Online Scheduling System

Little things like printing costs can add up over time

Keeping business costs down is an important part of managing your small business’s cash flow. Keeping a tight rein on your small business expenses is crucial, and printing costs are no exception. In a struggling economy, little things can mean a lot when it comes to saving money for your business. Here’s a list of six things you can do to save money for your business.

1. Do it Yourself

The printing services you might see at your local copy shop are certainly convenient. However, they can end up costing a lot over time. Invest in a high-quality color office printer that can do all of your everyday printing and as much high-end printing as possible. For the occasional large print job or specialty color printing, you are likely to be better off using a service rather than investing in a high-end printer that doesn’t get used often.

2. Compare Costs

If you need to outsource printing services, do your research and compare the ones in your area that can meet your needs. For example, if you need to print 500 tri-fold color brochures, check out each company with that capability and compare them side-by-side in a spreadsheet. You will be shocked to learn that there is a huge difference between the lowest and highest price. Hint: When using the Internet to search for a printer, the first name you see isn’t necessarily the best. Dig deeper and compare.

3. Choose Different Paper

If you have a range of printing needs, it might be beneficial to use different quality paper for each need. For instance, you need high quality paper for your brochures or flyers, but everyday office printing can be done on cheaper paper. If you have a printer that has multiple trays, use the default tray for everyday paper and another tray for high-quality paper.

You don’t need to have envelopes pre-printed with your logo anymore. Many printers have a special setting for printing on most standard sizes, including the number 10 envelopes, the most common size for business use.

4. Reset Your Printer

The newer laser and inkjet printers have a multitude of settings to adjust the printing quality. For example, the printer’s draft mode helps conserve the amount of ink used and produces perfectly readable printouts for everyday internal use.

If you’re just printing a hard copy for review offline, print multiple pages per sheet and/or on both sides of each sheet.

5. Use the Bank’s Checks

The convenience of your bank’s bill pay service can save you the cost of printing checks. Most banks offer this free service for your regular bills and for the occasional expense, too. By using this service, you no longer have to worry about forgetting scheduled payments or looking for stamps. If your bank offers the service, sign up and let them print out the checks and mail them for you – free. Additionally, consider online invoicing as a way of cutting down on unnecessary printing.

6. Print Less

Yes, it sounds obvious, but it’s amazing how much unnecessary printing is done on a daily basis. In addition to thinking before you hit the “print” button, many printers also have a setting to include a leader page. This is used to separate printouts from different departments or employees when using the same printer. Make sure this setting is turned off. You save paper and ink.

Finding ways to save money is hard when your budget is already at its limit, but utilizing even a few of these tips will save your company money in no time.

Jessica is a specialist in online printing. When she’s not researching new printing technologies, you can find her in her kitchen baking up a storm or walking her dog outside.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

Now that Google+ has debuted its brand pages many people are scratching their heads, wondering what advantages they offer. Why do businesses need yet another social platform? Can’t we just stick with the company Facebook page?!

I want to highlight the top five benefits and features of Google+ Pages that make the platform ideal for businesses:

1. Search Rankings

Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, recently confirmed that social signals (public activity on social platforms) are a factor in search engine rankings. Since G+ is part of Google, it stands to reason that increased activity and engagement on pages can help significantly. While it’s not anything more than my own anecdotal experience, I have seen a significant jump in rankings on my personal Web projects since creating pages for them.

2. Direct Connect

Internet users demand easy access to social services and features, and Google has provided a brilliant shortcut to page owners. All you need to do is type “+” and a brand/business name into Google search, and it will take you immediately to its page — if there is one. No other social platform can provide that.

3. Local Pages

“Hyperlocal” has been a buzzword for a while now, and with good reason. Pages can be set up to show where your brick-and-mortar location is, providing Google Maps integrations so that customers can easily find you online and off.

