When Facebook first came on the scene, it was primarily a way for individuals to connect with one another. It took a lot longer for Facebook to catch on with the business world, but today many businesses have a presence on the popular social media site.

A similar revolution is taking place on Google+, the search engine’s answer to the Facebook revolution. This time around, it took a lot less time for a popular platform to become business-friendly. Google recently announced the creation of its Google+ profile pages for businesses, and smart companies are already taking advantage of the new opportunity.

Setting up a profile page on Google+ carries a number of important advantages for businesses of all sizes, including the ability to connect with customers and gain new clients. Google+ profile pages also allow businesses to get in on the ground floor of what could be the next big thing, something that is no longer possible on Facebook.

But as with any foray into the world of social media, businesses need to tread carefully as they build their profile pages on the new Google+. Unlike Facebook, which has been around for years, Google+ is a relatively new platform, and it can be harder for newcomers to learn the ropes and understand what is expected and what all those potential customers are looking for.

That is why it is so important for businesses seeking a presence on Google+ to have expert guidance. If your business is looking for an Albany web design firm that can craft a solid online presence, Elite Venture Media can give you exactly what you are looking for. From developing an overall marketing and social media strategy for your firm to crafting a Google+ profile page you can be proud of, our web design firm can help you succeed.

In today’s competitive business environment, it is not enough to simply set up a Facebook page, a Twitter account or a new Google+ profile page. In order to succeed, your social media presence needs to convey a consistent picture to your customers and clients. You can think of your social media presence as an extension of your current website or other online marketing. The picture you convey should be that of a quality company, one who is poised to succeed in the brave new world of the 21st century. At Elite Venture Media, we’re ready to help you achieve that vital goal.

With gasoline prices hovering near all-time highs, consumers are expected to flock to online shops to get their holiday shopping done this year. Shopping online has a number of important benefits for holiday shoppers, including better selection, great prices and of course lower gasoline costs.

The millions of consumers who regularly shop online, and the millions more who head online for the holidays, can represent an enormous boon for your small business. Many small businesses make up to 75 percent of their sales during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those businesses rely on those holiday sales to see them through the rest of the year, and that means they need to make sure their customers can find them in the weeks leading up to those visits by Santa Claus.

That is why programs like search engine optimization (SEO) and pay per click (PPC) can be so valuable to your small business. The Internet provides an enormous opportunity to small businesses, allowing them to have an even playing field with their larger competitors. The problem is that the sheer size of the online world makes it easy for those small businesses to get lost in the shuffle. The Internet is a vast place, and it is getting larger every single day. Every day thousands of new websites and businesses come online, and that growth makes it that much more difficult for customers to find you during the hectic holiday season.

Marketing techniques like SEO and PPC can help your business stand out, and help your customers find you when they type a search term into their favorite search engine. Since the vast majority of web traffic comes from search engines, any strategy that improves search results can be a real boon to your business.

Companies can use simple but very effective search engine optimization techniques to drive traffic through your virtual doors and help those willing shoppers find exactly what they need. Adding useful content to your site is one of the most effective ways to make sure your customers know that you have what they are looking for. That web content should give your customers valuable information about the products they are searching for, while helping your small business score high in those all-important Google rankings.

Many small businesses find that a combination of SEO and PPC strategies works best as the holiday season draws near. The advantages of a high search engine ranking is exacerbated during the holiday season, as more and more shoppers go online in search of the perfect gift. Small business owners who are able to position themselves near the top of the search engine rankings for the hottest product and the most popular search terms can see their sales skyrocket. Those high holiday sales can in turn fuel organic growth and repeat business that will last well into the new year.

Never underestimate the power of your Web site’s home page.  If it’s attractive, is engaging without talking too much, makes Emily Post proud and takes your number, then your home page is a keeper.  Just like a great first date.

How do you design a fetching home page?  It must be visually interesting.  Prominently feature a picture of your product or the service you provide, whether you design children’s apparel or manage a car and limousine service, breed dogs or lead eco-tours.  To communicate a product line or tell your service story, program your site to rotate images.  Don’t scrimp.  Hire a professional photographer to take pictures that are aspirational.  That is, visitors to your site will want to buy and experience what you’re selling.

A captivating first date keeps the chitchat to a minimum.  The same is true of a well-designed home page.  Too much copy confuses and turns off your Web site’s visitors.  Place your company’s mission statement and your bio in an "About" section, save the details for your product pages, and create separate tabs for your shipping options and customer testimonials.  Home page copy should be brief and tempting – and link to other pages where visitors can delve deeper.

