Great Interview about Social Media Marketing with Kathy Stover

Good morning!  I know how odd is it that I'm doing a blog post on a Sunday... BUT what I want to share with you is that good, that you'll want to kiss me for sharing!

This week, I listened to a great interview about social media marketing.  Suzy Manning, founder of Sizzzl interviewed me a while back for her blogtalk radio program about following your passion and what that can translate to in business.

On her live show this week, she interviewed well know social media expert and entrepreneur Kathy Stover.  Kathy is one of my greatest mentors in the world of social media marketing.  She's on top of everything new in the world of online marketing... and works with several high profile clients planning their social media marketing plan and creating their entire online presence.

Listen to internet radio with SuzyManning on Blog Talk Radio

In this interview she's sharing with you some very helpful tips about social media marketing that I think you'll find really helpful in growing your business online.  (If you can't see the media player above, click here to visit the website to listen to the recording.)

Hope your week is full of creativity, love and family.  With it being a holiday we'll be gathering around a big feast with family.  I've been "told" by my 3-yr old niece that she's going to bring her "jewelry book" and we're going to make jewelry on Thanksgiving.  I'm still laughing... I may not have birthed her, but she's a chip off the Auntie block!  LOL

{Hugs!}
~Dawn

Facebook Friday - That Darn Chat Bar

Warning:  I do not chat on Facebook.  Have not and won't because that's really way over taxing my one track mind most of the time.

Did Facebook mix you up this week with their sudden "pop up" chat bar on the right hand side?  I logged in one morning and viola.... there it was.  And there was no 'x' to close it so I left it for a day before it irritated me into action.  Side note:  the friends that are showing are those that are most "relevant" in your interactions - according to FB.  I'm not so sure that's accurate, but that's what they say. :o)

I'm not a chatter... I used to chat when Yahoo Messenger first came out, I chatted my brains out.  I also got very little of anything else accomplished.  So then I discovered how to be invisible.... but people still sent me messages even when I "appeared" offline to them.  Don't get me wrong, I love interacting with other people.  However, when I'm working on my computer - blogging, marketing, listing I really need to focus.  There's just not enough hours in the day otherwise.   So the random chatting via messenger had to go.

Honestly, people who know me know to send me an e-mail or private FB message or pick up the phone and call me.  I prefer the more personal conversations and interactions.  (which is also why 140 characters on Twitter is also sooo very difficult.  But that's a story for another day!)

So how the heck do you make that darn chat bar go away if you really don't want to use it (or look at it)?

• On the lower right side of your screen, click on the starburst looking icon.  
• If Available to Chat is Selected, un-check it.  
• From this same area, you can also click "Hide Sidebar" to have it disappear complete.
• You can go back online to chat anytime but clicking that starburst icon again.

Another Side Note:  This morning when I went to publish this post, my chat worked different than it did just yesterday.  UGH... so if the above instructions don't look right based on your screen, today's version goes like this.

• Click that Starburst Icon on the lower right.
• Select Options, then click "Go Offline".
• That should disable chat and minimize that sidebar for you.

Hope this little Facebook Friday info helped.  It just shows how dynamic and radically changing the game of social media marketing has become.  I'm happy to share the tidbits I know and learn that may be helpful to you!

Hope your weekend is Fabulous!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Facebook Friday - Connecting your Personal Profile to your Business Profile

Welcome to Facebook Friday!  First let me ask... if you have an online business, do you have a Facebook business page or are you just using your personal profile?

If you don't have a business page, you really should.  For a number of reasons, there are many more applications that work with business pages that just aren't available to personal profiles.  (i.e. Etsy app and the Artfire Kiosk to name a few.)

So if you don't yet have a business page, set one up.... I'll wait, so hurry back. :o) Trust me, people are much more likely to follow what's going on with your business if they just have to click "Like," rather than sending you a friend request and waiting for you to accept.

Once you've gotten your business page set up, you'll want to link your personal page to your business.  Otherwise, how will people know where to find your business page (or that you even have one.)  One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is when they list their employment on their personal page, they'll write XYZ company or self employed, etc.  BUT by doing that, nobody knows you have a business you run.  They have no way of seeing that information.  This really came into play when Facebook made their major changes back in May for both the personal and business pages.

How can we fix this?

