The Power of LinkedIn

As you prepare your marketing plan complete with goals and strategies for generating leads and sales online, consider tapping into LinkedIn for additional exposure for your company. LinkedIn is used for networking among companies but many entrepreneurs are learning that having a presence on LinkedIn solidifies their business reputation and presents their company in a more positive, efficient way. You must use every tool available to you to build credibility and trust among your colleagues and online users with whom you may never interact one-on-one.  Over 1.9 million companies have established a presence on LinkedIn and are connecting with over 100 million professionals to provide updates, learn of job openings, and get advance notices regarding new products coming online. LinkedIn is best described as a cyber meeting area or hub for sharing information in an efficient method.

You will be offered a company page on LinkedIn that will permit you to centralize all of your business information for the public to see.  Your employees will have personal pages that will provide a more personal touch and flavor to your business. Although the business will happen in cyberspace, the consumer still enjoys knowing what the business is about, who you are, and what you have to offer them to make their life more enjoyable or easier. By developing a company page, you can access analytics data that will show you what customers are viewing and how they are accessing this information.  Here you can showcase your goods, services, and products, include dynamic photos and images, and send private messages that will inform them of trends, patterns of product development, and special deals you are promoting.  It allows you to connect in a more personal way with your client to establish trust and confidence.

One of your main goals in participating in the LinkedIn community will be to gain exposure of your company to potential clients. The engagement levels of users will be important as you decide whether to opt into active participation in this medium. The primary focus of LindedIn is the business community.  47.6% of users spend up to 2 hours per week on the website. Even higher rates of 26% of users spend 3- 4 hours a week engaged in activity.  Almost 1,000 minutes per month are logged by active participants. Thus, the amount of possible exposure for your company is phenomenal. 

How can LinkedIn help your business? A staggering 7.9% of all users report that they used LinkedIn to research people and companies. Other users use LinkedIn to reconnect with former business associates and almost half of the users stated that it was a new way to network and build solid relationships with professionals who could influence clients toward future business.  This is an excellent way for business professional to connect and support each other.

Business professionals leverage the power of LinkedIn in a plethora of creative ways.  They can make excellent hires from this site and they can use the groups like mini conferences to acquire more knowledge about advertising and public relations.  Here you can also find trusted vendors, partners, and perhaps that all important funding institution.  With the proper attitude and a creative spirit, this powerful tool can be yours for the taking. No matter what the size of your business, you can task the power of LinkedIn to assist you in generating leads and sales.

The users on LinkedIn are professionals and are internet savvy which is a plus as you try to connect and maintain valuable relationships. Being an active participant grows your network and can also help you build your all important list for marketing and advertising strategies.  You can develop direct connections and reap referred connections as work of your stellar business reputation spreads. Some studies show that communications conducted via LinkedIn are much more valuable and perform at a higher positive rate than traditional emails do.  The sales tool “sales navigator” is an outbound sales tool that is provided to LinkedIn’s premium members that will gather accurate data, develop seamless integration, and offer real-time information about consumers and companies.

In the cyber world of commerce, establishing credibility, trust, and reliability are of the utmost importance in gaining customers and maintaining a repeat business base.  It will be to your advantage to answer questions on LinkedIn Answers, to take part in group discussions and to participate in forums where you can share valuable information.  Members benefit from meeting and conversing with experts in a particular niche and many use these connections as referrals in their daily business exchanges.  If there isn’t a forum related to your business, you should think about starting one.  You can initiate interesting conversations that might solve a dilemma your potential client might be experiencing. These discussions will send many clients to your website to explore what it is that you have to offer.  By appearing as an authority, others will view your comments and reviews and visit your website. They will already be interested in your product if they have purchased an item that correlates with your product.

Begin your LinkedIn activity by connecting with friends and people whom you already know.  These people will know that prospective client who is searching for your product and by establishing lines of communication with circles of people, your business will profit.  You can ask friends to recommend you to their clients and friends and the networking begins.  LinkedIn takes the community approach to business to a more technological level and makes it work for you.  If someone who knows you mentions you to a potential client first, you will not be making the proverbial “cold call” with a distinct possibility of failure.  Someone paving the path for you will make your work a lot easier. Send invitations to people in your address book and on any lists that you have built as you developed your marketing plans.  Publicizing your profile will be the catalyst that moves people to link to you.

Take time to research your connections on LinkedIn. Browse through their personal or company profile to learn about their interests and what makes them tick.  These will be talking points that can break the ice as you being to cultivate a relationship that is moving toward a purchase.  Talk to them about what interests them and relate it to your product at the appropriate time if possible. Don’t force the issue but if the chance to incorporate a personal interest arises, use it carefully.  Statistics refers to consumers but your customers are people with whom you want to develop trust and good will.

