Businesses Get Social: Getting a Facebook Timeline Page

It’s 2012 and while cars may not fly, the Internet is a lot faster than it was a decade ago and people everywhere have become much more active on it. It's on our computers, tablets, and even our phones. Millions everywhere spend more time on it than they care to admit, and with the speed and ease of access has come everyone’s favorite pastime and distraction: Social Networking. Thanks to the advent of Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, consumers and businesses alike can be nearly anywhere in the world and still check in with their circle.
Always looking to push what is possible, Facebook has recently introduced its Timeline format, and with it businesses everywhere can actually set up something very similar to a fully featured website. That's right! Your business big or small can post images and information even hold contests to the millions of Facebook's active users!

Timeline and its Vibrant Features
Like a dance, there are always a few steps to follow to get things done right. For starters, if you haven't already you will need to set up a Facebook account for your business. You will need to upload a profile picture and post whatever information you feel fit to share on the profile page.
Why not start advertising right now and post a picture of your company’s banner or emblem for the profile picture? And, with your profile information, you can now tell prospective customers what it is your business has to offer and how they can get in touch with you.

Visual Engagement
Now that you have the basics done, you can get on to the fun stuff, when setting up the Timeline you will need to select a cover photo. Be sure to select a photo that will help customers to better understand what it is your company does. For example, if you do custom screen printing, why not select a picture of your brand printed onto a shirt or hoody?

There are a few things to keep in mind though. When selecting a cover photo, remember that Facebook does not permit businesses cover photos that contain pricing, contact information, referrals or calls to action, and, most importantly cover photos cannot depict a blatant falsity.

As you continue to upload photos or make posts, you can actually prioritize things to keep important posts or photos, like ongoing sales or contests, on display for up to seven days at a time while less important posts continue to just filter down your businesses page as new content is posted.

Another amazing feature is that you can enable messaging so customers and fans can reach out with you. It’s the perfect feature to help small companies get engaged with their customers, employees, and potential clientele.

Time to Get Started
Your business is growing and you want to show your fans and customers just how much, and now you can with the Milestones feature. You can post Milestones on the business page that highlights your businesses most amazing accomplishments to date; it's like having a virtual trophy room to share with the world!

There are many things you can do with the Timeline to help feature and build your business and probably many new features to come, so get on over to Facebook if you haven't already and start up your business page today. Contact Flyline Search Marketing to have our team set up that custom Timeline page for you so you can focus on your core business while we take care of your social engagement strategies!

Flyline Search Marketing Welcomes Our Newest Albuquerque-Area Client: Peoples Flower Shops

We are excited to add our newest client in the Albuquerque area – Peoples Flower Shops. Our Internet Marketing program, which has proven to deliver for a wide range of clients in the Albuquerque area, including Melloy Dodge, Linton and Associates, LLC, and Indigo Mortgage just to name a few, as well as for those companies around the country, includes:

• A Blog;
• Search Engine Optimization of Website Content, Blogs, and Press Releases;
• Regularly Updated Content, including Articles and Tips; and

• Social Media Campaigns for Twitter, Facebook, and Google +1.
At Flyline, our Internet Marketing approach focuses on both short-term and long-term customer objectives. We focus on building long-lasting partnerships with our clients to generate ongoing success based on their unique offering and individual needs.

Getting to Know Peoples Flowers
Peoples Flowers is a perfect fit to the Flyline Search Marketing team because they share similar values, including providing customers with the highest standard of quality when it comes to what they offer and how they treat their customers. This can be seen in their investments in technology so that they can provide a more efficient ordering and delivery system to their growing use of social media to reach out and engage with their audience.
Peoples Flowers opened its very first location in Albuquerque in October 1944 thanks to Max Pollack. In 1980, his son, Wayne Pollack, joined the company to lead the family-owned business into the second generation. Now, there are five locations, including downtown Albuquerque, their location at 3520 Candelaria NE, Northeast Heights, Far North and Nob Hill.

Peoples Flowers has an exceptional staff of professional designers that adhere to strict quality standards, including its Freshness Care System, while offering great value and special pricing. It is considered to have one of the Southwest's largest selections of fresh-cut flowers, plants, and unique containers.
Already Underway!
The Interrnet Marketing program has already swung into action with the content and design being currently updated on the website, blog, and social media platforms.