4. Segmented Audiences

Circles are one of my favorite things about G+ pages. When you post to your page, you can either do so publicly, which is visible in search, or to one or more of your circles. It starts off with a basic set: Following, Customers, VIPs, Team Members, Incoming, and Notifications. This is fantastic! You can post a special offer only available to long-term clients by simply posting it to your VIP circle. You can communicate with your team using that circle. And you can create as many circles as you need in order to refine your message-targeting. This is very useful for businesses with an array of offerings and audiences.

5. Bringing It to Video

Hangouts are the integrated video-conferencing feature on G+. You have the ability to talk to up to 10 people at once. The customer support applications of this one should be obvious. Just like updates, Hangouts can be made public or only to particular circles. I’ve used it to conference with team members in three different time zones at once, and it worked smoothly.

All in all, Google+ pages can be an asset for any brand, no matter what social platforms you’re already engaged in. While the user base is still small compared to Facebook, it’s growing at an amazing rate, partially fueled by the fact that Google is integrating all of its products together. If you use Gmail or Google Docs, for instance, there are Google+ notifications on your screen at all times.

Google’s sheer ubiquity will continue to drive growth and attention to Google+ for a long time to come. And those are two things every brand wants.

George Williams is a professional journalist for firstSTREET, a leading provider of computers for seniors. George blogs about technology and social media for seniors on the firstSTREET blog.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

A client asked me if they really needed a website for their business. With all the social media channels that are available, a person could theoretically setup a page on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin to maintain contact with potential clients.

My first impulse was to say, “YES!” to the question. I stopped myself to think critically about the alternative possibility. What would my business look like if I did not have website? A better question: What does my current website achieve for me, and can that be replicated solely through social media. Let’s consider.

A website has several typical functions:

The brochure site

I call it this because it is simply there so offline clients and random visitors can see a good-looking online presence. There is no intention to optimize for search engines or draw attention from an online audience.

Can this be replicated through social media?

Yes. You could create a page on Squidoo that has all the information for people to see. Need something a little more personalized? A Facebook fan page will do the trick. Nobody will question a Facebook or Twitter link on a business card.

Lead generation machine

This function is more intentional than the brochure. This site is drawing traffic in to create conversions. This is coupled with advertisement, seo tactics and offline networking. Getting clients to convert, both free and paid, builds a list that you can use over and over again to create recurring income.

Can this be replicated with social media?

Yes. Custom form builders that could be integrated into your Squidoo or Facebook page. Twitter and linked in could be used to drive people toward these pages for conversion.Using free directory listings can help increase your presence on search engines.

Customer engagement portal

This function seeks to get other people engaging on the site. The more they contribute, the larger their commitment to return is. Characteristics of this site are forums, niche blogging, productivity tools, etc.

Can this be replicated with social media?

Yes. Most social networking sites allow discussions and private group messaging. Twitter is a good place to have conversation.

Barring any sort of e-commerce, it appears that one will not need to have a website to achieve the same things a website can offer.

Wait! Before you go off and cancel your web hosting plan, consider this:

Although social media has many integrated tools and functions that can match a website. Remember that most clients value consistency. Ensure that whatever social media channel you use has a consistent base station: A place clients can go for the latest information. If it’s your email, let it be that. If it’s your Facebook page, keep that. If it’s your Twitter or Linkedin profile, stick with it.

The one thing that a website offers that is a central place for bringing your social media channels and activity together. It creates a hub for client engagement.

My answer to the original question is conditional. Yes you should have a website if you want a central place for customers to return to and stay engaged, or if you have an e-commerce component to your business. No you do not need a website if you are only planning to make one-time sales online or communicate solely through messaging. Customers don’t need to return to a product page they have already purchased from.

Paris Law is a success coach works with Solopreneurs and Business Leaders on initiatives that inspire extraordinary action. His favorite adage: “Let us never yield to simple complacency, but continually reach toward that forever stretching horizon.” www.parisalaw.com

Whether it is a household you are running or an actual business, it would be vital to know exactly how to manage your cash flow. After all, you don’t want to experience any trouble with money, do you? Unfortunately, money doesn’t grow on trees, so you will need some real discipline in your life if you want to stay in a decent financial situation at all times. Here are several tips that can help you out.