It’s important to create a profile that is engaging and one that warrants further exploration by a potential client. Think of your LinkedIn profile as you would your nametag at a party or convention.  When someone meets you they see your name and your business.  They immediately decide if they want to further engage with you or to keep walking.  Feature your expertise, your experience, and the niche with which you are knowledgeable on your profile page. This will also make it easier for professionals who are interested in the same niche to locate you.  Determine who your prospects might be from their profile information and join some of the same groups that they have joined. Offer solid, valuable information in all your interactions with groups of users, answer their questions, and always provide a way for them to go directly to your website for further information and assistance.  Provide them with examples of your customer satisfaction and your stellar customer service. This policy will be very attractive to the polished buyer.  Remember that this relationship is not about you but about them; offer a solution to their problems or concerns and you will have a loyal customer for the long term.

If you have chosen to set u a LinkedIn account, you must perform this task the right way or not at all.  To have a page that is partially completed can do more damage to your business than not having a presence at all.  If you don’t feel comfortable in setting up your page, do some research and get some help. Your page will send clients a message about how you do business.  Keep your profile updated and 100% complete. You can use the “Improve your Profile” button at the top of your edit page to make sure your information is current and clear, concise, and cordial.  You will need to provide three recommendations to complete your profile to its highest level.  Use the LinkedIn recommendation tool to send email to friends, former clients, vendors, or colleagues that will create a positive recommendation for you. You can preview this document before posting it to your profile.  Stress with those doing this task for you that proper grammar, sentence structure, and acceptable usage are very important.  Your prospects will make a decision about you based on what they read from those who know you.

Don’t leave out the Skills and Expertise segment of your profile.  This is one of the newer features of LinkedIn and it causes your profile to be more searchable.  Your skills become the “keywords” on your profile and these are critical in representing what you do, where you live, and your area of expertise. List as many as you can that showcase your skills, talents, and abilities. You want to be a professional who is capable of commanding a successful business entity with seamless strategies. These keywords will create good inbound links for you and your company and any blog in which you participate.  The business community will be more aware of you and what you have to offer.

Remember to add your business website, any blogs, and Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest links to your profile.  You will be providing a transparent picture of your business and product. The more information a client can gather about you, the better they feel they know you; purchasing is easy from someone we know and trust. You will stay connected which is of the utmost importance in the fierce competitive market.  Out of sight, out of mind is not the adage you want when referring to your online activity or participation in the social websites that can grow your business.  Note on your calendar to review your profile on a monthly basis to keep it from becoming stale.  Add recommendations, skills or awards and achievements to keep everyone informed about the progress your company is making. Make yourself stand out from the rest of the crowd!

Never leave the photo section blank in your LinkedIn account blank.  A picture is worth a thousand words and a good, quality image of your will give those who connect with you an image to which they relate when communicating and doing business with you.  If you are uncomfortable with a photo, upload a company logo or an eye-catching image that captures the attention of the browsing visitor.  A photo will provide your company with a personal touch and not a corporate image that is a bit more impersonal.

After your profile is complete, the fun part begins.  Begin to join groups according to your interests, hobbies, job interests, inspiration, and support.  If you can think of a group that you’d like to join, it’s probably already set up and going strong on LinkedIn. Many of these groups will participate in discussion boards, messaging, and connection updates. It’s a very exciting and engaging way to build strong relationships. If you have developed a good relationship with another LinkedIn member, ask them for a referral and return the favor for them.  Your credentials will strengthen and be more widely seen by thousands of people.

Maintain a strategy for generating leads to ensure more business and profits for your company.  You will want to take advantage of every tool that LinkedIn offers and by setting a goal of how you will use the tools to your advantage can keep your marketing strategies on target.  Set a specific number of connections with new people that you want to make each week and grow your account by that number or more.  Keep your company’s name fresh and in front of current clients as well as those who can become valuable as they learn more about you.  If someone needs your services or learns of a need that a contact has, they will be more apt to recommend you if you are on their mind and visible on their computer screen.

Don’t be concerned with privacy issues as you begin to use and participate in the LinkedIn community.  If you attend a local networking event in your area with a paper bag over your head, it is likely that you will draw unwanted negative attention to yourself.  You interact with strangers at these events; your interaction on LinkedIn is no different.  If your profile and information is incomplete or you guard your participation activities on LinkedIn, you might as well have a cyber paper bag right over your head.  You have to connect in a positive way and withholding information creates suspicion.

Since its launch in 2003, LinkedIn has become the number one business social network on the web. If you are striving to become a reputable business, then you should have a presence on this business website. It compares to membership in your trade organization.  You’ll be connecting with like-minded professionals who are gleaning business at the turn of every cyber corner.  It’s an incredible source of data and an excellent way for you to showcase your products and services as you interact with others.  LinkedIn appears high in search rankings which means that your business will piggyback on this high rating to be listed above other references. By all means, LinkedIn must be considered when formulating your marketing strategy.

By joining groups in the LinkedIn community, you will establish yourself as an expert that users will turn to when situations or problems arise that they know you can handle.  You can learn from others, gather useful websites and tips, and can develop an extensive list from which to market your products.  These open discussions will allow you to participate with others to share ideas and build long-lasting relationships that will increase your bottom line exponentially.

