Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas!

2011 has been an incredible year for Flyline Search Marketing. We have blessed in so many ways. Thank you to all the clients who entrusted their Internet Marketing programs to our team. I pray that we exceeded your expectations in every way!

We hope that you enjoy a wonderful Holiday Season and that your days are filled with the blessings of time with Family and Friends. May the grace of our heavenly father be upon you all the days of your life. 

Merry Christmas,

Flyline Search Marketing Team

Satisfied Customers are Our Specialty

As a business provider, we have to continually ask ourselves if we are providing a high-level of quality service to our clients. Our proof that we provide outstanding service is with our returning clients. We are pleased to partner again this year with two exceptional companies, Rain Metal Systems, Inc. and American Roof Tech Systems, to assist them with their marketing needs.

Our Commitment to Customer Care

Each of these companies has put their faith in Flyline Search Marketing to provide them with exceptional service that promotes their businesses and positions them for increased success. Our Google Adwords program provides increased advertising to promote their business and sets the stage for increased revenue.

We work closely with our clients to develop key words and phrases to increase their “click rate” and generate interest in their company. Flyline Search Marketing is there every step of the way to ensure a successful Google Adwords campaign.

American RoofTec Systems

American RoofTec Systems provides commercial and industrial metal roof repair and services to the residents of the metro Atlanta area and surrounding counties. Their highly-skilled team of professional roofers repairs faulty gutters, galvanized roofs, aged roofs, ribbed roofs, standing seam roofs and more. 

In addition, they provide sealing, maintenance, repairs, and coating of metal roofs. American RoofTec Systems can be reached at 678.321.4410 to learn more about their services and built-in roof repair warranties.

Rain Metal Systems, Inc.

Rain Metal Systems, Inc. proudly offers rain gutter systems and metal roofs to the residents of North, West, and East Georgia, Tennessee, parts of Alabama and South Carolina. Rain Metal Systems, Inc. is a licensed, bonded, and insured company that specializes in metal roofs and rain gutter systems. 

They can be reached at 770.880.8080 or email them at sales@rainmetalsystems.com to discover the ways to protect and beautify your home.

Now is the Time     

Now more than ever it is important to develop a comprehensive marketing plan to fully promote your business to your target audience. Flyline Search Marketing is prepared to develop an inclusive marketing plan to increase your exposure and expand your business. Our staff of seasoned professionals is on the pulse of marketing trends and techniques to capitalize on the growth and development of your business.

Currently, we are offering a $100 advertising coupon for our new clients who sign a 12-month Google Pay Per Click advertising contract. Give us a call today at 1.866.258.5511 to learn about our marketing plans and be sure to ask about any additional current coupons or special offers we are running.

Leveraging Social Media for your Holiday Campaign

Using social media strategies to your firm’s advantage during the holiday’s can boost your sales and position you for an increase in exposure and revenue. Having a comprehensive marketing strategy in place before the shopping rush will maximize your sales goals and projections.  

• Real-Time Sales and Discounts: Create a marketing strategy that focuses on offering special hourly deals or day deals to attract customer attention and increase traffic. Exclusive social media discounts can be offered that reward users with extra savings on merchandise. Increase your social media muscle and sales by offering existing customers additional discounts by referring friends to your sites.
• Ask Real Questions: Use your social media outlets to engage your customers with questions of the day or hour. This can get a conversation started about a new or existing product or service. Two-way dialogue will encourage your customers to visit your site and can promote a new product to unaware customers at the same time. 
• Give Thanks:  Everybody likes to be appreciated and acknowledged for their efforts, especially customers. You can surprise your clients and customers who embrace your social media campaigns and send positive comments with gift certificates, secret savings, or a personal thank you to acknowledge their loyalty. 
• Tweak Daily or Hourly: The beauty of social media is it works in real-time. Use this feature to your advantage by tracking sales to see where you might want to offer extra discounts on products that are not moving.
• Repeat your Message:  Social media allows you to bump up your message on existing brands and products. Reinforce any print ad, radio message, or television commercial to promote and develop brand recognition and loyalty.

That Looks Like Fun

The spirit of the season gives you an opportunity to put a human face on your company. Think about posting holiday photos and local holiday community events your company is involved in on your social media site. Fun photo postings will engage your customers and allow them to see your thoughtful and playful side.

