5. Don’t talk about yourself.

Talk about your customers. If your Facebook Page updates are all about how fabulous your company and its products are, followers will quickly lose interest. And it’s doubtful they’ll want to share this information with their Facebook friends. Instead, provide content that’s interesting, useful, thoughtful, even slightly controversial (within reason), whether it’s text, video, or photos. Ask your followers for their opinions. Engage them in a dialogue. Talk to your customers, not at them.

www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
(Researched by: www.itechwebdesign.co.uk)

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4. Add a picture to your updates – and post them on Friday mornings.

Facebook updates with images posted on company ‘fan’ pages are clicked on 54 percent more than text-only updates and 22 percent more than posts with video, according to a recent study by social media marketing group Vitrue. The study found that updates posted before noon are clicked on 65 percent more often than those published after 12 p.m. Fridays are the best day of the week to post status updates on company pages; weekends are the worst.

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3. Decide who’s responsible for updates.

Do you have someone in-house who has the time (and passion) for Facebook and other social media updates? If so, great. If not, consider outsourcing the job to a freelance social media manager — preferably someone in their 20s with an hourly rate of $20 or so. Either way, establish best practices — what’s appropriate to post and what isn’t, for starters, as well as who your target audience is. Some businesses with Facebook Pages establish an editorial calendar, with updates planned in advance to coincide with calendar events such as Halloween, the World Cup, Thanksgiving, and so on.

www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
(Researched by: www.itechwebdesign.co.uk)

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2. Promote your Facebook Page

Promote your Facebook Page on your website, blog, and Twitter and in press releases, print ads and in your email signature. Use all your communications channels to let customers know about your Facebook Page. Put a “Like” button on your website, too. Whenever people click the “Like” button, the fact that they like your company shows up in their Facebook News Feed, exposing your business to more people. Consider putting the “Like” button near your email sign-up form or when engaging with customers in other online opt-in activities.

www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
(Researched by: www.itechwebdesign.co.uk)

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1. Decide if a Facebook Fan Page is right for your business now

There’s so much small business marketing to keep up with these days — your website, blog posts, email marketing campaigns, YouTube videos, tweets. Adding yet one more thing to the mix can feel overwhelming.

And the last thing you want to do is create a Facebook Page that’s rarely refreshed with new content.

Marketers at business-to-business (B2B) companies might also wonder if Facebook — aimed at consumers — is a good fit in the first place. While plenty of B2B companies are experimenting with Facebook, some are finding it difficult to get fans. B2B “isn’t sexy,” Michael Greene, a Forrester Research analyst, told The Wall Street Journal.

Still, B2B customers are people. People are what Facebook is all about. And people spend money on products and services. It’s been estimated that Facebook users spend an additional $71.84 they wouldn’t otherwise spend on products they are fans of, according to social media metrics firm Syncapse.

A Facebook Page is probably worth your while — if you have the time, knowhow and resources to do it right. Some use a Facebook Page in lieu of setting up a small business website. At a minimum, some B2B companies find that posting regular updates on Facebook (as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn) help them stay “top of mind” with customers.

www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
(Researched by: www.itechwebdesign.co.uk)

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Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme Update

Gwynedd Business Network
Press Releases
18/11/2010 – Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme Update

The Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme provides support funding for the purchase of alternative broadband solutions where telecommunication companies have not been able to provide a service. 265 applications have been received for the Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme since its launch in July.

The Scheme will allow individuals, businesses and communities in Wales’ remaining broadband notspots to approach service providers directly, with support of Assembly Government funding. Support is available for up to a maximum of £1,000 for individual premises to help with the set-up and installation costs of a broadband connection.

To find out more, please visit:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/broadbandandict/broadband/bbss/?skip=1&lang=en

For further information on broadband not-spots and slow-spots, go to:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/broadbandandict/broadband/?skip=1&lang=en

Gwynedd Business Network – connecting business people
Intec, Parc Menai, Bangor. LL57 4FG. 0870 428 1525

Gwynedd Business Network
Press Releases
18/11/2010Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme Update
The Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme provides support funding for the purchase of alternative broadband solutions where telecommunication companies have not been able to provide a service. 265 applications have been received for the Welsh Assembly Government’s Broadband Support Scheme since its launch in July.

The Scheme will allow individuals, businesses and communities in Wales’ remaining broadband notspots to approach service providers directly, with support of Assembly Government funding. Support is available for up to a maximum of £1,000 for individual premises to help with the set-up and installation costs of a broadband connection.

