Tag Archives: Business Extension Bureau

FACEBOOK Class Ranked Excellent

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fb-sold-out-graphic-einstineOur 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!

100-percent-ranked-beb-marketing-for-small-business-class-facebook-as-excellent

Delivery Delays Due to Hurricane Matthew

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2016-10-06-hurrican-matthewAnticipated Mail Delivery Delays Due To Hurricane Matthew Along the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic Coast
Post Office Closures/Relocations/Service Impacts

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/service-alerts/welcome.htm/.

Direct Mail Drives Digital

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2016-beb-direct-mail-drives-digital-experiences1Today, 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.

 

 

Which Social Media Platform is Best for Your Business

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which-platform-is-the-bestWhich 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.

gender-demographicsThere are more women than men on Facebook and Instagram.  Though almost even, LinkedIN older-couple-african-american-computer-smilingand 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.

income-and-education-demographicsThe 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:

Facebook

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.

facebook-profile70% of Facebook users check their account daily.  On average, users check their account 14 times a day.

TWITTER

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?

twitter-profile36% 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!

TWITTER 101

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young-man-african-american-red-shirt-curly-hair-puzzled-question-unsureWhy should your business be on Twitter?   It’s a great way to stay connected to your customers, it’s an excellent lead generation platform, you can share information quickly and gather feedback in real time.

Twitter is a recipient driven platform.  People choose to follow  your account.  Messaging is quick to read and write, exchangeable anywhere and is easy to integrate into multiple networks such as Twitter, Instagram, and your website.

There are a few cautions to note.  caution-sign-exclamation-point  Be sure to check out the profile before you follow someone.  Pornography sites are prevalent, hackers are present, and stay away from people selling “followers”.  Lastly, be careful about aggressive tweeting – hounding people to follow you, pushing people to interact, you could get your account shut down.  Respect the platform and see who starts to follow you and be sure to follow those whose tweets you want to see more of.

Messaging is limited to 140 characters per tweet (for now).  This includes website links and pictures.  Be sure that you write well though.  Don’t start using short hand unless it’s necessary.  You’ll find the more you’re on Twitter, the more concise your writing will become!

Best Practices

2016-02-11-ron-and-the-dancing-reindeerSHARE! Share photos and behind the scenes info about your business. Even better, give a glimpse of developing projects and events. Users come to Twitter to get and share the latest, so give it to them!

Listen.  Regularly monitor the comments about you, your co-workers and your company, brand, and products.

Ask – Respond – Engage

Ask questions of your followers to gain valuable insights and show you are listening.

Respond to compliments and  feedback as soon as you can.

Engage existing &   prospective clients; it may not seem so, it adds a personal touch.

Demonstrate Wider Leadership.  Reference articles and links about the bigger picture as it relates opera-singer-with-notes-horns-shield-blondto your business.

Champion Your Stakeholders.  Retweet and reply publicly to great tweets posted by your followers and customers.

Establish the right voice.

Twitter users tend to prefer a direct, genuine, and of course, a likable tone from you, think about your voice as you Tweet. How do you want your business to appear to the Twitter community?

The very best way to become comfortable within Twitter, is to start using it.  Search for people and businesses to follow.  Start with following your current clients.  Then start Tweeting.

You can also attend one of our many Marketing for Small Business classes.  We offer training on how to choose the right social platform for your business as well as how to use those platforms.  Our next HOW TO: Twitter class is on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 from 11:30 – 1:00pm.  Register here today!

Zehrbach elected to PIGC BOD

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2016-09-05-joy-zOur Joy Zehrbach, (Vice President), was elected to the Board of Directors of The Printing Industry of the Gulf Coast (PIGC).

The PIGC is an industry association available to graphic communications firms in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast area.  It serves as the official representative of the graphic arts industry in the area and further the cause of the industry in the areas of business, government and to the general public.

Established in 1918 by a group of Houston printers as the Printer’s Education and Publicity Bureau, PIGC is one of the state’s oldest still existing trade associations. In 1920, Houston printers joined with Galveston’s printing industry to form the Houston-Galveston Typothetae and affiliated with the United Typothetae of America (the original name for Printing Industries of America). PIGC is a non-profit corporation in the State of Texas.

PlGC’s members provide leadership and knowledge by serving on the various committees and on its Board of Directors. All activities of the Association including its services, functions and positions are reviewed and studied by committees for recommendations to the Board of Directors.

PIGC is an affiliate of Printing Industries of America . Both PIGC and Printing Industries of America work together to deliver products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency, and profitability of its members and the industry through: advocacy, education, research, and technical information.

 

 

In fact, on average, Printing Industries of America members experience growth in sales at a rate 40% greater than the overall industry. Printing Industries of America serves more than 12,000 member firms and their employees with some of them right here in the Texas gulf coast region.

Businesses on Social Media – Why it’s so Important

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2 WAY STREET MARKETINGSocial media changed the entire marketing structure for businesses. The ability to reach a large audience in a simple and lightning fast manner leveled the playing field and allowed all businesses the chance to affordably market.

Social media put an end to “One Way Street Marketing”.  Today’s businesses are able to engage with their existing and potential clients and in real time. Positive engagement with customers can lead to improved reputation and referrals which leads to more sales.

As the world is becoming predominantly mobile, social media sites allow your advertising to be seen in a mobile optimized format.  Be sure your website is mobile enhanced too.  The majority of internet access is done on a mobile device today, and the social media landscape is a very strong driver to your company website.

Traffic to your website not only connects your audience to your business, it enhances your organic search engine optimization (SEO) which will make it easier for people to find your business on the web. Social media networks are becoming search engines unto themselves and offer many opportunities to incorporate SEO enhancements such as keywords and back links.

If you aren’t utilizing social media in your marketing strategy today, you’re missing out on new business.

BEB Wide Format Growing

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2016-06-14 CENTRAL CARE WINDOW SIGNWe are so excited with the growth of our Wide Format Division and are most appreciative to our clients giving us the opportunity fulfill their needs!  Above is a full window sign we created and installed for a new location for Central Care.  2016-06-09 11.02.52

BEB can create your banners, signs and other large format requirements.  We’re even providing barrel wraps for those hard working rodeo folks!2016-06-11 BARREL WRAP

Contact us today!  713-528-5568