Humanize to Power Word of Mouth Marketing

Humanize your brand for word of mouth marketing

When it comes to interacting with your audience, what is it that makes them feel comfortable with you? Is it your thorough reserves of knowledge? Perhaps it could be the unique service your brand provides. What many audiences truly desire is to do business with someone they can relate to.

This isn’t always the first consideration of many brands and is often overlooked. But the true fact remains: humanizing your brand creates a unique authenticity. So, how can you humanize your brand and really develop a loyal following? 

Five (5) Ways to Humanize Your Brand

1. Be Interactive 

How interactive are you with your audience? Do you interact through social content and blog comments? What do you say to them? How you respond to your audience will ultimately determine how approachable your brand is. Does your audience feel comfortable communicating with you? More importantly, does your audience enjoy communicating with you? Engaging the audience is more than just answering their questions; it’s about getting them to ask in the first place. 

2. Develop relatable and entertaining contents

Content is the backbone of your brand. What you say and how you say things affect your brand’s authenticity and visibility. But, there is something to consider when creating content if you are going to generate relatable content. Don’t focus on making your titles search-friendly. They often sound unnatural and more like you’re appealing to a search engine rather than humans. Though it might improve Google results, readers will quickly spot this particular “strictly business” approach (and they won’t likely relate to your content).

Additionally, laughter is contagious and often most likely to be shared (even if it’s just a quote or reference). Add a little humor into your content to entice the audience to share with others who could relate to it. Just be sure to keep it appropriate and relevant to your topic.

3. Create a great “About Us” page

This is one area where brands can either define themselves as mechanical or human operated. An “about us” page has a lot to say, whether it’s said or unsaid. Take some time to really develop this portion of your social sites and website. 

The best practice is to tell your brand’s story. How did it come to be? How has it developed?

[tweet this].

Simple as it may sound, it works far more effectively than simply listing out a few features of your brand. This will give your brand character that the audience can relate to.

4. Post personalized photos 

With social networks enabling brands to show off their best qualities, make your brand relatable with authentic pictures. Avoid pictures that look more like examples of a store’s stock or merchandise. Personalize it with photos of you, preferably interacting and networking with the audience. 

5. Maintain a good reputation

Above all, always be honest. When developing the relatable aspect of your brand’s image, always keep in mind that the audience’s perception will ultimately determine how authentic you truly are. Give them a reason to believe in you and what you can do for them. 

Why Does an Individual Need A Facebook Business Page?

Facebook business profile for personal social marketing

Facebook has been an extremely popular social media for years now. Millions of individuals have their own accounts, chatting, sharing, and “liking” popular trending topics, ideas, and businesses. For the most part, an individual’s personal profile seems to offer it all, making interaction easy and allowing them to meet and network with people across the world.

So why does an individual need a Facebook business page? If your personal profile seems to be working just fine, what extra benefits would you draw from having a separate business page? 

Top 3 Reasons Why You Need a Facebook Business Page

1. To present a favorable image

Every individual is a brand, whether they work for a company or for themselves.  There may well be a time at which you’re seeking work in a professional field, and with the online world socially-focused these days, it is wise to be able to present a positive and professional, social image. 

Many businesses will Google their employee prospects and Facebook will usually show up in the top two results. What you say and what others have to say about you will significantly affect how a prospective employer/business partner will view you. 

So, consider your personal profile (especially when blocked to non-friends) as being of little aid in endorsing your professional image. But, if you have a business page that demonstrates your professionalism, you will be far more effective in marketing yourself to the right audience. Through word of mouth marketing, your social networks can help or hinder your efforts. Be sure that you are presenting the right image for your desired business audience to view. 

2. To display your professionalism 

Additionally, there is also the importance of separating your personal profile from your business endeavors. Social networks are popular with individual users whose accounts are often littered with personal opinions. Many of which could not be regarded as part of a person’s professional persona. If you are to appear professional, you’ll need your social account to represent your expertise and business-focused mind-set effectively. 

Thus, by designing a business page, you can interact on a strictly professional level and design an image that is desirable for your audience - be it potential business networks or a future career. This business page will help represent your professionalism and display your ability to separate business from personal matters. 

3. To analyze your social strategy

One of the benefits of a business page is that you can utilize the available social analytics. Personal pages do not offer effective analytics to help you when tuning your social network skills. Using those analytics, you can view interactions and see how many people are viewing your profile and when they are viewing it. 

"Social media allows us to build a reputable brand, sometimes that means separating personal and business profiles" [tweet this].

Many people are using the internet. Some are there purely to hang out while others are there for professional reasons. In order to make the most of your social experience, it would be wise to set up a business profile to help improve visibility and potentially make some new professional associates. Set yourself apart as a professional individual. Take the time to set up a business profile on your Facebook account now!

Using Instagram Profiles for Your Business

Instagram and your social marketing campaign

Instagram started adding web profiles for its users a couple of weeks ago. This popular mobile app is Instagram, focused primarily on the visual aspects of life. While originally designed for sharing photos with family and friends, brands have begun to utilize it in order to promote their image through social campaigns.

But, what does that have to do with your brand? Not every business can promote a visual stance (words seem to be more appealing), but incorporating visuals into your social campaign is still essential to your online success. So, you must apply it: How is your brand pictured by your audience? What do you see when you consider your brand? What does your audience see? 

Create and promote

Though just an app, Instagram does have a profile for you to develop and utilize. Because Instagram is all about visuals, using a picture that effectively promotes your brand is essential- though you will want it to be appealing as well (for its repost potential). However, there is also the aspect of promoting it with the right hashtag (#mybrand). What this hashtag does is allows you to accumulate your brand’s uploaded photos on your account. This helps to define your photos as specific to your brand’s image. 

The best part is that followers can utilize the hashtag to tag your brand when they take a picture. It would be advantageous for aggregating your account with your website- such as a social campaign. Your audience can post pictures of how your brand has impacted their lives. 

This aspect of Instagram helps develop word of mouth marketing by including the audience in your social endeavors. [tweet this].

The more they interact- and the more they are able to interact- with your business will ultimately determine your social campaign’s success. 

Additionally, for any previously established photos, you can always hashtag within the comment feed to link it back to your brand’s profile. Be sure that your Instagram app is current- considering the new photo-map addition that allows you to tag your location when you upload a photo. This could be very handy for promoting your brand’s location and helping develop your profile. 

There’s an app for that

Since Instagram is more of an app, it lacks the site references that social sites possess. Though Instagram itself isn’t a social network, you can be followed through other apps like Webstagram and Statigram. These sites allow you to utilize a RSS button that links your account and allows viewers to follow you more effectively. This is an effective way to initially improve your Instagram profile’s visibility by linking with other sites, especially your blogs. 

