I love emerging trends and seeing technology push marketing into the future! One of the emerging trends in 2013 is using all of your social networking platforms to marketing your business.

You just can’t use Facebook alone or Twitter alone, you have to integrate two or even more social media sites to get your business out into the street!! We have seen how businesses even mine? integrate Facebook and Twitter to get information and promotions out to our customers and potential customers, but it’s time to throw in social platforms like Pinterest, Instagram and Google+.

Google+ seems very interesting as it will bring in all the strength of Google applications, such as AdWords! Plus, a report out today stating that after Facebook, Google+ is the biggest social network. So, Google+ can’t be ignored and the Mad Lady will be working on fine tuning her Google+ expertise!! Another social platform to consider is YouTube!

It has been refreshing seeing so many bloggers going on YouTube to do video blogs and integrating it into their websites, Facebook page and on their Twitter account. This is putting the hyperdrive into your social media platforms!

So the Mad Lady is really encouraging all of her readers to not settle on just one or two social media platforms but stretch out and integrate other fascinating and effective platforms all of which can only enhance your marketing efforts. They are available to us and will help you find those elusive customers.

The Mad Lady would like to congratulate her reader Jill B. from Georgia, who won the contest last week by emailing a Gamification idea to integrate a “leaderboard” on her website for customers that visit and comment on ideas she puts out for her products! Jill wins the Starbucks gift card and a call from the Mad Lady! Congrats Jill!

Last week I mentioned a new concept to help increase your connection with current customers and potential customers through Gamification.

As Wikipedia states “Gamification is the use of game-thinking and game mechanics in non-game contexts in order to engage users and solve problems.” In other words engage your customers, followers or fans with rewards, encouragement and recognition!

Gamification allows businesses to challenge their customers with fun activates to keep them engaged and hopefully those customers will let their “friends” and “family” know about the business and direct them to engage the business also. These “engagements” can be as basic as organizing a contest for customers or visitors to your website to find an item on your website, you could provide a clue or a series of clues to direct them and once they find it, offer a “reward” like a gift card.  Please note this concept is not for “gamers” or just the “young”, it can be for everyone.

A fun way to really recognize loyal customers or visitors is to reward “badges” or “points”. Set up a points system for how many times a customer or fan “visits” or “comments” and they could have a place of “honor” on your website.  Kind of like a leader-board and with that leader-board you can offer several “giveaways” to really engage current customers and attract new ones.

In the spirit of Gamification, the Mad Lady is going to run a contest. To all my readers, send in an example of a Gamification “engagement” idea!  I will review the entries between now and January 29th, the best one I will highlight in my blog post on January 30th and send the winner a $5.00 Starbucks Gift Card. I will also give the winner a call to discuss any marketing questions you may have.

So let the games begin!

Hello Readers! Here's a new concept for you - Gamification!

The Mad Lady just heard about this concept and she loves it! It is another way to engage your customers, get new customers and build customer loyalty. Check out the article posted on January 15, 2013 in Business News Daily. Starting off the new year with a new marketing concept is a step in the right direction.

http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/3762-2013-year-of-gamification.html

I would love to hear what you think about this article.

Holla back!

Recently I’ve been working with two clients on media buying and tv commercial production. I always recommend television commercials for clients when you have a business that can accept customers from anywhere in the country, commercials in different states can be quite affordable and an easy way to market to people outside of the city you are currently in. Some people think running print ads, radio spots or television commercials must be done in their city. But, if local commercials are too expensive and you have a product or service that can go anywhere, try smaller markets. This is where a marketing firm comes in handy. They, like Green Leaf Marketing, are who you turn too when you need to increase your exposure. Marketing firms know the in’s and out’s and can help you navigate the intricate waters of the media buying world.

Let’s say you have custom candle business in Houston, TX. If your website and/or Facebook business page is equipped with an online store, then there is nothing to prevent you from advertising in Denver or Fort Worth or anywhere, if the rates are reasonable. A customer is a customer, no matter where you find them. Just think, your website, which is your message, allows you to reach and service customers all over the country.

But, always remember, advertising be it print, television, internet or radio will help drive new traffic to your website so you can turn that traffic into customers.

Advertising can be expensive but there are a lot of inexpensive advertising options as well. Don’t ever think you’re too small to advertise on television or radio. Every business no matter how big or small can benefit from effective advertising.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I had a wonderful break and now it is back to work!

Since I started this blog in 2012, I've been giving small businesses tips on how to cut cost and save money. This year, I have a different train of thought. You've got to stop thinking small and think big. If you want big results, you've got to do big things. Yes you may be a small business but if you want growth and prosperity you've got to get away from the "penny pinching" way of thinking. What is the old adage…Go big or go home! Let's start thinking BIG! That is my advice for 2013.

Stop complaining about not having money, stop trying to get something for nothing, stop whining. You’ve either got what it takes to own and operate a business or you don’t. If you started a business and didn’t think to include a marketing budget, then maybe you don’t have what it takes to be a business owner. If you can't put forth the time, effort and money it takes to really operate a business, then just close your doors and shut it down. Trying to make something out of nothing doesn't work. Billy Preston said it best in his song “Nothing from Nothing” As the song goes, “Nothing from nothing leaves nothing, you've got to have something, if you want to be with me!” But for the purpose of this article, the end should say, “you’ve got to have something (money) if you want to be in business…period!

Mad Lady are you saying I have to be rich to start a business? No, that is not what I’m saying, but I am saying you have to be realistic. It takes money to make money. If you don’t have a lot of money, then you should think in these term - Little money/resources equal little results. More money/resources equal more results. Lots of money/resources equal big results. All I’m saying is, it’s up to you. Your business is what you make it. So in this New Year, 2013, stop thinking small and think BIG!

Happy New Year and it's good to be back!