Whether it’s convincing the boss that an outside meeting really would increase productivity or counting down to the next day off, we do what we can to get a little bit of summer in our daily office lives.

Use these survival tools to make it through the summer:

5. Do schedule days off. Flu season might have sucked up your sick days, but be sure to save a few vacation days for the summer months. It might mean schlepping in to work on a dreary day in January when you would rather watch a T.V. marathon, but it will be well worth it to soak up that sun.

4. Take a lunch. If you’ve gotten in the habit of skipping lunch to get an extra task completed for the day, try going in a little early and take a lunch and take it outside! Even if you just sit outside for ten minutes with a sandwich, it will do you good.

3. Take advantage of the extended daylight. Make plans for after work to soak up the last few hours of sunlight. Go to dinner and dine outside. Take a walk on the beach or a short hike. Whatever you do, don’t think the day is over because you just worked all day. Work hard, play hard!

2. Be productive. How will that help you get outside? Well, the faster you get your work done, the less likely you are to have to stay late. Eyes on the prize people! Get in there and get that work finished so you can get out of there and savor the sun (and a cocktail.)

1. Take a vacation. If you have the vacation days, take them. You will come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to handle whatever comes your way. Who am I kidding? You will probably come back exhausted, but you can start a countdown which is always fun and when you get back you can show off your tan.

At Davanti Digital Media we work hard to manage our client’s digital marketing, mobile website development, social media networking and online reputation, but we also know how to soak up the sun! “Like” Davanti on Facebook to stay up to date on all social media news as well as news around Davanti!

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Did you know that according to a study by Harris Interactive for InteliusM, 78% of U.S. citizens believe it is very important to look up businesses online before doing business with them? How do you manage a force like the internet? There is a solution. Online Reputation Management uses various tools to help you not only take control of your online reputation, but also to promote the positive aspects of you and your brand.

The Wall Street Journal stated that 92% of consumers have more confidence in information found online than from a company or other source. Knowing that, it can be said that your brand’s reputation is one of the most important, if not the most important tools in growing.

Davanti Digital Media uses proven techniques with a variety tools including proprietary software, innovative and traditional SEO tactics, website development and optimization, online public relations, social media, blogger outreach and more.

• Proprietary Software – Using exclusive software, Davanti can optimize you and your brand to be disseminated to several online channels.
• SEO Tactics – wherever you or brand is online can be optimized for search engine results. Search engines use algorithms to determine which content is most relevant per search. By using SEO to increase the positive results, your search engine results can not only improve, but the content can be positive.
• Online Public Relations – By creating press releases, event announcements and more, our Public Relations Specialists will work to spread the good news about you or your brand.
• Social Media – Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Yelp and Pinterest are where the consumers are. It is important to present your brand to the platforms and monitor and manage your presence.
• Blogger Outreach – Using both SEO and content creation, writers can blog about search driven topics relating to you and your business.

Call Davanti Digital Media today at 800-420-3441 to receive a free consultation on how Davanti can mange, enhance and protect your online reputation. “Like” Davanti on Facebook for more tips for digital marketing.

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Search Engine Optimization

In terms of the whole picture, SEO is a part of SEM. Search Engine Optimization is the act of optimizing a website through key words and website development to boost natural search engine listings. Search engine optimization is one of the most cost-effective functions of a digital marketing campaign and Search Engine Marketing program.

In a previous blog, “What is SEO?” we explained the details of how it works. Think of search engines as the librarians of the web. These sites collect information about every single page available online. Each has an algorithm, or formula, for sorting through and categorizing this information to help users find the most relevant information to what they are looking for.

The higher you are ranked on a search engine, the more people will find you. Effective SEO increases your ranking thus increasing your brand awareness and traffic.

Search Engine Marketing

Much like SEO, SEM is the process of gaining traffic from search engines. While SEO is a part of this process, Search Engine Marketing encompasses many other tools including:

• Paid inclusion and trusted feed programs
• Pay-for-placement management (includes pay-per-click)
• Link popularity / reputation development

Search Engine Marketing uses paid tools like Google ADWords and Pay-Per-Click advertising. It is the paid component of the entire campaign. For companies looking to use part of their marketing budget online, it is a great opportunity to gain traffic to websites including social media or e-commerce sites.

At Davanti Digital Media, our SEO specialists work closely with our Marketing team and Copywriters to build an SEM campaign that gets results. Follow Davanti on Twitter @DavantiDigital for more digital marketing tips and tools.

