Time to Make the Posts

Facebook Posting. Oh No, It’s Time to Make the Posts.

It’s Sunday and it’s time to do some Facebook Posting for the week for your Facebook Business Page. I feel like that Donut guy, “It’s time to make the donuts.” Yuck!!

Facebook Posting Algorithms

Deciding what to post can give you a headache. Also you are realizing that because of Facebook’s new algorithms, no one may see your posts. But that is not entirely true. If you have a link to your Facebook Page on your website, people will still visit it. If you haven’t posted anything for a month or two, they will wonder what”s up. So yes, keep posting. Maybe not so often. Once a week may now be quite sufficient. But be consistent. So back to what to post.

Ideas for Posting

Not only do you need to be creative, you need to figure out what your audience will want to hear. Sometimes the creative juices are flowing and then sometimes it’s as if you have writers block. You need to build a library of ideas when you are in the mood ready for when you aren’t. Here are some tips to help you:

Think about ideas that will help your clients relate to your business. If you want something a little more educational you may have to do a little research. I Google the web for ideas and I also read blogs and newsletters that I subscribe to and get ideas from them.You may include holidays or themes during the course of the year in your posts. I save them in raindrop.io for later use.

Create a list of what your audience might want to know about you. Refer to the list when you have brain freeze. In making that list, think about the results customers would have if they used your products or services. How can you enlighten them on what you do? What should they know about you personally? Make a list of at least 10 things and then refer to it as you are creating posts.

Make a list of what your audience’s interests are. For example, traveling, eating out, family outings, baseball games, golf, theatre. Write a sentence about your views on “something”. Write some that relate to what you do and some just pure entertainment.

There are three ways to post

Have fun telling your audience your tip of the week. People are using Facebook Live to post on their page. Just record and then you can save it in the post for those that were not live. How about some kind of demonstration. A short video is always welcomed by your audience. No special software or camera needed. Just use your Smart Phone. If you have the ability to put captions on it, that is great. Often people are scrolling with the mute button on so they can read what you are saying. You can use Google Drive to add the text. Isn’t it amazing all the wonderful tools at hand. .

The third way is using a simple photo. Here are some tips for using graphics. Graphics make your posts more attention getting (eye candy). Say a couple of lines and then insert the graphic. Your point will be made.

Grab a picture from www.pixabay.com. You can find royalty free graphics there. Choose a photo and then write something from one of your lists that you saved.

Here is an example of a picture saying a 1000 words:

Facebook Posting graphic

Social Media Text:

“I might need a lot of practice with my golf swing but I don’t need practice to help you with (what I do).”

Or, just post an inspiring quote. Use this tool www.pablo.buffer.com and you can pick through a number of pictures and match to their quotes.

Facebook Posting with Pablo Buffer Program

Sample Facebook Post using Pablo Buffer

In my final comments make sure your posts are 80/20. 80% educational/entertaining and 20% commercial. Your audience will appreciate getting to know you, like you, and trust you.

Now when I wake up on Monday morning, and I say “time for Facebook Posting” I just refer to my notes and I can find something fun and interesting. I schedule my posts and then when asked I can say “I already made the donuts.”

By Janet Elie

Internet Marketing Specialist

Launch4Life

janet@launch4life.com

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Why You Need the Facebook Pixel

Do you have a Facebook Page for your business? Are you running Facebook Ads? Then you really need to consider installing the Facebook Pixel on your website.

Facebook Pixel? What on earth is that?

The Facebook pixel allows you track the actions of your website visitors’ actions.

Benefit #1

The Facebook Pixel helps you analyze the effectiveness of your Facebook Ads. When the Facebook Pixel is installed on your website, you can track traffic from Facebook to your website. In simple terms, it helps you track the actions of anyone that visited your website from Facebook. This conversion tracking lets you know if Facebook Ad “clicks” are converting into website sales or other website actions.

Benefit #2

The Facebook Pixel allows you to capture website visitors and later create a Facebook Custom Audience. Why is this important? Well, whenever someone visits your website they become part of your “warm market.” These folks are more likely to become prospective customers because they already know who you are. With the Facebook Pixel, you can capture that website traffic and then target your products/services to them with a Facebook ad. This clever little marketing strategy is known as retargeting.

While you may not be familiar with term “retargeting”, I’m sure you’ve already experienced it as a consumer. For instance, have you ever looked at a book on Amazon and then later saw in your Facebook newsfeed? It’s almost as if it’s following you. Well, that’s not a coincidence. You were tracked on Amazon’s website with a Facebook Pixel and then a related Facebook Ad is trying to lure you back to Amazon to seal the deal.

Okay, so now that I’ve explained why the Facebook Pixel is worth installing on your website, the next question is… how to get started? It’s actually easier that you might think.

Here’s what you need to get started:

1. Access your Facebook Ads Account by going to: https://www.facebook.com/adsmanager/

2. Click on the menu in the upper left corner.

3. Choose the Pixels section.

4. Click the “Create a Pixel” button.

5. Choose the “Install Manually” option and copy the pixel code provided. (This part looks scary, but it’s really not. Below, we’ll share an even simpler method.)

7. Paste the Pixel Code in the “header” section of your WordPress website. This automatically inserts the Facebook Pixel onto EVERY page of your website.

NOTE: Finding the “header” section of your website will vary depending upon which WordPress Theme you are using. For instance, we use Divi by Elegant Themes, which allows us to paste the code on the Divi Theme Options “Integrations” page.

