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Issue 22: April 17, 2011

By the Numbers

7 Times

Companies that contact prospects within an hour of receiving online queries are seven times as likely to have a meaningful conversation than if it takes longer

The Short Life of
Online Sales

QR Code Contest:
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A Free
Webinar Seat
On Thursday 

 April 2011 QR Code

WEBINAR

  

BUILDING AN ONLINE COMMUNITY 

 

April 21, 2011

11:00 a.m. CT  

You've already created a presence on the social media channels. 

 

More than likely, you have a blog, you're on Twitter, and Facebook.  

 

You understand the fundamentals of interacting online and you appreciate the importance of it.

 

Are you ready to take it to the next level?

 

This is an advanced level webinar and for those of you who are ready to spend some significant time building your community. 

 

To register ($50), click here.

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Keeping It Fresh: Royal
Wedding Mania

Amercians are crazy about the upcoming royal wedding, with news about it every, single day on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and more. 

 

As proof, T-Mobile did a most excellent spoof of the 2009 viral video from Jill and Kevin's wedding entrance dance.

 

They went all out; even hiring look-alike actors. It's worth a watch. 

The T-Mobile Royal Wedding

The T-Mobile Royal Wedding

Quick Tips: Business Success Using Yelp

Shane Bryant, founder and owner of HVAC service company Smart Air in Austin, Texas, didn't seek referral business through Yelp - it found him.

 

A scant two years since Shane launched his company and the first five-star reviews started appearing on the local business ratings and reviews site, more than 70 percent of the Smart Air leads are directly attributable to Yelp, and the company has grown from two employees to eight.

 

Shane, through our friend Jay Pinkert, shares his five tips for having business success on Yelp...or any other location-based website.

  • Focus on providing an exceptional customer experience, and the reviews will take care of themselves.
  • Don't try to game the system. Unlike other local ratings and reviews sites, Yelp's system filters reviews based on factors like previous site participation. Filtered reviews are still available for viewing, but they don't appear on the main reviews page, and the corresponding ratings are not included in the overall calculation.
  • Invest in training. The customer experience should be the same whether the owner is on site or not.
  • Monitor and learn from your competitors' reviews.
  • Share your Yelp success stories when speaking with customers. It can lead to interesting new opportunities.

If you have a brick and mortar store or provide a service that your customers can review through Yelp, Angie's List, Open Table, Zagat, Trip Advisor, City Search, Chow Hound, and more, these tips are for you! 

Spin Sucks Pro Is Nearly Here! 
Spin Sucks Pro launches on May 2!

If you are a PR or marketing professional - inside a company, at an agency, or on your own - Spin Sucks Pro is an easy way to further your professional development while learning from the best minds.

Be sure to check it out, register, and be ready for more information! 
eBook: Dear CEO 

Our new eBook is here! 

"Dear CEO: Letters to the C-Suite from Experts on Vision, Culture, Community, and Integration."

We've gathered 32 experts who talk about growing a business through one of the four areas. You can learn more and buy it ($40) today by clicking here.

Digital Marketing In Practice 

Gini is an entrepreneur blogger for Crain's Chicago Business, where you can find her every Friday. Read her latest article, "Professional Courtesy and the Art of the LinkedIn Invite."

Facebook may achieve Global Domination soon, with all of the tools they continue to introduce. This month's article is about games, check-ins, crowdsourcing, and social shopping without ever leaving Facebook. Learn more in the Social Media 101 column in the April issue of Franchise Times.

We are on the road speaking at industry conferences and CEO groups, hosting workshops, and doing digital marketing consulting. If you'd like to have us visit you, please contact Patti Knight at 312 787-7249 or [email protected].