Monthly Archives: February 2013

farrahIn order to have a successful business year this 2013, planning is a necessity. Using time and money wisely is essential as trends in e-Commerce and social marketing continue to ascend in popularity. Information is transferred from person to person with the simple click of a button, traveling faster than ever before. It is essential for businesses to make it a priority to keep up and stay ahead of the game by planning meticulously and staying prepared, especially regarding their social media presence.

Marketing and advertising specialists across the country predicted the spikes of social networking booms last year and have already shown a clear idea of what they believe 2013 will bring. Businesses who want to maintain their online presence and reputation have to prepare to dive into the new trends as they change and grow. Online journalism, mobile and social PR, and LinkedIN memberships are just a few of the communities in which experts are predicting to be more prominent this year. Customizing your sales packages and marketing efforts around these concepts and having a well thought out social media strategy will help make sure your business is able to stay on top of the ball.

A final bit to note as you keep in mind how to plan your year is that it isn’t enough to follow every trend and stay ahead of the curve. Many companies end up doing too much and spreading themselves too thin, causing stress. Stay true to your company’s mission and business goals. Focus on one or two aspects of your marketing, become distinguished in those, and receive suitable results before diving into uncharted territory. The online marketing and advertising game can overwhelm even the savviest of business owners if they fail at incorporating the right knowledge and planning into the strategy.

For more information on how to plan your 2013 online marketing campaign and other ideas on social networking, visit the pros of ThinkNXT Marketing at www.thinknxtmktg.com

Sheryl Connelly, CEO, Marketing Media Management

Guest Blog Post by Sheryl Connelly, CEO, Marketing Media Management

I DETEST networking events, because it is impossible know in advance whether it is worth my while to attend. Fuel, business cards, and time all cost money. If I spend sixty minutes engaging with other professionals at an event, after having invested $100.00 or more on that trip, then I want to see a return on that. Unfortunately, at many events I’ve attended, I have not seen any return on investment at all.

For those of you who can relate to this, there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to professional networking. It goes by the name of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is among the best social media management tools for business professionals. Let me explain why LinkedIn is so valuable:

  • LinkedIn Gives People a Social Media Presence for one Reason Alone…BUSINESS: If you have a social media presence on LinkedIn, everyone knows that this is for business purposes. This increases the chance of developing profitable relationships, without needing to waste valuable time negotiating your way through an ocean of people in a crowded room.
  • A Social Media Presence With Credibility: LinkedIn offers you the chance to market yourself as an authoritative figure in your field. You should fully complete your profile and add some links to the website of your company, your blog and other social media profiles. This way, potential partners can assess the merit of your business PRIOR to initiating or accepting a request to connect. Undoubtedly, this is a major time and money saver.
  • An Evergreen Network: In contrast to Twitter and Facebook, LinkedIn is a network solely for business people. This is well suited to those who are in the B2B industry. A LinkedIn profile makes it easy to see if the individual you have found will be a GOOD FIT for a business discussion.

Do you use LinkedIn to find employees, or expand your business strategy referral network? If so, we would love to hear from you! Comment below and explain YOUR social media management success story.