Month: October 2012

Posted on

New Cover Image Coming to Your Twitter Page

Coming in November 2012 to each and every Twitter profile is a new Twitter cover, but a nice big image is not all you’ll get.

First Twitter recommends a cover image of 1200×600  with a maximum file size of 5MB. To add your new cover follow these easy steps.

  1. Login to your Twitter account at Twitter.com.
  2. Click the drop down menu for settings at the top right. Look for the gear icon.
  3. On the left sidebar click design.
  4. Under header in the body of the page click to add your own photos. You can add anything from your camera or phone.
  5. Size the photo the way you like once loaded by moving the zoom in icon.
  6. It may take several tries to get your header image to load. I am not sure what but I had to try three to four times.
  7. Update your bio and check your web url.

The best thing about the new cover is that your bio will appear overlayed on the cover image AND your now CLICKABLE website URL appears on the cover as well.

There is simply no more need for a special background image if you don’t want one and the ability to have the clickable URL is worth all the effort to get your header image to load.

You can visit our Twitter page @mccordweb to see our cover shot and how the new cover works on your Twitter profile. Keep in mind that Twitter will make every site have a cover in November and if you don’t add an image you will have a big gray block at the top.

Posted on

Ready to Connect on Google+ Here’s How

I consider activity on Google+ important for business owners. The real SEO and search benefits are however not achieved by updating your Google+ Business page, but rather your Google+ personal page.

So, how can you connect with others to start building your Google+ empire and improved rankings for your company website in the organic listings?

  1. Start by making sure the content you write is on target, on topic, and engaging.
  2. I use my Google+ page for business and not personal use. Consider doing the same for now.
  3. Work to actively add users to circles and respond when someone adds you to one of their circles.
  4. Click +1 and leave comments on posts you find interesting. You’ve simply got to spend some time.
  5. Consider starting a hangout. Well I am still thinking about that one, but have participated in several others and they can be fun. I have just not initiated one.

I personally find that for placement Google+ will be very important. As Google does not allow any automated or scheduled updates to be passed to your Google+ page, you will find the community of business people,legitimate, real and engaging.

Personally, I use Facebook for personal interaction on my locked down private page and Google+ as my face on social networks for business.

Posted on

Facebook Cleans Up Fake Users and Likes From Accounts

Did you know that September 27th Facebook started to purge its system and your account of fake likes and bogus users?

In fact this is what Facebook Security had posted on its wall:

“These newly improved automated efforts will remove those likes gained by malware, compromised accounts, deceived users, or purchased bulk likes.”

That means if you bought followers – actually I know some business clients who were actually thinking of doing this at one time, when a like actually meant something. So far our Spokesdog Facebook page is still there, but Facebook may clean that up too in the not too distant future.

Facebook states that this clean up effort is to improve things for personal accounts and brands, and it does make sense. With the ability of people who friend you to have access to your wall for their business or spam, it is a good idea for Facebook to clean up its act.

Posted on

Confidence Equals Sales

Sure you’ve seen sites like this on the web; ones that have no phone number, no address, and just a contact form, but they want you to buy! Do you? I don’t! Especially if I am comparison shopping. In fact, I’ll pay more to know that I am dealing with a legitimate firm, do you?

In my business, confidence equates sales. It is just simple, if you are not willing to share your phone number, email address, and location address on your own website, you communicate that you will be hard to reach if there is a problem. Not sharing these important items can become a big problem that does really impact sales.

In online sales, it is all about confidence. Are you who you say you are? If I have a problem will I get help? Will I be able to talk to a “real person”? These are the items that all website should have prominently placed to communicate legitimacy and thereby build confidence with potential customers.

  1. Phone Number
  2. Email Address
  3. Location Address – no P.O. Boxes – a real office location!
  4. Hours of Service – for phone contact
  5. Time Zone – for customer planning

Don’t  have these on your website because you think that you may be spammed? Think again! You do not communicate your willingness to trade with potential buyers by hiding your contact information. Take a look at your website and make sure that you aren’t communicating improperly your desire to serve and sell. You may just find that your sales significantly improve when you are confident enough to put your own information on your website.