Social media marketing can be a phenomenal marketing channel for small businesses to exploit. It is a great example of how you can effectively communicate your message to a targeted audience.

The benefit of social media for companies is impossible to ignore and in order to help our web design business clients at James Blake Internet (JBI) achieve the best possible results through this channel; we have laid out five key important points that are essential to understand and effectively utilise this marketing angle:

1.Your brand or company should take a holistic, goal-oriented and authentic approach to social media marketing, rather than focusing on any one platform or method.

Every company, brand or product could be and should be “social”. Conversations about almost every brand and related products are happening everywhere, you just need to be a part of that conversation to gain the maximum benefit out of it. Explain your brand and approach without preaching or sounding like an instruction manual.

2.Use the tools available to reach to your target audience. One of the best ways for small businesses to leverage social media marketing is to use various social networks in combination with each other. The examples below helps us in understanding the marketing mix for a effective and efficient social marketing:

• Connect your Twitter account to Facebook ( or the other way round).This will let you leverage your time on Twitter and will also update your Facebook fans.

• Connect your LinkedIn profile to your Word Press blog. This will automatically update your LinkedIn profile with your most recent blog posts and hence reach to the desired audience.

• Integrate Twitter or Facebook tools onto your website. The use of ‘ShareThis’ tool enables readers to quickly share content on multiple social networks.

We need to keep in mind that not all social networks will make sense for every business. Learn which networks are best for your on-line business strategy and find ways to leverage combinations of those networks to make your marketing more effective.

3.Posting relevant content is important. Remaining true to your brand promise is the best way to approach social media. Utilise your brand promise as guiding principles across all your social media efforts. It should be reflected in the content created, the tone used, and the promotional programs being launched.

Though more attention is focused on social networks than on company blogs these days, however, blogs still continue to offer great value for small businesses as they help in listening, learning and engaging in conversations with your customers and as we know understanding your customers requirements is half the battle!

4.Make promotions fun. Marketing is not a campaign but a commitment. In order to build long-term relationships with your clients you need to invest in them genuinely..

A social media programme is a commitment to engage and communicate with clients when and where they want to communicate.

5.Attention to details matters since much of social media marketing is human capital it involves more thinking and execution.

The best way to start a social media campaign is by listening.Set up Google Alerts to look for conversations about your brand or product.Then participate in the conversation and just remember to be authentic, honest and transparent.

A brand which is active on social media and interacts with its clients will carry more credibility and rally more supporters in the future.

Nose reshaping surgery - also known as rhinoplasty - is the UK’s second most popular cosmetic procedure. Rhinoplasty is the single word used to describe a range of surgical steps which re-shape the nose. The results will give the patient a nose that’s more aesthetically pleasing to them and in many cases making them a happier and more confident person.

The James Blake team is proud to have built the website for www.cosmeticrhinoplasty.org. The website highlights the advantages of rhinoplasty and try to inform clients about the surgery which allows them to reach an informed decision based on realistic expectations.

An interview with Luke Durham, Principal Surgeon and Director, provides an insight into this skilled art of cosmetic surgery and reveals how the new website, designed and developed by James Blake Internet, has helped in gaining his customers confidence.

Q1. Can you tell us a little about your business?
A. Cosmetic surgery is literally a “cut throat” business! Our aim was to provide a niche market and simultaneously a platinum bespoke service based on quality and ultra-specialism. Facial Cosmetic surgery is our niche market, the Nose job, face lift, eyelid surgery, neck rejuvenation and ear reshaping are the foundation stone of our company. We are not brokers or agents BUT real surgeons who literally offer ultra specialism. The key is to provide NHS based cosmetic surgery according to our own unique training field of expertise. The “Nose Job” exemplifies this principle combining the art of the Facial plastic surgeon with the science of an ENT surgeon.