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Think of it this way: if you’re home and you want to look up a quick phone number to your favorite takeout place, or want to see what time your local shop is open until, are you going to wait until your laptop loads up, or are you going to quickly check your smart phone?

Exactly.

You geared up your business’ website and have been getting a good response, but if you haven’t considered creating a mobile site, your business could be slipping through the cracks.

The good news is that your website will show up on smart phones. The bad news? It will look pretty wretched on a mobile device.

Studies show that 51% of consumers are more likely to purchase from retailers that have mobile friendly websites. You don’t want your business to get lost in the fast paced world of technology, and neither does Davanti Digital Media. Let us take your brand into the 21^st Century!

But before we get started, here are some reasons your business needs a mobile website.

• Your customers are mobile, you should be too
• Provides another online medium to market your business
• Increases your search engine listings and rankings
• Allows you to add new products and special offers in real-time
• Mobile websites can help you gain local attention as it shows up in local search maps and directories that make it easy to find your business
• Improved communication between you and your customers with content that has a specific call to action
• Grow your customer base by using mobile site coupon codes
• Can process real time online payment transactions for instant payment for purchases

Mobile search is one of the fastest growing online resources. The best way your business can be found, is to have a fully optimized mobile site that is user friendly. Your page will adapt to the smaller screen of a phone, as well as provide easier navigation using touch or a keypad and provide direct access to the information that a customer is more likely to need while on the go.

The world is evolving; get your business up to speed. “Like” Davanti Digital Media on Facebook to see how we can get you started with your mobile website!

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Whether it’s personal news like the birth of a friend’s baby, a break up or a move, or national breaking news like the death of Osama Bin Laden, sites like Facebook and Twitter are bringing the news to users on their computers and mobile phones.

According to research by the Washington Post, Pew Research Center and Reuters, more than 50% of people learned about breaking news via social media rather than other official news sources. Overall, social media ranks third when it comes to people getting their news.

Social Media is very closely trailing newspaper publications and could rapidly approach the percentage of people getting their news from TV News.

Take a look at how some of the big headlines broke:

Royal Wedding Announcement

Raid and Death of Osama Bin Laden

Whitney Houston’s Death

 
Egyptian Uprising

So, what does this mean for news? There are advantages and disadvantages to news breaking on social media. On one hand we get our news almost immediately, but the accuracy can be compromised as it travels via social. Also, while the news can spread fast and over a virtually limitless territory, sometimes it’s difficult to find out the whole story through limited social space. Finally, while mobile devices give the opportunity to get news where crews can’t go, it also gives the opportunity for people to put themselves in sometimes bad situations to get a story.

If you want to spread the news about your brand, Davanti Digital Media can help you do that. Give us a call at 1-800-420-3441 for a free consultation. Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook for all of your social media news and tips on how it can help your business!

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What small business owners often assume is that their social media can have the seemingly instant success that large companies have. In reality, it takes time and a great deal of effort for everyone involved. When carried out correctly, customers will become fans, and those fans can become brand ambassadors.

How do you get your customers to become fans? “If you build it, they will come,” might apply to Oreo, but in this case, you have to lead them there. Business owners have to get involved and tell their customers about their leap into the social world using stickers, flyers, word of mouth and newsletters. Our team can then create pages that reflect the overall feel of the business and begin to engage customers in not only things the fans love, but things they love about your business.

Keep in mind it’s all about relationships. You do not want to spam your customers and fans with what you think are your best products on a daily basis. You are building friends, literally. As your customers “Like” your page, you want to get to know them and let them get to know you, your business and your brand.

Here are a few tips for letting your fans get to know you:

• What is the overall feel of your brand? Is it a serious company, or do you like to rely on humor to connect with your customers?
• Relay the feeling in your business onto your social media accounts. Similarly to the overall feel of your brand, you want to bring your brand to the page.
• Don’t assume the customers have “Liked” your page because they want to know everything that is going on at your store every second of the day. Ask your fans what they’re doing. Ask what they want to see. Take polls. Post photos that have nothing to do with your business if it seems like they might be interested in it.
• Engage in conversation. Even if the conversation goes for away from the topic of what’s going on at your restaurant this weekend, you’re building a relationship.

That’s where genuine connections are made to create loyalty and brand awareness. That kind of interaction is invaluable to every business big or small.

