gimme-5

social for success?

Tue, 24 Jun 2014 21:39:07 +0100

I have been an advocate of the use of social media and other guerrilla marketing tactics by businesses for years now, often preferring these avenues over more conventional channels of promotion. While Super Bowl ads and gigantic Interstate billboards may sound appealing, the return just isn't there for most local retailers.
Social media, on the other hand, can get your message out to a targeted group of customers and prospects for a nominal cost. In fact, not having a presence on facebook, twitter and the like might actually be a huge disadvantage. I'll delve into the risks of ignoring social media in another post.
For now, I'd like to set the stage for an experiment I am running online. A local [Atlanta] publication, The GA Voice, is running a contest for "The Best of Gay Atlanta". Last month readers were invited to nominate businesses and individuals for a myriad of categories, ranging from "Actor" and "Art Gallery" to "Tattoo Shop" and "Veterinarian". I decided this might be a good time to test my theory of social media influence. I created a list of nominees for numerous categories, mostly consisting of underdogs. I then encouraged my 'team' to nominate them and spread the word among their friends and followers. In a couple of instances, I intentionally misspelled the name of the person or business [usually by one letter] to help track the results. I used my facebook and twitter accounts to encourage nominations during the course of several weeks. Then I waited for the results.
When the finalists were announced a couple of weeks ago, most of my candidates made the cut: Eclectia [Home Decor & Antiques], Louis Gary [Financial Planner], Clay Hood [Visual Artist], Grey Miller West [Art Gallery], Michael Sam [Athlete], Twelve [Florist & Jewelry Store], and, naturally, myself [Art Smith, Business Person] to name a few. I then created a facebook event to promote voting and invited friends who, in turn, invited more friends. I informed my nominee finalists of their fortune and encouraged them to promote voting. And I networked with other friends to get the word out.
The voting period ends this weekend, so I have no idea how many of my candidates will be successful yet ... although I will definitely do a follow-up and let you know the end result. No matter what the outcome, all of these people and businesses have gotten more attention and recognition already.

[2013 Awards Event ad shown above]

My point: with a little effort and some well-planned networking, anyone can benefit from the use of social media. At virtually no cost to them. Now wish us all luck and go vote: http://thegavoice.com/best-gay-atlanta-second-round/

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info Follow @ARTofHYPE

my sentiments exactly

Tue, 29 Apr 2014 14:52:25 +0100

Naming your business is much like naming your child. There should be as much thought put into the moniker that you'll eventually register and forever be known as, as you would your precious offspring. This is a commitment--make it count. Start by making a list, and remember that while being unique in business is great, your name shouldn't be complicated, already trademarked, or easily confused with another company.

How to Name a Business

By David Waring

In the last article in our series on how to start a business, we discussed how to test your new business idea. Once you have tested your new business idea and decided to move forward, the next step is how to name a business, the topic of today’s article. To make sure you don’t miss anything, use this handy checklist as you go through the article.

Step 1: Strengthen Your “Idea Muscle”

If you have read our article on how to come up with a business idea, then you can skip this step as your idea muscle should already be in good shape.

If not, then take the advice of one of my favorite bloggers James Altucher and start coming up with 10 ideas each day on different topics. While this may seem like a lot of effort, if your idea muscle is weak it will hurt you in other parts of your business as well, so use this opportunity to get it back into shape. More on this here.

Once coming up with the list is easy for you, you can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Come up with 10 business name ideas a day for 1 week.

Once you have gotten your idea muscle into shape, its time to start coming up with business name ideas. Try to come up with 10 ideas each day for a week, at which point you will have 50 potential names to choose from.

Things to keep in mind when coming up with ideas on how to name a business:

At a minimum you want name ideas that people can make an easy connection to the product or service that you are selling. This means avoiding things like trying to coin a new term with your business name.

Also try and keep in mind other things you may want your business name to convey like:

Expertise
Value
Authenticity
Tradition
Location

Lastly, its a bonus if your business name contains words that people are likely to type into internet search engines when looking for the products and/or services that you offer. All else being equal your website is likely to rank higher for those terms in the search results if that is the case. More on this here.

For this step there is no such thing as a bad idea, so simply write down whatever comes to mind.

Step 3: Cross off any names that could be confusing or are not easy to remember, pronounce, and spell.

