Web Hosting - Reviews - Share Your Thoughts http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/ en Fri, 24 May 2013 20:40:05 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/images/misc/rss.png Web Hosting - Reviews - Share Your Thoughts http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/ The Science Behind Colors in Marketing http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69250-science-colors-marketing.html Sat, 11 May 2013 15:27:45 GMT *Why is Facebook blue?* According to The New Yorker (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_vargas?currentPage=all), the reason is simple. It’s because Mark Zuckerberg is red-green color blind; blue is the color Mark can see the best. Not highly scientific, right? That may... Why is Facebook blue?
According to The New Yorker, the reason is simple. It’s because Mark Zuckerberg is red-green color blind; blue is the color Mark can see the best.

Not highly scientific, right? That may not be the case for Facebook, but there are some amazing examples of how colors actually affect our purchasing decisions. After all, sight is the strongest developed sense in most human beings. It’s only natural that 90% of an assessment for trying out a product is made by color alone.

So how do colors really affect us, and what is the science of colors in marketing, really? As we strive to make improvements to our products, studying this phenomenon is key. Let’s dig into some of the latest, most interesting research on it.

First: Can you recognize the online brands just based on color?
Before we dive into the research, here are some awesome experiments that show you how powerful color alone really is.

Based on just the colors of the buttons, can you guess which company belongs to each of them?

Example 1 (easy):



Example 2 (easy):



Example 3 (medium):



Example 4 (hard):



These awesome examples from YouTube designer Marc Hemeon, I think, show the real power of color more than any study could.

How many were you able to guess? (All the answers are at the bottom of this post!)

Which colors trigger which feeling for us?
Being completely conscious about what color triggers us to think in which way isn’t always obvious. The Logo Company has come up with an amazing breakdown that shows which colors are best for which companies and why. Here are 4 great examples:

Black:



Green:



Blue:



Clearly, every one of these companies is seeking to trigger a very specific emotion:



When we feel compelled to buy something, color can play a major role. Analytics company KISSmetrics created an amazing infographic on the science of how colors affect our purchases.

Green stands out to me as the most relaxing color we can use to make buying easier. We didn’t intentionally choose this as the main color for Buffer--although it seems to have worked very well so far.

At second look, I also realized how frequently black is used for luxury products. Here is the full infographic:



How to improve your marketing with better use of colors:
This all might be fairly entertaining, but what are some actual decisions we can apply today to our website or app? The answer comes yet again from some great research done by the good folks over at KISSmetrics.

If you are building an app that mainly targets women, KISSmetrics suggests that women love blue, purple, and green, and dislike orange, brown, and gray.



In case your app is strictly targeting men, the rules of the game are slightly different. Men love blue, green, and black, but can do without brown, orange, and purple.



In another experiment, Performable (now HubSpot) wanted to find out whether simply changing the color of a button would make a difference in conversion rates.

They started out by trying to guess the outcome of a simple choice between two colors (green and red) and trying to guess what would happen.

“Green connotes ideas like “natural” and “environment,” and given its wide use in traffic lights, suggests the idea of “go” or forward movement. The color red, on the other hand, is often thought to communicate excitement, passion, blood, and warning. It is also used as the color for stopping at traffic lights. Red is also known to be eye-catching.”

So, clearly an A/B test between green and red would result in green, the more friendly color. At least that was their guess.

Here is what their experiment looked like:



So how did that experiment turn out? The answer was surprising: The red button outperformed the green button by 21%.

What’s most important to consider is that nothing else was changed at all: 21% more people clicked on the red button than on the green button. Everything else on the pages was the same, so it was only the button color that made this difference.
This definitely made me wonder: If we were to read all the research before this experiment and ask every researcher which version they would guess would perform better, I’m sure green would be the answer in nearly all cases. Not so much.

At my company, we’ve also conducted dozens of experiments to improve our conversion rates using changes of colors. While the results weren’t as clear, we still saw a huge change. One hypothesis is that for a social media sharing tool, there is less of a barrier to signup, which makes the differences less significant.

Despite all the studies, generalizations are extremely hard to make. Whatever change you make, treat it first as a hypothesis, and see if the actual experiment supports your ideas. Personally, I’m always very prone to go with opinion based on research I’ve come across. Yet, data always beats opinion, no matter what.

Quick last fact: Why are hyperlinks blue?

This is something that always interested me and is actually a fun story. In short, it's offers the highest contrast between the colors used on early websites.



Here is the full explanation: “Tim Berners-Lee, the main inventor of the web, is believed to be the man who first made hyperlinks blue. Mosaic, a very early web browser, displayed webpages with a (ugly) gray background and black text. The darkest color available at the time that was not the same as the black text was that blue color. Therefore, to make links stand apart from plain text, but still be readable, the color blue was selected.”

I think it's fascinating that tweaking something as small as the color can completely change an outcome. What have been your findings in terms of colors and marketing? Tell me about it in the comments.

Solution to the riddle: Example 1: Facebook, Example 2: Google, Example 3: Flickr, Example 4: LinkedIn ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69250-science-colors-marketing.html Why Amazon Wants You To Pay Internet Tax http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69184-amazon-pay-internet-tax.html Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:58:17 GMT Image: http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18luf7y5vcgfxjpg/original.jpg April 26, 2013* WHY AMAZON WANTS YOU TO PAY INTERNET TAX * Our days of sales-taxless, free-love internet revelry may be numbered. Thursday afternoon, the Senate voted to approve a bill that could end tax-free online...


April 26, 2013

WHY AMAZON WANTS YOU TO PAY INTERNET TAX

Our days of sales-taxless, free-love internet revelry may be numbered. Thursday afternoon, the Senate voted to approve a bill that could end tax-free online shopping once and for all.

And strangely enough, everyone's favorite online tax-free haven is leading the charge.Et tu, Amazon? Also... why?

The new legislation would require all internet retailers to charge the sales tax rate of the item's destination, overruling the 1992 Supreme Court decision in Quill v. North Dakota that made online shopping an easily tax-free zone. According to David French, senior vice president for government affairs at the National Retail Federation:
The industry is evolving very rapidly, and the law today is a 20th-century interpretation of an 18th-century document that is holding back the entire retail industry as it adapts to 21st-century consumer preferences and demand.
In other words, states are tired of missing out on the estimated $22 billion a year that taxed online sales could produce. And Amazon's doing everything it can to help them get it back.

How did this happen?
According to the Quill ruling, retailers without an actual physical presence (stores, warehouses, computer servers, what have you) in a state aren't required to force customers to throw down sales tax on their purchases. While a lot of business that allow mail and online orders do, in fact, have brick-and-mortar locations in plenty of states—think Best Buy, Target, Walmart—it's this ruling that spurred Amazon and others like it to build as few of their warehouses around the country as possible. With this handy little loophole, massive online retailers get to offer lower prices, lure in more customers, and put another nail in Mom and Pop's respective coffins, all in one fell swoop.

But the bipartisan, 10-senator-backed bill thinks the playing field's become uneven, and they're ready to level it out. Rep. John Conyers (D) of Michigan said at Wednesday's hearing:
What we're doing today is exploring the need for legislation to level the playing field between small businesses and online retailers. Local mom-and-pop" stores, and other businesses suffer when they have to collect a sales tax but online retailers don't.

Of course, just because the retailers aren't required to collect the tax themselves doesn't mean that it's technically not still there. For every online and otherwise non-sales-taxed purchase you make, the government is putting you on your honor to add up the missing taxes and pony up of your own volition. But shocking as it may be, the vast majority of people steal from our poor, helpless government every year by filling that line in with a miserly little zero.

