Twitter - Silentblast Interactive - Social Media Consultants

Twitter is without a doubt one the largest social media sites on the planet. On average depending on which research avenue you search on the internet; Twitter gains roughly anywhere between 12000 and 20000 new unique users a day. We have a Twitter account at Silentblast and use it somewhat sparingly to promote some changes done within Silentblast such as revisions to the website, new client portfolios, and promotion of blog articles. Feel free to check it out here; http://twitter.com/silentblast

While we don’t Twitter as maybe as much as we really should, nonetheless we do have an account and are re – visioning as it were our social networking strategy to go beyond just the website and blog.

A Twitter account named similar to your company can help in getting your brand or organization out there. Again, with a short URL it is not hard to advertise your current web presence, blog and company to a wide audience and gain a following.

I am personally relatively new to the Twitter phenomena so I have not a lot to say on the subject at this juncture other than I recognize absolutely the potential for marketing is there. I have however found this excellent article on Copyblogger on How to Use Twitter to Grow You’re Business. A very interesting read I must say.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Hello Silentblast Blog readers. I get asked this question a few times whenever I get into discussions about blogs. Do I allow comments or not allow comments? I usually follow-up their question with further questions to get a greater sense of what they are trying to achieve with their blog, what is the focus or theme of the blog, do they have time to respond to comments and maintain the blog beyond just placing articles?

Blogs I think are great for many reasons. They have allowed the common person to express an opinion or view on literally anything and publish it at very little cost for the world to see. With expressing an opinion I still believe one has to take responsibility mind you but even still there are very few boundaries that have not been transcended by blogs.

I manage a couple of blogs actually. I manage this one and one that is part of a professional association where there is editorial, opinion, notification of events and so forth. With the Silentblast Blog there was a decision made to allow comments from people who visit the site and on the other blog I manage a decision was made to not allow comments.

While in essence the media; blogs, are the same. The message or theme is different. If your posts are written as such that invite commentary I think to allow comments can be positive. Ultimately you will pick and choose which comments to allow or disallow. No different really than mainstream media that allows comments to news.

If your blog is more informational in such things as specific products, services, or educational seminar details or courses, then allowing commentary is in my opinion a coin toss. Some have argued and commented on other blogs that a blog is just another website if comments are not allowed. But to me that is like saying a book is not a book unless it has a cover. Yes not quite complete by the definition of what we all know a book to be but still arguably a book. I would counter that a blog is absolutely on the web, and absolutely a site by virtue of a specific URL; so in essence a website. How that website interacts with its audience should be up to the discretion of the owners.

Some argue that by allowing comments it becomes a measuring stick to the popularity of your blog. Actually I would tend to favor the web statistics on the back end as the measuring stick. Others argue that if you don’t allow comments you are doing nothing more than preaching to the masses. My opinion on that is if you speak to something and you can captivate a live audience or a virtual one, it is in essence preaching.

Ultimately the final decision is up to the individuals or organizations that have incorporated a blog in either their web development or business strategies.  For Silentblast the strategy is primarily providing content that speaks to the many different facets of business and how the internet and having a web site can be more than just slapping up your virtual billboard on the net. Blogs can help your website presence with search engine optimization by providing relevant links and content to your customers and potential customers.

But a blog is also a medium of communication and if you use it for nothing other than virtual link farm than I believe the essence of blogs and blogging go completely out the window. I think you have to as a blog owner, stand in your audiences shoes at times and really think that despite the positive strategies and techniques for search engine rankings there can be down sides. I would personally not open a newspaper if for example every 10th word or so were highlighted in bright yellow or pink.  That would be annoying as… well you can add whatever word you feel is best. You probably wouldn’t bother reading papers ever again suffice to say. Personally and in my opinion the same applies to a blog.

Admittedly I do “some� back-linking into the main Silentblast website… look… I just did it. I use it sparingly. SEO purists would comment I don’t do enough. I won’t argue with that. I know from an SEO perspective I don’t provide maximum potential back-linking but I also believe a blog is a strategy that goes beyond pure search engine optimization.

Ultimately the decision for strategies on blogs and in particular to allow comments or not allow comments is up to the persons or the businesses operating a blog. I believe in blogs for business especially because of one thing and actually the most important thing in business.

Communicating with your customers.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Hello readers and welcome back to the Silentblast Blog. This entry is going to be somewhat shorter than my normal postings of late. It is more focused actually on a specific question I was asked by an associate of mine. Will blogging affect a websites search engine rankings?

Well in my research across various websites, other blogs and in fact performing a Google search on the topic itself the shortest answer is yes a blog can assist your business for example in ranking in the search engines. The caveat on the matter and I am no particular expert on search engine optimization but know enough that I can say if you provide reasonably significant and relevant content that pertains to the overall context of your website with content and specifically key wording, increasing your ranking status is very possible.

