Some additional weekend reading...

For all you skeptics out there!!! Worth the time to read.... 11 Mind-Blowing Reasons Your Business Needs Facebook! From the "Social Media Examiner"

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/11-mind-blowing-reasons-your-business-needs-facebook/

Mobile Marketing - Are you thinking about it yet?

....you should be!

Gartner is out with new research indicating that the mobile Web (think cell phones and smartphones) will overtake PCs as the most common devices used for Web access sometime within the next three years. They are estimating the combined installed base of mobile devices (including feature phones and smartphones, but NOT laptops nor netbooks) will exceed 1.82 billion units by 2013, which just beats out the projected 1.78 billion total for desktop and/or laptop PCs.

The key takeaway from the report is the fact that many sites still aren't optimized for the mobile Web, even as cell phone users respond to surveys saying that they expect fewer clicks, not more clicks, on their phones than when using a PC.

So - is your website mobile friendly? Not sure??? Try getting accessing the page through your phone. Maybe it shows up, but isn't optimized - or maybe it's just too big for your device to handle.

What about your communications? Are you offering customers the ability to respond to your marketing through their mobile device? Do they have a preference to receive text updates over email? It's time to start planning.

If all this seems like just another confusing addition to your marketing matrix (I know - just as you were getting into Facebook and LinkedIn and Twitter...), I'm here to help - and can offer you extremely affordable solutions (think from just a few hundred $ a month) when you decide to stop thinking about mobile and get a jump-start on your competitors.

The Benefits of Hootsuite

I've been asked a few times lately why I prefer Hootsuite over Tweetdeck, so thought I'd jot down a few of the benefits from a user standpoint (I'm not a techie and don't try to be one)

Both are great - don't get me wrong - and everyone is entitled to their personal preference. But there are some significant advantages from my perspective with respect to Hootsuite as follows:

1. Hootsuite is web-based - that means you don't need to download any software, it takes less of your computer's memory & power to run, and you can log into it from any computer anywhere.

2. I really prefer the white background of Hootsuite versus the dark background of Tweetdeck - many would disagree with me, so this is definitely personal preference!

3. I love that you can pick which social networks - twitter, linkedin, facebook or ping - your tweets are sent to. This isn't limited to an all or nothing choice. Send to just one or to any combination of them.

4. Scheduling tweets ahead of time! I'd NEVER get anything done if I was chained to my computer needing to tweet all the time - this lets me schedule things ahead of time and then go tend to other business

5. Finally, the option to monitor/track your links and click-throughs is vital - what's the value of doing something if you aren't measuring and evaluating your efforts? If you aren't using Hootsuite you need to rely on third parties tracking and measurement, versus the simplicity of having it all in one place.

Give it a try - it's worth a hoot or two! www.hootsuite.com

New Year, New Focus

OK, I admit that I got sidetracked from blogging last year - consumed with servicing my existing clients, and focussed more on them, and favouring the shorter, quicker tweets & status updates instead of blogging.

But its a new year and new resolutions come along with that! So, I VOW to blog at least once a week this year.

In the meantime, you can follow me on Twitter - RoxannePReid, LinkedIn or become a Fan of Hestia Marketing Group on Facebook.

While you are at it - search for Errant Eye - Steph Fryer is a godsend and is helping me revamp the look and feel of not only my blog, but my website and my overall logo. This year I will focus a little bit more on my business instead of being the "shoemaker's kid with no shoes!"

Is Fractional Real Estate the Way of the future?

I have to say, it's certainly becoming top of mind - and not just here in North America, but developers from Europe, Australia, and Asia alike are starting to buzz about how to make recreational and resort real estate more saleable. The obvious answer is to make it more affordable during this global economic crisis by turning it into a fractional, timeshare, destination club or private residence club offering. But is this truly the best solution? Stay tuned for more of my thoughts on this in the next few days and weeks. //R