1. Check out your existing cash balance

If you don’t know the amount of something, there is no way you will be able to analyze it – and the same goes for money. In other words, you need to know what your exact balance is in order to figure out where you stand and what you should do with the rest of your cash. If you don’t know what your balance is, you could make several grave mistakes.

 2. Don’t run out of money

This may sound like common sense, but a lot of people still overlook this basic advice. In a nutshell, you need to do everything possible to prevent yourself from running out of money. Remember: if you do run out, you might end up doing things you will regret in the long run, such as getting a huge loan and falling into bigger money problems in the future.

3. Find out where your money is coming from

Find out where you are getting your money from and how long it will last. Then, try to keep a consistent cash flow to avoid financial problems. The secret here is to simply prepare yourself and have the right information handy at all times.

4. Maintain a good financial situation

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should never make any changes or never try to improve your finances. However, you do need to stop spending on things that won’t improve your situation in any way. This will ensure that you don’t make investment mistakes in the future and will always be able to stand on your feet.

5. Rely on good accounting software

Accountants aren’t always a necessity in the world of money management. In fact, all of the things you need for cash flow management can easily be done with the right accounting software. Now, if you have no idea how to use this software yet, just try out a training program that can help you figure it out first. These programs are usually quite easy anyway.

These are just some of the tips that can help you with cash flow management, Naturally, every person’s situation will differ, though, so just make sure you follow the basics and stay on top of things, even when you do experience certain financial problems. Good luck!

Guest Post by: Spencer Sy, a business educator and a web enthusiast. He’s currently working at a KPN Company that provides global phone card and calling cards to Italy for international travelers. Take an additional 10% off with coupon code “acc10″.

Running your business requires time and dedication, along with careful account management. These ten tips make managing your small business’ accounts easier.

Maintain Separate Business Banking Accounts

Mixing your personal and business funds can be a recipe for disaster and may cause legal problems. Maintaining separate business accounts with restricted access limited to only you or specified, designated staff also helps reduce the risk of employee embezzlement.

• Deposit all of your business receipts into your business account.
• Pay all your business expenses out of your business checking account.
• For small businesses with more than a couple of employees, consider establishing a separate account for payroll purposes, transferring funds before each week’s payroll payments.
• Conduct background checks and credit checks before providing authorization to your staff for access to business banking accounts.

Use Automated Invoicing

Automated invoicing simplifies your business accounting. Software designed for small businesses costs little yet saves hours of your time, more than paying for itself.

• Consider what features you need in your invoicing system, such as overdue notices, calculation of late fees or penalties or automatic suspension or deactivation of accounts due to non-payment.
• Set up your invoicing system to run at regulated intervals, such as monthly, so that your customers know what to expect from you.
• Set up a quarterly or semi-annual invoice summary for regular clients.

Balance Ledgers Daily

No one likes bad surprises, and balancing your incomings and outgoings ledger on a daily basis helps avoid unpleasant results. An automated system eases this process.

• Balancing your ledgers daily helps detect employee theft. Employees who handle cash are easily tempted to remove a small amount on a regular basis, accumulating to large losses over a long period of time.
• Finding mistakes is easier when the ledger is balanced daily.
• Balancing the ledger takes less time when done on a daily basis.

Deposit Payments Immediately

Waiting around to deposit your customers’ payments increases the risk that there will be insufficient funds to complete the transaction.

• Stamp all received checks with “For Deposit Only”.
• Make all deposits without beforehand taking deductions for expenses incurred.
• Require that all incoming payments be handed to you or your accountant unopened to avoid theft or misplacement of payments.
• Record all payment information such as check number, customer’s name and method of payment. Use a computerized database to automate this process.

