Tag Archives: social networking

We often say things like "the internet changed the world" and yet still think about a world where we have to sit down at a computer and open up a browser to use it. To some degree, smartphones have changed this, but not entirely. Your smartphone is essentially just a miniature computer, and you're still using an app or a browser to read this content on your screen right now. The difference is in portability. You can have that internet connection anywhere you want. But it's still the same base process of using the device to consciously go on the web.

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Don't think of online reviews as something extra for consumers, a small piece of the puzzle that they use when deciding what to buy. The truth is that they're far more important than that. They're a critical part of the process, with nine out of 10 consumers choosing to read reviews before they make a purchase. It's clear that they value the input of other shoppers and even, to a degree, allow those shoppers to make their decisions for them. Reviews are seen as a way to get an inside scoop so that one does not have to rely only on what the company says -- as companies are naturally biased toward their own products. Reviewers, in theory, are not.

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You started using social media before you even owned a business, as a simple way to keep in touch with your friends. Now that you run your own company, though, it's impossible to deny the potential that it gives you. You can connect with customers and consumers, post ads, use text, images and videos, and find an audience that is already interested in your products -- no matter where you are physically located. It's a tool that business owners from previous generations would have absolutely loved. However, that doesn't make it impossible to fail. You still need to know what steps to take and what mistakes to avoid so that you get the most out of your social media profile.

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You have a stunning website. It showcases your products, it answers some of the questions people have, it includes a call-to-action to create sales and it helps establish your brand’s identity. You’re about ready to launch the site. There’s just one thing left to do: create a contact page. If customers -- or prospective customers -- want to get in touch with you, it needs to be easy for them to do so. Any level of confusion can push them away. But, some forms of communication may be better than others. So, is it better to use email or a phone number on that contact page?

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A new documentary called "The Social Dilemma" has been making waves lately. It relies largely on interviews with tech insiders who have worked for companies like Facebook and Google. They talk a lot about how these social platforms are designed and controlled. The overall message in the documentary suggests that social media has become a problem for modern society in a number of ways, and many people are taking this as a push to leave Facebook -- and related sites like Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, etc. But why, exactly, are they leaving? What does this actually mean for online marketing? Let's break it down.

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