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How Important Has The Internet Become?

Oct 252011

And The Internet Survey Says……………..

A recent survey, “2011 Cisco Connected World Technology Report”, reveals that the Internet is perceived as important to our lives as water, food or air. More than half of those that responded said they could not live without the Internet.

The international study consisted of two surveys; one included 2,800 college students from 14 different countries and the other included 2,800 young working professionals in their 20s.

33% of college students and employees surveyed around the world believe the Internet is a “fundamental resource for the human race—as important as air, water, food and shelter.”

Almost 50% believe it is “pretty close” to that importance.

66% of college students respond that a mobile device such as a laptop, smart phone or tablet is “the most important technology in their lives.”

58% of young employees respond that a smart phone will be ready to pass desktop computers as the most technological tool.

19% of college students believe their smart phones are their most important device used every day compared to their desktop computers.

91% of college students and 88% of employees said they have a personal Facebook account and about 77% check the account at least once per day. 33% check their account at least 5 times a day!

84% of the college students surveyed said they are interrupted at least once per hour while doing projects or homework by texts, social media updates and phone calls. Nearly 19% indicated that they are interrupted about once every 10 minutes!

70% of employees said they have “friended” their supervisor and/or co-workers on Facebook.

Sure, the internet is important to me – it makes my life a lot easier – but I would never say it’s as important as food or shelter. Of course, I’m not a college student anymore or a “young” professional as these survey takers were. I do realize, however, that the younger generation is all about technology.

If you want to tap into today’s techno generation, your website should part of their world. Visit our website, www.comstar.biz, or give me a call and I’ll help you take your website to the next level.

Are You a Social Bee or a Wall Flower When it Comes to Social Media?

Website Tools No Responses »

Jul 142011

Facebook and Twitter are no longer just for teenagers. Over the past few years, the use of social media by businesses has skyrocketed. If you are one of these businesses utilizing the various sites out there, good job! If you aren’t, however, I strongly suggest that you begin experimenting with social media sites. If you have your doubts about social media, here are some great reasons why you need to stop being a wall flower and become social!

First, I want to briefly name some of the social media sites out there… Facebook, Twitter, Digg, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, Foursquare, etc.

Now, why should you be using these social media sites for your business?

One great advantage is that you can run promotions a lot quicker and more frequently that you would be able to through paper mailings. People will see them right away, and hopefully take advantage of the great offers you just presented them with! You can also make these offers a lot more eye-appealing than you would be able to on a boring 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. A wide audience would also be seeing these promotions, instead of the small list of people you mail stuff to.

A very neat feature of social media that you can take advantage of is the use of banner and text ads. Millions of people are on social sites, so it’s a great place to advertise your business!

You can also talk about upcoming products and improved services. This will create a demand before the product actually arrives or the service begins. You will have built up a group of people that are ready for purchasing as soon as you announce the arrival!

Through the use of social media, you can reach out and connect with your audience. Instead of always trying to get them to purchase your services or products, answer questions they may have. It shows that you are indeed human, and not a robot that always tries to sell things. Doing this also helps display your expertise on topics in your field of experience, and can actually bring new prospects to you. Cool, huh?

Try your best to stay focused. Don’t try and be on every social media site out there, and do a less-than-ok job at it. Pick a few sites that you like and that work best for your business, and really focus on those. Make sure you are consistently updating/commenting/posting on the sites, as not doing this for a long period of time starts to lose your audience’s attention and makes you look like you don’t finish what you start.

Social Media for Your Business

Website Conversion, Website Traffic No Responses »

Jun 222010

A question that I get from time to time is, “how can I use social media to benefit my business?”

Sure Twitter, FaceBook, and LinkedIn (among others) are interesting, but are they beneficial? For business owners, entrepreneurs, sales people, and marketers is there really value in these tools?

Those who use social media extensively will argue they are certainly valuable. Those who do not use them will cite that they don’t have time for such silly activity.

Rather than jumping into the argument, let me take just a moment to put social media in perspective for you…

Do you find value in face-to-face networking? Maybe you attend Chamber of Commerce events or are involved in a chapter of BNI. Or maybe you’re a member of a group like a Lions Club or Rotary Club. If so networking is important to you at some level.