But isn't Amazon screwing itself over by supporting the legislation?
Why no, no it's not! Sure, the tax-free party it's been enjoying for the past 21 years was a great business strategy for a while, but times are changin'. Most people these days are united by at least two factors: an irrational demand for instant gratification and a desire to have as little face-to-face interaction with other people as is humanly possible.

So to keep up with our whiny, minsanthropic ways, Amazon has installed same-day, one-click delivery in 10 cities across the country. Same-day delivery means huge, fully stocked warehouses. Warehouses mean obeying state tax laws. And the heavy populations in the places getting the service will almost always mean a state sales tax.

So with these additions, Amazon's days of skirting the IRS are coming to a close. Rather than find another way to sneak around the sales tax rules, its lawyers and lobbyists have opted to make damn well sure that everyone else is going down with them. Or as they chose to frame it, create "an even-handed federal framework for state sales tax collection."

Essentially, Amazon with their razor-thin profit models depend on the Volume method (whereas many businesses strive to attain such a model) to both justify acquiescence to Internet Taxation demands by Government and to overcome and defeat entirely the traditional profit-based businesses out there: they defy containment, and wish to be the largest distributor of merchandise on the planet (just as Google intends to dominate the Internet functionality world).

So why does this matter?
Everyone hates paying extra taxes. Remember the Boston Tea Party? And with the rate we as a nation have been growing increasingly dependent on online shopping, those extra dollars spent are going to add up quick. Long story short: it's going to make your life a whole lot more expensive.

It's not just going to hurt your wallet. The diversity of the marketplace could get slashed as well. As individual sellers with retail aggregators like eBay and Etsy decide the tax hike isn't worth the time it takes to carefully craft their cat hair necklaces, they'll start taking down their online stores. And YOU'LL never get to know the joys of wearing metal balls of cat sheddings around your throat.

The situation's not totally dire. As we very well know, getting a law passed can be a complicated process, even when it's pretty widely supported. Conservatives, in particular, are not fans of increasing pressure on businesses just so our states can turn into soci alistic hand-out free-for-alls. A lot of voters aren't too keen on an effective tax hike, either (gasp!), which means that the bill might not make it past the House of Representatives when it goes up for a vote on May 6th.

Still, even if the House does kill this particular piece of legislation this time around, you can bet Amazon won't go down without a fight. It seems almost certain that sales tax will invade the internet someday.

Let's just hope Super Saver Shipping isn't next. Either way, the precedence has been made simply because there was not enough outcry when this first legislation was concocted.
 ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69184-amazon-pay-internet-tax.html Harnessing The Power Of Social Proof To Grow Your Business http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69103-harnessing-power-social-proof-grow-business.html Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:38:34 GMT Image: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/547468_10200479260657116_142450800_n.jpg There are many types of social influences, such as testimonials, user reviews, trust badges, authority recommendations, award badges and social network icons, that you can place on your website or...


There are many types of social influences, such as testimonials, user reviews, trust badges, authority recommendations, award badges and social network icons, that you can place on your website or Social Media page to increase conversion rates (sales, profitability), market share exposure, and overall business growth.

Although using social proof should be critical in your marketing strategy to shape a more effective buying environment, there is one problem: Each style has its own limitations. You must determine which form of social proof will resonate with your customers or it will not be effective.

Although ‘social proof” might sound like an abstract concept, the reality is that you experience its effects throughout your daily life. When choosing an auto repair shop, you’re more likely to choose the mechanics that come highly recommended by your friends. Similarly, when shopping online, you probably pay more attention to the reviews left by past customers than to a product’s description or its place in the site’s internal search results.

Indeed, there are plenty of statistics out there that backup just how powerful the idea of social influence can be. The following are a few interesting examples to consider that were shared in a recent Search Engine Journal article:

  • According to CompUSA and an iPerceptions study, “63% of consumers indicate they are more likely to purchase from a site if it has product ratings and reviews.”
  • As a result of PETCO’s decision to add customer ratings, PETCO VP of e-commerce John Lazarchic, stated, “Adding customer ratings increased our sales and decreased our costs.” PETCO surveyed their customers after their order and asked, “What online tool most influenced your purchase decision?” The #1 answer was product ratings and reviews, with site search coming in a distant second.


If you run a website of your own, these statistics should have the wheels inside your head turning…

While the products and services you sell on your site should certainly stand on their own merits, incorporating social proof into your website’s content can help you to create an even more effective buying environment.

But how do you get this social proof, and how should you incorporate it into your site in order to bring about the best results? The first step in the process is to understand that social proof comes in many different forms – including all of the following options:

  • Testimonials that are embedded within your website’s sales content
  • User reviews left on product-specific pages within your site
  • User reviews left on review sites like Yelp and Google+
  • Brand mentions shared on social media websites
  • Celebrity endorsements and recommendations from authority figures within your industry


Each of these different types of social proof can have a different impact on your website’s sales performance. Testimonials on sales pages, for example, help potential buyers to mentally reinforce their buying decisions and lead to more sales. Brand mentions on social media sites, on the other hand, can introduce new consumers to your website by utilizing the power of social influence.

While smart businesses utilize as many of these different social proof forms as possible, it’s important to be aware that each style has its own limitations. Celebrity endorsements – as an example – can get expensive, while adding a user review system to your product pages both requires technical know-how and runs the risk of opening your company up to negative reviews.

With all of these different factors in mind, consider the following detailed information on how to obtain and use social proof according to each strategy listed above. Then, identify your own business objectives and determine which types of social proof make the most sense for your website.

User testimonials
User testimonials can be powerful selling tools, as they give potential buyers some personal insight into the buying process. Sales pages containing user testimonials help future customers to see themselves in the place of those who have already purchased and been satisfied– leading to higher conversion rates and more sales.

Detailed and numbers-based results given in testimonials will be the best social proof on your website. Every testimonial should show where your client was before they worked with you and where they are after using your products and services. Whether it is pounds lost, money saved, more followers or an increase in Likes on Facebook, encouraging your clients to leave these types of testimonials will pay dividends down the line.

I want to not only point out the importance of getting results mentioned in your testimonials, but also encourage you to ask your clients to leave testimonials that contain a recommendation to work with you. The combination of these two tips will lead to unforgettable testimonials, which will prove invaluable, just as they have proven to be the critical elements of LinkedIn’s success – connecting strangers by referral.

To gather user testimonials, you’ll need to get in contact with past buyers and ask for their feedback. If you’ve been diligent about following up with email marketing messages, past buyers should be used to hearing from you – making this type of content seem more natural and less intrusive. However you decide to solicit feedback, simply ask buyers if they enjoyed the product and – if so – if they’d be willing to leave a testimonial for future site visitors.

Insights
1. One of the most important aspects of user testimonials is gathering appropriate feedback. Providing an answer to any objections your audience might have will show them you are prepared and have done your research.
2. Also make sure the person writing the testimonial will resonate with your audience. If they don’t connect with the writer, then they won’t connect with the message, and the testimonial is useless.
3. I want to re-emphasize the importance of authentic testimonials that show results and overcome objections: Your audience doesn’t want to waste their time reading generic testimonials. They want to believe you. Posting a reliable, detailed testimonial that highlights some specific feedback will systematically break down the barriers that prospects have about doing business with you.

Once you’ve gathered both feedback and explicit permission from past buyers to use their comments on your website, integrate these testimonials into your sales pages in a way that works with their existing flow. Be sure to give your testimonials a unique look so that they standout from the rest of the page, and add as much personal information about the reviewers as possible (including full names, cities of residence and headshots) in order to increase the credibility of your reviews.