Take advantage of all tools provided, and ensure that your Instagram profile is as widely available to the audience as possible. Instagram allows you to link with other social sites like Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter. So be sure that your profile incorporates these networks if you utilize them (don’t worry about creating an account on these sites though if you aren’t going to manage them effectively). Your social network profiles will carry with them the Instagram tag, allowing already established audiences to view your profile and follow. 

Using Instagram can benefit your social campaign, but only if it is utilized effectively and completely. Turn your profile into an easy-to-follow tool by which your audience can not only familiarize, but also be able to link with and further associate your brand with audience approval. 

Content and Context

The right content for your social marketing strategy

When it comes to social interactions, what you say and how you say it will ultimately determine how the audience reacts to you. Because social media marketing is a fast way to connect which often appeals to customers, it is crucial that you promote your brand effectively.

Effective social marketing depends on the content and the context that it is held in. While it is possible to post valuable information, how it is held and its relevance to the life of your target market will affect how they respond to your brand.

What you say matters to the audience (Content)

The audience is always listening, but for how long is the ultimate question. Postings on social media will only last for a short time before they pass on. And due to the high-speed that technology provides, the average attention span is only about ten seconds. That gives you only moments to gain the attention of the audience- and hold on to it. 

Does the audience enjoy what you have to say? How do they react? The use of analytical tools has proven invaluable for any online marketing strategy. Use these to tune your content and adjust to current trending topics. What content is appreciated by the audience? What are their reactions? Remember that no reaction is the worst reaction there is. 

While getting their attention is most valuable, proposing that they share that information is just as important. Social media is an opportune chance for word of mouth marketing strategies, especially since valuable and attractive content is more likely to be shared through viewers to their friends.

How you say it matters just as much (Context)

While content is invaluable, there is also the importance of saying the right thing at the right time- in an effective manner. Consider the last thing you posted. Was it valuable content? It may have been, but that doesn’t mean that it was conveyed at the right time or even proposed in the right light. Even a beautiful painting can be viewed as a poor piece of art when it’s in the wrong place at the wrong time, or seen by the wrong crowd. 

Context has many aspects, some alluding to timing and others to clarity. With trends changing all the time, posting viable material needs to be done at the right time. Timing is basically the exterior part of your content, and is best achieved by knowing your audience and anticipating what they will want to hear at a particular time. 

The interior of context lies within how your post is perceived. It is possible to have a viable subject, but be unable to get the message across to your audience. To avoid this, clear and concise language that avoids confusion is a practice that should always be utilized.

Combine the two

One specific issue that many professionals incur is that they post only what they want to hear. They talk as though they were talking to themselves, not to an outside party. While you may seem like an authority in your field, it can detract from your social experience, especially since most individuals will only appreciate what they can comprehend. Speak to the audience- not over their heads. Avoid technical jargon that can confuse or even belittle your audience (it is good practice to explain and educate the audience where necessary). 

Additionally, clarity is of the utmost importance. Are you posting facts or opinions? Differentiate what is fact and opinion when you say it, since the audience will always have its own unique perception. Always ask yourself how they will view the content. Will they take your word for it or are you opening yourself up for discrepancies. Also, keep in mind that one of your primary goals is to establish your brand’s expertise. In order to maintain authority in your field, you will need to make sure that you keep your facts and opinions separate.

“Keep in mind that each social network has its own specific audience.” [tweet this].

The Twitter audience may not want to view your Facebook material or your Linkedin network may not enjoy your Pinterest boards. Each audience needs to be addressed specifically. And while the content may be the same, this is where context affects your social marketing strategy the most. 

How you engage your audience depends on your content and the context in which it’s understood. Be sure to utilize your social tools effectively and apply the uniqueness of your brand to your social marketing strategy. As long as your brand’s social content is held appropriately within the context of your specific audience, those that see will react and continue to offer you their valuable attention. 

A Social Marketing Strategist Makes Sense for Your Business

Social marketing strategist and your business

Marketing through the many social networks has become common practice for businesses, both big and small. These networks are often easy-to-use and economically effective, but that doesn’t mean you will effortlessly obtain all the benefits from your social networking campaign.

So, why is it necessary to utilize a social marketing strategist? Primarily because it can be difficult for a business owner or manager to spend the time required to deal with all the variables that exist in social media nowadays. Discussing, posting, analyzing, and overall engaging with the audience needs focused efforts and, above all, an expert in this field. 

It is crucial that social strategists are able to dedicate themselves wholly to social media marketing strategies. "Effective social marketing requires a wide range of skills to enable your brand to make the most of your social campaign" [tweet this].

The Social Aspect of Business

In order to handle an online social campaign effectively, a social strategist must be professional yet sociable, with a talent for speaking to the audience. Many business owners and associated management have one issue; they focus primarily on the technical side of a business, and less so on the people side.  Their functions and interests are sometimes limited, thereby restricting the ability of a brand to communicate thoroughly with the audience. 

A social strategist must be able to engage the audience in such a way as to gain their trust and loyalty; to achieve an effective audience approach.  Interacting, sharing, and getting involved with your audience require focused efforts, but  you will reap recommendations and interactions from your audience. Effective interaction between your social strategists and the audience opens up a window for word of mouth marketing, allowing your brand’s visibility and image to grow in the online world. 

To achieve this requires the focused efforts of a specifically designated social strategist. In situations where a technical expert attempts to interact with the audience, communication can break down. This is because not every representative of a business is able to focus on handling people as individuals and interacting with them appropriately (building loyalty, explaining situations, appealing to their wants). 

Why Do You Need a Social Strategist?

Of course, to communicate effectively, you must also be innovative and creative in your methods and thinking. Social strategists can focus their efforts to understanding the social environment, easily adapting to changes in the social network structure - such as new platforms, tool utilization, and techniques. It is necessary for them to analyze data and adapt to changes efficiently to accomplish this. 

Then there is the widely underestimated factor that one social network is different from another. It is important to be able to understand the unique differences of each social network and their associated audiences. Twitter audiences demand a different approach than a Facebook or LinkedIn audience would appreciate. While the concept of social media is universal, each forum requires a unique approach and analysis in order to achieve its true potential. 

This is why it’s important to have a designated social strategist operating your marketing campaign. The wide range of social networks and constant changes to the networking world require a focused individual or department. 

Then there are certain characteristics that truly define a social strategist. While they need to be familiar with the handling of different social networks and their unique audiences, they must also be familiar enough with your company so that they can effectively endorse and speak as though they were the brand itself. 

