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Imagine Getting More Fan Engagement for Your Facebook Page

Well, you finally created that Facebook page for your business and have been posting status updates about your products or services and how wonderful YOU are…but seems like nobody cares.  Nobody pushes the “Like” button, nobody leaves comments, no one shares your posts with their friends…NADA!  Maybe you need some inspiration to help you get the most out of your page.  Today we wanted to share some tips and tools you can put to work that will get those fans active!

by Herb Lawrence, ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center.  ”Liking” small businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Do you keep posting to your small business Facebook page, but your fans don’t seem to be responding?  If so, you aren’t alone!

Remember Facebook is a “SOCIAL” media so… you want to create a channel for 2-Way communications.  That means your posts need to encourage fans to push the “like” button, leave comments, or share your posts on their profiles.

The problem is if you are using Facebook as just a VIRTUAL BILLBOARD to hawk your products or services your fans will not feel like responding or worse…they will leave your page completely.

So how can you get fans engaged?  Here’s a few easy tips:

• Questions:  Ask simple questions, like:  “What’s your favorite holiday destination, and why?”.
• Fill-in-the-blanks posts:   Posts that will encourage your fans to fill in the blanks to complete a sentence, such as “(Fill in the blanks) _______ is my favorite BMW”.
• Post photos and ask a Question:   such as “Where do you think this picture is taken?”
• Post a video and ask about a specific moment in it, such as “What do you think that guy is doing at 1:43?”
• Talk about the news:   Select something that’s currently getting a lot of conversation especially if you can tie it to your industry, community or something of interest to your fans, and invite discussion on your page.
• Ask for likes:   Simply post updates such as “Like this if you can’t wait for the weekend to begin!”
• Caption contests:    Post a funny photo and ask fans to give a title.
• Ask hypothetical questions:  , such as “One-way flight anywhere you choose. Money’s not an issue. Where do you go?”

Try these types of status updates out on your fan page, and see how it will improve fan comments and likes (which increases your Edgerank and thus your visibility).  NOTE:  Like anything in marketing… repetition is important!  Don’t try it once, then if you don’t get the kind of response you wanted stop doing it…  Make it a part of your normal posting schedule for an extended period of time to get your fans used to seeing it.

For more ideas check out our Storify collection of tips for industry experts with ideas that have worked for them and easy tools (most free) you can bring to your Facebook page to get those fans engaged!

Get More Engagement on Facebook

A big challenge for many businesses on Facebook is getting fans engaged and active on the page. Why does engagement matter? Engaged Fans are also more likely to become customers! Engagement also "FEEDS" Facebook Edgerank…critical to making sure your posts show up in your fans Newfeed,

Storified by Herb Lawrence · Sat, May 05 2012 12:04:55

Did you like these tips?  If so leave us a comment.  Better yet, join us on our Astate Small Business Facebook Page and leave your tips there.  We love to get our fans involved.

If you are a small business in Northeast or North-Central Arkansas and would like to learn how to maximize your Facebook marketing efforts, contact our business consultants, Laura Miller or Robert Bahn and find out about our free, confidential consulting assistance.  Call the Astate SBTDC at (870) 972-3517 or email us at asusbtdc@astate.edu to set a time to discuss your marketing needs with our professionals.

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Helping Arkansas Attorneys Get Started with Social Media

Last Friday, April 27th, I was invited to be the kick-off speaker for a day-long seminar for area attorneys “Legal Use and Abuse of Social Media” co-sponsored by the Craighead County Bar Association and ASU Continuing Education office.  We had a great line up of speakers on the topic with lots of  information for our area law firms to consider about the social media world.  As is often the case some of the law firms were already using social media, while others were unsure of exactly how it fit into their overall promotional efforts.  To help those struggling with the use of social media, I have pulled together some nice introductory articles on attorneys and online marketing that may be of interest.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping small businesses grow from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Those of us involved in social media marketing often forget that many small businesses are still trying to learn the ropes or even decide if social media is right for their organization.  Nowhere is this a bigger challenge than for many professional companies, especially attorneys.  To help our professionals get a better “grip” on the social media issue and tools that can help I pulled together a nice series of short posts, video, and tweets from around the internet.  I hope this will shed some light on current use of social media for our legal friends out there.

So, want to learn more about how social media can help your professional organization?  Contact Robert Bahn or Laura Miller, consultants with the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center and schedule a time to meet.  Our free, confidential consulting assistance can help you develop the marketing plan that is right for your company.  So, what are you waiting for?  Give Laura or Robert a call (870) 972-3517 or email us at asusbtdc@astate.edu.

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Arkansas Military Veterans…Take Charge of Your Lives…Start Your Own Business

If you are a military veteran, disabled veteran, currently in the Arkansas National Guard or a reservist and have ever thought of owning your own business then we have a program for you!   On May 8th in Jacksonville, AR the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host a day long Veterans Business Boot Camp to help you launch a successful venture.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center

A recent study by the U.S. Small Business Administration found that one of the most significant predictors of small business success was that the owner had prior military service.   Veteran owned small businesses make up 9% of all businesses in the United States and have a much higher survival rate than their civilian counterparts.

Why? Because military veterans are able to:

• Making sense of chaos: Veterans know how to make sense of chaos and how to make decisions in the face of uncertainty.  Successful entrepreneurs have to  make sense of chaos by making the best possible decisions every day, with limited information, limited resources and limited time.
• Seizing the initiative:  Military service requires  strong creative thinking skills, problem solving approach to missions, and an ability to learn new technologies.  All of these skills are essential for success as an entrepreneur as well.
• Building relationships: Military veterans know how to work together as part of a team, they know how to quickly adapt to changing situations and work with people with different personalities and different working styles.
• Staying dedicated: Being in the military is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle, and it’s a big commitment. People join the military not just to get a paycheck, but to be part of something larger than themselves.  To be a successful entrepreneur requires a sense of mission. The best entrepreneurs aren’t in it just for the money, they’re trying to build something, create something, or solve a problem better than anyone else.

So, do you have what it takes to start and grow a successful small business in Arkansas?  You don’t have to go it alone!

On Tuesday, May 8th the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host a one-day Veterans Business Boot Camp at the Jacksonville Community Center for military veterans, currently serving national guard and reservists who want to own their own business.  Using the book “Business Plan in a Day” by Rhonda Abrams, veterans will learn how to develop a realistic business plan to start or expand their small business.

This event will be a unique opportunity to work with professionals from the ASBTDC, experienced in helping entrepreneurs launch new ventures.  If you have ever thought about starting your own business, grab your seat today!

The boot camp event will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 4:30 p.m. Registration fee, which includes lunch, is $50. Payment at the door will be accepted, but advanced registration is required.  Each veteran attending may bring his/her spouse at no additional charge if both persons pre-register.

Veterans: Critical to the Strength of our Nation

Registration is available at arkansasveteran.com or by calling (501) 683-7700 or toll-free (800) 862-2040. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested in advance. Contact Shannon Roberts, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204 or (501) 683-7700.

In addition to the day-long training session Following the boot camp, Arkansas veterans wanting further assistance with writing a business plan can apply for step-by-step coaching through ASBTDC’s new Veterans Small Business Mentoring Program.    

For more information about the event see our Arkansas Veteran Business Boot Camp press release.  Or call me, Herb Lawrence, at (870) 972-3517 and I will be happy to fill you in on the details.

Don’t just dream about becoming an entrepreneur…take the first step by joining us Tuesday, May 8th and put your military skills to work for your civilian career.

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Is Pinterest Worth the Time for Your Arkansas Small Business?

So many social media sites!  How can a busy small business owner decide which ones are worth investing your time in?  Well if your target demographics are women, aged 20-45, and with a high household income AND… if you have a highly visual product learning about Pinterest is worth the effort.  Today’s blog we share some recent articles and video about this site, how to leverage it, and tools to make it work.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping Small Businesses Grow Online Marketing from the Delta to the Ozarks

Today I “sat in” virtually as part of a panel with eWeb2Sales & Profits  friend, Kenneth Brown and other social media pros Valeria Jennings, and Neil Ferree to discuss the pros and cons of Pinterest.  A lot of fun connecting with others interested in social media marketing and it was a very informative discussion about the pros and cons of this site.  Below is my Storify post with some great online resources to help our small businesses learn about Pinterest, whether it is right for them and how to use it.  Hope this is helpful!  (Let me know your thoughts on Pinterest.)

Even B2Bs can use Pinterest if they give it a little thought.  We share inforgraphics, photos and other visual content with our “pinner friends” and use the posts to send them to our website (and hopefully our cash register).  Tell us how you use Pinterest.

The Astate SBTDC offers a wide variety of training workshops on topics of interest to our small businesses in Northeast and North Central Arkansas.  Visit our Small Business Training Calendar and sign up for ones in your area.  Well worth the time and… you may learn something!

Happy Pinning!

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Effective Email Marketing Tips for Arkansas Small Businesses

Small business owners are short on two things...Time and Money! So finding the most efficient way to connect with customers or potential customers online is critical to success.  Of all the online tools available, which ones should be a priority for our busy entrepreneurs?  After your website…it should be hitting customers inbox with Email.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Delivering Small Business Assistance Right in the Inbox of Entrepreneurs from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Our “Take Your Business to the Next Level” training series we have been holding in Batesville, Arkansas has been a lot of fun, with some great discussion from our small business owners about the right use of online marketing.  As we discussed last week  after a good website, the next priority should be putting the power of Email into play.  Why?

Because a recent study by ExactTarget  2012 Channel Preference Survey found that across all age groups consumers preferred to receive marketing messages from companies via Email as opposed to other sources.  See chart below

But like any other marketing tool, you need to learn how to use it before you jump in over your head.  Today we have pulled together a short collection of articles and a video about professional Email marketing that will get you started in the right direction.

Here at the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center, we use Constant Contact as our preferred professional Email service provider.

We have found it to be a great company with lots of support.  But, whether you choose Constant Contact or one of the other professional services, finding a professional provider is absolutely critical and for the minimal cost involved will be worth every penny.

The ASU SBTDC will be offering workshops on Email Marketing throughout Northeast and North-Central Arkansas this summer.  See our Small Business Training Calendar for dates nearest you.  We will show you how to set up and start putting the RIGHT message into your customers Inbox that WILL get results!

Our business consultants are also available to work with area small businesses to help them with their marketing needs, including how to use Email.  Contact Laura Miller or Robert Bahn at the ASU SBTDC (870) 972-3517 or email them at asusbtdc@astate.edu for free, confidential consulting assistance.

