Creating great content is only the first step in attracting visitors and boosting conversions. People have to be informed about the existence blog posts and articles. CoSchedule, an editorial calendar and social media planner for sites running WordPress, saves time and frustration when it comes to getting content seen. I've tried many scheduling tools for blog posts, and … [Read more...]
Using Buffer to Engage Social Followers After Hours
There are hundreds of tools available for scheduling tweets and posts. Among my favorites is Buffer. This free service (which can also be upgraded for minimal cost) allows you to schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ (pages, not profiles) and app.net. Its interface is simple and easy to understand, and automated schedules help you fill the void when you're less … [Read more...]
Here’s a Quick & Easy Way to Monitor Yourself on the Web
If you're not monitoring your company or personal name on the Internet, you're missing out on what people are saying about you. Google Alerts makes it easy for anyone to track their online reputation via web content. I've used this tool for years to follow specific keywords, including my own name. Google Alerts is a free tool that allows anyone to subscribe to be notified of … [Read more...]
This $10 Solution Will Get You More Email Subscribers and Shares
Ask any small business owner for his top ten hurdles and these two will rank: Getting more email subscribers Getting more people to share content SumoMe addresses both of these issues in a slick and affordable way. I've been testing SumoMe's apps for the past few weeks and the results? Rewarding. Free to use, the SumoMe store includes some key functionality for … [Read more...]
Why I’m Loving the Constant Contact Toolkit
I've been working with email marketing for a decade. I've used nearly every professional tool out there - Constant Contact, MailChimp, Aweber, to name a few. Several years ago I settled on Constant Contact for my own marketing, and several clients followed suit. I'm aware that many professionals rely on other systems, but the bulk of my client base are online stores and … [Read more...]
Move Over Netbook… The TouchPad Has Landed…
This past June, my husband bought me a netbook - an Acer Aspire One. I'd previously been lugging around a bulky laptop, though I'd often forget to put it in the car. Joe wanted me to have something I could carry in my purse so I could easily work on-the-go. It's worked well, allowing me to handle online store emergencies as they happen (I've been known to stop off at a … [Read more...]
Postbox 2: Best Email Client for PC and Mac
I have email archives going back nearly twenty years. They were exported out of various clients over time, most notoriously Microsoft Outlook (not Express). In early 2009 I switched to Thunderbird and was certain I'd found the best client for handling the vast amount of correspondence I receive daily. A big reason I stuck with Outlook, then Thunderbird, was Cloudmark (a … [Read more...]
Snagit – Capture, Size, Crop and More…
If you've been relying on the Print Screen key and PhotoShop (or other graphics program) to capture and perform basic edits for online graphics, you're wasting a great deal of time. The first time I tried Snagit (TechSmith) was to take screen shots of the Miva Merchant admin when writing the official guide to the software. I'd previously paid someone to capture screens for me, … [Read more...]
Follow Friday 5: Setting Yourself Up for Success
Each week I pick 5 key folk to follow on the web (and Twitter) based on a selected topic. Success. It's something for which we all aim. We read books, articles and listen to motivational speakers, usually only when we make the time. If you're looking for daily guidance or inspiration, follow and subscribe to RSS feeds for these key players: Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan) … [Read more...]
Review: ENCHANTMENT (Guy Kawasaki) is a Must-Read
I spend at least half my work time learning—that is, expanding my knowledge and understanding of current trends in the fields of ecommerce, usability and security. Most of my learning takes place online or in-person. I’ll admit, the number of business books I read is limited, mostly because I see reading time as relaxation time, and for that, I delve into fiction. I received … [Read more...]
Constant Contact – Free “Site Design” Email Template
If you've been thinking about using Constant Contact, you may want to take advantage of their special offer. Through Feb. 28, 2011 Constant Contact giving new users a free email template based on your existing site design. It's a $99 value (and, actually, usually costs more than that through an outside designer). The company does offer a 60-trial (up to 100 subscribers) as … [Read more...]
Pidgin Streamlines My Multiple Chat Accounts
Managing multiple chat clients separately is a nightmare. Colleagues and some key clients use a variety of tools, including AIM, Yahoo!, MSN and Google Talk. While I do have accounts on all of these, handling multiple chats and logs, for me, is a snap. … [Read more...]