Archive for Ajax Union

Pinterest Pins Company Profiles

November 16, 2012 Ajax Union, social media, social media marketing No comments

November has been of month of progress and success for Pinterest! After unveiling the availability for users to create private boards, Pinterest announced that the social media platform will also host business accounts. Business accounts were previously a prohibited practice on the popular photo-sharing website.  Although Pinterest’s business profiles won’ t include any enhanced features, or even look different than private accounts, companies can find ways to utilize Pinterest for branding and online marketing strategies. Three ways your company can benefit from the new Pinterest business profiles include hosting an industry relevant board with interesting pins, pinning videos that you find informative or entertaining, and incorporating SEO into your titles and descriptions. Also, promote your business Pinterest account on your website and blog with the “pin it” button.

Get Chatty on Twitter

October 31, 2012 Ajax Union, ajax union marketing, tweets, twitter, Twitter Marketing No comments

Everyone spends a little time chatting with coworkers throughout the day. It can be a great way to get in a quick break and start fresh on your daily workload. Well, some businesses are taking the chatting company-wide on Twitter as an online marketing strategy. It may seem like a radical idea, but the live Twitter chats are beneficial in a variety of ways, both off and online.

What are the benefits? Hosting a Twitter chat allows you to create a conversation that utilizes a specific hashtag created for your company. The hashtag can be formal, or it can be more fun and creative depending on the tone you would like to set with your chats. With a number of employees tagging your company and carrying on a conversation through the hashtag, a branding storm across Twitter is being created on multiple accounts. Another benefit of hosting a Twitter chat is the ability to choose an interesting or timely topic that will draw users to your scheduled chats. You can also invite professional connections to join in the chat and see the kind ideas being bounced around by the power-source of your company – your employees. Lastly, Twitter chats don’t have to be restricted to the 140 character maximum. Utilizing shortened URLs, you can host chats on favorite pictures, memes, and videos from all around the web.

There are several websites that are making Twitter chats even easier for users. One site that will automatically include the hashtag that you are following is www.TweetChat.com. It’s a great tool to get in the chat, quickly maneuver the conversation, and participate in several miniature conversations all at once.

The last benefit of hosting a company-wide Twitter chat might be the simplest. It’s a great way to keep office mates connected and excited about your company and the work being done.

Join Ajax Union’s Twitter chat each Friday from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Each week we will be chatting with the hashtag #AjaxUnionTGIF and featuring a new and exciting topic. All are welcome!

Three Ways to Giveaway on Social Media

October 24, 2012 Ajax Union, Facebook, Facebook Marketing, Twitter Marketing No comments

Social media platforms are a leading way to stay connected with your customers and clients. Keeping an active Facebook and Twitter presence allows you to stay fresh in the minds of your followers and play an active role in their overall social media experience. It is essential to any online marketing strategy you could ever dream of. Another great way to get involved with your customers and social media fans is to host a giveaway or promotion. There are several ways that  you can utilize social media for various types of giveaways and deals through Facebook and Twitter. Some of the most popular include creating a Facebook application for the giveaway, promoting a post for likes, or creating a Twitter campaign with hashtags.

First, developing a giveaway through a Facebook application allows you to run the giveaway for an extended and dedicated period of time to allow more people to see the offer and enter to win. Facebook applications can also be beneficial when promoted using Facebook ads and having the application as a landing page. Using ads to promote the application allows you to further your demographic targeting through the ad management options. You can also use Twitter to promote the application and direct people, also known as potential customers, to your Facebook page. A great detail for online marketing.

Second, creating a status that is offering a “special deal” or “limited-time giveaway” through Facebook allows you to promote the post in the same way as ads with paid promotion and demographic targeting. Using the “Like this post…” strategy makes it quick and easy for interested users to enter to win and to move on to other parts of your page. Again, this can be advertised on Twitter as well.

