Welcome to day 4 of Infographic week! The following infographic has an interactive element that can be viewed by clicking here.
Infographic Week – Day 4
Tagged with social media …
Infographic Week – Day 3
Welcome to day number 3 of Infographic Week at N49 Interactive!
Smart phones, local search and social media have become the defining characteristics of the modern consumer. More than ever before consumers are empowered to make better decisions based on the experience of their peers. Business reviews, blogs, forums, tweets and “likes” are a new currency in an age of online commerce. Today’s infographic offers a great explanation of the Social, Local, Mobile (SoLoMo) consumer phenomenon.
Infographic week – Day 2
Day number two of Infographic Week kicks off with a cool chart demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between conversion and social engagement.
Web Equity by Mike Blumenthal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.blumenthals.com.
N49 Interactive launches www.muskokateak.com
N49 Interactive is happy to announce the launch of www.muskokateak.com !
When Muskoka Teak approached N49 their website was outdated and did not provide the functionality they needed. They wanted a site that could manage a growing catalogue and present a more modern, professional aesthetic to their clients. To help them freshen up their online image, we designed a website from the ground up and completed a local SEO package.
Muskoka Teak wanted to capture the rugged beauty of the Muskoka Lakes region that surrounds their facility. The design is image centric, leveraging beautiful and iconic photographs of Northern Ontario in the layout. The use of blue, green, brown and beige creates a clean but outdoorsy feel that shouts “Muskoka”. The home page images are also fully customizable from the back end, a feature that will keep content fresh and unique.
A major issue with their old site was that they couldn’t display their entire inventory. To help them do this we created custom content management systems. We built a Catalogue Manager that allows them to add, remove, organize and maintain their entire product catalogue in one space. The site also features a wishlist, allowing clients to highlight their favourite pieces for retrieval at a later date. When a user selects an item to be stored in the wishlist, an orange arrow appears in the top right hand corner of the item to remind them as they continue to browse through the product catalogue. They can even print or email their wishlist to friends and family!
Muskoka Teak also participated in a local SEO engagement that will provide valuable inbound links and visibility throughout the local search sphere. We have gone the extra step to create an attractive and functional set of social media tools for them to exploit into the future.
Common concerns addressed – social media
Today I want to address some common concerns that small businesses have about social media.
- Do I really need it?
Yes, you do! People are talking about your business whether you like it or not. Actively engaging your customers and managing your reviews allows you to get ahead of the game and control the online conversation. Companies that take a proactive role in controlling this conversation can count on growth in the future.
- Does it work for me?
Whether you own a decking company or fine dining establishment, your online reputation plays a huge role in the consumer decision making process. At the heart of this lies your ability to manage reviews. With the advent of smart phones, reviewing a business is easier and more impulsive than ever before. As a business owner, you cannot afford to ignore this trend.
- I don’t want negative reviews
No one does! However, at N49 we treat negative review as a fantastic opportunity to right a wrong. The reality is that no company is perfect. Furthermore, a company with all great reviews just doesn’t look legitimate. The best approach is to identify the problem and respond in a proactive, positive way that demonstrates your dedication to customer service. Respond in public and show everyone how seriously you take your customers. Instead of focusing on the bad, customers will remember your transparency and willingness to correct mistakes.
With a little time, guidance and patience, social media can provide an excellent return on investment for your business.
How social media can benefit your small business
Social media is a gift to small business. Why? Because it takes the advantage away from huge corporations and puts it into the hands of the fleet footed, agile and thrifty business owner. Today I want to demonstrate why social media is a great tool for any business no matter what the industry or budget limitations.
1. The Price
Social media is often free! From Twitter to Facebook to tracking tools such as Twitter Grade and PostRank, creating an online image is a budget-oriented process. With a little time, guidance and patience, social media can provide an excellent return on investment.
2. Small is good
Small businesses are not weighed down by bloated bureaucracies. They are more agile and able to make decisions quickly, responding instantly to trends in the market place. This is a huge advantage over large, slow moving corporations.
3. It’s easier than ever
A successful social media campaign will allow you to reach targeted consumers far easier than traditional marketing mediums. These consumers can actively participate in promoting your product or service, becoming a brand ambassador for your business. Until recently these were unattainable marketing objectives for budget-oriented businesses.
With a little time, guidance and patience, social media can provide an excellent return on investment for your business.