Q2.What are your objectives and plans for your new website?
A. My objectives were to develop a web presence that attracted traffic through web design, organic search engine optimization that generate sales leads. A content management system was crucial to allow content flexibility.

Q3. Will you be doing any on-line campaigns to help your business?
A. It is my aim to develop an online marketing strategy utilizing SEO, pay per click, banner ads. These are essential multilevel marketing methods that complement our off line advertising.

Q4. If our customers want to look at Plastic surgery are there any points they should consider?
A. Plastic surgery must not be confused with cosmetic surgery, the two are NOT synonymous. It is vital for clients to realize that many other surgical specialties offer excellent cosmetic service; viz, ENT, eye/ oculoplastic surgeons, maxillofacial surgeons as well as facial plastic surgeons. Our clients request ultra specialists in their respective fields. For example Ear, nose and throat surgeons perform more nose jobs (rhinoplasty) on the NHS than any other specialty combined!! A little known fact.

Q5. Have you got any tips for people who are considering setting up their own business on-line?
A. An attractive and well designed web site is essential. You need to combine the skills of graphic design and web development simultaneously. The whole idea is to generate sales. Page design, layout, navigation, optimization and communication are key. It also helps to choose an URL that describes what you sell, in my case “Cosmetic Rhinoplasty” is included in the URL. The best tip James Blake gave me was that “Content” is king. You literally have to be an expert in your field and this must be reflected in your sales copy.

Q6. How was working with the James Blake Team?
A. I must admit that this is my second and NOT last web project with the James Blake team. I found them a revelation. The ease of communication, attention to detail, expert advice and tips have resulted in a website that truly represents my brand vision and sales ethos. In fact I am hoping to add a blog to my existing website!!

If you are a serious Internet Entrepreneur, your website should be a direct reflection of you and your business. Creating a professional website takes a great deal of time and effort. The seven most important elements for online success, as there is much more to take into consideration than design, are:

1.Have a professional looking website:

If you are serious about creating a successful business which will stand the test of time, then you need to have your own “virtual presence”.

Your website is the most important sales tool you have. A professional website should be pleasing to the eyes, well organised, easy to navigate and load quickly.

2.Effective Content:

Your words are the entire foundation of your business. Whether it is your website, sales letters or advertisements, words play a major role in determining your success. The following details must be kept in mind while content writing:

Attention - Use a powerful headline that demands attention
Interest - Intrigue and create curiosity
Detail - Provide details about your product or service
Action - Call for action, phone, email, visit office or dynamic contact form.

3.Traffic Drivers:

Create a steady stream of traffic to your website. Give your visitors a reason to visit and continue to visit in the future. Blend your content in with the focus of your website and update it on a regular basis.

4. Search Engine Optimisation:

Design the website to rank high in the Search Engines. This involves much more than just including META tags. KEYWORDS, TITLE, IMAGE ALT tags, Text and the overall design, all play an important role in determining how your website will rank.

5.Reliance:

The visitors should know who you are. Provide complete information with respect to your company including, address, phone number and email addresses to request information and support.

Also, inform the visitors about their privacy through pages like Privacy Statement, Privacy Policy etc and let your visitors know how will their personal information collected through the website will be secured or used.

6. Gain Confidence:

Gain your visitors trust by displaying customer testimonials. This will help in boosting the potential customers’ confidence in you and your products or services.

7. Patience:

Be realistic in terms of your expectations. Online business can bring you a considerable income, but it needs investment of time and effort from you.

A professional website specifically designed to sell is one of the most important factors in determining your success. Take your time and make sure you’re looking at the complete picture before you begin as the success depends on it.

So what are Meta titles, descriptions, keywords etc?

It really is not as complicated as you might think. Let’s start by asking a very simple question will adding Meta titles, keywords, tags, descriptions make your site shoot up the serach engines to the top?

Easy to answer this, no! However don’t give up on them as they do hold importance to search engine rankings and SEO optimisation. The correct Meta titles and keywords will help the major search engines such as Google and Yahoo index your site and understand what your site is offering.

