Facebook Changes Business Pages

The dust is flying at businesses as logging into their business fan page has become
anything but routine. Facebook is known for implementing fast and furious changes and a major "upgrade" has just occurred this February, 2011.

Many businesses are having trouble with some of the features; some are discovering some of their wall posts went missing, others accidentally converted a personal profile into a page and the confusion goes on.

We tried to parse through some of the changes and see if it was worth upgrading our account to. Unfortunately for all that don't like what has been done, you have no choice on March 1, 2011 when the changes will be rolled across all business pages.

Major changes include the elimination of tabs that were on the top of business pages. Now the navigation is being made profile style in the left margin with small icons that you cannot change. This minimizes the effect that the grand tabs had and many business owners don't like it.

Another change is that you now login and manage business pages differently. Now you have to login as your page from the dropdown menu being careful about who is posting (yourself or your page) and to what account if you manage multiple pages.

This is going to take some time to get used to and careful steps are necessary to avoid cross-posting.

One seemingly good change is that you now can get email alerts everytime someone posts to a page and the page can post on other pages (and profiles too if permissions are set correctly in that profile), but you have to watch whether you are commenting as a person or a page.

Photos are now the top thing seen as they have been moved prominently front and centre.

You can also feature admins of your pages or other pages that you like and mutual connections are shown when people visit your Page showing their social graph/friends who also like your page that both you and them liked your page.

What are you thoughts on the latest upgrade and any problems you are having with it? Your comments below appreciated.

One thing is for sure, we don't seem to have a choice in the matter come March 1.

Selling by Demand

One of main problems marketers face when selling a product or service is that the marketing industry is obsessed with “what’s new”. What is the cutting edge marketing technique for 2011?

This fast-paced, wall-street style, high-tech “online alchemy” absorbed by the collective marketer audience of beginners & wannabe millionaires to discover his or her “secret” is the supposed holy grail of online marketing.

As marketers lineup for Facebook Ads, Twitter audiences, iPhone Apps (or the latest social media crze) putting tried and true marketing methods on the shelf. Online marketers that actual peddle information are making money from the clueless hordes over and over again while leaving the real effective techniques by the wayside.

Now more than ever, the fact is that those that understand the fundamentals of online marketing, keyword research and actually working the lead generation program across a multitude of platforms without all of their marketing eggs in one basket are getting the best results.

People have a subliminal aversion to SIMPLE TRUTH. They either want to justify their lack of results with an acceptable excuse (“I don’t have the latest gizmo method…”), or they want to believe it’s more complicated than it really is – so that they can “secretly” never complete anything lest they potentially face failure.

According to a leading online marketer:
"People secretly want the thrill of the hunt over and above the spoils of the catch. For the majority of people in this industry, the thrill of discovery and embarking on a journey (with some “new” method) is infinitely MORE enticing than putting on some proverbial overalls and hammering out some results with really basic methods – methods that have always worked and always will.

The Market Serves Demand. And our market contains an audience with an aversion to simplicity and an insatiable desire for the “new” and the “exciting”. That’s what gets ordered. So therefore – that’s what’s on the menu. Therefore…

The PRIMARY News Topics, Discussions and Points of Interest in our Industry Always Focus on “What’s New” and “What’s Hot”. It’s just like the regular media. People don’t buy “fluff” headlines – regardless of the reality. And even though most North Americans have a better chance of getting struck by lightning whilst being attacked by Shark than they do compared to being the victim of “terrorism” – the news must deliver what is interesting. What’s… “new”.

And so the cycle continues. Indefinitely."

The key to successful marketing is to understand what people want and then serving it up in a way that they can consume the information they need along with a powerful call to action.

Here is to a great 2011 and thriving business!

Webmad

Ontario Business Marketing for 2011

Happy New Year to Ontarians in Canada!
Have had some questions over the holidays about the best way to position small and
medium sized businesses in Ontario, Canada for the New Year, so here are some tips.

The internet is made up of billions of files, so the first order of business is creating user friendly, informative content that the Google Gods may smile upon.
Now in theory, that is all you would have to do in a perfect world and omnipotent Google will find your needle in the proverbial haystack and serve it up to potential clients.