Regardless of your day job, or full-time employment, the reality is you still work for yourself and need to promote YOUR business with passion in order for it to grow.  Simple solution to get you started.  In the Employment Section of your personal profile, set the employer as your facebook fan page!  Here's how:

1. Click Edit Profile > then go to the Education and Work section.
2. Begin typing the name of your fan page in the Employer field.
3. If you see your fan page in the dropdown menu, select it.
4. Then fill out the remaining fields (Position, City/Town, Description and Time Period). If you also add in any business partners/colleagues, this will show on their profile too under the Employer section.
5. Click Add Job.

Ta Daaaaa!  It's that simple!  Now when people are your friends on your personal profile, they can click the link at the top of your profile to go directly to your business page!

Want more great Facebook and Social Media Marketing tips?  "Like" my FB Page and I'll be sharing more secrets and tips frequently in the weeks to come!  Hope you have a FANTASTIC Facebook Friday!
{Hugs!}

Facebook Friday - An FAQ for your business

If you're an artisan and selling online, then you absolutely should be utilizing a Facebook Fan Page.  Why?  Because people are busy... they aren't going to visit your Etsy or Artfire store everyday just to see what's new.  BUT if you have a fan page, and update it with great content, comments and new listings, it will catch the eye of your customer and lead them to click through to your store and buy. 

Furthermore, whether you have an Artfire store or Etsy shop, both have applications that will allow you to have your store on your Facebook Fan Page.  Again, making shopping easy for your customer and showcasing your work on a platform that so many people are on all day everyday. (I know, we should create a support group - FUA - Facebook Users Anonymous!)

But with all the changes Facebook has made recently, I wanted to share a few tips I've learned about that will help you navigate the new fan page.

1.  You can now navigate FB as your page, rather than just your personal page.  Translation:  When you're leaving comments on photos, or writing on people's walls, you can show up as your business.  This is great because when people then click your name to see "who" you are, they'll be taken to your fan page!

2.  FB Pages can "Like" other pages!  Another great feature when you are navigating FB as your business page.  Example:  Dawn Doucette can like your page, but so can Designs by Dawn Marie.  When Designs by Dawn Marie "Likes" your page, it'll show up on my page in the left column under Likes.  Then when new people visit my page, they can see who I like and also visit those businesses!

3.  You still have the ability to have your Artfire & Etsy stores as part of your business page.  It makes your facebook wall one stop shop! 

Tip:  Post a variety of things on your wall - REGULARLY.  The new Facebook pg. interacts with individuals on a frequency and popularity platform.  So if you are posting items that are getting comments and feedback regularly, your page will continue to be more prevalent in their news feed.

Pages that I pay attention to and interact on have 3 things:  A feed from their blog, updates on new listings on occasion (not 20 every single day) and sharing of other relavant articles, insights and websites that are of interest.  Whether that's local events written about in the paper, or another artisan's blog post that you find interesting.  If you find it interesting, I guarantee you that your fan base will also find it interesting.  So sprinkle this mix and you'll have tremendous success building your brand on Facebook.

Another Tip:  Share and Share alike!  People love to be featured... SECRET:  They are likely to reciprocate features once their artistic works have been showcased.  It happens more often than you think.  If you see something, a store or blog post you like, share it and make sure you Tag the person who's listing or posting it is.  This way they know you've shared their design.  It's a tremendous compliment when someone appreciates your work enough to share it with their fans!  So share & tag.  (If you don't know how to "Tag" someone, type the @ symbol and start typing their name or business name.  You'll see the person you're looking for in a drop down menu.)

If you'd like to share your blog or fan page, stop by my page and comment or post your URL.  While I don't tolerate spam, I welcome sharing a new blog or artisan with my fans!  http://www.facebook.com/designsbydawnmarie

Here's a few pages that I have a lot of fun following!  They've become great friends of mine and I know you'll love them too! 

Stacy Petersen:  http://www.facebook.com/slmpetersen2
Juli Cannon:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/JulsBeads/208274232521351
Meg Carter:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Made-By-Meg-Genuine-Sea-Glass-Jewelry/182962953797

Hope this helps you get more comfortable with FB Fan Pages!  I'm always happy to help when.  I appreciate sharing and building the knowledge about marketing online together.