For this step keep in mind the following:

Word of Mouth: One of the best ways to grow your business is by word of mouth, so at a minimum your business name needs to be easy for people to pass along to others.
Spelling: Make sure it is easy to spell, so people do not type the wrong name when looking for you online.
Confusing Names: Avoid things that could be confusing like using numbers in a name. An example would be a name like 2 Sisters Tanning. When typing this name into a search engine or elsewhere, people won’t know wether it is 2sisterstanning.com or TwoSistersTanning.com.

If you are not sure about a particular name, then tell it to 3 or 4 other people of varying ages and intelligence levels and ask them to speak it back to you. Then ask them to spell it.

Step 4: Cross off any names that may be confused with a competitor or have negative connotations.

Even big companies make mistakes with this step. Infamously, Chevrolet made the mistake of marketing a car called “Nova” in Spanish speaking countries. “No Va” translates from Spanish to english as “No Go”. Sales in Latin American markets for Nova did not go anywhere as a result.

Step 5: Consider the future

You want to think carefully about how choosing a name that is specific to something like a particular Geographic location, product or person may affect your business in the future:

Location Issues: Names like Raleigh NC Plumbers can be great for ranking your site highly in Google’s local search results, however if you ever plan on expanding your business outside of Raleigh, you don’t want to have change your name in order to do so.
Product Issues: If you name your company Top Dog TV Repair and decide to start repairing other types of electronics in the future, this may present a problem.
Issues Using a Person’s Name: There is nothing wrong with names like Bob Jones Auto, but if Bob ever wants to sell his business or bring in another partner this may create issues.

Step 6: Filter the list by names you can buy a domain name for.

When people want to visit the website of a particular company, often times they will type in the name of the company with a .com behind it ie www.bobjonesauto.com. Therefore, whenever possible, you are going to want to have your website’s domain name be the same as your business name. You also always want to own the .com version of whatever your domain is, or you are going to lose a ton of potential customers to the company that does.

You can search to see if a domain name is avialble at Godaddy.com and if it is you can also register it there for around $12 a year. If you are set on a particular name, and the domain name is not available, then you can also use Godaddy to try and acquire the domain.

For more on this topic see the domain name section of our article on how to build a website for your small business.

Step 7: Search the internet and trademark database for the name.

The last step before choosing your business name is to search the internet and the trademark database to see if anyone one else is using the name and/or has a trademark on it. Keep in mind that even if a business is using the name you have chosen, you may still be able to use it. In order for someone to win a trademark infringement case against you they have to prove that you used the name in a manner that is likely to confuse consumers.

While I am not an attorney, to me that means:

If you do business in a specific area, and another business that does business locally somewhere else in the country has the same name, then you can likely still use the name.
If the business that is using the name is not a local business, or you plan on operating nationally, then this might be an issue.

Two general guidelines on whether or not you should trademark a business name:

If you plan on doing business locally then the costs of trademarking your business name are likely going to outweigh the benefits.
If you plan on operating on a large scale both in your state and nationally then you will likely want to obtain a trademark.

That’s our article for today. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the comments section below, I respond to all comments personally. Also be sure to read the next article in this series where we cover how to choose a partner for your business.

More Great Articles on How to Name a Business:

Igor International: The new science of naming
Entrepreneur: 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Naming Your Business – what not to do when choosing a business name.
BusinessInsider: 10 Ways to Come Up with a Killer Business Name
Nolo: Make Sure Your Proposed Business Name is Available – Steps to take to make sure your business name is not already taken.

READ MORE AT www.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php or at http://www.manta.com/small-business-tips/its-all-in-the-name

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info Follow @ARTofHYPE

a little THANX goes a long way!

Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:10:08 +0100

'Tis the season for holiday cheer. We are all abundantly aware of this. Retail traffic skyrockets, holiday music invades our world, twinkling lights appear in the most unexpected places, and wannabe Santa's are on every street corner. Many businesses take advantage of the season's spirit by inundating us with 'sincerest wishes' that we do business with them, or 'invite' us to participate in their 'holiday sales', thinly veiled attempts to tug at our heartstrings and our pocketbooks at the same time.
Unfortunately, so many retailers have jumped on this bandwagon that it's about to capsize. Savvy shoppers are all too familiar with these tactics and many [myself included] simply ignore the deluge of flyers, coupons and special offers designed to lure us into a spending frenzy. But most businesses cannot afford to just ignore the busiest shopping season of the year. So what's can you do?