Flyline looks forward to a long, successful relationship with Peoples Flowers, having already produced incredible results for florists around the country, including Atlanta and San Diego.
Are You Ready?
Flyline Search Marketing’s Albuquerque office is headed up by Pam Russom who is well-aware of the local Albuquerque and New Mexico market in terms of local consumer needs, business landscape, and business trends, so these are all integrated into the overall Internet Marketing strategy, including customized content relevant to the Albuquerque market.

Are you ready to experience similar results for your Albuquerque business? Contact us now to find out how these strategies could be put into motion so you increase your organic marketing potential!

Flyline Search Marketing Growing Fast in Albuquerque, New Mexico Market

Recently, we announced that Flyline Search Marketing had added some new clients in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including Linton & Associates, LLC, Advanced Mailing Services, and Indigo Mortgage. These companies serve such niche markets as business benefits and HR consulting, direct mail and mail services, and residential and commercial real estate with clients throughout Albuquerque, New Mexico as well as Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Corrales, Bernalilo, Los Lunas, Los Alamos and Sandia Heights.

Even More New Clients Sign-up!

Two new clients in recent weeks include Komala Massage and Elite Shutters and Blinds. Here is some more information on both companies:

• Komala Therapeutic Massage in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is a state-certified, full-service therapeutic massage service that offers a range of chronic pain management, wellness, relaxation and health services designed to provide relief from back pain, neck pain, sciatic nerve pain, tension headaches and carpal tunnel.

• Elite Shutters and Blinds in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is connected to a larger company located in Arizona. It is a one-stop shop for custom shutters, blinds, and sunscreens as well as ceiling fans, garage cabinets, garage floor coating, soft water systems, custom closets, draperies, crown moulding, retractable awnings, roller shades, hide-away screens, patio shades, security doors and lattice patio covers.

These companies and others that have already signed on with Flyline share some common business objectives that many of today’s small business owners face whether they are in New Mexico, Georgia, or any other state:

• They want to increase their customer base.
• They are struggling to figure out how to get more traffic to their website as they understand that more of their potential clients are researching and shopping on the Internet.
• They have limited resources in terms of time and money to conduct marketing campaigns but realize they could maximize their marketing dollars by adding an Internet Marketing strategy. 

Comprehensive Internet Marketing Model Packages

Flyline understands that not everyone’s marketing needs, expectations, and budget are the same. That’s why they custom create Internet Marketing models that suit each client. The models include a combination of any and all of the following:

• Google Adwords
• SEO campaigns and SEO-driven content
• Media Consulting
• Facebook Fan Pages
• Website Design and Content

• Social Media Marketing (Twitter, Facebook, andYouTube)

Are You Ready?

Maybe you are not sure where to begin or you simply don’t have the time to start using any of these tools yourself. That’s where Flyline Search Marketing comes in. These companies as well as the numerous clients we have throughout the United States have signed on and even renewed their contracts because they begin experiencing results, including greater traffic to their websites and increased interest in their products and services. Find out what it can do for you by contacting us today!

 

Paying Attention to Top Tech Trends of the Future

Everything we do in work and life seems to revolve around and depend on technology. It certainly has changed the playing field for small business owners and entrepreneurs alike. With so much happening so fast in the world of technology, it is important to stay on top of the trends and understand what is predicted to change so that you can plan accordingly.

Recently, an article in Smart Company noted some of the top tech trends that are on the horizon for the next five years. Here is a summary of those tech trends and what they might mean for you:


 Good-Bye Desktop, Hello Tablets and Portable Devices
They say the desktop is on life-support soon to be put out of its behemoth misery by tablets, smartphones, and other portable devices. No longer will you need a monitor and keyboard either. It will be increased functionality and portability to work on the go.

Search Technology Goes Social
While you might not think that something so scientific would actually become social, it’s true. Social media platforms are impacting searches on search engines and vice versa. How information is delivered and shared will continue to change and will often become more influenced by peers and colleagues on your social networks. This means that businesses will also need to rethink their search strategies as well as their social media strategies to become more integrated.

High Resolution
Not only will we want a clearer picture when it comes to information, but we will also want it to appear more life-like when we view it on a display. That means technology will have to provide a way to offer high pixel density on every type of device.

Working on a Cloud
The cloud will replace the cubicle so that where and how you work will never be the same. There will be no need for a dedicated workspace when cloud computing allows you to access your files and collaborate anywhere in the world.