User reviews on product-specific pages
Though it may sound like a technically-advanced challenge,making use of out-of-the-box solutions like Shopper Approved can make installing review systems as easy as modifying a few lines of code on your site. Plenty of similar review software programs exist – just be sure that whatever system you choose doesn’t interfere with your content’s ability to be indexed by the search engines! *Wordpress websites uniquely avoid these pratfalls, but again, be sure the volume of testimonials does not exceed what would normally be expected.

There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when pursuing this particular type of social proof:

  • Site visitors love seeing product reviews, but they hate “ghost town” systems with no actual reviews. If you don’t sell a high enough volume of product to generate regular user reviews, it may be best to avoid installing this type of system.
  • When you first install your review system, you may need to jump start the process by encouraging past buyers to return to your site and leave their feedback.
  • Don’t delete negative comments! If you receive negative reviews in your system, respond with a quick apology and then use the feedback to make improvements for future sales.


User reviews left on review sites
If you’re a primarily offline business, review sites represent a potent source of social proof – as new customers frequently check companies’ Yelp and Google+ review profiles before deciding to do business with them.

To start soliciting this type of social influence, all you need to do is to encourage your customers to share their experiences with your brand on their favorite review sites. This can be done with a small sign in your physical location, a mention on all receipts that your company prints out, an email to past customers or any other type of contact.

However, a few of the same cautions that applied to product-specific reviews exist here as well. If you haven’t requested user reviews in the past, you may need to do a little prodding to get past buyers to go out of their way to leave your company online reviews (just don’t push too hard or you’ll risk irritating the very people you’re counting on for good references!). In addition, if you encounter negative reviews on these sites, don’t get angry. Instead, leave a professional response and focus on making changes to prevent negative reviews in the future.

Brand mentions on social media sites
Brand mentions on social media sites represent a different,less-explicit type of social proof, in that they’re rarely as direct as someone leaving a note on your website saying that he liked your product.

Instead, because would-be new customers typically require several points of contact with your company before doing business with you,social proof via social media sites can come from any different type of brand mention, including:

  • Unsolicited recommendations and reviews
  • Shares of your website’s blog articles
  • Shares of your social media profile updates
  • Consumer questions that mention your brand by name


The easiest ways to accumulate these brand mentions are to encourage customers to share your content and their thoughts about your products on their favorite social sites, and to be active on these same networks yourself. Accumulating social proof through these channels can be as simple as asking for social shares at the end of each blog post, and then making a point to address any brand mentions – whether positive or negative –that occur on social media sites.

Celebrity endorsements
One last source for social proof comes from celebrity endorsements – which can come from either recognizable media figures (as in,TV, music or sports stars) or from well-known names within your industry.

Pursuing either one of these opportunities comes with a cost. True celebrity endorsements from media names can be expensive and must be carefully coordinated to ensure that the chosen celebrity reflects well upon your brand (as an example, you wouldn’t want Kim Kardashian endorsing your marriage counseling service). Even if you’re willing to go to these lengths, it’s important to recognize that a recommendation from a paid celebrity endorsement may carry less weight with potential customers than social proof from colleagues and friends would.

On the other hand, securing a recommendation from a known figure within your industry can be an incredibly powerful source of social proof – though there’s a reason that these endorsements are relatively uncommon!

If you want to get a recommendation from an industry expert, you need to be prepared to spend plenty of time building up your relationship to the point where the authority figure is comfortable endorsing your work. You may need to exchange messages, help out with favors and promote the expert’s content for some time before reaching this level of confidence – if you ever do. It’s entirely possible to spend years building a relationship, only to have the authority figure in question decline to offer a much-desired review.


As you can see, each different type of social proof offers a distinct set of advantages and disadvantages. And while each strategy has its place, it’s also true that some of the techniques described above may not make sense for your business at this time. Choose wisely how you’ll allocate your time and energy – then, head out and make it a priority to harness the power of social proof on your website (or Social Media Page)! ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69103-harnessing-power-social-proof-grow-business.html Personal Branding Is A Leadership Requirement http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69098-personal-branding-leadership-requirement.html Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:35:50 GMT Image: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/10092_10200474799865599_141090961_n.jpg This is why I always advise those who want to have a social media presence to think carefully about their intentions and objectives before opening an account. Why? Because the moment you start – you...


This is why I always advise those who want to have a social media presence to think carefully about their intentions and objectives before opening an account. Why? Because the moment you start – you must not allow yourself to stop. Challenge yourself to think about what your intentions are and what you are capable of delivering to the communities you are serving – both in and outside of the workplace.

Personal branding, much like social media, is about making a full-time commitment to the journey of defining yourself as a leader and how this will shape the manner in which you will serve others. Developing your personal brand is essential for the advancement of your career and development as a leader. Unfortunately, personal branding has become a “commoditized” term that has lost its intention as people have irresponsibly used social media as a platform to build their personal brand and increase their relevancy. They believe social media can immediately increase their market value for their personal brand rather than recognizing that the process of developing their personal brand is a much bigger responsibility; a never-ending journey that extends well beyond social media.

Your personal brand should represent the value you are able to consistently deliver to those whom you are serving. This doesn’t mean self-promotion – that you should be creating awareness for your brand by showcasing your achievements and success stories. Managing your personal brand requires you to be a great role model, mentor, and / or a voice that others can depend upon. For example, when I write a blog or an article – I am extremely mindful that my community of readers expects a specific “experience of thought” from me.


More than that, I aim to attract new readers by offering something of value that will hopefully engage them enough to continue reading my work, and, which hopefully benefits them effectually. Sounds like a lot of pressure and a tremendous responsibility to your audience, doesn’t it? Well – it is at first – but over time the responsibility becomes a natural and instinctual part of who you are. This is the mindset you must develop and the level of accountability you must assume when deciding to define, live and manage your personal brand. Every day you know you must deliver to a standard of expectation that you have set-forth for both yourself and those whom you serve.


View your personal brand as a trademark - an asset that you must protect while continuously molding and shaping it. Your personal brand is an asset that must be managed with the intention of helping others benefit from having a relationship with you and / or by being associated with your work and the industry you serve.
Have you defined your personal brand? Are you consistently living your personal brand every day?


If you’re like most, your answer to both is “no”. Based on a survey conducted by my organization, less than 15% of people have truly defined their personal brand and less than 5% are living it consistently at work – each and every day. Why? It can be extremely challenging and it requires a tremendous amount of self-awareness, action and accountability.


What I didn’t tell you is that 70% of professionals believe they have defined their personal brand and 50% believe they are living it. But when you “peel-back-the-onion,” you realize that their focus was centered on self-promotion rather than a commitment to advance themselves by serving others.


So what is a personal brand? A personal brand is the total experience of someone having a relationship with who you are and what you represent as an individual; as a leader. Think about what that means to you. Let it simmer. Ask yourself and then ask a close friend – what is the total experience of having a relationship with you like? Write down the top 5 things you would expect others to experience and have your close friend do the same. Are the answers the same or similar in meaning? If they are, good for you! If not, you have some work to do.


Every time you are in a meeting, at a conference, networking reception or other event, you should be mindful of what others are experiencing about you and what you want others to experience about you. Each of these engagements is similar to a job interview – expect in these cases you are being evaluated by your peers. Those who know how to live and manage their personal brand will earn their respect in any situation.


At first, this is a bit of a challenge. However, when you start to see yourself living through the “lens of a brand,” your perspective will change and you will become more mindful about how you approach the personal brand you are trying to define and aiming to live.


