As Facebook users get ready for the site wide implementation of the Facebook timeline for all profiles, businesses will have to wait for their turn to try it out. As of right now, the Facebook Timeline is not available to businesses and there is no word on when it will be ready, if ever, for marketers.

Many users have a love/hate relationship with FB and the changes that they implement. This is certainly true of the timeline. Some users rave about the functionality and character it gives to the page. Others flat out hate the way it looks, comparing it to My Space and arguing that it it was fine the way it was. Whatever your opinion of the timeline, if you are a business, you don’t have a choice about using it.

At the present time, the social networking giant is not allowing brands to create Timeline pages. There is no set date when they will do this, though they have hinted that it will happen. They issued a statement that, simply put, said they are focusing on the Timeline for individuals at this point, but are considering how to make it consistent for Pages as well.

There is argument on both sides to whether Timeline function will even work for marketers. Some users believe that it won’t work because it so personal and individual. Others feel that is exactly why it will work for brands. Either way, we will not be able know how it works until FB makes it available for pages.

However, with both Twitter and Google+ making changes to their sites that favor marketers in recent months, FB may feel a little more pressure to get the Timeline ready for businesses sooner rather than later. As of November, Google+ allowed brand pages and Twitter did the same. So, FB no longer has the monopoly for marketers on social media sites. How will that effect their decision to create the Timeline for Pages… only time will tell!

Does the upcoming year fill you with anticipation of productivity and motivate you to achieve your best business year yet?  Or does it fill you with an overwhelming sense of dread and worry about how you will accomplish all that you desire for your company?  Hopefully, it is the first, but if not, then this is the article for you.  We aim to help you with a few simple ideas that can help you to a better, brighter 2012!

As with any new beginning, one of the most important things you can do is to set a list of goals for your company.  Make sure that the goals are attainable, yet challenging.  You do not want to set impossible goals that you have no way of obtaining.  However, you do not want the goals to be so easy that you will achieve them all by February.  These should be long term ideas that will keep your actively working to achieve them throughout the year.

During this upcoming year be sure to reach out to your existing clients.  Show them how special and important they are.  Maybe try and create an exclusive offer just for them.  Remember that they are the reason why your company is where it is.  If not for their business, you would not have yours.

Figure out your best time of day.  Every person has a time when they are focused and not as easily distracted.  This is the time when you will be the most productive.  Try and use this time to your advantage.  Work these hours, if you can, and it will save you time.  You will find yourself getting more accomplished and wasting less time.  As we all know, time equals money.

Try to avoid continuously checking your email and voicemail throughout the day.  On a normal day, it is more time effective to pick a couple of times to check your email and voicemail and reply to all of the messages at one time.  Again, your time is valuable.  Do not waste it.

One of the toughest things about having your own business is knowing when enough is enough. Do not spread yourself too thin.  Say no if you are too busy.  Though the better alternative is too seek out help.  Hire someone to assist you with smaller tasks or areas that you may not be an expert in.  If you’re spread to thin your work and business will suffer.

The New Year should hold the hope and promise of a great year for your company.  Manage your time, set your goals, and work to achieve them and you will have your best year yet!  Happy New Year from Delicious Marketing!

While it is true that an icon has passed on well before his time, we can all agree that there is a lot to be learned from Steve Jobs.  He was a true visionary, an innovator that never gave up on his dream. He had a rare creative genius that we may never see the likes of again in our lifetime. 

At the beginning, Jobs main focus was to ensure that the creativity and “enchantment” of the computer industry never died.  Up until the time of his passing, he never lost that focus.  He was widely respected for his drive and straight forward thinking. He taught product designers, software techs, business execs and the public more about what we need in digital products rather than what we think we want. 

Many times over the years, Jobs and Apple were considered down and out, yesterday’s news.  However, not only did Jobs never see it that way… he never gave up trying.  Even when he parted ways with Macintosh for a short while in the mid 80’s, he remained focused and set on what he wanted for the computer industry. 

It was at this time, Jobs took a leap of faith and purchased Pixar in 1986.  This was long before anyone had ever thought of doing a full CGI film. In the beginning, Jobs did not even envision that.  Pixar started off by making computer generated 3-D objects, not movies.  But once again, Jobs used his vision and managerial skills and listened to his team.  The result… Toy Story. The rest is CGI history! 