One of the most common tools that LinkedIn provides is the search for businesses and people.  There are a variety of tools available to make this a seamless transition from peruser to purchaser safely and securely.  You can learn how to conduct easy and effective searches just like clients are using to find your business and product. It will be valuable to see what your potential customer sees when he visits your profile page. You can modify and adjust your listings to better maximize your efforts and applications.

Word-of-mouth advertising is the basic staple in the toolbox of marketing plans.  The LinkedIn recommendation function will serve this purpose as you work to promote your business.  Elicit help from anyone who has had experience with you, your company, and your product.  It’s much easier to buy a product if you know someone else has already used it and had a satisfying experience.  This is the most powerful tool that you can use to generate leads and sales.

Business is no longer conducted just down the street or around the corner. Your business needs to be available 24/7 for clients who are in varying time zones and who are working under demanding deadlines and schedules.  It is imperative to attract clients who have a need, like what they see on your website, and can purchase safely and securely with no regrets.  To keep the sun from setting on your business, your client base must be extensive and global to reach the potential sales available to you.

At first, LinkedIn might seem like a large investment in time but it’s an investment that can not only save you marketing dollars but also can provide a list from which you can draw your clientele.  Once you get your profile set up and you begin participating on a regular basis, you’ll find that this is an enjoyable portion of your business. You can mention to everyone you meet that they can look at your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you and your business; it’s a professional statement that represents your business extremely well.

Remember to use and place your keywords strategically since your LinkedIn profile is searchable in Google.  You want to appear interesting and knowledgeable about your particular niche.  By taking the time to invest in this page of information, you will be opening doors to your business that you never dreamed were possible.  Geographical boundaries will be removed as the tidal wave of your business rushes across the business landscape. You’ll meet new clients, make new friends, and will establish strong relationships that will quickly replace your luncheons that are a waste of your time. Cold calls will be a distant memory and profits will amaze even the smallest of businesses.

Networking is not rocket science but it can launch your business to new heights and goals. You must use every available method of connecting with professionals who are as motivated and as passionate as you are about succeeding in their online marketing strategies. With LinkedIn, you can meet and introduce yourself in a few minutes and begin interacting with business professionals around the world.  You can get a feel for their economic struggles and how they have overcome adversity or challenging situations. You won’t have to reinvent the wheel as you draw on their knowledge and understanding of how the business environment operates.  You will gain exposure to business owners and possible clients across town and around the world.

Be realistic as you evaluate what LinkedIn can do for you.  Does it matter? Will it work? Is it effective? Is it cost-efficient?  Is your business credible; can you offer authoritative advice and appear as an expert in your niche? Finally, are you passionate about your business and its success?  Carefully consider each question before you take the initiative to get into the LinkedIn community.  You will have about 9 seconds to impress a visitor to your profile and like the speech you might give at a civic event to promote your business, you have to be quick, clear, concise and cordial.  Let your personality show through in your profile just as you do your traditional business interactions.

Since more and more business professionals are using social networks to market themselves and their business, you don’t want to be left behind with antiquated methods of marketing that are no longer reaching the on-the-go society of today.  Your business can be in the palm of their hand as they search for products on smart phones that connect to all social networking sites.  LinkedIn was developed for businesses so you don’t run the risk of complicating your personal, social life with the goals and plans for your business.  Collaboration with others can increase your knowledge and your business skills and introduce you to new ideas and plans. Grow your business, expand your profits and make some wonderful friends along the road to success.

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The Power of Facebook Advertising

Social media was once considered to be only for teenagers or for those looking for romance and relationships but that has changed dramatically in recent years.  Facebook has evolved as one of the most valuable assets to advertisers who are striving to reach a particular niche audience.  Facebook is the largest and most visited social network on the web today is.  Not only is it a popular location for social interactions but also it is becoming a fiercely competitive marketing tool.  Many entrepreneurs are beginning to tap into this advantageous method of generating leads and sales for their businesses.  Research is showing that the average Facebook user spends just over 6 hours a month on Facebook which is double the amount of time of its closest competitor, Google.  Over 50% of these users are perusing Facebook from a mobile device which means that there are more than 543 mobile users searching for goods and services while on-the-go.  Every day there are more than 3.2 billion items that are liked or commented about on Facebook pages and that translates into a very powerful mode of advertising for any business.  Advertising campaigns on Facebook are providing up to a 5 fold return on any investment because of the strategic targeting of the right audience.  Consumers are becoming more aware of brands and are recalling what they are seeing more than other online advertising averages.  Facebook advertising is the catalyst for more positive conversations about businesses as well.  More importantly, the 47% trust rate for advertising on Facebook commands a respect and awareness of this tool that can effectively be used to expand the bottom line.

When considering the most efficient way to invest advertising dollars, you should include Facebook advertising in your plan.  You can connect to this exploding power to target new business, to generate high quality leads, and to piggyback additional advertising strategies, like word-of-mouth advertising, to more effectively stretch your advertising monies.  An entirely new world of possibilities will be opened up to you with Facebook advertising.

Facebook advertisers are permitted to geo-target an audience by country which allows the advertiser the ability to limit or expand the message of their ad based on settings that are selected.  Most of the countries in the world are now Facebook friendly which expands boundaries that once limited the sale of products to smaller areas and locations.