Reconcile Monthly Bank Statements

Ensuring that your records match those of the bank perfectly keeps your business solvent. Utilize automated software to make this process easier.

• Reconcile your bank statements at the end of each month to know your actual account balance.
• Check your monthly statement against your daily statements to check for discrepancies. Software can automate this for you.

Insure Business Vehicles

If you or your employees operate company owned business vehicles, or if you or staff utilize your own vehicles for business use, regularly review your business car insurance coverage to ensure your business is adequately protected in the event of a collision or accident.

• Review your coverage quarterly.
• Get in writing what is covered and not covered.
• Cross check your employees’ driving records with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles quarterly to ensure they are maintaining safe driving records. Unsafe drivers can increase the cost of your car insurance policy.

Monitor Electronic Transactions

If you accept credit card payments or other forms of electronic debits and payments, monitor these electronic transactions on a daily basis.

• Keep a file for tracking credit card payments from customers.
• Budget for the fees associated with credit card transactions.

Establish Procedures for Bounced Checks

If you accept personal checks as payments for goods or services, establishing a procedure for bounced checks or not sufficient funds (NSF) accounts is critical for managing your business accounts.

• Follow up immediately on bounced checks.
• Review the status of your client’s account to determine if further action is necessary. This can save you headaches and significant losses from maintaining delinquent business clients.

Organize Files

Organization is the key to successful business accounting. Establish separate files for transactions including:

• Unpaid invoices for suppliers and clients
• Paid invoices for suppliers and clients
• Open orders
• Completed orders
• Federal, state and municipal taxes
• Monthly and quarterly bank statements
• Payroll
• Employee information
• Contracts
• Insurance policies
• Equipment warranty and serial numbers
• Business licenses and permits

Monitor Budgets

Review your various budget categories regularly to ensure your business is on track to maintain budget. Line items to review regularly include:

• Supply costs
• Cost per unit of production
• Operating costs including rent, utilities and permits
• Payroll costs

Managing your business accounts is an ongoing process. However, taking the time to keep up on necessary tasks will save you time and money in the end, and may even protect the solvency and profitability of your small business.

Author: Catherine Barnes

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.

Having a Website that you don't market is like having a billboard in the desert

Many small business owners strive to bring customers in the door – whether that door is brick and mortar or virtual. Setting up a website is a given in today’s marketplace, and an online presence is crucial for your advertising.

Just having a website, though, often isn’t enough. You need to drive targeted traffic to that website in order to entice the right kinds of customers for your product or service offering. Otherwise, you simply have a billboard in the desert. So once you have your site underway, there are still a few more things you need to do in order to bring in the traffic that your business requires.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Well, not automatically. The most awesome website in the world won’t do you – or your customers – any good until people know that it’s there, and why they should visit it. So, the first thing you need to do is put the word out that your website is up and ready for visitors.

One of the best ways to do so is to get your site listed in the search engines – starting with Google. Although your website may not shoot to the top of the search list right away, you should start by putting relevant keywords in your titles and content, especially if that content is very specific to keywords that your potential customers are searching for online, then you will have a much easier time being found.

Content is King

With any online venture, having good relevant content is crucial. Content includes not just the actual pages on your website, but also articles that may be found online by readers that will “pull” customers into your website to get additional information.

Therefore, make sure that you have relevant and targeted content in your articles that will bring the readers to your site for more information. Oftentimes what brings visitors to your site the fastest is if they are seeking more information on how to solve a particular problem or fill a need – so be sure that your content reflects just how your offering can do that.

Blogging for Dollars…and Customers

Having a blog is another great way to bring visitors to your website. This is because the content on blogs is much more fluid, and if run correctly, it is also regularly updated. Blogs also allow visitors to make comments on the content and can literally spark ongoing, interactive conversations about the topics. This is also a way to get visitors to come back to your blog on a regular basis.

Partners

Word of mouth advertising has always been one of the strongest ways to get product or service recommendations. One way of getting online recommendations is to work in conjunction with “partners.”