This is often difficult to achieve and is, perhaps, one of the reasons why many businesses neglect to outsource their social marketing. They may decide to involve the entire business into their social strategy. This can, unfortunately, draw attention away from development within the brand (Jim can’t focus on getting those files analyzed; as he’s busy updating the business’s LinkedIn account).  

This is why the ability to communicate and appreciate the brand’s attributes and advantages is so important for a designated social strategist. They are responsible for opening up a line for communication for their associated brand and are able to discuss it with others with complete authority. This is why a social strategist must be able to wear many hats and constantly be updated with the company’s changes and new directions. A designated social marketing strategist would be able to collect that data, analyze it, and share it through marketing, without disrupting the brand’s development efforts.

When it comes to the social marketing, a business gets what it invests into the campaign. In order to achieve the maximum benefit from your online experience, it is necessary to engage the services of a social strategist who has the right skills, focus, and personality. It makes sense for your business to make the most of its social campaign. 

Pinterest Helps Garner Big Business for Small Businesses

Social marketing with Pinterest for your small business

Throughout the internet, imagery seems to be the most popular source of interest. People enjoy an iconic meme or a photo of the latest hot-topic. However, by considering the bigger picture, the prospect of visualization is presented. It’s easy to use and can easily influence a wide audience with minimal investment.

Pinterest has been an underestimated audience source for the business industry. Perhaps it’s because of the fact that its design was oriented around individuals sharing images they like. However, it has since grown far beyond that limitation.

Growth of the Pinterest network is extraordinary

More businesses are expanding their use for different social networks, especially the larger industries. This, of course, is a continuing trend that has opened up these industries to a larger network of individuals, contacts, and new opportunities. This radical growth has thus made Pinterest one of the leading opportunities for word of mouth marketing, by presenting an already established network that is ready to be utilized by businesses of all size. 

Pinterest is basically organized around visual appeal- the picture takes center stage and the message is displayed with simplicity so that it doesn’t distract from the purpose. Comments are applicable, but aren’t necessarily the primary intention of the social medium. Instead, it’s more about getting the attention of the audience and introducing yourself. By linking appropriately and with the right incentive, Pinterest allows you to guide the audience to primary sites, such as your webpage,LinkedIn site (with a professional profile), blogs, and other methods by which you increase your network. 

Gaining from imagery

While some social sites can be difficult to utilize or even navigate, this visual site focuses on being simple and relatively easy to use. The “Pin it” browser allows you to pin anything to your account without having to access the site or sign in. As you surf through the web, interesting imagery can pop up, such as statistical graphs or topics that apply to your business, in which case you can simply press a button and save the material. This helps the user avoid wading through the sign-in hoopla, a distraction that so many social networks tend to employ. 

“This is also a great site where you can simplify technical data that readers might find difficult to understand, such as business analysis. Information in general is often simplified through visualization, making it applicable to even the most technical fields.“ [tweet this].

Additionally, people tend to crave the taste of change regularly. This is perhaps why there are always new trends coming up, and perhaps why it’s also important to be conversant with the latest "hot topic", before everyone else. Social sites like MySpace and Facebook have in essence grown older. While their application is still viable, the introductions of sites like Pinterest generally possess a trending appeal which grabs the audience’s attention. 

"Social networks offer a wide range of marketing benefits, but not all businesses can utilize their communication outlets the same". [tweet this].

Pinterest relies on visuals, which means that your small business needs to be able to associate itself with something visual. In employing Pinterest, creativity is often essential, and it’s up to each individual to apply this in order to make their business appealing.

Social Word of Mouth Marketing for Your Small Business

Word of Mouth Marketing for your small business

The online industry of social networking has become one of the primary windows by which businesses of all sizes can effectively mesh with their audience. When it comes to the small business owner who is first entering the industry, the online world has the greatest host of advantages if they can be harnessed properly.

Therein lies the key, because unless social networks are utilized properly, they won’t provide the desired results. For the business owner, word of mouth through social interaction is both efficient and effective, providing the ideal opportunity and possibly one of the best places to start building your brand image.

Social network sites are great places to start

First of all, social word of mouth has the lowest price tag - the biggest investment cost is actually time. And that is what is important, because time is money. So, one must be willing to invest one’s time in these social networks in order to locate new contacts and potential clientele.

Initially, social networks are ideal because they already have a widely established network. By simply joining in, you are exposed to a large network of people who are waiting to meet you. But, your task is to get out there and meet them, or they may never even know you exist.

You must make it easy for your audience to find you. Use keywords and phrases that are trending or popular at the moment. Link back to your websites and other networks through your postings and blogs, so that readers can easily find you and can conduct their own research about your business or brand.

You make social networking effective

Overall, it’s incredibly easy to communicate through social networks, but you need to be sure you do it properly. In particular, there are certain methods that will get the results you desire. Many first-time users have a large list of ideas and creative thoughts, many of which include talking only about themselves. Remember, that is what a bio is for. Pictures might be posted pertaining to merchandise or services offered - but that is selling yourself short. As a business owner and your own boss, you have far more to offer the audience than just sales pitches. What is it that makes your business special? What motivates you? How do you relate to the audience? These are questions that the audience will ask themselves when they view your networks. This is why, it is important to answer such questions.

There is also the importance of listening and responding to your audience. One of the worst things you can do is generate post after post without reviewing the discussions and interacting with the audience. This is the prime opportunity to develop social word of mouth marketing because they are talking to you- and talking amongst themselves about you.

When it comes to customer service, these social networks are quite effective at generating word of mouth. When a client interacts with you, it may be positive or negative. Regardless, during and after this interaction, others will inevitably hear about your customer service abilities.

In many cases, it is ideal to present this situation through live feeds, so that you can display your expertise to a wide audience. This is a great opportunity to build a social site based on recommendations made by the audience.

Additionally, social networking is a great opportunity to get effective feedback. If your social strategies are getting positive results, then you’re doing well. If you’re not getting results (views or comments), then it’s time to reconsider your methods.

In order to generate quality content, you must know who you are talking to. Research and understand your target audience so that you can deliver content that they want to view. What do they enjoy? Generate interest through postings that they are already talking about and relate them to your business. Trends and holidays are often hot topics and can be utilized quite easily.

As we interact through social networks and discover new methods and practices, we will be able to develop more sophisticated means of communication. We need to be forever changing and adapting to new advances in technology. The social networks of today link individuals together and make interaction easier than ever before. For those who operate small businesses, social word of mouth marketing strategies are perhaps the most effective and efficient way to build success.

