This week’s edition includes tips on using web forms, using Google AdWords for behavioral insights, and using advanced social media search, along with an explanation of Google’s new algorithm and some motivating reasons to blog:

- When planning your post-click marketing strategy you want to ensure your roadmap is clear from pre-click to post-conversion. Are Your Forms Collecting the Right Information? from Business 2 Community can help you determine what to ask for in your forms

- Econsultancy offers some compelling points in 25 Reasons Why You Should Be Blogging in case you haven’t yet taken up blogging or have slowed it down

-  Google added a new tool for PPC advertisers that helps provide useful statistics into search behavior throughout their buying process. 5 Behavioral Insights You Can Learn From Search Funnels from ClickZ is an easy to understand tutorial to help you do just that

- The goal of the Google Panda update involves the filtering of low quality or duplicate pages that are deemed “not useful” to users. Junta 42 shares insights into Google’s algorithm update along with 4 Steps to Make Google’s Panda Update Work for You

- Social media search allows the ability to tap into thousands of real-time updates. How To: Get the Most Out of Advanced Social Media Search from Mashable aims to tackle some more advanced social search functionality so that you can make the most out of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

That does it for this week and I’ll leave you with a quick reminder to request one free conversion idea for your website as well as to signup for our blog updates and conversion tips newsletter. If you have any tips, suggestions, or resources you’d like to share please leave us a comment below and please feel free to suggest topics that you would like to see covered in future Conversionator posts.

This week’s edition is focused on social media and offers some Facebook, Twitter, blog content, and general social media tips along with a social media marketing industry report:

- Small Business News: Small Biz Facebook Tips from Small Business Trends is a bountiful roundup of links about how to make Facebook and other social media work for your small business today

- Small Business Trends compiled another roundup post in their Small Business News: Small Biz Twitter Tips designed for effective use of twitter to communicate and boost your brand

- Making your content easy to share is one step towards having readers show up every day to your blog. Jeff Bullas offers tips on the art and science of being shared online in 21 Power Tips To Get Your Blog Content Shared On Facebook and Twitter

- Business 2 Community shares helpful tips designed to help you make the best use of social media to grow the reputation, client base and visibility of your business in 10 Social Media Tips You Can’t Afford to Miss

-  To understand how marketers are using social media, Social Media Examiner commissioned the 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report providing insights into the who, what, where, when, and why of social media marketing

That will do it for this week and I’ll leave you with a quick reminder to request one free conversion idea for your website as well as to signup for our blog updates and conversion tips newsletter. If you have any tips, suggestions, or resources you’d like to share please leave us a comment below and please feel free to suggest topics that you would like to see covered in future Conversionator posts.

This week’s edition is for those curious about the how to’s when it comes to aspects of Google Analytics, social media, or mobile-compatible sites:

- Since hits from URL shorteners do not show up in Google Analytics, Unilyzer created two methods of tracking shortened links providing a helpful How To Track Links Using Google Analytics tutorial

- No matter how you look at it, Social Media is an investment and Social Fresh’s How To Spend Money On Social Media article is a must read for those who recognize the value of social media but due to lack of time, knowledge or fear have refused to step-up an

d commit to implementing a social media campaign

- Having a presence in the mobile world used to be an option but is now a necessity.  iMedia Connection’s How To Design and Develop For Mobile Sites points out that not every aspect of your brand’s website is relevant to your mobile environment

- You can’t ask Google Analytics how your social network feels about you but you can ask it to count how many people click on links in your social media posts. How To Coax Social Media Insights From Google Analytics from Search Engine Land explains how you can have Google Analytics tell you how you are doing in the social media space

- How To Integrate Customer Service Into Social Media Marketing from ClickZ shows 12 Ways Social Media Enhances Customer Service and also offers 5 Ways to Measure Social Media Customer Service

That covers it for this week and I’ll leave you with a quick reminder to request one free conversion idea for your website as well as to signup for our blog updates and conversion tips newsletter. If you have any tips, suggestions, or resources you’d like to share please leave us a comment below and please feel free to suggest topics that you would like to see covered in future Conversionator posts.

