, not owning a domain name and not having online visibility will also affect how potential customers perceive you.

What makes a good Domain name?

  1. It should be memorable. Short & easy to spell. Keywords and search terms are ideal. Generic words are invaluable but don’t be afraid to add a twist.
  2. .com continues to be the extension of choice.
  3. Some sites, like Yahoo, list websites in alphabetical order therefore domain names that begin with ABC as opposed to XYZ are preferred.
  4. Avoid using dashes or clever numbers to replace words it is confusing and inhibits search-ability.
  5. Register your domain quickly as the competition is stiff and the domain seems to disappear overnight.

Where is the best place to purchase a domain name? While there are many options my go-to source is Go Daddy.  They have inexpensive package deals, lots of promo codes, and good customer service comparatively.

FB ‘Shares’ are better than ‘Likes’

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The big headline on ADWEEK this week is that brands prefer Social Shares to Likes. It has become a common practice to ask consumers to like them on Facebook. Whether it was on a billboard, in an ad, on a website, or on a piece of marketing material, consumers have been asked for years for their nod of approval by liking a brand. Marketing pros now say that the chatter created by sharing a promo is more valuable. Shares require consumers to put a little skin the game when endorsing a product. If someone is willing to put their reputation on the line by posting an ad or blurb that is a word of mouth referral that keeps on giving.

How Successful is Your Website?

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I’ll bet that when you first launched your website you had a goal in mind of how it might work for you.

What was your intent?

  • To make sales online?
  • To build a mailing list?
  • To reach potential clients via search engines?
  • To share information and become an authority in your field?
  • To drive business to a physical location?

Each of these goals requires that a website contain certain components and, if you haven’t been paying attention, some of those components may be obsolete and content outdated. Spring is the perfect time to do a bit of housecleaning and review your objectives.

Is your website ready for its closeup?

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Does your website look good in Google’s Instant Preview?

Instant previews allow visitors to see what a webpage looks like before they actually look at the web page. Just do a Google search and you’ll notice a double arrow icon next to each search result (it used to be a magnifying glass). If you hover your pointer over the arrow a snapshot of the website will appear.

How does your website look? It is clear and graphically appealing? If it isn’t you could be scaring potential clients away before they have a chance to visit your site. Remember that first impressions make a difference.

Does your business need a mobile website?

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Not a week goes by that I don’t have a client ask my opinion about building a separate mobile website for their business.

And, more often than not my answer is always the same. A business is better off to have one website that looks and functions well on all platforms. That can easily be obtained with a clean, responsive website that automatically adjusts its size to the browser window offering a seamless user experience. One size can fit all! And, it can be just as effective and less costly in both time and money.

Check out the website that I just did for my young son’s landscape business using a new responsive theme DiNannoLandscape.com. Studio Press offers a neat function on their site where you can enter the URL for your website and see how it looks on various devices on the Studio Press website. Very cool!

DreamPix Launches New Websites

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The DreamPix Studio is proud to announce the launch of several new websites.

  • Quest Engineering Solutions is an engineering testing services company located in Billerica, MA
  • Araya Design Araya Design is a graphic design studio specializing in logos, visual identities, and print pieces in New York City.
  • Beyond HR Beyond HR is a company committed to helping New England businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations be great places to work.
  • The Swazy Alexander Group of Ipswich, a team of professional craftsmen specializing in all aspects of home design.