Great Brand Resources Direct from Brandidos

Personal branding tips from Brandidos

Advice is a great source of information. Recommendations on Good Reads, quality sources to investigate, and ultimately comparative goals that other businesses pursue can be informative and useful, even when they don’t relate directly to you. In other words, they are references you would use to write your own essay on how to conduct your business activities.

"And remember- everything and everyone has something to teach you"  [tweet this].

Books of interest and how they help your BRAND grow

Reading is the ultimate source of learning, and oftentimes offers helpful hints that we can learn from or incorporate into our lives, even if they are fictional. Books contain insights in many forms, even when they aren’t good (we learn to avoid a particular style or approach).

Highly recommended are books such as “Brand Thinking" by Debbie Millman, “Social Marketology” by Ric Dragon, “Engage” by Brian Solis, and “Business Stripped Bare” by Richard Branson. But, it all comes down to what you are looking for in a book. What education and insight do you seek?

What current sites or online resources do you use daily as a Brandido?

Quality resources can begin with keeping track of your client investment. Newswire can be used effectively by searching industry/company to monitor news and updates for clients. Additionally, the New York Times advertising and media section is completely relevant to developing or adapting trending marketing strategies. Other sources might include Smashing Mag, Jakob Nielsen, Mashable, and B2B of course. But, some are convinced that a wider variety of online newsletter content tends to generate numerous ideas. It is good practice to look outside your industry and learn new techniques to apply to your own pursuits. The key here is to seek out multiple sources in order to generate different ideas and visions of the world.

What conferences, seminars or webinars are a MUST in your annual plan

For a majority of the business-minded, the free ones are perhaps the top choice for their economical value. But consider what is free? Time always costs something, so you need to target the right opportunities to gain the most benefit from your experience. Focus on what you need. A good starting point should be tradeshows in your industry and client-focused events that provide quality instruction on how to approach and handle customer situations.

Some even recommend that one save even more time by paying attention to what others have to say such as in social feeds and “unorganized” webinars or irregular coffee conferences. What are people discussing regularly? Despite the unorganized characteristics, there are plenty of opportunities to participate in regular webinars and seminars that are not properly titled, but offer some great information.

For the most part, it is always wise to seek a fresh perspective when possible. Search for new opportunities and avoid the same song and dance. Keep your eyes peeled for fresh and trending material that you can source from to better your business pursuits and search outside of your field to see what new theories and techniques you can apply to your brand.

What is on your list of things to do? 

What's on your bucket list as a branding professional? Consider who you’ve wanted to work with and what you’ve always wanted to do with your brand. Perhaps you’ve wanted to work with the people from the show: Shark Tank, most of who are often great thinkers and artists when it comes to generating new ideas. And while these fantasy ideas are good to have, there are more general targets in mind. Could your target be a region- a city- perhaps an individual?

Looking towards the future is perhaps the most prioritized item on our bucket list- and why? Because it never ends. We are always looking to better ourselves and prepare for tomorrow.

At the end of the day, we all teach each other something, but it is up to us as individuals to learn and adapt those teachings into our brand applications. Consider what others have to say, even if it is bad advice or quality information, because somewhere in your brand, you will learn something.

Creating Trust through Word of Mouth

Word of Mouth and your brand reputation

When meeting a contact for the first time, within the first few seconds, you plant a relationship seed which can either flourish or fail. It’s all about building trust when working on a relationship. 

Trust is one of the most powerful tools when generating a relationship with contacts. Primarily, it is the first impression that always leaves the most impact on an individual, and will later decide how they will want to interact with you.

Attitude that builds

So, it’s up to you to start things out the right way. What are some things that you can do to create a good first impression? When first meeting a contact, be sure that you make a positive impact on them with several different techniques that are small and simple, but carry the most powerful impact during an initial meeting. 

You may have seen those cliché movie scenes where one person instructs his comedic, yet faithful companion to act proper and don’t be a fool. Often, this situation turns out as a complete failure with the benefit of a few good laughs, but it teaches a valuable lesson. Be honest to yourself and to others. Don’t try to play a role or a part in a play. Smile, but don’t force it. Others will quickly notice if you are trying to be someone you are not, mostly because you aren’t being honest with them. This is imperative to trust, and how you act needs to present an honest image. 

Upon introductions, shaking hands combined with balanced eye contact ensures the other person that you are confident. Your handshake should be firm, but not too overwhelming. Don’t break their hand or shake more than three times. 

While shaking hands, be sure to look your contact in the eyes and confirm your name. During a discussion, balance your eye contact in a group and avoid any stare-down contests that could intimidate others. You don’t want to seem overwhelming or unapproachable. A friendly attitude is the most effective tool to building trust. 

What to say is basic- stick with a greeting that suits the occasion. Don’t be interrogative or overwhelmingly emotional about the situation. The best practice is to affirm your name and ask theirs. Follow up with something similar to: “This is quite the event, I’m glad I could come, how about you?”

This topic brings us to the importance of asking a question and listening. Stop dominating the conversation by sharing information about yourself or they might get bored, consider you self-centered or even sales-y.  It’s important to showcase your ability to listen and comprehend when interacting with others, especially prospective clients.

Openly display your expertise in your field, especially if asked, yet do refrain from being ‘all about you.”   Tell them about what you do, but do keep it short and simple (in order to leave a taste they will be intrigued with for a later follow-up) so they will know if you are a viable source of networking material for them. Always remember that networkers are searching for valuable contacts, so be prepared to make yourself one of them.

Basically, you are building a rapport that is influential. What will others say about you? Trust depends on the impression you impact on your contacts. This is one of the best methods by which we can apply word of mouth marketing because when others trust you, they will be inclined to endorse you as a quality prospect.

Others included

You build through the connection towards other connections. Each person has access to a new network of people, so there is never a useless contact. Never turn away from someone who is interested in you, even if they themselves don’t seem to benefit you.

This is often where many networkers go astray, because they are searching for something specific that they need…right now. But, there is always the future to include, so it’s good to consider that everyone will at some point prove beneficial to your business needs. Be ready to add anybody to your contact list.

“Building trust through word of mouth marketing is crucial to your success.” [tweet this].

While time is a resource we all feel we don’t have enough of, it is important to concentrate on leaving a good impression, especially during your first encounter with a contact. You never know who they will know or who they will talk to, so be ready to impact the entire world positively and create a network of trust. 

Maximize a Conference Event

Use your social marketing tools before your conference event

How can you make the most from a conference event? You meet a lot of people, shake hands, and gather business cards, but you can only do so much during the event. There are so many people there that you don’t really know anybody until you get there. Sure, you might see a familiar face or two, but for the most part, a new group of people is going to provide you with the most opportunity. 

