Competitions

If you run a small business a good way to attract customers is to run a competition. People love free things and especially love to win things.

The best place to set up a competition is either on your website or your blog.  Preferably a website as it will drive traffic there but if you don't have one then a blog is a good place as well - just make sure you have plenty of information about your business on the blog.  If you sell items rather than services, make sure you pick a prize that represents your business and not just something you want to get rid of as it is not selling. Many people will be judging your business on what the prize is.

Once you get it set up you need to promote the competition.  Two good ways are via Twitter and Facebook.  Include short details about your competition and links back to your website or blog.  But be warned, do not run your competition directly on Facebook as you run risk of getting your page shut down.  Make sure to promote the competition at varies times during the day / week as people check their accounts at different times.

As mentioned before, competitions are a great way to attract new customers but it also builds your traffic to your site.   For a small investment you could be dramatically increasing your sales and your traffic!  Good luck and make sure to make it a fun experience for all!

Amanda
Green Monkey Websites
b. http://mygreenmonkeys.blogspot.com
w. http://www.greenmonkeywebsites.com.au

WEBSITE DESIGN from $400   :   BLOG DESIGN from $90

Getting the most out of free social media

Are you a new business or perhaps a small business working from home with little or no budget for marketing?  Fear not, there are ways to get the most out of free social media. 

I am at WAHM with two small children and started my other business Green Me OZ as a small business working from home with no budget for marketing so had to find a way to promote that was free.  As I networked I found that there are a lot of people in the same boat so I decided to set up Green Monkey Websites and offer a service specifically for small business, sporting clubs & groups and people who can't afford to spend a lot of money on promoting their business.

To get started you really need to do the following:

• Start a blog
• Set up a Facebook business page
• Set up a Twitter page

Once you get your blog going you can showcase your business on the blog and have it linked to your Facebook and Twitter pages.What exposure you get from it all is up to you.  The more you blog and the more you post to Facebook and Twitter will increase your search results and get it out there in the crazy world of social media which everyone is jumping on to.

Green Monkey Websites can set up a blog for you for $150.  We will also link your Facebook and Twitter pages to this blog. If you need help setting those up we can help you do that as well. Sign up to this blog and you will also receive regular tips on how to get the most out of your social media.

So what are you waiting for?