Once reunited with Apple, Jobs knew that it was more important to have a quality product that people loved and would remain loyal to, rather than mass produce a bunch of merchandise that would leave users frustrated and shopping around for a new brand.  While other computer companies discount, rebate and wheel and deal with the best of them, Jobs felt that even if they only catered to 5% of the population, he would create a quality product that would keep that 5% loyal and happy.  And he succeeded.

Even after his passing, Jobs vision and influence will continue to be seen both in Apple and the IT industry.  He revolutionized not only the computer industry, but also the way we get and listen to music, use our phones, take and store photos, and attain instant information with the simple touch of our finger. His life, lessons and influence will continue to live on for years to come. And while there are others that have contributed in large ways to the technology industry, it is fair to say that he not only contributed, but he revolutionized our entire “lifestyle”.

So, if you have read any of my blog posts, you know that I am a big fan of Emily Giffin.  I love her books and I also I think that she is a genius when it comes to marketing and promoting her work. So, it should not come as a big surprise that I also am a “fan” of a lot of her Facebook pages or ones that pertain to her.  Recently, I “liked” a page that I thought was about her book and possible upcoming movie, Something Blue.  A few weeks later, I ended up getting an unexpected yet pleasant surprise…

About a week ago, I logged onto Facebook and got a message from the Something Blue fan page I had subscribed to.  The first post read, “WOW!  I just noticed that Something Blue has 43,281 fans… last time I looked it was hovering around 2000.  WELCOME!  Stay tuned for great deals and interesting facts” Now, looking at this post I realized it was for a jewelry page.  I had not subscribed to a jewelry page… what was going on?  The next post explained it all, “It looks like many of you are here by accident.  Not sure how it happened, it was suggested that Facebook merged similar groups/pages?  This page is for Something Blue handcrafted jewelry, not Something Blue the book by Emily Giffin. But, if you like the jewelry too, I invite you to stay for a special Sale event!  Visit my shop and receive 25% off your ENTIRE purchase…” 

Though I was slightly disappointed that I would not be receiving updates on how the “Something Blue” movie was going, I did look through some of the jewelry on the site.  What I found was some absolutely stunning pieces of jewelery!  I, like so many others, decided to not only stay a fan to the page but to also purchase some jewelry.

It got me to thinking about how fortunate a mistake this was for the owner of Something Blue Jewelry, or as she refers to it, “A Match Made on Facebook…”  She went from having around 2000 fans to having almost 45,000 fans.  As of August 18, 2011 she was anticipating her 2000th sale.  With the amount of new fans that have been introduced to her work, I would guess that she has doubled, if not tripled her business in the past 3 weeks.  Plus the fact that she so graciously offered a discount to those of us that had been put onto her site by accident.  Great marketing!  With her wonderful products and good customer service, I would not be surprised to see Something Blue Jewelry take off!  I will definitely recommend the site to friends and I am sure I am not the only one. 

So, in this case of accidental marketing, I would have to say that we are all winners.  Something Blue Jewelry gets more customers and we get some fabulous jewelry.  I can only hope that the owner sends a beautiful thank you and maybe a gorgeous necklace to Emily!

Are you still not convinced that social media will work for you and your business?  Do you think that it is just a trend that is going to end soon?  Well here are 5 reasons that should convince you to jump on the bandwagon… NOW!

Social media is here to stay.  Not a fair weathered friend, social media has solidified its place in the business world.  Blogs and social media sites are key components of most successful marketing strategies. 

Social media is easy to start.  It does not take much effort to get the ball rolling on a social media campaign.  Twitter, Linked In, Facebook and blogs all take very short amounts of time to set up. 

Social media has low cost.  Besides the time it takes to maintain your sites (and we all know that time is money), social media is very cost efficient.  Facebook, Twitter and Linked In cost nothing.  Depending on the blog platform you choose, your blog can cost you nothing to very little. 

Social media helps with SEO.  In the end, it is all about being found by your potential customers.  Nothing works better than good SEO.  Social media exposure and good blog content are essential when increasing your SEO.