Tapping Your Networks
The whole notion that working and interacting online is really an anti-social activity will finally be put to rest. Instead, more people will recognize the importance of engagement and communication online as a valuable social interaction tool. It is a way to get more information and reach out to more people than face-to-face strategies could ever do. Every decision could now be based upon who or what is in your social network.

Stop Typing and Start Talking
The art of knowing the keyboard may soon become a lost art as technology allows for more voice-activated and voice-controlled functionality. Siri is just the beginning. There will be no more need for a keyboard or mouse; we’ll be doing more talking than typing.

Global Media Stream
All content will soon be streamed through your computer, tablet, smartphone or other device, including video and audio content. This could also mean the end to the television set! Time will tell if the future will leave this device behind as well.

What’s to Become of the 9-to-5 Work Schedule?
What was once the given in terms of work hours is not necessarily the common work schedule anymore. With people working on the road and with people all over the world, these hours no longer frame productivity. If anything, people are setting their own hours thanks to technology and working on the fly and as-needed. Whether it is working from home or the plane, work is getting done on a completely new schedule driven by work demands and facilitated by technology.

Custom Home Entertainment
We may no longer say, “There is nothing on.” That’s because we can leverage technology to create our own entertainment and customize what we want to watch and enjoy thanks to streaming media and access to a wider array of content that we can select when desired. This will be further possible through portable devices as well as voice and motion control capabilities.

A Strategic Partner
As business owners, it is good to note these changes and determine how you might leverage them to further interact and attract your key audience. At Flyline Search Marketing, we stay at the forefront of these trends to adapt our Internet Marketing strategies so that our customers are realizing the benefits of today and tomorrow’s technology and communication channels. Find out by contacting us today!

Search-based Marking Trends for 2012

Within the area of search-based marketing, which includes SEO, paid search, performance email and conversion, there are a number of key trends on the horizon for 2012 and beyond. In his recent article, Peter Stewart covers some of the hottest trends to take note of for this year:


Conversion Trends

He identified a number of conversion trends, including source-to-sale reporting, which is focused on measurability and metrics for greater performance management; growth in mobile and tablet apps; more in-depth user experience testing; and greater adoption of HTML5 for more solid user experiences.

Search Engine Optimization Trends

The key SEO trends noted were personalization of search results tied to social signals from major social networking platforms; Google’s launch of Your World social search integration for more customized search engine results; and private content in Web results tied to public knowledge about each user.

Paid Search Trends

Current paid search trends are geared toward strong growth in performance display advertising; a larger slice of the budget pie being spent on Facebook PPC ads; and the advent of high premium ad placements on YouTube.

Performance Email Information Trends

This is a significant area for 2012 due to the rapid increase around the world in the use of mobile messaging. Other areas of importance include qualified data tied to the Consumer Protection Act of 2012 in which more is required in terms of unsolicited messaging the need to opt in to ensure no stiff penalties.

Users want more relevance out of any email communication they receive or they will simply unsubscribe from their relationship with you. Therefore, personalization of communication is a top priority as is relevant and valuable content that they are looking for from a provider. You need to know what that content is and then be the one to deliver it in order to maintain valuable relationships going forward.

There is a movement beyond marketing to the idea of “ongoing, integrated digital conversation.” As the article noted, “With so many marketing channels available to both business/brands and consumers, gone are the days of the ‘silo’ approach.

Integration of profile and behavioral data across different marketing channels such as search, mobile, social, eCommerce, etc. will prove to be the key to understanding your customer and accompanying them through their individual journey with you.”

What This Means for You

Noting these trends is just the first step. From there, you must determine how you can address these trends in your own search marketing and Internet marketing strategies for your business. Whether you incorporate and implement them on your own or you leverage the expertise of a firm like Flyline Search Marketing, it is important to stay on top of these trends and how they can impact your business – both positively and negatively – so that you remain at the forefront of your industry or even earn yourself a spot at the top, replacing competitors that were not attuned to such trends.

Staying Relevant for 2012 in the Social Media Arena

Every business needs a social media strategy. It is as simple as that. A new generation of consumer is upon us and they are engaging with social media in increasing numbers each year. Smartphones and other technologies has become a consumer’s go-to device for information.


Small and large businesses can benefit from a comprehensive social media strategy to engage and inform their customers. Your goal needs to be organizing a clear and compelling marketing strategy to garner a greater market share in 2012. Angela West of PCWorld offered businesses five hot tips for developing and navigating the social media market and how to put your business on the path to social media success.

