Facebook Fanpages - “Unfanning”
By · CommentsOK, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to call this post… I have seen a number of posts from owners of fan pages who are noticing their number of fans are going down. I also have to admit I’ve been doing some “unfanning” myself - that is, taking myself off as a fan for a number of fan pages.
I have done this for a number of reasons, and thought I’d share for all of you who have fan pages and wonder why people may not be staying on as fans.
- The business has closed, or their website no longer exists - this is a sure sign the fan page is also dead, so there is little point in remaining a fan
- There have been no posts for a long time - some fan pages I joined haven’t had a post in over a year!
- Every post is a promotion - I know there are some fan pages set up for promotions, and if I joined for the promotions I’ll stay, but if every post is a promotion and that’s not what I signed up for, I’ll leave
- The page is no longer relevant - I may have joined a fan page that caters to an area of my life, however once that is over, I’ll remove myself because the updates are no longer interesting. For example, I may have joined a page that gives tips on toilet training, my kids are now past that stage and I no longer need that information
- Fans post too many promotions for themselves - again, unless that is why the page is set up, going through post after post from fans inviting you to join their pages before I get to news of the business or topic can be really annoying
There are just a few reasons I will “unfan” a fanpage. Other people have other reasons. I hope this helps you retain your fans and not get upset if a few remove themselves from your fan list.
PS, the storms in Melbourne on the weekend meant my computer was off. The Friday Five report from last week will be added as soon as I can put it up.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineFriday Five - Late today
By · Comments
I wasn’t as organised as I usually am with the Friday Five reports. I’m heading off to The Baby Show with my sister & gorgeous nephew this morning, so the Friday Five report will be up later tonight.
I apologise for the inconvenience. If you aren’t able to check back, add yourself to our email list to be notified when it is live. By adding yourself, you also get a discount voucher for your report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineErrors - making fun?
By · CommentsTechnology - gotta love it when it works, but it doesn’t always do what you want it to.
Recently I was reading the EP Designs blog, and came across a recent post called “Excuse Me While I Change“. In it, Elena makes a joke about her “techno accidentals” that resulted in her normal template disappearing and requiring her to update the look of her blog before she was ready.
The thing I loved about this post was how Elena made light of the situation while explaining it to her readers.
When something gets “broken” on your website or blog, how do you handle it? Do you stress about it or make light of it so people can laugh with you?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineMarketing Monday - Dress the family
By · Comments
On Saturday, I was in McDonalds getting a chai latte on my way to a meeting, and some t-shirts caught my eye.
The lady next to me in line was in a t-shirt promoting Wiggle Jiggle Jumping Castles. That isn’t what caught my attention, it was the kid in the playground wearing the same t-shirt. Looking at the main counter I spotted a man in the same t-shirt!
I had a quick chat with the lady and asked for her business card so I could remember her business and website. She explained it was a family business, so they had t-shirts made for all of them, though her son didn’t always like wearing the t-shirt.
Depending on your business, get t-shirts for the whole family - and wear them around. It was the fact the whole family was wearing t-shirts that caught my eye. If they hadn’t been, I probably wouldn’t have asked for her business card, and I wouldn’t be blogging about them now!
Having everyone dressed in t-shirts, it will be more eye catching for passers by and it may help people to remember your business. It will also help spread your brand.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineFriday Five - Fabulous Fillers - Flat Fillers
By · CommentsGoodie bags and fillers are a great way to promote your business - if it’s done right. Pieces of paper and flyers often end up in the bin without being read.
On occasion, the call goes out for a flat filler that can go out with a book or order, or for another purpose where a flat filler is needed, rather than something that is bulky.
This weeks Friday Five Report gives you some tips for flat fillers.
As always, Friday Five reports are $5 through PayPal.
A Choice - part 2
By · CommentsYesterday, I blogged about choices. Another thing I’ve found lately is that people won’t list in an online directory or advertise on a site if there are other sites that could be considered competitors.
