Using Pinterest to Build Brand Trust

Posted by AriesGDIM / Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah in Branding, Internet Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing | 0 comments

May 01, 12

I often write about the importance of personal brandingfor small business owners.  Today I want to share yet another way to help your customers get to know you,

Using Pinterest to Build Brand Trust

the business owner, as a person.  Basically since you don’t have the big bucks like Revlon, Scott Trade, Nordstrom’s, Publix, Starbucks, Glico, etc.…. It can be hard to get your brand noticed when you are offering similar products or services as some of the bigger conglomerates.  These companies use their marketing campaigns to not only get their brands noticed, but also to also build brand trust.

As a small business owner, building trust should be the #1 goal of your marketing campaign

There are many ways to do this but today I wanted to focus on one that isn’t time consuming and can be a lot fun.  It is important that your clientele or potential clientele feel as though they know you and your brand.  The #1 way to do this is by being transparent but everyone knows that right?  Social transparency can really help build online trust and using Pinterest is an easy way to do just that.

Red Pinterest logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yes, Pinterest is a great way to have a little fun while at the same time building a bit of trust with your potential clientele.  Pinterest is a social picture-sharing platform that allows you to share images of topics of interest to you.  You create categories as boards and then pin images to those boards.   You can upload your own images or share images you have seen online.  Once you start posting you can also search for other images on Pinterest that you might like to pin also.  If you find that a particular person shares a good amount of photos that are of interest to you, you may also want to follow them.  The more images of interest to others that you pin, the more your boards will get noticed, allowing for more repins of your images, as well as gaining new followers.

Now you might be wondering how using Pinterest could possibly build trust with potential clients

Well for starters when you fill out your profile you can include

Pinterest Boards & Pins

information about yourself as well as your business. You can include links to your company website, your Facebook and your Twitter accounts.    Secondly you can share images from your website such as your designs, products, services, or general images that others might like to use on their own blogs. Be careful here because you don’t want your wall to look as though you are only trying to push your business, this site is for social sharing not advertising.  If your images are dull and mundane they most likely will not be repinned which will not bring much traffic to your Pinterest wall.  So if you do share images of your services or products make them fun and exciting, this will increase the potential of your images being repinned to other boards.  Doing this will also drive traffic to your business website where people can learn more about your company.

Social Transparency with Pinterest

Lastly, and more importantly, you should share images that represent you as a person.   This is about being transparent so share images that will give followers a feel for who you are as a person; share your unique style and flavor, have fun with it.  Pinning images that are unique, colorful, and that send a message will definitely get repinned and bring attention to your Pinterest boards.  This kind of transparency is the perfect way to make people feel as though they already know you.  They can now see the interests they have in common with you.  The more a potential client knows about you as a person and business owner, the more comfortable they will feel about spending their hard earned money with your company.

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How do I change the URL for my Facebook Page?

Posted by AriesGDIM / Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah in Branding, Facebook, Internet Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing | 1 comment

Sep 20, 11

Customizing your Facebook Business Page URL

Facebook used to have a limit on the amount of “likes” you had to have on your business page before you could change the username or customize the URL.  The limitations have been lifted and now you can change the username or custom URL to your Facebook business page whenever you are ready.

If you would like to change the username / customize the URL for your Facebook business page just follow the simple steps below.

1. Go to http://facebook.com/username
2. Select the Facebook business page you want to change.  In my case I have several different pages I manage.  You will see a dropdown list of pages you can change just select the one you want.
   

   Drop Down List of Facebook Pages To Select From

3. Once you have selected the Facebook page you want to change you will see the screen below
   

   Changing Your Username

4. Type in the username you want to use in the field shown in the image below.  Try to stay consistent with your brand name.  In this case the client’s name is Leon Kittrell so we want to use this same name for my clients business page.
5. After you have selected the your username Facebook will let you know that your name is available .
   

   Is the Facebook Username Available

6. When you are done you will see the “Success” Window with your new custom Facebook URL.
   

   Success! You are done!

   Now you are all done.  If you have any questions or would like other help with your Facebook Personal or Business pages just shoot me an email or comment below.

   Aries – Graphic Design & Internet Marketing / AriesGDIM
   Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah
   Creative Marketing Director
   317.345.4182
   Tami@ariesgdim.com
   AriesGDIM.com / AriesGraphicDesign.com
   @ariesgdim – Twitter
   Google+ AriesGDIM

    

    

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What is Twitter?

Posted by AriesGDIM / Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah in Internet Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Twitter | 0 comments

Jul 16, 11

Lately I have written a few blogs about Twitter basics and my Twitter pet peeves.   After talking to a friend and client of mine, I realized that there are still a lot people who don’t really know what Twitter actually is.  So I decided to take a little time to give a brief synapses of what I understand Twitter to be.

What is Twitter

So, what is Twitter? Twitter is a real time information social platform that provides friends, family, coworkers, businesses and perspective clients the ability to connect and stay connected using short quick exchanges.   Twitter users listen, share and communicate information regarding their thoughts, new and exciting news and events.  Users ask questions and get answers.

Many Twitter users have used Twitter to replace email messaging when it comes to quick thoughts and questions like: What are you doing?  Can we meet? How are you today? Etc. These quick thoughts and questions are called Tweets, which can only be 140 characters.

If you don’t think Tweeting is for you then you can still set up an account and follow Twitter users who tweet about topics of your interest to you.  Many people use Twitter as valuable source of news because Twitter acts like news feed.