What kind of experience have you had with Email marketing?  We want to hear.  Leave us a comment on our blog or share your thoughts on our Facebook page at ASU SBTDC on Facebook!

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Find the Social Media Network that is RIGHT for Your Arkansas Small Business

Time, time, time…the most precious asset for any small business!  When it comes to finding the right VOICE for your marketing message you don’t have the time to waste on the wrong platform.  In today’s blog we share a great Infographic on the top social media channels and how to know which one is RIGHT for you.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping Small Businesses find their VOICE from the Delta to the Ozarks

As a follow up to Tuesday’s blog article on Targeting Your Market with the Right Social Media, today we are sharing a very helpful infographic and article written by Sam Laird for  Mashable.   In his recent article “Which Social Network Should You Use..and When” the writer covers the top 4 networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google +) with tips to find the platforms that will help your business.

Each network has a different audience and users with different needs that a small business marketer needs to keep in mind when determining the right network to use.  Included in the topics to consider are:

• What the network is best for:  Which type of user is there?
• What is the network’s “Secret Weapon” – Why is it unique?
• Who uses the network – demographics and types of users
• Tips on What to Share – What are the users looking for?
• Finally, what are the drawbacks to the network – after all nothing is perfect.

Check the infographic out… you may even want to print it off for future reference and use it to help you make decisions about your marketing options for social media.

You can also check out the Infographic on the Astate SBTDC Pinterest page under Social Media!

So… was this helpful?  Would you like to see more information on social media sites like this one?  Let us know!  Leave a comment on our blog or check it out on our Facebook page ASU SBTDC Facebook, or tweet your thoughts to us on Twitter!  Love to get feedback!

If you want more information on leveraging social media or on-line marketing for your small business check out our upcoming training workshops around Northeast and North-Central Arkansas at ASU SBTDC Seminars.  Facebook Timelines for Business workshop coming to Mountain Home at the Baxter County Library, Tuesday, April 24th!  Still time to register!

Our free, confidential consulting assistance can also provide one-on-one assistance to help you develop marketing plans, evaluate marketing platforms and create a message that will appeal to your target market!  Find out how to access our free consulting at ASU SBTDC Consultants.  We are here to help your small business succeed!

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How to Find the Right Target Market on Social Media

Confused about which social media site is right for your business?

For most small businesses a critical ingredient of successful marketing is to identify your very best customers and target your messages directly to that group.  But knowing HOW to segment your customers is one thing…knowing WHERE they “hang out” is another.  As our“Taking Your Business to the Next Level” class in Batesville, Arkansas are finding out, locating the right channel to connect with potential customers means doing some homework.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping Small Businesses Find their BEST Customers…from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Over the past two Thursday evenings I have had the pleasure of working with 16 Independence County business owners as part of our six night “Taking Your Business to the Next Level” training program at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.   A topic of interest to all of them is how to:

• determine market potential,
• effectively segment the overall market into groups,
• Understand the right message to appeal to the different groups, and…
• How to find the right communications channel for their target market.

This Thursday we will be concentrating on communications channels, both “traditional” and on-line to include social media marketing options.    One excellent question that was raised the other night was...”how do I know if my target market is even using social media?  And if they are which ones are they most likely to use?”  

Obviously my answer is….. IT DEPENDS! not only a safe response for a consultant but is also a very appropriate response   dependent upon your industry, the make up of your target market, their interests and your time.  And…since this is a pressing question to our 16 attendees, it is probably a question that many of our other small business friends ask as well.

For many B2C, local businesses successfully segmenting your market into demographic factors such as age, income, households, education, etc., makes a lot of sense because households with similar demographic features often have similar interests.  So as a way to start thinking about appropriate social media sites I wanted to share a very informative Infographic from Mashable that I found over the weekend.  A Case Study in Social Media Demographics with a review of 7 popular social sites broken out by:

• Gender,
• Age,
• Education, and
• Household Income

Click on the Infographic for better view in our Pinterest site!
Since time is one of our most precious resources, finding the appropriate channel based on our potential customers is critical.  This visual should give our attendees and our other small business friends a good place to start.

What about you?  Have you found other ways to segment potential customer groups for on-line marketing?  If so, share them with us, we would love to hear.

Learn how to leverage Facebook for your business with our Facebook Timelines workshop coming to Mountain Home on Tuesday, April 24th 1- 4 pm.  Click here for details and to register!

If you want to know more about how you can find good information to help you find the best market segments then call our Astate SBTDC consultants  Laura Miller or Robert Bahn (870) 972-3517 or email asusbtdc@astate.edu to see how we can help you with your market research needs. Click here to learn about our consulting assistance!

All of our consulting is free of charge and completely confidential.  So take advantage of the resources available to you in Northeast or North-Central Arkansas through the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center.

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What Arkansas Small Businesses Need to Know about Social Media and the Law Part 2

Continuing with social media and legal issues from our guest blogger Deborah Gonzalez, Esq.,  sharing her expertise and insight into legal issues for social media. Great information for all of our small business friends using social media as a marketing tool.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Sharing Insight into Small Business Issues from the Delta to the Ozarks.

In yesterday’s blog, Deborah Gonzalez  discussed  social media legal myths that small businesses need to know about in our post, “Eight Social Media Legal Myths You Need to Know”.  Today, she continues the post with four more issues of social media and the law.

Thanks again to Deborah for taking time to provide this great information to our readers.  Deborah Gonzalez, Esq is an attorney and founder of Law2sm a consulting firm that focuses on helping its clients be “socially legal.”

 Eight Social Media Legal Myths

Deborah Gonzalez, Esq.

Deborah@law2sm.com

www.law2sm.com

 Social media platforms, smart phones, tablets, and applications are changing the way we conduct business and interact socially with friends, family, and colleagues. Today, discussions involving Facebook®, Android®, Words with Friends® and Angry Birds® are common. But it is not all fun and games.  The financial payouts and consequences of social media for those involved, including vendors, developers, and clients, are becoming more apparent.  New cases emphasizing social media mistakes costing reputations, resources, and jobs are becoming just as common as new releases of applications and putting everyone on alert. 

 5.  Privacy is Automatic

 It’s mentioned on the news, in broadcast, in print and online almost every day, sometimes every hour.  It has brought Facebook® under FTC scrutiny for the next 20 years, and Google® to revise and consolidate its policies into one simple declaration.  It is – privacy.  A clear definition for us to use as it relates to social media would be that privacy is “a person’s right to control access to his or her personal information.[1]” The concern about what information is collected on us and how it is used has led to some interesting developments and catch-22’s.  The marketing and public relations industries struggle with how to use data available in the open graph and not violate their customers’ privacy (such as in contests and sweepstakes). 

 6.  I Can Put Up Anything and I Can Take Down Anything

 This may be tempting to believe, but may be a wrong assumption on your part that can lead to being sued for violation of the First Amendment and Freedom of Speech.  If you allow your customers to post comments on your site (user-generated content) have you put up guidelines so they know the purpose of the forum, what they can and cannot post, what would be considered offensive, that the forum is moderated, and that you reserve the right to delete such comments[2]?  If you have not, you have created a “public forum” and you have no right to just delete information posted there that you do not like. 

 7.  Information Expires

 The European Union is fighting for what it believes is a basic right being threatened by today’s digital and social media giants – the Right to be Forgotten (in French le droit à l’oubli—or the “right of oblivion”).  It is based on the idea that people may put something up that they later regret and should have the right to delete it – or more to a public interest concern – that criminal records and really, really bad mistakes that people commit should be “forgiven” and “forgotten” and deleted from the Internet. Don’t want people to see it – don’t put it up.

 8.  There are No Rules and Current Laws Don’t Apply

 There are rules in the social media world – unwritten cultural norms in this digital environment.  There is a language that the insiders know and there is a protocol to the conversation.  Social media is about currency (what is important at this moment), authenticity (credibility and trust), and relevancy (to who is reading or interacting).  Violating any of these rules can lead to a slippery slope of legal violations.  Current laws do apply – because they are the laws that we have.  But these laws are being challenged, changed, modified, and recreated, with new laws proposed every day – including two new laws on privacy introduced in 2011.  Which ones apply to your company, your business, and your industry?

 Disclaimer: 

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. The information is not offered as consulting, legal or advice of any type and should not be relied on as such. No representations or warranties express or implied, with respect to any information in tis article are created.

 Deborah Gonzalez, Esq. is an attorney and founder of Law2sm, a consulting firm focused on helping its clients be “socially legal.”

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Eight Social Media Legal Myths You Need to Know

One of the many great things about the Internet is the amazing people you can connect with who can help your business grow!  I met Deborah Gonzalez, Esq founder of Law2sm when I was participating in an Internet radio show hosted by Ken Brown of eWeb2Connect.  Ms. Gonzalez is an attorney and founder of law2sm, a consulting firm that focuses on helping businesses be “socially legal.”  And…she has been kind enough to be the guest blogger for our post today!

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Keeping Small Businesses Informed from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Deborah wrote a great piece for the AState Small Business blog, with so much information that our small business readers need to know concerning legal issues and their use of social media that I have broken it out into 2 parts.  Today,  we cover the first 4 of the 8 Social Media Legal Myths and will share the other 4 tomorrow.  Best way to give folks time to digest the information Ms. Gonzalez has provided and see how it could impact their business.

Eight Social Media Legal Myths

Deborah Gonzalez, Esq.

Deborah@law2sm.com   www.law2sm.com

Social media platforms, smart phones, tablets, and applications are changing the way we conduct business and interact socially with friends, family, and colleagues. Today, discussions involving Facebook®, Android®, Words with Friends® and Angry Birds® are common. But it is not all fun and games.  The financial payouts and consequences of social media for those involved, including vendors, developers, and clients, are becoming more apparent.  New cases emphasizing social media mistakes costing reputations, resources, and jobs are becoming just as common as new releases of applications and putting everyone on alert. 

 1.  Social Media is Free and Should be let Free…

 Social media is not as expensive as traditional media, but it does have a cost – the cost of time and resources (including staff) to apply it correctly and to protect the most valuable thing your company owns – its reputation!  As for letting it be free, employees and customers can be wonderful ambassadors for your brand – but do you know what they are saying? Make sure you have the right legal guidelines, policies, and protocols in place to help you maximize your social media benefits and minimize your risks such as a potential PR crisis.

