LinkedIn Endorsements
One of the newest features of LinkedIn is also one of the most interesting updates on that network that we’ve seen in a long time. The feature is the recent addition of Endorsements. At first, they can feel a little disingenuous for this network – a bit like a Facebook “Like” which is quick and easy to give. But digging a little deeper, we think you’ll find this new feature pretty meaningful. So let’s break it down a bit. (And if you’re new to LinkedIn, or not sure how to use it, you may want to first download our “LinkedIn Quickstart White Paper” – a FREE...
read moreSocial Media – Trends and Tips to Try
This week I had the opportunity to share with a group of professional business women on the subject of new trends in social media. Honestly, the last few weeks have seen quite a few changes, and so it was quite a jam-packed presentation – most of this and then some in 20 minutes! By way of a recap and review, here are some of the highlights from the last few weeks of “new” features, listed by social media network, with the reasons you might want to add this network to your marketing, and things to try if you do: (We know this is a LOT of information, so let us know if you have...
read moreTop 3 Things I Love About LinkedIn
Recent reports have indicated that LinkedIn is not the most widely used social media network, but it spite of that, it has consistently been a part of the professional branding experience. Let me explain what I mean. In a recent study, it was found that the average time spent on LinkedIn per month is 21 minutes. That’s not a lot of time over the course of the month, but when you consider some of the loveable things about LinkedIn, it’s easy to see why less time doesn’t mean less quality, and it’s widely touted as the most “elite” of the social media platforms… (If you’re...
read moreFriday Flick-LinkedIn Answers
Today’s Friday Flick is about using an element of LinkedIn that many folks don’t know about. LinkedIn is perceived to be “just an online resume,” but it is much more than that. Having a robust profile, including a summary that uses key words, skills, previous job histories and recommendations is just the first step. Once your profile is complete, it’s time to use LinkedIn. Yes you can, and should, post to this social media platform fairly regularly, but you should also participate in some of LinkedIn’s unique features. Today’s tip focuses on one of...
read moreSocial Media Day Wrap Up
We had a great event in Fort Bend County, TX this weekend! We celebrated Social Media Day along with hundreds of other cities across the globe. The event, sponsored originally by Mashable, Inc. was in its third year, and it proves to be bigger every year! Our event was attended by about 30 folks from a variety of businesses, some who use social media for business, and some who were just curious. The group reflected a good broad-spectrum of interests and knowledge, and we had a fun time together. In addition to some good networking opportunities, our Fort Bend County group broke into smaller...
read moreFacebook vs. LinkedIn
Today I had the opportunity to gather with others at the Houston Website Designers Seminar, held at the Art Institute of Houston. The topic was Internet Marketing, and the five speakers gave short presentations on marketing & branding trends, logo design, website design, mobile marketing, and of course, social media. My topic was “Facebook v. LinkedIn” from the perspective of marketing, and below, I’ve shared the presentation as well as key points from my notes. If you have any questions about this information, please Contact Us. Facebook v LinkedIn...
read moreTo Automate Posts or Not?
Having heard all of the arguments for and against, and based on some of my own experimentation, whether or not you automate posts through social media still gets answered with, “It depends.” So, focusing on the 4 major platforms, let’s look at some of the variables. The “Pros,” or reasons for using 3rd party software for auto-posting to the various platforms all include three factors. Automated posting saves time, it allows you access to more in-depth analytics than might be available through the platform itself, and it allows you to consistently take advantage of your...
read moreThe 3 Cogs of Social Media
Social media has multiple personalities and multiple purposes. No matter how you engage with social media, you need to be aware of the nuances, or you’ll likely find that it doesn’t suit you. It’s not just a trivial chatter platform, and it’s not just about networking. It’s more than just selling a product, but it can be about that – sometimes. It changes daily, but it focuses on constant principles. How you deal with these purposes and personalities, however, involves three common “cogs” – relationships, value and needs – if you are going to make the most of...
read moreSocial Media Animals
In a consulting conversation with a business owner recently, an expression came out of my mouth that started my mind down an intriguing path. I casually said, “Well, each one’s a different animal,” as I was attempting to describe the difference between the “big 4” social media platforms that overwhelmed him. What if they were described as animals? Would that be easier to help business owners make informed decisions? Our forte at Polka Dot Impressions is working with business owners who are too busy to understand or use social media for their own businesses, but they need to be...
read moreLeave a Tip?
Did you hear the one about the Seattle waitress who was left a “tip” on the credit card receipt by her customer? Turns out, the paying customer didn’t leave her a cash tip with his payment, he only suggested that she lose some weight. What a tip, right? Her response was to go to social media to post this man’s name and the receipt; however, she targeted a different man who happened to have the same name and lived in another state. Apologies followed, yet the correct gentleman has yet to come forward; a third gentleman with the same name has sent her a 100% tip to “redeem” his...
read moreTo Social Media, Or Not To Social Media?
“I know we just had this conversation, but I don’t understand a word you said.” These were the words my husband spoke to me on his way off to work when I described some of the tools you see below. Not so much the use of social media – he understands that – but some of the process of using social media. That is a bit more complicated. However, after looking at the infographic below, I think you’ll agree that more and more people are trying to figure it out. Whether for themeselves, or for a business, the use of social media is here to stay. How you use it,...
read moreIs Everyone Posting?
Update posting. How hard can this be? What are the rules? Does anyone really care what I’m doing, moment by moment? …..It’s not. They’re more like guidelines. And yes…if you care about them. Those are the short answers. It seems that more and more social media changes are taking place. It’s a bit tough to keep up with them unless you’re paying attention regularly. Frankly, that’s why I have a career. That’s why I love what I do. It changes all of the time, but it’s always about one thing – relationships. It used to be that business owners could just hang out...
read more“What’s That Funny Ink Blotch Thingy?”
Looking for something to get a quick response with in your social media marketing? The play on words was intended, because one of the growing trends is to use Quick Response codes, or QR codes, in print, email, and other social media platforms. But the interesting fact is that only about 52% of a targeted online population knew what they were, according to a recent report by Lab42. Let’s take a quick look at them. A QR code looks like a square blotch of ink, but when viewed by a smartphone’s camera, that blotch becomes a marketing offer, discount, entry ticket, or product...
read moreHow To Plan A Strategic Marketing Campaign
This may seem overly simplistic, but it really is the easiest way to use social media, strategically, and stay on target with your goals. The hard part is sticking to it. The hard part is not really hard, but time consuming; but truly, that’s the only difficulty in using social media for business. But remember this, consistency matters. It speaks to your commitment to your customers and your business philosophy, so consider your time and resources well. If you plan to engage in social media for business, keep reading, but do so with the understanding that you will either need to use your...
read moreGoogle+ Dabbling
If you haven’t heard about Google+ (or G+) yet, then you may not live in social media “shiny object land.” That’s okay. Enough of us have been dabbling in the G+ field for awhile now that we can bring you up to speed. Here is our personal take on what Google+ is all about, and why it matters to the average user. (Remember, if you have a social media manager already, then they should be on top of this for you!) In our humble opinion, Google+ is like a hybrid of LinkedIn meets Facebook meets YouTube. Here’s what we mean. Google+ lets you connect with others very easily by just...
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