Nothing spoils a first date – or a home page – like bad manners.  First, proofread your home page.  Are there spelling mistakes and expired offers?  Potential customers may wonder if you’ll make similar lapses when processing credit card transactions or delivering orders in time for the holidays.  Second, practice proper home page etiquette.  Welcome visitors to your site with a sincere greeting and a thank you for stopping by.  Then pull out a chair so they’ll stay awhile, by making your home page easy to navigate.

Don’t leave your Web visitors guessing if they’ll ever hear from you again.  Home page essentials include an email capture field and social media icons.  Tell visitors that if they enter their email address, they’ll receive company news and special offers.  Then email them within 24 hours.  If visitors become a fan on Facebook or follow you on Twitter, thank them via Wall posts or tweets.

Your home page is the first impression that many potential customers have of your business.  The design should include an interesting visual and meaningful copy, good manners and a promise to stay in touch.  Small business owners can then turn their home page visitors into long-term customers.

Business advertising is a necessary element for a venture to grow and be known. The lack of an effective advertisement agenda is most likely to kill any business plot you are intending to engage in. Televisions, radios, newspapers and the Internet have been very helpful in promoting one’s business to the world. As the competition tightens, more and more advertising ideas are set out to conquer the minds of the consumer. Companies spend a great fortune to create the best product ad or business ad.

In the changing world, where people have become more mobile and road friendly, by the demands of their profession or lifestyle, advertising agencies came up with the idea of keeping up with the mobility of the consumer. They have opened the doors of promoting your business on the road. Outdoor Advertising has been seen to effectively promote one’s business or product. Hence, the advent of towering billboards on buildings, on the road or almost everywhere that would be very much visible to motorists and pedestrians. Outdoor advertisement has been seen as one of the most innovative promotional scheme, because there is no more need to turn on the radio or television or surf the net to get information on the latest products. Billboards strategically set up in the middle of the highway, attract and educate motorists. Advertisement on buildings informs passers. A minute glance is enough to convey and be perceived.

Albany billboards are big, heavy, towering and intimidating. They are erected along key streets or hanged down on the windows of skyscrapers in business districts. They vary from witty colorful slogans to intimidating endorsers or even mocking posters of business competitors. Located in the busy city of Albany, these billboards are surely worth every penny spent on them because they communicate to a large number of consumers in the area. Albany billboards include both the conventional tarp slogans and electronic billboards.

Every company that seeks to be popular, wanted and successful has to step out from the comfort of media advertisement and be on the look out of a good place to position a billboard that will surely catch the attention of mobile consumers. Billboards are effective, believe it or not. In today’s modern world, consumers have become more and more mobile. More hours are spent outside the walls of their houses. Lesser time has been spent on television viewing or radio listening, even net surfing. The recourse is to increase patronage by moving outdoors and become visible to the consumers where ever they go.

Outdoor advertising is accessible to the consumer anytime of the day. It is effective because some consumers use it as landmarks. Doing so, they are reminded of the advertisement almost everyday of their lives. Outdoor advertising is an effective way of communicating with the consumers, its just there. No need to wait for the replay of the ad on TV, radio or to sit down and surf the net. You pass by, you stare, you get curious, you try it. That’s how effective it is – easy, simple and smart.

Small business owners may be tempted to add daily deal sites to their advertising mix. The expectation is that a daily deal offer significantly boosts sales and ultimately the company’s profits, secures new customers, and results in long-term brand engagement. Think again.

Before participating in a daily deal, small business owners need to consider the following.

Can you fulfil the daily deal demand?

A daily deal offer may increase customer traffic to your Web site or storefront – maybe exponentially. The challenge for small business owners is estimating that response – and committing to the inventory and staff to fulfill that response. Craft your deal to showcase your brand, but perhaps offer your excess inventory. Or offer a service that represents a small percentage of your sales. Make the redemption period during a traditionally slow time for your business. That way you won’t compromise the service you provide to your existing customer base.

Are you prepared to break even, or maybe even lose money?

Daily deal sites require you to offer a product or service at a deep discount, then they may take up to 50% of that sale. Offers such as 57% off a holiday fruit basket or 85% off one month of unlimited yoga will certainly generate revenue – but will you profit or instead, barely cover your costs? Worse, could you lose money? Run the numbers beforehand – with several response scenarios – to make sure participating in a daily deal makes financial sense.

