Depending on your experience with social media, creating a Facebook Page could go one of two ways:

1. Easy: slap on a profile photo and bare-bones company description, and start adding contacts—done!
2. Create an account: ohmigod, it’s asking for a lot of information. I’ll do it later, when I can devote the time to get it right.

If you’re a regular on social media (you started a Twitter account when the question was still, What are you doing?) but have been procrastinating on starting a Facebook Page, you’ll likely veer toward Door #1. If this whole social networking thing is new to you, you’re likely toeing Door #2. Both of these perspectives are laden with pros and cons.

Social media vets instinctively get the minimum amount of information needed to take a Page live; however, the bare minimum is not enough to warrant a following on this particular scene. Newbies, on the other hand, understand that creating a quality page, one worthy of others taking time out of their day to view, takes time. But this same fact intimidates them from actually creating their presence on this online stage.

For both vets and newbies, here are the four critical steps in setting up an effective Facebook Page—quickly:

1. Upload photos. Internet users are infamously visual creatures. Most will skip over text to get to photos any day, so make sure that yours are both interesting and relevant. Give them a face (or faces) to associate with your company. Share photos of company events, such as ribbon-cuttings, picnics, Christmas parties, and employee-of-the-month announcements. Today, it’s all about making corporate seem personal.
2. Make your description count. That means—don’t copy/paste from your website. Facebook is a different animal, one that begs for a more direct connection. Think of the classic 5 W’s of an effective news article: Who, What, Where, When, Why. In 200 words or less, explain who makes up your company, what services you offer, where you’re located, when you were founded, and—most importantly—why you do what you do. This is a chance to be both personal and personable. Allow clients and potential clients a peek into your company’s motivations.
3. Use the Wall. Share links to engaging and informative articles and company publications. Give quick, one-line updates. Offer Facebook-exclusive deals. Recognize leaders in your company and the industry as a whole. And ask questions—very important! The Wall should be interactive, a way of engaging with your clients and gauging what interests and excites them.
4. Start a Discussion. Ask questions. Share testimonials. Post links to articles, give your viewpoint, and ask for opinions. Facebook Fans are typically more apt to write on Walls than they are to join in on Discussions, but offering them the option is always a good thing.

What do you think? Are these pointers helpful? Let us know how setting up your Facebook Page goes—and alert us when it’s up! We’d be glad to spread the word. Because, after all, that’s what Facebook is all about.

Just today, I heard a story: A couple of my friends, both lawyers, were at a bar. (I know—sounds like the beginning of a joke, right?) They met a woman there, named Elizabeth, whom the bartender recognized immediately. Turns out, she’d left her debit card there the previous weekend. When she didn’t turn up to claim it, the owner of the bar had turned to the source most likely to discover her identity: Facebook. The bar owner searched for Elizabeth on Facebook, found her, and sent her a message relaying the location of her debit card. Elizabeth promptly—and gratefully—returned to the bar and reclaimed her card. My friends heard this story because Elizabeth had returned to patronize the same bar several weeks later, now a happy and loyal customer.

Today, any company can follow the actions of this bar: search for customers (and potential customers) on Facebook and make a connection. In the bar’s case, the connection was pre-made; Elizabeth was already a customer who had left a valuable belonging behind. But the moral of the story is simple: Your customers are on Facebook. What started as a way for U.S. college students to connect with one another through mutual friends or acquaintances has become a worldwide social networking phenomenon, one in which everyone you need to know is only a few clicks away.

Here’s another example of a real company utilizing Facebook: In Athens, Georgia, a small, vibrant town with a thriving locally-owned business scene, a young woman is striving to open a community-centered bookstore. This woman created a Facebook page for her business—which complements her blog, online store, Twitter, etc.—to keep her future customers updated on the process of her store opening. Currently, she’s using her Facebook page as a means to promote her online grant application; the more people who vote for the application, the better her chances of earning $50,000 toward opening her store. Now, almost a month after her application went live, she is a finalist for the grant—thanks, in no small part, to her Facebook Fans who have been voting daily.

The two scenarios I’ve given are very different ways of showing how a business—a bar, a bookstore, everything in between—can utilize Facebook to market a company, grow brand identity, earn a community following and loyal customers, and more. The uses for Facebook are almost unlimited for proactive and creative companies; indeed, I would argue that any company not on Facebook has already been left behind in today’s interactive global marketplace.

