Unfortunately, where there’s advertising, there’s spam. Given that spam is universally despised and generally holds very little value for those looking to drum up business (when is the last time you make a purchase after receiving a promotional offer in a spam message?), it is in your best interests as a social marketer to be sure that your practices are always in line with both your customers’ wishes and the terms of service governing the social networks you belong to.

Whether you prefer Facebook, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter or any other social platform, small or large, the rules regarding spam are more or less the same. These rules leave little room for things like the sending of unwanted messages and emails or the posting of unwanted spam on a user’s public page or wall, protecting both their users and the integrity of the social network itself.

Assuming you value your potential customers and your social media accounts themselves, take it upon yourself to become familiar with the terms of service of each site where they relate to your social marketing efforts, helping you to not only respect your social contacts but to eliminate the possibility of having your accounts flagged as being used to deliver spam.

The social media spam infographic is provided by SEO smarty and placed through My Blog Guest Infographics gallery!

Training is Vital

The first thing you need to discuss when meeting with an events staffing company representative is the level of training and experience that their staff has been exposed to. Even an emerging events management company can have experienced staff, provided they have recruited their employees wisely. It is also a good idea to ask around for recommendations in your inner circles, as there is no publicity more genuine than word of mouth. Discuss your requirements, the scale of the event and the type of attendance you expect, then allow your interlocutor to outline similar occasions they have worked on. Ask about the staff’s abilities to meet and greet guests, hand out materials or even wait on tables. Many companies hire young, inexperienced people who can ruin your big day!

First Impressions Matter

Ask to see headshots of the events staff company employees, then inquire about pictures from other events. If you’re on the right track toward finding a good company, chances are they will volunteer photographic proof of past successes. Superficial as it may sound, people form first impressions on others prior to ever hearing them speak. In the events industry this matters to an even greater extent. Look at the pictures and analyze the staff’s grooming levels, posture, whether or not they are smiling to the guests, etc.. After all, good, positive appearances also speak volumes about one’s professional attitude and outlook on life.

Anything Else with That?

Should your event require it, ask your potential future collaborator whether their staff can drive your guests from and to the airport. Ask about interpretation services for foreign guests. Even if the events agency will not be able to provide you with an in-house interpreter, they should be able to point you in the right direction, to a translations company they have worked with before. Similarly, ask if uniforms can be produced for the event, and make sure the company can produce them, instead of asking you to purchase the outfits for them.

(Courtesy of IvanWalsh.com)

Begin With Solid Information

People like to share their opinions through social media. When they like a company on Facebook or reference it in a Twitter hashtag, they are also providing that company with valuable, and free, marketing data. Liz Hawks, of FH Moms Practice, says that this lets companies know what is working and keeps customers interested. Companies can adjust their marketing strategies through mobile devices based on what people are saying about their product, and can target more specific demographics based solely off of postings to social media.

A Better Grasp of What the Audience Wants

People routinely list what they would like to see changed about a product when they comment about it online. Hawks has referred to this as a dialogue between the customers speaking and the companies listening. This information can be complied and used in future product development and customer service relations. Companies can even respond on mobile devices to individual customers through social media and address concerns or thank them for their suggestion to built guest satisfaction.

Work Directly With Customers

Thanks so social media, it is no longer necessary to rely on traditional forms of marketing or public relations. Rob Clark, of Edelman’s, has stated that social media allows companies to focus their attention on customers and to build invaluable relationships that can be seen by others. People are more likely to buy from a company if they are seen responding directly and sincerely to customers on a regular basis, thus increasing the client base and driving sales. The speed of the communication is also important, and any company that is using social media for marketing should be equipped with broadband internet to avoid costly delays.

Simultaneously Monitor and Measure

While social media can yield great results, it can take time do so, according to author Chuck Hemann. Companies that are just beginning to use social media marketing techniques can use real-time feedback to adjust their strategies as they go, instead of having to wait for monthly sales or reports to be generated. Companies that use broadband internet can even make adjustments from their tablets or smartphones while they are away from the office to have the best results possible.