Will the customer spend more than the deal?

A customer buys your coupon for 62% off. How do you get that same customer to buy full-priced spa services, too? Make sure you clearly communicate your best-selling products and services during their visit, through your employees and signage. Staff appropriately during the deal redemption period, so you can accommodate the additional business – such as manicure and massage appointments.

New customer, but return customer?

Daily deal companies may dazzle you with the sheer size of their database – maybe a million from your geographic area. But what are the demographics of that database, and is it your target customer? Further, are responders to your deal simply bargain shoppers, or will they become repeat customers even when there’s no discount? Be prepared for the possibility that the business surge you realize from your daily deal may never return.

Are you building brand, or are you just the latest deal?

Marketing gurus will argue that you cannot build brand loyalty through couponing. However, there are other ways to engage the deal customer in your brand marketing. Ask for their email address, so you can add them to your database. Invite the customer to join your company’s social media efforts – becoming a Facebook fan or following you on Twitter. Communicate what makes your business unique during the deal redemption period – share customer testimonials and have your best employees present. While couponing won’t build brand loyalty, your relationship marketing efforts will.

Is participating in a daily deal offer right for your small business? Understanding the financial, customer and brand pitfalls will make your daily deal decision an informed one.

Social networking sites are one of the most recent and powerful marketing tools for businesses today. As Facebook has the largest network of users, it would be foolish to ignore its potential.

Promoting your business on Facebook is not at all difficult. Not only is it relatively quick to set up an account, it’s also free. Do you really want to miss out on the opportunity to market your products and services with free advertising?

When you first set up your business page on Facebook, use your company name. This will make sure your page is optimized for the major search engines. The platform for businesses is now called “pages.” Once you’ve activated the page, it’s just a case of promoting your business. On Facebook, like many other social media sites, the process of showing potential customers what you’re all about is as simple as creating a brief description of your products or services. Then you can add any images that are relevant to your business. This is great for product images or a portfolio of work, for example.

On your main page, links can be added to connect users to your business website, blog, or literally anywhere on the internet that will help users find out more about your business. Any link that makes their experience of your Facebook page more interesting, entertaining, or informative is more likely to make them a fan, return to your page in the future, and even promote your page to their friends and associates. As well as providing links on this page, you should link to your Facebook page from your main website and other relevant platforms.

If you’re serious about promoting your business on Facebook, you must be willing to spend some time updating the page from time to time. Try to visit your page at least once a week to post new information about your business, advertise special offers, and respond to any feedback you’ve received. In the news section, Facebook can inform all your page members of new information that appears on your page. Anything that makes potential customers aware of new products, services, or special offers can be included on the “wall” section of your page.

Using this huge platform, you can still be selective about promoting your business. On Facebook, it’s relatively simple to target your primary audience. The first step is to simply invite people to join your page. Start with family, friends, and business associates, and then think about who your ideal customer would be. Once you’ve decided, you need to target the necessary people and organizations that could benefit your business in the long run. They may be members of a Facebook group that is somehow related to your business, or a separate blog could have potential customers. When you come across “useful” members, invite some of them to join your page by leaving links.

The trick to successfully promoting your business on Facebook is to explore as many avenues as possible. There are so many extra features to discover as you experience Facebook. For example, instead of only having one business page, it’s a good idea to form a community page and group page based around your business to expand your potential audience. You can also create relatively cheap Facebook ads that are only seen by your target audience.

Facebook, like other social media sites, enables companies to present a more “human” side to people. But it will only work for your business if you try to stay connected with the audience you are reaching out to. Join the online community with enthusiasm and it could be lucrative to your business in the long run. Just remember not to push your business too much – there’s a fine line between being helpful and being annoying. If you do it well, Facebook is a great way to gain new customers, keep present customers updated, and market new business products and offers. With a simple and free marketing tool at your fingertips, can you afford to ignore it?

Entrepreneurs should pursue the marketing goal of building their small business brand throughout the year. For example, you can feed information about your company to Web consumers who like to choose companies based on what they read online.

You might prefer to delegate website management, including web design and posting new content, to a technical expert on your payroll. This person understands your company culture and finds it easy to help you choose the website strategies that further your mission.  