 2.  Anyone Can Do It…

 Would you let a techie balance your company books?  Would you let your accountant do your marketing?  Would you let your lawyer design your logo?  Unless those professionals have these other skills, the answer is probably a resounding NO!  Everyone has specialized skills, job description and a role to play to get your company the success it is aiming for in cyber space.

 3.  Do it Now and Do it Fast…

 It takes less than 5 minutes to set up a Twitter® Account, a little longer for a Facebook® Fan Page.  The technical logistics are 1-2-3.  But before you do (even if you’ve done so already) think about what you are trying to achieve with social media?  Is it more customers, more exposure, more sales?  Do all your social media accounts have the same name?  Do they relate to your company name?  Are you protecting your trademark as you create these different accounts?  Thinking about these questions is one thing, but you need to take some time to answer and reflect on your responses.  Then you need to put the answers in a central location that you and your company can refer to keep you on track [and legal].  You need a social media plan that is feasible, effective, and in compliance with professional, ethical, and legal rules (such as with the National Labor Relations Board Memorandums in regards to employee termination in social media cases). Make sure you seek guidance from the right professional(s).

 4.  No One Needs to Know Who I Really Am

 Today, people who are avid social media users apply the principal of transparency in order to build trust with their constituents, clients, and colleagues. They put out there who they are with their credentials.  Their social media profiles offer more than just standard resume particulars, including details of achievements, community engagement, and samples of their work (i.e. Slide Share app on LinkedIn, etc.).  Key item to remember is to make sure you are who you say you are.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a notice in December of 2011 that they would begin to crack down on fraudulent credentials listed on social media profiles as false advertising.

Disclaimer: 

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only. The information is not offered as consulting, legal or advice of any type and should not be relied on as such. No representations or warranties express or implied, with respect to any information in tis article are created.

 Deborah Gonzalez, Esq. is an attorney and founder of Law2sm, a consulting firm focused on helping its clients be “socially legal.”

SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposal Writing Workshop for Arkansas Tech Firms

Workshop aims to help small high-tech companies win funding through $2-billion SBIR/STTR programs

JONESBORO, Ark. (March 26, 2012) – An upcoming workshop hosted by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Arkansas State University aims to help small technology-based companies compete successfully for federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer dollars. The workshop will be held Thursday, April 19^th at the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development on the ASU campus.

Innovative U.S. small businesses receive more than $2 billion in SBIR/STTR awards each year. Through 11 participating federal agencies, the programs fund business and product strategies that meet federal research and development needs. Jonesboro companies have won eight SBIR/STTR awards since 2002.

Infinite Enzymes a Local Success Story 

In 2011, one of Dr. Elizabeth Hood’s companies, Infinite Enzymes
, received an SBIR Phase I award. “The SBIR program has been instrumental in allowing our companies to progress from concept to production and from concept to other proposal submissions. It is the best way to support early phases of company progress while searching for more permanent funding sources,” said Hood, who also serves as Distinguished Professor of Agriculture at ASU.

The SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposal Writing Workshop April 19 at the Delta Center for Economic Development on the ASU campus is for early-stage, first-time or previously unsuccessful writers of Phase I proposals.

Ballard of Enable Ventures, Inc. to Lead Workshop 

Sharon Ballard, the founding president and CEO of EnableVentures, Inc., and the former president and CEO of Reticular Systems, Inc., will lead the day-long workshop. Under Ballard’s leadership, Reticular won more than 30 SBIR awards.  A frequent lecturer on all aspects of high-technology entrepreneurship, she has coached hundreds of potential entrepreneurs across the U.S. and in Europe.

Ballard specializes in teaching researchers and scientists about business. “I focus on how to think about business when you’re new to business, how to win funds to advance your science and ways to commercialize your technology. Scientists and engineers tell us what is possible, but I really enjoy helping them turn what is possible into business realities,” she said.

“I am convinced that some of the best entrepreneurs are actually scientists and engineers who make the decision to learn the language and science of business.”

The workshop is limited to 30 participants, and pre-registration is required.

Register before April 10th for the $100 early bird rate. After that date, the fee increases to $150. For more information, visit the ASBTDC Technology page  or contact Herb Lawrence at hlawrenc@astate.edu or (870) 972-2100. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.

On-Going Assistance to Technology Businesses Available

After attending the workshop, interested entrepreneurs can receive free step-by-step assistance from the ASBTDC as they prepare SBIR/STTR applications.   Rebecca Norman, innovation consultant for the ASBTDC, works closely with high-technology companies and researchers to locate open SBIR/STTR solicitations and prepare proposals.

SBIR and STTR funds are competitively awarded in the form of contracts, grants or cooperative agreements by the participating agencies. For new technologies considered too risky by banks and other investors, SBIR/STTR is often the only funding option available beyond an entrepreneur’s own savings.

Over the life of SBIR/STTR, Arkansas ranks 41st in participation. To see last year’s two local SBIR/STTR recipients or find other Arkansas SBIR/STTR winners since SBIR/STTR began, view ASBTDC’s searchable database at asbtdc.org/technologyawards.

The Arkansas State University SBTDC is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the ASU College of Business.  The center offers consulting, training and market research services to small businesses in 15 counties in northeast and north-central Arkansas. As the state’s premier business assistance provider, ASBTDC works with new, existing and innovation-based businesses through a statewide network of seven offices.

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Facebook Timelines for Business Pages Hits YOU Today!  Are You Ready?

Now I know why we spend more time on Facebook than any other social network….They are always changing stuff up and we have to stay on top of it!  Unless you have been living under a rock you know today, March 30th is THE DAY! If you have a business page on Facebook you are going to get a MAKEOVER whether you want it or not.  Since Facebook KNOWS what’s best for you might as well take advantage of the changes.  Today we share the critical changes and some ideas to make your page standout.

by Herb Lawrence, ASU  Small Business and Technology Development Center…. “Friending” Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Facebook Timelines Takes Effect Today

Well today is THE DAY…we all get converted to the New Facebook Timelines for business pages regardless of whether you want to or not.  Since it will happen here are some tips from our great friends at Hubspot “Your Cheat Sheet for the New Facebook Page Timeline Design” to make sure you can “Outshine” your competition.

This neat infographic gives a nice overview of the 6 critical changes and steps to get your page all “gussied” up so you can meet your fans and visitors with a new “face”.

The infographic does a good job of telling you about the changes, it doesn’t tell you the “How-To” to put these changes into effect or what changes can be “game killers” for your page.  But here at the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center...we can!

If you missed our recent blog article about Facebook Cover Images check out the article here and see how to turn this huge piece of Virtual Real Estate into your online Billboard.  But be careful with cover images…Facebook has some very specific Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to marketing on the cover image YOU NEED TO KNOW to stay on the right side of the Facebook Police!

Workshops on Facebook Timelines in Arkansas

We have two Facebook Timeline workshops coming up in April that you will definitely want to attend:

In Jonesboro, Tuesday, April 10th from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Facebook Timelines Lunch N’ Learn at the ASU Delta Center.

In Mountain Home, Tuesday, April 24th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm Facebook Timelines Workshop at the Baxter County Library.

For more details about these “must attend” seminars click on Facebook Timelines Jonesboro or Facebook Timelines Mountain Home to grab your seat!

So what is your favorite change to Facebook pages?  What is your least favorite?  We want to hear from you!  Share your thoughts about Facebook Timelines for Business.  Maybe you will get a FREE SEAT at one of the seminars!

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How To Social Media Guides for Professional Photographers

One of the greatest things about the Internet is the ability to share information with lots of people who will be interested in your topic.  Lately we have had a number of photographers sign up for our online marketing workshops, especially those on social media.  With such interest by a particular industry I thought it might be helpful to provide some great “How-To” Guides from photography marketing pros on the subject.  Even if you aren’t a photographer these guides on social media will be helpful to you as well, so read on.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Capturing images of successful businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks.

What Photographers Need to Know About Social Media Marketing

Searching across the known virtual universe…I pulled these great articles, videos and tweets together from some of the leading marketing pros in the business with their recommendations on how to leverage social media to promote your photography business.

Did you like these articles?  Do you have some how-to resources you want to share?  Then leave your comments, always love to get feedback about the information we share.

ASU SBTDC Consulting Assistance to Small Businesses

Ready to take your business to the next level in marketing?  Then contact the ASU SBTDC consultants Robert Bahn or Laura Miller (870) 972-3517 or asusbtdc@astate.edu to learn how our free confidential consulting assistance can improve your marketing efforts.

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Setting the Foundations for Long-Term Business Success

 No one ever said Success was EASY! To run a successful small business you have to do all the small things RIGHT.  In today’s ASU Small Business blog we talk to a local commercial lender to get his observations on what spells long-term success for Independence County companies.

By Herb Lawrence, ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping Small Business Create Long-Term Success from the Delta to the Ozarks.

What do successful small businesses have in common?  According to my friend and commercial loan officer Robb Roberts, long-term success comes from doing the small things right…over and over again.

With over 15 years as a commercial lender, Robb has seen many small businesses come and go.  So I wanted to get some insight from him to see if there were any clear patterns that separated successful businesses from those that fail.

 Here is what I learned about successful businesses:

• They score with a series of base hits versus knocking the ball out of the park,
• They constantly scan their environment for opportunities and threats,
• They are intelligence gatherers…always looking for information to use to make rational decisions,
• They are always students….always looking to learn how to be better business people,
• They listen to their financial statements…they know their P&I are more than report cards of past performance,
• They are obsessed with cash flow and liquidity.

Robb’s observations are worth sharing with all our small business readers, so I have taped a short video of his thoughts.

 Do you want to learn how to make your business stronger?

Would you like to take your business to the next level to improve performance and cash flow?

Then join us, Independence County Economic Development, Inc., the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, and area lenders like Robb for our 6 night series “Taking Your Business to the Next Level” starting Thursday evening, April 5^th  at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Arkansas and running for 6 consecutive Thursdays.

 This powerful six night series will show you how to:

• Create an entrepreneurial mindset,
• Grow your existing market,
• Learn tools to expand market potential improve cash flow and net profits with simple financial planning tools and,
• Create a sustainable business.

For more information or to register see our 6 Nights To Take Your Business to the Next Level and grab your seat!