Let’s look at the different functions

1) Meta Title:
This is what it says on the tin, the title! Have a look at the website in the very top left hand corner of the browser window and you will see the Meta title.
What is best to put here? Our advice is simple, put exactly what the content on the page is about.
It should contain keywords, but don’t over complicate this as the title tag will be the first thing on your page.

If we look at the James Blake Internet site (www.jamesblakeinternet.com) at the top of the page you will see
Web Design UK / Website Development / SEO Company UK / Professional website design company

2) Meta description:
This is the part that tells us about the company.
Firstly and most importantly this is a real chance for you to engage and interest the consumer as it might be the first thing they read about your company. Don’t bore them with a load of keywords, the idea is that they will click and visit your site.

Each page should have a description and the key is to tell the audience exactly what’s on the page, ie a summary. This will increase the likelihood of people clicking through.

The description you provide for your page has to convince the person that you are providing exactly what they are looking for. If a user comes to your site and the Title and Description Tags don’t accurately match the content they actually find, you are less likely to be considered a reputable source of information.

The description for a website should be no more than 250 characters
Again let’s look at www.Jamesblakeinternet.com

James Blake Internet Services is a professional web design & development and SEO Company in London UK, We provide Services including shopping carts website …

3) Meta keywords:
Finally the content itself on your pages ! To increase the ranking and occurrence probability on a search engine, words relating to the website /company or business are added to the website.
For example lets look at James Blake site again on the home page content and highlight some of the keywords that relate to our business.

James Blake Internet Services is a leading provider of internet solutions for business of all sizes, offering professional online services from web design and development to complete interactive e-marketing.

Finally
Please remember that whilst useful, Meta tags are not a magic formula and in need to be used in part of a whole SEO strategy not in isolation.

Please feel free to call us on 0845 475 1302 for more information

We are all very excited here at James Blake Internet as we are launching a fantastic new website this weekend that will really hit the spot for anyone who likes Curries!

The website will allow you to go to your favourite curry house and get fantastic discounts.

We are currently finalising the design and development of the website and we hope for a weekend release.

The website will be advertised in the Daily Mirror newspaper (www.themirror.co.uk)so you wont miss out

We will update you !

My marketing manager said SEO doesn’t achieve instant results?

Your marketing manager is correct to a certain degree in that SEO will not have instant results, i.e. if we start a campaign tomorrow your inbox will not be flooded with new leads. SEO is a medium term strategy to make you an on-line leader in certain areas. Generally we at James Blake Internet say we can make a difference within 3-6 months.

If you do need instant results then we would suggest mixing an SEO campaign with a pay per click campaign (PPC). This will help you get the benefits in both the short and medium term.

However we believe that internet marketing needs to be looked at in conjunction with other aspects of your business such as your offline marketing in order to maximise the potential of any campaign.

a) Establish a brand – what does your business really offer? By this we don’t mean fancy design and new logos etc, Is there an area you specialise in within your field and want to tell the World (on-line and off-line). Once this is established then there is a message to spread (online and offline)

b) Once you have established the brand and the message we suggest you look at all your marketing to see if this reflects your message. If you have a current website its vital you look at the design and structure to see if it’s in line with your brand and message. When people hear about your business they often go on-line to see who they will be visiting (even if referred). Does your website convey the message that your marketing (again both on-line and off-line) is saying. Otherwise you will not be maximising the potential of your spend.

c) I would then look at how people will get to hear about your business e.g. How many people will search on-line to find your business or how many people will use the yellow pages etc. If you feel that most of your business comes from referrals then that’s where you should now spend your money. If you think there is a strong percentage that search for your business on-line, i.e. Google, yahoo, Yell etc then this is the market that SEO can capture.

James Blake believe that online advertising should be done in conjunction with offline and not separately. Both need to have the same message as they complement each other.