Seriously. Open your own website on your smart phone. Right now.

Okay guys. Seriously.

Take out your smart phone and look at your website. Do it right now. Does it load nicely on your phone? Or are all the images cut off and the text wonky? Can you navigate the site easily with your phone? Or is it difficult to find the buttons?

Now. If it's difficult for you, then it's doubly, trebly difficult for your potential clients who have never been on the site before. And when folks have trouble viewing your website with their handheld devices, they bounce. They just leave and go on to the next option on the google search response page. Let's consider that when we think about the following stat: Over 50% of online buying decisions are initially researched using a handheld device. A bit chilling?

Now, think about this: Most buying decisions are made (including cars, etcetera) before the customer walks in the door. Before the customer speaks to a salesperson. Customers are researching your product or service *right now* and making their decisions. Probaby on their smart phone. Want them to choose your product or service?

Now, think about the fact that these stats are already almost a year old and think about the fact that smartphone usage is expected to be well over 70% of the population within the next year or so. Think about how many folks (even crusty old curmudgeons who hate cellphones) got smartphones in the last year. Consumer behaviour is changing drastically. This is a trend that is ongoing. If you don't get involved, at least in a modest way, it will start affecting your business.

Now. I can help. Contact me *this week* for a no nonsense appraisal of your website and quote and you can have my design services at half price - assuming I receive a depost before the end of the month. (August 31, 2014). And even if you've missed this deadline, my prices are very fair. Seriously. Contact me right now.

The One Big Mistake That's Killing Your Content

In my other life, I am a theatre artist: a freelance director. I direct between three and seven shows a year. Every show that gets out there is subject to criticism and, let me tell you, everybody's got an opinion. I've had people completely trash what was, arguably, my best work to date. And I have had that other imposter as well: unearned adoration.

So, I guess have grown quite a thick skin in the last twenty years and I have the ability to soldier on despite the possibility of heavy criticism on the other side. But most of us aren't lucky enough to have that background and we make the big mistake of worrying what other people will think of what we write or otherwise publish. Worrying about what others think will kill your content faster than the internet forgets a tweet storm.

But, you say, it's human nature to worry about what other people think of you. Doesn't it have to be good, I mean, really good? Doesn't it have to be perfect? I can't make one mistake! The white paper has got to be twenty pages long and meticulously edited; or the movie has to be done with a professional flare or it's no good; or the infographic needs to be chock-a-block with facts and figures....! Wait a second? How long is all this going to take?

While you are carefully putting together your amazing project, other people may have posted dozens of times with short, punchy movies, blogs, and graphics that catch the eye, make a point, and inform. Which is better, right now? I hate to say for all of you striving for perfection: short, clear messaged media is what is getting seen, read, reblogged-posted-tweeted.

Right, then. We need to learn how not to second guess ourselves. We need to learn how to press 'send' or 'publish' or 'post'. Read it once forward, once backward, do a spell check. Leave it a couple of hours and read it again or get your favourite proof-reader to take a look. Read it once forward, once backward, do a spell check. Accept that it will never be perfect. Press 'send'.

That idea is worth repeating: Accept that it will never be perfect. Press 'send'.

The way the interwebs are evolving, it's better to get that content out there consistently and reliably than to worry about any one of your posts being a magnum opus.

Good luck out there!

Jacqui Burke is a freelance social media marketer committed to helping small business build their profits through social media. Take a look at her website at www.jaybirdsocialmedia.com

5 FREE Social Media Tools I Use Every Day to Build My Business

1.       Hootsuite
http:www.hootsuite.com

Hootsuite is a posting platform that allows you to post across platforms at once, schedule posts to go out during the day, and generally do pretty much anything you can do on your various social media sites but from one location. Free up to five social media connections. Essentially, this platform allows you to reach more people with one post, and get all your posting done at one time. Natch!

2.       MailChimp
www.mailchimp.com

Mail Chimp is a tool for sending out graphically rich, appealing emails but, also, it keeps track of your list maintenance for you. You don`t have to do a thing! With email STILL being the number one way to connect to your potential clients, Mail Chimp has proven to be an invaluable tool. Free up to 2,000 contacts.

3.       Google Analytics
http://www.google.com/analytics

I am religious about checking out my and my clients`s stats every day to see if I can catch trends as they happen, or push more what works. Google Analytics is a solid tool to see where your traffic is coming from, visitor behaviour, and can even track conversions.

4.       Many Contacts
www.manycontacts.com

Want to increase your conversion rate? Use Many Contacts! Not only does this site make form building easy, it collects your data for you (and syncs it with your Mail Chimp – or other email service) automatically. Awesome!