One of the features of advertising with Facebook is the advantage of keyword interest targeting.  When a user signs up for Facebook, they create a profile page that is based on their interests, likes, and activities.  When you create your ad for Facebook, you have the option of searching and selecting keywords that are of interest to a specific user. This will better target an audience that is already interested in your ad before they even see it.  As an example, let’s say that you as an advertiser are trying to reach people who are doing home remodeling projects.  When you type in the word home remodeling, a list of keywords will be pulled up for you that are related to the profiles of users who listed home remodeling as one of their interests.  You can then choose any of these keywords in your ad to reach those people who have these keywords in their profiles.  You are targeting an audience who is interested in your information and who will respond to your ad.

Before you begin your advertising campaign, it’s important to clearly know who you want to target.  Customize your Facebook advertising to the target market so that this tool work better for you and your company. Try to vary your approach so you can attract different groups.  20 year olds will view your ad differently than a 40 year old will even if they have the same need for your product.  Appeal to your potential client in a positive and attention-getting way. Be clear, concise, and brief.

There are several ways to advertise on Facebook; you can use these cost-effective ways to increase the traffic to your website and generate more business and profits for you.  The first way to advertise on Facebook is to create a business profile so you can interact with your list of “fans” whom you will persuade to become clients.  You can send out updates, news articles, special offers and promotions, and discount information to the entire list; Facebook affords you the ability to communicate instantly with a list of people who have already indicated that they are interested in your products.

Another way that you can advertise powerfully on Facebook is to buy an ad that is targeted toward a segment of the user base.  Each one of these users has an enormous amount of information stored in their profiles.  This information can be used to target them based on a selected keyword or filter.  Using this method will assure you of reaching potential customers who are most likely to buy your product.

Word-of-mouth advertising has been brought into the digital age with Facebook’s beacon tool.  News feeds let users access each other’s personal profiles and postings or comments.  Facebook allows businesses the ability to report a user’s actions with the business website and company to the user’s friends.  If a Facebook customer buys a product from you or engages in discussion regarding their satisfaction with your company, their interaction with you will be posted in the news feed which will automatically create a referral system for your business.  It’s word-of-mouth in cyberspace.

The first thing to consider as you plan your Facebook ad strategy is your goal. Are you going to advertise your product, expand the number of people who like your business page, inform the Facebook community of your business and what you do, or are you simply getting the attention of potential customers.  As your goals become clearer, begin to decide on the type of ad you will create; there are three types from which you can choose.

1.    Crafted ads target Facebook users by filtering demographic information such as age, location, and gender. These ads will be featured in the right hand column of Facebook pages.

2.    You can create sponsored stories which interact with a Facebook fan’s page with the specific story.  The ad will show up in the right hand column once the fan likes your particular post.

3.    You can also select promoted posts which are more visible in the posts on friends’ pages and on their contacts’ pages as well.

One of the most powerful aspects of Facebook advertising is the customer loyalty that you will build.  Create your own business Facebook page that will allow you to directly interact with your clients.  This will give a more personal touch to your business and also will allow you to use word-of-mouth advertising that you generate from your Facebook ads to spread the word in a cost-effective way.  Client satisfaction, customer service, and buyer protection are all tenets of a marketing strategy that will work nicely for you and your Facebook advertising campaign.

You can offer special promotions, new products, or the latest trends with your product with your Facebook ads to reach clients that are strategically targeted and already interested in your product or service.  This will provide up-dated information to your clients and keep them better informed in a time-efficient way.  Today’s consumers on are the go with busy schedules and demanding deadlines.  These ads will connect with them and solve their issues and concerns in a timely fashion.

Facebook ads are much more flexible than other internet locations.  You will be offered additional character length for any ad descriptions that you might have.  You can also improve your flexibility with image-based ads that attract the visual buyer.  If someone participates in the Facebook community, then they are already proven to be a visually stimulated consumer. Use images and photos of high quality and that convey your message with the power of a thousand words.  Your Facebook ads will be more visible to an audience who is there to engage in obtaining information as well as to create it themselves.

With the Facebook site itself generating such a high rate of traffic on a daily basis, your ad has a much better chance of being seen and having a positive effect. It will be seen a multitude of times by a targeted audience who is already comfortable shopping the online arena.  Users visit the site many, many times a day and your ad will be there to greet them as they login and begin to participate.

You are also allowed with your Facebook ad to purchase space on a click-based or impression-based fee structure.  Using your budget and personal preferences, you can tailor your ad campaign to meet the needs and goals of your business plan.

Because of the targeted nature of Facebook, advertising on Facebook can be affordable for you company.  You can reach your targeted audience with your online campaign for a very reasonable price. The selection of packages that you can select is extensive so that you can reach as many users as your budget will allow you to.

The use of smart-phones has skyrocketed in recent years and your ability to reach this high volume of consumers is phenomenal.  Access to these devices happens every second of every day and you can tap into this gold mine of prospects. Your ads won’t just be limited to laptop and computer users; you will be expanding your potential client base.

