Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Hello readers and welcome back to the Silentblast Blog. Today I am going to speak generally about business blogging. I know I have talked about blogs and blogging in general and why businesses should consider having a blog but I never really discussed business blogs from the perspective as part of a business plan.

As everyone should be generally aware a “business plan� is essentially a formal statement of planned business goals. The web design and development of a web presence for example can be included in a business plan. Even more important if the business tends to derive most of its revenue and deliverables from the internet; than the business plan will certainly have significant areas of the overall business plan where there is focus on internet, website development, search engine optimization or SEO as it’s commonly referred to and content development.

Somewhere definitely in the mix of will be most likely as well social media sites such as Twitter, FaceBook or LinkedIn and of course blogs. One of the things that have to be clear for business decision makers will be what is the focus, direction, goals and objectives for the business blog. What are the expectations of the blog as it pertains to the focus, direction, goals and objectives and then of course how the message is delivered and who delivers it?

From a business standpoint unless your business is comedy per say, the blog will tend to be more of an informative, editorial, press release sort of tone. While there are blogs that are satirical in nature or adult themed in both content and language that tends to not be the approach of business if they wish to incorporate a blog.
So for business the focus, direction, goals and objectives for a business blog can be some of the following if not more:

• Public Relations – mission statement, company vision, new developments

• Education and Product Information – giving your customers information on your products and services and even information on how to use them

• Development and Research – garnering feedback and suggestions from your clientele

• Community Development – developing a client community around your products and services, charitable efforts of your company

• Marketing and Sales – announcing new products and services to your customers

Blogging for business ultimately will take time and if there is no inherent commitment to invest time into the development of a business blog than it should not be high on the list of business priorities. All stakeholders within a business have to believe in the process. If you wish to establish yourself or are already established as a professional business, your blog has to reflect that.

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

Silentblast Interactive - Custom Web Design and Development Toronto - Styles Model Management

Silentblast is pleased to announce the web design and development of the Styles Model Management Inc. website. Currently there is a teaser/microsite up that Silentblast designed that you can visit below.

Styles Model Management Inc.

Current Site Features

• CSS/XHTML
• Custom Web Design
• Web Standards Compliant
• Teaser/Micro Site

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

Silentblast is pleased to announce the deployment of ASISCanada.org ASISCanada.org is the future gateway for Canadian ASIS International members and visitors to visit in order to learn more about the Canadian ASIS International Chapters as well as ASIS International membership and certifications. Silentblast was chosen to web design and develop a Teaser/Micro site to bring awareness of this new website while it is still in the planning and development stages.

The site can be currently viewed at www.asiscanada.org

Current Site Features

• CCS/XHTML
• Custom Web Design
• Search Engine Optimization
• Web Hosting
• Web Standards Compliant

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

I’m sure by now everyone knows about the GST cut down to 5%. So a friendly reminder about to make sure you’ve adjusted your shopping cart systems.

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