Facebook, blogs, Twitter and customer reviews are considered the most effective tactics for mobilizing consumers to talk up products online. (Etailing survey of 117 companies, September 2009)

90% of consumers online trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust opinions of unknown users. (Econsultancy, July 2009)

Between 10% and 24% of US social media users turned to social networks when making purchase decisions about various categories of products and services.… Continue

All of these items mentioned below are certainly important to get visitors to and keep them on your site. Although once you've employed all the tactics to get them there, nothing is more important to the stickiness of the viewer than point #3.

Make sure your web site is visually appealing. As a web designer, I'd actually say "visually distinctive" should be the goal. There are so many "me-too" web sites out there, built on or emulating "template" designs because they are quick and easy.

Buildi… Continue

LinkedIn is more than just a place to post your work history. If can be used to help grow your business and make you more valuable to people in your viewing area and all over the world. Here are a few suggestions for you:

1. Keep your profile up to date. When something happens that is significant to our industry, your station or website notify your contacts by updating your profile.

2. Connect with people you want to meet! Think of it as a gigantic networking event where you have the chance to… Continue

My most FAQs pertain to Social Media. “How can I use it for business? Why should I care about someone standing in a line at Starbuck’s? What’s the big deal??? I don’t have time!”

Well, the big deal is the “social” in “social media.” How do you use going to a Chamber of Commerce event for business? You see people you know and deepen your relationship with them, you meet some new people and forge new relationships, you have the opportunity to ask questions, to learn, to give information, for peop… Continue