Choose one or two venues that can accomplish your goals most effectively

You don’t have to dive head first into social media. It’s okay to start by getting your feet wet with just one or two ideas such as a Twitter or Facebook account and a blog. You can intertwine your venues as well, using your Twitter or Facebook posts to promote your blog and vice versa.

Network

Build relationships with your customers and other bloggers in order to build trust and credibility. As a small business, social media efforts can be helped tremendously by getting some well-known bloggers to post on your site. As an added bonus, you may also be asked to post on theirs as well, increasing your exposure. Also, take note of customers who comment on your posts or your Facebook page regularly and ask them to help you spread the word about new products or initiatives.

Give information for free

This may go against the grain, but offer your followers free information in the form of a tip of the week or a free idea that relates to your business. You’ll build a loyal following and encourage people to look for you for more extensive help when they need it.

Consider some lesser-known social media outlets

You may find that as a small business, social media outlets that cater to the corporate giants make it easy for your company to get lost. Try getting involved in a business-oriented smaller endeavor such as Foursquare, which rewards your customers for visiting you and allows you to post special deals for participants.

Leverage your time effectively

The bottom line is that there are only so many hours in the day, and you need to find out what venues work for you and then spend your greatest efforts developing those venues. Talk to your customers and find out which social media channels they use regularly. Watch to see which options bring the most business to your website and drop the ones that don’t deliver.

Hire a Social Media Mentor

What’s your social media strategy?  What tactics should you use to engage your customers? How to I get people to find me?  Sometimes letting an expert get you started and show you how it’s done can be a tremendous time saver. Consider hiring someone to mentor you through the first few critical months.

Social media can help you increase your website traffic and ultimately your conversion rates simply by taking the time to get to know your customers better.

Have a question or need a mentor?  Give Carl a call (toll free) 888-320-4996 or contact us.

Marketing with social media isn’t like marketing with print or radio or television.

It isn’t like advertising on a billboard or in a community events calendar. It’s not even like holding a press conference.

Why? All of these advertising efforts involve one-way communication, with you broadcasting to the consumer. Social media marketing changes the game by creating a two-way marketing conversation.

To be successful with social media marketing, you must recognize the shift in marketing strategy necessitated by a two-way conversation.

Marketing with social media is no longer about shouting out messages and crafting invincible brand images. Instead, it’s about interaction. Here’s how to get started.

Build Relationships

Before you can expect positive results from a social media marketing campaign, you’ll need to earn recognition in your field, especially if your brand isn’t already well known as is the case for most small businesses. Do this by finding blogs and Facebook groups that discuss your area of expertise and enter conversations by posting comments.

Don’t just say “Yes, I agree” either—offer meaningful insight and opinion about the discussion at hand. And while you’re at it, sign each comment with your name and website in order to generate traffic.

Start Talking

With a well-established group of listeners, built up through the comments you’ve been diligently posting around the web, you can start your own blog. Now you can begin offering more in-depth advice and opinion within your field.

As people begin commenting on your blog posts, make sure you respond to them. Marketing with social media depends on people remaining engaged with your company, and the way to keep them reading is to listen to what they have to say and to let them know you value their opinions.

Start Marketing

With a reputation already in place, you can begin marketing with social media in earnest. While you probably have already opened a Facebook and Twitter account (if you haven’t, do it now), you’ll only be able to use them to best advantage if you have people who care what you have to say.

Start by marketing to your loyal blog readers, and expand your reach with contests, giveaways, and up-to-date information. Keep useful articles available for perusal and make sure Twitter posts drive readers to your website.

Throughout the whole process, it’s absolutely vital that you put relationships with your customers first. It’s not enough to interact at the beginning and then fall back into the old one-way conversation patterns. If you want your social media marketing campaign to be successful, you must make a long-term commitment to customer interaction.

How did you begin your Social Media Markeing Campaign?