5 Reasons Why Your Business Should Use Twitter

Facebook is the biggest social network in the world and many business owners have understood how useful Facebook could be for business. Twitter, however is also another important network that could be useful for your business.

Twitter reached 500 million registered users just a couple of days ago and you can find a good mixture of comments, connections, content, images, videos, people and news that are presented in real time within your niche. Twitter is a platform that updates really quick, breaks worldwide news, influences major brands and allows small businesses to promote their brand just like the big companies.

There are many reasons why you should consider Twitter for your business and we would like you to understand the top 5 reasons:

1. Real Time News

Many of the most important worldwide news have been shared in Twitter before any other media in the world. Its simplicity is a key element that allows us to share something within seconds from a cellphone, computer, tablet o any device connected to the Internet. If you want to know what is happening about a specific topic, you can use Twitter as a search engine to get really good information related to this topic.

2. Share Your Knowledge and Drive Traffic to Your Website or Blog

Twitter is one of the best platforms to share information and your knowledge. Posting tweets related to specific or different topics can help you increase the number of followers and sharing good content will help you drive traffic to your website or blog. Twitter can also help you increase the number of fans or likes that you have on your Facebook page.

3. Build Your Brand

Many people are on Twitter and it provides another channel to build your companies brand. People could recognize your brand later If you customize your Twitter profile, with a picture, a unique background that coincide with the feel and look of your brand, a link to your website and a bio that explains who you are or what you could offer.

4. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Links shared on Twitter have a direct impact on search engine rankings and many have tried to use this information to improve search rankings. Remember to include keywords as well as a link to your website in your profile.

5. Build a Community

People are sharing and commenting in real-time and you can build loyalty, commitment and sense of belonging to a topic. Many people are looking to connect with different communities on Twitter.

Are you or your business taking advantage of Twitter? Our SEO team at Insurance Website Builder can help you optimize your insurance websites as well as your Twitter account. Call us today at 1-800-383-3482 for more information.

https://twitter.com/InsWebBuilder

Au Naturale...

search en·gine op·ti·mi·za·tion
"SEO: the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines via the natural, un-paid, or organic search results"

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Back to the Basics

SEO combines the methods of how search engines work, what people search for, the actual terms or keywords entered into search engines, and which search engines are preferred by target audiences.

Optimizing a website for SEO involves editing the content, promoting that site around the web, and removing any barriers possible so that search engines can index the site.


No Cheaters Allowed

Don't cheat yourself out of something rewarding to get something easy. SEO can be thought of similarly to a relationship. Your site should be accessible, have goals set for the future, always know the right things to say, know the likes and dislikes of search engines, never come off as fake, automated, or a copy-cat, and never ever bore them. Never.


The Truth of the Matter

If you would prefer to find love by going on reality television, getting engaged after 1 week, and becoming married after 1 month, then I can already guess how long that marriage will last...

But if you prefer the tried and true way of meeting someone at your local coffee shop, getting to know that person over a few dates, then embarking on a lifelong journey of happiness, you're already one step closer to understanding SEO!


Making it Make Sense

They say love is fleeting. And search engines can be just as tricky. So if you haven't figured it out by now, you have the power to choose that regrettable rush of a drive-thru wedding in Vegas or holding on to the lasting satisfaction of a relationship sustained through the ups and downs. This is similar to Paid SEO tactics and Natural SEO tactics. You can pay to feel that instant, however short-lived rush, or you can grow naturally. The results will speak for themselves.

In dating and in SEO.

Your Fun Friday Facts!

Be sure you check the rest of our blog entries to see how these SEO tools can be implemented on your own website.

To Blog or Not to Blog

A blog, originally called a "web log", is a chronological online journal.  In a business setting, blogs are best used to provide valuable information to consumers on subjects relevant to the product being offered.  For instance, an auto insurance agent could use a blog to offer safety tips to drivers, what to do in the event of an accident, and so on.

By providing information that is directly relevant to your agency's services and products, you are providing keywords to search engines that potential customers search for when shopping for your services.  In addition, keeping fresh content on your website is one of the most effective ways to increase your page ranking with search engines.

How to Start a Blog
Blogs are another way to brand your agency.  Therefore, to receive the most benefit from a blog, it should be integrated within your website.  The blog should have the same domain name and the same look and feel as your current website.

There are several blog products available.  There are very elaborate blog software packages available, however, initially you may want to sign up for a free blog through a service such as Word Press or Google. While your abilities will be limited with a free blog service, they are a cost-effective way to get your feet wet.

Our Gold plan members that subscribe to our Insurance Website Builder package enjoy built-in blogging capabilities with enhanced features on their websites. 

What to Blog About?
The subjects available to an insurance agent are endless.  Take a moment and think about all of the questions you are asked on a daily basis.

• Is anyone covered to drive my vehicle?
• Do I have a grace period?
• What can I do to lower my premium?
• Replacement Cost vs Actual Cash Value
• Does Homeowner's Insurance Cover Flood?