Social media allows you constant contact.  You can use your blog and social media sites to keep in front of your target audience.  You can get feedback through blog comments and interaction through the different social sites.

So, in the end the question remains… are you in or are you out?  If you still refuse to get with the times, you will be left behind by the competition.

By Amanda Bala

In our last post, Taking the Worry Out of Vlogging, we explored the reasons why some business owners might be hesitant to use video.  Now that we have set your mind at ease about how easy it is to use video, let’s explore why it is important!

1.  Video sets you apart from the crowd.  Since the use of video and vlogging is relatively new, now is a great time to start using it.  You will be ahead of the pack and quickly be set up as a leader in this new trend!

2.  Video helps to build relationships.  Because people will be able to see you, they will be able to relate to you.  They can see your facial expressions and they can look at all of you cues, both verbal and nonverbal.  This helps them to get to know who you are and build trust with you.

3.  Video helps with SEO.  Ever since Google bought You Tube, video content has greatly increased search engine optimization.  Now, putting videos on You Tube and on your blog land you higher in the rankings then ever before.

4.  Video allows you to entertain, inspire and become an authority in your field.  People like to watch video.  Just look at how many hits You Tube gets in a day.  Take a moment to Google “You Tube Success Stories” and you will be amazed at what some people have done to leverage the power of video.  People want to be entertained and they want to listen to those individuals who have great content in their area of expertise.

5.  Video is fun!  It is often easy to get caught up in the daily grind that is your business.  But that is not how it should be.  Love your work.  Enjoy your work.  Have fun with your work.  Video allows you to do that.  It is a time away from the normal day to day happenings.  It is something new.  Use it and enjoy it!

People are using video now more than ever.  Don’t miss getting in on the action!  Now is the time.  Lights, camera, action!

Blogging should be a crucial component in any businesses marketing strategy. Businesses that have a blog get found easier on search engines, establish themselves as leaders in their field, and earn more respect and credibility.  However, it is not just blogging that is making waves right now. Vlogging (video blogging) is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s business world.

Many business owners are hesitant to start a video blog.  There usually are three main concerns when it comes to doing videos:

1.      It is too expensive.  This is really not the case at all anymore.  Technology has come so far that you can pick up the equipment for relatively little cost.  Even some of the smart phones that people have today, like the iPhone 4, take great video. 

2.      The technology is too complicated for me.   Again, technology has come so far, that just about anyone can become a video rock star!  The abundance of cameras and web programs really simplifies the need for a large background understanding of technology.

3.      I will look silly. This is a fear that unfortunately runs a bit more personal.  This is one that you really just have to get over.  If you have great content, no one is really going to be worrying about how you look.  Gone are the days where your video content must looking like it was done by a professional production company.  Now it is all about what you have to say.  And remember, you will get better and more comfortable with video the more you do it!

Vlogging is becoming more mainstream by the minute.  By beginning a Vlog now, you will get a jumpstart on your competition.  Check out our next blog article, The Top 5 Reasons Why Video Content Is King, and get your self vlogging today!

Advertising is often times a key tactic in growing a business, especially a business-to-consumer business. You know that. However, what you might not know is that not all ads are effective. When investing time, effort and money into your ad, you want to make sure that you are getting the biggest bang for your buck.  Here are a few do and don’ts to know when looking at advertising.

Do:  Choose targeted media. Ad spaces can be very expensive.  So make sure that you are advertising where your target audience will find you.  Don’t go for a specific newspaper or magazine just because they are the biggest or most popular. You need to advertise where your potential customers are. Choose the correct ad size as well. If you have a small budget, don’t advertise the smallest size ad. Chances are no one will see it. You are better off using that money for more effective and less expensive marketing tactics.

Don’t:  Put too much detail in your ad.  Some business owners feel that they need to put every single piece of information about their company and what they do in their ad.  They literally throw everything but the kitchen sink into the ad. Don’t do this. You do not need to fill every available space with information.  All this does is make the ad look too busy and completely loses your message. No one will read through all that information.  You have 2-3 seconds to get your message across. Make it short, sweet and to the point. 