Have Employees Interact Directly With Customers

It can be difficult for customers to relate to a company if they are seen as a faceless entity. Creating social media accounts for employees to interact with customers lets them know that there are real people working to help them. Properly training employees is important, but yield new customers and increased profits.

Putting This into Action

Companies do not just need to wait for people to interact with them through social media; it is important for companies to be as proactive as possible when working with customers. This is easily done by posting questions on social media accounts and tracking responses, or even offering prizes to people that respond. These tactics can be used on multiple social media outlets to get as many responses as possible, and lets the customer know that the company is genuinely interest in improving their product and service.

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find broadband internet providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.

Via SEOgadget, a boutique SEO agency in London. Check out their reference guide on the best UK wordpress hosting providers.

Any great IT professional knows that technology is always changing. With the advancements in time-keeping, there’s no reason any up-and-coming IT professional should be without the latest and greatest wrist watch. Here are a few selections that are perfect for those in the technology field:

1. Touch Screen Watch – Kenneth Cole

The stainless steel band and case of this watch eliminates any feeling of geek and replaces it with sleek. Using a unique digi-touch technology, the watch is water-resistant, can tell you the time in 32 different world cities and has the following features: backlight, date calendar, alarm clock and time. Perhaps best of all, this digital watch has eliminated the need for a degree in rocket science to set it.

2. V 10K – Rado

This watch won’t perform any technological miracles but it is reportedly the hardest watch on earth which makes it pretty darn cool. The curved diamond crystal face is scratch and chip proof. Wearers have reported wearing the watch through all manner of physical activity, from mountain biking to construction, with any sign of wear to the watch.

3. Tima – Jonathon Cohlmeyer

Originally a concept watch, the Tima has finally been released to the public to critical acclaim. With integrated apps and a wide face, the watch is both stylish and futuristic without being over-the-top. The watch is both analog and digital, displaying both at the same time in e-ink technology.

4. F1/Carbon GMT – John Pszeniczny

Made of carbon fiber, rubber, metal and Swarovski crystal, the watch takes its inspiration from Formula 1 racing. With 18 rubies, the watch will give you the time of each of the 18 cities on the facing circuit. Taking the racing theme just one step further, the watch features a lap time function and a stopwatch. The black strap and striking display will look at home on any modern wrist; whether you’re a race car driver or the go-to computer guy.

5. Faceless – 100% Company

Designer Hironao Tsuboi has created an amazing watch that doesn’t look like a watch at all. Imagine the surprise on their faces when you turn your “bracelet” on to display the time! These watches look like a silver metal watch band traveling around your wrist without a face. Push a button and the time is displayed in LED right within the band.

6. Zihotch Retro Phone Watch – Maywadenki

If you’re looking for a watch that the guy in the next cubicle won’t have, this one is it! The rotary face of the watch mimics that of an old phone. What time is it? Dial 117 on your watch to find out. Dial the wrong number and the phone will tell you, “We are sorry, the number you dialed is not in service. Please check and call again.” We bet you’ll be dialing the wrong number just to hear your watch speak!

7. Infection – TokyoFlash

You thought you learned how to tell time way back when, didn’t you? You may want to re-learn when you strap this watch to your wrist! There are no numbers on the Infection, only a series of LEDs. 12 red LEDs represent hours, 11 yellow indicate five minutes and four green LEDs represent single minutes. Good thing you’re in IT; we don’t know if anyone else would be able to figure this fun watch out!

For IT professionals, it’s all about the tech. Any of these new watches will suit you in your new profession perfectly. From the ultra modern to the fabulously retro, there’s a watch to suit your style to a “T”.

Author Tanya Peterson resides in NYC and is a content contributor for watchrepairny.com, a Manhattan provider of fine services such as Omega watch repair and engraving since 1978. Tanya’s grandfather was in the antique watch business and it’s been a fascination with her since childhood.