However, there lies the problem of meeting the right people. How do you prepare for a conference? Would you show up and simply demonstrate your professionalism and wisdom, and hope you catch some good leads? Or would you prepare for the event, utilizing all the tools available to you?

Meeting the right people

Having something in common with your fellow attendees is incredibly helpful for beginning a conversation. For this reason, social networks can be incredibly invaluable. Consider contacting the hosts of your conference and asking them for a list of other attendee names. From here, you can research business-oriented networks such as Linkedin and other social sites, to gain insight on what their interests are. Who is going to be there? Social links help you discover associated interests you share with others. What are some trending topics that other attendees are discussing? 

This will help you develop a connection strategy to employ during the event. What individuals have the most in common with you? What are some good conversation starters for these people? You will enter the event knowing who to look for and how you can help each other. In these cases, sites such as Linkedin are ideal for identifying the business side of an individual. 

Networking

When you do begin to network, associate yourself and communicate that you would like them to join and enhance your networks, ideally social networks. This is a great way to start an ongoing relationship, and often it is much less bulky than juggling business cards. Smartphone technology is handy in this type of situation- simply tell them you’ve sent them a request to join your network. Now you have a good contact and information that won’t be lost or misplaced. Also, inquire from your associates on their own social sites and tell them that you are going to follow them, such as Twitter. This tends to stimulate more conversation, such as- “I prefer to use (fill in the blank) social sites”. This will help you identify hot spots and social preferences to look for later on.

Keep talking

What about making others talk about you? Word of mouth marketing is a powerful tool, but it can be limited in a networking setting in which everyone is talking about themselves. But, don’t neglect the fact that conferences don’t end when everyone exits the scene. Following up is just as important as the event. Follow attendees on Twitter or Pinterest where social sites are open networks. Investigate their company pages and subscribe to their blogs. Each time you follow, friend, or otherwise associate yourself with your contact’s online network, they see your name one more time. Additionally, you are able to see their expertise and apply their network to your own. 

When it comes to networking at an event, it is always best, and most efficient, to come prepared. Know the people you are going to meet and identify the people you need to meet. Spend your experience wisely and always be prepared.

Content Strategy Vital to Word of Mouth Marketing

Your content strategy is essential to your word of mouth marketing

Every business is faced with creating marketing content. What they say, how they say it, and primarily what context it’s placed in will decide how effective it will be and how the audience will receive it- be it positive or negative.

When it comes down to generating content for your business, there are various content strategies which can be applied. Do keep in mind that combinations between all of them will be the most practical tactic. Certain strategies are only as effective as the situation they are applied to. 

Outside

Some of the best sources to search for good content are easy enough to find, especially since you’re already looking at them. Start with the most likely place- customer questions and your responses. Customers see from the outside in, which means they also see all the things you don’t always see. This is a great time to learn and apply new information to create new and better content- especially since it’s what the audience wants to hear.

Also, consider all the value that customer stories hold. Nothing speaks stronger than a recommendation from a customer. This is a great way to employ word of mouth marketing strategies. When they share with you, share with everyone else. 

Inside

Of course, one can never forget themselves. You and what inspires you are great sources of content. Talk about what it is that drives you to do what you do. This is the opportunity for your audience to be able to relate to you and understand who they are doing business with.

Don’t forget about your own content. Have you written a book or another article? Write a blog that incorporates them as well and explains the content. 

What is it that makes that content source good? Well, it always depends on how it’s presented. These sources are great places to start, but it’s essential to have a good way to channel that content through technique and proper application.

New!

Talking about anything new within your business is always a plus. Defining efforts to better your business help to ensure your audience that their experience with you will only get better. Also be sure to cover in detail any new products and services that you’re about to launch or even considering launching. It can be very beneficial to get customer feedback before you release something. 

Educational

Throughout the online world, one of the most favorable content strategies is to provide information and educate the audience. The majority of people that search the internet are often looking for answers. If you can provide answers, they will come.

Describing

Talk about yourself and your business. Sometimes they can be together, sometimes apart. People love hearing about people. It helps to bring your business down to earth so that your audience can relate to you as more than just a name or title. They will relate to you as a person.

Showing

Infographics are relatable in several ways. Visuals are great for sharing complex information to a general audience and they save the reader time. If they see that your content shares more than just words, they are inclined to spend more time studying what you have to say or show.

Shocking

Creating controversial content can be a very helpful tool- depending on how it’s done. Considering that the “shock” effect of a very controversial marketing strategy can upset some, but also entice others to interact with you. 

So consider that this is most effectively done in small doses. Take for instance, asking a controversial question or making a statement. This gives you their attention without offending. 

Sharing

Have you ever considered responding to your competition- in a positive way? Sharing has always been contagiously effective in marketing. While both you and your competition are in business to succeed, that doesn’t mean you can’t work together occasionally and strategically. What happens when you award your competition for providing quality products and services? They like it and are just as likely to share what you said about them. That means they are going to share you in their content. Consider what you would do if someone complimented you. Wouldn’t you want to share it, even if it was from someone on another team? In fact, the compliment means more when it’s from competition. It’s only natural to share good news about yourself. 

The purpose of content is to educate and persuade your audience. To do this, you must be able to find good content to work with and properly apply it to your marketing strategies. 

Business to Business Could Stand to Learn from Business to Consumer Social Marketing

Business to business social marketing strategy

Consider what it takes for a business to business marketing developer to generate sales. There’s a long list of tasks they have to address which require more in-depth planning than when a business is strictly appealing to consumer audiences. 

Essentially, a business has to prove to the entire business, as a business, how their product or service can improve the target company. You don’t just have a single individual. You also have executives, associates, and management to convince, while at the same time, considering the business benefits both companies will receive and furthermore proving undoubtedly that you are the right choice.

Propel your word of mouth with the similarities

However, there are still similarities between the two, such as networking and interacting with a target audience. Social marketing is a tool that has found an application in every aspect of business. Keep in mind that a business is still a consumer on a larger and more intricate scale. 

Testimonials, such as visuals, memorable slogans are needed to make the sale to an individual, but are also needed when appealing to a business. You must undoubtedly prove to executives and decision makers that your services or products can improve their business. In this case, social marketing is played as an angular tool, utilizing testimonials from responsive consumers. Word of mouth marketing plays a key role even in business to business applications, primarily because businesses don’t move on a hunch or an “I’ll give it a try” spur of the moment decision. They move on good recommendation and proven results that social can provide if used properly. 