You will be offered a choice between pay-per-click (CPC) or per 1,000 impressions (CPM). Studying your demographic clicks and responses will be an important first step.  Begin by starting a campaign that includes everyone and then, after a set number of impressions, see who clicked on your ad and the responses that you received.  After some study and careful insights, you can then rewrite the ad to appeal with that demographic audience in mind. You can then reset your campaign as a CPC method. Finely segment your ad to appeal to different age groups, or sexes, or relationship statuses.  With this small touch, you will get more bang for your advertising buck.  Continually test and modify your presentation to foster higher results with substantially lower costs.

With Facebook targeting, the natural skew is toward a younger than average audience that is female.  Sometimes users mislead others by submitting incorrect data on profile pages.  This will cause misrepresentation of data and some of your ads will be seen by users who are not interested by their very nature; you can only get a rough estimate of the people who might see your ad.  When initially targeting your ad to an audience, you might begin with 10,000 people; 50% of them will log into Facebook and see your ad.  By choosing this number, you will keep your costs under control and more efficiently modify it before you launch the ad to a larger audience.  Carefully select connections of people you know who trust you and your business. This will give you a base circle of community with which to begin your advertising campaigns.

Another important thing to consider when you are creating your advertising strategy is to include additional languages other than English.  Inexpensive translators can be hired on some of the work at home web locations to translate your copy for you.  Many advertisers neglect this segment of the population and lose many dollars in profit for this lack of attention to detail.  You can open up a new section of loyal clients with just a simple effort of reaching them in a language in which they feel comfortable purchasing.

Another powerful tenet of advertising on Facebook is the low risk involved in using this format.  You will have full control of your advertising budget and it will be a good testing ground for your ad.  You can learn if your message is effective in communicating to a potential buyer who you are, what you are offering, and how they can purchase your product quickly and safely.  You are free to modify your message as needed and promote it to a better target.  You can ascertain what works best with a particular demographic and how to reach them with your message.  Especially if you have a fledgling business, you might want to use the high power, lost cost approach of a Facebook ad.

If you are striving to target your local audience, Facebook ads have been proved to be very effective.  You can inform local and regional clients about your business and have the “friend” network assist you as well.  Many local communities enjoy supporting local businesses that give back to civic groups and Facebook can get your ads to them quickly and efficiently. When you have a happy, satisfied customer, they can tell the seven people in their social circle and those seven people will tell seven of their closest friends and so the network will distribute the message about you and your product. Testimonials serve to peak the interest of clients ready to buy but who have just one more question. If someone has purchased your product already, they can attest to its quality and your excellent customer service.  Facebook is being used in your area by all of the local people who are just waiting to be approached by your ad.  The appeal of Facebook extends to everyday people; you don’t have to be a computer genius to take advantage of this advertising power.

By promoting your Facebook business page through the ads you place on Facebook, you are guaranteed that the people that you are targeting with your ads already have a Facebook account.  You can be assured your ads are reaching the audiences most likely to buy from you and the communication vehicle is at your disposal 24/7.

One of the most powerful reasons of advertising on Facebook is the budget management that is available to you.  Thousands of dollars of advertising fees are not required upfront. So, you don’t have to have capital outlay at the onset of your advertising campaign.  Your budget can be as low as $1 per day if that is the option that you choose to employ.  Budgets can be changed daily or at any time and by any amount that you wish.  The measure performance tools available on Facebook advertising allow you to see and test ad rotations and explore which are the most effective tools for you.  After you run your first ad, try changing a combination of the ad’s image, description, and title.  You will measure the performance rate of your campaigns by viewing the click-through rate which is the percentage of clicks from the number of times it was viewed on Facebook.  You will select the ad which shows the highest click-through rate for you.

In a world of social media, advertising can be an excellent way to reach customers.  The users of Facebook are very active; they log on daily sometimes multiple times. It provides a way for you to reach customers with whom you might not have otherwise connected.  They are going to find your ad on a social media sight more rapidly than they would your own blog or website. 

The exposure you receive is a very lucrative benefit to advertising on Facebook.  The more customers who are exposed to your product, the higher your profits can become.  Facebook does an excellent job of allowing all advertisers a multitude of targeting options that include age, gender, interests, and relationship status.  These targeting filters will strategically develop an audience who is primed and ready to buy. This is possibly the most beneficial tool of Facebook advertising.

In addition to an effective list of potential clients, you will have all of the benefits of instant results. In our fast-paced society of today, speed in purchasing is important. A client will spend approximately 90 seconds looking at your ad before moving on to something else.  Quality images and representations of your product along with concise and clear descriptions are dynamic tools to capture the attention of the audience and cause the perusing to develop into purchasing.  You can attract many new customers in a single day and the profits can rise along with those viewing your ads.

Before you even begin your advertising campaign, you must set your budget and stick to it.  There are expensive options for you with Facebook advertising but you will have to operate within your budget to obtain the success you are seeking.  Use a common sense approach with your newly acquired technological advertising to promote your company and profits.