For example, if your blog is part of an actual overall web site strategy it is the avenue by which you can relate as I do for Silentblast product and services that are readily available. This is done by providing linking within the site to other web pages that should have content that is also relevant. However if I was to write about only topics pertaining to racecar driving for example there is very little if nothing relevant to Silentblast in that context.

The goal of course is to provide not only information that works for your website or blog in moving up the search engine ranks but also to provide information that a person can use. Consider also that each blog entry specifically is the equivalent of you adding another page to your website. If you have built your own website and constructed pages or had a web development company such as Silentblast build a website for you; each page takes time and obviously money. A blog once established within your website is something that you will be responsible to maintain. The continued cost more or less is you committing time to contribute to your blog.

A website overall is still obviously the way to highlight key specific aspects or facets of your company or organization in a more static approach unless you have something like CMS (Content Management Systems) in place that change specific aspects of a given web page or pages. A blog and its purpose in my opinion is to provide continual content from a personalized approach that complements an overall web presence.

As you provide blog entries over time they archive. So imagine for a moment if you had a business you could write something about at least once a week. Overall that is 52 articles; 52 pages of relevant content and key words with links that point within your website in a given year. Again the more you contribute the more content you are providing and it should not be hard because in reality you should have an opinion or viewpoint on your business and be knowledgeable of it. So as you are providing content the search engines are indexing not only your website but also your blog. If you are not doing a lot of changes with your core website doing something with a blog will be of benefit.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Welcome readers to the Silentblast Blog. Antonio and I hope you have been reading through these blog entries and implementing some of the suggestions into your business strategy in an effort to increase your overall web presence but more importantly leveraging your current business marketing strategy to bring in new customers and most importantly informing your current customer base.

If one thing you notice as a centralized theme as I discussed briefly in my last blog post is the importance of “communication.” Quite frankly despite all the methods and means of today’s technology a lot of businesses still fail somewhat in the communication aspect of their business.

It should be no surprise and in reality I am more or less preaching to the choir when it comes to the majority of the suggestions put forth in this blog. However, if you know it but have done nothing sometimes it is good to hear it again but without the pressure of a heavy handed sales pitch. Further if you notice I have not really pitched Silentblast services. Reading between the lines however, you know as well as I do, discussing things like blogs for example is a product service offering Silentblast can assist you with.

So Email Marketing as a Business Tool. If you look at your current business and all the customers you have; there are in effect continual and residual income streams that can be tapped into. But it is also a way of notifying your customer base of current and future product offerings or services. Case in point; some time ago I signed up to the www.makeitseven.ca website. If you read the news you might know that the CEO of Research in Motion (Blackberry) Jim Balsillie is currently striving to bring an NHL franchise to S/W Ontario.

So I went to the website; signed up using my name and an email address to be kept informed of future news regarding his efforts. Just a few days ago; I received a very well written email from Jim Balsillie outlining his current efforts and also to visit the website again as they now have areas for people to voice their views on the issue. It is estimated that by Friday May 15^th2009, the website had over 120,000 people sign up. So I visited the website; read some commentaries by people, and even bookmarked it in my web browser.

So you may be going; “yeah so what, big deal.” Your absolutely correct; but in the wrong context of what a big deal is. It is a huge deal. As this effort grows in capturing names and email addresses they are in effect growing a potential customer base.

If Jim Balsillie is successful in being able to bring an NHL franchise to S/W Ontario he now has 120,000 names and email addresses and counting to lean on from a marketing perspective to potentially sell tickets, advertising, corporate sponsorships to. He is also the CEO of Research in Motion aka Blackberry. You don’t think he might throw that in the arena once in a while in an email to over 120,000 people.

Another example is I am involved in a professional association and I am responsible for the updating of the website and our mass email/newsletter campaign. In June 2008, my mass email database had roughly 530 members. It now has over 1000; including an increase overall to our membership, substantial increases to our seminars and events, increases in corporate sponsorship and huge increases in terms of visits to our website.

A lot is attributable to a well designed website, continually adding information and content on a regular basis and more importantly direct communication to the membership through a professional email marketing service. Without even really no effort, the website I manage on behalf of the association I am involved in typically captures between 10-30 people a month by them voluntarily signing up for our email/newsletter service. That is without even trying.

Imagine what you can do if you were even able to target email market 10% of the customers you have currently. It might be a small number customer wise but it could represent a huge number potentially to your bottom line depending on your product and service offerings. Both ways, there is potential for something simple as an email and turn it into a viable income stream for your business.