Facebook by the Numbers

The power of Facebook cannot go unnoticed by companies. According to Natalie Wood Ph.D., assistant director of St. Joseph’s University’s Center for Consumer Research, Facebook users spend more time between the hours of 9a.m. and 5p.m., using Facebook than watching television. This gives companies tremendous opportunities to reach consumers and develop brand recognition and promote sales. 

Did I Tweet That?  

Yes, you did. Twitter offers a great solution to continually feed your followers with relevant and fun information to increase their awareness of your company and brand.

M-Commerce Advantages

Mobile commerce has opened a world to businesses where they can engage with their customers as they are shopping. Customers are increasingly turning to smartphones to compare prices from competitors, research product availability, discover deals and pay for purchases.   

A Strategic Partner

At Flyline Search Marketing, we’re here to help you craft your holiday messages and continue working with you to provide campaigns and strategies geared toward expanding your reach and growing your market share. Contact us now to find out how having a strategic partner can help your social media and Internet marketing efforts.

Social Media Trends for 2012

The power of social media is here to stay. This cannot be overstated. In fact, it continues to grow at a rapid pace and companies must get on board the social media train to survive and thrive in the coming years. You can learn to harness this new medium and use it to your company’s advantage. Building a brand, advertising sales and specials, and creating a company image are all ways to use social media to your advantage.

There is not one department in your organization that cannot benefit from social media. Whether it is human resources and you are looking for the perfect applicant; an advertising department looking to broadcast the release date of your new product; or your publicity department looking to share how your company is donating money to a worthy cause. Whatever you are looking to share can be released via social media.

Where Social Media is Headed

The real goal is to look to the trends to see where we are headed with social media and how we can accurately use this to benefit our firm. Here are some insights from a Huffington Post article into the potential future of social media:

• Customer Service: Social media will continue to be on the front-line of customer service for 2012. We can quickly and effectively connect with our customers to receive praise on a well-received product, criticism on a faulty product, or just general dialogue. Whatever the case, social media facilitates better communications with our customers.    
• Approval Ratings: Social media sites are the benchmark for rating companies. Consumers can quickly scan social media sites to discover product reviews, customer resolution quotes, and customer feedback, good and bad.
• Videos: YouTube traffic and videos will increase a company’s presence and provide a platform for new product launch and information.
• B2B Sector: Social media will play an increasingly important role amongst businesses as each become aware of the benefits of online marketing.   
• Location Mapping: Mobile devices continue to increase the ability of a business to identify and locate potential customers at a moment's notice. This could literally mean a business could track a consumer’s location and drop sales advertising based on their immediate position. 
• Place of Business: The growing emergence of social media sites has opened the door for companies to sell their products on Facebook and other sites.
• Endless Opportunities: The cost to advertise on a social media is free. Your only charge for advertising is the labor associated with posting blogs and other relevant information. The substantial fees associated with television and radio commercials will drive additional businesses to social media sites where they can freely engage and advertise to their customers.  

What Do You See?

Please share your thoughts below on where you see the future of social media going for your business, industry, or the global environment. We’d love to hear from you!

Atlanta among the Top-Ranked Twitter Users in the Nation

Here, in Atlanta, we are known for our lush magnolia trees, our warm southern hospitality, and our beautiful skyline, but we are becoming increasingly known as a top-ranked city for Twitter usage. Now, it might have something to do with our savvy business sense, or just maybe, because we are southerners and we love to talk, but we have combined these two passions and become a leader in our nation’s use of Twitter.

According to influential Twitter.grader.com, Atlanta is ranked #5 in the world in active Twitter usage. Impressive. Clearly, we know and understand the advantages and influence of social media and we strive daily to develop our contacts and increase our market share.

Top Tweeters

But, Atlanta is not the only city jumping on the social media bandwagon to capitalize on the power of Twitter. The April 2011 issue of Men’s Health magazine lists Washington, D.C. as the nation’s top Twitter capital. This was based on a survey of the 100 best and worst town for Twittering.  

It is no surprise the people of our nation’s capital lead the charge in Twitter usage. The influence and sway of social media cannot be denied. Subtle texts that convey emotion, sentiment, and personal opinion can influence and increase a person’s or businesses profile or brand.