In addition, a Facebook ad will provide you with a more personal platform of advertising.  Research shows that consumers are more likely to trust your ad especially if they see a link to a Facebook friend.  Your ad is placed in the right hand column and is a bit more engaging than an ad they see randomly on a search engine.  Even in the world of internet marketing the handshake and confidence in a deal is important to make.  By personalizing your Facebook ad, it’s like extending your hand across cyberspace to reach out and seal the deal.  This type of business advertisement will foster good business relationships that ensure repeat business.

In effective advertising, everything is a balance.  You don’t want to spend a lot of time reworking your ads if they aren’t accurately targeting the audience you need to be targeting.  Spend time tracking your progress and your effectiveness but don’t forget to interact and connect with potential and current clients. Follow through with all of your strategies and the components of your plan to generate new customers and increase your profits.  A Facebook ad campaign will be an effort that takes time and patience.  Keep in mind that Facebook advertising is about developing relationships and connecting with consumers not just selling them a product immediately.  This platform of marketing is still developing and using these advertisements effectively will take research, study, and modifications that better hone your ad for consumers to view.

Facebook has become a powerful tool in the advertising world. The expanse of active users coupled with the micro-targeting tools make this method of telling others about your product one that will reap dramatic rewards for your bottom line.  You will boost sales and maximize profits at a cost-efficient way for your business.  Your business will be given the opportunity to build, improve, and maintain client relationships which is a satisfying aspect of having your own business.  The clients with whom you connect will provide you with feedback, encouragement, and testimonials that can help you reach your goals and dreams as a successful entrepreneur.  By using the proper demographic, copy, and image, you will see your Facebook ad come to life.  Don’t be afraid to try this new and unique method of advertising. It’s a fun and interesting way to reach an enormous audience with a few simple guidelines that anyone can perform.  It’s not rocket science but it can provide you with an astronomical income that makes your business the success you knew it could be.

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MOTHERS' ROLE IN COMBATING DISEASES OF CHILDREN

The especial province of the mother is the prevention of disease, not its cure. When disease attacks the child, the mother has then a part to perform, which it is especially important during the epochs of infancy and childhood should be done well. I refer to those duties which constitute the maternal part of the management of disease.

Medical treatment, for its successful issue, is greatly dependent upon a careful, pains-taking, and judicious maternal superintendence. No medical treatment can avail at any time, if directions be only partially carried out, or be negligently attended to; and will most assuredly fail altogether, if counteracted by the erroneous prejudices of ignorant attendants. But to the affections of infancy and childhood, this remark applies with great force; since, at this period, disease is generally so sudden in its assaults, and rapid in its progress, that unless the measures prescribed are rigidly and promptly administered, their exhibition is soon rendered altogether fruitless.

The amount of suffering, too, may be greatly lessened by the thoughtful and discerning attentions of the mother. The wants and necessities of the young child must be anticipated; the fretfulness produced by disease, soothed by kind and affectionate persuasion; and the possibility of the sick and sensitive child being exposed to harsh and ungentle conduct, carefully provided against.

Again, not only is a firm and strict compliance with medical directions in the administration of remedies, of regimen, and general measures, necessary, but an unbiased, faithful, and full report of symptoms to the physician, when he visits his little patient, is of the first importance. An ignorant servant or nurse, unless great caution be exercised by the medical attendant, may, by an unintentional but erroneous report of symptoms, produce a very wrong impression upon his mind, as to the actual state of the disease. His judgment may, as a consequence, be biased in a wrong direction, and the result prove seriously injurious to the welldoing of the patient. The medical man cannot sit hour after hour watching symptoms; hence the great importance of their being faithfully reported. This can alone be done by the mother, or some person equally competent.

There are other weighty considerations which might be adduced here, proving how much depends upon efficient maternal management in the time of sickness; but they will be severally dwelt upon, when the diseases with which they are more particularly connected are spoken of.

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EXPOSURE OF INFANTS TO OPEN AIR

The respiration of a pure air is at all times, and under all circumstances, indispensable to the health of the infant. The nursery therefore should be large, well ventilated, in an elevated part of the house, and so situated as to admit a free supply both of air and light. For the same reasons, the room in which the infant sleeps should be large, and the air frequently renewed; for nothing is so prejudicial to its health as sleeping in an impure and heated atmosphere. The practice, therefore, of drawing thick curtains closely round the bed is highly pernicious; they only answer a useful purpose when they defend the infant from any draught of cold air.

The proper time for taking the infant into the open air must, of course, be determined by the season of the year, and the state of the weather. "A delicate infant born late in the autumn will not generally derive advantage from being carried into the open air, in this climate, till the succeeding spring; and if the rooms in which he is kept are large, often changed, and well ventilated, he will not suffer from the confinement, while he will, most probably, escape catarrhal affections, which are so often the consequence of the injudicious exposure of infants to a cold and humid atmosphere." If, however, the child is strong and healthy, no opportunity should be lost of taking it into the open air at stated periods, experience daily proving that it has the most invigorating and vivifying influence upon the system. Regard, however, must always be had to the state of the weather; and to a damp condition of the atmosphere the infant should never be exposed, as it is one of the most powerful exciting causes of consumptive disease. The nurse-maid, too, should not be allowed to loiter and linger about, thus exposing the infant unnecessarily, and for an undue length of time; this is generally the source of all the evils which accrue from taking the babe into the open air.