My suggestion: Give thanks. Send out a sincere message expressing your gratitude to all of your contacts and customers. Show your gratitude for their patronage and support. Consider including a no-strings-attached FREE GIFT or an invitation to a holiday open house. And do it BEFORE Thanksgiving. Your message will be received in advance of the flood of sales flyers, and just in time for friends and family to see it at the annual turkey banquet. If it is thoughtful and genuine, your customers will remember it. And your business. All in time for Black Friday. You'll be thankful for the results.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info Follow @ARTofHYPE

Holidazed and Confused

Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:34:33 +0100

'Tis the season when many businesses see a surge in sales [and profits] but many seem to lose sight of their own image in the process. You have spent countless hours on graphic design and merchandising for your business over the years, choosing a very specific 'look' that represents your image and brands you as a unique operation. Then the holidays come along and it all flies out the door [or up the chimney].
In an effort to fit in with the spirit of the season many entrepreneurs and business owners abandon their trademark image in lieu of the more traditional reds, greens and golds. And they slip right back into that abyss of conformity. One window display begins to look a lot like the next. You gotta ask yourself: 'How does this relate to my brand?'

The holiday season really has nothing at all to do with red and green. It's about being festive, expressing goodwill and showing your style. My logo colors are purple and lime green [as you have undoubtedly noticed by now]. And I prefer to stay away from anything too 'spiritual' or religious in my holiday decor. But that doesn't prevent me from participating in the season. The items pictured above fit right in with the spirit of the holidays, but none of the items shown are specifically Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa items.

Start your holiday decorating plan by collecting the things that represent what your business is all about. If you're a car dealer, Hot Wheels could be a great start. Or hubcaps. Neiman Marcus made a complete tree out of vintage car fenders and taillights a few years back. Think outside the proverbial [gift] box.

Add lights and sparkle to your display to draw attention and captivate your customers. Choose colors and styles that 'jive' with your image. Large, vintage-style bulbs in traditional colors are perfect for an antique store, while bold LED lights might be better suited to a modern furniture retailer. Express your business personality with your display and sit back. The oohs and ahhs are just around the corner.

For a little added impact, consider a prop rental firm for that "pop" piece. Eclectia in Atlanta, for example, has a dazzling array of larger-than-life items that will turn heads ... and renting these items saves you money and affords you the option of doing something different every year. The professionals who staff these showrooms will also be happy to offer you FREE advice.

What are you waiting for? Make this the most memorable holiday season in the history of your business.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info Follow @ARTofHYPE

You Oughta Be in [moving] Pictures

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:46:17 +0100

Everyone is on the internet these days. Activity on the 'www' has skyrocketed. Smartphones and tablets connect the customer on the go with their friends, families and businesses. For all intents and purposes, the world operates on a virtual platform.
Savvy business owners have known this for some time now, and many of them have undertaken great efforts to ensure they have an effective and informative website. In fact, it has gotten to the point that many consumers are taken aback by anyone who doesn't have a well-nurtured web presence.
I spend a great deal of time online these days, managing social media and internet commerce for a number of clients ranging from retailers to bars to hairstylists and artists, and I pay attention to what the competition is doing as well. There is a huge volume of activity online these days and your business needs to be in the midst of it just to survive. In order to thrive and flourish, you need to stand out.