Develop Clear and Precise Monthly Goals
Businesses need to determine what they want to achieve with social media. Are you strictly looking to drive sales, inform customers of product, or simply increase traffic to your website, or are you seeking to blend all three goals? Once you organize your goals, set about defining the goals and committing resources to achieving them. A well-trained staff can influence and target key goals to advance your campaign.

Name Your Numbers
Ms. West suggests products such as Google Analytics and Hootsuite to determine and measure your results. These products can track visitors and give you detailed page hits and origins for free. Recently, Google Analytics included real-time tracking to increase your ability to offer relevant customer information based on consumer needs. In addition, Klout offers a free suite of analytic tools to provide you with data.

Getting to Know You
A successful campaign requires that you engage and inform your customers with relevant and interesting information. This requires you to look beyond Facebook and Twitter and develop sites on LinkedIn and Google+ to increase your web presence. Directories are available to attach links to drive your website traffic and increase your visibility with search engines.

Time to Hire a Professional
Hiring a professional social media marketing firm might be your best bet. Typically, small and midsize companies have a limited workforce and each employee’s job description and workload is full. Spend the resources to hire a professional and let your current staff maintain their positions promoting sales and providing customer service.

An outsourced social media marketing firm can increase and promote your business to its fullest potential. Ask other business associates or your web designer to recommend a firm. During the interview process, ask them to provide references, to quantify their results, and ask what plan they will put in place for you.

Let’s Get That in Writing
Social media is all about subtle self-promotion, so don’t forget to include your sites on all your printed business material. Add your links to Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ on your fliers, business cards, brochures, and any printed material your company uses. Having these links on your printed material will make it easier for consumers to find you on the web.

The Last Line of Social Media Defense: How to Protect Against Online Attacks

The importance of protecting your business against hackers and other technologies which can destroy your business and personal data can not be overstressed. Your social content is vital and you risk losing the investment of hard work as well as money through cyber attacks. Take these important steps to ensure you build a wall that is difficult to breach and begin assembling an arsenal of tools to combat hackers.

Yahoo Finance recently offered six specific tips for countering attacks as well as safeguarding important content. Protect your bottom-line as well as your content with these companies who provide advanced protection against online attacks:   

• SocialSafe.net: SocialSafe.net offers a comprehensive service that backs up your data from a UK-based company, iBundle. It allows you to create an online as well as offline digital journal for photos and entries. Users can trace their social media profile and view changes. There is a free version that offers a limited Facebook back-up, and users can purchase the standard upgrade for $3.49 a year. This is a bargain considering you can transition from your Twitter and Facebook profiles to save messages and photo comments. SocialSafe.net also offers a professional upgrade, which includes Google+ and Viadeo for $6.99 year. If you are interested in backing up all your content, including your Facebook business pages, they offer a $13.99 a year upgrade.  
• My Facebook Account: Businesses looking for a free tool to save their Web pages from Facebook should look to Firefox and their free tool that allows users the ability to download this add-on and save messages, friend lists, photos, events, groups and notes as well as additional Facebook content directly to your hard drive.  
• My Twitter—My Tweets are Safe: Facebook is not the only media site with free backup available. TweetBackup from Triop provides Twitter users with the ability to archive up to 3,200 tweets and store their followers. No password is required so this application offers additional appeal to users who have been compromised before.

• My YouTube: The YouTube Downloader lets users download video from YouTube and convert them to different formats, such as MP3 and MOV files. And, the best part is this program is free.   
• My Blog—Yes, My Words are Important: Another import to the United States from Triop is BlogBackupr, a back-up program for bloggers. This application requires no software installation and automatically restores blogs from Blogger.com and WordPress.
• My Head is the Clouds—But, More Importantly, So is My Content: Backupify.com is a cloud-based service that regularly backs up content stored on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others. Users can protect their photo albums, messages as well as online profiles for a cost of $4.99 a month to $19.99 a month, depending on how many accounts you hold as well as your data storage needs. Backupify.com also offers users a free version to secure up to one gigabyte of data and three accounts.

Taking the Necessary Steps

Planning a course of action and taking steps to preserve your valuable content will pay large dividends in the future. Don’t run the risk of hackers destroying precious data. Search these sites to find the best program for your unique position.