If you need your IT staff to attend to other priorities, you can hire professional business web design services. The people working for this type of service know that a small business website is a great way to reach out to many types of consumers.  

Here are 3 tips for improving your small business website with the assistance of a web design company:  

Get a more polished website.

A web design firm helps you polish the look of the website, including recommending new colors and layouts. It also suggests ways to bring new media, such as streaming videos, wikis, avatars, and blog feeds, to your readers. All of the design elements reflect on your business brand, and therefore they should appeal to the website preferences of people in your target market.

Select the best ways to connect with audiences.

Experts in web design use design techniques to speak to diverse users. This requires researching what kinds of information that users in each market seek on a regular basis. What do consumers want to know about the products and services offered by your firm? Web design companies also arrange web page elements so that some informational elements do not overshadow others (unless that is the goal). Consumers looking for specialized information should not have to look harder than consumers seeking basic information.   

Adopt a single strategy for organizing content.

Do you think of web layouts as colors and borders and positioning of graphic elements? They are only part of the web design process. Any experienced web designer can arrange visual elements. An expert advises which design elements suit your specific goals for building your company brand.

A business website can help you realize your business objectives. Work with a firm to improve your website and take advantage of their business consultancy experience.

Attention, upstate New York: Elite Venture Media designs print advertising, too! Results-oriented creative fits your print media marketing goals. 

Personal Attention

Because we’re a local graphic design agency for the Albany, NY area, we sit down with you to hear your goals and creative ideas. Personal attention is important to us whether you’re a one-person enterprise or an organization with hundreds of employees.

Creative Strategy

Our initial meeting lets us get to know each other. Each client comes to us with different levels of pre-design finished: a quick sketch on a napkin, for instance, or a neat pile of past creative to work from. Once we understand your overall marketing goals, we can design print ads that fit your strategy.

Passion for Graphic Design

We do a lot of graphic design and website development, and we think technology is wonderful. But we also have a passion for print media design—we love the idea of creating a lasting impression in real-world publications and developing local markets and local businesses.

The Art of Magazine and Newspaper Ads

There’s an art to designing advertising for magazines and newspapers. Print ads must capture a reader’s attention immediately and get the sales message across with a glance. Print media is also tactile—readers hold ads literally in their hands, and experience them in connection to the rest of the copy around the ad.

Magazine or Newspaper? Local or National?

Whether it’s a local Albany, NY publication, such as The Times Union and The Business Review, or one that reaches a wider readership such as the New York Times, your audience pays attention to print ads. We work directly with The Times Union, The Business Review, The Metroland,  Adirondack Life, and The Adirondack Explorer so the process is smooth and easy. Of course, we also give you a digital file so you can get your print ad placed in any magazine or newspaper. We’ll design your special promotion or your long-running ad with the print publication in mind.

Your Print Ad: Action Oriented and Thought Provoking

Magazines are a great advertising medium. Months after publication, readers still page through and see your ad. In addition, magazine readers take their time and absorb all the text on the page—including your ad. Newspaper advertising is slightly different. Here, repetition is key—running ads consistently for weeks or months. The best advertisements make readers pause to consider your message, then stick in their minds until they just have to take action.

Your Print Ad: Nuts and Bolts

We’re familiar with all the nuances of print media advertising. Your ad needs to be a superstar in a very small space. From the tiny to the splashy, we have your graphic design needs covered.

• 1/8 page to full page sizes
• Black and white, one color, and full color design
• Strong, engaging text
• Clear calls-to-action produce results
• Eye-catching graphics
• Magazines, newspapers, and all other print media

Advantages of Working with a Local Ad Designer

• We’re right here in your community.
• We work directly with the magazines where your ads appear.
• We work directly with local Albany, NY  printers.
• We hand off high resolution, print-ready digital files.
• We’re here for you now and in the future.

Local, professional, passionate graphic design. Upstate New York may never look at print advertising in the same old way again.

The original Internet changed the way we work and live, and the way we interact with one another. The coming of Web 2.0 promises to be just as revolutionary, and just as important to businesspeople around the world.

When the original Internet came along, businesses like eBay and Amazon.com were quick to see the power of the online world, and those early adopters went on to become some of the most successful net residents. The same is sure to happen with the world of social media, and companies are already lining up to take advantage of this unique marketplace.

Unfortunately, myths and misinformation about the social media landscape and its business potential abound. Falling for one of these common myths could hurt your business, even as you are tying to build an online presence in the Web 2.0 world.

