3 Social Media Lessons We Learned From Big Brand Blunders

Social media is no longer optional for businesses. Not only are more consumers on social media than ever, more of your competitors are taking advantage of the business tools social media platforms offer. Social media offers a platform for you to communicate directly to your audience, allowing you to build a relationship with them while promoting your brand.

However, like with most things, there’s a downside. When not used responsibly, social media can be a business’ downfall. Even the biggest brands make mistakes that cost them dearly. But by learning from them and following these 3 tips you can avoid your own social media disaster.

Research Hashtags:

Digiorno, twitter, tweet, twitter fail
Digiorno instantly regretted their poorly researched tweet.

 

Hashtags are a great way to help your content reach a specific audience, outside of your followers. Latching onto a popular hashtag is common practice for businesses. However, when used improperly, a hashtag can be your undoing. Just ask DiGiorno Pizza who faced harsh criticism when they used the #WhyIStayed hashtag to promote their pizza. The hashtag was trending as a way for survivors of domestic violence to express the complexities behind why they stayed in abusive relationships. In using a hashtag that was supposed to promote support and understanding to advertise pizza, DiGiorno appeared insensitive and ignorant. Though they apologized, the entire situation could have been avoided with a little research.

 

 

 

Bing, twitter, tweet, bing fail, twitter fail
Bing was quickly called out for trying to capitalize on tragedy.

Treat Tragedy with Sensitivity:

It sounds like common sense, but time and time again, we see businesses treating tragic events with insensitivity or even trying to capitalize on them. After the 2011 earthquake that devastated Japan, Bing said it would donate $1 to relief efforts for every retweet. It may have seemed like a kind gesture, but using the tragedy to promote their brand wasn’t well received and Bing received harsh criticism. When in doubt, just don’t say anything at all.

Apologize & Admit When You’re Wrong:

Social media is an open stage and there is nowhere to hide. Mistakes happen, but things can quickly become much worse it’s mishandled.

In 2013, this was the case for Lululemon, a yoga attire retailer. In response to a recall for the fabric in Lululemon’s yoga pants being too sheer, founder Chip Wilson suggested that women’s bodies were at fault, rather than the fabric in a televised interview.

There was instant backlash for the body-shaming comments. Wilson attempted to apologize in a Youtube video, but only apologized for the repercussions his comments had on the Lululemon staff. In failing to apologize to Lululemon’s customers or acknowledge why his comments were inappropriate, the apology completely missed the point.

This not only damaged the company, losing approximately $6 billion in market value, but two years later, Wilson resigned from his position. When apologizing, remember to remain sincere, don’t make excuses, and learn from your mistakes as not to repeat them.

All of these mistakes could have been avoided with a little research, tact, and compassion. The internet has allowed for unprecedented levels of communication between businesses and customers. With that great power comes an even greater responsibility. Remember, the internet may forgive, but it never forgets.

If you’re ready to boost your business’ social media presence, contact MLT Group today at sales@mltgroup.com or (507) 281-3490! We offer custom social media strategies and social media management on the platforms your customers use most!

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Essential Facebook Tools for Small Businesses

Facebook is for more than watching cat videos and sharing pictures of your food. When used properly, it can be an invaluable digital marketing tool for your small business.

If you don’t already have a Facebook page for your business- make one. Why? There are plenty of reasons for you to have a business page, but the biggest reason is because your competitors already have one. This means the competition is reaching out to your target audience, building their brand, and promoting their products in a way you cannot. Also, if potential customers are on Facebook_ScrabbleFacebook, why wouldn’t you want to connect with them?

Now that you’ve found a comfortable spot on the bandwagon, how do you take full advantage of Facebook?

Facebook wants you to succeed. Which is why they offer a number of tools to help small businesses become social media marketing experts. Facebook’s tools include:

  • Blueprint: A series of over 50 learning modules that help you understand the ins and outs of Facebook and master the tools that will help you to be successful. They are convenient, allowing the user to access them anytime, anywhere so that you can learn at your own pace.
  • Webinars: Facebook offers webinars on how to employ digital marketing techniques on Facebook and Instagram, which is now owned by Facebook.
  • Ads: Facebook teaches you how to create ads, allowing your business an additional outlet to reach its audience.
  • Post Boosting: Back in the day, it used to be that if you liked a page, their posts would automatically show up in your newsfeed. But the times they are a-changin’ and Facebook’s algorithm has evolved. Your content will still appear on your page but only a fraction of it will be show up on your followers’ news feed. Paying a small fee to boost your posts is a great way to reach more of your audience.

