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This list combine’s new & traditional marketing and is somewhere between the obvious, hanging a “We’re on Twitter” banner, and the incredibly inventive but perhaps not so practical. “BakerTweet”, for example, automatically tweets from donut shops whenever their donuts are fresh! Please let me know what you think and add to the list in the comments!
1. @YourBiz Shirts
2. Sign-on cards with JUST your social networks on them is a great way to bring attention to your web efforts! It’s a no brainer to add your social networks to your business cards, but having separate cards printed up can include each of your social network sign-ons, your email & website or blog. You might just see them run out before your regular business cards do!
3. @YourBiz Vehicle Magnets should be long and practical for multiple locations such as above the rear tire. Please avoid big huge ridiculous white squares with tiny writing that are slapped on the door!
4. Across a vehicle’s rear window is a great place to add @YourBiz in large letters!
5. @YourBiz on Your Bumper
Click to customize yours in red, blue or black. Also totally customizable to your business colors
*For #s 1 – 5 keep in mind folks on Twitter immediately recognize @YourName as a Twitter sign-on so, in most cases, the “Twitter.com/” can be scratched. You can use any of these ideas for your @twittername or your /facebook name. When choosing a name, try to balance these three traits: as short, simple and close to your business name as possible. All reasons we chose @inovedia from InovediaMarketing.com for our Twitter sign-on.
6. iPhone contests create buzz!
Step 1. Go to the apple store. Step 2. Consult your attorney. I am not one, I don’t pretend to be one and if you don’t you’re on your own.Step 3. Purchase a gift card for the equivalent value of the iPhone you want to give away (adding $ for monthly service gives you bonus points). Step 4. Create a plan to tweet, use Facebook & your email list to execute a contest everyone will be talking about. Step 5. Create signs, banners, flyers, etc. Step 6. Reap the reward & email me your story!
7. Are you on Twitter? If you have a restaurant, ask if anyone the table is on Twitter & follow them while placing their order. Ask them to tweet where you are or what you’re ordering. Don’t tweet that they are there without asking as that could be a major faux pas!
If you’re thinking social networking is impractical you probably don’t have the right tools in place. Here are a couple of suggestions that will help make it easier to access Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc. throughout the day.
8. Get a smart phone! Treos are older clunkier phones, but they’re still great tools for social networking with cameras that work find and keyboards that rival any blackberry for under $100. New phones with contracts are now ridiculously cheap with versions of the iPhone now under $100 and the Palm Pre under $200. Suck it up and get a “store phone” that can be kept at the counter or front desk for whoever is on duty. No more excuses about not tweeting because I wasn’t at my desk.
9. A netbook placed at the back of your restaurant or on your store counter with internet access. I picked up a Lenovo S10, which I love, for under $350. It’s small, inexpensive, light weight and there’s no DVD drive tempting employees to watch movies (though HULU will be a click away). More importantly, all the social networking tools you’re business requires will be right at hand. Truth is, even most out of date laptops will do the trick!
10. Ping.fm is a free site that let’s you send status updates and photos to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, Friendfeed and a slew of other social networks all from one place. Genius! Chi.mp is another option that let’s you send to multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts and comes in very handy if you have multiple businesses or if you’re rocking both personal & business accounts.
Got more ideas? Want to add to these or trash them? Please chime in with your comments!
More from InovediaMarketing.com>>
- Make Your Small Biz Homepage Engage!
- Blogs to Facebook, Where Your Biz Should Be and How to Start
- 7 Ways Linkedin.com will Improve Your Small Business
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Good luck!
InovediaMarketing.com 
Great write-up. I’ve been using social media for quite a while…
but I found the bumper sticker, business cards, etc. thought provoking…
Not bad.
Thanks for taking the time to get the thoughts collected.
designedbyeh.com – fort wayne web deisgn
Good tip about the ‘bumper sticker’! I guess they are called that for a reason. Its stands that more people will view and remember that placement as opposed to the side of the vehicle.
Excellent post – I’m now following you on Twitter too!
Cheers!
@donpower
Thanks Richard!
I always enjoy learning how others are using Social Media and you listed a few new ways for me to explore.
Wearing your Tshirt while traveling especially while walking through airports could lead to many new followers and why not expand the concept to other articles of clothing such as hats, golf shirts, etc. You never know where your next client will come from.
I will look forward to following you on Twitter.
Nick Tako
http://www.twitter.com/NickTako