Don’t confuse this with “acting a part.” To the contrary, you should focus on being more of who you naturally are and want to be so that you can perform and serve at your optimal levels. Keep in mind that we have been conditioned to want to be more like others. As such, we are more likely to be accountable to others and what they want us to be rather than being true to ourselves.


If your teammates and/or colleagues don’t know what your personal brand is, the fault is yours and not theirs. Having a personal brand is a leadership requirement. It enables you to be a better leader, a more authentic leader that can create greater overall impact. In fact, those who have defined and live their personal brand will more naturally demonstrate executive presence and as such may find themselves advancing more quickly at work.

Personal branding is no longer an option; it’s a powerful leadership enabler.


Browse through my videos to review "Personal Branding For Leaders." It's a great clip that enhances my message. ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69098-personal-branding-leadership-requirement.html Writing Appealing Online Content: The Basics http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69080-writing-appealing-online-content-basics.html Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:03:56 GMT Image: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/524407_10200463252776929_1317912125_n.jpg The basics of writing are the same whether you write for an online audience or a print audience. However, there are certain differences in the writing approach and it is important to understand those...


The basics of writing are the same whether you write for an online audience or a print audience. However, there are certain differences in the writing approach and it is important to understand those differences for the greatest impact.


In some respects, it is easier to get your writing read online than it is in print as when writing for print you have to first appeal to an editor which decides on variables not present for online writing, such as marketability and tailored conversion to revenue.. However, it is very important to keep in mind that it is not sufficient to simply put words on a page and think that that is the end of that. Before you start writing for your online audience, you must understand what your audience needs and express it in such a way that the content is read and received very enthusiastically and with a burning desire to read more.

The basics of successful online writing
The basic writing skills that will be discussed here are essential whether you are writing for a blog, social media or your website.

Clear and concise content
It is a known fact that a very small percentage of online content is actually read. It is very important that you don’t allow your content to ramble on and on. Whatever content you do offer, it must be important enough for other people to want to actually pay attention to it.

Make sure that your content can be read
You need to make sure that your content can be read for several reasons.

  • The majority of your online audience thinks in terms of tasks.
  • Your audience doesn’t want you to waste time with large amounts of content. They also don’t have a great deal of time to spend with your online content.
  • Don’t crowd your content too much. If you present 4 to 6 important ideas throughout your entire article, that is more than enough. You should try not to put more than one concept or idea per paragraph. Your paragraphs don’t have to be of equal length. You just need to break up the concepts and not have more than one in any given paragraph. If you do, it may be too much for your audience to absorb.
  • Spread the content around. When it comes to online content, there is nothing wrong with spreading it out and making good use of white space. Of course, it also goes without saying that what you do present should be meaningful, compelling and valuable.
  • Your headlines need to get to the point and grab the audience’s interest quickly and hold their interest for the duration of the article.


The value of a direct headline
It is critical to remember that you have no more than 3 seconds to grab your audience’s attention with the headline. If the language in your headline is confusing or ambiguous, you won’t succeed in holding their attention. If you can’t hold their attention beyond the headline, that will be the end of that. It is an excellent idea to go back to previous articles that you have written and look at t he headlines. Analyze what those headlines said and how they said it. The clearer and tighter your headlines are, the more positive the response will be from your audience.

Compartmentalize your content whenever possible
First of all, it is a very smart idea to use some kind of content management system. If you are, you should be organizing your content as much as possible. This is good for you and good for your readers. You can also compartmentalize the content that you find on other people’s websites and blogs. If it is valuable content in your opinion, grab it and save it in an organized manner. You will need to use it in some capacity later.

Make sure that the search engines can find you
It is very important for you to understand that if the search engines don’t pick up your content, nobody will know that you exist. You are often taught in life that it isn’t nice to “blow your own horn”; however, when it comes to online content and getting people to notice what you are offering, you need to self-promote in an effective yet subtle way. be sure to use key Words and Key Phrases that are critical identifiers of relevancy in your writing, and which forms the interactive optimization that online composition uniquely creates. Do not, however, over-use key wording to the point of becoming unnatural composition!

Conclusion
When it comes to sharing your online content, make sure that you make it clear, concise compelling and educational. Your goal is to make sure that your audience members read what you are sharing, want to read more and share it with their friends. Viral is a very good thing in this particular medium. Always make sure to have your audience in mind when you are writing and when you are posting. They will appreciate it and your business will be better for it. Manage your content very carefully and make sure that it is all that it can be for everyone involved.

Remember! These are just the basics .... there is a huge volume of insight available for you to review before you may feel as confident or as capable as you might before you begin. Do some online searching to explore some other details, but in any case, never allow yourself the feeling that you know it all, as the rules keep changing. If you mind the basics with an eye to the current standards, you should be fine!


Originally Published By ChoiceProSEO in LUXURY Magazine ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69080-writing-appealing-online-content-basics.html The 12 Steps To Successfully Convert Ideas Into Reality http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69070-12-steps-convert-ideas-reality.html Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:45:49 GMT Image: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/529115_10151583496407755_71701155_n.jpg How many times have you been in a meeting and someone says to you, “That’s a great idea, you should take the initiative and make it a reality.” What typically happens? Most of the time – nothing....


How many times have you been in a meeting and someone says to you, “That’s a great idea, you should take the initiative and make it a reality.” What typically happens? Most of the time – nothing. Most great ideas remain dormant because people don’t have the courage, resources, time and/or money to take action. And for those who take action, most are unprepared and thus find themselves spending their valuable time and money on a dream that simply goes astray.

Converting an idea into a reality (regardless of the required investment of time and money) is never an easy task. In fact, it is extremely difficult. Whether you are an entrepreneur or corporate executive, “giving ideas life” is much like giving birth to a child. You must own the responsibility regardless of the circumstances. No one will ever understand your idea or the dynamics associated with it like you do. In this regard, you are on your own and the journey will require you to learn about yourself – more than anything else will in your career.

As the old saying goes, “If it were easy – everyone would do it.”

Many articles have been written about this subject, but I have yet to read one that really digs deep enough to help one truly understand what is required mentality, physically and intellectually to go from idea to reality. Perhaps it’s because the process of cultivating an idea into a reality is a never ending cycle if you want to keep the idea alive over changing times. For example, we see this all the time with companies based on great ideas that then did not remain innovative and/or competitive enough to sustain their market leadership positions. . Let’s face it, Blockbuster should have thought of the ideas behind Netflix and Redbox – and made them a reality – well before these two companies became their competitors.

The same thing holds true in the workplace – where according to a recent study conducted by my organization, the workforce is not innovative enough because we are trained and wired only to execute on what we are told to do. No wonder we are most proficient at completing short term, immediate tasks. On the other hand, employees are least proficient at multiplying the opportunities inherent in the initial task they were asked to complete. Yes, we should be concerned about our ability to remain competitive – as both individuals and in our organizations.

Today’s fiercely competitive marketplace requires us all to either convert our own ideas – or be a part of converting someone else’s ideas – into a reality. If you are not participating in either of these activities, you must re-evaluate your purpose, what you stand for and your desire to be relevant. Everyone must be a part of cultivating innovation around the clock. You must begin to accept that embracing the entrepreneurial attitude is a requirement to cultivate growth and opportunity for the organization you lead and serve.

Entrepreneurship is no longer just a business term anymore; it’s a way of life. You don’t need to be an entrepreneur to be entrepreneurial.

Did you ever think that not being involved in innovative activities was irresponsible? Well, it is – not just to yourself, but to those around you.

As you think about how you can begin to embrace the entrepreneurial attitude more actively, here are 12 things you must actively do – at all times – in order to convert ideas into reality:

1. Believe in Yourself
You can’t take action until you believe in yourself enough to handle the consequences of your decisions. Any time you assume the responsibility to give something that had not existed before an opportunity to become a reality –you become accountable for your actions.