The problem is that it is not a perfect world, your clients are not only on Google but on social media, web 2.0 properties, online directories, news sites, blogs, video sharing sites, podcast sites and on mobile devices, ipads, laptops and more.

So where do you engage your potential customers? Everywhere they are! That sounds like a monumental undertaking, and that is why there are quality online marketing services such as Webmad Internet Marketing and Design of Oakville, Ontario to help focus your business' online presence. Give your company the gift of "Online Presents" in the New Year 2011 by reaching out to more customers and clients.

The Yellow Pages have been dead for years now. Most people in Canada under the age of 25 have never even opened a phone book. The phone book is now what many will find in the Spring under a snowdrift in a corner by the front door once the snow melts. In fact many directories are no longer being distributed at all.

You can either spray and pray by throwing thousands of marketing dollars at newspaper, radio and magazine ads, or you can have the internet working to promote your business 24/7.

The most important distinction I have raised over the holidays with colleagues and friends, is that many businesses feel they have to have a website because everyone else does. They still treat their website as an online catalog or brochure instead of a living and breathing lead generation tool to help grow their business. Those few that realize the difference and do something about it will rise to the top to the detriment of their competitors who are still locked into 3 year ago thinking (which is eons in the lifepan of the internet).

Keep in mind that even the second largest search engine in the world: Youtube, was only born 5 years ago and even more recently acquired by Google.

So here is to a successful and prosperous 2011!

Webmad Internet Marketing and Design
info@webmad.ca

Holidays and Internet Shopping

Holiday Shoppers are Shopping on the Internet

No parking hassles or gas costs, no going to stores only to be told the toy or electronics you are looking for are sold out or not in stock, and best of all comparison shopping for the best price from the comfort of your laptop, computer or mobile device.

Yes mobile devices are also being used more and more to complete online sales transaction. Ecommerce stores are advised to include a mobile component to their online offerings to reach the widest possible audience. Although there are several hitches to a smooth user experience using an ecommerce store with a mobile app, the software and programming are getting better every day to make this more of a seamless experience.

Online retailers need to be more diligent about informing consumers of exact delivery times prior to the sale including up front delivery costs and any other potential costs so that consumers can gauge the true cost of an item. Once that is transparent, orders can easily flow as long as the merchant is a trusted merchant which can be verified by trust symbols on the vendors site.

Happy Holidays to All and a prosperous New Year 2011

Webmad

Facebook Fan Page Setup

Does your business have a Fan Page?

Many are late to the party already as Facebook has launched massive changes starting 6 months ago last March. The birth of the Facebook like button is changing the way search works on the internet. Social votes are now the link juice for companies that want to become more visible on the internet.

A facebook fan page is different than a personal profile. It is actually against the Facebook terms of service for a business to pose as a personal profile. Unknown to most, facebook can actually allow business to build a following and then confiscate their fans and page and turn it into a community page while locking out the owner. Another facebook policy is for only one user to have one account. Multiple personal accounts are against the FB terms of service also.

With all of the new developments, contact Webmad.ca to help set up your online business profile.

Facebook vs Google

The recent scuffles between Facebook and Google are accelerating their respective tug for internet users. Facebook has just surpassed any other site on the web including Google for time spent on the site.

Google had previously introduced Google Wave which was to have been the combining of web and social, but it did not have enough time or backing to grow and was abruptly cancelled.

Although Google Buzz continues to strive to capture more social media attention, Facebook is the 100 pound gorilla in the room. With Microsoft hastily investing huge in Facebook, the new Facebook-Bing-Yahoo combination is trying to muster up all of their power to create viable competition for Google.

Only time will tell but one thing is certain, Facebook is no longer just for teens chatting about what to wear, but is turning into a cornerstone for business presense.

New Men's Hair Salon and Barber Shop opens in Oakville

Fortelli for Men is a new hair salon for men that just opened October, 2010 in Oakville, Ontario Canada. Owner Renato has been successfully operating the neighboring salon and spa Fortelli salon and spa for nearly a decade. He had many requests from men to create a "man salon" that caters to the grooming needs of men. So he created this new barber shop style men's salon tastefully decorated and outfitted with modern salon and spa equipment including the new style, comfortable red barber chairs.

Visit the new salon in Oakville at 1540 North Service Road W., Oakville Ontario L6M 4A1 Canada (905) 847-0706.