Consistency is key

This means that you must always maintain consistent brand marketing creativity throughout your social, advertising, and website. This is important because during business to business marketing, research is very thorough. You want to be able to deliver a firm message that won’t confuse your potential clients and provide a quality surface for them to analyze and prove to themselves that you are the right choice. 

The most effective aspect of social marketing applies the fact that a business still needs to speak effectively to their audience. A business functions as a unit, but is not a programmed machine. There are certain protocols and procedures, but the business still consists of human elements. Marketing strategies should still be interactive and appealing to the audience, both emotionally and logically. When handling consumers, it is essential to know your audience and treat them appropriately. Social marketing strategies rely on this essential element because one is always focused on appealing to each individual in a social network. The audience is addressed, but the focus is always on the uniqueness of the individual and the situation at hand.

Social is rich in research

Business to business marketing strategies take far more effort and are often more complex, but the principle is the same- address your audience and prove to them that you can deliver the product or service that is the right choice. Whether it’s business to consumer or business to business, approaching your audience appropriately is the only way to succeed. 

The Social Media Argument and Fad?

Social media marketing and what you need to know

Social media has become a marketing strategy that is of growing importance to the business world. But, there are still arguments as to whether or not it has any true value to business. Some claim that it’s not a viable solution to marketing strategies while others swear by their profile that it is the answer to today’s business needs.

Marketing today’s audience

And that is the word of importance today. Perhaps sites like Facebook and Twitter are simple fads, but that is exactly why it is so important to market to it. Television originated as a bland three channel option when it came out, delivering public messages and some general entertainment. But, in its growing popularity (fad), it has become a host for prime-time advertisement. 

Social media is currently no different. In the business sense, it is where the business is right now. Billions of people from all over the world have social accounts on at least one medium, making it the perfect tool for any marketing strategy.

Then there are arguments about how Facebook isn’t focused enough on business applications. But, does it prove worthy for networking’s sake? After all, there is a multitude of advertising through Facebook, which means that it proves viable to someone. In argument, there are claims that Linkedin and blogs tend to generate far more positive results for businesses, which is true. These applications are far more business-oriented than other media accounts. But, it’s also wise never to limit your opportunities.

So the real question to those that argue against social is: Are you using the tools provided, or misusing the profile you just think you have? This is perhaps the most common mistake of anyone who doubts the influence of social media. It is like someone who gets a rotten apple and decides that all the fruit in the tree is going to be bad. 

What do you get from your social networks?

Fundamentally, proper social strategies all come down to a few calculations:

• Who is the target audience? Each media has different audience content, and it’s important to understand who you are talking to. 

So, if you’re using social, you have to ask yourself whether it’s cost effective and time efficient = Is it worth your efforts? Are you trying to appeal to an audience that isn’t there? Is there viability in your strategy? Basically, will your audience be able to find you through your select social outlet? 

• Providing quality content that is intriguing to the audience is essential to success.

Generating quality content isn’t as easy as it seems. Sure you could generate posts about your business, but it is also wise to incorporate present trends and fads into the content. What makes you so special, but at the same time what makes you so relatable? 

• Delivery is the biggest issue, because this includes the use of the tools that each social media has to offer. 

This is where many social marketing strategies go wrong, because delivering the message relies on the proper use of the tools you have at your disposal. Take Facebook for example. This site offers personal profiles and business profiles. A common mistake is to use a personal profile for your business. You limit the abilities of your social networking strategy. You can’t be “liked” by anyone or utilize the different tracking tools and apps that are available to a business profile. Additionally, you are limited to what you can and can’t do. It also looks far less professional.

What social can offer?

Social is not a stand-alone marketing strategy. It is designed to work with other networks and expand visibility amongst a far larger audience. This is a characteristic that many failed social marketing strategies failed to grasp. Social networks are—networks of people. This is how you reach an audience of today’s demands. If the current fad was reading the labels on a fruit, it’s guaranteed you would see advertising in the produce section. However, that’s what it is- an advertising strategy that helps to increase visibility, awareness, and improve a business’ sales through word of mouth marketing. 

The majority of people trust peer recommendations over any other source of advertising, including television and radio. Word of mouth marketing is perhaps the most powerful advertising tool available, and it relies on the ability of a business to network its image by including themselves in the current trends of today’s audience. 

It all comes down to what a business wants to invest in their brand and how they will measure the success of their engagement with their brand community – wherever they spend time.  Businesses needs to excel at their brand communication itself and not just get hung up on loving a communication channel. 

Less is More and Free is Bad for Your Word of Mouth Marketing

Going free? Here's how it can affect your word of mouth marketing

What are people thinking when they interact with you? It would be incredibly useful to have such information readily available to you when you start a conversation or make a sale’s pitch. Unfortunately we can’t read minds. 

However, we can calculate what an audience is thinking. After all, a conversation is basically a dance. You step, they step. It is a waltz and one must lead. It is up to you to be the leader and guide your partner in the right direction.

It’s all a dance

To start with the basics, consider that there is such a thing as too much information. Limit what choices you offer your customers. Don’t give them a wide selection or they will begin focusing on considering the right answers rather than deciding what they want. Don’t ever offer the option D -- none of the above. Avoid options like this because they tend to draw away from the sale. Offer instead another solution that you have to offer if they don’t feel satisfied with the others. 

When it comes to information, keep in mind that mystery always intrigues the mind. When you blog or discuss strategies, leave some out. Allow your audience to speculate. Give them a taste, but don’t give them the whole pie. This will bring them back to you searching for more. This is often most beneficial for generating personal word of mouth marketing. Mystery often generates conversation. How do they do it? What is the secret ingredient? Individuals are naturally intrigued by mystery and will draw others in to ask their opinion of your business as well. 

Steer clear of the “May I pick your brain?” zone

Don’t hesitate to charge for your services, even consultations. People generally will want to pay for what is given to them. It provides a sense of achievement and eliminates the feeling of obligation. Have you ever gotten something for free and felt obligated to return the favor? That is the very reason why we pay for what we get. You don’t have to give things away for free to get loyal customers. You get loyal customers by being dependable and professional. 

Negotations can be tricky in an information based business especially when people think “offering you a cup of coffee or a meal” somehow compensates you for all of your expertise and experience.  In negotiations - You say high, they say low. Then you move until you meet in the middle. The trick is to make that middle feel like a winning spot for the customer and still be profitable for you. People will fight harder to avoid losing rather than winning. It’s based on the emotional stance of the individual, rather than the logical. People do not like to lose, so the trick is to make your customers feel like they win in a conversation.