Accountability requires believing in yourself enough to be 100% dedicated to getting the work done. Most people fail to take an idea to fruition because the unexpected challenges become more than they think they can handle and thus they no longer want to be accountable. They lose the belief in themselves to see things through all the way to the end.

2. Create Your Own Personal Board of Advisors
Learn from those who have done it before. Don’t ever think you have all of the answers, just because it’s your idea. Ideation is distinctly different than execution.

Allow your personal board of advisors to guide you with wisdom born from their own failures and subsequent successes. I talked to a couple of fellow entrepreneurs about this and they offered some of their own wisdom.
Rich Melcombe, President & CEO of Richmel Media & Productions, says that:
“If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, listen to everyone because you never know when you will hear a good idea. Advice from stakeholders is usually more meaningful, but not necessarily right. Few people will have enough context to fully understand what you’re trying to do. Synthesize their comments so they make sense to you, understand the thinking behind any negative comments, and then make the decision on your own.”

Brad Lea, Founder & CEO of Lightspeed VT, adds:
“Although it is valuable to have a personal board of advisors, be careful not to let them deter you from your vision. Steve Jobs’ board said he was “crazy” to enter into the cell phone space because it was saturated and it would not be worth the long and laborious effort.”

In the end, carefully evaluate any input that you get – but proceed with your own gut instinct.

3. Embrace Risk as Your Best Friend
Risk becomes your best friend when you give birth to an idea. If you can accept this fact, you will approach the process with a lens that keeps your dreams and ambitions in perspective and on track. When things don’t go as planned along the way, stay focused on the mission at hand and do not allow disruption to set you backward. Risk is normal and steps #1 and #2 will keep you looking forward.

You often hear that “working hard” is an imperative to convert ideas into reality. But in fact, it is the most fundamental commitment one must make to assume any form of risk management. As such, you must find a way to make this level of commitment if you want to continue on the journey.

4. Be Extremely Patient
Compromise is a choice, not a sacrifice. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Take the time to appreciate the journey and understand how things work. Most people are too anxious to get their desired results and thus start to make bad decisions as they go.

One thing is certain: the journey will be filled with unexpected outcomes that you may not be prepared to deal with. Don’t let this get you down, but keep your head up and respect the process and where it takes you. You will learn a lot about your threshold of risk and ability. Equally, you will learn that many doubters are ready to stand in your way and may attempt to bring you down; this is when the ride gets uncomfortable.

Constantly reevaluate those with whom you are sharing the journey (i.e., your inner circle).

5. Learn How to Sell Your Vision
Converting your idea to a reality requires you to help others understand your vision. Selling vision is much like selling change. Clearly define your value proposition and how it can generate revenue. Selling lofty ideas without understanding how it will achieve financial results will never get you the right audience. The bottom line is what gets everyone’s attention (you can see this played out every week on the TV show “Shark Tank”).

Simplicity is the key to selling the vision for your idea. Making it easy for someone on the “outside” to understand what you are trying to accomplish will create engagement and increase your probability of expanding buy-in for your idea. This skill comes into play when selling to possible investors. Learn how to sell your vision sooner than later. Don’t wait as it takes time to piece together and refine your message.

6. Connect the Dots Along the Way
Everything is connected to something else. Learn how to spot the paths of connectivity along the journey. What may be your “core idea” today can mature into something bigger as you connect other tenets that naturally associate with your idea along the way. One tends to notice more details and refinements along the journey, and many of these require us to evolve in ways we never predicted and which force us out of our Comfort Zones to embrace a bigger, more complicated vision than we first committed to. That we might feel overwhelmed is to be expected, but it is crucial to keep everything ordered and relevant ... to allow the natural idea the fullness it requires.

Never stop connecting the dots!

7. Be Passionate With Your Pursuit
The pursuit of excellence requires you to unleash your passion. When you put your passion into everything you do, it gives you the power to become a potent pio neer. You will blaze paths few would go down, and see them all the way through to the end. Your passionate pursuit of converting your idea into a reality will open new doors to endless possibilities.

Your ability to remain passionate about what you stand for is the ultimate enabler for the success of your idea.

8. Be Purposeful
Your intentions for your idea must have purpose and meaning. If not, your probability to quit along the way will increase. It will also increase the likelihood of you “psyching yourself out with unnecessary excuses.”

Rich Melcombe adds:
“Entrepreneurs must have passion and believe in what they are doing or they are destined to fail. You need to make a commitment to yourself and have a fiduciary responsibility to anyone who supports your idea or concept. Your purpose is to execute the idea and make others believe too.”

Purpose fuels your passion and makes your journey less lonely. Perhaps this explains why family-controlled firms outperform their public peers by 6% on company market value. Today, one-third of all companies in the S&P 500 index are run by families.

9. Focus on Building Momentum
Carefully identify all of your resources and build upon them via relationships, networking and sharing of resources to expand the opportunity for your ideas. Building momentum is critically important to convert your idea into a reality.

Stay focused, stick to your plan, eliminate distractions and neutralize the noise. Remember to manage your time wisely and never get overly excited about new opportunities that stem from your original idea. Step-back, don’t commit too quickly, and understand how the dots connect.

Building momentum has a lot to do with timing and the management and deployment of resources. Every resource counts. Know when and when not to use them so their value is optimally utilized at the right place and time.

10. Always Make the Idea Better
Never grow complacent. You can always expand upon your idea and make it better. When you begin to see how the dots connect, challenge yourself and your personal board of advisors to make your ideas even better.

This is what Steve Jobs did with Ap ple, Pixar Animation and Ap ple again. Continuous improvements were part of his legacy. He never stopped thinking of ways to make his ideas better. The Japanese even have a name for it: Kaizen.

11. Make Work/Life Balance a Priority
No matter how smart, passionate, or focused you work, without balance we are all susceptible to burnout. Mind, body and soul must be properly aligned.Take the time to make work/life balance a priority. It will give you greater clarity of thought and help you keep things in perspective.

Successfully converting an idea into a reality is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself so that you can reflect upon the mission at hand. Always be aware of what you are attempting to accomplish. Don’t overwhelm your mind; give yourself some breathing room and allow your creativity to expand.

12. Build a Legacy Around Your Idea
Let’s say you made the commitment to assume the responsibilities associated with the first 11 steps and have already been successful. Your original idea was born and its impact has now morphed into multiple areas that you would have never thought possible at the beginning.

You have “earned your serendipity” and the opportunities you have created for yourself and others have been momentous. The success of your idea is now real; it has become something more significant and it is up to you to make sure its legacy remains sustainable.

Once you give your idea its life, it is your responsibility that its impact stays alive forever. This is the essential premise behind the grossly misunderstood concept of "Branding" .... the 'mark' of a once-idea that has a life of its own!

Originally Published By Luxury Magazine ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69070-12-steps-convert-ideas-reality.html Top 15 Traits Of The Ideal Employee http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69060-top-15-traits-ideal-employee.html Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:47:33 GMT Image: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/482288_10151583456742755_301804556_n.jpg *When hiring for any size business, it’s not what the candidates know today. Information can always be taught. The most intelligent companies hire on future success and heavily weigh personality...


When hiring for any size business, it’s not what the candidates know today. Information can always be taught. The most intelligent companies hire on future success and heavily weigh personality when determining the most apt employees.

Regardless of industry, pay, age or sex, all ideal employees share some common traits. These include, but are not limited to individuals who can be described as or possess the following:

1. Action-oriented – Hire employees who take action and take chances. While chances may lead to failure, they will more often lead to success and mold confidence while generating new ideas. Stagnant employees won’t make your company money; action-oriented employees will.