Install the Facebook Pixel using a WordPress Plugin

If copying/pasting code feels a little too overwhelming, there are several WordPress Plugins that make the process easier. Here are two plugins that are both free and easy to use. If you have WooCommerce installed on your website, I suggest you use the WordPress plugin by Ads Espresso.

Insert Headers and Footers By WPBeginner

Pixel Caffeine by Ad Espresso

Additional Instructions & Tips from Facebook

Facebook also offers instructions on how to install the Facebook Pixel on your website. Here is a link to The Facebook Pixel support page. You will notice that there is a lot of great information provided.

Once you’ve installed the Facebook Pixel it’s a good idea to test and make sure it’s working. You can do this by visiting Facebook’s Pixel Helper Page.

As a final tip, keep in mind that It’s never too early to install the Facebook Pixel on your website. Even if you haven’t run a single Facebook Ad, if you think you will in the future, get the Pixel installed today.

A good marketing strategy requires having the relevant tracking and analytic tools in place. This helps you determine what’s working and what’s not. Installing the Facebook Pixel makes good business sense. Otherwise, when you run Facebook Ads you’ll be simply throwing money at the wall hoping something will stick.

By Gillian Whitney

Communications Consultant

Launch4Life

gillian@launch4life.com

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Using LinkedIn Profile Tips to Increase Your SEO

Most small business owners know they need to be on social media. But many neglect LinkedIn because they think it is only a resume builder. I will share why it is important and how with some LinkedIn profile tips, you will be able to optimize search results for your Profile.

With over 500 million people connecting B2B or B2C, you are missing out on a great opportunity. Having a SEO strategy with LinkedIn is just as important as for your website.

Who is On LinkedIn

Let’s start off with who is on LinkedIn. People who have average incomes of $100K or more, usually college educated. With over 250 million monthly users worldwide and 40% of them daily, you have the opportunity to find people you would never find otherwise. By the way many influencers and decision makers are on LinkedIn. 41% of LinkedIn members are millionaires. Business professionals are looking for interesting articles and videos to increase their knowledge.

You can use LinkedIn’s search feature and key words to find the people that you want to connect to for business. For example – realtors, insurance agents, chefs, lawyers. Whoever is your target market. So keep in mind that your ideal customer could be right there waiting for YOU to show up. Finding them is easier than you may imagine. If you are not sure your avatar is on LinkedIn, go online and do some searches. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Why LinkedIn

If someone hears about you from a friend, the first thing they will do is “google” your name. What better place for someone to know quickly about you than through LinkedIn. They will learn your background, who your customer is, what you look like, what you do and how to find you. They will see your endorsements, be able to read your articles. If you have done your homework, they will learn a lot about you. Your goal is to have people know you, like you, and trust you.

There is one more significant reason to be on LinkedIn. You can connect with people in all sorts of industries and related business fields. It is like having a huge file of business cards at your fingers. Even if you are an introvert, it is the easiest way to try and create a dialogue without worrying about someone “hanging up” on you. You can get people to warm up to you through messaging and having people view your posts. How easy is that?

LinkedIn Profile Tips

Here are some tips for making sure that when someone does land on your profile that it is polished and worthy of consideration of connecting or doing business with.

♦ Photo

Upload a professional headshot. People usually do not connect with people who don’t have a photo of themselves. Make sure it is professional, not casual or family oriented. First impressions last. Make sure it is a good one.

♦ Banner

Create a banner over your photo where the blue grid is. This is valuable real-estate to tell people who you are and what you do and whom you serve. Hint. Upload as a jpg. Don’t know why, but a png doesn’t work. Canva is a great tool to create a banner if you would like to add text to your banner. Still save it as a jpg.

♦ Header

In your header use lots of great keywords that you would normally use in your website or blog content to describe what you do. Make it client focused. Not about you, but what you do for clients. Separate each phrase with a space or bullet. Google will pick it up. By the way Google doesn’t mind lots of keywords in LinkedIn. Just make sure it is a variety. Don’t repeat the same ones.

♦ Profile Info

Sure you have your phone number, email, website address in your Profile so people can connect offline. Create some posts and articles for people to learn more about how you can help them solve their problems. Work on getting your connections up to over 500. More credibility with LinkedIn.

♦ Summary

This is a great place to talk about how you help your customers with their specific problems relating to your business. Don’t make it about you and your awards and education. Boring. Write about the transformation you business creates. How do you solve their problems.

Screen showing how to connect with someone on LinkedIn

♦ Connections

Focus on building your connections. Searching success will increase as your connections grow. But don’t grow them just for the sake of numbers. Reach out to people who have synergy for you, partners or perspective clients or potential referrals. Connect with people you think will grow your professional network. Here is a tip: When you are connecting, you can either just press the “connect” button or you can send a message. If someone doesn’t know you, add a note first telling them why you want to connect. Better chances of a successful connection.

♦ $$ Membership

LinkedIn is free. However there are paid choices. The paid memberships are really for people who are committed to using LinkedIn as their primary prospecting tool. If you are not planning that, you can get plenty out of the free version.You may never need to upgrade. You may be tempted with their trial but beware it is very expensive for the Sales Navigator or Premium version. Also you can purchase LinkedIn ads.

Final Thoughts

Who would have thought SEO and LinkedIn go together but they do? Writing fresh content with appropriate keywords or posting a summary of your blog with a backlink to your website will aid in that strategy. We all want to get to page one of Google. LinkedIn is a great asset in that pursuit.

Having a great optimized LinkedIn profile will do much to help your SEO as well as set you up as the professional you are. Hope these LinkedIn profile tips give you some ideas to create one or fix the one you have. At the end of the day, SEO is all about being found by the right people whether on social media or your website so people will eventually hit that “buy” button.