Convinced, but don’t know where to start when it comes to creating a Facebook Page? Stay tuned for our next post in the Facebook marketing series.

In what ways do you use social networking sites to market your business? Have you seen or experienced similar examples as the ones given above?

Photo credit: pshab

A common question businesses ask about SEO is, “Why is it my job? Why can’t search engines find my site without me?” The answer is that they will; it’ll just take longer for visitors to find. The difference between taking control of SEO versus leaving it to search engines is the difference between letting word of mouth dictate your company’s future versus putting time and resources into crafting a winning advertising campaign. In an ideal world, happy clients would extol your company’s virtues every chance they get, but the world isn’t ideal. It’s busy. Clients move on. And so do search engines—to sites that make it easier for them to rank relevance.

That all said, the off-site portion of optimizing your website needn’t be excessively pricey or time-consuming. It’s all about knowing your stuff when it comes to keyword research. And while there’s a LOT to say on the subject, here are three big-deal tips:

Think like a prospective client

Let’s say you own a photography business in Portland, Oregon. What might someone looking for a photographer in Portland, Oregon use as search terms? There’s the obvious: “photographer Portland Oregon.” Then there are more specific terms: “wedding photographer Portland Oregon”; “wedding photographer parent albums Portland Oregon”; “wedding bridal photographer Portland Oregon”; “romantic wedding photography Portland Oregon”;  “wedding photography prices Portland Oregon.” The list is potentially infinite. But thinking like a potential client will keep you both creative and practical—a valuable combination.

Do your homework

There are several online tools that will let you see how often certain terms are searched. (Check out Google Keyword Tool.) These sites will let you know if you got too creative during your brainstorm session and dreamed up keyword combinations that simply aren’t used often enough to be useful to you.

Know why some terms are better than others

At this point, you know which of the terms you originally dreamed up (and others you created after doing your homework) are searched most often. But you also need to know that not all highly searched terms are created equal. Some result in more conversion (someone buys a bridal portrait package from your photography company, for example). And others are searched so often that the competition is extremely fierce. “Photographer Portland Oregon” might not be as good a keyword choice as it initially appeared if two hundred other photography studios in Portland are also using it.

Wondering what to do after you’ve chosen your keywords? Stay tuned to our SEO series for more tips and tricks.

Photo credit: fakelvis

Most businesses know that a website alone isn’t going to win new clients. A website is simply another listing in the largest directory in the world: the Internet. For people who are already familiar with your company, a website is invaluable; it’s a quick and easy way to learn more about what you do well and how you can do it for them. But for the majority of Web browsers who enter keywords into a search engine, rather than an actual company name, it’s crucial that search engines can actually find you. Otherwise, website or not, you’ll remain invisible to them. That’s where SEO comes in.

So, what the heck is SEO?

And why do those three letters roll off the tongues of Internet marketers like gospel?

SEO—or Search Engine Optimization—is the process used to increase traffic on your website and improve its ranking on popular search engines. Here’s a little exercise: Try typing “flower delivery Austin Texas” in Google. You’ll first see a handful of florists that are advertising through Google. But right below the map are the top ten or so websites that Google has found to be most relevant to your search. That’s not to say, of course, that there aren’t other websites that are just as valuable—so how did these particular sites get the coveted first page position?

You got it: SEO.

But how is it done?

There are two main ways to optimize your website: on-site and off-site. On-site SEO involves working behind the scenes to make your site accessible, relevant, and accurate. That means, among other things, that you should have no broken links, no huge files (150K), and no slow servers. You also want to make sure that URLs, title tags, and metatags—which are used to describe your site and each page on it—are as concise and accurate as possible.

Meanwhile, off-site SEO requires careful and thorough keyword research. Many companies mistakenly pollute their sites with terms they think will get them ranked higher on search engines. But, because they’re essentially creating content for machines, the actual human beings who encounter the site are most often completely turned off. (We’ve all been to those sites whose content is dominated by terms like “cheap flowers,” “sell flowers,” “flower delivery,” and “flower order,” right? Not cool.) Researching and choosing the most relevant keywords—and using them wisely—is key in off-site SEO. And it’s the subject of the next post in our SEO series!

Have you tried to optimize your site? What have the results been?

