FAQ

Twitter

What is a demographic?

Who are the clientele you are trying to reach? Hyperlocal? Metroplex? Zip code? Specific age range, gender, industry? Remember, while networking in your own industry is a good idea, you REALLY want to reach the people who are shopping for you. We ask you for keywords to help reach these audiences. Depending on how broad your search words, you can end up with thousands of followers very quickly.

How does Twitter work?

It’s an opt-in social media marketing tool. Other Twitter users can choose to follow you, and you them, so they receive notification when you have “tweeted” – or sent out a message to your followers of 140 characters or less. Many people use this as a mass text messaging tool for social purposes, but many businesses utilize this to get the word out about almost anything going on in your business. Menu changes, news, discounts, entertaining quips, quotes and even owner/CEO rants. Typically, they are meant to be professional but casual, using your brand’s persona.

We ask that you write 30 and 60 tweets per month (we can mix and match them for you, but “fresh” tweets means your followers see the latest news. You may not draw someone’s attention with every tweet, but staying relevant to your industry in some way will keep your business top of mind with your best customers and followers. Personal touches include checking your direct messages and responding to those you have in your own “timeline” – a feed of the people your account is following.

Do I have to write tweets more than once? Do I have to write them every month?

We can write them for you for an additional charge, but you are the expert in your business. That’s why you’re here – so you can focus on your small biz while we help your marketing platform. Try not to overthink tweets too much – we will show you how to “shrink” URLs so you can direct people to your website or facebook , and you can use that over and over. 140 characters fill up fast, so it may only take a n hour a month for you to write a new set of 30 tweets.

How do I get started with Twitter?

1)      You’ll install Tweetdeck on your work computer, and set up a free account.

2)      We recommend you update your timeline about once a day with a “personal” touch – talk about a current project you’re working on, an article you’ve read, etc.

3)      If you have a smartphone, we highly recommend that you use it to send and receive tweets to your small biz followers. This helps you keep track of direct messages that you may receive.

4)      SPAM does happen. Sometimes your twitter feed will end up with junk messages, links to inappropriate sites or language that you don’t appreciate. You can UNfollow anyone at any time, as well as block followers, but for the most part, this shouldn’t be rampant.

5)      You can browse Twitter at any time, and add people on your own, your friends, vendors, current clients, family, anyone who has been waiting patiently for your business to reach out to them via Twitter.  We always recommend that you interact with your followers as time allows.

Why is Twitter important to my business?

You can “harvest” followers who may be other small businesses, brands, services, owners, managers, or just “fans” who take an interest in your “stuff.” We start out by having your business follow them, and usually, they follow back. From there, we always recommend that you monitor your Twitter account so you can interact with those who will ask you direct questions. You may discover markets that you had never considered with other more traditional marketing.

Facebook

What’s the difference between a personal profile and a business fan page?

Personal pages are limited to 5000 followers but biz pages have no fan limit. You can’t do custom fbml on personal profiles. With a personal profile, when someone “adds” you as a friend – you can each see other’s walls, info, etc., depending on how their own privacy settings are used.  Facebook allows analytics and statistics for follower and visit information as a courtesy. With a business page, you get “fans” to “Like” your page, but with a personal profile, you “add” “friends.” A business shouldn’t set up a personal profile for ethical reasons. It allows a view into the demographics of a personal user. Facebook will shut down an account if they see a company attracting fans under the guise of a personal account.

Can I add my own stuff to my facebook?

Yes, not only can you, but you should.

Why Facebook?

It’s also an opt-in social media marketing tool. It’s more valuable than a website because when your Facebook fans log in, they immediately see your updates, thus reminding them of your presence.  It isn’t required that they browse to your website in order for your company to remain top of mind for them. For example, if you’re a caterer, and your status update scrolls by in their feed, they may be reminded of the big game coming up, or a wedding shower they’ve committed to throwing for someone, and it really may be about being in the right place at the right time. When you update your status, once or twice a day, strategically timed, your availability will be delivered right to them. FunCity ties in your twitter and facebook feeds so they update each other automatically, but again, we always recommend a personal touch as often as you can. If you get special news, share it! Your fans want to know. And you might be surprised at how often they will reach out to you to know more about what you have to offer, so log in and check your wall and messages.

How do I get people to “Like” my facebook?

Click here to reach our FunCity Tips blog to find out more.

Websites

The FCSM philosophy is that our clients should be able to have control over their own websites. This means that we endeavor to teach you the basics on a WordPress platform. We show you how to log in and make changes without you needing to hire a web developer every time you want to maintain or update your website. Of course, there’s a lot you can learn and do on your own within WordPress – it’s a rich platform that allows for some wonderful design and usability. The only time you might want us to be involved again is if you desire a complete design change or rebranding to your website or blog.

MORE FAQs TO COME! Contact us for specifics on what FCSM can do for your social media marketing!