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Tools You Need to Target the BEST Local Customers

In our recent blog post, “Target Your Local Customers with Every Door Direct Mail” program from the U.S. Postal Service, we shared information about this great new cost-effective direct mail program created by the USPS.  Any small business selling to a local market needs to know about this powerful new program.  But targeting specific geographic areas in your trade zone doesn’t help unless you can narrow down those specific areas that have the BEST potential customers.  Do you know where your best customers live?  Here at the AState SBTDC we do!  And we are happy to share some FREE tools we have with you.  Read on to learn about powerful tools you can put to use to zero in on your BEST customers.

Herb Lawrence, ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center Targeting Local Small Businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks.

In last week’s blog on the U.S. Postal Service’s new EDDM program, we explained that their Every Door Direct Mail service is specifically designed for small businesses selling to specific local customers that will target those consumers down to neighborhoods, zip codes, single carrier routes, or cities AND can do it for a fraction of the cost than traditional direct mail.

From a cost standpoint it is “heaven sent” to our local businesses since:

• You can send out mailers for as little as $0.142 each in postage,
• No mail permit is required,
• No mail list is required.

But…how can a small business figure out the hyper-local areas in their trade zone that will be the most profitable?  At the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center we maintain an extensive database of market research mapping tools for just this purpose. 

Using Geographic Market Potential Index Maps

Our mapping tools will help you zero in on those neighborhoods with household spending levels that would be your very best potential customers. 

Here’s an example of a report for a Termite/Pest Control business owner who wanted to know how to decide which areas of his trade zone he should concentrate his marketing campaign at based on Census Tract:

Example MPI Termites

Using a concept called MPI (Market Potential Index) for your particular type of product or service our consultants can prepare a map of your trade zone that will show you which parts of your territory are your BEST market potential.

So for our Termite/Pest Control client in this particular trade zone those neighborhoods in the pink have a Market Potential Index (MPI) of 112-349.  That means they spend significantly more than national average on Termite and Pest Control services.  While the area in the dark blue have an MPI of 0-56 or as a group will spend significantly LESS on his service.  So which neighborhoods will you target your limited marketing dollars at?

With this geographic representation, our Termite/Pest Control Client can now work with the U.S. Postal Service to create an inexpensive direct mail piece that will ONLY go to the carrier routes and neighborhoods with the HIGHEST MPI potential. 

This works for professional service, retail, health care, even hospitality related businesses. Basically if you sell to consumers and your target market is in a geographically defined trade zone…We Have You Covered!  Our Market Research mapping tools will help you ZERO in on the very best customer areas for your specific product or service!

The best part?  These Market Potential Index maps are ABSOLUTELY FREE of charge to our small business clients and…there is no charge to become a client… You have access to hundreds of dollars in market research information just by working with our consultants!

Need another example?  Here is a hypothetical Home Security System Services business in Northwest Arkansas.  The owner has a limited marketing budget so needs to know those neighborhoods in  his territory that would be the most profitable to target.

Our consultants set up a map for Home Security System Services Indexed by Census Blog Groups for the client’s trade zone.

Home security

The map revealed that the pink areas have a Market Potential Index (MPI) of between:

• 105 and 184 meaning they will spend MORE on home security services than the average neighborhood,
• those areas in yellow had a MPI of between 85 and 105 so are in national average range
• Those in dark blue 0-43 MPI spend significantly less.

With this data the home security services business can set about targeting his marketing campaign directly to the areas in his trade zone whose households will spend the most for his service.

When you combine the ASU SBTDC’s free Market Research tools with the new U.S. Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail program you are able to:

• Find and target your very best customers based on location,
• Create and deliver powerful marketing pieces directly to the households most likely to purchase your product or service.

Learn more about the U.S. Postal Service’s Every Door Direct Mail program AND the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center’s wide range of market research tools by joining us at the ASU Delta Center building on Tuesday, March 27^th from 1-4 pm for our Every Door Direct Mail Seminar.

The workshop will be led by Robert Bahn, Business Consultant for the ASU SBTDC and Mr. Kelley Wyatt, Senior Business Solutions Specialist for the U.S. Postal Service.  The cost is $35 per person, $25 for Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Jonesboro Association members, $20 for ASU faculty, staff and students.

Register today for this workshop and target those profitable customers!

You can also learn more about all of the free market research tools available to small businesses through the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center by contacting our consultants: Laura Miller, Lead Consultant or Robert Bahn, Business Consultant (870) 972-3517 or email them at asusbtdc@astate.edu.

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Why Foursquare Is a “Must Have” Marketing Tool for Your Small Business

Are you a local small business, especially if you are in the retail, hospitality, professional or service related industries?  What if I could show you a marketing tool that will bring new customers, drive repeat customers back to your cash register, reward loyal customers and cost absolutely nothing?  Sound too good to be true?  Then you haven’t uncovered a secret weapon that over 500,000 merchants already know about…Foursquare!  Not familiar with this geo-locating marketing platform or just not sure what it is?  In our Astate Small Business blog today we outline this powerful mobile tool and why it should be a “Must Have” for your local small business.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Checking in at Local Businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Can Foursquare Work for Your Arkansas Small Business?

Recently one of our local clients asked whether this “foursquare thing” was something they should look into.  To help her understand how Foursquare works and how it can help promote local businesses I pulled together several articles to send to her with my observations.  Being a good blogger I realized if one client had questions there were probably a lot more so in today’s Astate Small Business Blog I wanted to share the wealth.  Great posts from several online marketing pros to help you get your “head around” this powerful (and free) marketing platform that can make a difference for your local company.

Who Uses Foursquare?

But first, who really uses Foursquare?  Sounds like some online “toy” for geeks or younger folks.  But that isn’t really true.  In fact the “power user” on Foursquare is female (63%), between 35 and 54 (46%) and  has a college or grad school education (60%).  If this sounds like your “dream customer” read on:

Thanks to Quantcast.com for sharing these useful stats.

With more than 15 million people now checking in on Foursquare to their favorite restaurants and stores on their mobile phones and sharing with their friends you have an opportunity to bring more customers to your business while creating repeat traffic.  Best of all Foursquare is FREE!

Finally, Foursquare understands that small business owners are busy folks so they have made the tools in its merchant as easy-to-use as possible so that you can create and manage your marketing campaigns with powerful analytics to learn more about your customers.

Want to learn more about how Foursquare can improve you marketing effort?

If you are a small business in Northeast or North-Central Arkansas contact the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center consultants, Laura Miller or Robert Bahn at (870) 972-3517 or email us asusbtdc@astate.edu.  Outside of our territory?  We have 6 other centers around the state available to help.  To find the Arkansas SBTDC office nearest you go to our state website Arkansas SBTDC to set an appointment.  All consulting is free of charge and completely confidential.

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How to Use the New Facebook Cover Photo to Promote Your Page

No question about it…the new Facebook Timeline cover photo for your page is the best new feature they rolled out with this upgrade!  Given that most of us are “visual” learners, Facebook has given you a massive amount of “virtual” real estate to grab a visitor’s attention.  At 850 x 315 pixels right at the top of the page you need to give your cover image some careful thought to make sure you have a truly powerful representation of your company in a format your visitor cares about.  In today’s blog we walk you through some important points about your new Facebook Timeline cover image you need to know about.

By Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center… “Liking” Entrepreneurs from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Facebook’s new Timelines goes into effect on every page March 30^th whether you are ready or not.  Since that is just two weeks away, no time like the present to make sure your Business Page is ready!  The ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center will be hosting two Facebook workshops around Northeast and North-Central Arkansas next week that will show you how to get ready for the Big Show!  More information about the workshops at the end of the article.

There are 10 really important changes that your page will undergo on March 30^th that you need to know about.  In today’s article I cover one of the most obvious…the new Facebook Timelines Cover Photo.

Facebook has always been a “visual” social site and brands that have known how to leverage the power of images or videos have been very effective in engaging fans.  Because of that visual nature of our fans, Facebook has provided a huge amount of virtual real estate to help you promote your business.

But Facebook being Facebook has some very strict rules about what you can and can’t do with this cover photo so make sure you know the rules of the road before you start pulling images together.  Specifically:

Timeline Cover Photo Rules

Facebook sez:

“This space is not meant for promotions, coupons or advertisements.  Your cover photo should not be primarily text-based or infringe on anyone else’s copyright.”

That means your cover image cannot contain:

• Price or purchase information: 25% off or Download at our website is a no go
• Contact information like web address, email, mailing address or any other information that should go into your ABOUT section,
• References to user interface elements, i.e. Like or Share or any other Facebook site feature
• Calls to action:  No “Get it Now” or “Tell Your Friends”,
• Don’t even try to sneak in some non-text calls to action…a big red arrow pointing to the “like” button is just as big a no-no.

In other words, Facebook does not want you to make it a “promotional billboard”.  And they will send the Facebook Cops after you if:

• Covers must not be false, deceptive or misleading or infringe on others intellectual property,
• You may not encourage or incentivize people to upload your cover image to their personal timelines

So what can make for a good Timeline Cover Photo? 

Obviously if your business, your products or services revolve around any type of imagery it is easy…so an art gallery, a photographer, craft type business what you do is a perfect cover image.  For the rest of us though we need some inspiration.  Here are a few suggestions:

• Photos that show off your products,
• Images of real people using your product,
• Maybe an image that shows off the history of your company,
• “Secret” ingredients of your products,
• Images that highlight a unique selling point of your product,
• Images that make visitors “hungry” for your product.

 Best hint to your cover image…Tell a story in pictures that your visitor can identify with.  When your visitors identify with your brand they will push the button!

The important point to remember is that Default Landing Tabs are gone…that means no specialty landing page to welcome new visitors and encourage them to push the like button.  Getting that “LIKE” will have to come from what the visitor sees on your image when he or she arrives, so make it work for you!

Facebook Workshops for Arkansas Small Businesses

Want to learn more about the changes coming to your Facebook page?  Join the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center in Batesville on Wednesday, March 21^st from 1-4 pm at the Batesville Chamber or Thursday, March 22^nd from 1-4 pm at the ASU Delta Center in Jonesboro.  For more information about each event, or to register click on either the Batesville Facebook workshop or the Jonesboro Facebook Workshop and grab a seat today!

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The U. S. Postal Service Can Help You Put Your Message into Local Customers Mailboxes

Last year the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a new product aimed at helping small businesses get their most important marketing messages directly into the hands of local potential customers with Every Door Direct Mail.  With USPS mapping tools you can actually target mailing routes by neighborhoods, zip codes or towns in your market area and get them into the mailboxes for a fraction of traditional direct mail costs.  Already a hit among many small businesses, this new program can provide a very cost-effective way to get your print material into customers hands.  See how.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center Helping Small Businesses Find Cost Effective Tools from the Delta to the Ozarks.