To find out more, please visit:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/broadbandandict/broadband/bbss/?skip=1&lang=en

For further information on broadband not-spots and slow-spots, go to:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/businessandeconomy/broadbandandict/broadband/?skip=1&lang=en


Gwynedd Business Network – connecting business people
Intec, Parc Menai, Bangor. LL57 4FG. 0870 428 1525
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South African High Commission – New Website

The South African High Commission has a new website – http://southafricahouseuk.com

Here are some useful contact information:

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7451 7299 (except Consular Section)
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7451 7283 (except Consular Section)

Fax: +44 207 451 7284
Tel:  +44 207 451 7240

Address: South African High Commission
South Africa House
Trafalgar Square
London
WC2N 5DP
United Kingdom
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The complexities of the web and internet browsers explained in simple English

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the web and an internet browser, had no idea what a “cookie” is or been afraid to ask how the web actually works?

For many of us, the internet can be complex and difficult to understand but a new guide put together by illustrator Christoph Niemann and internet giant Google helps to demystify the internet and explain commonly used terms in an easy-to-understand way.

The guide is called “20 Things I Learned about Browsers and the Web” and takes users on a journey of how the web works, from its very beginning to new web technologies expected to arrive in the near future.

“’20 Things’ is written by the Chrome team, and continues our tradition of finding new ways to help explain complex but fascinating ideas about technology,” explains Google’s Product Marketing Manager, Min Li Chan, in a November 19 blog post.

“This handy guide is for those of us who’d like to better understand the technologies we use every day.”

The short guide explains the meaning of terms such as HTML5, JavaScript, TCP/IP, Cloud Computing, Web Apps, CSS, AJAX Plug-ins, malware and phishing.

You can read “20 Things I Learned about Browsers and the Web” here:
http://www.20thingsilearned.com/

For more informative “internet explained in plain English” resources visit the following pages:

Web 3.0 and the semantic web explained in a 15 minute video
http://www.wirefresh.com/web-3-0-and-the-semantic-web-explained-in-a-15-minute-video-sort-of/

Web 3.0 Concepts Explained in Plain English
http://www.labnol.org/internet/web-3-concepts-explained/8908/

World Wide Web – What happens behind the scenes and The Complete History of Internet explained in 8 minutes
http://www.labnol.org/internet/how-internet-works-video/8156/

The Internet Explained
http://www.searchandgo.com/articles/internet/net-explained-1.php

Simple Internet Glossary (slightly outdated but still useful)
http://www.2graphic.co.uk/web-help/internet-glossary.htm

Relaxnews
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/the-complexities-of-the-web-and-internet-browsers-explained-in-simple-english-2140829.html

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Promote your business with the fastest growing media

The UK internet economy is worth more than 100Billion a year now. There is a clear shift to doing business online.

Professional website design and development is essential for any business large or small. It is important for businesses to realise that it is very important and becoming more important to have a good web presence on the internet.

The first step if you do not have website is to get one! The type of website will depend on the type and size of the business and also the budget.

Your website designer must build your website to be search engine friendly, meaning the code to write the website must comply to the w3c standards.

The second phase (even if you already have a website) is to make sure users can find your website. This is called SEO (Search engine optimisation). This can be a mine field as your search engine ranking depends on many variables.

Thirdly you must maintain your website and add new content that users will find helpful. If you are going to add more content on a regular basis you should consider a CMS (Content Management System) that allows the client to add content whenever they want. This will save on web designer fees and regular new content will help your site in search rankings.

For more information and a free consultation for Web Design Services in North Wales, Colwyn Bay, Bangor, Llandudno, Conwy, Rhyl, Wrexam and Chester area, please feel free to contact Ewan van Rooyen on 01492532563 | www.itechwebdesign.co.uk

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South African High Commission London Website Down

The website for the South African High Commission (www.southafricahouse.com) is down.

The domain name southafricahouse.com expired on 11/11/2010 and is pending renewal or deletion.

It is unclear if this is an error or whether the South African High Commission deliberately decided not to renew their domain name, leaving thousands of South Africans in the United Kingdom without access to information required for Visa, Passport and other important information.

I was unable to verify or obtain any further information as there was no answer at the consulate.

Sending an email will also not work as any email ending with the domain name @southafricahouse.com will also not work.

It seems that even large organisations / countries have difficulty managing their domain names.

Have you been effected by the website being unavailable?

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