5.       Google Keyword Tool
https://adwords.google.com/KeywordPlanner

If people are looking for your business online, how are they searching for it? Use Google Keyword Tool to increase optimization and boost your keyword strength. This is totally free but you need a google account to use it.

These tools are really great. If you need help setting these up or consulting, I am available for consulting and training on a reasonable per hour basis.  Contact me:

http://www.jaybirdsocialmedia.com

info@jaybirdsocialmedia.com

@jaybirdsocialmedia

+647-292-0210

Skeptical? 3 Compelling Reasons To Get Your Website Mobile Ready

If you are to decide to spend the time and money it takes to upgrade your website, you have to know it's worth it. Here's three reasons (with back up data) that tell us we can't afford not to make the change.

Internet users are moving onto mobile in incredible numbers. They are accessing, researching, and making buying decisions on their smart phones. But a huge percentage of websites (estimates are over 80%) are not optimized for mobile. Their sites hard to navigate (most mobile users will just bounce off) and, indeed, harder to find. The Internet is competitive. You want to be there when your customer comes looking:

1.   Cell Use Is Our Number One Choice For Accessing The Internet

As of February 2014, cell access of the Internet outstripped PC access
(SOURCE CNNMONEY CITING ENDERS ANALYSIS):

Mobile devices accounted for 55% of Internet usage in the United States in January. Apps made up 47% of Internet traffic and 8% of traffic came from mobile browsers, according to data from comScore, cited Thursday by research firm Enders Analysis. PCs clocked in at 45%.

As of January 2014
(SOURCE: PEW RESEARCH CENTER, WASHINGTON DC):

• 90% of American adults have a cell phone
• 58% of American adults have a smartphone
• 32% of American adults own an e-reader
• 42% of American adults own a tablet computer

2.                 Consumers Are Researching/Making Their Decisions On Mobile

SOURCE: TELEMETRIX:

50% of consumers are using their smartphones exclusively to start their research and 31% continue through the process and make buying decisions online. Of the 50% who start their research, only half know what they’re looking for when they start. The other 50% can be influenced by brand marketers.

SOURCE: GOOGLE RESEARCH

 A startling 82% of consumers are using their mobile phones to help them make buying decisions while inside your store with comparison pricing research but, also, using merchant apps.

Of those users, 60% expect their business solution to be within walking distance and 33% are looking for pertinent details:  phone, location, business hours.

3.  More And More Consumers Are Coming Online Via Mobile

SOURCE: EMARKETER

Smartphone uptake is massive. According to eMarketer, the low cost of smart phones will result in 2 billion in use by 2015. We recently tipped over the 1 billion mark. And projections are over 5 billion by 2017. We are at the uptrend of a burgeoning market. Projects say that over 90% of Internet users will be accessing the Internet via their phone alone.

As I said, you can't afford not to do make your website mobile ready. We are offering a free service to take a look at your site and let you know what you need to do and how much it will cost. Get your FREE Assessment*, today!

Mobile Optimization. You can't afford not to.

This is my second post about going mobile -- or getting your website ready for mobile users.

Your small business simply cannot afford not to go mobile. So many customers are looking for your business right now on their cell. A website designed for easy mobile access, viewing, and click-through will make you more money because such a low percentage of websites are ready. Cellphone users just pass on sites that are difficult or clunky but they'll land on yours.

The cellphone/video generation is coming of age. They are buying houses, cars, and everything else. Be there when they go looking. The fastest growing age segment on cell devices are 50+ and they are cash-rich as they downsize, interested in your product or service, and looking for you with their new gadget. Yours should be the site they find. You don't have to choose my services for your upgrade (though I would love it if you did) but you should be doing this right now.

Contact me for more information. We're actually offering a free assessment this month, a $300 savings in which we will make recommendations and offer solutions that are tailored to your needs.

If you're not already convinced, here are some stats. Happy surfing!

 2013 Cell Phone Statistics
New information has been released about how we used our cell phones, smartphones, and mobile devices in 2013. Some of the stats show a clear move among the average cell user towards it being their primary gaming, internet, and communication device. 

• 97% of adults have a cell phone. (Up 4% from 2012)
• Of these, 56% of those phones are considered "smart phones"
• the average smart phone user looks at her phone 127 times a day
• The cellular phone is the most quickly adopted technology in history. 
• Cell phones are seen as key to actively participating in your community. 
• 29% of users describe their phone as something they can't live without. 
• 9% used their phone to contribute to charity. 