There is such a thing as too many options and too much information. You don’t have to give away your secrets for free in order to increase your sales and visibility. Consider instead offering a taste of what you have so they will like it and want to buy what you are selling. 

Blogs are Effective for Personal Word of Mouth

Personal word of mouth and your blog

Blogs are perhaps one of the leading outlets for business networking strategies. Through this medium, we can talk about our business and how it relates to present trends and your audience’s needs. There is more to a blog than stating the facts though. Remember that facts tell and stories sell. In other words, the content of your blog must appeal to your audience in every way possible. 

Designing an effective blog requires the creator to focus on several important topics. Content must be grammatically correct, organized, and above all, relevant to your purpose. 

You keep saying this word, but I do not think you know what it means…

Clean and neat is the primary technique. As a professional, you must be an exceptional spokesperson, using words effectively and correctly. You need to sound intelligent, but you don’t want to speak over your audience’s head. If they don’t understand what you’re saying, they won’t want to read what you have to say. 

If you are using technical jargon or exotic vocabulary, consider using a few words in a way that would improve your reader’s vocabulary. Then provide the definition and a story of how you did not know what it meant until you looked it up. Be sure that you maintain relevance to your purpose though. You don’t need to go off on a tangent to do this. Keep it purpose directed so that the education is relevant, especially if it is vital to your point. 

Keeping things organized…

As for the structure of the blog, it needs to be well organized. Use bullets and lists when appropriate to make the entire article easily navigable. Separate the structure into distinct sub-headings to avoid confusion, especially if you have several points to make. 

When comparing within the article, balance is often difficult to achieve. Some start with one point, followed by a completely separate analysis that disproves or proves another point. This can be confusing, especially if the reader is only scanning the content for points. Instead, when arguing a case, use your point and counter point as a heading. Then discuss. 

Quality that intrigues holds attention…

One thing in particular is the content of your blog. A good blog affirms your selling point- targeting the audience directly. Content such as stories and related subjects can be included, especially if they are viral, trending, or relatable fad, just as long as you can relate it to your business. Your content must sell your image and intrigue the audience. 

Content that reaches beyond and improves visibility…

An excellent practice is to make links inside of your blog. If you have relatable articles elsewhere, link back to them as a reference within your blog’s content. This is an excellent technique for increasing readers, especially if you post a hot topic. It will help navigate readers to other content you have, including videos, social links, and your website. Using your links as references and using terms such as “this is how I utilize my social networks and it has greatly improved traffic to my primary website” would help expand your content and improve visibility. 

Remember that social links are especially beneficial within a blog because it allows readers to share that information within their own network. Through these tools and techniques, you improve your personal word of mouth marketing strategies and allow your blog to reach a much larger audience through networks where individuals can recommend you to their friends. 

Blogs are designed to generate conversation

One thing to consider is that a blog is originally a statement and a question. You state what you know, but it leaves room for speculation and analysis by readers. They interpret what you have said and enjoy expressing their own related ideas. 

Be sure you keep this fact in mind when generating your content. Ask opinions of your audience. What do they think about the subject? Do they have ideas or techniques to add or discuss? A blog is an opening for discussion- primarily through comments. After you post a blog, don’t leave it alone like a forgotten newspaper article. This is a social outlet and discussion is going to be the next task. 

Blogs are for networking, education, and increasing visibility. Your blog should not only be able to intrigue your present audience, but also draw in new networking members. With quality content, a well-organized delivery, and effective marketing tool usage, you can create a blog that will raise awareness, create conversation, and improve your sales. 

Word of Mouth is Ignited by Knowing What a Customer Really Wants

Ignite word of mouth marketing by giving your customers what they want

Knowing exactly what your customer wants is very important. Many businesses collapse due to their inability to come up with products that are relevant to the needs of their clients. In business, customer satisfaction is always key to a thriving business, therefore being able to come up with products that cater to the needs of your clientele is of utmost importance.

The disparities that exist between what customers want and what most businesses think they need is very evident. Many businesses are oblivious of what their customers want and therefore end up introducing products that do not match the expectations of their clients. A study commissioned by Pivot to find out the disparities between what customers want and what businesses think they want came up with some great insights.

Pivot Findings

Referring to the findings commissioned by Pivot, most businesses feel that they have a strong knowledge of what their clients want and yet none of them has ever gone out of their way to ask their clients what they really want. In fact, out of 76% of the marketers who asserted that they had a strong knowledge of what their customers wanted, only a paltry 34% confessed to asking their clients what they really wanted.

According to the Research of Pivot, many customers look for deals whenever they buy anything. What is strange is that 6% of consumers suggested that they like to be offered deals while a mere 53% of businesses that were interviewed think deals are important to consumers.

Most importantly, the studies done by Pivot showed that more than 59% of consumers take feedback very seriously. They consider feedback as a way of expressing their satisfaction or lack of it to the business. On the contrary, the study suggests that only a paltry 37% of business think that consumers take feedback seriously.

It is these disparities between what consumers want and what businesses think they want that has resulted in the gap growing considerably over the years. As a business owner, there are some questions you ought to ask yourself in order to bridge this gap and ensure that your products are exactly what your customer want. Some of the pertinent questions include:

Where are the Gaps?

According to the Pivot research, there are a lot of things that contribute to this gap. It is of utmost importance for businesses to find out the reasons for this gap and try to eliminate them. According to Pivot, the gaps lie mostly in carrying out research on customer wants. Being able to interpret information from such results is also pivotal in ensuring that the business is well informed about the wants of their clients.

The study also suggests that the gap lies in not using feedback effectively to ensure that customer satisfaction is met.

How do you Bridge the Gap?

One of the greatest tools in bridging the gap between what your consumers want and what you think they want is feedback. Any business that utilizes feedback tends to know exactly what their consumers need and hence the gap is considerably reduced.

How do yo know what Your Customers Really Want?

One of the best ways to know exactly what your customers really want is to encourage word of mouth marketing. Every business should learn to listen to exactly what their consumers want. Instead of trying to come up with products that you think will appeal to your consumers, why not try asking them what they really want. Word of mouth marketing does help bridge the gap ensuring that businesses are in touch with the wants of their clients.

As a rule of thumb, businesses should strive to find out exactly what their consumers want. Businesses should no longer have the idea that customers do not know what they really want but should embrace a word of mouth marketing approach. The gap between what your consumers want and what you think they want can really hurt the progression of a business. Therefore, as a way of eliminating this gap and coming up with products that satisfy the wants of your customers, it is necessary to do research. Not only does research give you insights into what your consumers want but it also helps to improve the quality of your product, making it more competitive.