I know I spend a lot of time talking about Internet marketing and social media but…sometimes it can be helpful to go back to some basics like Direct Mail.  Today the U.S. Postal Service is making it easy and cost-effective for your small business to zero in on specific locations in your target market with Every Door Direct Mail service (EDDM).

We are fortunate enough to have our own Business Consultant Robert Bahn and Mr. Kelley Wyatt, Senior Business Solutions Specialist for the U.S. Postal Service conduct a 3 hour workshop at the ASU Delta Center on Tuesday, March 27th to explain how this program works and how your business can leverage these tools.  Click on this link  EDDM in Jonesboro to register, or read on for more information.

So, exactly what is EDDM?

Every Door Direct Mail is the post office’s new program that helps small businesses  reach potential customers in their area. The USPS mapping tool will target mailing routes by:

• neighborhood,
• zip code
• even a single carrier route, or
• city

around your business to identify the number of active households and businesses in the area you are interested in.

Many small businesses have stayed away from direct mail in the past due to the costs. This program is to help small businesses do direct mail at a lower cost.  In addition to the powerful targeting tool, the low-cost makes it a marketing tool within almost any businesses’ budget because:

• A small business can send mailers for $0.142 each in postage,
• No mail permit is required
• No mail list is required
• You can send to the areas you select in your target area for a fraction of the cost of traditional direct mail campaigns.

This short video provides more detail about the targeting tools, requirements and advantages of EDDM.

Free Market Research Tools to Identify Profitable Neighborhoods

In addition to featuring the EDDM program, Robert Bahn, ASU SBTDC Business Consultant will discuss  tools to help you identify the best potential neighborhoods in your local area using our Market Research databases and geo-locating resources that area available to SBTDC small business clients.

If you want to learn more about how Every Door Direct Mail can boost your marketing effort to local consumers make plans to join the ASU SBTDC and the U.S. Postal Service from 1-4 pm Tuesday, March 27th in Room 110 of the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development and start putting your message out to your local customers!  See EDDM Jonesboro for registration details.

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Wearing Too Many Hats? Maybe You Need a Virtual Assistant

One fact of life that any small business owner will agree with is that there just isn’t enough time in the day to get all the work that needs to be done around the office completed.  Especially those tasks that are really outside of the owner’s area of expertise and who don’t have a budget to afford to hire an employee with those skills on a full-time basis.  Outsourcing administrative tasks is nothing new for small business owners, they have been contracting with accountants or bookkeeping firms, attorneys, temp employment agencies, etc., for years.  Today small businesses have an option of outsourcing tasks not just within their city or town but anywhere in the world through “Virtual Assistants”.  In today’s ASU Small Business Blog our guest bloggers provide tips and suggestions to ensure you find the ‘right” VA that will fit your needs.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Virtually Assisting Entrepreneurs from the Delta to the Ozarks

 So exactly what is a virtual assistant?  

According to Wikipedia (my bible) a Virtual Assistant is:

“… generally self-employed and provides professional administrative, technical, or creative (social) assistance to clients from a home office.^[2][3] Because virtual assistants are independent contractors rather than employees, clients are not responsible for any employee-related taxes, insurance or benefits (except in the context that those indirect expenses are included in the VAs fees). Clients also avoid the logistical problem of providing extra office space, equipment or supplies. 

In recent years Virtual Assistants have also worked their way into many mainstream businesses and with the advent of VOIP or other services such as Skype it has been possible to have a Virtual Assistant who can answer your phone remotely without the end user’s knowledge. This allows many businesses to add a personal touch in the form of a receptionist without the additional cost of hiring someone.”

An obvious problem of course is that you are actually finding a Virtual Assistant who you can depend on, who will provide the actual services you need, and with no surprises.  Since your virtual assistant could be working from a home office in a totally different city or state, making the right choice up front is critical.  My friend Valerie Jennings with Your Virtual Assistants was kind enough to share a post with our readers on what Virtual Assistants should do and how to make sure you are finding the right resource for your business.

“How can a Virtual Assistant Help Me?

Many companies today are starting to ask this very question. With cutbacks taking main priority in most company balance sheets, hiring a Virtual Assistant may be a great alternative. 

One if the greatest benefits to hiring a Virtual Assistant Is the cost savings. You can still have the additional support that you are requiring to run your business but no longer are you and your company having to pay for vacation time, severance pay, payroll taxes, health insurance, software expenses, office equipment and upgrades, and even office space rentals can all be a thing of the past. 

Today a Virtual Assistant can be a strategic partner in your business.  Many of them are highly specialized which means you can find the right person for the job quickly. With freelancing job listing website sites for Virtual Assistants it is now easier than ever to find the right VA for the job.

But what do you do when you find the right VA? Many companies still struggle on ways to use their VA the most efficiently. The hiring of a Virtual Assistant is very different from hiring an employee.  It is important that you take the time to know all of the skills of your VA.  Talk with them before you start working with them and find out how they can best help your businesses. Ask them for their ideas, you may be surprised with what they see are the short comings of your company’s business. 

Have a Plan. Most companies never have a plan when they hire a VA. Many just expect the VA to be available to them whenever their need arises. While most VA do work on a per hour basis, most are not available all of the time to one client. Most are working for several clients at a time. It is important to map out a schedule of tasks with deadlines for the Virtual Assistant to do during the week.  Send this list to the VA on Monday and allow them the time to follow-up on the list on Friday.  With this plan in place it will assure your company the best use of the VAs time and energy. This will allow them to properly set aside the time needed to finish your projects and get the job done right. Without this, you are asking the VA to put your stuff as a “fit in” basis, which rarely will meet your expectations.  

Have a Goal. Make sure the VA has a complete understanding of what the goal is for their work. Taking the time to discuss this in the beginning of the working relationship will help the VA know where they fit in the big picture. A VA can be essential part of your business; they are highly trained professionals and should be treated as such. Most VAs are far more than just secretaries, and many spend good money each year being trained and certified in specialty niches each year. Making a goal for a VA to achieve will help keep the motivated and want to help your business succeed.

These are just a few thoughts on how to better hire a VA and to have the best working relationship with a VA.  Keep in mind that hiring a skilled VA could be one of the best decisions you and your company can make and can also save your company thousands of dollars each year.”

Valerie Jennings,  Your Virtual Assistants
Phone: 305-359-3849      Website: www.yourvirtualassistants.net
Twitter: @UR_V_ASSISTANTS

Valerie and her partner Johnna Londen operate Your Virtual Assistants providing a wide variety of services to help time strapped small businesses by freeing them up from administrative and even marketing related tasks that can be so time consuming.  Great job ladies and thank you for taking time to share your observations.

Are you looking for answers to help your small business be more productive?

Contact the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center staff.  Our consultants, Laura Miller and Robert Bahn have years of experience working with start up and existing businesses providing help on a wide variety of small business topics.  Learn more about the ASU SBTDC Consulting assistance, or call the ASU SBTDC to set a time to meet with Laura or Robert.  Call (870) 972-3517 or email us at asusbtdc@astate.edu.

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Ready to Take the Next Step to Grow Your Business?

Looking for a magic spell that can take your business to the next level? We can’t wave a magic wand, but… Independence County Economic Development, Inc has the next best thing for area businesses ready to grow! Find easy to use tools that will help Maximize Your Business Potential.

Are you a small business owner who wants to:

• Find new, more profitable markets?
• Grow your existing customer base?
• Improve your bottom line to create a better cash flow?
• Improve the overall financial health of your business?
• Find simple, easy to use tools to manage your business more effectively?

Then join Independence County Economic Development, Inc., the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center and our bank partners beginning  Thursday,  April 5th for our Six night series of hands-on training that will:

Take Your Business To the Next Level of Success!

What is the biggest challenge your business faces in 2012?  A survey of small and medium businesses around the country revealed  what keeps them awake at night:

Small Business Challenges for 2012

• Growing their customer or client base – 44% said expanding market opportunities was their main challenge,
• Budgets and cash flow came in 2nd at 32%,
• Customer or client retention also 32% – How to keep their current market in the face of competition,
• 27% were worried about just staying in business! while
• 20% felt growing local competition was their main challenge.

If your business is feeling the same challenges then this 6 Night “Taking Your Business to the Next Level” series can help you take on these challenges and succeed.  No one said running a profitable business was easy.  Whether you are looking for

• Growth opportunities,
• Want to improve bottom line profitability and cash flow, or
• Just put more “octane” in your current business you will find the tools you need starting Thursday, April 5th.

Through a combination of expert speakers, “hands-on” business plan development with “user-friendly” business plan software, and  individual consulting assistance you will gain the tools you need to create a realistic and sustainable business model to propel your company to the next level of profitability.

If growing your Independence County business is a priority this year then enroll today.  For more information about the program or to register click on Taking Your Business to the Next Level and reserve a seat!

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Mobile and Small Business Marketing…Is It REALLY That Big a Deal?

Ask your customer!  mobile continues to explode as a convenient way for your potential customers to connect while they are on the go.  But is it really something the average small business needs to worry with?  In today’s blog, thanks to the nice folks at Mashable who shared this great Infographic we can “Do the Numbers” and see.

by Herb Lawrence Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Mobile Marketing (not Texting and Driving) from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Thanks to Steven Trotter with Pleth, LLC our Mobile Marketing instructor the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center has been able to offer some very informative workshops to help educate our local businesses about the “Mobile World” and whether M-Commerce is right for them.  If you missed our mobile training you can still join us in Paragould, Arkansas at Black River Technical College on Tuesday, March 13th from 6-9 pm and find out!  Register for our Paragould Mobile Marketing Workshop here.

For those of you needing a little more information…let’s do some numbers that may surprise you:

• 30% of mobile phone users spend an average of about 27 minutes each day text messaging, using the telephone and video chatting,
• 5.9 billion out of the 7 billion people (87%) worldwide already have mobile phones,
• Smartphone sales are up 63.1% from 2010, and a whopping 488.5 million devices were sold in 2011,
• One in seven searches are made with a mobile device.
• More people are accessing social networking sites,
• Facebook mobile users have quadrupled in two years from 50 million in 2009 to 200 million in 2011.

For our Visual Learners:  A Great Infographic on the rise of mobile created by CultureLabel.com and shared in the Mashable article “Why Mobile Commerce is On the Rise (Infographic)”

Learn more about how your local small business can incorporate Mobile Marketing into your overall Internet Marketing Strategy with our Introduction to Mobile Marketing coming to Paragould, Arkansas at Black River Technical College on Tuesday evening, March 13th from 6-9.  For more information or to register for this workshop see Paragould Mobile Marketing.  Find out what Mobile Marketing is all about and how to determine what is right for your small business.