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EARLY DETECTION OF DISEASE IN THE CHILD

It is highly important that a mother should possess such information as will enable her to detect disease at its first appearance, and thus insure for her child timely medical assistance. This knowledge it will not be difficult for her to obtain. She has only to bear in mind what are the indications which constitute health, and she will at once see that all deviations from it must denote the presence of disorder, if not of actual disease. With these changes she must to a certain extent make herself acquainted.

Signs of health.
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The signs of health are to be found, first, in the healthy performance of the various functions of the body; the regular demands made for its supply, neither in excess or deficiency; and a similar regularity in its excretions both in quantity and appearance.

If the figure of the healthy infant is observed, something may be learnt from this. There will be perceived such an universal roundness in all parts of the child's body, that there is no such thing as an angle to be found in the whole figure; whether the limbs are bent or straight, every line forms a portion of a circle. The limbs will feel firm and solid, and unless they are bent, the joints cannot be discovered.

The tongue, even in health, is always white, but it will be free from sores, the skin cool, the eye bright, the complexion clear, the head cool, and the abdomen not projecting too far, the breathing regular, and without effort.

When awake, the infant will be cheerful and sprightly, and, loving to be played with, will often break out into its merry, happy, laugh; whilst, on the other hand, when asleep, it will appear calm, every feature composed, its countenance displaying an expression of happiness, and frequently, perhaps, lit up with a smile.

Just in proportion as the above appearances are present and entire, health may be said to exist; and just in proportion to their partial or total absence disease will have usurped its place.

We will, however, for the sake of clearness examine the signs of disease as they are manifested separately by the countenance, the gestures, in sleep, in the stools, and by the breathing and cough.

Of the countenance.
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In health the countenance of a thild is expressive of serenity in mind and body; but if the child be unwell, this expression will be changed, and in a manner which, to a certain extent, will indicate what part of the system is at fault.

The brows will be contracted, if there is pain, and its seat is in the head. This is frequently the very first outward sign of any thing being wrong, and will occur at the very onset of disease; if therefore remarked at an early period, and proper remedies used, its notice may prevent one of the most fearful of infantile complaints "Water in the Head."

If this sign is passed by unheeded, and the above disease be threatened, soon the eyes will become fixed and staring, the head hot, and moved uneasily from side to side upon the pillow, or lie heavily upon the nurse's arm, the child will start in its sleep, grinding its teeth, and awake alarmed and screaming, its face will be flushed, particularly the cheeks (as if rouged), its hands hot, but feet cold, its bowels obstinately costive, or its motions scanty, dark-coloured, and foul.

If the lips are drawn apart, so as to show the teeth or gums, the seat of the pain is in the belly. This sign, however, will only be present during the actual existence of suffering; if, therefore, there be any doubt whether it exist, press upon the stomach, and watch the eifect on the expression of the countenance.

If the pain arise simply from irritation of the bowels excited from indigestion, it will be temporary, and the sign will go and come just as the spasm may occur, and slight remedial measures will give relief.

If, however, the disease be more serious, and inflammation ensue, this sign will be more constantly present, and soon the countenance will become pale, or sallow and sunken, the child will dread motion, and lie upon its back with the knees bent up to the belly, the tongue will be loaded, and in breathing, while the chest will be seen to heave with more than usual effort, the muscles of the belly will remain perfectly quiescent.

If the nostrils are drawn upwards and in quick motion, pain exists in the chest. This sign, however, will generally be the accompaniment of inflammation of the chest, in which case the countenance will be discoloured, the eyes more or less staring, and the breathing will be difficult and hurried; and if the child's mode of respiring be watched, the chest will be observed to be unmoved, while the belly quickly heaves with every inspiration.

Convulsions are generally preceded by some changes in the countenance. The upper lip will be drawn up, and is occasionally bluish or livid. Then there may be slight squinting, or a singular rotation of the eye upon its own axis; alternate flushing or paleness of the face; and sudden animation followed by languor.

These signs will sometimes manifest themselves many hours, nay days, before the attack occurs; may be looked upon as premonitory; and if timely noticed, and suitable medical aid resorted to, the occurrence of a fit may be altogether prevented.

The state of the eyes should always be attended to. In health they are clear and bright, but in disease they become dull, and give a heavy appearance to the countenance; though after long continued irritation they will assume a degree of quickness which is very remarkable, and a sort of pearly brightness which is better known from observation than it can be from description.

The direction of the eyes, too, should be regarded, for from this we may learn something. When the infant is first brought to the light, both eyes are scarcely ever directed to the same object: this occurs without any tendency to disease, and merely proves, that regarding one object with both eyes is only an acquired habit. But when the child has come to that age when the eyes are by habit directed to the same object, and afterwards it loses that power, this circumstance alone may be looked upon as a frequent prelude to disease affecting the head.