Brands and Logos

Logos and personal branding

When it comes to presenting your image to the public, one key marketing element is the logo. For companies like McDonald’s, the familiarity of the golden arches has drawn the attention of billions throughout the world. But, consider what would happen if they changed their logo. Would customers still frequent that establishment? Would they still trust their services? 

Brand and logos work together to create your image, familiarizing you with both the quality of your services and products with the trust that your logo represents in the public eye. A logo does more than market your business; it represents what your brand does. 

The relevance of your logo

To bring things into perspective, ask yourself how relevant your logo is to your brand image. Harvey Briggs stated that: “Logos are only relevant if you make them relevant.”  A logo relies not only on clever design and ingenuity, but on your originality. When designing a logo, it needs to represent not only your brand, but include the quality of services or products you intend to provide for your clientele. 

In addition to design, you further create the image for which your logo represents through the quality of your services and products. Your brand’s quality will carry over into your logo, which means that wherever your logo is placed, the quality of your brand carries over. 

Hijacking your logo

This brings up the question of what should you do if you find a small, barely visible brand utilizing your logo as their own? Though the old saying that imitation is the highest form of flattery is highly noted amongst the social world, it isn’t very good when it comes to your business logo. If the other business performs poorly or presents a bad image, it will likely reflect on your brand image by association even if it is only on a small scale. 

There are some questions to consider about this as well. How are they using it? Is it actually promoting you? Is the company even remotely similar to yours? Or do they operate in a completely different field of operations? 

While there are occasionally accidents and coincidences, there are always those willing to take advantage of profiting from an already established brand image through their logo (not including parody). In these cases, it is necessary to protect your image by taking copyright and trademark measures. While these can be expensive, your brand’s image can suffer greatly from the image that another unrelated business is promoting through sub-quality efforts. 

Additionally, Judy Gombita ‏recommended that a brand should: “Make sure to prominently display the "history" of your logo on relevant sites, including rationale & modification over years.” This helps provide a definition of your logo and separate you from other businesses that attempt to utilize your logo as their own. 

Mix things up

Your logo is defined by your business, and therefore represents your business. But, what happens when a company decides to change its logo? With that question in hand, you should ask what the image is that a brand wants to portray or endorse. Perhaps they are trying to “go green.” Changes in logos can lead to a series of unintended problems that one should consider well prior to such a significant change. John R. Bell gave well the warning: “Beware. The person who tires of an existing logo is often the marketer.” Many times, it isn’t the customer that has grown tired of the logo, it is the brand itself. When marketing strategies begin to taper off or the think-tank seems to have run dry, one choice has been to re-vamp or change a logo image. You logo should always relate to your brand, and customers should be able to make that connection. 

Putting it in the right place

Brand placement also plays a role in how effective your logo and marketing efforts will be. The most important thing to remember is that context and timing are crucial to its effectiveness. Your main focus is to associate your brand with appropriate or related surroundings at the appropriate moment.

Put your brand in context. Don’t sidetrack or stray from your main purpose. At the end of a commercial, have you ever found yourself wondering what it was actually about? For the last thirty seconds, you’ve watched a series of unrelated cut scenes and at the end you catch a glimpse of a newly released pair of shoes. But, you’re still wondering who makes them and what they’re for. Context is very important to your brand placement.

On the other side of the coin, oversaturation of brand placement can be just as easily bad. Your task is to find balance between promoting your image and putting it in an environment that defines it. You are basically giving your customers an image that they can remember with little to no help from you. 

Consider word of mouth marketing. When you talk, it’s good to talk about your business, but you need to relate it to something that clients are readily familiar with. If you have a commercial that only pertains to your brand, they will only familiarize your brand with your logos and images. But, the real task is to get them to familiarize your logo and brand with their daily lives and the things they interact with. You think of Starbucks when you see coffee and you get an image of the golden arches when you see a hamburger. This is basically relating your brand to the public. 

A brand and logo work together to create the image your clientele sees whether or not they are doing business with you. Your business’ success relies on the efforts of a clever, original design and a brand with the quality to enforce.

Native Versus Web Based Mobile Apps

Improve your personal branding by going mobile

It can’t be denied that mobile apps are here to stay. Practically everyone has an iPhone, an Android, or another smartphone that enables them to connect with their favorite brands whenever and wherever they are. They have changed the way people interact with brands. No need to have a laptop or a PC anymore – all you need is a mobile phone that allows you to connect to the World Wide Web and access apps.

As a personal brand or small business owner, you should definitely consider adding “mobile” to your marketing mix. It’s another “social” way to market your brand, since people access their smartphones all the time. But if you’re considering mobile apps to your promotional campaign, then you need to consider which is best for you: native or web based mobile apps.

Native Mobile Apps

A native mobile app is basically an app that’s designed to run on a specific device’s operating system. It needs to be developed for different systems. The two most popular systems or platforms are the Apple App and the Google Android, and the apps can be accessed through the iPhone/iPod and Android devices respectively. As a small business owner, you can develop your native mobile app and then offer it in the Apple App Store or the Google Android Market so that people can access it. You can also create your own system that the user will download and use.

Some of the advantages of native mobile apps include:

• Easier to monetize
• Easy to download and install the app
• Ability to access the app even without Internet
• Fast, reliable and powerful
• More ability to control the user’s experience
• Access to APIs not available to web apps

Disadvantages include:

• Expensive and more difficult to develop
• High upkeep
• Specific to the device it runs on, so one has to develop another app for it to run on another platform
• Less accessible to everyone

Web Based Mobile Apps

Web based mobile apps, on the other hand, run in the mobile phone’s browser. The data is downloaded while you’re on the web. So you have to be online to access them.

Some of the advantages of web based mobile apps are:

• Easier and cheaper to develop
• Works on all devices, since you only need to connect to the Internet
• No need to download anything to your device
• More accessible to everyone

And here are the disadvantages:

• Lesser flexibility in terms of developing the app
• Cannot use when offline
• Lesser user experience
• Can become slow and unreliable, depending on the person’s Internet connection

So which among the two are better and best for your brand? Well, if you’re a small business owner with a bigger-than-most budget, and you really think that mobile apps are an excellent way to connect with your customers, then go for native apps! On the other hand, if your budget isn’t really that big, and you’re still on the fence, if mobile apps can work for your brand, then perhaps you can start with more affordable, web based mobile apps first.

Truly, the more important question is, what do your audience and customers want? Do you think that mobile apps can provide them a better experience of your brand? And once you’ve answered those two questions, you can then proceed to choosing between native and mobile apps, and deciding which will work well with your personal and small business brand.