Posts tagged social media
Content Is King Online
Nov 23rd
You’ve undoubtedly heard that phrase before. And it makes perfect sense when you consider that your content is the thing that attracts your customers to your product or service, and then retains their attention. With clear, concise and compelling information about your company, your products and your services, presented in the most effective and efficient way, you hope to move the visitor to view your offering in a favorable way, and then take action as they make their purchasing decision.
The primary goal of your online content should always be to drive these key purchasing decisions and responses, since after all, this is the reason you’re in business, right? But there is an added benefit to having great content online.
You are also affecting future inquiries and sales by virtue of improving your online search engine ranking, or SEO (search engine optimization) results when you have great content. The algorithms used by Google, Yahoo, Bing etc. are far too complex and have too many variables to be discussed in this article, but suffice it to say that the quality of your content - meaning the inclusion of keywords that are relevant to your product category and the frequency of their use - More >
25 Great Questions For Entrepreneurs
Nov 16th
Some more great entrepreneurial advice from David Garland, of The Rise To The Top show here in St. Louis. These are questions you need to be asking yourself as you contemplate or begin your own business, some good stuff here.
1. Can I remove myself from this business or will I always be a part of it?
2. Can I work “non normal hours” including nights and weekends if necessary?
3. Do I have 6 months extra cash reserves?
4. Do I have a list of trusted professionals (lawyer, accountant, etc.) or do I need a referral?
5. Can I take criticism?
6. Who are my mentors and go-to people when I need help?
7. How will my business make money and what are the alternative revenue streams? (*Seems obvious of course but many have made this mistake, have you?)
8. Do I work better alone or in groups?
9. What things do I LOVE to do on a daily basis?
10. What things do I HATE to do on a daily basis?
11. Who is doing the books and keeping finance in order?
12. How far in advance am I planning? 6 hours? 6 days? 6 years?
13. How much time will my business require of ME?
14. Do I plan on on More >
Social Networks Are Fundamentally Changing How We Communicate
Oct 26th
Although I sometimes quote or cite research all the time here on my blog, I don’t often include direct links to external content. But I came across this on Twitter and thought I would share.
The title is 5 Ways Social Media is Changing Our Daily Lives, and I think that it speaks to both the things we are doing now at Hat Trick Associates, but also the way that individuals will be communicating for the next 20 years!
One of the things I really liked about this article is that it begins by asking you a question: How is the way you communicate with your social network, connect with business partners; get most of your news; find new employees, entertain yourself; etc. etc. different now as compared to just 5 years ago?
The differences are HUGE for myself personally, and I’m sure for most of you as well. There has been a shift in how we send and receive information. When selecting a company to do business with, I am FAR more interested in the customer service experiences or opinions of friends or colleagues that I see online than more generalized or “generic” ratings…and now I can get them from everyone, quite More >

