ETC - Licenses Etc Ezine

Your monthly ezine for the Florida construction industry with valuable information, resources, ideas and tips from the experts (Chrissi Jackson and Kristie Cook)
at Licenses, Etc, Inc.
Comments/Questions: 239.777.8321 or 239.777.1028
Don’t miss us! Be sure to add etc@licensesetc.com to your address book and/or safe sender’s list.

Social Media Marketing: What You Need to Know and Why

You've probably heard or read from many sources that Social Media Marketing (SMM) is the next big thing in marketing your company. For a while, it just seemed like a fad only the techno-geeks embraced, but it has quickly and obviously become a predominant avenue for marketing businesses. But many business owners, including contractors, think, "Yeah, but it doesn't apply to my business. That's just not how people find us." Granted, most businesses are not "found" via SMM. But many sales are closed because of it. Which is why you should pay attention.

Let's start by figuring out exactly what SMM is: It's a marketing medium that takes advantage of the social media networking sites where most of us are guilty of wasting much time. You know, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, etc. These no longer need to be just sources of procrastination. They can be sources of revenue, too.

Like I said, SMM sites are not usually how businesses are found (with some exceptions). But, used effectively, they provide a way to create conversations with prospects and potential referral sources. They allow your business to stay at the top of people's minds. When they do need, say, a plumber, your company is the first to pop into their minds because they've seen your posts on Facebook or you've chatted with them on Twitter.

If you have a website, they also boost your search engine rankings. The more external links to your website, the higher your ranking, and every SMM site has a profile where you can include your website address. If people like what you have to say in a post or Tweet, they share it with others, creating more links to your website, increasing your rankings even more.

SMM sites can be great tools in your marketing arsenal. Like any tool, however, you have to know to use it appropriately for maximum benefit. This means ensuring you have the right kind of Facebook page, for example. Just a personal profile is not enough. Setting up a professional page on Facebook provides even non-Facebook users opportunity to find you. There are also many applications that can help you reach out to people and keep them informed of your business, including sales and specials, new licenses or certifications, etc. It also means ensuring your Twitter and LinkedIn profiles highlight your business in its best light and communicate the right information to contacts.

Besides the "big ones," there are also other sites you can join to take further advantage of social media networking. For example, www.ContractorTalk.com connects you with other contractors across the country. If you have a business problem, there is probably someone on there who has already found a solution you can use. There are other industry-related sites, too. These can help you grow and improve your business and we all can use every bit of help we can get right now.

The good news? We can help! We can get your profiles and pages set up on various SMM sites, get you started on posts and starting conversations and can even maintain your pages with status updates, Tweets, video posts, etc. All at reasonable fees. Contact us to find out how we can help.

		Your monthly ezine for the Florida construction industry with valuable information, resources, ideas and tips from the experts (Chrissi Jackson and Kristie Cook) at Licenses, Etc, Inc. Comments/Questions: 239.777.8321 or 239.777.1028 Don’t miss us! Be sure to add etc@licensesetc.com to your address book and/or safe sender’s list.
		Table of Contents - August 2010 Message from Kristie & Chrissi Social Media Marketing - What You Should Know and Why Don't Forget to Renew! Important Dates Changes? What We're Watching With the CILB Classifieds
		Message from the Gals As summer draws to a close, vacations wind down and the kids head back to school, many of us are getting back into routines and refocusing on our businesses. We are doing the same, which means exciting things for you. First, we are now offering assistance with the new Home Inspection and Mold Remediation licenses. If you have the appropriate experience and/or education, you can be "grandfathered" in by March 2011. We've also successfully completed a handful of Georgia contractor applications. Give us a call or shoot us an email for more information about any of these. We have also put together new services to help you grow and manage your business, starting with social media marketing. See the article below to learn why you need to embrace this new marketing medium. We're also working on packaging license maintenance services so you never miss an annual report, renewal or other important action to keep your business and licenses active and legal in every state you operate in. Watch for a future ETC outlining these new services. If you'd like more information before then, contact us. The Construction Industry Licensing Board is also in the midst of many changes. We touch on a few of them below and let you know what we're doing to stay on top of things. Of course, we can't forget the biggest new addition for us this summer - Kristie's first novel, Promise. We had a great release party in July and we're happy to see some of you there. Promise is currently available at www.IHavePromise.com for signed copies or at Amazon.com. It's also available for eReaders on Smashwords.com and the Apple Bookstore for iPad/iPhone. Please don't hesitate to contact us about any of these new changes or for any other information. Thank you and have a Super September! Best regards, Kristie & Chrissi