In business, I (and by extension Customer Hook) are very similar to Lord Grantham. We have a lot of clients (over 7000 on a daily basis) yet we treat everyone with respect, and deal honestly with everyone, even if that means giving a refund now and then if someone wasn’t satisfied with their results.

And I’m not ashamed to say I’ve lost my temper at a few clients over the years, through no fault of either party. I have my weaknesses like everyone else. Anyway, I hope season 3 of DA will be as good as 1 and 2.

Rental v Purchase

Much like with owning versus renting out a home, office rental versus office space purchase is a double-edged sword. Pay a monthly rent quota can take a real damper on your monthly budget, on the one hand. On the other, building a whole new location from the ground up or purchasing a pre-existent one is no easy feat, money-wise, either. The key aspect to consider here is foresight and perspective. If you’re new on the market, or if your business has recently (and, most likely, narrowly) escaped the looming prospect of bankruptcy, then purchasing a headquarters should be far down on your list of priorities, in terms of business strategy. If you are already an established presence on your corner of the market, then this might just be your next logical step. There’s no point in paying rent for the headquarters of a major business, no matter how well located it is. Overall, the money invested into renting could just as well go into buying a location which you know you own, and which will me the corner stone of your upcoming expansion.

Location, Location, Location

This one is obvious, you will say. A good headquarters is, first and foremost, well located. Indeed, it makes perfect sense—however, it’s worth asking yourself how you define a good location. Are you downtown? In that case, congratulations. You’ve drawn the winning ticket. Make sure you hold on to that place for dear life. In most other cases, however, there are several aspects to bear in mind. On the one hand, you should be as close to your competition as possible. If you sell ball bearings, for example, it’s generally wise to set up shop next to the largest ball bearing factory in your city. On the other hand, never lose track of what good location means to your employees. If you want to cut your loss margins and improve efficiency, make sure they are close to all the major means of public transport in your city. Make sure there is at least one supermarket or store nearby, or have a cafeteria set up for them. Alternatively, you can also contract a catering firm, though these tend to be expensive and the quality of the food usually leaves a lot to be desired.

How Do You Like Your Design

Office space interior design is important because it’s your biggest, most visible and most tangible business card. It will always make a major impact on your prospective partners and clients. Never treat this aspect lightly. Hire a good interior designer if you can afford it and make sure you stay current in terms of design trends. In the long run, your clients will be pleasantly impressed with a business that can offer both a pleasant environment and quality products or services.

Well, this article aims to prove you otherwise, by showing you exactly how a tablet can add
to your productivity, focus, effectiveness and connectivity capabilities. Provided you use it
right, your tablet will indeed become a powerful business ally, not to mention it will add to your
comfort and resourcefulness. Let’s see exactly how:

1) Increased connectivity

With a tablet computer inside your briefcase, you will be able to connect to the Internet anytime,
anywhere – from a comfortable ample screen, unlike that in your smartphone. Which means,
you’ll find it much easier to keep track of your e-mail inbox, keep growing your business’
social media presence on the go, do research on new products, services, and even on the
competition. With the increased connectivity, you’ll be amazed with how much extra work you’ll
manage to squeeze into times that would otherwise be idle.

2) Superior time management

From advanced schedulers and to-do list makers to personal organizers, think thanks and team
management tools, you’ll be happy to realize there is a multitude off apps you can use to vastly
improve your time management skills and get more things done in less time. Once you find
the combination of apps that works best for you and effectively get in the habit of using them,
you’ll soon begin to wonder just exactly did you manage to get anything done in those dark days
before you finally decided to get your tablet.

3) Improved focus

Tablets are usually designed as media consumption devices, which means they aren’t good
for as many things as your personal computer. While this may sound at first like a limitation,
you will soon find it’s actually a blessing. You will find it much easier to stay focused on a given
task while using a tablet, since there will be fewer distractions and less temptation to multitask.