In order to do so, work with others in your industry who may offer complimentary products or services and have them put some of your articles or other content on their website – while also returning the favor for them. The customers that visit their website may also be interested in purchasing what you have to offer and vice versa. This creates a win-win for both business owners while also opening up your information to a whole new group of potential customers.

But Wait, There’s More!

One of the most valuable assets you can have as a business owner is a mailing list. Depending on how many visitors your website brings in regularly, you have the potential to build your list quickly – if you offer the visitor something in return for giving you their email address and permission to contact them.

With this in mind, make sure that you add an opt-in box on your website that asks for the visitor’s name and email address. In return, let them know that you will send them a free report or other valuable information for doing so. This will help you to build your list of prospects and customers so as to send them ongoing regular emails discussing information about your products or services that they may be interested in.

Frank Anderson is a small business and technology blogger.  He also has a keen interest in microsoftexchangehosting and other popular hosting configurations.

One of the greatest challenges to anyone attempting to run a profitable business is the unknown drains on business profit. When the economic conditions restrain sales, every dollar must be stretched further than ever before. Cash flow is the key to guiding a business through the rough economic waters that most people are facing today. With some time and effort, most small-business owners can lower their overhead costs and free up some extra cash, which is vital to success.

Adhere to the budget

Developing an annual budget is the first step to gaining control over the finances. Throughout the fiscal year, expenses must be monitored very closely to determine if the budget is accurate and the business can function. Cost overruns in one category can drain an entire month of profit. A well-written budget plan can guide the business through any economic situation because the business owner can see what is happening.

Negotiate supplier contracts

Suppliers need customers just like everyone else, and one way to reduce the cost of goods sold is to choose two or three suppliers and negotiate lower prices. Payment terms and minimum order sizes can be renegotiated to address cash flow constraints. On-time payments will earn favor with suppliers.

Perform annual insurance reviews

As businesses evolve, insurance needs will change and different categories of insurance become available. Any major business change will require a close evaluation of the existing insurance policies. Every category of insurance must be scrutinized to remove unnecessary coverage.

Embrace the usefulness of the Internet

Software upgrades are very expensive since businesses must keep up with the requirements of various entities, such as the accountant and the governing authorities. Useful software applications can be found from websites that offer accounting software and other useful tools free or for a low monthly fee. Security protocols will prevent breaches that might be a cause of concern. Automated backup routines on the website of choice will reduce the risk of loss for the business.

Utilize appropriate professionals

Accountants are great coaches for business owners who are just setting out, but their bill can add up quickly when they are used as a bookkeeper, consultant and financial advisor. Some pro bono services can reduce the costs of acquiring professional guidance, but close evaluation of the needed services are an important prerequisite.

Lock supply cabinets

In offices, one of the creeping expenses is the simple office supplies that are required to perform basic tasks. Studies have shown that the cost of office supplies will drop by 30 percent if everyone has to ask someone for paper, pens and labels. Most of the supplies in business settings do not leave the premises, but instead people are hoarding supplies to save time later.

Eliminate unused assets

Equipment that has been replaced should be sold to another entity. The extra cash is one reason to do this, but obsolete equipment can consume valuable space and inflate insurance costs. Donating these assets to a charity can provide a tax break for the business. If you can get rid of stuff you don’t use and make some money while you’re at it, you will be helping your business more than you expect.

Focused effort is required to guard the profits of the business long enough to survive economic downturns and seize growth opportunities. When the overhead costs are evaluated on a monthly basis, the budget will become an effective tool instead of a useless exercise. Adjustments to the budget can be made at any point during the year if actual expenses are appearing in different areas that originally projected

Mary Blanchard works is a financial advisor and keeps her budget tight by extreme couponing.  She has provided advice on some of the best deal sites available.  She recommends the Coupon Croc, check them out to see why.

With 800 million active users on Facebook and 100 million on Twitter, it is no surprise that social media marketing is hot right now.