Social networking and social media brings the message to the masses and Twitter has become an increasingly popular way to reach a set of followers. They can be established clients, interested persons who have been introduced to your company through other social media outlets, or it can be a person just interested in what you have to promote. Either way, you can flex some serious muscle with the power of Twitter.

Twitter Power

Throughout the world, Twitter increases its dominance of social media. Businesses are increasingly connecting with their customers via Twitter and establishing contacts with customers to increase their market share.

In a recent online article, it discussed the evolution of Twitter and researched who was using Twitter. They reviewed a study by The Pew Research Centre and concluded there was a significant increase in Twitter traffic amongst African-Americans and Latino users. The report stated Latinos and African-Americans were twice as likely as their white counterpart to use Twitter. The report concluded urban residents as well were more likely to follow Twitter as were people living in rural areas.    

These are interesting findings and as more research is conducted into social media usage, we will continue to see how social media is working its way into our culture. As each city embraces Twitter, the United States will continue to dominate Twitter usage as companies look to increasing their market share with social media. 

And, with Atlanta being one of the foremost cities in the United States, we can be assured of a high ranking in any poll conducted. So, we will Tweet you there!

If you need help establishing a Twitter strategy or want to expand your social media marketing and Internet marketing capabilities, be sure to leave your interest or question below, and we’ll be happy to contact you on how Flyline Search Marketing can increase your presence.

Mover Marketing 101: Online Social Media Strategies to Generate Business

Moving companies can generate income and increase their market share with a successful marketing campaign targeted at moving consumers. Name recognition and reputation carry significant weight. When people are ready to secure and hire a moving company, they are more likely to go with a moving truck rental company that has name and brand recognition.

Put yourself and your moving company’s name on the lips of consumers with a savvy marketing campaign that informs, engages, and educates. Continually engaging your customer with informative mailers and a social media campaign will pay off in the long run.

Increasing your Marketing Share through Social Media  

Creating profiles on social media sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter and more, can dramatically alter your market share. Connecting with customers via social media gives you an instant rapport and delivers your marketing message to their front room.

Tweets on Twitter and frequent updates on Facebook about moving truck rental specials for the weekend and deep discounts on boxes for moving keeps your customers continually updated on specials, and keeps your company name on their mind. And, this is good thing. When they are ready to move, your name will be one of the first they think of.   

You’ve Got Mail: Informative Emails

It is more important then ever to keep up with your customers. Strong competition from competitors can squeeze your market share and make it difficult to compete. Company loyalty is not easy to come by and businesses must look for ways to engage their customer. A successful email campaign is one strategy a moving company can employ to inform their customers of deals and specials and engage them in a regular manner.

Compiling a customer email mailing list is as simple. Be sure your rental agreement has a space for their email address. Update your database frequently to include new customers. Send them updates on upcoming deals, but you can also include helpful tips a customer will appreciate.

Innovative ways to pack fragile items, new moving box accessories to protect paintings, clothing, and other items will all be welcomed advice.

 Straight to the Post Office  

Never forget your local Postal Service for an affordable and tried and true method to advertising. The United States Post Office, which offers a change of address service, has bulk rate mailers that will be delivered to a designated group of addresses. 

You can target certain neighborhoods and your surrounding community. Direct mailers give you the opportunity for brand promotion, name recognition, and a great way to advertise specials.

Bringing it all Together

Increasing your moving company’s presence through successful social media networking, an innovate email campaign, or a savvy direct marketing flyer which target your audience will enhance your company’s position and, more importantly, boost your bottom line.

Getting Established in a New Market After a Move

The task of getting reestablished in a new community after you have relocated can be daunting. You have left behind close friends, familiar restaurants, colleagues, job connections, work associations, your church and all your favorite well-known watering holes. All of your go-to connections are gone, and you can be left wondering where to turn. But not too worry, help is on the way.

However, to make you feel at home in a new place, social media has opened up a whole new world. There is no need to troll the Yellow Pages and hunt for associations to join or wait for an introduction from a new colleague. Social media puts you in the driver’s seat after a move. After you are done checking things off your moving house checklist, put a line through getting established. Use these tips to become a local in no time.

After the moving truck has left the driveway, and all your moving supplies have been put away, and you have put the last stamp on your moving announcements, pull out your computer and start surfing. 