Davanti Digital Media gives the small business a chance to shine among the big names. We get to know your company inside and out so we can bring everything you love about your brand to your social media pages. Using consistent yet always evolving tactics, the small company like the boutique on the corner, the Oceanside restaurant and the home improvement contractor in Louisiana, our team creates the impact needed to bring your brand a new level. “Like” us on Facebook for more tips on social media and digital marketing!

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What this could mean

Facebook currently offers a search that allows users to search for pages, groups and friends. The rumors include that a team of about 20 developers, led by a former Google engineer, are creating a powerful search that could combine both social results and typical web results.

By combining these results with geographic location, a user’s history, interests and friends, the site could offer an accurate, real time list of results that gives you what you want to know in a relevant way that Google cannot.

Imagine being able to browse your Facebook page and your friend’s pages while performing an internet search without ever having to leave the site. Not only that, but by using an algorithm that connects your search with your Facebook interests and “Likes,” you get a more accurate response for exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for a restaurant to go to or a bar for Happy Hour, you type it into Google, and you get a list of places around your area. However, this search result might leave out the best little known restaurant with amazing prices and delicious dishes. If you search it on Facebook, you have much better chance of finding that great place your friends have been to because they probably “Like” it. So, when you go to search for a place to eat on Facebook, there it is!

How it will impact Facebook

There’s really no telling how Facebook’s new search will impact the site as far as layout or use since the company has not yet released any details regarding the change. If one had to guess, based on the recent dramatic changes, we would have to think they wouldn’t be making any more big changes to your pages or profile in order to commence a new search option.

How it could impact your business

The good news for businesses is that this makes it more important than ever before to get on Facebook and concentrate on creating a strong presence on the site. By connecting with your current customer base, the social site’s new search could lead a whole group of new customers to your business.

To get online today and start representing your brand, call Davanti Digital for a free consultation to learn how we can help you with social media management, mobile website development, brand reputation management and much more! “Like” us on Facebook for more tips for your business.

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As there are over 750 million Facebook users, 100 million Twitter accounts and 135 LinkedIn accounts, it is apparent that social media is on the rise. As many businesses have started to use social media to their advantage, problems arise as some brands and businesses assume they can just sit down, log in and get going. Communicating on social media requires much more thought and consideration than that however, and sometimes the results are less than favorable. To help you avoid some common blunders, here are the top seven social media mistakes that you should avoid.

1.       One-sided Conversations

Many companies view social media as another broadcasting channel like a news feed or website. Social media works best however, when engaging in conversations. In today’s marketplace, customers want to be heard. If you are just talking at customers and not giving them an opportunity to speak back and engage with you, then you are wasting a decent amount of time online.

2.       Lack of Enticing Content

To truly engage your followers, you must create and share gripping content.  Simply posting a URL to a specific product you are selling will not engage potential customers. Creating and sharing compelling content makes all the difference in connecting to your followers and keeping them as well.

3.       Expecting Immediate Results

You may be excited to launch your new social media channels, and understandably so. After a week of presenting yourself online, you may look around and think “where is everyone?” Building an online audience is difficult. While you might be putting in a lot of effort, you should not and cannot expect immediate results. The more business grows organically on these networks, the more rewarding social media will become.

4.       Ignoring Followers

One of the easiest ways to create a nightmare for your brand is to not prepare for the inevitable questions that will come your way, or worse, to ignore them completely. Consumers expect that businesses that are active on social sites will respond to their inquiries. It is important to be prepared to respond in a timely fashion.

5.       Social Media Spam

Another mistake made by companies is the failure to provide some variety in the content and message they are producing. No one wants to be spammed by your business’ message all day every day; this is not why they are following you in the first place. You should think of your messages in the form of quality vs. quantity. This will gain you more respect and higher interaction.

6.       Making it all About You

In the old world of business, marketing was centered on the company, product, and services instead of the consumer. Many companies still take this approach to social media and wonder why they are lacking results. Today, it is all about your audience and your social interactions should reflect that.

7.       Not Knowing When to Ask For Business

Now that you have conducted conversations with your connections for some time now, you may not have translated this dialogue into any sales. Some businesses fail to ask for business online or ask too soon. You need to build up a rapport first, as people will buy from you as much as they trust you.

