Blog
The Benefits of Business Twitter-ing
by Rob
Twitter's traffic is growing enormously due to all the media attention, so we thought we'd give you a few reasons why businesses are flocking to it. If you don't know what it is, it's a micro-blogging service where you answer the question, "What are you doing?" in 140 characters or less. For a great primer on twitter, checkout this quick video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o. Otherwise, here's why Twitter is so good for businesses – and why you should look into it.
Dialogue with customers
Talking with customers can be pretty insightful. In my experience, I've seen businesses use Twitter to:
- Educate customers about their product or service offering
- Provide customer support and other contact
- Ask customers their opinions
- Provide service recovery
- Facilitate online reputation management
Free publicity
Reaching almost 2.6% of the internet may seem small, but it's probably about 10-30 million unique visits per day. People also spend 0.3 minutes longer on Twitter than they do on Google each day which suggests users are genuinely involved in the site. This means you can get good amounts of targeted traffic from Twitter.
In fact, Dell found that its Twitter traffic has been responsible for over $3 million in sales http://ow.ly/dNZw.
Build customer relationships
Talking with customers also has the added benefit of building a relationship with them. For instance, tweeting everyday can help you to build top of mind awareness – people will see your brand and associate it with your tweets.
This is huge in my opinion – instead of requiring customers to sign up for your newsletter, this is much easier and less obtrusive. Every positive encounter with a customer is a brick in your palace.
A great research tool
Aside from asking customers for their opinions, you can find out what people are saying about you and your competitor's brands. Seriously, go to Twitter now, and search for some of your favourite brands http://search.twitter.com/advanced – you can find out how satisfied customers are with a particular brand almost instantly.
Networking
Since so many businesses are using Twitter these days, it's a fantastic place to network. In fact you can meet people in the same profession and follow their updates. I've even heard stories about people hiring and getting jobs on Twitter http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2009/03/guest_post_how_i_got_my_job_th.html.
A Caveat
Since I joined up with Twitter early last year, I've noticed a few things:
- It has a poor retention rate http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/online_mobile/twitter-quitters-post-roadblock-to-long-term-growth/
- It's not for every business
- It can damage your brand if done incorrectly
- It's not the be all, end all channel for you online marketing
- It can be addictive http://gawker.com/5181175/jennifer-aniston-dumps-john-mayer-over-twitter-addiction
It's important to approach Twitter carefully, rather than jumping straight in. Do your research and ask questions first to see if it's right for your business. If you need a hand, let me know in the comments and I'll help you out.
Follow NBM on Twitter
Curious about what we're up to? Need to see an example of a Twitter profile for business? Follow NBM here.
We Need You for the Kokoda Challenge!
We need to raise at least $1,000 to make the challenge. All funds go towards the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program to give kids an experiential education.
Please show us your support. Donations of $20, $50 and $100 are very much appreciated (and tax deductable for this financial year)
Click here to donate to the New Business Media team now
We had another training session this morning, trekking up Pages Pinnacle in Springbrook (14kms over and back). Check out some photos below. We'll also be making updates on Twitter while on the challenge so be sure to follow us.
Reached the top at 7am this morning
Do You Want To Trial Google AdWords, FREE?
by Rob
Google is offering a free $75 stimulus to new AdWords advertisers. To help you take advantage of this offer, we’ll happily setup your campaign for free (Normally $360). This is the perfect way to see if Google AdWords is right for your business.
If you’re not already familiar with it, Google AdWords are the ads which you see appearing beside Google search results. Every time your ad is clicked, Google charges you a small amount. Anyway, since you reach your customers while they’re searching for you, the traffic from AdWords converts very well.
To take advantage of this offer contact Rob - rob (at) nbm.com.au
Still, if you’re not quite sure about how Google can benefit you, here are a few questions that can help you decide.
How to Battle SPAM
This month guest post is from Richard Fitzgerald of 2Gen IT Manamement. 2Gen is offering NBM clients access to their Managed Internet Special.
The 2Gen Manage Internet Applicance allows you to control exactly what your staff are doing on the internet and Stop SPAM and viruses before they can damage your network. This SPECIAL OFFER includes a free trial and setup valued at $195.00.
Click here for more details.
Everyone hates SPAM, no offence to the canned "psuedo" meat product. Yet few people know why people spam and what to do about it.  2Gen have a compiled a simple document for you on SPAM and how to prevent it.Â
Everyone hates SPAM, no offence to the canned "psuedo" meat product. Yet few people know why people spam and what to do about it.  2Gen have a compiled a simple document for you on SPAM and how to prevent it.ÂWhat is SPAM ?
Spam is unsolicited commercial email. Spam is profitable as spammers can send millions of emails in a single operation for a negligible cost. If even only one out of ten thousand makes a purchase then the spammer has profited. Common types of spam include:
Qualifications – university degrees or professional titles available for purchase.