Twitter is also a great way to get brand exposure for your business because it allows you to share your content with your followers.  Don’t get too caught up in self promotion, most Twitter users don’t like that.  You should also share or retweet  information that others may find interesting as well. By doing this you build relationships and increase your brand exposure.

I have met people on Twitter I would have never met on Facebook.  Many of the Facebook friends I have gained in the last year have been in direct response to my increased Twitter presence.  Based on my Google Analytics numbers, 40% of the hits to my website have either come from Twitter or from Twitter monitoring sites or applications.

Want to learn more about Twitter?  Please visit the following links:

Also if you have a question please feel free to leave our question below.

Related links:

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Is it Acceptable to Like and +1 Your Own Content?

Posted by AriesGDIM / Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah in +1 button, Branding, Facebook, Internet Marketing, Social Media Marketing | 14 comments

Jul 10, 11

Just yesterday I was Google+ ing and came across a post from @Kimbeasley.  Her post was asking if users should “+1” or “Facebook Like” their own content.  Amazingly a few of the commenters thought it was blatant/overt self-promotion to +1 and Like your own posts. One response said that they actually make fun of people who like their own posts.  Wow! Really?!?!  Ok, if you say so…..

+1 your content

First let me explain what is considered Blatant/Overt self-promotion in regards to social media.  Big Fat SPAM! You know the people that post their services and products to your Facebook wall and you barely know them? How about the people who tag you on their pictures that are sales ads? That is Blatant Self-Promotion and it is very, very, very irritating.

There is nothing wrong with self-promotion when it is done the right way.  So what are some of the right ways to self promote?

1. Posting sharable content (posts that people like and share)
2. Posting questions/statements that generate conversation
3. Networking and sharing other peoples content (yes sharing others people content is a form of self-promotion)
4. Blogging about information that is informative, helpful, funny, or beneficial to those who read it
5. Commenting on other peoples posts & blogs sharing your knowledge
6. Liking, +1 ing, sharing and tweeting other users content as well as your own

So what about those people who thought +1 ing and Liking your own posts was blatant self-promotion?  Well if I post it and I liked what I posted, why not.  I would also point out that +1 ing, Liking, Sharing, & Tweeting your own content has SEO benefits.  Each social media like/plus/share to your content increases your search engine rankings.  This is important if you are a business owner trying to get traffic to your website…. and traffic back to your website is the ultimate goal right? But hey, everyone is entitled to their own opinion so… if you choose to miss out on the possible benefits… well that is totally up to you.

Lastly and more logically how will anyone know about the services and products your company sells if you don’t self promote.  Tastefully promoting your company by sharing beneficial, shareable content is the acceptable way.  Do not be scared that someone will be offended if you tweet, like or +1 your own blog posts; doing so only makes good business sense.

Now for a little “Blatant” and “Overt” self-promotion, I will be adding a signature to the end of this blog post.  Oops did I offend you?

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Add an Email Signature and Boost Your Brand

Posted by AriesGDIM / Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah in Branding, Social Media Marketing | 4 comments

Jun 19, 11

Did you know that something as simple as adding an email signature to the end of your emails could help you promote your brand?  Yup, it sure can.  By adding a simple signature with links back to your website and social networks you can increase brand recognition, traffic to your website & increase followers on Twitter & Facebook.

I suggest you make your email signatures eye catching by using color and a font style that matches your brand.  I don’t send very many emails anymore because Twitter and Facebook have taken over most of my communications but when I do this is what it looks like.

Aries – Graphic Design & Internet Marketing / AriesGDIM

You should include the following in your email signature:

1. Branded Logo
2. Name
3. Title
4. Contact numbers
5. Links to your websites
6. Links to your social networks
7. Tag line
8. Condensed mission statement

Depending on the information you are sending in your email you have no idea of the possible reach of your communication.  You never want to miss out on an opportunity to put your company information in front of a potential client.

Simple right? You would be amazed how many companies don’t take advantage of this easy brand booster.

Do it today!

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Want to Kill Your Brand? Keep Ignoring Your Online Presence!

Posted by AriesGDIM / Tami Highbaugh-Abdullah in Branding, Internet Marketing, Social Media, Social Media Marketing | 0 comments

Jun 08, 11

If you are in business, if you have customers, if you have been networking, if you have mentioned your business to a family member, friend, or colleague, if you have partners….. Somewhere online there is a conversation going on about you and your brand.  Did you know that 89% of people research brands online before making a purchase?  That’s right! That means there is a really good chance your new client already looked up you up on the Internet, not just once but a few times, before they even contacted you to work for them.  This means that even if you don’t have a website, even if you aren’t engaging with users on social media platforms about your brand…. Someone else is….

Do you really want to leave the information being created online about your brand to chance? No! It is much better to be proactive by creating your own brand presence online before somebody creates one for you.   People like to complain and whether a clients complaint is justified or not, negative conversations can generate very easily and be very damaging when there is nothing in place to help a customer resolve their issues.

Do not ignore the importance of creating an online presence via a company website and engaging on social networking platforms. Ignoring social media is a huge no no.  By ignoring social media you miss the opportunity to engage with your users and find out what they think of your brand. You miss the opportunity to find out what your users interests are.  You miss the opportunity to share with your users the type of brand your company is by sharing pictures and articles of interest.   You miss out on the opportunity to make your users feel important by tagging them in a Facebook comment or mentioning them in a Tweet.  Most importantly you miss the opportunity to listen, not only to your customer base but to potential customers as well.

Social media is not going away and your brand cannot afford to ignore it any longer.  It is time to create an Internet Marketing Plan and implement it as huge part of your Brand Marketing Strategy.  It’s “do or die” time so get on board people.

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