The Wax Blog

Simply sending out regular, interesting tweets that your target market might find useful or informative is a good first step, but in order to get the best out of Twitter it’s worth actively searching for relevant users and content rather than sitting back and waiting for it to come to you. Increasingly, sites like Twitter and Facebook are used for finding services. Sure, you could trust Google to find a mechanic nearby, but most of us would prefer a recommendation from a real person. Either we ask friends, family members, and colleagues if they know a good one or we turn to social media. Tweeting ‘Anyone know a good cheap mechanic in San Diego?’ is the work of a moment or two.

Monitoring Twitter traffic for queries relevant to your field and location is very easy. Tools like Monitter.com and TweetBeep can be set up to watch for them. A smart San Diego mechanic would get an email alerting them to an opportunity and if they’re quick, they could pick up a valuable new customer with a simple, helpful reply. Industry-specific monitoring is also a great way to find sources of useful information and news that’s relevant to your company.

Other Twitter monitoring tools can help a small business figure out the effectiveness of their engagement.  (more…)

It happened. My digital footprint just kicked me in the badunkadunk. First of all, let’s clear this up – I was never a WAITRESS at Hooters but I did write for the magazine for a few years. It was a fun gig – I had rodeo clowns flying over my head at the national PBR championships, I interviewed the WWF tag team champions and I even got to see the finals of the UFC. But a client just turned me down for an engagement because I didn’t have an “appropriate” list of clients for them. For most people  my fun freelancing days with Hooters Magazine are an interesting anecdote. For these guys apparently not.

So this is where we ask the question…how much should we try to control our digital footprint? (more…)

On Monday I wrote about services firms that were missing a huge opportunity by ignoring social media. But I truly do get it…it’s hard to find time to sit down and post good stuff on a regular basis. And if you provide consulting or other services where your expertise must be proven at all times – you can’t just have the admin do it.

But face it – social media is here to stay and you need to jump in, even if it’s only in a small way. Most people start out by thinking that they have to provide all the content themselves and this is simply not true. Here are some easy ways to find good content for your social media networks – and how to make it easier. (more…)

If you ask me, consulting firms and services companies are missing the boat with social media. I worked in that industry for 16 years – the story of the “shoemaker’s son” is never more relevant than in this one.  Most consulting firms simply don’t put as much effort into things that don’t have an instant ROI. I get it – margin is king in that business. I’m not talking about freelancers and solopreneurs here – I’m talking about firms with staff that are out there fighting the good fight every day – and missing a major weapon in their arsenal.  Let me tell you what that weapon is: (more…)