		Social Media Marketing: What You Need to Know and Why You've probably heard or read from many sources that Social Media Marketing (SMM) is the next big thing in marketing your company. For a while, it just seemed like a fad only the techno-geeks embraced, but it has quickly and obviously become a predominant avenue for marketing businesses. But many business owners, including contractors, think, "Yeah, but it doesn't apply to my business. That's just not how people find us." Granted, most businesses are not "found" via SMM. But many sales are closed because of it. Which is why you should pay attention. Let's start by figuring out exactly what SMM is: It's a marketing medium that takes advantage of the social media networking sites where most of us are guilty of wasting much time. You know, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, etc. These no longer need to be just sources of procrastination. They can be sources of revenue, too. Like I said, SMM sites are not usually how businesses are found (with some exceptions). But, used effectively, they provide a way to create conversations with prospects and potential referral sources. They allow your business to stay at the top of people's minds. When they do need, say, a plumber, your company is the first to pop into their minds because they've seen your posts on Facebook or you've chatted with them on Twitter. If you have a website, they also boost your search engine rankings. The more external links to your website, the higher your ranking, and every SMM site has a profile where you can include your website address. If people like what you have to say in a post or Tweet, they share it with others, creating more links to your website, increasing your rankings even more. SMM sites can be great tools in your marketing arsenal. Like any tool, however, you have to know to use it appropriately for maximum benefit. This means ensuring you have the right kind of Facebook page, for example. Just a personal profile is not enough. Setting up a professional page on Facebook provides even non-Facebook users opportunity to find you. There are also many applications that can help you reach out to people and keep them informed of your business, including sales and specials, new licenses or certifications, etc. It also means ensuring your Twitter and LinkedIn profiles highlight your business in its best light and communicate the right information to contacts. Besides the "big ones," there are also other sites you can join to take further advantage of social media networking. For example, www.ContractorTalk.com connects you with other contractors across the country. If you have a business problem, there is probably someone on there who has already found a solution you can use. There are other industry-related sites, too. These can help you grow and improve your business and we all can use every bit of help we can get right now. The good news? We can help! We can get your profiles and pages set up on various SMM sites, get you started on posts and starting conversations and can even maintain your pages with status updates, Tweets, video posts, etc. All at reasonable fees. Contact us to find out how we can help.
		Home Inspection & Mold Remediation We now offer assistance with these two new licenses! Beat the crowds and be one of the first to be licensed. Contact Chrissi (239-777-1028) or Kristie (239-777-8321) for more information.
		Don't Forget to Renew!! August 31, 2010 Construction license renewals are due the end of this month! Don't forget to finalize your renewal. Did you take your CEs? If not, visit RedVector to take online classes. Did you pay the renewal fee? Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to renew.
		Important Dates Next CILB meeting is September 7-10 in Orlando. Next ECLB meeting is September 15-17 in Fort Lauderdale. Deadline for October CILB exam dates is September 18. Register here: http://www.myflorida.com/dbpr/servop/testing/documents/exam_applic_pack.pdf Next CILB exams are October 19-20. ALL certified contractors' licenses MUST be renewed by August 31.
		CILB Changes The Construction Industry Licensing Board is up to many changes. For several months, they've been expressing desires to make changes to both the experience requirements for initial issuance of licenses and the financial stability requirements for all applicants, including change of status or qualifying an additional business. For experience, they are primarily focused on Division I contractors, adding to the list of areas of experience that must be included. They also want to crack down on how that experience was gained - such as through unlicensed activity. The September Board meeting could result in just more discussion...or significant changes.We are keeping an eye on the situation and will let you know what, if anything, comes of it all.
		What Our Clients Have to Say We have a new Testimonials page at www.LicensesEtc.com/Testimonials.html where you can see all kinds of things our clients have said. This is run by a third-party service, so we have no influence over what gets posted. If you'd like to rate our services, you can do so at http://www.ratepoint.com/profile/13980
		Classifieds Have something you want to sell? A position to fill? A need for a subcontractor? Contact Chrissi (239.777.1028, Chrissi.Jackson@LicensesEtc.com) or Kristie (239.777.8321, Kristie.Cook@LicensesEtc.com) for information about advertising in our Classifieds section in ETC. Our current subscriber list consists of over 650 people in construction and related industries throughout the state of Florida and beyond. Your Classified ad will also be posted on our website, visited by hundreds every week.
		Fine Print Licenses, Etc., Inc. Copyright Licenses, Etc, Inc., 2008-2010 Have a question for the experts at Licenses, Etc.? Call Kristie at 239.777.8321 or Chrissi at 239.777.1028 or visit www.LicensesEtc.com ALL CONTENTS OF THIS E-MAIL ARE COPYRIGHT 2010 BY LICENSES, ETC., INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may reproduce any article with the inclusion of the following footer: “Copyright 2010 by Licenses, Etc. Written by Kristie Cook and Chrissi Jackson. Visit www.LicensesEtc.com for more information.” Protected by U.S. Copyright Law {Title 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., Title 18 U.S.C. Section 2319}: Infringements can be punishable by up to 5 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Are you having trouble receiving ETC and Licenses, Etc.’s messages? Ensure that ETC gets delivered to your email box. Add etc@licensesetc.com to your address book and/or safe sender’s list. NOTE: If URLs do not appear as live links in your e-mail program, please cut and paste the full URL into the location or address field of your browser. Disclaimer: The inclusion of an ad in ETC does not constitute an explicit endorsement. It does mean that as far as we know, the product is not a rip-off. When we really like a product and want you to buy it, we'll tell you explicitly. Otherwise, view these ads the way you would commercials on TV or display ads in the back of your favorite magazine. Check them out. Make a decision. If you don't like, ask for a refund.