WordPress 3.3 Users: I was able to solve the inactive Visual Tab problem by installing the Use Google Libraries plugin.
Description of problem: After the upgrade to 3.3, the visual tab was no longer accessible. Posts could only be edited in HTML.
To see if your theme is the problem, install Twenty Eleven, activate it and test.
To see if your plugins are the problem, deactivate all and test.
Goals and Objectives.
Strategy. Tactics. Logisitics.
All of the above are essential for business growth.
Take a quick assessment:
If you answered no to any (or all) of the questions, don’t be discouraged.
You can start preparing for 2012 business growth right now.
Let’s keep it simple. The most common goal among professional service providers is this:
Increase my client base.
Is this one of your goals for 2012? If so, right or type it right now in a place that will be visible to you daily.
Your strategy will need to be unique but the tactics don’t have to be.
Here are 5 tactics you don’t want to leave out of your 2012 online marketing strategy:
1. Build and nurture your email list (client and prospect base) by providing timely answers to problems they face. Email has been around since the early 90’s but it is still the hub of business communications.
Daystar New Media Client Example: Last year, a decades old insurance provider entered the email marketing arena by compiling an email client list. The second email newsletter they sent out to the list contained info on how to protect property with adequate flood insurance coverage. They were careful to include a call to action: Buy a new flood policy or increase flood coverage. The results were immediate. They received 15 calls resulting in 7 new policies from a single email. Have you emailed your clients lately?
2. Commit to blogging your expertise. Unlike PPC, print ads and in-person networking, the value of the blog investment grows exponentially over time.
Daystar New Media Client Example: Two years ago, one of my clients, a law firm, committed to blogging for the purpose of building visibility and credibility with a very targeted commercial audience in the legal industry. The pay off for the more than 200 posts, has been an increase in visits from 800+ in year 1 to 8000+ in year 2. Unique visitors are up from 300+ in year 1 to 5000+ in year 2. ROI has also come in the form of conversation and feedback about the blog from important stakeholders and industry leaders. You can’t buy that with ads. Have you increased your traffic and your credibility strategically?
3. Create short, passionate video messages that contain content to HELP your audience accomplish their goals and overcome their challenges.
Daystar New Media Client Example: A commercial real estate company plans to provide informational videos to introduce not only the unique client workspace available at his location but also become the resource about how to utilize commercial tax credits, a complicated but very valuable opportunity for businesses. What content could you offer in video format that would HELP your clients/prospects?
4. Communicate with your clients & followers regularly using status updates. Use this space to offer quick actionable content such as tips and best practices. Make it worth their time to read what you post.
Daystar New Media Client Example: A real estate company maintains statistics on local home price trends and publishes them on the company web site. Using social media status updates, this info is streamed out across social networks increasing the company’s visibility and driving traffic back to the website. What content is sitting on your web site that is under-utilized?
5. Create a core message that you deliver in person to quickly communicate the value you offer on your blog, email list and/or social media spaces.
Daystar New Media Client Example: A CPA Firm partner regularly attends networking events. He plans and practices his 30-second introduction. In 2012, after clearly stating the firm name and website, he’ll invite small business owners to subscribe to the firm blog so they can learn how to increase their profits by earning and keeping more money. Let the people you meet in person know what’s in it for them to subscribe your blog, visit your facebook page or follow you on twitter.
To learn how we can help with your 2012 online marketing plan, contact us at info@daystarnewmedia.com or call 504-210-7690.
About Michelle Cullison: Michelle is an acclaimed professional speaker
, author, and the President of Daystar New Media, Inc. Since 1993, she has helped hundreds of clients expand their businesses from web site to the web presence. Michelle knows how to leverage the power of the social web with tools like WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Today, through her speaking, training and consulting services, she equips companies to expand from web site to web presence by developing and implementing effective social media strategies.
The call for help came early this morning! “Help! I scheduled my blog articles and they didn’t publish!”
Wordpress is usually a REALLY faithful tool so I immediately logged into the client’s wordpress site to see if I could find the problem.
It appeared that none of the articles were marked as Scheduled. All the problem articles were showing up as Drafts. Of course, that was the problem. But, why did this client think the article was scheduled?
I opened one of the suspect drafts and found that there was a scheduled time and date entered for each draft. But, the articles didn’t get posted because they didn’t make it to the Scheduled Queue.
Like most things, it’s simple once you know the routine. But, if you are new to WordPress, the number of options available can be quite confusing. Here’s the sequence required to get those scheduled posts out of Draft mode and into the Scheduled Queue:
1. Enter the date and time.
2. Click OK.
3. Click the Schedule button.
The problem: After clicking OK to save the scheduled time, the Save Draft Button was clicked.
Tip: Look carefully at the options in WordPress and in other new media tools when you are ready to publish, post a status update or tweet. What buttons and options are available? Take a minute to explore them. Determine what the dialogue boxes are REALLY asking you. Since platforms like WordPress, Facebook, LinkedIn (and ______) are constantly changing, your options may not be what they were last time. Taking 1 minute to really examine the options can save you time and help you utilize new features more quickly.
If you are looking for more structured learning about new media tools like WordPress, Daystar New Media, Inc. offers one-on-one online training to help you get up to speed quickly with WordPress and other new media tools.
Contact us at info@daystarnewmedia.com or call 504-210-7690 to learn more.
About the author: Michelle Cullison, President of Daystar New Media, knows how to leverage the power of WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn (and more) to strengthen the brand and expand the reach of businesses. Since 1993, she has helped hundreds of businesses utilize the Web to its fullest business potential. Today, through her speaking, training and consulting services, Michelle equips companies to expand from a website to a web presence by developing and implementing a social media strategy. Connect with Michelle on Linkedin.
You might be macabre if…your facebook page is a cemetery for updates and posts from years gone by. No living souls post to it…only some ghoulish spammers.
You might be macabre if... you let your web designer handle your domain name and website updates. Then-YIKES- he disappears: dies, goes out of business, gets too busy. It’s been ___ weeks or is it months? Your in the Domain Dungeon and your content is getting very chilly.
You might be macabre if…your company sales rep accidentally tweets on the company profile that he hates the small town he is visiting today. He’s there for a sales meeting. Local news picks up the tweet and broadcasts it. It’s called Twitter Terror!
You might be macabre if...you didn’t measure your marketing efforts in 2011 and now you don’t know how to prove ROI on anything-web site expansion, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Email Marketing or _____. You and the CEO are really SPOOKED.
You might be macabre if...your social media strategy document is covered in cobwebs. It hasn’t been accessed since February. You wish you had been #accountable. You wish your #ROI was clear. Your haunted by the 2011 #Sales reality.
Tired of being macabre on the social web? Don’t be.
Join Michelle Cullison for the Social Media Magnificent Webinar Series.
Tuesdays Nov. 29, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13 at 1 PM CT or 7 PM CT (Your choice)
Can’t make the session? Recording will be provided. Learn more.
Register by midnight Nov 1st for an extra TREAT.
This is the language of Social Media.
A web site is no longer enough. People want availability and interaction. Decision makers are struggling to determine which communication channels to use, what to publish, how to engage and manage conversations and who in the organization is responsible. To achieve success in the social spaces, companies need to expand daily. This requires:
While the tools are new, we’re not. From modems and Mosaic (circa 1993) to the social web of 2010, Michelle Cullison, President of Daystar New Media, has been applying internet technology to meet the business objectives of her clients.
Are you Ready to expand your business EVERY DAY? Start reading the blog, susbscribe to my enewsletter and contact me to book a free 20-minute phone consult.
