August 2009

Beanstalk Marketing - Growing the Beanstalk
Greetings!
Beanstalk
I hope you enjoy this issue of Growing the Beanstalk, the newsletter of Beanstalk Marketing. Today I talk about using Facebook to promote your business and share one of the best marketing books (that tells all the secrets). Enjoy!                    
Heidi Elliott
In This Issue
Facebook for Business
What Kind of Fan Are You?
The New Rules of Marketing & PR
Quick Links
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Facebook for Business - Really?

Remember what we learned last month? Seth Godin taught us that a true fan will "cross the street to buy from you."
 
With over 250 million active users on Facebook, you don't want to miss this opportunity to connect with your best customers in a direct and personal way.
 
Here are the top 10 things businesses should do to market themselves on Facebook.
 
1. Create an account and profile. Most people keep their profile personal and set up "Pages" for business.
 
2. Set up a business "Page" with your logo or photo and business information. Some businesses have created "Groups" but now Facebook is pushing businesses to set up Pages.
 
3.  Tell everyone you know about your business Page. Put it in your newsletter, in your email signature, on your business cards, and on your web site. Ask them to become fans.
 
4.  Once people become fans they will get your updates on their wall, and others will see your updates, and your fans will grow without doing a thing!
 
5. Start posting updates. Like other social media, updates should be engaging, informative and useful. Talk about what you are working on and mix in links to what others are doing. Create Facebook Events for promotions you are having.
 
6. Consider promoting your Page and Events with Facebook Social Ads. They can be highly targeted to your exact market.
 
7.  Add Facebook share links to your web site so that readers can share your cool content with their friends and contacts via Facebook.
 
8. Add new content to your Facebook Page often. Anything visual - videos, photos, links to other sites - gets more attention than just text.
 
9. Be useful. Make the information you provide useful, engaging and cool, and they will come, and stay.
 
10. Engage your customers. Talk with them. Ask for feedback and ideas. Once they realize you are listening, they'll "cross the street".
 
Start today! Become of fan of Beanstalk Marketing on Facebook! Click the icon below. 
 
Facebook
What Kind of Fan Are You?
FacebookSo you want your business to succeed on Facebook? First become a fan yourself! Search for Pages of all kinds and you'll soon see who is being successful on Facebook.
 
NEWS - TV stations, newspapers and magazines are a great place to start.
 
SCHOOL - Look up your alma mater and become a fan of the alumni page or football team.
 
PARTNERS - Search for your partners, suppliers, competitors or agencies.
 
PERSONAL - Find your favorite microbrew, independent band, actor or TV show.
Books Worth Your Time
 
New Rules of Marketing & PRI recently read this book again and realized how important his ideas are for the successful small business. It's time to throw out those old mass marketing rules and embrace the digital future.
 
For instance, press releases are an opportunity to talk directly with your customers, not just reporters. So take advantage of the opportunity, and create reasons to talk with them often.
 
This book is full of practical techniques that any business owner can start using to grow their business, and most don't cost a thing. If you are ready to embrace the new rules, check it out.
Heidi Elliott - Beanstalk MarketingPlant Your Beans Today for Years of Growth

Beanstalk Marketing is the Anti-Agency - a strategic partner and comprehensive marketing department - without the agency price tag or management headaches.
 
Fueled by Heidi Elliott's 15 years of experience, Beanstalk Marketing develops a strategy that integrates all of your small business branding and marketing efforts into a single, powerful plan, then hand picks the team of experts needed to implement it on time and on budget. Learn more at Beanstalk Marketing.