It seems that “building community” is back in vogue and once again on every one’s lips…Building community is now at the forefront of every marketing strategy and outreach effort…
At Webgrrls, since 1995, we have been building and maintaining our community of professional women all with the goal to help them to strive for and achieve success, however they define it…it is not just about building community, but, about seeding and fostering a relationship…it is not just the community, it is the conversation… the interaction.
It is not just a one-way or even two-way conversation either. It is an omni-directional conversation. You might seed the conversation but then the conversation takes on a life of it’s own within the community and having your conversation extend to other communities should be the goal.
A lot of companies are concerned about controlling the message but they are trying to control things that they can’t control anyway to a great degree…people talk…that is just the way it goes.
Companies will have to realize the power and speed of “word of mouth” and that the empowerment of your users, encouraging them to have a voice and to share it, is a winning strategy…and talk about cost effective…it is free marketing.
Conversations build awareness…awareness builds trust and trust makes for loyalty and loyalty increases participation…or if you are selling a product, sales.
Below are some tips to help you build and foster your communities:
Continue Reading “Tips on building and fostering online communities”
I am often asked by business owners, entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches and others for copywriting tips. Here are six of the most important in no particular order:
1. It is actually about them, not you.
Your marketing copy isn’t where you tell your life story or replicate your college thesis. It’s not about your style, your preferences or your own “voice.” It’s not even about what you personally think or want. It’s about the audience, the product/ service and, ultimately, about selling.
2. Go easy on the eyes.
Nothing tires the eyes and kills interest more than a big block of endless black text. So include bullets, sub-heads, questions, sidebars and headlines to break your copy into easy-to-scan chunks.
3. Back it up and be realistic.
Don’t over-promise or over-hype. Be honest in your copy, just as you would in a verbal conversation. Your target market will love you for it and will be all the more attracted to you and your products/services.
4. Tell them what to do next.
Don’t lead them to the end and then leave them hanging. Tell them what they need to do to become your customer. Whether it is by phone, e-mail, coming into the store or by Pony Express for that matter, tell them clearly and precisely. You’d be amazed by how many businesses forget to include a clear call to action in their copy.
5. Speak their language.
Know who you are writing and marketing to. Are there certain must-use words? Are there major no-no words? Use an acronym or jargon only if you’re certain everyone will know what you’re talking about. If the writing comes across as disconnected from its audience, this will be evident from the get-go.
6. Become a wealth of information.
So, you’re an expert? Show it! Pack your copy with expert advice, tips, resources and information. It’s more important to be seen as a trusted expert thank it is to “make the sale” each and every time.
I am on the move all the time and use a laptop. Lately, I started noticing my laptop battery was draining faster than when I purchased it. I did some research and found great tips and resources that helped me improve my notebook battery life:
If your laptop battery drains too fast, try the tips offered by the sites below:
Digital Inspiration’s 10 Tips to make your Laptop Battery last longer
TabletPCReview - How To Improve Notebook Battery Life
Top 15 Ways to Extend Your Laptop’s Battery Life
CNET’s guide to laptop batteries