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Facebook Timeline for Pages…Love It…Hate It…It is Here

There are THREE Constants in Life…Death, Taxes and Facebook Changes.  This integration of Timelines into business pages will take some major “retooling” for small businesses already using Facebook to reach customers.  30 March whether you are ready or not Timelines will go to your small business page, so you might as well learn how to use it now.  We have already converted the ASU SBTDC Facebook page over to the new timelines and are busy playing with all the new features.  Join us and tell us what you think!

by Herb Lawrence Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center Helping Small Businesses Thrive from the Delta to the Ozarks

Facebook’s Timelines for Business Pages is BIG.

Major changes not only to the look of the page, but also to the features that small business page administrators have been used to.  For our friends in Northeast and North-Central Arkansas the ASU SBTDC will be holding several Facebook Marketing ABCs workshops that will include information about the new setup.  For more information about our seminars see our March Training Calendar and reserve a seat.

Across the internet there have been a lot of Facebook marketing “gurus” discussing the new Timelines, the changes, and what it means for small businesses.  With so many “experts” posting so much good information, I thought the easiest thing to do for our readers was to consolidate some of the best articles into one blog that they can use as a reference as they start to figure how these changes will impact their page.

3 Important new features that small businesses need to take note of include:

• Default Landing Tabs are HISTORY…if you had a specialty landing page that welcomed new visitors, you still have that page BUT new visitors will all go directly to your wall not to that tab.  So you will have to find new ways to get visitors to see your special offers and welcome message (BOO!)
• You can now privately message your fans from your business page!  (YEA!) but use it carefully no body wants to be spammed by a business page.
• AND…you can now go back and change that crappy Page Name!  (REALLY YEA!)  If you had created a vanity URL for your page that had errors, you can now go back and fix accidental miss-spellings, remove those . s, – s, and _ s you stuck in  there, or rename your page to be more in line with your actual business name.

Of course there are a lot more changes you need to know so read on and see what our “pros” have to say.  Especially useful is the Hubspot post “The Complete Guide to Setting Up The New Facebook Design”.

A step by step guide that will take you by the hand and walk you through a great page from top to bottom.  Well worth printing so you can easily refer to it as you go through the redesign.  We have also included a nice article with a lot of great examples of how businesses have already launched their new page  that should give you some helpful tips to what works.

Hopefully this article has given you the introductory information you will need to transform your current Facebook Business Page into a killer marketing tool using the new Timelines.  If you have questions don’t hesitate to contact the ASU Small Business consultants, Laura Miller or Robert Bahn (870) 972-3517 or email them at asusbtdc@astate.edu.  As part of our free and confidential consulting assistance we can provide you with additional information to help grow your social media marketing.

We will also be offering Facebook Marketing ABCs for Business workshop on Thursday, March 22nd 1-4 pm at the ASU Delta Center.  Our instructor, Abbi Siler with Pleth, LLC will be leading attendees through the basics of good Facebook marketing practices and will touch on the new Timeline changes.  For more information or to register see our Facebook Marketing ABCs page.  Grab a seat, it will be time well spent!

Well I need to get back to working on the ASU SBTDC Facebook page…still things I haven’t had time to do yet!  Let us know what you think about Facebook’s changes, love to hear from you!  You can leave a comment on our blog or jump over to our Facebook page ASU SBTDC on Facebook and leave your thoughts there!

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Keeping Your Small Business All In The Family

“Mom and Pop businesses”  We hear that all the time but what about Mom, Pop, Grand Pa, Sister and Brother Owned Businesses?  No matter how big the business is today, it started “small” and probably started out as a “Mom and Pop” business.  But how important are these family owned operations to the economy?  What kind of issues do they face?  We showcase “Mom & Pop” in today’s ASU Small Business Blog.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping Small Businesses Span the Generations from the Delta to the Ozarks.

 “Oh, they are just a little Mom & Pop operations…nothing special”  Is that so?  Just remember every Fortune 500 Corporation started as a small business and many of them as family owned.  Whether it was a corner deli or operating in a garage 90% of all small businesses in operation today are “Family Owned”.  Although some have grown into major companies and the families have since left the management, many family owned companies in business today can actually follow their “family tree” back to the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries!

Want to get an idea of how important family owned businesses are and exactly what they look like?  Great Infographic to share today from the Intuit Small Business Blog on “Keepin’ It In the Family”.

via: Keepin’ It in the Family [INFOGRAPHIC]

Help for Family Owned Businesses in Arkansas

Family owned businesses have special challenges that other small businesses do not face, especially when it comes to questions about passing the business on to succeeding generations, asset management, inheritance, family “quarrels” and more.  For a family owned business to make it down even to the third generation is a feat.  But there is help.

Are you a family owned business?  Have questions about continuity, management and succession planning?  Want to get professional advise from small business counselors who work with small organizations everyday?  If your family owned business is in Northeast or North-Central Arkansas contact our consultants: Laura Miller or Robert Bahn (870) 972-3517 or email them as asusbtdc@astate.edu and find out how you can take advantage of our FREE and confidential consulting assistance to small businesses.  It will be time well spent!

Outside of our territory but inside Arkansas?  We have offices at 7 universities around the state.  There is an office with trained consultants near you.  To find the ASBTDC office nearest you see our Arkansas SBTDC website and connect.

Reading this blog but outside of Arkansas?  No problem.  The Arkansas SBTDC network is part of a national Association of Small Business Development Centers.  We have SBDC centers in every state and local offices near you.  Click here to connect with the ASBDC office in your state.

Now we want to hear from you!  Are you a “family owned business”?  How long have you been in operation and how many generations have been involved in the business?  What do you consider to be your greatest challenge in a multi-generational business?  Let us hear from you!

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6 Tips to Engage Your Facebook Fans…And Get Them to Your Business

Well..here you are on Facebook trying to get your fans engaged AND drive them to your cash register.  The problem is nobody is interacting with you.  No likes, no comments, no shares, nothing!  Just you and the virtual crickets…so what does a guy have to do to get his (or her) fans off their online behinds and start interacting so you can sell them something?  Here are a few things you might want to try that have worked for other small businesses on Facebook.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center.  Engaging Small Businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks

For most small businesses today, just having a Facebook page and occasionally posting something about “Buy My Junk” just doesn’t cut it anymore.  Sure, three or four years ago a small business setting up a Facebook page was still novel and you might get away not taking your fans into consideration when you posted.  But today, with over 60% of all businesses using Facebook to market their products or services, you have to get your fans engaged if you want to get them to your cash register. 

Thanks to Social Media Online Classes for sharing a great set of Facebook Marketing Strategies suggestions that any small business can put to work for their page to get fans engaged.

Tips for Fan Engagement on Facebook

• Feature a FAN OF THE MONTH! (Or week):  Pick out some fans who have been interacting on your page and give them some “love”.  Everybody likes to be noticed and they might even share it with their friends.  Better yet…don’t just say “Our Fan of the Week is…”:   Give them something special and let everybody know they got something special.  After a while you will get fans asking what they have to do to be the “feature” fan so they can get the neat stuff.  This is one of my favorite suggestions and will be starting this myself on the ASU SBTDC Facebook page!
• Ask Questions of Your Fans:  I don’t mean asking “what’s your favorite color or breed of cat”  I mean ask them questions about your business product or service that they would CARE about.  Tell them you are going to market in Dallas next week and you would like suggestions on what to bring home.  Ask them questions that really matter to them (not you)!
• Use your Fans to do Market Research:  Here are potential customers who care enough about you, your product or service to “like” your page so use your posts to find out information about them, their likes and dislikes, what they look for when shopping for your product or service.  Here is a great way to get some important data about your customers you can use to improve your operations.  Take advantage of it.
• Ask for Fan Content:  Ask your fans to post on your wall.  If you sell sewing supplies let them post pictures of their latest creation.  Of course after they post be sure to make your own comments (this could be a great way to get those Fans of the Week in #1 above).
• Ask Your Fans to Share Your Content:  Don’t just assume because you posted something that your fans automatically know to share or re-share it with their friends.  In your post ask them to share it with their friends!  You might be surprised at the results.  When they share your post with their friends your logo and page shows up and can help bring your fans friends to like your page.
• Ask for their Biggest Challenge:  I like this one a lot because of the potential to show them how you can help them overcome that challenge with your product or service!  So if you are a hair salon and a fan said her biggest challenge is frizzy hair then write a short post on how to get rid of the frizzies.  Thank them and give them something special!

Thanks again to Social Media Online Classes for sharing these Facebook Marketing Strategies with us.  Learn more about Social Media Online Classes and see more strategies at their website.

These are just six examples of ways to engage your Facebook fans that can actually get you communicating with them that can lead them off the page and into your business!  So how do you engage your Facebook fans?  We want to hear from you!  Leave us a comment below on our blog, or share it with us on Facebook by going to the ASU SBTDC Facebook page. (If you aren’t a fan, join us and get $600 of online training workshops FREE just for becoming a fan!… you can share this with your friends if you want!)

Facebook Marketing ABCs Training in Jonesboro, AR

Find out more about leveraging Facebook for your small business by joining the ASU Small Business staff for our Facebook Marketing ABCs workshop in Jonesboro on Thursday, March 22nd.  Great workshop presented by Abbi Siler with Pleth, LLC that will show you how to engage Fans and energize your social media marketing.  Click here: Facebook Marketing ABCs for more information or to register.

Finally, if you liked this article please push that big ole G+ button below and let Google know you thought it was pretty cool!

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How People Behave On the Internet and Why It Matters for Arkansas Small Businesses

Scratching your head trying to figure out how to develop an awesome marketing message that will drive customers to your cash register?  Does it seem like no one cares what you have to say, no matter how great your product or service?  Well it may not be you, it may be the fact you don’t really understand the way people behave, especially on the Internet.  In today’s blog I thought I would share 5 important observations I have made while stalking the elusive online customer that may help you improve your connections (and your cash register).

By Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Helping Businesses Understand their Customers…From the Delta to the Ozarks

Over the years I have learned a few basic facts about human nature that applies directly to how people behave when they are on the Internet that can give a big boost to your online marketing.  Call it Herb’s 5 Absolute Laws of Virtual Customer Behavior!

