We're almost there! Come Sunday morning we will all be using then new Facebook Fan page format. Like it or not, there are some big changes. Personally, I like the new Cover Photo concepts. Instead of the little 2" X 6" sidebar image available in the original page format, we have a full 850 X 315 pixel canvas we can use to paint our billboard. As always, Facebook has rules about how you should use this space. But it seems these are more guidelines than hard and fast rules since many of the business covers I see have contact info included. Still, you should be familiar with these guidelines and be prepared to modify your cover if required.
Aside from the Cover Photo, the tabs/links to your photos page and other Facebook content such as events and blog posts are no longer on the left side side of the page. Now they are large (111 x 74 pixel) image buttons. The images are, for the most part, customizable.
Another cool feature I like the admin panel. This shows up at the top of your page when you visit (it doesn't appear to non-admin visitors). You can check out you page's activity at a glance or hide it if you don't want to see it.
It's also easy to keep an important post at the top of your feed by "pinning" it. To do this simply hover your mouse over your post and click the edit button that appears.
I think overall you'll like the change. But, in typical Facebook fashion, no one asked us. We'll just have to learn to love it.
Here's a short video overview. Here's a longer one with a lot more detail.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Enough Already!
As a business owner I understand it's important to advertise, but those of us that need it can't afford it. And those that can afford it go over the top.
I've all but given up on broadcast radio. Whenever I hear the phrase "more music..." I know we're in for a long set of uninterrupted commercials. Most of which will insult my intelligence, grate on my nerves, or probably both, Well, that's what my iPod is for.
Broadcast TV isn't much better. Thirty percent (or more) or more of most shows is advertising. Often for other shows. And the ads are repeated until I'm ready to scream - sometimes multiple times in the same break. Don't get me started on the "fine print" that's impossible to read even on my large HDTV screen. Worse yet, I'm paying over $100 a month to watch them! Thank God for my DVR.
Then there are naming rights. Remember when college bowl games had names like the Gator Bowl and the Sugar Bowl? Or when sports venues were named after people,places or (gasp!) the the teams that played in them? And let's not forget the Visa halftime show, the Konica Minolta BizHub Swing Cam and the official this, that or the other of the league.
For those of us who don't have thousands of dollars to spend on marketing, we have to count on people like Elizabeth Case at Yellow Dog Consulting to help us find the best way to get the word out about our awesome products and services.
I've all but given up on broadcast radio. Whenever I hear the phrase "more music..." I know we're in for a long set of uninterrupted commercials. Most of which will insult my intelligence, grate on my nerves, or probably both, Well, that's what my iPod is for.
Broadcast TV isn't much better. Thirty percent (or more) or more of most shows is advertising. Often for other shows. And the ads are repeated until I'm ready to scream - sometimes multiple times in the same break. Don't get me started on the "fine print" that's impossible to read even on my large HDTV screen. Worse yet, I'm paying over $100 a month to watch them! Thank God for my DVR.
Then there are naming rights. Remember when college bowl games had names like the Gator Bowl and the Sugar Bowl? Or when sports venues were named after people,places or (gasp!) the the teams that played in them? And let's not forget the Visa halftime show, the Konica Minolta BizHub Swing Cam and the official this, that or the other of the league.
For those of us who don't have thousands of dollars to spend on marketing, we have to count on people like Elizabeth Case at Yellow Dog Consulting to help us find the best way to get the word out about our awesome products and services.
Friday, March 9, 2012
A Cautionary Tale
OK, I screwed up. I signed a lease for a couple of credit card machines a few years ago. Business was booming and i wanted to make it easier for my customers to pay me. Now I've got two credit card terminals gathering dust - they haven't been used in two years.
I called the leasing company (Northern Leasing Systems) today to find out my options. After at least a half-dozen menus asking me to enter this or that information and several minutes on hold, I'm connected to a very surly woman who tells me I've got 1 months left on my contract. I can transfer my contract to another schmuck and pay Northern Leasing Systems $130, or I can buy out my contract for $780. Or simply suck it up until March of 2013, where I'd better remember to send a letter of cancellation. Otherwise I'm automatically renewed!
Save yourself some trouble. Talk to Stefanie or any of the folks at Platinum Merchant Processing and save yourself a few hundred dollars!
I called the leasing company (Northern Leasing Systems) today to find out my options. After at least a half-dozen menus asking me to enter this or that information and several minutes on hold, I'm connected to a very surly woman who tells me I've got 1 months left on my contract. I can transfer my contract to another schmuck and pay Northern Leasing Systems $130, or I can buy out my contract for $780. Or simply suck it up until March of 2013, where I'd better remember to send a letter of cancellation. Otherwise I'm automatically renewed!
Save yourself some trouble. Talk to Stefanie or any of the folks at Platinum Merchant Processing and save yourself a few hundred dollars!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)