Picture how these things go. You arrive at the designated location. You enter and see a group of people. You try to meet those who are interesting. Perhaps some are good business targets. Perhaps others can introduce you to people you’d like to meet. Oops that one guy who can talk for hours just spotted you and he’s headed over! Yeah, you know what I’m talking about.

You’re stuck in a room and your potential is limited to those in the room. Everyone in the room has potential to interact with everyone else in the room, but that’s it.

Now imagine social media. Picture that room you were in with the walls extending to include the entire planet. However, just because the walls can include everyone doesn’t mean that they do include everyone. No, with social media you are creating your own room, custom filled just for you.

Your Twitter followers are in your room.

Your FaceBook friends are in your room.

Your LinkedIn contacts are in your room.

If you don’t like someone, don’t let them into your room. (Or kick ‘em out later, if need be.)

Now your task, just like face-to-face networking, is to wonder around the room and meet people. Just like in the physical world, there may be some people with whom you will never do business. There may be others who become great partners. Still others may be able to introduce you to those who can make a big difference for you.

But unlike the face-to-face version, you’re not giving a business card and hoping the recipient goes to check out your website. Instead they already have access to your profile with a link to your website. They can get to know you and your business. When they’re ready for your service they already know you.

So get out there and network in your own room. And, you get to pick the meeting time.

(By the way, if you’d like to enter my room I’m available on Twitter and LinkedIn. Follow me or Invite me and I’ll join your room too.)

The Perils of Ignoring Social Media

Website Traffic No Responses »

Feb 052010

So, you don’t think that YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or any of the other social media web tools are beneficial to your business? Fair enough. Every business has to evaluate these tools for themselves and if they can’t find a way to use them to further their business goals or if they aren’t willing to commit the time and resources needed to learn and use the tools effectively, they should probably put their efforts into something else. However, what if these tools are used by others to affect your business?

Customer No-Service

Before social media sites like YouTube, the Average Man had little public recourse when he became the victim of a business’s Customer No-Service. United Airlines learned about the power of social media (YouTube.com in particular) and the consequences of bad service the hard way.

Dave Carroll spent a great deal of time trying to get United Airlines to fix an expensive Taylor guitar that their baggage handlers had broken. He created a video (several, actually) about his experience and posted it on YouTube. The last time I checked, the video was viewed 6.8 million times and has created a public relations nightmare for United (and a public relations boon for Taylor guitars). Read the full story here.

What are people saying about your company on social media sites? Do you even check? How will you respond to criticism (or praise)? It only takes one employee to tick-off the wrong customer and you could become a laughing stock. United could have avoided their fate by admitting responsibility and coughing-up a measly $3500 to replace the guitar. How much damage has been done to their reputation?

Getting Flamed

United’s fate was self inflicted and deserved (in my opinion), but what if your company is being talked about on social media sites in maliciously unflattering terms based on false information or outright lies? Getting flamed can have serious repercussions – do you have a plan in place to deal with it?

How could this happen to you? Rumors could easily be started by [ex-]employees, [ex-]vendors, competitors, political opponents or anyone else with an axe to grid, real or imagined. Knowing how to respond quickly, professionally and honestly could save the good, hard-earned reputation of your business from cyber-bullies.

Final Thoughts

It used to be hard for the little guy to take a serious swipe at a business or private individual. Think back to the 80′s – what could you do, really? Print and post flyers? Phone all your friends? Whoopity-do. If you had really gotten the shaft perhaps you’d get on local TV. Now any teen with a video phone can shoot and post a video in minutes. True, it would need to be pretty compelling to get everyone’s attention (after all, few of us have the talent of a Dave Carroll) and yet it happens every week. Be prepared and be alert.


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Tips on Social Media Marketing With Facebook

Seek Employees Using Social Media

How Important Has The Internet Become?

Are You a Social Bee or a Wall Flower When it Comes to Social Media?

Social Media for Your Business

Social Media Domination

The Perils of Ignoring Social Media

Customer No-Service

Getting Flamed

Final Thoughts

Social Links

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