If you’re the kind of person who keeps meaning to read those documents or look at those
customer’s files but you keep getting side-tracked, a tablet will help. Not to mention that slow computers have a way of getting on your
nerves, whereas tablets tend to provide a silky smooth user experience, all around.
Try getting a tablet and you’ll never want to look back!

4) Extreme portability

When it comes to portability, you can’t beat a tablet – even if with one of those tiny netbooks,
you still have to clear room in a table to fold out the machine to get work done. With s tablet,
you just take it out and you’re ready for action! No waiting for the computer to boot, no dealing
with messy software: with a tablet you get vastly superior battery life (usually 10 hours or
more), highly responsive applications that seldom crash, and a mobile workstation that does
not stutter… all wrapped up in a lightweight and thin package that fits comfortably inside any
briefcase or bag.

5) Great ally for presentations

You will soon find that your tablet can be a great ally, when it comes to doing presentations for
a group of a few people, or when you’re out and about and need to show projects or assorted
documents to your costumers or business partners. Not only because the whole thing looks
stylish, but especially since you can zoom and flick around those documents in a blazing fast
fashion, as well as pull up any piece of information you need from the Internet, and quickly email
everything to the customer for future reference.: simple, fast and efficient…
just as you like it!

All things accounted for, a tablet won’t replace your computer… nor is it meant to. What it will
do is make your life simpler and keep you from routine stresses such as figuring out how to speed up your computer
at a time when you really need to check your e-mail or read a document without losing time. Try
getting a tablet and you’ll never want to look back!

1. How to set up a great looking site, without html knowledge, that will rank in Google

2. How to incorporate a blog into that same site, and how to use the blog for maximum effectiveness in Google

3. How to add cool social media tools, website tracking, contact forms, image galleries, and more in just a few simple clicks

4. How to get people to pay you $500 or more for the services above, which will literally take you less than an hour to do in most cases.

Interested? Our classes fill up fast, and we have them on the 4th Thursday of every month, from 7-8pm at our office location: 2975 Executive Parkway, Lehi, UT.

It’s free, and bring as many people as you want. We might have donuts, but don’t hold us to that.

Sign up here to reserve your spot.

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Pre-Sales Activities
As any IT sales recruitment professional will have you know, pre-sales is all about landing the customer and ensuring them that they will have a pleasant experience while and after having purchased any given item or service from your company. It’s not always easy to land a customer, although it’s easily at least half the challenge of any sales position. In IT sales, it is essential that the customer understands what you are selling them. This involves providing detailed information about the technical specs of the product, and the way it will respond to the customer’s needs. If they ask for a demonstration of the software, device or service before the sale, make sure you can offer them one and be prepared to answer any sales. Specific cases of the pre-sales operation involve responding to a PQQ, or a pre-qualification questionnaire. If short-listed, a more detailed ITT (information to tender) document will soon follow.

Selling Per Se
The stage of the actual sale is all about negotiation. You need to make sure you are skilled enough to convince the client that they will reap the most benefits from the deal, while also ensuring advantageous conditions for the supplier. You need to make sure you possess detailed knowledge on the product and are prepared to present it in such a manner that will convince the customer that it responds to their specific business needs. Also, where customer-supplier interaction is concerned, you will also have to deal with courtesy calls and follow-ups, right after the negotiation and the sales proper. Good speaking skills are also a big advantage here, since they will help you deliver convincing, powerful sales presentations.

Post-Sale: Technical Support
While some sales staff dreads this part of the process, it is usually a great opportunity to further demonstrate your skill. Show that you care about the customer by readily and promptly solving any faults or problems that may arise during the usage of the sold item. This involves having a positive, pro-active and transparent attitude. Do not try to minimize the client’s issues and also respond to their questions in a manner that is clear and easy for them to follow. Additionally, you and your company might also decide to run programs for maximizing the use of the software, service or device. You can train users either individually, or in group coaching sessions. In any scenario, follow-up is essential to maintain and develop a strong customer base, comprising individuals whom you know will want to continue doing business with you in the future.