2. Intelligent – Intelligence is not the only thing, but it’s a strong foundation for success. While there are many variables you can be flexible on when hiring, intelligence is a must or you’re going to be spending an abundance of time proofing work, micromanaging and dealing with heightened stress levels.

3. Ambitious – Employees can only help your company if they want to help themselves have a better career. Ambition is what makes a company innovative, it’s what spawns creative ideas and what generates candor and openness amongst employees.

4. Autonomous – You are hiring an employee who can get the job done without extensive hand-holding. As the owner of the company, you have your own tasks to take care of and, when you delegate activities to the individual whom you’re hiring, you don’t want 20 questions, rather you want execution.

5. Display Leadership – Do you see this individual being a significant part of your company and leading future employees of the firm? Leadership begins with self-confidence, is molded by positive reinforcement and repetitive success.

6. Cultural Fit – Are you going to enjoy working with this individual on a daily basis? Are your employees going to enjoy working with this individual? When recruiting, personality can mean the difference between an employee who doesn’t stay long and fails to produce vs. an all-star who is going to significantly increase your competitive advantage.

7. Upbeat – Employees who come into work fresh and energetic everyday are going to outproduce workers who think negatively and easily burn-out when they encounter defeat. Upbeat and optimistic employees create a working environment that is unique, spawns new ideas and, just as important is enjoyable for the other people involved.

8. Confident – Confidence produces results and encourages employees to take on challenges that others shy away from. The best companies are highly confident in their abilities to provide a superior product or service and this belief spawns a culture of improvement and client confidence.

9. Successful – One of the most effective ways to predict future success in a candidate is their past success at other firms. Have they remained at companies for a prolonged period? Have they met company goals? What achievements have these individuals accomplished? If one looks closely, a lot can be deciphered from a resume.

10. Honest – An employee can have all the talent in the world, but without integrity and authenticity, nothing great will be accomplished. If nothing else, you want honest, forthright employees at your organization, otherwise your company will turn off clients and, ultimately won’t survive.

11. Detail Oriented – Attention to detail is crucial or mistakes will be made within your company. Detail-oriented employees take pride in their work. They dot the “i’s”, cross the “t’s” and get the job done.

12. Modest – The most sought after employees shout their value not through their words, but rather through their work. They are humble, don’t need to pump themselves up in front of others and quietly outproduce those who do.

13. Hard working – Nothing great is accomplished easily. Nothing great is accomplished via hiring 9 – 5 employees. Rather, the foundation of an effective organization lies in its ability to recruit results oriented, hard working employees who execute.

14. Marketable – By marketable, I mean presentable to clients. Business is not a fashion contest nor do looks dictate success, however most successful applicants are well put together and, when dealing with clients are going to represent your organization as professional and organized.

15. Passionate – Employees who are passionate about their job never work a day in their life. While money should be a motivator in all individuals whom you hire, make sure that they enjoy the journey when pursuing that end-goal.

In the End
You can train on an employee on your product or service, but you can’t train someone to have integrity, resiliency, self-confidence and work ethic. The smaller the business, the more crucial any hire is. Be flexible on background requirements, but continue to be stringent on personality traits. ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69060-top-15-traits-ideal-employee.html <![CDATA[Finding & Hiring The Right Candidate For Your Start-up]]> http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69059-finding-hiring-candidate-start.html Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:44:10 GMT Image: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/246471_10151566073627755_1389451619_n.jpg At big companies like Google, there’s a constant influx of resumes - candidates clamoring to work for a company with billions of users, top salaries, and free food. But for early-stage start-ups,...


At big companies like Google, there’s a constant influx of resumes - candidates clamoring to work for a company with billions of users, top salaries, and free food. But for early-stage start-ups, resources are tight. You can’t necessarily pay market salaries or offer fancy perks - or even guarantee that your company will still be around in six months. Many great candidates have never even heard of you. And yet you want your first team members to not only be exceptional individuals, but to live and breathe your start-up.

Fortunately, there are people who (like you) thrive on uncertainty and late nights fueled with lots of coffee, and who would rather build a company from the ground up than work somewhere established like Google or Facebook. They value equity and ownership over salary and stability, and they don’t care about catered lunches or on-site gyms.

So where do you find these people? Here’s how InstaEDU found its first five employees.

Personal Networks
If it seems like tapping into your personal network is a recurring theme when starting a company, that’s because it is. Joining an early stage start-up requires employees to place a lot of trust in the founders, so having a mutual connection who can vouch for you is important to your potential hires. We sent our job postings to our friends and acquaintances and asked them to forward them along to their friends and acquaintances, and we ended up finding two of our team members (and an intern) this way.

Hacker News
Hacker News, Y Combinator’s news site, has built a great community of people who are interested in technology and start-ups. In addition to discussions around industry events and trends, there are threads that focus on hiring and people looking for jobs. And while you have to be a Y Combinator alum to actually post jobs, we just browsed the threads and reached out to people who looked like a good fit for InstaEDU. While many of these conversations didn’t pan out, we eventually found someone we clicked with. A few months later, he became our first engineering hire.

AngelList
On top of being a fundraising platform, AngelList is also a hiring platform. As a company, you can browse candidates and indicate people you’d like to chat with. If they also indicate interest in your start-up, you’ll be connected over email. Because the candidates you’ll be talking to on AngelList have already expressed an explicit interest in working for a seed-funded start-up, I found the whole process to be much more efficient than reaching out to people over LinkedIn, where candidates were sometimes less enthusiastic about working start-up hours for start-up pay. We ended up interviewing a decent number of people we found through AngelList, and we eventually hired one of them.

Your Employees’ Networks
Finally, when you hire a new employee, don’t stop, declare victory, and close the pipe just yet - he or she likely has a great network you can leverage. Ask your new hires if they have old colleagues who are currently job hunting (especially if they are coming from a company that’s recently had layoffs), and find out who they enjoyed working with the most. You should be respectful of non-solicit agreements when these former co-workers are still employed, but the fact that your new employee made a transition could indicate that others are looking around as well.

Hiring at a start-up is rarely easy, but there’s an ever-increasing number of resources to help you do it. Take advantage of them! And in my next post, I’ll discuss ways to help convince people to make the jump and actually join your team. ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69059-finding-hiring-candidate-start.html Convincing People To Join Your Startup http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69058-convincing-people-join-startup.html Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:40:53 GMT Image: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/208841_10151566055877755_1833490106_n.jpg When you’re first getting your startup off the ground, finding and reeling in awesome team members can be one of your biggest challenges. Once you’ve found the right employees, how do you...


When you’re first getting your startup off the ground, finding and reeling in awesome team members can be one of your biggest challenges. Once you’ve found the right employees, how do you convince them to drop what they’re doing and join your company?

There are a few key factors that matter most to early stage startup employees, and these are often the reasons that employees join startups in the first place. So, if you can show your top candidates how you can offer them those things, you’ll have a much better chance of people coming on board.

Here are the four important aspects of your company you’ll want to showcase throughout the interview and hiring process.

Opportunity to Make Significant Contributions
Working at a large company usually provides greater career security, a higher salary and better benefits. But it can also mean corporate ladders, constant meetings and narrowly focused job descriptions.

One of the best things about startups is that everybody on the team is expected to wear multiple hats and manage multiple parts of the business - and the right people crave that kind of responsibility and variety, too.
When you’re talking to job candidates, make sure to discuss the ways in which you’ll expect them to contribute to the team and build out their role in the company. This may mean talking through what a given candidate’s team might look like down the road (and if he or she would want to be running it someday!) or chatting about what other skills he or she might like to utilize (like a marketing person who also can do support, or an engineer with a knack for design).