Facebook is easy to use and allows a level of independence in creating and sharing content. Content will be your greatest tool when connecting with your audience. It can be informative, promote your goods or services, or it can serve to further your brand. It all depends on what goals you have for your business.

Whatever your goals are, it is important to create visual content that’s shareable so your message spreads easily. Long wordy posts are less likely to receive attention and be shared by readers.

Don’t wait any longer! Start using Facebook’s helpful tools to promote your business and generate leads.

In addition to our custom website design services in Rochester and Minneapolis, MLT Group offers social media optimization and will create social media profiles for your businesses and specially optimize them to help boost your SEO. For more information, please contact us at sales@mltgroup.com or at (507) 281-3490 today!

 

 

MLT Group Project Manager Presenting at 2nd Annual TEDx Event

MLT Group Project Manager, Ayodeji (Ayo) Awosika, will be presenting a speech at the TEDxZumbroRiver event Thursday, May 18th. TEDx is an independent, locally produced version of the well known TED conferences which encourage the sharing of ideas and positive change.

MLT Group's Project Manager, Ayodeji Awoskia, will have the honor of presenting at the upcoming TEDx event.
MLT Group’s Project Manager, Ayodeji Awoskia, will have the honor of presenting at the upcoming TEDx event.

Ayo has always been a fan of TED and TEDx talks, believing in the positive influence they have, and was thrilled when he had the opportunity to present.

“I believed I had an idea worth spreading and wanted to impact others the same way I’ve been impacted by other speakers.”

He became involved by attending TEDx’s pitch night, where he and 24 other speakers pitched their presentation ideas. Ayo was selected, along with three others.

The presentations will cover a wide variety of topics and ideas. Ayo will be speaking about imposter syndrome, in which individuals feel as if they are not qualified enough to be in their position, regardless of their success or accomplishments.

“The topic is important for me because I feel imposter syndrome all the time, specifically in my dreams I’m working on outside of work, which are becoming a full-time author and speaker one day. Impostor syndrome is ubiquitous, yet people don’t talk about it often enough. I think that now, with the way the economy is changing and with all the opportunities available to anybody, dealing with these feelings and overcoming them is important, because it’s a great time in our history to bet on yourself and take advantage of what’s in front of you.”

Ayo has been cultivating his speaking abilities as a member of Toastmasters International, an organization that helps members cultivate leadership and public speaking skills, but has taken additional steps to prepare for his presentation.

“I work with TEDx coaches on my speech. They give me tips on articulating my message, body language, vocal tonality, and several other nuances of giving a great talk. I also practice my talk relentlessly — pretty much every day, because I’m terrified, yet also excited!”

You can see Ayo and the other TEDx presenters Thursday, May 18th at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, MN. Purchase your tickets here!

How to Respond to Online Reviews to Boost Your Business

Responding online reviews
Responding to reviews, both good and bad, can help business owners promote their business.

We’ve talked about the importance of online reviews before, but when you receive a review, what should you do? Should you respond or leave it alone? What if it’s negative? Responding to reviews requires tact and strategy. If done right, responding to reviews, even negative ones, can give your business a boost! Here, we’ll talk about the importance of responding to online reviews and how to respond to both positive and negative ones.

Why You Need to Respond to Online Reviews

It’s important to respond to both positive and negative online reviews. Responding gives your business a voice in the ongoing conversation consumers are having about your services. It also lets readers know that you’re engaged and care about what they have to say. Even if a reviewer was dissatisfied, a simple and polite response can make a world of difference. But how do you respond to reviews in a way that’s tactful and boosts your business?

How to Respond to Positive Reviews

Every business loves receiving a positive review, so responding is easy. But you can maximize this opportunity , connecting with your customers and promoting your business by remembering these key elements:

  • Remember your manners- Always thank a reviewer for taking the time to write about your business. It’s polite! “Thank you! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed your visit!”
  • Make it personal- Personalizing your response to each review shows customers that you read their reviews and care about what they have to say. To personalize a response, thank the reviewer by name and highlight specifics of their review. For example, if they appreciated your attention to detail, mention that thoroughness is something your business prides itself on. Doing this also allows you to re-emphasize the positive qualities of your business.
  • Invite them to come again- Inviting the reviewer to visit again shows that you care about their repeat business and makes them feel welcome. You can also use this as an opportunity to promote a special event or sale you have coming up. “Come see us again for our semi-annual sale starting on June 1st!”
  • Use keywords- Reviews can show up in search results, so utilize industry keywords and your business’ name when responding to a positive review so more readers will see it.