When you first look at these 5 Laws you may think I am being harsh, but…I came up with them after studying MY OWN online behavior.  So I am pointing the finger not just at your customer, but at myself as well.  And, after all I am just as much YOUR potential customer as anyone else.

Herb’s 5 Laws of Online Behavior and what you need to know:

• They have the ATTENTION SPAN of a gnat,
• They aren’t ROCKET SCIENTISTS,
• They are LAZY,
• They are SELFISH,
• They can’t read MINDS.

LAW #1 Attention Span of a Gnat:  EVERYONE who logs onto the internet suffers from a deadly mental disease called IADD or Internet Attention Deficit Disorder.  It strikes all web surfers and can be a disaster for your marketing efforts if you don’t understand this key factor.

This is especially important when people are coming to your website for the first time.  You have just under 30 seconds to grab that visitor’s attention or they are gone.  You have to have your website set up so they can find the information they need in NO MORE than 3 clicks…or they are gone.  If you give them too many distractions, they forget why they came to your site in the first place and they are gone.

This also applies to posts you put on your Facebook page.  Although Facebook now allows you to write up to 5,000 characters of text…DON’T DO IT!  Tell me what I need to know in under 200 characters if you want me to act on your post.

LAW #2 Not Rocket Scientists:  Most people aren’t uneducated, but the average Joe (or Mary) American has an 8th grade reading level.  That’s AVERAGE so it means nearly 50% read below 8th grade.  Maybe your message is to “brainy” or you are using too much industry jargon!  Not saying you should dumb things down but if you are using too many words I don’t understand…you confuse me AND if you confuse me “I AIN’T BUYIN”  So look at your copy and make sure your average visitor can comprehend your message.

LAW #3 LAZY…LAZY…LAZY:  When you give a potential customer the option between reading paragraphs of text about you, your product or service OR letting them watch a video..guess what…90% will go to the video. Most people are visual learners so take advantage of that.  Reading a lot of text, especially if I am not a rocket scientist (see #2 above) is boring!  I love video, so give the visitor what he wants!  Video with limited text can make a world of difference in getting converting that visitor into a lead and ultimately a customer.

LAW #4 They Don’t Care About YOU!  Your visitor is a selfish so and so.  He or she is searching for information about you, your business, your product or service because THEY have a problem they are trying to solve.  They don’t care that you or that you are a family owned local business, they don’t care that you have cute grandkids or dogs…they CARE about what YOU can do for THEM!  All of us listen to one radio station in our heads…WII-FM  (What’s In It For Me?)  If your message doesn’t show them how you can fix their problem and make their life better they are hitting the back button!  So understand why people are looking for information about your business and make sure your message tells them how it will make their life better.

LAW #5 Finally…they Aren’t the Amazing Kreskin!  Most of your customers don’t have ESP, so don’t ASSUME they will do what you want them to do.  Does your message include  a link you want them to click on for more information? A form to fill out and send you, or even a phone number you want them to call?  THEN TELL THEM TO DO IT!  A lot of small business owners fail because they don’t close the deal by asking for the sale.  Don’t assume after I read your pitch that I will do the asking.  After they have seen your message, post, tweet, video, or E-mail, then take them by the hand and tell them to take the next step.

• If you want them to share a post on Facebook with their friends…ask them to share,
• If you want them to re-tweet a post on Twitter say “Please RT” or “Please Retweet”,
• Want me to fill out a form and send it in?  Tell me to fill it out AND tell me what I get when I do it!  You get the idea.

How do I know all this?  Because these 5 tips describe ME!  I am your typical potential customer and all of these apply to me as well as the other people who you want to attract.  When you are putting your marketing message together keep these 5 things in mind and you will have a lot more success in retaining visitors, converting them into potential leads, and ultimately turning them into sales.

So what about you…what “Truths of Online Customer Behavior” have you found?  Let us know…put them in the comment box of our blog, share them on our Facebook Page,  or shoot me an email at asusbtdc@astate.edu.  Love to hear from you.

Learn How to get the most out of your online marketing

Call our consultants: Robert Bahn or Laura Miller at (870) 972-3517 and set an appointment to see how they can help you with your marketing plans.  All of our consulting is free of charge and strictly confidential. What do you have to lose?  You may even convert more visitors into paying customers!

See that G+ button below?  If you “Liked” this article then please push the button!

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Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Grants to Start a Business

When we were young we all believed in magical creatures who could give us presents just because we had been good all year…then we grew up. I am amazed how many people no longer believe in Santa or a 6 foot rabbit hiding candy but think there is some mythical creature called the government ready to drop piles of cash on them to start a business if they only knew which rock to look under.

At the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center we get calls weekly from people wanting to know how to apply for government grants to start a small business. In fact if you use Google Insights you will know one of the most searched for terms from small businesses recently are “Obama Grants”. Lots of Americans are sure that the President has set aside free money just so you can start another coffee shop or lemonade stand.

by Herb Lawrence, ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center Serving Small Businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks. 

Grants from the Federal, state, or local government agencies are made because the grant is in thePublic…not Private Good. Giving you money so you can start a business is in your (private) best interest but not the Public. I know giving you the money to start a business would get you off unemployment. But…Walmart always needs greeters.

 So let’s set the record straight…

Do Government Grants exist for businesses?YES.. There are grants…Federal, state, and local for existing businesses where providing the grant is in the public good or where by making a grant your business is going to provide a benefit to a government agency

1. Existing software business that could create a piece of software that the military could use, but needs some R & D funding to study? Probably find you a grant
2. Existing, certified Day Care operation needing a fence to protect your children from the public highway? Probably could find some grant funding from the state of Arkansas
3. Existing business needs to retrain employees on some new technology? Probably find some federal or state MATCHING funds to help retrain

It all goes back to…is this Grant in the public good?

Here is a section of the ASBTDC’s article “Free Money? Don’t Count On It“from our website

 “A common misperception in starting a business is that grant money is readily available. How often have you thought “I’ll just get a grant to start my business.” In reality, free money for business start-ups doesn’t exist. (If it did, we’d be the first in line!). However, a limited amount of grant money is available to existing businesses for specific uses. For example, the State of Arkansas has money available to help child care businesses update playground equipment–a safety issue.
Truth About Federal Grants

Contrary to what a very popular book and TV ad say, the U.S. government is not giving away “free grant” money. A grant is not a Christmas present.
Most federal grants are awarded to organizations planning major projects of benefit to their community. For example:
•A neighborhood street paving project
•A state-wide program to re-train displaced workers
•A project to attract new businesses to a depressed downtown area
•A regional water conservation program
•A county-wide flood control project
By far, most government grants are applied for and awarded to other federal agencies, states, cities, colleges and universities, and research organizations.  Few individuals have the money or expertise necessary to prepare adequate applications for federal grants. Most active grant-seekers, in fact, employ full-time staffs to do nothing but apply for and administer federal grants.
The plain truth is that with federal funding cutbacks and competition for them becoming more intense, seeking a federal grant always requires a lot of time and potentially a lot of money up front with no guarantee of success.  If applying for a grant no longer sounds too good to you, jump to the Non-Grant Sources of Assistance section of this article. Otherwise, if you do have a good idea for a project that will benefit your community, keep reading to find out more about how the federal grant process works.”

Now that I have burst that bubble…Obama isn’t doling out cash for you to start-up a business…are there any other options or government assistance programs? Yep sure are and there are a couple not at the Federal level that REALLY are Grants! Sort of….
Want to know more? We will share some additional information about grants later this week in another article  that will show you how you may be able to tap into some “Free Money”.  

In the mean time our consultants at the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center work with start-up and existing businesses on financing projects. In 2011 we helped our small business clients receive over $6.5 million in capital to fund their start-up or to expand their existing businesses.   Call Laura Miller, Lead Consultant ASU SBTDC    870-972-3517   or email asusbtdc@astate.edu and see if we can help you.

For those of you who STILL don’t believe that the Federal Government doesn’t have grants for start-ups here is a Federal website FedBizOpps.Gov where you can go, sign up and review Federal Grant opportunities to your heart’s content…there are thousands there…But if you find one that will give you FREE money to START a business.  Let me know!

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Come Out From Under the Rock! Resources for Your Business to Market with Pinterest

Everybody is talking about Pinterest, the latest social media site to hit the virtual world and it is a major hit with your potential customers!  Get out from under the rock, take a look at this visual powerhouse and see how it can help your online marketing explode.  In today’s ASU Small Business blog we have rounded up a wide compilation of easy to use articles to help you figure this Pinterest “thing” out and resources to have you marketing on Pinterest like a pro. The ASU SBTDC will be offering Introduction to Social Media Marketing workshop Tuesday, February 28th 1-4 pm at the Baxter County Library in Mountain Home, taught by Christi Wharton of Wharton Marketing.  Follow the link for more information and to register AFTER you read today’s post!

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Pinning Marketing Information for Small Businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks.

If you have been reading the ASU Small Business blog recently you know we have shared several articles about Pinterest, who uses it,  why it has been exploding across the Internet, and why it may be a good tool for your marketing effort, especially if you have visually appealing products or services.  In Pinterest Provides Unique Ways to Show Case Your Business we provided some examples of ways other small businesses are using this social site.  And in our Pinterest…What Does It Mean for Arkansas Businesses? we provided a nice Introduction to Pinterest and why it is exploding with users.

But a lot of folks seem unsure exactly how it can help their business connect with potential customers, what kind of data is available about Pinterest users, and exactly how your business can leverage this tool.
So we have compiled an exhaustive list of easy to read articles to help you put this social site to work for you.

Tips to Put Pinterest to Work for Your Small Business

So let us know, are you using Pinterest?  If so, how?  We would love to hear from you about your experiences.

If you want to learn more about leveraging social media into your marketing tool kit, join the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center for Introduction to Social Media Marketing: 5 Strategies to Internet Marketing and start connecting with your “social customers”.  Our next Introduction to Social Media workshop will be held on Tuesday, February 28th from 1-4 pm at the Baxter County Library in Mountain Home.  Check the link, Mountain Home Social Media Marketing for more details and sign up.

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What Arkansas Small Businesses Need to Know About Social Media Marketing

You just can’t get away from social media anymore!  Everyone seems to be jumping on the  band waggon today.  Just watch your favorite television shows for the evening to see what I mean.  Nearly 1 in every 4 commercials last night asked viewers to “Like” them on Facebook or “Follow” them on Twitter.  Social Media is BIG Business.  But…it is also the perfect medium for small businesses to connect with customers IF they know how to do it right.

By Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center, Following Entrepreneurs on Twitter from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Social can be a very cost efficient way for small businesses to connect with thousands of potential customers on a minimal marketing budget but… they have to know how to do it right.

The ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center will be offering Introduction to Social Media Marketing: 5 Strategies for Effective Online Marketing workshop in Mountain Home, AR on Tuesday, February 28th from 1-4 pm at the Baxter County Library.  This workshop, taught by Christi Wharton, Wharton Internet Marketing will walk participants through the fundamentals of social media marketing.  If you want to learn more about leveraging the power of social media, but aren’t sure where to start…this is a workshop you need to attend.  To learn more or to register go to Social Media Marketing Mountain Home and grab your seat!

I know that a lot of our small business clients are still skeptical about social media, especially whether it can really work for them.  In today’s blog we have two guest bloggers, Valerie Jennings and Johnna Londen from Your Virtual Assistants who have generously agreed to write a piece for us. 

Social Media- A Waste of Time?

Many small business owners and entrepreneurs are still struggling to find their way through the social media maze.  Many companies spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars each week paying employees to keep up with all of the postings and then find very little in return.  Many, after these failed efforts, simply give up and believe that it is a waste of time and money.

The truth is social media can be VERY effective, useful and PROFITABLE to your company when it is used correctly. The trick is to spend the most time in the planning stages. This is where most companies and entrepreneurs fail.  Many just wake up one day and start posting random posts with no plan for their messages. Worse, many are using this valuable time posting to the WRONG channels or target audience.

The best way to use to social media effectively is to spend the time planning, just as you would have or still plan your advertising campaigns. Before, companies used to spend weeks or even months planning their advertising campaigns- but for some reason they do not think the same attention is required on their social media campaigns.

Another issue the shear amount of time a business owner spends keeping up with their social media campaigns.  There are several tools (some are even free) to assist with making this process quicker and more efficient. Both Hootsuite and Social Oomph are great tools and allow an owner to quickly schedule up to one month of posts in advance. They also allow you to quickly see and reply to all of your retweets and direct messages quickly on one screen. Social Oomph even allows you to send an automated direct welcome message to all new followers (there is a small cost for this service).

Another great tool is Social Bro. This tool will actually tell you the influence rating of each follower, who is not following you back, who you are not following back and more. The best part is that it tells you WHEN and WHAT to share. It will give you a FREE detailed report on the times that your audience is on and active and also will share what keywords they are talking about. This helps you better plan and reach your audience and make the most out of your social media campaigns.

Another issue is WHERE to spread your message. Social media is very specific. You need to research each one to make sure you are using the right one. You would not want to use Linkedin for selling a product, but it is excellent for recruiting employees or reaching out to other colleagues in your industry.  You would not use Facebook for this purpose, but it is great for brand recognition and selling products. Spending this initial time researching the purposes and uses of each social media site will allow you to quickly find and use only the ones that will be most beneficial for your company.

Finally, reaching the RIGHT audience is also important. Using tools like Twellow allows to quickly build your initial audience. Then spend some time researching your follower’s followers will allow you to continually add to your following base.  Searching out the special forums and communities is also a great way to find a target audience as well.

Taking the initial time to plan your social media in advance is one of the best ways to succeed in social media.  These are just a few points that should be covered in the planning stages. Proper planning and detailed audience evaluation will ensure that your company can succeed in developing a social media program.

Valerie Jennings

Your Virtual Assistants  http://www.yourvirtalassistants.net

Twitter: @UR_V_ASSISTANTS
Linked In:   http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=135915023&trk=tab_pro
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Your-Virtual-Assistants/136608966412148?created

Valerie and Johnna, thanks so much for taking time to share your expertise with our readers!  Learn more about how Your Virtual Assistants can help your business by visiting their website or connecting with them on their social sites.  Valerie and Johnna are your online virtual assistants on the internet, providing professional, quality and affordable virtual assistance resources, like temporary and permanent personal assistance, online business management, virtual executive assistance, graphic and web design throughout the US and Latin America. 

Sign Up for Introduction to Social Media Marketing Seminar

As you can see just throwing up a Facebook Page and dropping a few posts is NOT social media marketing…you need to learn the basics and develop a social media marketing plan.  To learn how to create that social plan and keep your social media marketing campaigns on track join the ASU SBTDC and our instructor Christi Whartonfor our Introduction to Social Media Marketing workshop in Mountain Home Tuesday, February 28th and “Start Getting Social”!  For more information or to register see Social Media Marketing Workshop Mountain Home or contact the ASU SBTDC (870) 972-3517 or email asusbtdc@astate.edu and grab your seat!

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6 Reasons Mobile Needs to be Part of Your Marketing Plan

Got one of these? Your customers do and they use it for a lot more than just making phone calls.  In fact they are using their mobile devices to find information about you, your business, your products or services. The question is…what do they find when they are searching for you Mobile?

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…Going mobile from the Delta to the Ozarks.

I use my iPhone for a lot more than just making calls. In fact I make get 6-8 calls a day but…I use it constantly to:

• check e-mail,
• connect on social media sites,
• text clients, and 
• SEARCH for information about local businesses online.
• And so do your customers. If you haven’t taken the steps to learn more about leverage mobile marketing you may be missing out on a very profitable way to connect.

The ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center will be hosting a 3 hour workshop on Mobile Marketing on Thursday, February 23rd from 1-4 pm at the ASU Delta Center in Jonesboro.

Our instructor, Steven Trotter with Pleth, LLC will show participants how they can move into the mobile world and grow their businesses.  For more information or to register see Mobile Marketing in Jonesboro and get your seat.

Want to learn more about mobile before you commit?  

Here are 6 reasons mobile marketing needs to be part of your online marketing plan and some very interesting statistics about mobile users.  Great information from KISSmetrics and their online report, Mobile Mania – The Growing Importance of Mobile Website Optimization that I wanted to share today.

  Facts and Stats About Mobile Mania

• In August 2011 mobile browsing represented 7.1% of all worldwide browsing activity,
• Between 2/2009 and 8/2011, mobile browser share grew by 1000%,
• 25% (1 in 4) of mobile users expect to access the web from their device at least once a day,
• For online-only retailers, a mobile site can increase consumer engagement by as much as 85%,
• Website visitors are 51% more likely to do business with an online retailer if it has a mobile site,
• Mobile users are 88% more likely to do business with Auto Dealers if the website is optimized for mobile,
• In 2010 it was estimated that only 22% of the Alexa top 500 websites have optimized for mobile.

The great folks at KISSmetrics also put this Infographic on Mobile Mania together with data that should really open your eyes.

++ Click Image to Enlarge ++

Source: The Growing Importance of Mobile Website Optimization Infographic
So is mobile right for you?  If your customers own a mobile device then the odds are pretty good they are using it to search for information online.  Mobile is also a great way for you to communicate with customers and become a vital part of their daily mobile habits.  But you need to know how to leverage to use it correctly.

Join us for Mobile Marketing in Jonesboro, Thursday February 23rd at 1 pm and get your Mobile moving!  For more information contact us  at (870) 972-3517 or shoot us an email asusbtdc@astate.edu and see how mobile marketing can help your business grow.

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Finding Financing Options for Your Start-Up or Existing Business

You have a great idea for a new venture that can’t fail! Or you want to grow your existing business, you just need some outside funding to get it off the ground. So, you head to a commercial bank but you run into someone like Robert below.   Are there options? Read on.

by Herb Lawrence, ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center, helping entrepreneurs find funding to launch their new ventures from the Delta to the Ozarks.

I asked Robert Bahn, our Business Consultant and a former banker to summarize the challenges that bankers have when considering loans for a start-up business or even an existing one that needs to expand. Here’s what Robert had to say….

So are you out of luck? Commercial lenders aren’t the only source of funding for an entrepreneur who is willing to do some homework. There are a number of alternative funding sources that may be available to you, you just have to know what types there are and how to access them.

My friend, Michael Bowers with the Ohio Small Business Development Center network (and fellow blogger) wrote a great piece the other day for his small business clients about funding that apply just as well to our folks in Arkansas. Take a moment to read Small Business Financing and Funding to learn more about leveraging other sources.  I especially liked the power point that Michael shared, see below.

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Did You Include Social Media in Your Valentines Day Promotions?

Some things just go together naturally like “Peanut butter and Jelly”, “Beanie and Cecil”, “Fred and Wilma” or “cupid and arrows”.  Today, another obvious pair should be “Valentines Day Sales and Social Media Marketing”.  If you business caters to the hoards of customers looking for the perfect Valentines Day gift for that significant other, then social media marketing should be a key part of your overall marketing strategy.

by Herb Lawrence, Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center…playing cupid for small businesses from the Delta to the Ozarks.

Valentines Day…probably one of the most dreaded holidays by the male of the species especially if he is feeling the pressure to come up with the RIGHT gift that says “I Love You” to that significant other.  And with good reason, our brains are not wired that way so the odds of making a major gifting error is enormous.  Left to our own devices we are more likely to buy “His and Hers fishing lures” or matching pink beer coozies with hearts attached.

The good news?  Your business has just the answer for these clueless gifters…whether it is a day at your spa, a romantic get-away to your bed and breakfast, an intimate candle light dinner for two, perfect flower arrangements from your floral shop, or retail gifts that she will love.  The problem…are you connecting with these clueless men online?

Valentines Day marketing is made for social media and online marketing.  The question is…did you leverage these tools to  drive sales to your business for the big day?

I compiled some resources you still might have time to incorporate into your Facebook page, E-mail marketing campaign, Pinterest board, or YouTube promotion with some great suggestions on how to make them standout.

Some great tips to help your small leverage online marketing for Valentines Day promotion and help your customer get the perfect gift.

Is Valentines Day sales an important part of your annual revenues?  If so how did you leverage social media and online marketing to connect with potential customers?  We want to know how social media marketing helped grow your bottom line.

Not using social media or online marketing?  Connect with the ASU Small Business and Technology Development Center consultants…Laura Miller or Robert Bahn and let us help you develop a marketing plan that will have you ready for next year’s Valentines Day madness.  Contact our consultants at (870) 972-3517 or email them at asusbtdc@astate.edu to set an appointment.  You can learn more about our free, confidential consulting assisstance at ASU SBTDC Consulting.

We also offer a variety of low cost training workshop on a variety to topics, including online marketing.  To see our upcoming list of training seminars visit January-February Training Calendar and register today.