Do you fall victim to these mistakes? Let Davanti Digital Media get you back on track! Based in Tinton Falls, NJ, our team of social media experts is prepared to handle your online presence and interaction. You’re busy enough as it is; let us take care of your social sites for you—your customers are waiting! “Like” us on Facebook to get started today!

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As you may have heard, the popular social media network, Facebook decided to file as a publicly traded company in February. Preceding this big move, the review-based site, Yelp went public as of March 2. As news sources have commented “your angry Yelp reviews are now worth more than a billion dollars,” what does this mean and how will it change social media—specifically Facebook? This social media news is making headlines, and social media expert, Davanti Digital Media is here to break things down for you.

IPO, what is it?

When a company files initial public offering (IPO) paperwork, it is allowing public investors to buy its stock. This means that people and companies who invest in Facebook will now partially own the company.

Why go public?

Legally, when the time comes that a company reaches five hundred investors, the company has to make their financial records available to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). When a company reaches this number or investors, it is best for them to go public. Investors will then take some of the risk and put more money into the company’s funds, allowing the company to make changes it may not have been able to make without the added money.

What does this mean for users?

According to some, the change for Facebook means it they will be selling more of its user’s information to advertisers. Now that Facebook decided to go public, it will have to answer to investors as this is always the case. Facebook must appease the stockholders otherwise no one will invest in the company. To do this, Facebook needs to make more money and most of the company’s income does come from advertising. That being said, Facebook has an impressive number of users, and losing them could be debilitating. Since Facebook has to avoid angering their users, customers should not expect extreme or immediate changes.

What does this mean for Facebook?

The goal of Facebook is to gain $5-10 billion in investments. As stated earlier, Facebook will have to satisfy its stockholders. As the company will no longer just have to cater to its users, this can cause more tension in business decisions and Facebook can lose its autonomy. As no correct prediction can be made at the moment, Facebook will ultimately be affected by this depending on the number of investors, what kind of investors and what the investors’ expectations and needs are.

As Yelp’s stock opened with a bang in the beginning of the month, investors will be gearing up for Facebook’s debut in the next few months. The world’s largest social network could be worth as much as $100 billion when it officially goes public.

Are you ready for the changes? Davanti Digital Media in Tinton Falls, NJ can help you maintain your online social sites. Our full-service online and digital marketing agency is here to offer all of your social media marketing solutions! “Like” us on Facebook to see how we can help your business today!

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Social media has brought major changes to the conversation between businesses and customers.  On Facebook especially, customers can control the conversation with their responses to your posts. Two-way communication is essential in this space, and sometimes comments are not so positive. While we would love everyone to interact happily with our brand, this is not a realistic outlook. If you are ahead of the curve and using social media marketing for your company, you’re already off to a great start. The truth is, everyone makes mistakes and your customers will always have something to say about you. Davanti Digital Media is here to help!

Types of Negative Feedback

1.       Personal problems: Your customer has an issue with your product or customer service and lets you know exactly what went wrong. This is certainly negative, and puts your business in a bad light. On the bright side, it can let you know real problems you need to address.

2.       Constructive Criticism: Many customers, including your loyal ones, will use social media to suggest how you can improve. This type of feedback does point out your flaws but their suggestion can be helpful.

3.       Attack: Someone is angry or bitter because your company did something wrong. While the attack is not merited, the issue that sparked the negative feedback is important to address.

4.       Spam: Spammers will use a negative comment about your company to promote a competing service. Some people may also be trolling sites to leave negative comments, just to leave them.

You cannot please everyone all of the time, but how you deal with people online is different than how you may have dealt with criticism in the past. So how do you deal with these negative comments?

1.       Respond: It is imperative that you respond and address the complaints. If you remain inactive, it may seem like you are trying to ignore the issue and sweep it under the rug.

2.       Magic Words: There are four words that can work wonders in most situations; “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry.” If you admit your mistake and apologize, it is amazing what this can do for you. Your issue can suddenly become a non-issue since there is not anything left to complain about.

3.       Contact: Facebook allows you to contact users through the message feature. Contact the parties involved and make them feel special as a customer.

4.       Resist the Delete Button: Deleting negative comments will result in more negative comments, unless of course the issue deserves deletion. Verbal abuse, racism, sexism, inappropriate language or content are some examples of comments that merit deletion. Use your best judgment.

People will always have something to say about you, it is best to address each situation head on. Keep things polite and professional and use criticism to your company’s advantage.

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