Do:  Have a headline.  A headline or call to action (a coupon, a special deal, etc) grabs a reader’s attention.  It shows them right away what you are offering.  Keep the information focused and to the point without being wordy. 

Don’t:  Lose credibility.  By creating ads that do not grab attention, are not attractive or simply bore the consumer, you are losing credibility for your company.  If you tout that your company offers a quality product or service but your ad is of low quality and unattractive… People will associate that low quality with your business.  Make sure your ads reflect what your business stands for. 

Do: Add a picture or an image.  You want some sort of picture, image or design element that is associated with your brand.  Keep this consistent throughout your ads.  You want to get to the point where consumers see the image or design and immediately think of your company. 

Don’t advertise just one time. Advertising takes frequency. Do not advertise once and expect results. You will be disappointed. It takes seeing an ad 7-12 times for people to recall it.

Advertising certainly can be tricky, but it can also be fun. Get to the point and give consumers what they are looking for.  You will see returns and not throw your money into wasted ad space.

Advertising versus PR… is there really a big difference?  Actually, yes, there is.  Both of these marketing tactics are very important to any business big or small and do work in conjunction with one another.  However, you need to understand the difference between the two to properly use them in an effective marketing campaign. 

Advertising is running commercials, radio ads, print ads, etc.  In general, it is pushing your message out to the masses.  For example, advertising can be a static ad that sends out a message; Come here, do this, buy that.  It can be a commercial run on television, radio or the internet.  It is a way of trying to persuade people to come and try your product or service. 

PR, on the other hand, is the story of what you are doing. It is word of mouth and people discussing you because they read about you in the paper or saw a news reporter doing a story on you. It builds credibility. People think differently about your business if it’s in a more natural story-like manner rather than in an advertisement.

Let’s look briefly at an example. Say for instance, you just had the grand opening of a new restaurant. One of the local news channels runs a story about the grand opening and how great it was. They interview patrons who are there and run the story on the evening news. That is PR.  Now, once that news segment ends and they go to commercial, suddenly there is your restaurant again. This time it is a commercial that you created for your restaurant. That is advertising.  The PR builds the credibility of your restaurant and the advertising tries to drive people out to try it. They work nicely together. PR can often times reinforce what your advertisements are saying.

Try to remember that PR and Advertising are very different, but that both are extremely important.  Once you understand the distinction, you can use the two together and start effectively marketing your company!

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Emily Giffin, her novel and the movie based on it, Something Borrowed.  I want to revisit Emily once again this week.  When you look at what she has done to help the promotion of this movie, it is truly amazing.  All business owners could take a lesson or two from her. 

First of all, Emily is not above getting right into the trenches, so to speak, when it comes to promoting Something Borrowed.  I am both a friend and fan of hers on Facebook and every day she is posting something about the movie.  She keeps her fans up to date on the revenue the movie has brought in.  She lets us know how much more it needs to make in order for the sequel, Something Blue to be made.  She posts interviews with the cast and reviews from different sources.  It keeps us invested in the movie and all the inside scoops are wonderful! 

Another thing that Emily does well is to get us excited about the movie.  Every weekend since it has been out, I see her post which theatre she will be seeing the movie at in Atlanta, her home town.  She invites all her friends and fans to come out and join her if they are in the area.  She also has fans send in pictures of themselves with their ticket stubs and posts them on her website.  Additionally, she held a contest to see who had the most original picture and that lucky gal received a personal phone call from Colin Egglesfield (read the article from the winner here).

One of the most ingenious ideas she has come up with recently is that if a girl has a husband or boyfriend who will not take them to see Something Borrowed, they can email Emily herself via Facebook and she will call the significant other and convince them to take their wife/girlfriend!  It is great to see her posts about her calling husbands and boyfriends to get them to take their girls!  She even recently may have spurred one on to propose! 

Emily obviously has a lot invested in Something Borrowed doing well.  However, it is more than that.  You can see that she truly loves her work and enjoys what she does. She is great to her fans and in return, they are extremely loyal to her.  She is dedicated to making this movie and success does what it takes to make that happen.  Business owners, look, listen and learn!