Happy 11-11-11 Everyone! Did you make your wish yet?

It’s hard to believe it’s already November and the holidays will be here before you know it…Anyway, here are a few of my favorite things from the past week…

Last Friday, Carol Schmidt was the winner of the Apple iPod Shuffle giveaway! She was so excited to get the news! It's always fun to give gifts to people who are truly grateful.

We will be doing another iPod Shuffle giveaway on December 16 - so share our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/w3now with your friends and family for your chance to win this great Christmas gift!

Here at W3Now, the majority of our fabulous clientele are small business owners. Each day this week I posted links and information about some of our small business owner clients in support of Small Business Saturday – November 26, 2011. In case you missed some of them, here’s the rundown from this week -

Autism In The School-Aged Child

Autism in the School-Aged Child is a practical book of strategies designed for both parents and educators. It brings the established principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to the natural settings of the classroom and the home. In this book you will find specific guidelines for the common struggles that affect high-functioning children with autism.

-Here's a little know fact: Carol Schmidt, our winner of the iPod giveaway last week, wrote this book :)

Steamboat Shoe Market

SteamboatShoes offers online shopping where you can find the newest and most popular top-selling styles in boots, clogs, and outdoor footwear from Dansko Shoes. Our online collection is hand-selected from shoes you may have seen in the DANSKO SHOE catalog, or at Steamboat Shoe Market in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where we specialize in European casual comfort footwear, outdoor footwear, après ski boots, and unique footwear from around the world for all seasons. Follow them on Twitter & Facebook.

My Pink Marlin

Pink Marlin is committed to providing all women in the fishing world with fashionable but practical clothing and accessories made especially for women and girls who love to fish or who just love being around the water. Pink Marlin offers affordable, comfortable clothing and accessories that every girl will love whether they are on the boat, on the dock or just hanging out around the house. Fish on girls! Follow them on Twitter & Facebook.

Dr. Christian D. Rippe DDS, PC

We are both an esthetic and functional dentistry oriented practice, we believe that when your teeth are restored to an optimum condition that they are not only beautiful, but also work great, feel great, and have greater longevity. We are committed to doing everything possible to provide you with high quality, state-of-the-art dental care. Follow us on Twitter & Facebook.

And there you have it - this week's featured small business owners! If millions of Americans shop small this holiday season the results will be huge. In the days leading up to Small Business Saturday, W3Now will feature one of our small business owner clients via our Facebook Page and our Twitter Page! Check them daily…you could find your new favorite clothing line, auto repair shop, or bakery!

If you are one of our clients,  and would like to be featured, please contact me by email Jenny@W3Now.com

"THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SUPPORT LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND CRAFTERS"

How to get your website some attention on Google - Have your read the blog 5 Steps to get Google to Think Highly of Your Website written by the CEO of W3Now yet? It's pretty amazing! If you haven't had the time to read it, that's okay! This week I will be highlighting some key points via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Have a Great Weekend!

Jenny, Media Manager at W3Now

Contact W3Now for a free quote

Happy Friday Everyone!

How was your week? We have some exciting news and surprises here at W3Now in the coming weeks…I will keep you updated here!

These are my favorite happenings this week…

W3Now’s Exclusive Facebook October Giveaway

The winner of our October Giveaway of the Halloween Orange Apple iPod Shuffle is Carol Schmidt! Congratulations Carol! Thank you for all the support on our Facebook page. I look forward to updating you with current events, news, and website & media tips via W3Now’s Facebook page.

P.S. We will be doing a similar giveaway in December…so stay tuned!

 Gearing up for Small Business Saturday!

Most of our clientele are small business owners, so I thought it was only appropriate to, not only support Cyber Monday, but better yet…Small Business Saturday!

Mark your calandars now and don’t wear yourself out on Freaky Friday (I mean Black Friday!) Save yourself for Small Business Saturday - November 26th 2011. If millions of Americans shop small this holiday season the results will be huge.

In the days leading up to Small Business Saturday, W3Now will feature one of our small business owner clients via our Facebook Page and our Twitter Page! Check them daily…you could find your new favorite clothing line, auto repair shop, or bakery! If you are one of our clients,  and would like to be featured, please contact me by email Jenny@W3Now.com

"THIS HOLIDAY SEASON SUPPORT LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT ARTISTS, DESIGNERS, AND CRAFTERS"

Have a Fabulous Weekend!

Jenny, Media Manager at W3Now

Contact W3Now for a free quote

Happy Friday everyone! I hope the fall season is treating you well!

Here are a few of my favorite events from the past week...

I went to my first leads group meeting with the Parker 20 Mile Leads Group to represent W3Now. I had the best time! If only every Thursday morning could be filled with Coffee, Eggs Benedict, and fabulous Entrepreneurs... but lucky for me it will be every first and third Thursday of the month.

The Parker 20 Mile Leads Group is network of business owners in Parker, Colorado who are committed to good business practices, ethical standards, quality and great customer service. W3Now is the second longest running member of this leads group. If you are looking for a reputable business providing services in Parker Colorado, just ask any of the 20 Mile business members to recommend a business that will treat you right. We are currently looking for a couple more members to join our group. If you are interested you are welcome to visit our website at Parker20MileLeads.com to find out more information and qualifications. At the meeting I had the privelidge of meeting Jo-Ann Moore with Air Academy Federal Credit Union, Pam Hampton with Hang-It-Up Picture Framing, Graphic Designer and Illustrator - Steve Riecks, Dr. Charles Griffin with All Hours Chiropractic, Bob Martin with Praying Hands Ranches, Katheryn D'Amico with D'Amico's Catering, and Michael Cotsworth with Car Connections. I look forward to getting to know the rest of the group.

