“Checking in” to your office may help your social media

We have noticed some nice changes when it comes to “Checking in” on social media sites lately.  For those of you who don’t know, “Checking in” is a way for you to mark where you are in real time.  Popular social media sites like Facebook, Foursquare, and Google + have a feature on their mobile versions that allow you tell everyone where you are via the GPS on your smart device.  Many of you are probably saying, “Well, that is stupid!”.  Stupid or not, people are doing it by the millions!

Checking in on social media sites offers some opportunities to businesses.  Your customers can actually check in to your office, sending out a non threatening, non-marketing notification of where they are.  This is instant word of mouth to all their social media connections. Check ins also show activity at your map location.  It has been hinted that search giants like Google may at some point include this activity in their search algorithm.  (Pure speculation of course!).  

Check-ins also allow you or your staff a chance to show off your office when you are at work.  Many of the check-in providers like Foursquare also allow you to attach offers to check ins.  You could possible offer a bleaching special to those who check in to your office.  You give them a deal and they tell all their friends (the average person has over 100 friends on Facebook) about your office.  Adding your business information to sites like Foursquare also create links and citations back to your website and Google listing, so why aren’t you checking in?

Recently we noted that Foursquare has started to use the open map display system.  The Open Map project is a open source map much like Mapquest or Google maps.  The recent changes in Foursquare also accompanied larger displays on Facebook.  A Foursquare user can opt to feed their check ins to their Facebook wall.  This will not only show their Foursquare friends, but their Facebook friends too!

What many people don’t know is, Google + actually has a check in feature on their mobile application.  It is very inconspicuous but very important.  Google + checkins actually use listings form Google places and maps.  One could speculate that these check ins could become very important to the Google local search algorithm because you actually have to be near the location to check in.  Google places great importance on real people interaction with map and review content.  I would encourage all of you to get a Google + listing as well as a Google + page for your business.  Once you do, check in every day!!!!

Here is how I do it:  The check in feature can be seen in the upper right hand corner.  Hint, it is a check.

When I hit the check in button a list of nearby places are presented.  I choose my office and either add a picture or a quote.  I like to keep them funny or informative, but something that will make other people comment!

The Check in shows up on my Google + feed.  If you examine the post further, it is actually a link to my Google places listing.  What a great way to share my listing!!

A Picture is Worth One Thousand Words?

This is the original "Chinese proverb" from a streetcar advertisement. The quotation has wrongly been translated as: A Picture Is Worth One Thousand Words. In fact, the literal translation is: A Picture's Meaning Can Express Ten Thousand Words.

Somehow the phony Chinese proverb over the years has been given the literal meaning that a picture is equivalent to a thousand words setting up a clash between words and pictures in the minds of users of the two. With the correct interpretation of the proverb, words and pictures live in harmony as they are both used equally in order to understand the meaning of any work that uses them both.

This makes perfect sense for websites!  Some designers will use more visuals that cause an emotion and/or reaction while other designers love to use words with very little visuals.  Which is correct?  Well, as it states above, words and pictures should live in harmony for the best representation of your message or business. 

Here is an example:  Let's say I were to use a picture that best describes my personality, I would definitely use this image.  Some people would see this as a positive showing me as a person with a sense of humor and finding time to relax, while others would see it as a negative such as lazy or not smart enough to read something more educational (even though I have learned many life lessons from reading these).

I would have to use words with this image to explain that I have read the "funny pages" from the Sunday paper since I was 8 years old and making time for this long standing tradition keeps me smiling all week long.  Now, the words and the image are working together to create an emotion that will create a better understanding of the person behind MPower Plus ONE!   

Proof is in the Pudding...

"What does, "The proof is in the pudding", even mean?"  I'm glad you asked!

"The proof is in the pudding" is a popular figure of speech meaning "the quality, effectiveness or truth of something can only be judged by putting it into action or to its intended use" and when applied to food, "A dish may have been made from a good recipe with fresh ingredients and look delicious, but you can really only judge it by putting it in your mouth.  The actual taste is the only true criterion of success." 

"The proof is in the pudding", isn't the original phrase, it’s something like this, "But the key to the mystery lies in the fact that “the proof is in the pudding” is actually a mangled form of the original phrase, which was “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

While some may think that websites are poor examples to use, let's take a look at several of our website designs, a website design says a thousand words, so here you go:

http://www.mpowerplusone.com/Portfolio.aspx

I have often thought that a website should be designed before the client pays any money and then presented to the client for a looksy and if they love it, BUY IT!   Too many times the designer has to keep going back to the drawing board because the client does not know what they want…they know what they “don’t” want.  Is this an effective use of a designer’s time or the client’s valuable time, which by the way is the only thing a designer can bill for?  I say NO! 

Have you ever gone shopping for a pair of shoes with a particular budget in mind and you discover the “perfect” pair that costs much more…do you buy them?  I think we all know the answer to that one! 

Give MPower Plus ONE a call and sample some of our designer pudding today!

Work vs. Favors for Friends and Family, Know When to Say NO

Family and friends can make you feel pressured to do something for THEM even when you don't really want to do it. Don't hesitate to tell them "NO" if you really don't want to do it. Use that time to work on YOUr goals.