Now that you’ve decided to market your company on Twitter, it would be easy (and sleazy) to randomly follow as many people as possible in hopes that they will return the favor. The logic of the mass follow—i.e. that casting a wider net yields a heavier catch—is dated. It recalls the days when a local business would distribute direct mail to everyone in the city, in hopes that a dozen people would open the envelope and two would care what was inside. This tactic is also transparent, especially by the savvy inhabitants of the Web frontier. So how can a business establish a presence and grow a brand on Twitter the right way?

Make meaningful connections

No, this doesn’t require taking someone out for a glass of wine and asking about their life—but use the networking skills you’ve honed in your business when deciding whom to follow. If you’re in the book industry, follow editors, writers, book critics, literary magazines, publishers, agents, private consultants, and so on. A realtor? Do a search for mortgage brokers, lenders, real estate professionals in your area, and individuals using terms regarding buying or selling property. The first step in establishing a valuable online presence is to build a circle of contemporaries whom you can both learn from and educate.

Have an opinion

Have you ever read a blog that bores you to anger because it’s so banal? Think of Twitter as a mini-blog. There’s no need for snarkiness (unless it suits your brand), but don’t be afraid to share your opinions on the things you know. Link or retweet an article you just read in a newspaper or magazine, and offer a fresh perspective on it. In short, be the guest who gets invited back to the next dinner party.

Save the blatant self-promotion

When used well, Twitter can help any business increase name recognition—which is great. But you won’t win friends, followers, or clients by constantly shouting how great your company is. Choose your self-promotion wisely. Offer Twitter-exclusive sales and coupons; reward people for allowing you into their online lives. When relevant, link to longer articles or blog posts you’ve written, but don’t forget to acknowledge other experts as well. No one likes a know-it-all.

Hope this is helpful in getting you started on Twitter. Keep reading the Twitter series for more advice on using this unique networking tool to your advantage!

Photo credit: tanakawho

What are you doing? Twitter, the social networking phenomenon utilized by Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, high school students, and everyone in between, was built to answer that simple, four-word question. The idea was to help users stay connected to those they know—and those they want to know—in 140 characters or less.

Since its launch, Twitter has evolved seamlessly into another question: What’s going on? Those new four words epitomize Twitter’s use—and usefulness—for companies interested in building a brand, communicating with current and prospective clients, and keeping up with industry news and trends: It allows those companies to learn, and share, what’s going on. Yet, despite seeing the Twitter icon everywhere from billboards to business cards, many companies aren’t sure where to start when it comes to connecting with an audience in this decidedly modern way.

Why Use Twitter?

If you don’t know the answer to this question, you have no business setting up a profile; that’s because you’ll likely use the site in a way that isn’t beneficial to your company or your customers. So—why use Twitter? Easy: because your clients do. And they’re already engaged in conversation that could directly affect your products, services, and bottom line. Opting out of this conversation is the equivalent of hanging up on a prospect; he or she won’t be calling back.

Whom Should You Follow?

Choosing a username that accurately reflects your business, and then following the steps Twitter outlines in its registration process, is easy and quick. Choosing whom to follow is a little more of an art. Remember that those you follow will usually follow you back, provided that you offer useful and entertaining information rather than blatant self-promotion. Use Twitter’s “Find People” tab to get to “Browse Suggestions.” Then research categories that relate to your business. You’ll quickly see who the movers and shakers are by the frequency and content of their posts (and number of followers), and you would do well to follow them. But also be on the lookout for prospective clients—those who could benefit from your expertise—and follow them as well. Finally, do a specific search for professional contacts you know offline.

The next obvious question is, “What should you post?” Keep reading our Twitter series for useful advice, tricks of the Twitter-trade (say that three times fast), and case studies of those who have gotten it right for answers you can use everyday.

Was this post helpful? We’d love your feedback, including some of the ways you use Twitter!

Photo credit: respres

With the proliferation of website templates available, many for free, you may be tempted to treat your Website as a DIY project. In some cases, that may be the way to go. However, just as you might be willing to trust your own carpentry skills when putting together a picnic table but not when building a Bed and Breakfast, there are times when it simply makes sense to hire a professional to help you with your Website.

For the B&B, you’d start with an architect; for your Website, you’ll need a Web designer. But beware: the ability to throw together some HTML code does not make a designer. Here are some questions to ask when interviewing prospective Web designers:

Do you have experience with my type of business?