Halloween is only 10 days away! The Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker is hosting their Annual Trick or Treat on Mainstreet. Bring the entire family to O'Brien Park in Old Town Parker to celebrate Halloween in a fun and safe environment. Have your pumpkin baskets ready as the businesses in Parker will be on hand to pass out candy and treats to all the little ghouls and goblins. Will you be at Parker's Annual Trick or Treat on Mainstreet? If so, join me, along with the W3Now team in the Parker Chamber of Commerce booth on Monday, October 31, 2011 from 4:00-8:30pm on Mainstreet. We will be handing tons of candy...so bring your little ones by our gazebo!

Finally, we're doing a Halloween Giveaway!   Go to our Facebook page at Facebook.com/W3Now and "Like Us" for your chance to win a Free Apple iPod Shuffle! If you already "Like Us", then you are already entered to win! I will be announcing the winner on Friday, November 4th via Facebook, so check back then.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jenny, Media Manager at W3Now 

Contact W3Now for a free quote

Ask your Friends & Network to keep you Informed. Most of the damage seen across all ages is caused by things that other people post about you, sometimes even without your knowledge. Anyone can tweet about you and post about you, post photos of you...and thanks to facial-recognition technology - you can always be identified and auto-tagged. To take control, set up alerts with your name, monitor social networks and ask your friends and network to keep you informed.

Third party apps are not always a party. Third party apps on social networks and smart phones can transmit detailed personal information to the companies that make them. Allowing apps to access your Twitter and Facebook account, which is what you do when you download an app, could also result in personal data being shared not just for advertising...It is best to maintain privacy control and use trustworthy apps wisely.

Bragging Rights. It's tempting to boast online that you're on a beach drinking a Pina Colada... Or that you gained 15 pounds after your Thanksgiving feast. If you do, you might as well be telling a home intruder, your insurance company, your health care provider and your boss...

Don't talk to strangers. When starting out on a social network, it's tempting to accept every friend or follow every request that you receive. On Twitter, if you don't have your tweets protected, anyone will be able to follow you and see your updates. It's best to only accept requests from friends and family.

Max out your privacy settings. It's best to set your privacy settings to the highest level on social networks. This will allow you to have more control over who can post on your wall or follow you. You will also have more control over who can access your personal information.

Don't Stop Changing. Social networks are always changing their offerings and their privacy settings. Set reminders to periodically check and maintain your privacy settings on social networks.

See also 10 Ways to Protect Yourself Online by Reader's Digest.

 Jenny, Media Manager at W3Now

Contact W3Now for a free quote

You owe responses to comments by your fans on Facebook and Twitter. If you are responding well, your customers will feel they have a place in your business. Facebook is a positive atmosphere so respond positively, be genuine and be transparent - your customers can see right through you. Further, accept criticism - they are the experiencers of your products so they know the faults best. Accept it and correct it. Respect the compliments and criticism by your ROI's.

Here is an extreme example of why companies must pay attention to online comments: Alex Baldwin's Starbucks complaint via Twitter Enjoy! ;)

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

Yes!

Of course we would say that, but here's why: Websites are online brochures - they save you time having to explain what your company does. They increase your business presence to a much larger community of consumers and therefore can actually increase your business revenue. There are millions of ways to utilize the power of your website to improve your business in all areas.

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now

P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

Is your company in the process of building up more clients? Do you know what your consumers demand from you?

On Facebook you can create quizzes or polls for a particular idea or product and know what your customers are looking for!

The level of participation will also let you know the number of people interested in your business. Use the "Question" tab on Facebook to know your customers best!

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

Invite by Welcoming-

The Welcome-tab is an essential tool. This will make your page look different and exciting. The welcome page is the influencing page which can present a clear 'call-to-action' to your page visitors.

Convert by Enticing-

You can give "special discounts and offers" to your followers only! Those who do not yet 'Like' your page will then be enticed when you showcase your offers but not provide them. This is a compelling tactic that will make people 'Like' your page. Giving discounts and offers is a long-standing marketing technique of course, but in social media it performs as a 'likeable' tactic!

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager at W3Now
P.O. Box 4513
Parker, CO 80134
(720) 851-0801
(866) Go-W3Now
Contact W3Now for a free quote

A lot has changed this year for online marketing... especially within Google. Google Places and the importance of reviews and ratings, and most recently, the testing of Google +1, are just a couple of the changes.

Because online marketing is constantly changing and developing, so should your online marketing strategies. Here are a few questions every business owner should ask themselves:

Has your social media marketing strategy adapted to these changes?

Have you compared your website to other local competitors' websites in the last 12 months?

Do you know how many customers, clients and/or patients are coming from online sources?

Are you actively posting patient reviews and rating on your website, review sites, and social media sites?

Are you listed in Google Places?

Have you even claimed your local business listing?

Are you active on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube?

Does your website reflect the high level of quality, service, and expertise of your business?

Have you done anything recently to make your website more "interactive," so visitors develop a rapport with your business, such as video and social media elements?

Is your business taking advantage of the new developments in online marketing like a mobile phone website, and QR codes?

If you can't answer YES to these questions, contact W3Now to find out how we can help you get up to speed on all the Internet marketing changes and new strategies.

Jenny Ellsworth, Media Manager

Contact W3Now for a free quote