A common dilemma that graphic designers face is whether or not to take on projects for friends and family, and what to charge them. Arguments can be made to not take on these projects at all, to give a discount, and in some cases to work for free. It is unlikely a designer would have a single rule to follow when these situations arise. Instead, each project for a family member or friend should be looked at on a case-to-case basis based on several factors.

Is the project considered a favor?

In some cases, a friend or family member looking for a favor may approach you. In other cases, they may be perfectly willing to pay your full rates. At the start, find out what the person is expecting or hoping for from you, and then determine if you feel it is appropriate. The fact that you know someone personally does not mean you are obligated to do him or her a graphic design favor. Graphic design is a business, and should be treated as such.

What is your relationship with the person?

The decision of whether or not to take on or discount a project for a friend or family member will of course be based on who that person is. Over time, designers are inevitably asked to do work by people they know. However, if you always gave discounts to these people you would rarely be working at your desired rate. Therefore, it is important to ask yourself how well you know these people and what you are willing to offer them. You may be happy to do any type of project, at no cost, for your immediate family. On the other hand, can you offer the same thing to a distant relative or a “friend of a friend?” If you don’t feel comfortable charging full-price to family, consider a discount, but there is nothing wrong with quoting your actual rates.

What type of work is it?

If you are willing to work at a discount, the type of work may influence when you do this. If a friend run his or her own business, and is looking for a piece designed that will benefit that business, this is certainly a business deal. On the other hand, if your best friend needs a baby announcement, a discounted or free design may be in order. This again comes down to personal preference and how much free time is available.

How much free time do you have?

Budgeting time is one of the toughest challenges graphic designers face. When you are asked to do a favor, always check your schedule. Are you too busy with client work to take on something that doesn’t pay as much? Even if you do have free time, it is important to think about how you should be spending it. You may enjoy doing favors, or you may want to use that free time to land more paying jobs.

What is the benefit to you?

Much like any job, take a look at how a project for friends and family can help your business. Perhaps it brings you into a new industry with the potential for referrals. It may also be a great piece for your portfolio. This doesn’t mean you should work for free, but there are often benefits other than monetary ones. Depending on what your friend or family member does for a living, perhaps they can offer you a service in return, making the favor more of a barter where both parties come out ahead.

How will the project affect your relationship?

The last thing you want out of a job for a family member or friend is more stress. Most wouldn’t consider a trade-off between a discounted job and a damaged relationship a good one.. Think about this seriously before taking on the work. If you have to say you simply don’t work for friends to avoid conflict, you might be better off in the long run.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference when deciding how to handle jobs for friends and family. Consider all of the factors, and make a decision that is comfortable for you and your business. Be sure to explain the reasons behind your decision to your potential client… which in this case is your friend or family member.

How to find time for social media marketing

One of the questions we often hear from clients is “How do we find time for social media marketing?” It can be a challenge just to learn how to use the various social media platforms, let alone find time to build a successful marketing strategy.  So here are a few time management tips for starting social media marketing & how MPower Plus ONE can assist you.

Start Small

You may think the best plan of action is to get your name out there on as many different social media sites as possible. But social media is not a one-way channel like print advertising…social media marketing focuses on connecting with your target audience – that requires two-way communication. If you set up profiles on every social media site out there without the time available to effectively monitor each one, you won’t make the best impression on your audience. MPower Plus ONE monitors all interaction between your clients and acknowledges the post as well. No one likes talking to the wind!

Choose Wisely

As exciting as it may seem to learn all you can about a social media platform that you enjoy, if that platform is not where your target audience is found, you are not making the best use of your time. Find out where your target audience is hanging out on social media and then invest your time into building a profile on that particular platform.




MPower Plus ONE develops a system that produces results on one social media platform, then branches out with other platforms. The time we tell our clients is 6 months to see results from strategies we implement.




Develop your System


The “social” in social media sites sometimes means we get sidetracked and find ourselves spending time socializing instead of working on social media. While social media marketing is all about building relationships and that of course requires conversation…you need to put a system in place so you are making the best use of your time.

MPower Plus ONE allocates specific times of the day for the business side of social media:  For example, our team spends at least 30 minutes every morning making connections and reading articles from influential people/blogs in your industry – then we spend 30 minutes every afternoon sharing important news/tips in posts and responding to messages from your new connections.

MPower Plus ONE assigns specific tasks to each day of the week: For example,

Monday -  make new connections

Tuesday – post helpful tips or advice

Wednesday -  share special promotions or events

Thursday  – share industry-related information to your audience

Friday -  recommend resources, products or sites that will help your target audience

The beauty of our concept is that we develop a customized system that works best for your business, set up your daily schedule with time limits for each task and then cross train you or staff to provide internal information in an effective way that helps us stay on track.  And if it helps to schedule strictly “social” time, then do that too.  The important point is to combine your time on social media with the every day flow of your specific duties so social media does not get pushed aside.

Google+ Local Replaces Google Places

Google+ Local Replaces Google Places

As you may have heard, Google+ Local has officially replaced Google Places. Google retired Places in favor of Google+ Local, a move that combines local search and reviews.

SEO services will be transitioned to Google Places pages to the new Google+ Local platform. MPower+1 keeps you informed as Google implements this new platform.

MPower+1 will contact clients directly should we need anything further from you to successfully complete the conversion to Google+ Local in June.  To become even more informed, and for more details on this change, we encourage you to visit the official Google Blog.

What’s new?

Google’s main goal with this move is to integrate the social aspect of Google+ into your local business listings on Google. The reviews from your customers on your Places page are being moved to your Google+ Local page. Now when prospective customers click on your office location within a Google map or search results page, they will be directed to that location’s Google+ page, not the Google Places page they would have previously encountered. 

We anticipate that some reviews from customers already on your Places page will be reflected on your new Google+ Local page. Now when prospects click on your office location within a Google map or search results page, they will be directed to that location’s Google+ page, not the Google Places page they would have previously encountered.

In addition, Google also changed its rating scale, replacing their five-star system in favor of 30-point scoring system where customers can rate your business on a 0-3 scale.

Google+ Local scores

All scores in Google+ Local are determined by user reviews.

Individual user ratings are based on a 0 to 3 point scale.

3	Excellent
2	Very Good
1	Good
0	Poor to Fair

We take these ratings, average them, and then multiply by ten to arrive at averaged scores.

26-30	Extraordinary to perfection
21-25	Very good to excellent
16-20	Good to very good
10-15	Fair to good
0-9	Poor to fair

When you’re searching for locations in Google+ Local, you may see these scores depicted in two ways:

Scores with multiple aspects

These scores will show you several scores for different aspects of the business. For example, restaurants are scored across three areas – food, decor and service – with food being the primary aspect.

Overall scores

When we don’t have enough user ratings on different aspects, we will just show an overall score. An overall score is comparable to a score in the primary aspect for a location, like food for restaurants.

This is a change for the better. You will have the chance to interact together with your patients and prospective clients, and they will still be able to interact with your practice. We encourage you to embrace the new Google+ Local, particularly because this new platform will allow for these new patient interactions. 

“With one listing, your business can now be found across Google search, maps, mobile and Google+, and your customers can easily recommend your business to their friends, or tell the world about it with a review,” wrote Jen Fitzpatrick, Google’s VP of engineering.

What is MPower+1 doing?

This month, we are proactively transitioning our clients Google Places page to the new Google+ Local platform.

Our clients can expect to be kept informed as Google implements this new platform. And MPower+1 contacts clients directly should we need anything further from them to successfully claim and complete the conversion to Google+ Local in June.

As they are completed, MPower+1 will confirm the new Google+ page so that clients can continue to direct their customers towards where they can write reviews. And, just like before, new users will have to register for a Google account.

Emotional Virility

What makes an idea go viral?

What we do is find these highly shareable pieces of content that create a burning desire to share — there’s no option — your emotions are screaming “I have to share this.”  This video is not selling anything but it is a great example of emotional virility!  In just 4 days it has been viewed 12,092,789 times!

The 7 High-Arousal Emotions That Make Your Content Contagious

1. Awe

What’s awe? It’s quite simply something remarkable. Something that people can’t resist commenting on. This can be in the form of a story, a real-life event, or it can also be something as simple as an exhaustive list of 101 links to helpful resources.

2. Anger

When you anger people, they’ll work hard to attain justice.

3. Anxiety

People hate anxiety. What creates anxiety? If you’re writing content that talks about potentially losing out on something, that’s one way. People hate losing things they have.

4. Fear

Fear is one of the biggest motivators on Earth. It targets the reptilian brain, and people can’t resist but take action when motivated with fear. 

5. Joy

What makes people happy? There are loads of things. It can be something funny, inspiring, or anything that’s positively uplifting.  One of my favorite ways to target the “joy” emotion is by telling a story from my life that I know people can connect with. It really takes advantage of nostalgia and bonds with people who read it.

6. Lust

People can lust for more than just sex. They can lust after money, results, women, men, or anything like that. To target that, you simply need to tantalize readers with potential results.

7. Surprise

What surprises people? Anything that goes against their expectations. You can challenge assumptions, and prove them wrong. You can share new ways of doing things, or share results of personal tests.

What are some factors that make going viral succeed or fail?

Sweeps and contests are pretty standard and more proven. A lot of times people starting out want that. They’ll do something more exciting later on.

Once we gauge the client, we provide an appropriate set of solutions — a set of ideas that ranges from safe to far out.

How does this work with specific clients?

What we do is dissect a brand and find out what’s shareable about it. Sometimes it’s harder than others. Sometimes the entire brand is shareable, and others it’s just a brand attribute. It’s our job to find what exactly about a brand will get fans sharing.

The Bottom Line

Now that you’ve read this, I want you to remember two things:

When you’re looking to get traffic for your business website, make sure you show people how to implement the advice you give them. Take the time to show them an example, and give them next action steps. 

And finally, don’t just write content for the sake of writing content. Always target a high-arousal emotion so you know your content will get shared.