Think about it, if a customer comes to an online directory looking for your type of business, wouldn’t it be better to be listed there to give the customers the choice of choosing you instead of not being there at all?
If you run a business such as web design or graphic design, most people are advised to get at least 3 quotes before they proceed. If a busy business owner is pressed for time and can find three web or graphic designers in one place, then they are more likely to contact each one for a quote, and then stop looking around.
Customers like a choice. Make sure you are part of that choice by listing your business where your customers are likely to be, and don’t worry about any competition that might be there too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineA Choice - part 1
By · CommentsThis is something every Mum will relate to… Getting my kids to eat fruit and vegetables used to be an issue. There was always one or two pieces they said they didn’t like and would refuse to eat - often this would result in a tantrum because I wanted them to eat it, and they didn’t want to.
My Mum makes amazing roasts, often with 6 or 7 different vegetables on the plate. To avoid tantrums, I would give my kids a choice. They could pick one vegetable to leave off the plate, so long as they ate everything else. This was a win-win. My kids felt in control of what they ate because they could leave something off. I was happy because we didn’t have tantrums and my kids were still eating vegetables.
I do the same with a fruit platter. I give them a minimum number of pieces of fruit, often based on how big the pieces are, and they can choose which pieces to eat.
You can do the same with choices for your customers.
For example, if they come to you looking for cloth nappies, you can offer them a choice of different brands, colours, sizes or styles. This way your customers can choose the one that suits their needs - and from your shop.
Sometimes, choices can be overwhelming. I don’t give my kids 50 different types of fruit to choose from on a platter, usually there’s only 4 or 5 different types at most.
It may be tempting to put up every colour you have at once, for example, however you may be better to offer a slightly smaller range so you can change it from time to time. You are still giving your customers a choice, and giving them the option to come back later because your range is constantly changing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineMarketing Monday - TEEs Me, Please!
By · CommentsThis is another great marketing idea I found on Facebook. One clever Mum has started a business called TEEs Me, Please! where she will wear a t-shirt or other promotional item to promote your business.
The idea came about because Bronwyn, the founder, read a newspaper article about a guy in the US who was paid to wear t-shirts.
As well as wearing the t-shirt around in her daily work, she also posts a photograph or video on her site as well as on Facebook, exposing your business to new people online as well.
As well as being a fun idea for a business, it is also a fun way to get the word out there about your business. If you don’t have a t-shirt, never fear, you can pick one up from Vista Print relatively cheaply.
If you get in quickly, you will be able to nominate how much you pay for a day! (conditions apply)
Go to http://teesmeplease.net/ for more details, and to book in a day for promoting your business.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums MagazineFriday Five - Email Newsletter Content
By · CommentsChanging topic this week to Email Newsletters. These are a great way to keep in contact with your customers, however it can sometimes be hard to know what to include to keep your newsletter interesting and grow your business.
This weeks Friday Five report will give you a few ideas of what you can include in your newsletter, including some tips on how to get your strategic alliance partners involved.
As always, reports are available for $5 through PayPal.
Feel the love
By · Comments
In the lead up to Valentine’s Day, I didn’t post much giving you ideas of what to do to promote your business, so I thought I’d make up for it by sharing a few ideas I’ve seen around the place.
The first idea is from Your Cheeky Monkey. On her blog, Monique posted about a number of products that share the love. You can read her post here. The burp cloth and singlet both have hearts on it.
On Facebook, a number of business mums were giving away free heart chocolates with every order. This was a fun way to share the love, even if their products weren’t obviously romantic.
There were also a lot of blogs that posted tips for celebrating Valentine’s Day, along with links to products that would help the reader with each tip.
Over at The Family Groove, they were choosing their Valentine’s Idol.
Little Bare Bear had a Valentine’s Sale, offering everyone on their Facebook Fan page a discount voucher.
What great Valentine’s promotion ideas have you seen around the place?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information to help you grow your business, subscribe to the Business Mums Magazine