In marketing, it is very difficult to control a brand. Tim Lebrecht talks about how encouraging customers to talk about your brand online may actually help you have more control.
People are going to talk about your business whether you like it or not. As you strive to stay involved with the conversations, you will be able to help better manage the conversations. As you interact with your customers or clients, you will be able to help them remember the positive of your business.
Google wants to help people to be able to find your business. The list every business they can find and try to organize them to make it easy for people to find what they need. If Google has already cataloged your business, you can do a simple Google search and see if you can find it. If you can’t find your Google Plus Places Page, you may need to set one up. To set one up, visit Google.com/Places/ and click on “Get Started Now”. If you do find it, it should look like the image below:
In the bottom right hand corner you will notice the “Manage this Page” button. When you click on this you will be asked to log into a Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, they are simple to set up. You can use the same log in you use for Gmail, YouTube or any other Google Services. Once you log in, Google will ask you to verify that it is your business by either calling the phone number that they have on file or by sending a postcard to the address they have on file. They will provide a pass-code that they will ask you for to verify that you own the business.
Google’s Promo for Google + Businesses
If you haven’t started using Google + for your business, you should definitely look into it at Google.com/+/Business/. It is a great social site that allows you to connect with your customers and potential customers.
Google wants to help people to be able to find your business. The list every business they can find and try to organize them to make it easy for people to find what they need. If Google has already cataloged your business, you can do a simple Google search and see if you can find it. If you can’t find your Google Plus Places Page, you may need to set one up. To set one up, visit Google.com/Places/ and click on “Get Started Now”. If you do find it, it should look like the image below:
In the bottom right hand corner you will notice the “Manage this Page” button. When you click on this you will be asked to log into a Google account. If you don’t have a Google account, they are simple to set up. You can use the same log in you use for Gmail, YouTube or any other Google Services. Once you log in, Google will ask you to verify that it is your business by either calling the phone number that they have on file or by sending a postcard to the address they have on file. They will provide a pass-code that they will ask you for to verify that you own the business.
Google’s Promo for Google + Businesses
If you haven’t started using Google + for your business, you should definitely look into it at Google.com/+/Business/. It is a great social site that allows you to connect with your customers and potential customers.
Google Voice is another great product for Entrepreneurs and other business owners. Through the rest of 2012 they are offering free calls over Google Voice to numbers in the United States. Standard phone carrier rates will still apply, but it is still an amazing tool. You can have it ring multiple phones at once and check your sms text messages and voice messages online. It also transcribes all of your voice messages. I recommend looking into Google Voice!
Grasshopper Phones for Entrepreneurs put out this great video showing how many of us think of so many possibilities when we are young but then lose sight of many of those ideas because we get caught up in the rest of life or become discouraged. It is still possible to make dreams come true regardless of our age.
In the video below presented on Ted, Cameron Herold discusses some great ideas for helping inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
I really like how he doesn’t want to discourage anyone from seeking any other profession. But why isn’t entrepreneurship taught or encouraged at the same level? I do feel that education is important even for entrepreneurs. That is why I am studying accounting, to help me with my business ideas.
Business ideas can come from anyone, anywhere and at anytime. All it takes is a problem that needs solving, something needing to be improved upon, or something just totally cool! Our goal with Catalysters is to help inspire, cultivate and increase the rate of entrepreneurship.