You are answering these questions consistently.  Now all that is required is to sit down and write out those answers.

Advertise Your Blog
Let people know you have a blog.  Tell your customers, your companies, casual contacts, etc.  Advertising your blog can be as easy as including a link in your email signature, a note in letters sent to customers, or mentioning it in your on-hold message.  Also, using social media venues, such as Facebook and Twitter, to advertise your blog and blog posts is a very effective way to increase traffic to your website.

Initially creating a blog can appear to be an overwhelming and time consuming task, but it doesn't have to be.  Share the responsibility among your staff.  What better way is there to learn then to have to prepare to teach?  Assign each staff member a topic and give them time to research the topic.  There will be staff that are reluctant because they lack confidence in their writing abilities.  Writing is perfected with practice and blogging is the perfect opportunity to practice those skills.

Having an blog for your agency offers a list of benefits - increases your website traffic, develops loyalty and trust with customers and prospects, and expands your knowledge as you and your staff research topics.  The time you invest on your blog will offer great returns.

Additional Resources:

• How to optimize your blog 
• How Facebook boosts Rankings 
• Setting up Twitter on your Website
• Top Blogging Tips by the Best Bloggers

How to Create a Facebook Business Page

Social networking in this day and age is essential to businesses. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to create a business page on the new Facebook.

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php
2. Select Local Business and choose the type of local business. Insurance agencies can select Professional Service.
3. Enter the name of the Agency. It's best to enter the name of the Agency rather than a slogan or catchphrase, it makes it better for branding in the long run.
4. Review the Facebook Terms and check the box to agree.
5. Click Create Official Page
6. Select whether or not you have a personal Facebook page. It is more advantageous if you have a personal page, as Facebook allows a lot more capabilities for Page Administrators who have personal accounts.
7. If you do have a personal page, you will be asked to login.
8. If you do not have a personal page then type in your email address.
9. Enter your password.
10. Enter your date of birth.
11. Enter the Captcha form – to make sure you’re human.
12. Review the Facebook Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and check the box to agree.
13. Click Sign up Now!
14. Facebook asks that you confirm your email address. Login to your email and click on the link to complete registration.
15. Your page has been created!

Now that you have completed the basics, it’s time to customize your page. It’s crucial that you fill out as much information as you can to gain trust from your customers. Fill in the Basic and Detailed Info, as well as adding pictures to your profile. This can be a picture of yourself or your agents. A people picture is more favorable to a logo or storefront, as this builds trust with the potential customer and makes your agency more accessible and personable.  Be sure to add a succinct description in the box under the profile picture.

For Advanced Users
Add the Static FBML application. It stands for Facebook Markup Language which is Facebook’s version of HTML. Unfortunately you can only add the application if you have a personal page. Click on the link to Add to My Page. You will be able to add simple formatting like bold and italics, and you can also add anchor text.

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide to creating a Facebook page.

Additional Resources

• Facebook Page Help
• Business Page Tips from Facebook
• Give your Facebook Business Page a Username
• How Facebook boosts Rankings
• Set up Automatic Tweeting from your IWB website
• Link Facebook with Twitter 
• Comprehensive Facebook Page information
• Social Media and the Insurance Industry
• Getting started with Facebook for Your Business.

Your Facebook Business Page Needs A Username

When first creating a Facebook Business Page, Facebook assigns a web address according to the city the business is located in the form www.facebook.com/pages/City-Name/Company-Name/999999999999. This is not ideal for a business trying to build a brand. There is, however, a fix. If your page has 25 or more fans (or likes), if you are the administrator of the page and you have a unique name in mind you can customize your Facebook Page web address. Bear in mind that you will not be able to change the username once you've chosen it, so make sure it is absolutely correct. Here's how to do it:

1. Log in to Facebook.
2. Go to http://www.facebook.com/username
3. Select Set a username for your Pages.
4. Facebook provides a drop-down menu of all the pages you administer. Select the appropriate page.
5. Type in the desired name. It should be the name of the company rather than your main kp, as keyword phrases can change but your company name will not. You will not be able to change the address once you've chosen it. Make sure it is spelled correctly.
6. Click Check Availability.
7. If available, do one last check of spelling and make doubly sure that this is the username you want. 
8. Click Confirm.

Your business page now has a customized web address.

Additional Resources:

• Read Facebook's Help Center if you are having issues with usernames.
• How to create a Facebook Business Page.
• Build your Presence on Facebook.
• How to Get the Most out of your Facebook page.
• Read how Facebook can Boost your Website's Rankings.
• Social Media and the Insurance Industry
• How to build fans on Facebook

Twitter for Businesses

With Twitter releasing their new business model "Promoted Tweets" more businesses may want to look at creating a Twitter account. Check out Twitter 101 - a Special Guide for Businesses thinking about tweeting.

http://business.twitter.com/

Learn how to automatically Tweet from your IWB website.

Learn about Social Media and the Insurance Industry.