Chance to Build Something Meaningful
A major part of the excitement at startups is that your team is actually building something from nothing. As a founder, chances are that you started the company because of a problem you want to solve. It's highly likely you’re not the only one who recognizes the problem. Most people who work at startups are there because they want to be part of the solution, too.

Ask candidates what makes them interested in working at your startup. This will inevitably spark a conversation that allows you to discuss a bigger vision. Even if your company’s mission isn’t tied to something somewhat altruistic, spend plenty of time getting people excited about what you’re building - whether it’s a food truck or a fun game.

Your Great Team
People spend most of their waking hours at the office, so knowing that they’ll be surrounded by smart, fun people can make a big difference. Sure, great teams can be found in every type of company, but as a startup, it’s easier to show yours off during the interview process.

Aside from the official interview, take candidates to drinks, dinner or coffee to get to know each other in a more casual environment. Make sure they have the chance to get to meet multiple members of the team.

Possibility of Making a Lot of Money
At a startup, what you may not be able to offer your employees in salary, you can give in stock options. Granting stock options essentially means that your employees will have the opportunity to own a portion of the company -in other words, when your company makes money (usually through an acquisition or IPO), your employees make money, too.

In a successful startup, the potential financial upside that comes from stock options can far outweigh a low base salary. Cases like the Facebook IPO — which turned more than 100 early employees into overnight millionaires — may be rare, but they keep the dream alive. They can also help make employees more invested in your company’s dream.


So, when you’re making an offer, consider combining salary and stock options. It can make the difference between a non-starter offer and a competitive compensation package.

When you start bringing potential employees into your office to meet with you and your team, remember that you’re both interviewing them and selling them on your company at the same time. Both of you need to pick each other in order for a potential hire to become an early (and enthusiastic) employee. As you ask them about their experiences, find out what motivates them, and make sure they understand your mission and vision. If you do that well, the right people will be happy to join. ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69058-convincing-people-join-startup.html <![CDATA[Want To Work For a Start-up? Here's How To Get Noticed ...]]> http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69057-work-start-noticed.html Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:35:47 GMT Image: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/64788_10151566084192755_2016774064_n.jpg Depending on who you ask, working for an early-stage tech company is either an insanely risky or incredibly rewarding move. But one thing’s for sure: If you’re extremely driven, passionate, and willing...

Depending on who you ask, working for an early-stage tech company is either an insanely risky or incredibly rewarding move. But one thing’s for sure: If you’re extremely driven, passionate, and willing to dive right in (and you understand the differences between the start-up world and everywhere else), this type of gig can be a great way to grow your career.

Of course, once you decide start-ups are for you, how do you make a start-up decide that you’re the one for the job? To learn more, I asked people from several burgeoning companies to share what type of applicants they look to hire, and how you can set yourself apart from everyone else.

Everlasting Curiosity and the Ability to Adapt
If you’re looking for a job, you’re obviously looking for some form of change. But at a start-up gig, change is most likely non-stop, so you’ll need to embrace it—and be prepared to quickly adapt and evolve along with it.

New York-based SecondMarket’s Aishwarya Iyer, who serves as Public Affairs Manager, explains:
It takes a certain type of person to thrive in this environment. You need to have everlasting curiosity, be comfortable with change, and have the ability to quickly adapt.”

In SecondMarket’s case, the company has transformed from a marketplace for illiquid assets in its early days in 2005 to now completely focusing on the needs of companies such as venture-backed start-ups, community banks, funds, and more. And it looks for employees who’re excited to evolve and transform along with it.

Have you ever started and led any professional (or personal) organizations or meet-ups, suggested new company initiatives or programs, or learned a brand new skill that became valuable to the team? These things all prove curiosity and willingness to shake things up and evolve the business.

Check Your Ego at the Door
At a start-up, you can make a huge impact and take on more responsibility than you’d be able to in a more traditional corporate environment—and that’s one of the reasons working at a start-up is so attractive. But sometimes, that all-hands-on-deck approach means taking on extra work and wearing hats you might not have expected.

Anneke Jong, VP of Business Development for social marketing start-up Bread, explains how everyone on her 10-person team is willing to pitch in a little extra:
When you’re working on a small team, you can’t be afraid to roll up your sleeves and do the unglamorous work. For example, we hired a software developer a few months ago. Not only is he a smart engineer who can solve complex technical problems, but he also builds IKEA furniture and goes to Costco to buy snacks for the team. ‘Handyman’ and ‘Team Dad’ weren’t part of the job description, but he thrives at a start-up because he doesn’t wait around for someone to tell him what to do. He proactively finds problems that need to be solved, and just takes care of business.”

Think about ways you can bring your natural talents or hobbies to the table to help out the team—this could mean teaching a coding class to the non-developers, taking a junior employee who needs the extra guidance under your wing, or offering to launch and manage the company blog—and explain why you’re excited to do that during the interview process.

Don’t Just Do Your Homework—Go for Extra Credit
Competition is fierce in the start-up world, so going the extra mile during the application process doesn’t just mean remembering to follow up with a nice note after the interview. Some job applicants have famously been known to create resume infographics, dedicated social media accounts, or websites that showcase why they should be hired for the job.

What’s the magic formula for your dream company? Stalk the company and its employees online, find out what makes them tick, and then figure out how you can contribute. For example, San Francisco-based ZeroCater includes a “bonus” in some of its job descriptions, requesting applicants to submit a short video about their most impressive accomplishment.

Steffi Wu, the company’s PR Director, shares:
I’m always surprised by the number of candidates who don’t submit a cover letter, much less a video! If you truly want a position at a start-up, doing extra credit like a video (even if it’s an unedited webcam clip) can go a long way in distinguishing yourself from other candidates. In addition, we pay close attention to what candidates choose to ask during phone interviews. Do their questions reflect mostly what they can get out of working here or what they can contribute? It’s awesome when people skip the typical, broad ‘day-in-the-life’ and ‘company culture’ questions and dig much deeper into what we do, how we do it, and what we’re looking for.”


Show Your Passion for the Product
If you’re already an active user or advocate of the company’s product or service, it shows that you’re passionate about the same things that the employees are, and that you really get what they’re trying to do. Whether it’s providing unsolicited and constructive feedback about your experience using the company’s product or service, starting insightful discussions on the company’s blog posts, or engaging with its social media accounts, these actions all go a long way in proving you are already a natural evangelist and spokesperson for its mission.

Helena Price, Head of Communications at online learning community Skillshare, tells this story about Skillshare’s newest team member:
One of the best ways to show a company you know its product and community is by being an active, engaged user both before and during the application process. At Skillshare, our most recent hire actually got noticed by being such a successful and involved teacher on the platform.”

Kellee Khalil, founder of Loverly—the visual inspiration engine for weddings—adds:
“We actually get a lot of job inquiries via our site’s general ‘Contact Us’ link. I think there’s something very telling of an individual who reaches out this way; it shows that he or she is both proactive and, more importantly, a user and appreciator of our product. It’s exciting to know someone loves what we’re doing that much.”


Be Indispensable
What happens when you’re passionate about the work that an early-stage company is doing, but said company doesn’t yet have the budget or capacity to hire? Consider working on a part-time or volunteer basis. This may not work for everyone, but if it fits your lifestyle, interning or demonstrating your value in other ways can help get your foot in the door.

