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Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego
Monday, February 27, 2012
How Pinterest Is Becoming the Next Big Thing in Social Media for Business
Pinterest, an online bulletin board for your favorite images, launched in 2010 and is already experiencing wild growth. The site registered more than 7 million unique visitors in December, up from 1.6 million in September. And it's driving more traffic to company websites and blogs than YouTube, Google+ and LinkedIn combined, according to a recent report from Cambridge, Mass.-based content-sharing site Shareaholic.
Why should small businesses care? To answer that, you first have to understand how consumers are using the site. Pinterest allows you to organize images -- maybe pretty sunrises or wines you've tasted -- into boards for specific categories. When you "pin" something new, your followers will see it. They can like, comment or re-pin it to their boards. Like Facebook content, your Pinterest pins can go viral.
Brides-to-be can pin pictures of different wedding dresses to review, and people shopping for a new car can pin images of their options. When I joined Pinterest I started a board to show the Major League Baseball stadiums I've visited. The possibilities are unlimited.
Here's a look at why some business owners -- particularly retailers -- might want to seriously consider starting a business profile on Pinterest now.
How It's Being Used
Perhaps the most powerful business application is the ability to post images of your company's products on your Pinterest board and link them back to your website. It works as a sort of virtual store catalog.
But remember that this is social media. If you simply display images of your products without contributing other content or sharing other users' pins, you'll likely find that people don't pay much attention. After all, no one likes a self-absorbed blowhard.
Related: What's With All the Interest in Pinterest?
But savvy social media users know not to get too promotional. For example, Whole Foods Market pins pictures of delicious-looking food, food art and images of recycled or reused products to inspire customers to be environmentally responsible. Daniel Gordon, who runs Samuel Gordon Jewelers in Oklahoma City, pins pictures of his rings and watches, but he also has a board for images that make him laugh and other types of products he loves.
Driving Sales
Pinterest already is driving buyers to some websites. In the last six months, the retail deal site ideeli.com has seen a 446 percent increase in web traffic from Pinterest and sales resulting from those visits have increased five-fold.
"We continue the Pinterest conversation with [the] members by following their pins, and we love to give feedback outside of the shopping category -- whether that means commenting on a great recipe or [giving] a heart next to our favorite pet pics," says ideeli.com social media manager Sarah Conley. "We also see Pinterest as a growing resource to better understand our members and the larger retail landscape."
Is Pinterest Right for Your Business?
The site does have some drawbacks for businesses. If your product or service isn't particularly visual, your images may not tie directly back to your brand. Pinterest also doesn't offer business-oriented features, and its search function prioritizes pin and board subjects ahead of "people," the category that brands would fall into.
The best way to determine if Pinterest could attract buyers is simply to give it a shot. Set up an account and start pinning things that are relevant to your business but not too promotional.
Related: How to Use Social Media for Research and Development
If you run a lawn-care center, for instance, pin pictures of landscaping you find online or snap in your community. If you're a brick-and-mortar store, pin shots of the interesting sites and people around your neighborhood and photos you take at community events. You also can search through Pinterest's categories and add some inspirational, funny or beautiful images you find.
Then, follow interesting boards and individuals who post images that inspire you. Once you've done some pinning of other people's content for a week or so and attracted a few followers, create a new board of your products. Add descriptions and perhaps the price to the images. Make sure they link back to your website and start tracking pinterest.com as a referral source in your website analytics.
Next, try creating an image of a special deal or coupon just for your Pinterest followers. Upload it to a new board for Deals. Perhaps offer a prize to the person who gets the most likes or comments on a re-pin of the coupon, and then see who shares it the most. Don't fret about creating multiple boards. People who follow you will see them all.
In a month or two, see if you're getting referral traffic or sales. Depending on the results, you may need to tweak your boards with new images and words.
One thing is clear whether you're on Pinterest for personal or business reasons: the best images -- be they funny, beautiful or thought provoking -- attract the most attention and followers.
Jason Falls is an author, speaker and CEO of Louisville, Ky.-based Social Media Explorer, a social media marketing, digital marketing and public relations consulting service.
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego
3 Ways to Get in Touch With Your Creative Side
By Susan Kersley
Although everyone has a creative side, (known as your 'right brain'), and a logical side, (known as your 'left brain'), some people find it a challenge to get in touch with their creative side because they are conditioned to remain on a path which is conventional and proven.
Being creative means being prepared to think 'outside the box' and think of new and original ways to do things.