Professional Associations   

Many community and professional organizations use social media. They like to harness the power of social media to recruit and retain new and old members. LinkedIn and Facebook are two good sites for getting connected in your new community.

Local chapters of professional associations can be viewed online and you can use a social media site to make an introduction. Facebook can also be used to obtain information on when and where a particular group meets. You can also discover local colleagues from your new place of employment and use this as a stepping stone to getting established in your new community.

Getting to Know You

One of your first tasks after a big move is to become familiar with your new city. You want find out where the locals eat, discover the freshest organic fruit stand, the best daycare or the hottest nightspot. Whatever your taste, social media opens businesses to new community members. Browse different social media sites to learn of clothing stores, bakeries and more.

On Facebook, simply type in your town and you will be surprised to discover how many local businesses, hospitals, doctors, churches, and more use social media. There is no need to stay in the dark about local services after moving to a new community. And, don’t forget after finding a great new store or service to sign up for their Twitter feed. Getting in the loop speeds up your acclimation to your new city.

Word of Mouth

So, if you are a spouse of a transferred employee or you are striking out on your own and moving to a new town, harness social media to make connections and land a new job.

Browse your LinkedIn account for associates with connections to your new city.

They can prove to be a wealth of information and a source of networking to secure a new job. The same can be said about professional organizations. Many have Facebook sites and be sure to sign up to get the inside scoop on upcoming jobs.

Just for the Fun of it

If you are one of the lucky ones who has a great new job, a beautiful house, and instant connections with your new colleagues in your new city, what you will be looking for is fun and where to have it.

Many people who share similar interests have hooked up on social media sites to advertise and spread the word. Popular lakes, chess clubs, boating groups, off-road enthusiasts and more all advertise their groups and actively seek new members.

Go For It

Don’t be shy. Social media allows you to test the waters and get a feel of a new group and their philosophy before joining them. And, before you know, you will be an old local.   

Social Tool Confusion: Learning Which Tool Works for Which Strategy

The explosion of social media and social networking has altered the landscape of advertising and the interaction between businesses and customers. These two forces have begun to shape and change the way we conduct our businesses. We are now able to engage directly with a customer; entice them with specials and promotions; and inform them personally of changes and additions to our product lines.

But, as business people, we need to know the similarities and differences of social media and social networking to use each to its full potential. Each term has a tendency to be used interchangeably. There is often confusion about the function of social media and social networking.  However, as you will see, social media and social networking are distinct entities which have a defined role.

Similar, but Different

Let’s define social media and social networking. Understanding each term will allow you to position your company and develop business strategies to capitalize on each application:

• Social Media: Social media can best be described as a tool to impart and deliver information to an extensive audience.  Social media directs the message to a customer and conveys this information by way of the internet. The seller is directing the flow of information and the consumer serves as the receiver.
• Social Networking: Social networking connects with your client and builds a relationship. Bonds are formed with individuals and groups who share a familiar interest or activity. Give and take is paramount with social networking. You continually engage a consumer, and they become a partner alongside you.         

Social media and social networking are really two separate ideas and, therefore, should have two distinct roles within your marketing, brand, and publicity strategies.

Social Networking:

• You are an active participant with the consumer.
• A dialogue is created with the customer and a relationship is formed. 
• An exchange of ideas, concerns, comments, and praise are welcomed and encouraged.

Social Media

• This is an instrument on which you use to direct information to a customer.
• The business is solely responsible for the flow and direction of information.

Therefore, it can be said that social networking is the “act” of engaging your customer while social media is the tool we use to conduct the conversation.

Leveraging the Differences

Understanding each function and purpose of social media and social networking allows a business the opportunity to effectively utilize these two mediums to their maximum potential. A company’s continued growth and success can be increased with successful social media and social networking skills.

Put those skills together to deliver a powerful message that attracts customers, maintains current clientele, and builds a powerful platform to launch a new product or sustain an older one.  Your success in the 21^st century might just depend on it.   


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Social Media: A Major Component of Today’s Business Strategy

Social media is all about connections – searching for them, establishing them, and maintaining them. Business, too, is very much about the search, the establishment, and the maintenance of client and sales leads. It’s a natural progression for businesses to use social media as a way to reach customers and increase revenue. Now more than ever, businesses are effectively adapting social media as an increasingly larger component of their overall marketing strategy.