Ten most common social media myths in the business world:

1. Social media is easy
   Your 10 year old cousin can start a website, but that does not mean building a social media presence is easy. Take the time to think out your social media strategy before you get started – your business is riding on it.
2. Social media is free
   It is true that there is no charge to join most social media networks, but there are costs involved in establishing your business presence on those sites. How you look is important, so look for people who can help you establish a great presence from day one.
3. Social media provides instant results
   We have all heard the stories of the overnight YouTube sensations, or the new blog or website that makes a big splash. But those stories are the exception, not the rule. It takes time for social media to start working, and it pays to be patient.
4. Social media is all you need
   Social media sites like Facebook and YouTube work best when combined with other online presences like traditional websites and blogs. It is best to look at your social media presence as part of your overall online marketing plan.
5. If you build it they will come
   One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is assuming that viewers will flock to their sites as soon as they are live. In the social media world it is not enough to build a great site or offer a great product. You need to market that product effectively, otherwise your potential customers might never even see it.
6. You can do everything yourself
   While a web savvy employee might be able to get you online, your in-house staff might not be able to market your website or find the customers you need. Building a team of both in-house and external resources will help you make the most of your social media strategy.
7. You must establish a social media presence now
   While it is certainly a good idea to bring your company into the Web 2.0 world, rushing to establish a presence can backfire. It is better to take your time and do it right than to rush in and have to fix your mistakes later.
8. Word of mouth advertising is not important
   In many ways social media marketing is the ultimate word of mouth advertising, since it allows literally millions of people to share their likes and dislikes. But simply having a social media presence does not mean you can ignore traditional word of mouth advertising strategies.
9. Social media requires no maintenance
   A social media site is not a set it and forget it proposition. You need to maintain your site and keep it fresh in order to get the most from it.
10. Social media is a broadcast medium
    Social media is much closer to a two way conversation than a one way broadcasting platform. Understanding the nature of the medium will help you make the most of it.

Whether your company does business online or maintains a brick and mortar presence alone, you cannot afford to ignore the power of the web and social media. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have changed the landscape forever, and learning how to harness these popular Web 2.0 technologies can change your business for the better.

No matter what the nature of your business, consider harnessing these powerful online marketing tips, and watch your business grow.

1. Increase the awareness of your brand in a fun way by posting funny videos on your website, and cross-posting them on sites like YouTube. Funny, topical and satirical videos tend to work the best, so check out current events for things you can lampoon. Chances are you will find more than enough material.
2. Join discussion groups and forums related to your area of expertise, but limit yourself to what you can handle. In order for this strategy to be effective, you need to be an active participant in those forums and discussions, not just an advertiser. Providing real value to forum visitors will get you a lot more business than simply posting promotional material about your products and your website.
3. Use sites like Twitter to offer special discounts to your followers. This will encourage others to join your Twitter feed, and help to build brand loyalty as well.
4. Post special offers on your Facebook page as well. Creating a professional Facebook page with links to your own website is a great way to build awareness around your company. Avoid excessive advertising or promotion, since Facebook users will see through that strategy.
5. Use search engine optimization techniques throughout your website, not just on your website content. Optimize your meta tags, title tags, sitemap and other web page elements so search engines (and customers) can easily find you. Populate your site with relatable content visitors will find useful and interesting, and update your pages often.
6. Focus on your niche and grow your social media presence from there. Do not try to be all things to all people. Instead focus on what you do best and build your brand awareness around it. Finding a small and underserved niche is a great way to succeed online. You will face less competition, and you will have a bigger presence as well.
7. Start a social bookmarking campaign to raise brand awareness and help others find you. Use the power of your social media sites, from Facebook and Twitter to YouTube and various discussion groups, to encourage others to talk about you and your company.
8. Look for niches in your keywords as well. Try to find keywords that are not as highly saturated or competitive. You will get more for your advertising dollar, and you will be able to more accurately target people who are actively looking for what you have to sell.
9. Quality counts when it comes to ads. Whether you focus on video ads, banner ads or simple text ads, make sure they are engaging and interesting. You have mere seconds to capture the attention of a potential customer, so make your ad content count.
10. Create a blog to keep your customers informed about your company and what it is up to. Make sure you keep your blog up to date, and include links on your blog to your main website, your YouTube channel, your Facebook page and your Twitter feed.