Now, realistically depending on your needs and the size of your customer base an email marketing system will cost money. However, in comparison to other forms of media such as newspaper/periodical ads, TV spots and the like, it is vastly cheaper and its target marketing. You are connecting with customers you already have, or those who voluntarily want to potentially do business with you.

Silentblast is positioned to help you with an email marketing campaign solution. I know, as I had the Association I am involved in not only approve Silentblast to design our website but also the recommendation for email marketing as a tool to communicate with our current, potential and future members. Oh yeah, before I forget, remember my last post where I talked about business potential from family, friends, associates. Family friends and associates are potential customers too, never forget that! The Association I am involved in has not only used Silentblast services initially, but several times; in database development, content management, search engine optimization but also implementing our email/newsletter campaign for our members.

But back to;

Silentblast is partnered in my opinion with the leader of professional email marketing solutions. There are aspects of it that can even be implemented directly into your current website, such as voluntarily signing up for your mass email/newsletter. So seriously consider discussing this business tool with the Silentblast team.

You’re free of course to explore your own options or solutions. Again the centralized theme over the last few blog posts is that communication is important in your business model. Look at all options available to you and if you are interested email us, talk to us… send a smoke signal. There are many keys to business; and communication is a very important key that you do not want to lose or misplace.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Hello readers and welcome to another entry of the Silentblast blog. So far so good on my end helping Antonio on providing content that goes beyond somewhat the ordinary that would be expected of a web development company. Antonio and I believe that these blog entries not only will provide content for his website that relates to his business model but more importantly provides information that can help customers of Silentblast. Also let’s go on a limb here. If you’re current web development firm is not preaching this stuff as well, maybe it’s time to reconsider who your partnered with when it comes to developing internet strategies to bring your business to the next level; and there is always a next level. Don’t sell yourself short because someone else say’s they or you can’t do it.

But back to the topic at hand, Social Networking for Business.

If you look at your business; you’re social whether you know or realize it. From the moment a customer comes to your door, to the moment they leave; hopefully after purchasing a product or service, there is a cycle of social activity. What’s your storefront look like, how are your staff engaging in customer service, the décor of the interior, questions asked/answered, do you afford an opportunity to continue communications if they left without buying and so forth.

Now I discussed earlier about Blogs and the social aspects of them that could help your business. Building it and just putting it on your website or having it just as your website and doing nothing will bring in minimal to no results. Like your business, you have to work these elements like a blog for example in order to see results. Do nothing… expect nothing. Do something… based on efforts you should see results.

There are a couple of other tools in your business arsenal you can use such as Twitter www.twitter.com or Facebook www.facebook.com

Ok, so you’re maybe rolling your eyes and going “not a chance.” Fine, then you just literally slammed the doors closed on potentially 15 million plus users on Twitter and Facebook has an astounding 200 million users. So now you’re saying, “I get the numbers but realistically my business is located in this given area” (points to map and concentric circle). Fair enough, and in that concentric circle your telling me there is not one potential Facebook or Twitter user? That I doubt. I can walk out my front door and already knowing in fact; there is at least 10 of my closest neighbors on Facebook alone. I haven’t even left the street yet. Throw in work colleagues, friends, family, extend to their friends and family. If your family is like mine, you can probably fill a bus or two. Somewhere, someone on that business bus at some time or another will or probably could use a service or product of yours.

“Yeah I get that, but they are family and friends and they know about my business already.” Really!!! So you crack open your family and friends phone book every time a new product or service becomes available in your business and call them all to tell them about it right? Wait… what’s that sound… (crickets chirping)… yeah I thought so.

Chances are you are not and the next person that tells me “they don’t have time” to do something relatively simple they are basically telling me they don’t have time to develop me into a potential customer let alone develop their business. You must be content then with your bottom line and going about your business dusting the shelves and waiting for the phone to ring or customers to walk in. I apologize then, please continue about your business.

For the rest; who know that getting a customer is hard work and takes time and effort, Social Networking can help you. It won’t be the end all to your business of course, but compared to other media in terms of cost like newspaper ads, TV spots, or advertising in periodicals it is extremely cost effective. Last I checked; both Facebook and Twitter were FREE!!!

If you place your Facebook and Twitter link on your website or blog, put them on your business card and marketing materials and provide even a link to it in your email marketing campaigns; the Social Network sites you maintain will grow gradually and steadily into a stable of customers and potential customers to communicate with on a regular basis.

So if you have been reading these entries in the Silentblast blog for the past few weeks you may be wondering; “what’s my message?” Well the message is actually really simple. Communication. Despite the advent of cellular phones and computers I am still of the belief despite those tools, businesses don’t communicate enough to their current customers or potential customers. If you don’t believe me, ask them the next time you’re speaking with them… in person. I think you will be surprised by the answers they give which are comments you might consider implementing.