Yet reaching your target audience on social networks is not always an easy task, nor is it always cheap. As Facebook advertising rates continue to rise, the price tag to be promoted on Twitter is $120,000 — per day.

Engaging Thought Leaders

So how can you effectively target relevant Facebook and Twitter users without breaking the bank? The answer is simple: Engage online with thought leaders and other popular businesses in your industry.

The underlying strategy is the same for both Facebook and Twitter, though the process varies slightly for each network. Here is a simple step-by-step guide for each.

Note: If you have not created Facebook and Twitter accounts for your business, you will need to do so before moving forward with this strategy.

 Facebook

• Step 1: Search for company pages in your industry that have a strong Facebook fan base. Because you are in a similar niche, the people who follow these pages are more likely than a random person to have an interest in your specialty.

• Step 2: Using Facebook as your business page, “Like” the pages you found. Their status updates will now appear in your business page’s home News Feed.

• Step 3: Read other pages’ status update and respond to them, preferably with insightful or witty comments. Anyone who sees the status update and comments will see your company page. If you say something that interests them, they can easily click through to your Facebook page and see what you’re all about

Twitter

• Step 1: Follow Twitter accounts that are engaging the followers you want. This often requires more research than identifying relevant Facebook pages, as Twitter is full of bloggers, journalists, and individual experts for any given topic. You can start by viewing Twitter’s “Who to Follow Suggestions,” after which you should do a keyword search. Next, look at which accounts industry leaders are following and follow some of those accounts as well. Finally, there are a number of free and paid services that will let you search by topic or industry, some of which give you specific suggestions as well.

• Step 2: Interact with the accounts you now follow. You can do this in a number of ways, including responding to their tweets, tweeting them questions or interesting articles, and praising them. If they respond to one of your tweets (as you prompt them to do with questions), then their followers will see you. Praise is also a strong weapon, as many Twitter users will either re-tweet what you said or favorite your tweet, thereby giving you visibility to all of their followers.

• Step 3: To boost your results even more, take it one step further. As soon as you send a tweet to an industry thought leader (or, better yet, as soon as they respond to one of your tweets), follow their followers. Why? First of all, you are likely to receive a number of automated follow-backs. Second, you will prompt the users you followed to look at your profile. There they will see in your recent tweets that you interact with an account that they already follow, thereby increasing the chance that they will follow you back. (Tip: In most cases a user will see only your three most recent tweets when they click on your username, so make sure the tweet you sent to the thought leader is recent).

There you have it — a free way to find and engage with relevant users on the world’s two largest social networks. Best of luck growing your online following.

About the Author: Written by Rachel Dotson on behalf of ZipRecuiter, an innovative job distribution service and one-stop-shop for finding, screening, and tracking job candidates. Find them on Facebook.

We love the flexibility and the ability to define our own hours when working from home. However, there are some disadvantages. One of the most common problems is feelings of isolation or loneliness. Here are some tips on how to deal with this.

Stay connected

In these days of Twitter, Skype and instant messaging, you can get in touch with your friends and colleagues at any time. Having online friends who share your interests can keep you motivated. Apple’s FaceTime allows you to talk with anyone on a Mac or an iOS device such as the iPad so you can catch up whenever you want.

Don’t let it become a crutch, however. You need to limit the amount of time you spend chatting. If a friend wants to chat for an extended period during working hours you will have to be honest with them and schedule some time to get back with them later. If you are tempted to spend too much time on the social networks then you may want to install Anti-Social for Mac or Freedom for Mac and PC. These turn off the social parts of the internet until you reboot your computer.

Yet you may feel better and less isolated just knowing that you have a social network on which you can rely. Just the knowledge that you’re not really “alone” can help you feel less lonely.

Forums

Like the other social parts of the online world, forums can serve the dual purpose of not only easing isolation but allowing you to network and promote your business. Again, however, you should not spend too much time on the forums, nor should you rationalize that your activity is for business if it is really for pleasure.

