The 4WD Button

One night I got the 2 AM call every parent dreads:  “Dad, I’ve been in an accident!” My 18-year-old son, on his way home from work, was fine but shaken up.  It was winter and the roads were snow packed with spots of ice.  He was an experienced winter driver, but cruising down the freeway at 60 MPH in the middle of the night he hit a patch of ice, lost control and went into the median. Because of deep snow, the Blazer was propelled in then out on the other side, into the opposite traffic lanes.  Fortunately, there was little traffic at that hour, so there were no other cars around.

Smashing into the median bent the frame, pushed the engine back, cracked the radiator and other damage.  Check out the picture of the front license plate holder and you’ll get an idea of the devastation.

He was able to drive it to a friend’s repair shop, and I went to pick him up.  On the way home he shared the details and revealed that he had failed to push the 4- wheel drive button.  “Why??” I asked.  “I didn’t think I needed it,” was his response.

The Chevy Blazer he was driving had a button on the dashboard that engaged the 4- wheel drive.  Most of the time we drove in 2-wheel drive mode since the gas milage was better.  But when it snowed, that button was great! One click, double the power and control.  But he didn’t think he needed it!

$2500 in repairs or engage the 4-wheel drive?  Seems like an easy choice but it wasn’t as simple as that.

Today we see the same rationale. I hear people say ‘oh, I don’t need Linkedin’ or ‘I just don’t get Twitter’.  These are the new 4-wheel drive buttons of marketing.   Failure to use them will cost you.  

Internet marketing demands that your organization leverage every tool and advantage you can employ, including:

• Youtube video. The second largest search engine on the web and owned by Google.  Ignore it at your peril.
• Social media, especially Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook.  Depending on your product, service and audience, one can be more effective than another.  It’s vital to know which applies to you and why.
• Press releases.  News of product offering, expansion, customers, awards, etc., helps push your name and site in search engine results.  Tell the world your news.
• Blogging.  Consistent posting of solid information is the foundation of organic SEO.  Blog about your customers and how they use your product, or changes in the industry.  The list is endless.  Make sure it’s well written, interesting and helpful.
• Think creatively.  The first rule of marketing is to set yourself apart from your competition.  In other words, don’t follow the leader.
• How can you tell your story differently?  Think of the memorable ads of the past.  Most of them were creative and emotional.

These activities are critical to your internet identity and building strong, organic SEO.   Not understanding and engaging them will cost you.  Just like driving in the snow without engaging the 4-wheel drive.

Prepare for Changes to Facebook Pages

Facebook has rolled out changes to the layout of pages. The changes can be made now or if you want to put it off, all of the pages will be updated March 3. The changes align pages to look more like profiles with the addition of the timeline.

Highlights of the changes include giving admins the ability to add milestones, cover photos, customize the page with pertinent information, message privately, view activity logs, and have more admin tools than before.

Admin’s can add a cover photo, just like on profile timelines. Another valuable tool comes with the ability to make specific posts achieve greater visibility or be pinned at the top of the page. When selecting a star button on the post the width will increase to draw more attention to it. If an admin selects the pencil icon the post will be pinned to the top as the main post.

Important info will be across the top, the about information can be found there. Photos will remain in the first spot, but up to 12 additional spots can be filled with more information. Tabs are missing, so customized tabs will have to be pinned onto your timeline.

For more information about the changes to pages, read Facebook’s Official Release.

Coppermoon is a full service Web Design & Technology firm which aims to help businesses compete in this digital age. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook for updates.

Did you know…Your Business Should Have a Facebook Page

Facebook is a remarkable tool for business, that’s right it’s a tool, not just a way your teen spends their evening, or how half of your staff spends their day. If you are in the 40+ demographic right now you are thinking this is crazy talk! But you should have a Facebook for your business, especially if you provide a service. For some industries having internet specialists is no new thing, take car dealerships for example, they have internet sales specialists who follow up and do sales reaching out to customers who send in requests through their website. For some businesses they have taken this role a step further, internet specialists screen Facebook and Twitter for comments and complaints, issues and problems can be addressed more quickly and customers have a sense of satisfaction when they recieve a reply and a resolution.

Social Media is out there, its being utilized, those who feel like it’s a waste of time need to realize it can also benefit themm in the long run. If you don’t have a Facebook and Twitter, get one, it’s another way to lend credibility to your business as well as connect with your customers on a whole new level.