So what is this email marketing campaign I mentioned earlier? Oh yeah that! Next blog entry, next time I communicate with you.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Hello readers and welcome to another entry for the Silentblast blog. Today I am going to discuss the merits of having a blog for your business if a blog is suitable to your business model as a business web strategy.

Like many aspects of business there are some facets and tools that are suitable to employ in your overall business strategy and some that are not. In keeping with the topic if your business for example is to provide end user products or services for government in the national security or intelligence field than in all likelihood it would not be in your best interests to have a blog; let alone being allowed corporately or by your current or future client base.

However if your business model is for example a high end furniture retail outlet; then there is definitely strategic possibilities in using a blog to supplement your current business website strategy and bringing products, services and information to your client base.

But before we continue; what is a blog? Well before that is answered it is prudent to illustrate that there are essentially two key types of blogs. One is personal, the other is more business related. A personal blog is really someone’s effort and personal opinion on a myriad of topics. Some personal blogs follow a specific theme such as a hobby, passion or cause. The articles or posts tend to follow two unique trends. The posts are either short or extensive depending on what that person wants to express that given day.

The other type of blog is business focused and usually in the form of hopeful or realized revenue generating income streams by providing relevant information on products or services offered by said company. In some cases a blog for a business is the sole internet presence as a cost effective method of establishing a footprint on the web. Ideally and this is my personal opinion if a blog is the cornerstone of your web presence eventually you should migrate to and certainly incorporate a blog in your future business web development strategy of a website presence beyond the blog.

However a blog as another item in your business toolbox can bring in definitive benefits if your business is prepared and focused to use it. As stated earlier, it can provide a connection to your current customer base, potential customers, and drive web based traffic to your site and probably the most critical, showcase your companies expertise in its product and service offerings. Coincidentally those aspects are also important if you currently have a website.

Today blogs are becoming highly accepted by end users and businesses alike as an effective means of not only drawing in potential new customers but also continually informing the customers after the cash register has rung in a sale. It is no secret that you as a business owner want that customer to come back and not only that, tell others so they in turn will walk through the door either in a brick and mortar business or virtually on the web and become clients.

I have read in magazines and periodicals that on average a business in a year can lose 20% and higher of its current customer base for a myriad of reasons. I would guess there may be several reasons for that loss but I believe at least part of the loss is the result of lack of communications with your current customers, let alone potential customers.

So sit back a moment and reflect on your current business and its potential loss of customers realistically. Examine what one single customer can bring in financially to the bottom line in a given month as an example; that you could have retained had you communicated product and service offerings in a cost effective manner to that individual. If it’s significant enough to raise an eyebrow than as a responsible business you should be concerned. Considering today’s economic climate a business cannot afford to have the mentality of it being acceptable that you “win some, lose some.�

By incorporating a blog to your current web development and business strategy the goal is “win/win� and in a cost effective manner that employs your subject matter expertise on your products and services.

So if you’re current customers of Silentblast consider and examine the possibility of a business blog as part of your customer development and retention strategy. If you are considering placing a business footprint on the internet consider as well a business blog either as the first phase of development or part of an overall strategy to both bolster and increase your business potential.

Either aforementioned method can be effective in getting your business on the internet as a cost effective interim solution or as a supplement to your current internet business strategy.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Web 2.0 and collaboration web tools have exploded onto the web and users are thirsty for this type of “cloud computing”. Yup, you heard it cloud computing is at least what Google is referring to these days to their very powerful Google Apps system. The suite that contains Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Google Talk and sites. Google Apps allows you and your company to have a custom email address, tools for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, a shared calendering system and access to a flexible intranet system, as well as standalone security and compliance services are also available.

Today’s users are on the move, mobile computing is on the rise and users are getting tired of their hands being tied. Google is leading the charge and most recently have teamed up with even Salesforce.com to offer an amazing integrated solution which yours truly is currently testing out.

Let you know how that goes. Well, that’s it for now on this subject. I’ll touch on this in another post.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast

Streaming Videos and the likes of YouTube have taken the internet by storm. Never before has it been so easy to share, upload and view videos. As a web design company offering the video service, I have to admit we were taken back by the YouTube explosion. At first we did not know what to make of it, how would we offer our clients value or compete with these guys. Silly huh?

Well, it took some time and one day soon enough we realized, hey this is not a bad thing at all. As of a matter of fact this will help our business and customers do something truly amazing. It will help us reach many viewers like nothing else we’ve seen. To that I mean the power of streaming video viral marketing opportunities. Today, we still offer the service of actually shooting and producing the video for your company or service and also have an amazing distribution channel to distribute and market your video online to sites like YouTube, Google Video and several others.

Want to learn more? Give us a call or drop us an email. We’ll be glad to fill you in.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog - www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter - http://twitter.com/silentblast