Someone who is a whiz at putting together media-intensive, glitzy sites for on-stage performers may be able to create a visually interesting Website for your Bed and Breakfast, but that won’t be enough if he doesn’t know how to handle bookings, cancellations, and secure credit card transactions.

Will you handle the entire project from drawing board to implementation, or will I need to involve other people?

Some designers are willing and able to serve as general contractors, overseeing all aspects of a complex project; others want to focus only on the user navigation structure and visual interface elements. It’s important to know up front what your designer will and won’t do.

What are your policies on Website changes?

As your business grows and changes, you will want your Website to do so as well. Whether it’s to add new products to your store or add information about a new location, there is little doubt that you will need to update your site. Find out how the designer handles these kinds of changes, as well as larger redesigns.

Of course, you’ll also need to discuss prices and schedules, and you’ll want to talk to the designer’s customers to make sure she delivers what she promises on time. Just like hiring the right architect ensures you get the building you want, taking the time to find the right designer will help you launch a successful Website.

Photo credit: Ben Dodson

It seems that everyone has a website these days. If you are a business, a website is one of the most important marketing tools you can have. It creates the potential to attract new customers and lets them know what you do. But with all the websites out there, how will people find yours? Well there are a lot of ways to promote your website and some of them can cost a lot of money. But let’s look at how you can drive traffic to your website without spending any money. All it will cost you is a little research and some of your time.

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is probably one of the most important things you will do when setting up your website. SEO makes your website more visible to search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Below are 7 important things to remember when optimizing you website.

Pick Relevant Keywords

The way search engines find your website is by comparing the words found on your website with the words someone searches for. If your website is more relevant to the search terms entered, it will appear higher in the results. Because of this it is important to know what keywords you are wanting to use to drive traffic to your website. It is good to pick one main keyword and at least three additional keywords. We will call your main keyword the “Theme Keyword” and your other three keywords your “Category Keywords.”

Make sure all the keywords chosen are relevant to what people should expect when they come to your website. Make sure you don’t over use these keywords on your website. Over use will be very obvious to the search engines and will result in a lower ranking. Make sure you are using them in sentences, headlines and links. I will get into how to research the best keywords in another article.

Content is Always King

Having content on every page of your website is very important. Without content there will be nothing for the search engines to find on your website. Images make your website look pretty but they will not help drive traffic to your website. Make sure every page has one of your keywords in an H1 tag. This will give that keyword a higher priority. Also the first paragraph of text on the page should be a summary of the rest of the page. If your visitors are not interested in what they read then they will quickly leave your website.

Use of <h1> and <h2> tags

H1 and H2 tags will not only help users of your website find important content, but they will also help tell Google what your page is about. Make sure not to over use these tags as that will hurt your search engine rank. Make sure you are using your keywords within H1 and H2 tags.

Internal Linking

Linking to other pages on your website is very important to the success of your website. When a search engine indexes your website it will follow links it finds and index those pages as well. It is also very important that your link text is relevant to the page the link is going to. Never use “here” or “click here” when linking. You want the text to describe where the link is going, for example “more SEO techniques” or “learn how to implement SEO.” Make sure all the links on the page are relevant and don’t go crazy with the links.

Use Title Tags

Make sure you are utilizing your title tags. Your title is what shows up at the very top of the browser and it is also what shows up in the search results on search engines. Every page should have a title tag that is relevant to that page. Also make sure you include one of your keywords in the title tag and you are using title tags within your links. For example, <a title=”title of the page” href=”link”>.

Meta Descriptions

Using relevant meta descriptions is just as important as using title tags. Make sure you use a unique meta description for each page of your website. This description is what shows up under the title in search engine results. In one sentence describe what the page is about.

Create a Site Map

Create a site map for your website. A site map is a map of the structure of your website. Once you have created the site map make sure you send it to Google and any other search engine you would like.

Photo credit: Stéfan

So let’s take a step back and assume you are at the point where you want your own website but don’t know where to start. There are two main components you need before you get started with the design process of your website.

You need:

• a domain name, such as www.yourname.com
• and web hosting space on a web server to store all your files for the world to see

The first step is to choose a domain name for your new website. This can be anything you want as long as no one else already has it. It is usually a good idea to pick a domain name that is easy for people to remember, or that has strong keywords related to your website in it. I will explain in detail choosing a good domain name in a later post.