Financial services – mortgages, loans or debt reducing schemes.
Share price booster schemes.
On-line gambling.
Cut price or pirate software and other nefarious goods.
Tips on how to prevent Spam
Never make a purchase from an unsolicited email as this funds future spam.
Delete email from unknown senders.
Never respond to spam even to unsubscribe from the mailing lists.
Use the “bcc� field if you email many people at once. The “bcc� or blind copy field allows for the
list of recipients to be hidden from other users.
Never publish email addresses on websites, newsgroups etc. Spammers use programs to surf the Internet and find addresses in such places.
Only provide main email addresses to trusted people and organisations.Â
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Kokoda Challenge 8 Weeks out
Things are heating up at NBM about the Kokoda challenge. We’ve been doing some individual training so far to prepare for the 96km "mammothon: – but we decided that won’t cut it. We’ve put together a group training plan. Check it out, here:
Sunday 7th June 9am – 30 Km Session
Wednesday 17th June 5pm – Night Session
Sunday 28th June 9am – 30 Km Session
Wednesday 8 July 1pm – 10Km Session
Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th July Kokoda Challenge
We’re still looking for donations for our sponsorship. We’d love your support, you can donate easily online at http://www.kokodachallenge.com/team-profile/137
NBM in the community
City to Longreach
As part of our support for our major charity AEIOU we have donated a website for the City to Longreach fundraising campaign. On 14 July 2009, a group of ten Churchie Old Boys will depart from Brisbane with the goal of running to Longreach over 13 days to raise money for two Queensland charities, AEIOU and The Leukemia Foundation.Â
1200 Km. 14 Mates. 13 Towns. 1 Reason.
Visit www.citytolongreach.com.au
Hope Foundation
Hope Foundation exists to bring hope, help and healing to the hurting people of the nation, based in Brisbane, primarily women in the areas of addiction and those caught in the sex industry. You can support Hope Foundation’s end of financial year appeal by visiting their new website - www.hopefoundation.org.auÂ
Fitness Careers - www.fitnesscareers.com.auÂ
Princess Polly – www.princesspolly.com.au
Concrete Lines - www.concretelines.com.au
Maintrade Building Services  - www.maintrade.com.au
Women in Tourism - www.womenintourism.org
Bought with a Price - www.boughtwithaprice.com.auÂ
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We're running in the Kokoda Challenge
Our team is finalised and getting ready  for the Kokoda Challenge (a 96km trek in the hinterland to raise funds for charity). We're now raising donations for sponsorship and would love your support.
Here's the team:
Adam - Project Manager / Director
Ex-league player, basketball, swimmer and tennis... If Adam worked half as hard at Kokoda as he does at work, he'd finish it for sure.
Mitch - Senior Web Developer.
A father of two young boys, Mitch runs a marathon at home each week.
Wez - Project Manager / Director
Ex-professional athlete AIS. Whether at work or playing soccer, Wez attacks anything with a spring in his step.
Rob - Online Marketing Consultant
Rob lives in a Brisbane suburb where running is a requisite for survival. He's also a big fan of Batman!
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Click here to support the NBM team - all proceeds will go to the Kokoda Challenge Youth Program and PNG Community. Read more at www.kokodachallenge.com Â
Why Your Website Needs a GREAT Offer
By Rob
There are so many websites out there and many offer great value, so why should a customer choose your site? Why should they stay longer than 2 minutes on your site and sign up to your newsletter?
If you’re not offering great value, then they shouldn’t even touch your site…
Using Offers
One of the most important (yet overlooked) features of a good website is having a great offer – one so good that people might even pay for it. A great offer can be used to encourage visitors to take action on your site.
So, in the interest of building your list and inspiring contact, you should provide something of value to customers. This can take many different forms.
Five Great Website Offers
Here are a few offers which you might like to consider using on your site.
- Offer a Free Report
- Provide an Insightful Test
- Give away a free DVD
- Present an irresistible discount
- Give entries into a competition
What’s Valuable to Them?
When making offers on sites, you should think about why visitors are arriving on a website. What are they after? How can you provide them with something they want, without having to spend too much money? Further, how can your offer help you to achieve your business’ goals after the consumer has received it?
These are all difficult questions, but they’re ones which you need to consider.
Key Components of Good Offers
Not all offers are created equal – some are better than others and you need to be mindful about what goes into creating a good offer.
- They don’t waste people’s time
- They don’t require them to call anyone
- The offer is available immediately after requesting it
- They don’t require too much action
- They are valuable to your target market
- They match your business’ goals
What’s Your Offer?
Hopefully that ignites some ideas for your business. Anyway, I’d love to hear some great website offers, so feel free to share them with me here.