Podcasts

There are a number of excellent podcasts you can listen to to help you feel more in touch with the outside world. There are podcasts available on the Mac, business, and practically any specialized interest you can think of.

Go for a walk

You want to avoid the feeling of being chained to your desk. There are no water coolers at home around which you can congregate. There are no colleagues in the next cubicle with whom to talk about sports or the latest movies.

You need a break from your day — something that can take your mind off of work for a while. Perhaps you have a park near your home or a walking trail that can make a lovely place to walk. You can walk with a friend or by yourself. Getting the circulation going is the most important thing. You can even listen to your favorite podcast loaded onto your iPod, so you can keep up with events and feel less isolated at the same time.

Change locations

You may get bored in your home office. With your Macbook, you can always take your work with you. Perhaps you would prefer a bite out to eat and to get a little work done at the same time. Or you could go to the local coffee shop and get some work done there. Sometimes, just a change of scenery and having other people around will help you feel less isolated

You might get the impression that the Mac is the forgotten stepchild of the Internet marketing industry. But did you know that some of the top names in Internet Marketing use Macs? Visit http://internetmacmarketing.com/blog and get a  FREE 75-page ebook that covers everything you need to know about running your Internet business using a Mac, iPhone and iPad.  Also visit http://anti-social.cc and http://macfreedom.com

While the phone is still the primary way customers interact with companies for service, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are quickly gaining ground. Here’s what you need to know.

If you’ve been in business a while, you’re probably sick of hearing about “the next big thing” in customer support. Over the past few decades we’ve seen call centers spring up then get outsourced to foreign countries, and we’ve seen some people move to email, online ticket based systems, and even web based live chats. So far, call centers are still the primary method of problem solving for most people, but that may be changing. However, the change isn’t coming because of live chat or specialist web based support systems – it’s social media that’s driving the change.

Social Support

If you’ve ever tweeted something negative about a well-known brand, you may well have seen social media support in action. There are several companies that monitor Twitter for mentions of their company, and will respond to negative mentions with an automated asking the poster if they need any help. If the user responds, they’ll get an answer within a few hours.

Some companies take this a step further, by having a specialist staff member monitoring tweets during office hours. This staff member will converse with customers and answer basic questions quite quickly, forwarding more complex queries to the right department.

When Things go Wrong

Offering support via Facebook and Twitter is a nice idea, but if you don’t train your staff properly, it can easily go wrong. A thoughtless staff member might “Like” something inappropriate on Facebook, or re-tweet an off-colour joke on Twiter. That could do a lot of damage to your brand.

Another common pitfall is over-use of automation. If you rely on a bot for your Social Media interaction, and your customers catch on, then that could do more damage than just not bothering to use social media at all. Consumers want to feel like they’re talking to a human, rather than just being sprayed with random marketing messages.

With that said, the benefits can be far greater than the potential downsides. Employing a strong social media policy as part of your unified communications strategy could be useful in a crisis. If your website goes down or your VOIP providers have some capacity problems, how will you communicate with your customers? A good unified communications strategy relies on you having lots of options for achieving the same goal. Reaching out to your customers via social media is a valid strategy.

Customers as marketing

Street teams are popular with indie bands and other products aimed at young people. The idea behind street teams is that you use your most loyal customers as grass-roots marketing people. Instead of being paid a typical wage for their work, they get rewarded in other ways -typically free products, or tickets to shows, autographs, and small “money can’t buy” items. The strategy behind street teams can be applied to almost any product, though. A clever PR company can get people on-side for even the most mundane product, and get people evangelising for their company via social media. It costs nothing for a person to re-tweet a message about server downtime, and if you make it interesting or funny as well as helpful, you’ll find that most people will be happy to spread the word for you.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Maintel the global communications experts. James writes on subjects relating to business and technology.

SimplifyThis is an online invoicing and appointment scheduling tool hat helps solopreneurs and small business owners to simplify administrative tasks. Follow us on Facebook.