2013 Showed Growth in Mobile Marketing Importance

• 34% of all users are "mobile only", meaning they use only their mobile devices and have no other computer or telephone. (Up 9% from 2012)
• 41% of mobile users browse on their mobile devices for a product after seeing it on an ad on television. 
• 80% of users will participate in e-commerce this year. 
• 36% of smartphone users admit to "shopping around" on their phones while at a retail location, before committing to a purchase. 

The 2 Social Media Platforms Your Business Must Be On

The benefits of social media for business are widely debated -- except that efforts on all platforms definitely help your business' bottom line and every business I know can point to clients they have found online through community building efforts. But social marketing is so new, we are all learning what works and what doesn't and, further, search algorithms change, corporate strategies change. The social media landscape quakes almost every day.

There are, in my mind, two kinds of social media sites: 1) Fuzzy Benefits and 2) Solid Benefits.

Fuzzy benefit social media platforms include Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest. These platforms offer increased reach and possible community building. There is no question that if you can attract a community of folk interested in your product or service on these sites and get them to follow you or sign up for your newsletter, you will increase your sales. None of these sites, however, will increase your SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Because of recent changes and emerging data Google+ and Linkedin are in the Solid Benefits box. And these are the two site that you need to be on if you want to really capitalize on social media marketing in 2014.

Linkedin is becoming the elite of the social media sites with highest average income per member and hosting the highest percentage of business decision makers of any social media site. Linkedin is also the fastest growing social media site. If you are trying to attract business, this is the site for you, though Linkedin offers no SEO benefit.

Google+, however, is poised to become the king of SEO. Google+ treats all pages and posts on its social platform as if they were a separate websites which means each and every one can be assessed and returned in a pertinent google search for information. And, remember, two thirds of all searches are still done on Google. Most people turn to that engine for answers and that engine is poised to favourite posts on its own social media platform. If you are a business trying to be found, Google+ is a site you need to be on and need to be reasonably active on.

The rules are always changing but these two platforms will, likely, dominate in the coming years. Get your business on them right away.

Pick up the phone! 4 Critical Website Techniques For Small Business.

Cellphones are becoming a dominant method for folks who need to find a local business right now. Right this minute! People who are looking on their phones are often buying right now.

Imagine. You are on the way to visit a friend at and you don't have a gift. What about flowers? What about a gift basket? You grab your cell phone and find out that there's a gift basket store just a block from their house. And it's open. Easy-peasy.

Imagine. You're working a set of appointments in a new area in the city and you have to, have to get some dry cleaning done. Pick up the phone. There's a handy dry cleaner right there. Easy-peasy.

Imagine. You're on your way to a big presentation and, disaster! You spill that Timmies coffee all over your printed materials. Need a copy shop right away! Pick up the phone. Easy-peasy.

I, honestly, don't know how I functioned without the phone. I may be saving a good hour a day in efficiency and productivity just making use of features like web search, transit schedules. That's a lot of time, either to work or (gasp!) to spend with family and friends. And the whole world is starting to do the same. You want this business. It's the equivalent of having a storefront in the centre of town that gets tons of foot traffic because of location.

How can you maximize your chances of getting this business

1. Search engine optimisation.
There is room, on a small screen,  for about three entries. If the search is 'sports equipment Yonge and Eglinton' and you have a sports store near that location, you want to be one of the three top entries. Through the use of Social Media, keywords, and other techniques, your shop can be there.

2. Have a website designed for easy viewing and navigation on a cellphone.
Many sites require a second, specifically designed mobile site. However, most of my clients are small, local businesses with small websites. For these folk, I recommend a re-design and a switch to Responsive code. Responsive code checks what device is viewing the website and optimises the site for viewing on that device. It's nifty and intelligent -- and you don't have to go to the bother of updating two sites every time you decide to have a promotion!

3. Your phone number should be front and centre and clickable.
Your company's phone number should be at the top of your website. Aaaaand, front and centre on every page. Most websites have stopped even putting the phone number on the front page, let alone at the top, making a cell phone user really dig for a quick way to contact you. Crazy. What are you hiding your number for? And remember to make that number clickable - so that if the cell phone user clicks it, the number is loaded straight into his or her phone. Easy peasy.

4. Put critical details at the top.
If he or she only had a tiny, little screen to look at, what would be the most important thing for a customer to see? What does a person on the run want to know? Is the store open? Where is the store? What specials are on right now? What brands do they carry? Put this information or links to this information right at the top for your cell phone users.

This might require a redesign of your website but it is critical to increased sales figures as the world switches to handheld devices.