Megan Berry, Director of Community for new web serviceRebelMouse, has plans to hire this year and offered this tip:
We’ve found the most valuable thing is just to start working with candidates, whether it’s on the side for a few hours or as a full (paid) trial. There’s no surer way to tell if someone has the passion and work ethic to fit in with our team. If you’re dying to work for a company, don’t be afraid to put in a little time first to prove your worth!”

The bottom line is this: If you can prove you have what it takes to go above and beyond the typical job description, take risks, thrive beyond your comfort zone, and exude unstoppable drive and curiosity, you’ve already set yourself apart from the pack. And you’re that much closer to getting your foot in the door of a fast-rising start-up.



ELISABETH ROSARIO for LUXURY MAGAZINE
A regular contributor to Luxury Magazine originally hailing from the Sunshine State, Elisabeth received a BBA in Marketing Management from New York City’s Baruch College before starting her career in PR. Currently, she develops and executes strategic PR counsel for tech companies ranging from early stage start-ups to leading global brands. She is also a tenacious networker and a mentor with New York Women in Communications. In her spare time she’s a food and travel enthusiast obsessed with pets, socializing and social media. ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/69057-work-start-noticed.html Critical ROI on Facebook http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/68986-critical-roi-facebook.html Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:48:22 GMT

WHEN WEARING ONE MORE HAT IS ONE TOO MANY

We've covered the mechanics of getting started on Facebook with instructions on how to create and complete your business Facebook Page. But before a business jumps onto Facebook, it's important to consider whether or not Facebook is the ideal platform for finding and engaging customers. And if it is, what, exactly, should you do to be successful? While a Facebook Page is free, the time investment is not, and there are opportunities to invest additional resources in Facebook Ads, custom graphics and more. Like any marketing activity, your Facebook presence has to provide a return on that investment in order to be worthwhile. Businesses who understand what Facebook can actually provide, and execute a plan to achieve that, really can achieve social media ROI.

About Facebook
Let me give you some background information on Facebook:

  1. Facebook has 1 billion active users.
  2. The average Facebook user has 130 friends.
  3. The average Facebook visit lasts 23 minutes.
  4. 46% of Facebook users are over the age of 45.
  5. 57% of Facebook users are female (43% male).
  6. 57% of Facebook users report having been to "some college" (24% bachelors or graduate degree).
  7. 47% of Facebook users report making between $50,000 – $99,000 annually (33% between $25,000 – $49,999).


Why is this important? Because whether or not you actively promote your business on Facebook depends on whether or not your target audience is there! Before I tell you what to do, it's important that you consider if Facebook is even a good use of your time. If your clients are mostly other businesses (B2B), or if your target audience just isn't using Facebook, then certainly have a presence on Facebook, but focus the bulk of your time on whatever other networks seem more appropriate.*

Personal vs. Business
Before we jump into how you're going to use Facebook to help your business, it's probably important to give some thought to how you're not going to use it. Facebook specifically separates personal and business profiles. For most business owners, I do recommend that they have both, but that the personal profile really is for personal use. You can, of course, talk about your business - it is a networking platform after all, but I wouldn't recommend posting anything to your personal profile that is pure marketing or advertising. You may also want to carefully consider whether or not you even "friend" clients and customers. You may want to keep your personal life completely private.

I recommend that business owners create a Social Media Policy that applies to both themselves and how they use social media, as well as to employees. By taking the time to think about how social media and a particular network can benefit you personally and professionally, you will be able to better focus your time, as well as easily decide whether or not to engage in specific future activities.

Get Social
Facebook and other social networks are not advertising mediums. This isn't Craigslist. Social networks are designed to let people be social. They're all a little different in focus and execution, but the basic premise is the same. People use Facebook to connect with other people.

Businesses can use Facebook to connect with customers and fans.

Your top priority as a business on Facebook needs to be to form actual, lasting connections with your followers. Treat the people who Like your Facebook Page just like someone walking into your physical location. If someone walked in your front door, would you put a sign in their face telling them your latest sale? Or would you greet them and ask them if they wanted help? Be helpful and conversational and natural on Facebook, and your fans will respond positively.

Do not focus on Page Likes.
The number of Likes that you have for your Page is irrelevant. You definitely need fans, but what's more important is how the fans that you do have respond to what you're doing.

The nature of Facebook is that whenever someone Likes or Shares or Comments on one of your posts, that activity gets seen by their network. Imagine the number of people who Like your Facebook Page as a circle. When they Like what you do, your post gets seen by their friends, extending your circle of influence.

When their friends see and Like your activity, you've extended your reach into friends of friends of fans. This third circle of influence is where we're hoping to reach with every post.

Facebook Best Practices
So, let's review some Facebook best practices and business strategies.

Start by actually creating a plan for Facebook and social media. Success requires careful planning and execution. Decide what your goals are, how you're going to get there, what you're going to post and how often, and then stick to it.

Consistency is important to any internet marketing.
All of your Facebook Page posts should be designed to educate, entertain and engage your followers.
Include pictures as often as possible.

Images have an exponentially higher engagement rate over plain text or links.

Ask questions! Ask customers what interests them, what's bothering them, or what their opinion is on a topic.
Do not be afraid to be personal or controversial, as long as it is in moderation. Your customers want to see you as being human, and not a corporate robot.

When you have a new blog post on your website, share it to your Facebook Page so that an image thumbnail, title of the post, and a brief summary are all included. Facebook will do that automatically when you copy and paste the URL of your post, or click a Facebook share button that's on the blog post itself.

Follow the 80/20 Rule as much as possible. The 80/20 Rule originally said that 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your customers. It has been adopted and altered by the social media community to state that 80% of your social media activity should be about or from others, while only 20% should be about or from you. In other words, if all you did was post blog articles that you wrote, for every one of your articles, you should be posting as many as 4 articles from other people and sources. The idea is to provide as much helpful information as possible, but to dilute how much of it comes directly from you in order to ensure that you're not "over-selling" yourself.

Respond to questions and comments promptly, and respond to every one. Too many businesses fail to respond to questions on social media, losing valuable opportunities to not only gain a customer's trust and respect, but also demonstrate expertise to other potential customers. If someone posts a question to your Facebook wall and you answer it, that answer will be seen by any other visitors to your wall.

Make sure that you have Google Analytics or a comparable analysis system in place for your website and learn how to monitor that, and Facebook Insights, so that you can see how effective your Facebook activity is for generating leads and sales.

Growing Your Facebook Fans
I said Likes shouldn't be your focus, but that doesn't mean we don't want to continue to attract more followers. Use as many of these techniques as possible to increase your Facebook Page Likes:

  1. Include a link to your Facebook Page on your website.
  2. Include a link to your Facebook Page in your email signature.
  3. Share a link to your Facebook Page on other social networks periodically.
  4. Run Contests and Specials
  5. Put your Facebook address on your business cards and other printed materials.
  6. Encourage visitors to your store to Like you on Facebook.
  7. Use QR Codes to get people to your Facebook Page easily.
  8. Be Active on Facebook!

By focusing on these best practices, and utilizing some of these methods to grow your Facebook Likes, you will begin to create a true community on Facebook. This community will be comprised of both clients and potential clients, and if you foster those relationships, some of these individuals will become true brand advocates and ambassadors.

It takes time to develop this kind of community, but customer relationships like this cannot be formed through any other form of traditional marketing.

Success can be duplicated, and developed in a balanced perspective from simple collaboration.

What else has worked for you? Any other tips you'd like to share with others? Please leave them, and any questions you may have, in the comments below.
 ]]> Reviews - Share Your Thoughts Vasili http://www.vodahost.com/vodatalk/reviews-share-thoughts/68986-critical-roi-facebook.html