To search for a domain go to foureyedmonkey.com and in the domain search field type the domain name you would like to search for. Once you hit search it will show you if that domain name is available and if it is available with other extensions, such as .net, .org, etc. You can also scroll down the page to see other suggestions you may like to try that are available. Once you find one or more domain names you would like to buy, add them to your shopping cart.

Now that your domain names are added to your shopping cart, you need to purchase web hosting for your website. In the menu bar click on web hosting. Once you are on the web hosting page of foureyedmonkey.com, you will see that you have several choices: economy, deluxe, and unlimited. Make sure to take a look at everything that is included in each web hosting plan listed below the prices.

You will need to choose what web hosting plan that is best for you. Deluxe or Unlimited are both great choices if you are not sure, because they give you the most extras. Once you find the web hosting plan you would like, click the add button to add it to your shopping cart.

Once you have added the web hosting plan to your shopping cart, you will be taken to a page with great additional products you may be interested in. You may add any of them to your shopping cart, or if you would like to skip right to checkout, scroll all the way down near the bottom of the page and under the continue button you will see: “No thanks. Continue to checkout…”. You will click there and be taken through the checkout process.

Once you have purchased your new domain name and web hosting, you will need to set them up. Up in the menu bar put your mouse on the web hosting menu bar and when the drop down menu appears click on my hosting accounts. You will see your new hosting account list and it will say Setup next to it. Click on setup and you will be guided through the setup process.

That’s it! You have done it! Now that you have your new domain name and web hosting, you are ready to start designing your website. Good luck!

Four Eyed Monkey’s innovative Rapid Transfer System spares you steps and saves you time. It allows us to complete most transfers within 5-7 days. If the transfer fails for any reason we will contact you, and refund your money.

Our professional Transfer Concierge is always just a phone call away and can assist you personally 24/7. They are available to help you throughout the transfer process.

Call our Transfer Concierge service now! 480-505-8866

Let’s break down the domain name transfer process.

1. Purchase Domain Name Transfer from Foureyedmonkey.com
2. Then you must unlock the domain name and retrieve an Authorization Code from your current registrar, which is needed to initiate the transfer with Foureyedmonkey.com.
3. Foureyedmonkey.com will then send an email to you which contains an ID number, Key Code and link to confirm the transfer.
4. You will then confirm the transfer with the ID and Key that you recieved from the email. If the domain being transferred requires one, the Authorzation Code from the Losing Registrar will also have to be entered.
5. Foureyedmonkey.com will then send notification to the Losing Registrar to transfer the domain.
6. The Losing Registrar sends confirmation for the release of the domain name to your email.
7. You will confirm release with Losing Registrar.
8. Losing Registrar releases the domain name to Foureyedmonkey.com
9. You will then receive a transfer request email informing you that the domain name is now located in you account.
10. Now you have control over your domain name at Foureyedmonkey.com!!!

Authorizing a Domain Transfer to Your Account

Your domain name transfer will not succeed unless you unlock the domain name, remove privacy, set up a valid administrative email, and apply the correct authorization code(for domain names that require one).

To Authorized a Domain Name Transfer to Your Account

1. Log in to your Account Manager.
2. In the My Products section, click Manage Domains. The Domain Manager displays.
3. From the Domains Menu, select Pending Transfers.
4. Click the Authorization button, and then click Begin Transfer Authorization.
5. In the Transaction ID field, enter the transaction ID from the email notification we sent regarding the domain transfer, and then click Next.
6. If applicable, enter the Authorization Code that you received from the current Registrar and click continue.

Troubleshooting Domain Transfers

• Authorization Code (Auth Code) – For domains that require one, the customer must obtain an Auth Code for the transfer from the losing Registrar and enter it in the transfer confirmation page.
• Awaiting Response – Foureyedmonkey.com must receive a response from the Administrative (Admin) Contact within 30 days. If you have not received a confirmation email, verify that the Admin email address is valid.
• Failed Transfer – The domain is locked, expired, or was registered or renewed within the last 60 days and therefore cannot be transferred at this time. If your domain is locked, you must contact your current registrar to unlock it before the transfer can be completed.
• No Response / Late Response – The losing Registrar must receive a response to the transfer confirmation email within their allotted time frame.

For more information about transferring domains or authorization codes, please visit our Help Center or contact the Customer Support Department.