How to Respond to Negative Reviews

Receiving negative reviews hurts. However, they are a great tool for growing as a business, improving the customer experience, and even mending relationships. As expected, responding to negative reviews can be tricky, but with these tips, you can make negative reviews work for your business.

  • Understand what happened- What made this customer unhappy? Speak with your employees and try to piece together what happened or what went wrong. This will give you a better idea of how to respond and what you can do to remedy the issue. Was there a misunderstanding? Did your business drop the ball? Or was the customer in the wrong? This is something you should already be doing to improve your business and your customers’ experiences.
  • Remain calm- When responding to a negative review, it’s important to maintain a level head. Sounding angry or defensive will only reflect poorly on your business. Remaining calm shows that you are a professional and can take criticism.
  • Apologize and sympathize- Even if the customer was in the wrong, always apologize for their poor experience. This shows humility and acknowledges the reviewer’s feelings. This will also show other readers that your business cares about its customers and their experiences. “We’re sorry to hear you were dissatisfied with our services. We always try to put our customer’s satisfaction first, but it seems we’ve missed the mark.”
  • Take the conversation offline- Include your contact information and offer to resolve the issue outside of the review forum. This gives you the opportunity to make things right with the disgruntled customer and shows them that you value their patronage. It also shows readers that your business cares about its customers and takes their experiences seriously. If you are able to resolve the issue, politely ask the disgruntled customer to update their review to reflect this.
  • Don’t use keywords or your business’ name- As mentioned earlier, reviews can appear in searches. Avoid using keywords or your business’ name when responding to negative reviews so these reviews won’t be seen by other customers.

Reviews are an important part of any business. With these tips, you can maximize every opportunity to connect with your customers. Do you want more reviews for your business? Contact MLT Group at 507.281.3490 or sales@mltgroup.com and ask about our review campaign services.

Understanding Offsite vs. Onsite SEO

You’ve probably heard of search engine optimization (SEO), and try to utilize it in order to build your business online. But did you know that there are two different types of SEO? It is important to understand the different types of SEO in order to determine the best strategies for growing your business online.

There is onsite SEO and offsite SEO. Utilizing the two different types of SEO is critical for developing and implementing a successful SEO strategy.

Properly utilizing both onsite and offsite SEO strategies will give your business an edge.
Properly utilizing both onsite and offsite SEO strategies will give your business an edge.

What is Onsite & Offsite SEO?

Onsite SEO: Onsite SEO refers to elements that are on your website. For example, your domain name, content, keywords, and geotargets are all elements of onsite SEO. Properly optimizing these elements helps web crawlers read your site and evaluate its relevance to certain search terms.

Offsite SEO: As the name suggests, offsite SEO involves enhancing elements outside your website. This includes your online identity across different directories, reviews, social media, and backlinks to your site from credible websites. These elements are just as important as onsite SEO and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Which Type of SEO is More Important?

Your business is made of up many moving parts, all working together for your benefit. Neglecting one element of your business can negatively affect the rest of it. Implementing an SEO strategy works much in the same way. In order to develop a successful SEO strategy, both onsite and offsite SEO need to be utilized. Focusing on only one or the other will be much less effective than implementing an all-encompassing SEO strategy.

MLT Group offers a variety of services to boost SEO, onsite and offsite, for your business, including search engine friendly website design,  backlinking, blog services, online identity services, and many more. To develop or improve your SEO strategy, contact MLT Group’s friendly professionals at 507.281.3490 or sales@mltgroup.com.

New Desks Have MLT Group Standing Tall

While we’re always working hard for our clients, most of our work leaves us sitting for the majority of the day. To combat this sedentary lifestyle that has become so commonplace in office environments, MLT Group has invested in standing desks.

Standing_Desk_Rochester_MN
MLT Group’s creative team is standing at the ready!

An increasing number of studies have all concluded that consistently sitting for long periods can contribute to poor physical and mental health. With our new adjustable desks, we hope to benefit from elevated moods and greater energy, while combating health risks, such as heart disease, high blood sugar, and chronic back pain.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to live a more active lifestyle. I’ve already been exercising, and the ability to stand up and move around will only help my health improve,” commented Project Manager, Ayo Awosika.

