Have a safe and happy Halloween! Click here for a fun video!
Happy Halloween
Leave a reply
Category Archives: Blog With BEB
LinkedIN Class Receives Highest Ranking
Another sold-out class is on the books for our Fall Marketing for Small Business Advanced series.
Our Kathy Norris Hall conducted yesterday’s LinkedIN seminar. We reviewed LinkedIN – Past/Present and Future, the anatomy of a Profile, Group, and Company Page, and how to use LinkedIN for sales and prospecting.
100% of our attendees ranked the class as Excellent, and 100% said they would recommend the class to a friend or colleague.
Proposed January Rates Published
The proposed January postal rate hike has been released. The anticipated changes, by percentage and class are as follows:
First Class Mail = .78%
Standard Mail = .895%
Periodicals = .832%
Some highlights to review:
- FCM Automated Area Distribution Center (AADC) rates and 3-digit presort categories for automation letters and postcards, and Standar Mail Automation Letters are merging into one.
- The weight maximum for FCM nonautomation presorted machinable letters and Standard mail machinable letters will increase from 3.3 oz to 3.5 oz
- Standard Mail will now be known as USPS Marketing Mail
- The weight maximum of Marketing Mail flats that pay piece races will increase from 3.3 oz to 4.0 oz
- Workshare rate discounts are being reduced
For detailed rate comparison charts, click onto a category below:
Rates were submitted to the PRC (Postal Regulatory Commission) for review. We will continue to post the current changes as they happen. If you have questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
713-528-5568
FACEBOOK Class Ranked Excellent
Our HOW TO: Facebook class, the second of our five seminar fall curriculum, was at full capacity yesterday.
We met some fantastic entrepreneurs with amazing companies…again! The class covered details on how Facebook decides who sees posts on your newsfeed, why your organic reach from your company Facebook page is waning (the latest statistics show that less than 6.5% of followers to your company page will see your posts), and a detailed explanation of insights.
We surveyed our participants and 100% ranked the class as EXCELLENT. Next week is HOW TO: LinkedIN!
TWITTER Class a Hit
Check out what people who attended our Marketing for Small Business – Twitter Class had to say!
Delivery Delays Due to Hurricane Matthew
Anticipated Mail Delivery Delays Due To Hurricane Matthew Along the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic Coast
Post Office Closures/Relocations/
The U.S. Postal Service is monitoring the progress of Hurricane Matthew. With its current track, the hurricane is poised to have significant impacts along the Florida coast and northward into Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. In preparation, the USPS has begun to take the necessary steps to prepare for the storm.
At this time, the Governor of South Carolina has issued an evacuation order for the counties around Charleston, SC, effective 3:00 PM. today. Specific offices impacted will be shared shortly. Also, the Governor of Florida has asked for voluntary evacuations in coastal, barrier islands, and low lying areas along the east coast.
As the impacts to postal operations are identified, updated information will be posted to the USPS Alerts website accessed through the RIBBS webpage, http://ribbs.usps.gov/ and http://about.usps.com/
Direct Mail Drives Digital
Today, people are inundated with advertising, which can lead them to burn out and tune out. As campaigns ramp up for the 2016 holiday season, it’s time to start thinking about effective ways to break through the clutter so your message gets heard-loud and clear.
Direct mail is the spark that can initiate action. Year after year, it continues to prove itself as one of the most engaging and effective channels.
Not only is direct mail a proven backbone for digital experiences, it is a unique platform that enables you to micro-target and measure campaign results.
With the ever-expanding use of technology, many are now turning to digital channels for their news and product information research. Social, mobile and search engines have become key players in reaching and engaging both mass and targeted audiences. Direct mail is part of a multi-channel campaign can play a big role in propelling buyers toward digital experiences.
Why does multi-channel marketing work? Using a variety of media channels – from mobile to print to online ads – can help stave off the standard/expected trailing response rate of campaigns. This strategy can result in upticks or surges, allowing you to extend your reach and strengthen your message’s impact.
Digitally enabled direct mail can be highly effective because it:
- Merges tangible and digital elements that can stimulate the recipient’s senses while instantly delivering relevant information.
- Helps break through the “noise” to bolster engagement.
October 2016 – QR Code
Have you scanned your October QR Code from BEB-Business Extension Bureau’s 2016 calendar?
We have a special message for you!
You can also click here to see it!
Kathy Hall Makes The Cut Earns Houston Super Bowl Volunteer Spot
Congratulations to our Kathy Hall (Business Development Manager) for making the cut! Over 24,000 Houstonians applied for 10,000 volunteer positions at the upcoming Super Bowl 51 in February. The Super Bowl Host Committee made it official and invited her to become a volunteer last Thursday.
Next up? A 3-hour orientation training at NRG Stadium on Saturday, October 15th.
Congratulations, Kathy!
Which Social Media Platform is Best for Your Business
Which platform is best for your business? The best way to determine that is to find out who is on those platforms.
Referencing data from the Pew Research Center’s Annual Internet Project Survey, 72% of adults online are on Facebook. 28% are on Instagram, 25% on LinkedIN, and 23% are on Twitter.
There are more women than men on Facebook and Instagram. Though almost even, LinkedIN 
and Twitter have more men users than women.
Young adults are still the most likely to use social media. 90% of online adults ages 18-29 are active while 77% aged 30-49 are also active on social media. However, the fastest growing segment are adults aged 50-64. 51% are engaged on a social platform (up 5% from 2005), and 35% of adults aged 65+ partake in the medium. That’s up from 2% in 2005.
The study reviews income and education demographics of multiple social platforms as well. By reviewing each of the demographics, you will see a general profile of the people using specific social sites. Here’s a couple of quick reviews:
Founded in 2004, this 12-year old platform is the most used social site. It’s been around the longest too. An entire generation has “grown up” on it.
70% of Facebook users check their account daily. On average, users check their account 14 times a day.
This 10-year old platform touts 313 million active monthly users. Over 50 million tweets are posted daily. Who is posting all of that information?
36% of Twitter’s users check their account daily.
Adding an interesting mix to the fold are the statistics showing people on multiple platforms. Over 25% of online adults are engaged in more than one social network while 17% are on three. This is growing trend worth watching.
You can learn more about “who” is on “which” platform by attending our Marketing for Small Business Social Media Classes.
Your business should be active on at least one social platform. Advertising is inexpensive, it helps your search engine optimization (at no cost), and enables your clients (both existing and potential) to interact with you. If you know who your clients are, choose the platform that has your audience/client base engaged and get started today!