September 25th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Using Twitter to brand your company is an art form, but it’s becoming easier every day to replicate results. There are a number of key components to any Twitter branding campaign:

1. Tweet regularly, but don’t overuse it.
2. Twitter is an informal tool, so don’t make every post a link with a stuffy title.
3. Remember that Twitter is a conversation – just like a real life conversation, there are unspoken rules:
a. Don’t be the only one talking
b. Converse – but remember that everyone in the “room” can hear you, so don’t get into long, drawn-out conversations with one or two other people
c. Don’t only talk about yourself
d. Know your audience.
4. Monitor, monitor, monitor. If you’re not monitoring what people are saying about your brand on Twitter, you’re missing about 75% of the point.
5. Use positive feedback as a chance to build brand, and negative feedback as a chance to make things right.
6. Make time to tweet, but don’t get caught up in it. You can easily lose four hours a day on Twitter.
7. Don’t get caught up in your follower count. Talk to people, help them solve their problems, and your count will grow.
8. Remember to identify yourself and your brand – otherwise, people won’t know where to go if they want to use your services.

I hope these tips help you grow your business using just another weapon in the marketing arsenal.

April 20th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

If my business was based in New York, I’d definitely love to have the endorsement of NY Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Johan Santana, but I think I’d be daunted by the cost.

One beverage firm found a way around that price by offering each a 1% stake in the company in exchange for a photo session and the right to use the players’ names as endorsers.

Think about what this could mean for your business. Think your brand is too small to get a celebrity endorsement? Think again.

April 20th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Think you want to pay for publicity? Think again – get some press, and you’ll get more “eyeballs” at a far lower cost!

Check out TPE’s 54 Best PR Tips for Entrepreneurs. You’ll find some fantastic, creative ideas – many of which you’ve probably never thought of – as well as some refinements on concepts that you probably already knew.

April 9th, 2009 by Joshua Bob

Here are some start-up marketing tips “from the trenches.”

I’m especially fond of #12: Find at least three competitors. This can be crucial in deciding what you do and don’t want for your business.