We’re excited, energized, and ready to support our clients while supporting our own health. If you’re looking for a creative team of professionals to help promote your business, contact MLT Group at 507.281.3490 or sales@mltgroup.com. We’re standing at the ready!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Online Reviews Are Affecting Your Local Ranking

We all know that positive online reviews are important to your business; they build your reputation and are highly influential to consumers. But did you know that good reviews can also influence your local search ranking on Google?

Here is an example of Local Three Pack results for carpet cleaning in Rochester, MN.
Here is an example of Local Three Pack results for carpet cleaning in Rochester, MN. You can see the online reviews prominently displayed.

As far as local searches are concerned, every business wants to appear in Google’s Local Three Pack which shows the top three local search results. The Three Pack takes up prime real estate on Google’s search results, appearing before organic results and just below the paid ads. Having your business appear in Google’s Local Three Pack means that potential customers are more likely to find your services and click through to your website.

However, the Local Three Pack results are determined by more than content, relativity, and keywords. In a continuing effort to provide users with the best possible results, Google’s algorithm is rewarding businesses that have positive reviews, by helping them rank in the Local Three Pack.

How to Appear in the Local Three Pack

So how can you help your business receive positive reviews and boost your chances of appearing in the Local Three Pack?

First, make sure you’ve claimed your business on Google My Business. This way you can start directing customers to write reviews on Google.

Second, you will need to develop a strategy for encouraging your customers to write reviews of your business. Here are 3 tips for promoting positive reviews.

  1. Ask. It may sound obvious, but many businesses forget to ask their customers for reviews. Try including a prompt on receipts or in follow up emails.
  2. Learn from your existing online reviews. Learning from your existing reviews, both positive and negative is important for your business and will help promote positive reviews. Capitalizing on your businesses’ strengths while addressing its weaknesses will help you to provide a better experience for your customers, leaving them more likely to leave a positive review.
  3. Make leaving online reviews easy. Your customers aren’t likely to go out of their way to review you. Offering them a simple and direct option for leaving reviews will increase the likelihood that they will participate. Include direct links to your review profiles in emails, newsletters, and other communications to your customers.

There’s no time to lose! The experts at MLT Group can help set up and optimize your Google My Business profile and help you promote positive reviews for your business. For more information, please contact one of our professionals at 507.281.3490 or sales@mltgroup.com.

MLT Group CEO Helps to Honor Fallen Veterans With Holiday Wreaths

The holidays are a time for families to come together, but for many, it’s also a time for remembering fallen veterans. To honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial committee of Rochester, MN, has been tasked with distributing holiday wreaths to local cemeteries, veterans’ graves, and families of fallen veterans as a part of Wreaths Across America.

Mike Pruett and Terry Throndson stand with wreaths to be displayed outside local cemeteries to honor fallen veterans.
Mike Pruett and Terry Throndson stand with wreaths to be displayed outside local cemeteries to honor fallen veterans.

Over 500 wreaths, purchased from Tim Ahern of Evergreen Industries, were donated to the Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial by Treasure Island Resort & Casino and the Prairie Island Indian Community. Committee members Mike Pruett, MLT Group CEO, and Terry Throndson of Throndson Oil traveled to Red Wing, MN, to pick up the wreaths and transport them back to Rochester.

Pruett and Throndson had to make two trips from Rochester to Red Wing in order to transport all 500 individually packaged wreaths.

Soldiers Field Veterans Memorial has participated in Wreaths Across America in the past, purchasing the wreaths themselves. Having the wreaths donated this year was a welcomed sign of support from Treasure Island and Prairie Island Indian Communities.

“As a committee, we feel that this is a way that we can honor the veterans that have fallen and that they are not forgotten. We would like to thank Treasure Island for their continued support of our veterans,” stated Pruett and Throndson.

Pruett and Throndson also support Tee It Up for the Troops and Bells for Eternity, respectively. The men believe that showing support for area veterans contributes to strong community.

For many, the wreaths are a sign that their loved ones and their sacrifices are not forgotten.

Wreaths can be found at the entrances of Oakwood, Calvary, and Oakwood East cemeteries in Rochester, MN. They will also be distributed to veterans’ families through the VFW and American Legion of Rochester and Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch in Stewartville.