Last, hosting a Twitter campaign to give people a chance to win a free product or service is a great way to integrate branding for your company and the promotion. You can ask people interested in the offer to tweet at your company with a specific hashtag to enter to win. These types of promotions can be exclusively done for an hour or two, or they can be run long term. This is also a great way to market virally since the Twitter posts will reach the followers of those who enter the promotion.

Monitoring Social Media

October 15, 2012 Ajax Union, ajax union marketing, social media, social media marketing, social media trends No comments

Whether you are an established company or just starting out, social media monitoring plays an important role in determining where your online marketing strategy stands. There are a variety of ways to keep tabs on your online buzz, and finding the one that works best for your needs should not be a challenge since there are numerous tools available. Here is a rundown of three well-known social media monitoring tools that could beneficial.

Hootsuite – Available as a free version, or a more extensive paid version, Hootsuite allows you to post to various social media sites and follow RSS feeds from a computer or a mobile device. The tool also allows you to manage your social media monitoring through an organized dashboard and offers statistical history and social interaction insights for your brand.

Google Alerts – A simple and user friendly way to monitor any buzz about your company or brand, Google Alerts allows you to select which keywords or phrases you would like to receive alerts about. Then, Google will send you the alerts at your discretion of immediately, daily, or weekly. It is also a great tool to follow buzz about your competitors to see what kind of news is surrounding their name.

Social Mention – A search tool for social media sites, the toolbar allows you to type in the brand, topic, or cause that you are interested in, and it will search multiple social media platforms, blogs, social bookmarks, and comments to find mention of what you are looking for. This company is offering the toolbar as a free browser accessory, but also provides coding to create a widget on your site.

Other sites that are honorable mentions for social media monitoring are Wildfire, Facebook Search, and Google Reader. These sites are a great way to keep track on your social media and determine the performance of your online marketing strategies.

Stay Professionally Linked

October 10, 2012 Ajax Union, LinkeIn Marketing No comments

With so many social media sites available, how do you make sure your professional profile stays polished and ahead of the rest? Optimize your LinkedIn profile to reap the benefits of the social world with your professional goals in mind. There are several features of LinkedIn that can be utilized to make your profile shine and your professional presence well known.

First, take advantage of the status updates. Let people know what you are working on, share links to your company’s website, or posy current links to professional industry blogs that you like to follow.

Second, get endorsements from current and former colleagues. Make sure your endorsements are positive and that your skills are shining through. In return, endorse people as a form of professional reciprocation.

Third, don’t be afraid to ask open questions or to post responses in the LinkedIn Answers section. This can establish you as an industry leader in your field, especially if you are consistently providing sound advice to other professionals.

Lastly, make sure your profile picture represents you in a positive and professional light. If it’s not a picture you would show to mom, then it’s probably not the best choice for your professional profile.

Boost Your Reputation Online

October 3, 2012 Ajax Union, ajax union marketing, online marketing services, online marketing strategy, reputation management No comments

Reputation management is no joke considering the amount of damage that can be done online with just one little post or a scathing review. However, cleaning up a bad reputation can be a little more tedious for an online marketing strategy, but have no fear because it can be done. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to boost your positive reputation through online marketing strategies and social media. One way is to ask for reviews on some of the popular review sites, such as Yelp! and Google+. Ask for endorsements from new satisfied customers, but also reach out to former customers that you know were satisfied with your services. A second way to boost reputation management is to cater your online marketing strategy to include online public relations. Write press releases that are optimized for search engines, but also inform readers of exciting and newsworthy happenings at your company. This will help with SEO efforts, but it will also give you a chance to give your company an online makeover and separate yourself from previous negative reviews.

Determining Marketing Strategy

September 11, 2012 Ajax Union, Internet Marketing, internet marketing strategy, marketing, marketing company No comments

There are many opinions for creating the best internet marketing strategy to get your company’s name and services out there. There are also just as many platforms to engage users and spread information about your company. With an overwhelming number of options, which one is the best? That’s a question that can only be answered by what your goals are. Do you intend to get press coverage or would you rather boost your social media presence? Is it more important for your company to utilize search engine optimization or could you spend more money on advertisements?