You may wonder how you could get in touch with your creative side. Here are three ways to do this:
1. Relax
When you want to be creative it's very important to release any tension from your body so that your mind can be open to new experiences and not be pre-occupied with dealing with tension or stress. It's possible to relax very quickly if you take three or four deep breaths while consciously thinking to yourself that as you breathe out you are releasing tension and as you breathe in you are taking in relaxation. In your relaxed state pick up a pen and start to write down all the potential ways forward you could take to achieve what you want. You might instead find that you would like to use paints instead or a musical instrument to express your new found creativity and explore where it leads you.
2. Visualize
Once you are fully relaxed begin to think about the project you are attempting to complete and allow your mind to wander over various possibilities rather than immediately going for the obvious logical way to do it. Close your eyes ask yourself what ways there might be to solve or succeed with your project and notice the scenarios which appear in your mind as you do this. You may notice pictures sounds or emotions or a combination of all three. Then imagine yourself moving into the scenario you are thinking about and in that way discover for yourself what might or might not work for you and others. While you consider each possibility and visualize or daydream as if you were already there, you can discover what other people might or might not be doing in relation to you if what you imagine actually happened, and what they are saying to you and others. Be aware of any emotions that come up for you when you visit the various scenarios. Keep a notebook handy to jot down your experiences and insights as a result of your visualization.
3. Experiment
It's easy to dismiss unusual or different solutions which you haven't tried before but it's important to be prepared to experiment and play with them. Sometimes what is needed is just doing anything even if you are uncertain of the potential outcome. People often think of all the possible ways that something won't work and as a result dismiss the idea of trying as an experiment to see what would happen. The reality is that we can't foretell the future however much we'd like to, so it's useful to go forward into it in a creative and exciting new way.
Source: Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Kersley
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego
Being creative means being prepared to think 'outside the box' and think of new and original ways to do things.
You may wonder how you could get in touch with your creative side. Here are three ways to do this:
1. Relax
When you want to be creative it's very important to release any tension from your body so that your mind can be open to new experiences and not be pre-occupied with dealing with tension or stress. It's possible to relax very quickly if you take three or four deep breaths while consciously thinking to yourself that as you breathe out you are releasing tension and as you breathe in you are taking in relaxation. In your relaxed state pick up a pen and start to write down all the potential ways forward you could take to achieve what you want. You might instead find that you would like to use paints instead or a musical instrument to express your new found creativity and explore where it leads you.
2. Visualize
Once you are fully relaxed begin to think about the project you are attempting to complete and allow your mind to wander over various possibilities rather than immediately going for the obvious logical way to do it. Close your eyes ask yourself what ways there might be to solve or succeed with your project and notice the scenarios which appear in your mind as you do this. You may notice pictures sounds or emotions or a combination of all three. Then imagine yourself moving into the scenario you are thinking about and in that way discover for yourself what might or might not work for you and others. While you consider each possibility and visualize or daydream as if you were already there, you can discover what other people might or might not be doing in relation to you if what you imagine actually happened, and what they are saying to you and others. Be aware of any emotions that come up for you when you visit the various scenarios. Keep a notebook handy to jot down your experiences and insights as a result of your visualization.
3. Experiment
It's easy to dismiss unusual or different solutions which you haven't tried before but it's important to be prepared to experiment and play with them. Sometimes what is needed is just doing anything even if you are uncertain of the potential outcome. People often think of all the possible ways that something won't work and as a result dismiss the idea of trying as an experiment to see what would happen. The reality is that we can't foretell the future however much we'd like to, so it's useful to go forward into it in a creative and exciting new way.
Source: Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Kersley
Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Outdoor Sign ABCs
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| Grossmont Center Banners |
Before you begin thinking about your outdoor signage, it’s important to become familiar with the sign regulations set forth by your city, and any permits that may be required. Some municipalities are rather lax with their signage rules, while others can be quite strict, and you may also need to adhere to sign criteria outlined by your shopping center or business park. It’s always best to know your limitations before you inadvertently violate them.
Many factors affect the placement and effectiveness of outdoor signs, including the following:
• Design and Branding. Your signage should follow the branding scheme of your stationary, business card and other marketing collateral. You must also make thoughtful choices with respect to colors, logo size and font, all of which are important to good design.
• Size. This will often be dictated by municipal guidelines. Your sign maker will also be able to weigh in on your options, basing recommendations on both what’s legal and your intent.
• Mounting. Safety is always paramount when it comes to sign mounting, but it will also affect design and placement. Be sure to have an experienced, licensed, insured professional handle installations.
• Height. Consider the fact that you want your sign to be viewable from as many angles as possible, and you may need multiple signs to attract customers from different vantage points, i.e., motorists from an elevated roadway as opposed to street-level car and pedestrian traffic.
• Environmental Issues. Signs that “live” outdoors must be constructed with maximum durability in mind, to withstand elements like sunshine, rain and wind.
If this seems overwhelming to you, don’t worry. We regularly deal with these issues and will be glad to serve as a trusted resource.
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