{Hugs!}

Marketing Tip for your Artfire Store & Giveaway Alert

How many of us use Artfire as a marketplace to promote our artisan designs?  My question to you is are you using your Artfire subscription to it's fullest?  One of the reasons I chose Artfire as a vendor to market my jewelry is because of their "searchability" on the web (i.e. google, yahoo, etc.)  Not only are your listings fed directly to google (so be keyword smart when writing your titles and descriptions) but the BLOG feature is also indexed instantly in google.

"I already have a blog.  Why do I want another?"

Because people that find your Artfire store may not realize you publish a full time blog.  In this day & age where people have so many options of what to purchase and from whom, it's critical to really stand out and build a personal relationship with your viewers and customers.  People choose who to do business with based on if they trust you or not.

Your Artfire blog doesn't have to be a daily update.  But when I'm shopping in Artfire, and finding new artisans to follow and promote, I always check their blog.  The people that stand out to me are blogging occasionally.  Topics that are great to write about on that Artfire blog are:  your products!  How did you create, what was the inspiration for, what type of products you design, what are the preferred materials you work with and DO YOU DO CUSTOM WORK?  People don't know if you don't put it out there!

So that's my marketing tip of the day for you!  As a secondary bonus, right now I'm aware of several giveaways!  I want to pass the love along to you so you can enter to win some great things too!

1.  SLM Petersen - This giveaway is terrific for anybody that SEWS!  Stacy is having a vintage pattern giveaway AND she extended the deadline to enter until Saturday.  Just go to her blog and leave her a comment!  

2.  JulsBeads - I'm telling you about this because I love Juls... but I'm going to win, so no need for you to enter. K? ;)  Juls is giving away a stash of Bead Embroidery swag... yes, I'm in LOVE with this mix of jewels (or is it Juls).  So there, you've been told... :o)

3.  Kerry Bogert & Cindy Wimmer, two great jewelry artists have just been published in a new book Wire Style 2.  Kerry is giving away one copy on her blog!  Leave her a comment to win.  Or you can pick up a copy right this minute by clicking here!

Good luck, happy marketing and have a TERRIFIC day!
{Hugs!}
Dawn

Social Media Marketing

Do you feel bombarded or overwhelmed by all the various online social networking sites?  Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Youtube... I could go on and on.  The list is growing daily.  What's important is that you find the social outlets that work for you!  Not every social website is designed as a one size fits all.

I'll admit, I've been "Twitter Challenged."  For me, I love to talk and type and keeping my message to 140 characters is really, really difficult.  I'm learning daily.  I think Chris really likes this shortened method of communicating especially during the Duke/Butler B-ball game last night.  :o) (BTW, I'm also notorious for having "brilliant" ideas I just have to share at the most interesting parts of the game.  Sorry Chris!) http://www.twitter.com/designsbydawnmd

I think as you are learning all about online social networks, as an artist (whether you are playing with fire, melting glass or putting together beaded jewelry) having somewhere that you can display photos of your work is absolutely required.  For me, Facebook is the perfect outlet for Designs by Dawn Marie.  (of course in addition to my blog here)  I have a personal profile (and welcome all your friendships) and currently a group.  From what I've learned, I'm in the process of creating a Fan Page rather than the group for a number of reasons. http://www.facebook.com/dawndoucette

Youtube is an awesome outlet if you like to take videos.  It's a great way to build up trust with your target market.  Whether you are doing a "How To" instructional video, or a "Meet the Artist" being able to speak with your audience is HUGE in helping them to connect with you.  For me personally, I don't like video cameras (or being in front of groups) so I'm not on Youtube.

I also had a myspace profile set up for a long time.  What I found happening with Myspace is that is began to get saturated with spam and it wasn't "friendly" about sharing the messages I wanted to communicate.  Comparing both Facebook to Myspace, I felt FB was a more professional venue to connect with my peeps.  :)  I could post links, display photos, chat if I want to, and keep in touch with everybody easily.

I've read two books that have really given me clarity in helping to figure out online social networking and taken an online course.  The Twitter Video in the course was what prompted me to try it.  I can always change course, but if my jewelry boat never left the dock, I'd never see anything! :)

So here's the resources I thank for sharing the knowledge of different online methods.  Hope they can help you gain clarity too!  The first book is a short but very powerful read!

Online Course:  http://www.mlmsuperstartraining.com - great video training for all avenues of online marketing.