Here are a few tips to think about when designing and implementing your marketing strategy:

Know you audience. Discover the target demographic that is most likely to spend money on your company’s products or services. Find out their interests, dislikes, and spending habits. This will help you learn how to better pitch your company to them.

Know your enemies. Keep an eye on competing companies and see what marketing strategies they are utilizing. Is it working for them? If it is, should you consider a similar strategy? If it’s not, probably steer clear.

Know your goals. The best place to start with any internet marketing campaign is to know where you would like you company to end up. Are you looking to create a large, one-time customer base, or are you looking to create returning customers?

Know your budget. Keep in mind a realistic budget to start out with and monitor the amount of money invested against the return on investment. Decide if it is reasonable to continue with a strategy, or if it would be more beneficial to put your money elsewhere.

Introducing the Smarty Pants of Social Media

September 3, 2012 Ajax Union, Learnist, social media No comments

With personal social media profiles driven by entertainment, fact-sharing, and gossip, what chance does learning have? After all, wasn’t the internet made for laugh-out-loud funny GIFs, customized memes, and #hashtagging your favorite trends? Well…maybe there were better intentions like an endless research tool, distribution of news, and business marketing.

If you’re looking for a social media site to get your nerd on, check out Learnist. Now accepting requests to become a member and some of the first content generators of the website, the learning board works in the same manner as Pinterest. Some of the main categories include art and design, education, music, politics, food and drinks, society and sports. Users simply create boards and pin topics of interest to share with one another. Another perk of the education-infused social media website is the iPhone and iPad apps, making it easy to use on the go. There’s even an animated video that explains the basis of the social learning website and how to use Learnist.

No Shame in Being Social

August 27, 2012 Ajax Union, ajax union marketing, online marketing strategy, Social Marketing, social media, social media marketing, twitter No comments

Whether you run an SEO company or a booming e-commerce site, there’s no shame in letting people know your company can be found on Facebook and Twitter and LinkedIn…and Instagram…and Youtube…and Google+… and the list can go on and on. No matter how many social media sites your company can be located on, making sure that the receiving end of your emails and press releases are aware and can easily find you is the most important aspect. Be sure to hyperlink!

So, what difference does it make? Simply put, it’s a great way of branding across multiple platforms that can all be connected and easily referenced. Even when connecting your company’s website to social media profiles and in-house blogs, you’re creating a firm and recognizable presence for your company. As an added plus for an internet marketing aspect, this will also boost SEO efforts through the created links to your company’s website.

Ajax Union Ranks Among Inc. 500 Best – #178 in Inc 5000 for 2012

August 22, 2012 Ajax Union, ajax union marketing No comments

Ajax Union is excited to announce that we’ve been ranked number 178 in Inc.’s top 500 fastest growing private companies in the United States. We’ve made it into a list where we are surrounded by other hundreds of other wonderful businesses and Top 500 alumni like Zappos, Pandora, and Clif Bar, to name a few. That’s some awesome companies to share this honor with.

We’ve worked hard at providing internet marketing for business who truly need it. From free webinars to customizing our plans to suit their needs, we make marketing accessible and easy to understand for all our clients. But don’t get us wrong, we have a lot of fun in our office too! It’s part of what has made us so successful; having a great core work ethic but a warm atmosphere where co-workers are also friends!

We are honored to be given such a high recognition, especially ranking as number 12 in New York City, and are looking forward to an even more successful future. We will continue to provide the best internet marketing strategies and services available enabling businesses to succeed online.

Check out an upcoming Facebook/LinkedIn seminar presented by Ajax Union on October 23, 2012!

Check out Inc. Magazine’s list online!

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