So how do you accomplish that? Numerous studies have indicated that two primary elements grab the attention of online consumers: compelling graphics and short videos. All too often, business owners fail to use either. Or they pair a great picture with a slap-in-the-face message like 'stop in and buy something today'. Do you greet customers in your store that way? "Hi. What did you want to buy today?" I think not.
The online consumer is savvy, loyal and [often] somewhat bored. They want to be informed, amused and entertained. They want to 'like' what they see and become familiar with your business in a more casual cocktail party kind of way. And generally they don't want to read a lot of boring words. That's why Twitter's 140 characters have become so popular.
How do you capitalize on that? Remember the old adage "A picture is worth a thousand words"? Well, a video must be worth a million. All the latest studies indicate that online video messages are extremely effective [moreso, even, than the print and TV ads we are all so familiar with. Check out the sponsored videos and promotional clips on www.channel125.com and you'll see what I mean. Channel 125 has made it their mission to bring small businesses the option of posting their videos online without the extravagant expense of network-generated commercials, and delivers them to a huge audience around the world. Based in Atlanta, this ground-breaking venture features countless videos for the entertainment of their viewers and does an incredible job of driving traffic through social media posts to tens of thousands of potential new customers every day. Their newest program series, Gift Horse, is designed to feature product reviews in a short and entertaining format, providing their audience with information about the latest and greatest gift ideas, tech products and retailers via promotional videos. The videos run 24/7 on their numerous websites and can be embedded in the client's website or shared by them via social media. As an added bonus, unlike youtube, Channel 125 videos can be set up in a proprietary 'channel' that prevents new viewers from being directed to your [more popular] competitor's video after viewing yours.

What more could a business owner ask for? Contact me or Channel125.com for details. And get your videos out there!
Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

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Jelly Beans & Gibberish

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 16:30:30 +0100

Expressing your true feelings and genuine thoughts is an integral part of blogging and, indeed, all social media interactions. Being true to yourself [and your brand] is what builds your brand image and strengthens your bond with your audience. There's really not much point in feigning affection for a cause or a concept if your real-world interactions will speak to the contrary.
This idea flies out the window, however, if you happen to be a well-known stand up comic with a reputation for the ridiculous. Enter Conan O'Brien. The awkwardly tall redhead recently joined the ranks of LinkedIn influencers ... or did he? His rambling post acknowledging his latest accomplishment was riddled with sarcasm and poked fun at everyone from Bill Gates to Ronald Reagan to Malcolm Gladwell.

His 'letter to LinkedIn' is ridiculously self-aggrandizing, punctuated with erroneous remarks and random nonsense. At one point Conan proclaims, "Ronald Reagan once said 'Jellybeans!', While that has nothing to do with anything here, it did take up space at the top of this paragraph, making this post seem longer." He also refers to blogging as "a privilege reserved only for Earth's best and brightest one billion people."
Although this method may work for someone like Conan, it is the polar opposite of what most bloggers should be doing. The point, after all, is to express your ideas and build your brand. Unless your goal is to be a parody of yourself, I suggest not following in Conan's footsteps. [Besides, he must wear a size 15 shoe and that would be awkward for most of us].
To read the rest of his ridiculous post, go to: http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20131020183000-288872202-hello-linkedin?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0 .

Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

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Some Realtors Do It Online!

Sat, 05 Oct 2013 21:05:02 +0100

There are a lot of ways to gain recognition and build a following in the professional world. Getting known is an important step on the ladder of success in many fields. Real estate is certainly no exception. And there are a multitude of paths one can take to get noticed by their audience.

Having a starring role on a hit television show is certainly one way, but not an easy one to accomplish. Fortunately for Josh Flagg he was tagged by Bravo to appear in Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles after only four years in the industry. He leveraged this exposure as well as his family connections and his familiarity with the Los Angeles market into a highly successful career. Still a couple of years shy of 30, Josh is also a published author. In his book Million Dollar Agent: Brokering the Dream, Josh further draws in his audience by recounting stories of his extensive travels, telling humorous anecdotes about open house adventures and discussing his upbringing in a prominent Jewish family living in prestigious Beverly Hills. Oh yeah, he offers tips on how to build a successful career in the luxury real estate market too.

You might think that was enough for someone whose career is less than a decade in the making. But you would be dead wrong. Josh is forever looking for new ways to make his mark in the world. Like all good 21st century businessmen he makes adequate use of social media channels. In one recent internet adventure, @JoshFlagg1 posted an invitation to a contest he is running online. Anyone who enters has a chance to win an iPad mini 16g. Of course, he makes the contest more interactive by awarding bonus entries for people who follow him on twitter, like his facebook fan page and repost the contest. Brilliant! In the first 24 hours of this promotion, well over 1,000 entries were logged. Want to join in on the fun? You can enter here: http://ptab.it/1pfEg

No matter what you think of Josh as a person or a professional, you have to give him a high five for his efforts to get his name out. Tweet to him @JoshFlagg1 or visit his facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/joshflagg. Tell him we said hi!

Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

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Marketing ... Just Cause

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 12:11:44 +0100

There are as many ways to get your name in front of your audience as there are people and products on the planet. Some are time-consuming, expensive and ineffective. Others are simple, affordable and extremely effective. Most fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.
One insurance company has found a way to get their name in front of millions of customers and prospects while tugging at the heart strings of all who see their message. I'm not talking about the Progressive SUV's that occasionally show up at accidents or the GEICO sedans cruising your nearby streets. I'm talking about a brilliant State Farm campaign.

As a sponsor of Georgia's HERO [Highway Emergency Response Operators] program, the company name and logo has been emblazoned on the sides and back of 86 emergency response vehicles roaming Georgia's streets and highways, as well as recognition on signage, websites and through media outlets. This sponsorship, in place for over 4 years now, gives unparalleled visibility for the state's largest insurer as well as increasing the company's image as a do-gooder.

Furthermore, we all know how effective accident scenes are at grabbing attention. Everyone looks at a roadside crash as they pass by. It's like having a billboard right in the lanes of traffic on Georgia's interstate highways.

For a company with assets in the range of $115 billion and annual net profits exceeding $1.5 billion, the $1.5 million annual pricetag was a proverbial drop in the bucket. If your company's net profits are $100,000 the proportionate expense would be about $100!
Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

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The 21st Century Book Trailer

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 14:23:20 +0100

In days gone by, when someone said 'book trailer', the image of a well-worn RV with a vinyl banner plastered on the side came to mind. Its dingy paneled interior featured shabbily-constructed cheap bookcases stacked with hundreds of used and abused books about history, aliens and cooking. A frumpy woman in an oversized pink cardigan stood watch at the door, and the lanky, stubble-faced driver glared creepily at the crowd.
Those days are long gone. Enter the new breed of literati, embracing technology in the pursuit of new readers.
New Orleans native and acclaimed author Christopher Rice recently unveiled his 21st century interpretation of the book trailer. Not at a major shopping mall or regional book show, but on the internet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsikUSclyzE ... YUP, it was on YouTube. Who would have thought books would have trailers just like movies? Leave it to the innovative and social-media savvy Rice to preview his latest tome, The Heavens Rise, via video.

Check out the video. Order the book. And follow Chris' latest adventures on Twitter [@chrisricewriter]. You'll soon figure out why this young author is taking the New York Times bestseller list by storm.

And maybe you'll learn a little something about how you can market your own business via social media.

Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

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Keep It Clean, People ... Dirty Doesn't Sell!

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 16:44:27 +0100

Getting the word out about your business is a great way to attract new customers and retain old ones. If your shop is located on a busy thoroughfare, a vehicle emblazoned with your message and bold graphics can serve as an effective mobile [or stationary] billboard. Drive it around town when you pick up supplies or deliver your products ... or park it curbside in view of passersby and you could attract the attention of countless drivers and passengers in your own neighborhood.
However, just like any form of advertising, a poorly executed attempt can be equally effective at driving customers away. Take the example pictured below. It is prominently placed at the edge of a parking lot on a well-traveled road just a couple of hundred feet away from the business it promotes. The message is clear and includes the location, phone number and services offered. Sounds like a great effort, right?

Think again! Look closely at the van and the graphics. The vehicle is filthy, the vinyl lettering peeling away, one tire is flat and the front fender [passenger side] is crumbled. The tag is 5 years out of date, suggesting the vehicle might be abandoned. I certainly wouldn't want this vehicle promoting my business. Especially if I owned a laundromat. If the van looks like this I can only imagine what I'd find inside their 'lounge'.
Once upon a time this was undoubtedly a great representation of the business. And it could be again. A small investment in minor body work, a car wash and new graphics could make this an excellent marketing tool again. Keep in mind that you want your marketing tools to show the positive aspects of your business.
Keep It Clean ... Dirty Doesn't Sell!

Please feel free to peruse the many posts on this website or contact me directly at wowART@yahoo.com with questions or comments.

More blogs at www.theARTofHYPE.com/gimme-5.php and more thoughts on small business atwww.theARTofHYPE.com/ramblings.php. Local Atlanta info at www.theWOWbiz.com and www.theWOWbiz.info

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