 

 

 

 

Why You Should Have Mobile-ized Your Site Yesterday

Having a mobile version of your businesses’ website may have been scribbled at the bottom of your to do list. Well it’s time that afterthought be UnsplashMobilePhonemoved to the top of the list. More and more, smartphones are becoming the main resource for consumers to find and purchase products and services. Mobile users have overtaken desktop users for the percentage of ecommerce traffic and mobile popularity is only growing. That means if your site isn’t optimized for mobile phones, you’re losing potential customers and sales.

Why Do I Need a Mobile Friendly Site?

Having a site that is mobile compatible isn’t just important because more users are turning to smartphones to do their shopping. Mobile friendly sites are also great for SEO. Search engines that are mobile compatible such as Google and Yahoo! reward mobile sites with better rankings. This is a benefit that spans across desktop and mobile platforms.

Sites that are optimized for mobile devices also provide more opportunities for customers to shop. One study found that consumers tend to use their desktops to search during the week and mobile devices on the weekend. Not optimizing your site for mobile use can cut off weekend mobile shoppers.

When people are searching for goods and services on the go, they use the GPS in their phones. This allows them to find businesses that are close to them. If your site isn’t mobile-ready, you’ll experience a high bounce rate from these almost-customers.

What is Bounce Rate?

Bounce rate is the number of users who visit your site, only to leave shortly after. But why do they leave? Mobile users look for a quick and easy experience. Ask yourself, does your website take more than three seconds to load on a mobile phone? Do mobile users have to zoom in and out to view the content? If so, consumers will move along to a competitor who offers a better mobile experience.

Don’t wait to create or update your businesses’ mobile friendly website. Let the experts at MLT Group help! Our friendly professionals offer mobile website design, web design, ecommerce solutions, and other web services. Don’t get left in the dust and email us at sales@mltgroup.com or call 507.291.3490 to get started optimizing your website today!

 

Accounting Director Receives Toastmasters Award

Today we are celebrating our Accounting Director, Jean Pearson, who was recently honored and recognized by Toastmasters International as the 2015/2016 District Six Division Director of the Year.

 

Jean has been a member of Toastmasters International, an organization which helps members cultivate leadership and public speaking skills, for 24 years. She originally joined in order to build on her communication skills.

Jean and husband Dave with their Toastmasters awards.
Jean and husband Dave with their Toastmasters awards.

“I was working in a job where I had to explain W9 forms. Inevitably, I would be talking with someone, and as soon as I hung up, I thought ‘oh, I should have added this or added that’,” she explained. “I was always talking to people who had no idea what I was talking about.”

 

Jean attended her first Toastmasters meeting after seeing an ad in the Mayo Newspaper.

 

“I decided that the Table Topics portion of the Toastmasters meeting was the part that I wanted, because I really did not have any trepidation with speaking in front of groups, it’s just that I didn’t always think of everything at once.”

 

Instantly, Jean enjoyed Toastmasters, stepping into her first leadership role after only four months. She has maintained a leadership position within Toastmasters for 21 out of her 24 years as a member. Jean had often worked in individualized positions, and wasn’t always able to exercise her leadership skills, so she was excited to have an opportunity to build on these skills.

 

“That’s why I stay. I thoroughly enjoy it.”

 

This is not Jean’s first award from Toastmasters. She has also twice been honored with Toastmasters’ highest achievement, the Distinguished Toastmaster (DMT) award. In order to receive this recognition, a member must meet a set of ambitious criteria, including giving approximately 46 speeches, acting as a district officer for one year, acting as a club officer for at least six months, sponsor a new club or mentor a struggling club, and complete a special leadership project, which typically involves planning and managing an event.

 

After a previous tenure as a Division Governor (now referred to as Director), Jean was recognized as the 2012/2013 District Six Division Governor of the Year. Being recognized twice as a Division Governor/Director of the Year is a first in the history of District Six – a phenomenal achievement considering she has only held this particular office twice!

 

Jean is not the only Toastmaster in the family. Her husband, David Pearson, has been a member for three years and was recognized as the 2015/2016 District Six Toastmaster of the Year.

 

We want to congratulate Jean on her astounding achievements and wish her the best as she continues to participate in Toastmasters. We can’t wait to see what she does next!

 

For more information about Toastmasters, or to find a club near you, visit their website.