Atlanta's Marketing Center

Your Playbook for Social Media

Curious yet about Social Media?  If not then you might need to be...because it's a big part of Marketing 2.0 and has quickly become an integral way in which your prospects and customers are now communicating.  John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing and Microsoft Office Live have teamed up to offer the latest strategies and advice on how small businesses and entrepreneurs can utilize social media to connect and expand. 

The collaboration is a free eBook called "Let's Talk, Social Media for Small Business".  It's essentially a playbook on how tools like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Yelp can help reach and promote to your customer base more effectively. 

Social media marketing is especially relevant right now for two reasons. First, during an economic downturn, small businesses need to save money but continue marketing themselves. Social media marketing is cheap and effective. Secondly, studies show that more and more small businesses are embracing social media. According to a recent study by AMI partners, over the next 12 months about 500,000 small businesses will use social networking as a resource for advertising and promotional activities.

Below is the link to download your copy.  And have fun with these new toys! http://smallbusiness.officelive.com/socialmedia

A Great Way to Stay Current on Marketing

The world of marketing seems to be changing at a rapid pace. Are you keeping abreast of all the changes?

Here's a great way to do just that: Simply follow the link below to sign up for the free report, "Twitter for Business". By signing up, you'll receive our free monthly enewsletter delivered to your inbox on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

We don't spend too much space on anything non-marketing...particularly with the economic changes taking place. We believe that keeping an eye on the marketing "ball" is essential right now to survive and flourish. In addition to information about changes in your local market, you'll receive information about global trends and techniques passed to you from the popular Duct Tape Marketing organization (of which we are a certified coaching organization).

So sign up...and get that marketing machine in gear!-

http://www.impactyourcompany.com/report.htm

Switching between Applications on your Computer - Alt-tab

This post isn't in the vein of marketing or promotions, but hey, you can't always eat steak, right?

When I visit prospects and clients and we need to get on the computer to look at something, I'm amazed by how dumbfounded many are when I use the "alt-tab" combination to switch between applications. Some literally stop me in my tracks (seemingly more interested in this than the marketing task at hand) to ask me how I'm switching between programs so fast.  So the purpose of this post is to show you how so you can become more efficient...so that you can have more time to invest back into marketing (ha).

A quick definition is that Windows (from version 3.1 on) and Mac OS give you the ability to switch between open applications using the alt-tab keys together (Mac uses command-tab) without having to use the mouse.  It's a cool little trick that can save you time.  As an aside, to become really efficient on any computer, I suggest you generally learn and use keystrokes as opposed to the mouse...I can do just about anything I need using keystrokes (including editing, saving, typing, emailing, etc).  The things I have to use a mouse for include positioning and graphics work.

Anyway, below is a short video on the alt-tab trick from my friends at CompTechTutor.  Enjoy-

Marketing Survey Results

In a recent newsletter I sent out, I invited my readers to take a Marketing Survey.  32 people responded and below are the results.  My take on it is that the goals are pretty high but the specific plans and tools to get there are somewhat lacking...or put better, hazy.  But I'd like to get your opinion on it.  Please tell me what you think.

1.  My goals for the business this year are:
growth - double, triple, ++ (to the moon)            5  (15.6%)
growth - 50 to 100% (excellent)                        7  (21.9%)
growth - 25 to 50% (good)                               7  (21.9%)
growth - 10 to 25% (fair)                                 9  (28.1%)
maintain - 0 to 10%                                         3  (9.4%)
survive                                                          0  (0.0%)
sell                                                               1  (3.1%)

2. I am confident my current marketing activities are getting results:
Yes                              9  (28.1%)
No                              16  (50.0%)
Don't know                    6  (18.8%)
Maybe                          1  (3.1%)

3. Which best describes your annual marketing budget?
$0                               5  (15.7%)
Less than $10k             13  (40.6%)
Less than $25k              8  (25.0%)
Less than $50k              4  (12.5%)
Less than $100k            1  (3.1%)
Less than $250k            0  (0.0%)
Less than $500k            0  (0.0%)
More than $500k            0  (0.0%)
N/A                             1  (3.1%)

4. What is your marketing mix? (choose all that apply)
Advertising (print, radio, tv, etc.)          13  (40.6%)
Online (Website, email, etc.)                19  (59.4%)
Direct mail                                        11  (34.4%)
PR                                                    8  (25.0%)
Customer Events                                 9  (28.1%)
Sales Support                                   14  (43.8%)
Trade Shows                                      8  (25.0%)
Other                                              12  (37.5%)

5. What is the single best way for you to get new clients?
Advertising (print, radio, tv, etc.)          3  (9.4%)
Website                                            7  (21.9%)
Email Marketing                                  4  (12.5%)
Other online                                      1  (3.1%)
Word of Mouth (referral)                      6  (18.8%)
Direct Mail                                         3  (9.4%)
Public Relations                                  0  (0.0%)
Sales/Telemarketing                            6  (18.8%)
Workshops                                        2  (6.3%)
Other                                               0  (0.0%)

6. Which of these forms of advertising do you use? (choose all that apply)
Yellow pages                                   18  (56.3%)
Radio                                               2  (6.3%)
Television                                         1  (3.1%)
Newspapers                                    11  (34.4%)
Magazines                                        7  (21.9%)
Outdoor                                           1  (3.1%)
Flyers                                              5  (15.6%)
Online                                            19  (59.4%)
Pay per click                                   11  (34.4%)
None of the above                             3  (9.4%)

7. Which of these forms of online tools do you use? (choose all that apply)
Website                                         25  (78.1%)
Blog                                                3  (9.4%)
Podcast                                           1  (3.1%)
RSS                                                3  (9.4%)
Autoresponder                                  1  (3.1%)
Email marketing                                 8  (25.0%)
None of the above                             5  (15.7%)

8. Which best describes your marketing staff?
I'm it and I'm the owner                                             13  (40.6%)
I have a marketing support staff                                   6  (18.8%)
We have a strategic marketing officer                            6  (18.8%)
We have a strategic marketing officer and support staff    4  (12.5%)
Other                                                                       1  (3.1%)
N/A                                                                          2  (6.3%)

9. Which best describes how much time you devote weekly to marketing activities?
None                             12  (3.8%)
1 hour                             7  (21.9%)
2-5 hours                        3  (9.4%)
5-10 hours                       3  (9.4%)
11-20 hours                     3  (9.4%)
Every waking moment        4  (12.5%)

10. Which best describes the marketing efforts you employ?
We hire vendors to complete specific tasks/projects           4  (12.5%)
We engage consultant/coach to advise us                        3  (9.4%)
We have a full-time marketing/advertising agency              1  3.1%)
We do it all ourself                                                       7  (21.9%)
Various ways (mixture)                                                  3  (9.4%)
We're not doing anything; letting marketing go                 12  (3.8%)
None of the above                                                        2  (6.3%)