Are you a Digital Snail?

Are You a Digital Snail?

All the time I get captures by people who have just mastered texting, who barely have a website running, who haven't a clue how to start a blog (or a Facebook page, or a Twitter feed, and so on), and who question of whether they should do any of it.

What advice would you give is a "digital slowcoach?"

Here are five simple things you can do now to catch up.

1. Create a solid Web presence using one of several free website development tools (for non-geeks) like Weebly, Wix, Webs, Yola.com, or Flavors.me. For a stupid proof-easy solution, use blog software from WordPress or Eblogger to set up your main Web page. (Chuck out brochure wear, matching t-shirts, cheesy executives are gone forever.) Socially plumb your site, look at the tool bar on the bottom of http://www.liveensure.com/ a totally connected site.

2. Open the door to interaction by including an obvious way for people to get in touch with you. Some companies rely on contact forms, but I much prefer an actual email address that belongs to an actual person because it signals that you are approachable and willing to engage.

3. Start a database. A customer and prospect list is key to any kind of successful engagement. Even a simple spreadsheet will do.

4. Start publishing. Start a newsletter for your customers or your vendors. Launch a blog and commit to refreshing it two or three times per week.
Use a simple Flip camera to create customer testimonial videos onsite, at tradeshows and events. Upload them to YouTube. http://youtu.be/_5Gpzt6vgIQ this one of mine not great as you will see, but has over 1000 viewing and traffics hits to our partner Mo-Call- low cost international calls site.(I love their catch phrase!)

Use Flickr to catalog fun and interesting photos of your business, staff and customers at work, and feature them on your site. Showcase photos and videos on your main site and facebook, it is very easy http://bit.ly/cQIp27

5. DIY. While getting outside help to kick-start your efforts may be helpful, don't cede your publishing or social media management completely to consultants or (please!) interns. The best way to learn how to master social channels is to first wade in yourself.

Now if you are digital snail, you are probably a bit of a Cloud tortoise too, so to be cucumber cool watch this clip.
Benjamin Cohen, consumerises an explanation of the cloud on Channel 4 News.

http://www.channel4.com/news/catch-up/display/playlistref/051010/clipid/051010_CLOUD_C4N