Consider these statistics:

• According to a recent blog post on The CMO Survey, executives reported 7.1% of the overall marketing budget for their company was spent on social media. Over the next five years, this number is expected to increase to 17.5%.
• Marketwatch.com reported a recent survey by Socialware revealed that in 2010 only 57% of respondents knew if their company had a social media policy whereas just one year later, that number rose to 80%.
• Of the respondents to the 2011 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, 72% felt social media increases website traffic, 62% said social media improved search rankings, and 58% of small business respondents felt social media reduced marketing costs.
•  In a group of statistics presented at AG Beat, 47% of all Americans use at least one social media site – up from 26% just three years ago.

Why Social Media?

Social media use by businesses is on the rise for several reasons. Customers want to feel a personal connection with their favorite brands of products and services, and a social media platform gives them just that. Social media provides a user-friendly forum for questions and concerns. A business can then quickly and easily respond. In turn, this action strengthens that connection and improves customer service.

Social media platforms are also an easy and effective way for businesses to gather customer feedback on new and existing products and services. This feedback can also be used to assess the needs and wants of a company’s target market so adjustments to products and services can be made accordingly. The cost effectiveness of social media has been proven again and again. Startup costs are extremely low and even free in many cases. Businesses commonly opt to hire a firm to manage their social media platform, but that investment is well worth the return. The connection social media forges between a company and its clients serves to build trust, which along with elements, such as branding and a good reputation, is invaluable.

Your Social Media Strategy

Has the use of social media increased as a part of your business’s marketing strategy and, if so, how much? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. If your company is new to social media and needs help getting started, please contact us to get started.

                         

Carithers Flowers Case Study: Benefits of a Facebook Fan Page

In today’s business climate, it’s almost unheard of for a business to be without a website. Now, it’s even becoming increasingly common for a business’s Facebook fan page to be featured right next to that WWW address. If you’re wondering what specifically a Facebook fan page can do for your business, consider this brief case study about what can happen when flowers meet Facebook.

Carithers Flowers is an award-winning, family-owned florist that offers a beautiful variety of floral arrangements as well as seasonal and event-themed gift baskets. Voted Best Atlanta Florist, Carithers puts community and customer service first. Recently, Carithers premiered their custom Facebook fan page and has been experiencing some great results.

A Win-Win for Carithers and Customers

The custom Facebook fan page has not only yielded benefits for Carithers, but their customers have also recognized the value of having this two-way communications channel. Elements, such as interaction and immediacy, illustrate how those benefits create a circular effect in which everyone comes out on top.

In a blog entry posted earlier this year, Charles Carithers expressed pride in not only Carithers’ brick and mortar storefronts, but he also praised Carithers’ online presence. These Internet shopping experiences have been designed to have the same level of personal, high-quality customer service people have come to expect from Carithers. Facebook is a user-friendly and enjoyable platform in which customers can interact with the Carithers Flowers team and easily find exactly the arrangements or gift baskets they are looking to buy for just about any occasion.

The Fan Page Advantage

While the Carithers Facebook page has many aspects in common with the Carithers main website, including photos, videos, and information about current specials, the Facebook fan page also has something that can’t be found on that traditional website: an open forum for shared experiences on the fan page “wall.” The wall is quickly and easily updated with everything from unsolicited customer testimonials and current promotions to upcoming events within the community. The importance of customer testimonials cannot be overstated. A sincere positive comment from a satisfied customer can often make all the difference.

Additionally, customers can not only communicate with Carithers on the Facebook wall, but they can also communicate with one another. Fans of Carithers on Facebook receive the benefits of this community as well as the option to be instantly updated on the latest specials, events, and news from Carithers. This community offers customers increased accessibility to Carithers, which, in turn, results in increased traffic and business at Carithers’ website.

The Facebook fan page is also a convenient hub with links back to Carithers’ web page as well as to YouTube, Twitter, and specific tabs on the Facebook page, which are organized by holidays and events.

Taking a Page

Are you a business with a custom Facebook fan page? What have your experiences been? Please share your comments and stories with us in the comments section below, or feel free to contact us with any questions if you’ve been considering setting up a fan page but may need some help getting started.