When Did Social Media Lose Its Way (via HubSpot)

Issue 9: Now available!

It’s spring and time for a new perspective along with a new issue of WebCents.  This issue we focus on the need to look at life and business from a different vantage point and we hope it inspires you to mix things up and improve on the aspects that have worked well for you.

* Read about Heather Givans’ jump from teacher to owner of Crimson Tate (in just two weeks!)

* Todd Gibson shares his experience with Facebook Offers

* Get the inside scoop on using site analytics to set and achieve your goals

* Find out what inspires and motivates longarm quilter Angela Walters

* Pattern designers Melissa Stramel (Lilac Lane Patterns) and Heather Jones (Olive and Ollie) share their stories in Face to Face

* See what Monica Lee means when she tells shopowners to think like a shopper

* Plus much, much more! 

You can purchase individual copies or subscribe for one year. 

Facebook’s New Graph Search

Facebook announced the release of its new Graph Search late last week and is beginning to roll it out to users. Since its beginning the Facebook search results have paled in comparison with Google’s search capabilities and it’s often easier to use Google to find a business page on Facebook than to use its own search engine.

With Graph Search Facebook is hoping to change that. Using its vast amount of info, you can now look up anything shared with you on Facebook, and others can find stuff you’ve shared with them. Depending on your connections, you will get related results. Different people see different search results. 

Increasing the number of local fans you have for your Facebook business page, can help you rank higher in the list if a local quilter searches for a fabric store their friends like. While it’s not perfect, Graph Search has potential for building a shop’s reputation based on their fans’ accolades on the site. 

Check out the video for more info on how the new Graph Search works. If you don’t have it yet, expect it soon. 

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Available Now! January 2013 issue

Adding Social Media Icons

Instagram released official icons for users to put on their blogs, websites and printed materials this week. They join Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube in having authorized icons. [The rules and guidelines for each vary, so be sure to look them over and make sure you are playing by the rules. ]

Using these social media icons on your blog, website and in your shop’s newsletter, gives you the added benefit of brand recognition. Facebook users (and there are more than a billion!) are more likely to click, like and follow along with your shop if they see the icon, rather than expecting them to track you down. Facebook’s search engine is notoriously difficult to track down the exact person or business you are looking for, so make it as easy as possible for customers, and potential customers, to “like” you on Facebook. 

The same principle goes for each social medium, wherever your fans are, you need to be as well. And you need to make it as simple as possible for them to stay in touch. Using the icons and, most importantly, linking them to your profile on each medium will give them the quickest and easiest way to connect with you. 

Download the logos from each site or by following the link on each icon below: