Warning: strpos() expects parameter 3 to be long, string given in /home/mayvintr/public_html/wp-content/themes/division/functions.php on line 512
Is appearance really important? It’s an age old debate that will likely never go away. There are those that say it does, and those that say it does not. However, in the business world there is no way to deny it. The answer is a resounding yes. Customers, clients and others will undoubtedly base their first impression on what they see. For some, it may not be a lasting impression as the core of the business comes to the forefront. Unfortunately, that is the exception to the rule. Most will find that the initial impression remains locked in the mind and is the basis for many decisions thereafter. When it comes to social media it is easy to sit back and think that the look of your site does not have a significant impact. The reality, however, is that it does. Those who visit your social media site will first notice the way it looks and how easy it is to maneuver. If you haven’t put the proper time and attention into the design of your space then that first impression may not be a good one. The goal is to portray your business as one that is not only professional, but that values the customer or client. This is achieved through making certain that your look matches your vision, goal and potential. Opting for the right social media design can impact your business goals in tremendous ways. Choosing to stick with the standards can leave you as nothing more than another face in the crowd. When the time comes to update the look and feel of your social media presence Mayvin Training can help you determine just the right image for you.

Warning: strpos() expects parameter 3 to be long, string given in /home/mayvintr/public_html/wp-content/themes/division/functions.php on line 512
Blogs have existed on the internet for far more years than people have known about them. The explosion occurred when people that have been labeled as ‘mummy-bloggers’ gained the notice of a wide audience. Soon these pages were being shared and new and creative blogs continued to pop up. Some of those bloggers make a decent living doing something they have been doing for years. With the increase in popularity of the blogging world, the tide began to turn for businesses. Many have jumped on the train to incorporate blogging into their own marketing schemes. After all, people are flocking to blogs in massive numbers. Why not take advantage and use it as a tool to increase your own revenue. How does this help? For starters, you are able to develop a more personal relationship with the readers. You can choose to add some interactivity so that they can communicate with you, or you can keep it simple and informative. Either way you are giving them more to base your business on than a building or even a website. You attach a human component to what was otherwise just a name. Of course, you have the added advantage of keeping them informed about your company and what is going on with it. Blogs have become the normal way for people to find the information they need. If you create your own then you will begin to see how effective it can be. You do not have to be a mummy to gain the potential that comes from a well-written blog.

Warning: strpos() expects parameter 3 to be long, string given in /home/mayvintr/public_html/wp-content/themes/division/functions.php on line 512
It can be easy to be skeptical of something as popular as the current social media platforms. What happens when people become bored and move on the latest and greatest thing? Have you wasted all of your energy and time marketing to an audience that may not even be there tomorrow? After all, look at some of the social media sites of the past and see how they have seemed to be forgotten over time. The distinct reality is that not everything will last forever. There are some social media sites that continue to grow and thrive and the expectation is that they will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Yet, there are those that were once considered the latest and greatest that no one even talks about anymore. It is possible. You just have to look at it from another perspective. Customers that find you through today’s social media platforms are utilizing what is current and desirable. That does not mean that if the site folds or becomes less popular they will forget about the businesses that they have grown to like. Instead, they will move forward and look for your business on the newer and better sites. In the meantime, the customer base and business growth that you experience is far from wasted. It is not going to go away if a site seems to. You will just adapt and move with your customers to where they can be reached. In past decades newspaper advertising was the prime way to get the business out in front of customers. As the digital age continues to grow, printed newspapers are dying. Those customers are not leaving the businesses. They are simply looking for them in other areas, such as social media sites. Growth will continue. At this moment, it is centered around the available social media sites. Take advantage of them while you can.

Warning: strpos() expects parameter 3 to be long, string given in /home/mayvintr/public_html/wp-content/themes/division/functions.php on line 512
Facebook has been around for some time now and with 773 million users in over 200 countries around the world, it’s clearly a part of many lives. In Australia, Facebook has penetrated over 50% of the population, with 10.66 million users today (statistics sourced from socialbakers.com). Connecting with friends, school buddies and long lost family is one way to use Facebook. I’ve heard some great stories of families being reunited, friends who have drifted apart reconnecting, and I have even met a person who reconnected with “the one that got away”, their lost love, and they’ve gone on to be married. The personal relationships and connections on Facebook are fantastic and a great use of this free online community. However, for many of us running businesses, the social aspect of Facebook could be considered a waste of our precious time. And I would agree completely. This is the reason why many, many business owners are still wary of Facebook; avoiding it and believing it is a time waster. And with good reason. Facebook can make minutes and hours dissolve, it can be completely social (even nosey) … but it can be an extremely powerful networking, marketing and growth tool for business. Facebook comes with a series of challenges. Business owners must understand Facebook, the community and the technology. They have to get the set-up right, determine your business purpose and goals and support them with policies, develop an implementation strategy, and use Facebook consistently to build their community, their reputation and establish a presence, supported by the social proof of their network. If that sounds complicated, overwhelming or too much hard work .. then you should consider the alternative option, because continuing to ignore social media will ensure your business loses market share. Facebook does take time. There is a learning curve involved and an education process required for yourself and your employees but social media will produce a return on investment for your business for many, many years. If you are hesitant, don’t believe that businesses are using, or can benefit from social media, and you need further convincing then you could have a look at results of this Zoomerang survey. Their free report reveals 86% of SMB’s have a Facebook presence for their business and almost half of respondents use Facebook for marketing purposes.

Warning: strpos() expects parameter 3 to be long, string given in /home/mayvintr/public_html/wp-content/themes/division/functions.php on line 512
This is a great infographic created by Crowdspring. Remember though the data is US based, so it would vary from Australia. Interesting though that the most popular new hire for the small businesses included in the study would be a bookkeeper, followed by a social media expert. Crowdsourced Logo and Graphic Design by crowdSPRING