Of the gestures.
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The gestures of a healthy child are all easy and natural; but in sickness those deviations occur, which alone will often denote the nature of the disease.

Suppose an infant to have acquired the power to support itself, to hold its head erect; let sickness come, its head will droop immediately, and this power will be lost, only to be regained with the return of health; and during the interval every posture and movement will be that of languor.

The little one that has just taught itself to run alone from chair to chair, having two or three teeth pressing upon and irritating the gums, will for a time be completely taken off its feet, and perhaps lie languidly in its cot, or on its nurse's arm.

The legs being drawn up to the belly, and accompanied by crying, are proofs of disorder and pain in the bowels. Press upon this part, and your pressure will increase the pain. Look to the secretions from the bowels themselves, and by their unhealthy character your suspicions, in reference to the seat of the disorder, are at once confirmed.

The hands of a child in health are rarely carried above its mouth; but let there be any thing wrong about the head and pain present, and the little one's hands will be constantly raised to the head and face.

Sudden starting when awake, as also during sleep, though it occur from trifling causes, should never be disregarded. It is frequently connected with approaching disorder of the brain. It may forebode a convulsive fit, and such suspicion is confirmed, if you find the thumb of the child drawn in and firmly pressed upon the palm, with the fingers so compressed upon it, that the hand cannot be forced open without difficulty. The same condition will exist in the toes, but not to so great a degree; there may also be a puffy state of the back of the hands and feet, and both foot and wrist bent downwards.

There are other and milder signs threatening convulsions and connected with gesture, which should be regarded: the head being drawn rigidly backwards, an arm fixed firmly to the side, or near to it, as also one of the legs drawn stifly upwards. These signs, as also those enumerated above, are confirmed beyond all doubt, if there be present certain alterations in the usual habits of the child: if the sleep is disturbed, if there be frequent fits of crying, great peevishness of temper, the countenance alternately flushed and pale, sudden animation followed by as sudden a fit of languor, catchings of the breath followed by a long and deep inspiration, all so many premonitory symptoms of an approaching attack.

Of the sleep.
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The sleep of the infant in health is quiet, composed, and refreshing. In very early infancy, when not at the breast, it is for the most part asleep in its cot; and although as the months advance it sleeps less, yet when the hour for repose arrives, the child is no sooner laid down to rest, than it drops off into a quiet, peaceful slumber.

Not so, if ill. Frequently it will be unwilling to be put into its cot at all, and the nurse will be obliged to take the infant in her arms; it will then sleep but for a short time, and in a restless and disturbed manner.

If it suffer pain, however slight, the countenance will indicate it; and, as when awake, so now, if there is any thing wrong about the head, the contraction of the eye-brow and grinding of the teeth will appear; if any thing wrong about the belly, the lips will be drawn apart, showing the teeth or gums, and in both instances there will be great restlessness and frequent startings.

Of the stools.
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In the new-born infant the motions are dark coloured, very much like pitch both in consistence and appearance. The first milk, however, secreted in the mother's breast, acts as an aperient upon the infant's bowels, and thus in about four-and-twenty hours it is cleansed away.

From this time, and through the whole of infancy, the stools will be of a lightish yellow colour, the consistence of thin mustard, having little smell, smooth in appearance, and therefore free from lumps or white curded matter, and passed without pain or any considerable quantity of wind. And as long as the child is in health, it will have daily two or three, or even four, of these evacuations. But as it grows older, they will not be quite so frequent; they will become darker in colour, and more solid, though not so much so as in the adult.

Any deviation, then, from the above characters, is of course a sign of something wrong; and as a deranged condition of the bowels is frequently the first indication we have of coming disease, the nurse should daily be directed to watch the evacuations. Their appearance, colour, and the manner in which discharged, are the points principally to be looked to. If the stools have a very curdy appearance, or are too liquid, or green, or dark-coloured, or smell badly, they are unnatural. And in reference to the manner in which they are discharged, it should be borne in mind, that, in a healthy child, the motion is passed with but little wind, and as if squeezed out, but in disease, it will be thrown out with considerable force, which is a sign of great irritation. The number, too, of stools passed within the four-and- twenty hours it is important to note, so that if the child does not have its accustomed relief, (and it must not be forgotten that children, although in perfect health, differ as to the precise number,)

Of the breathing and cough
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The breathing of a child in health is formed of equal inspirations and expirations, and it breathes quietly, regularly, inaudibly, and without effort. But let inflammation of the air-tubes or lungs take place, and the inspiration will become in a few hours so quickened and hurried, and perhaps audible, that the attention has only to be directed to the circumstance to be at once perceived.

Now all changes which occur in the breathing from its healthy standard, however slight the shades of difference may be, it is most important should be noticed early. For many of the complaints in the chest, although very formidable in their character, if only seen early by the medical man, may be arrested in their progress; but otherwise, may be beyond the control of art. A parent, therefore, should make herself familiar with the breathing of her child in health, and she will readily mark any change which may arise.

Whenever a child has the symptoms of a common cold, attended by hoarseness and a rough cough, always look upon it with suspicion, and never neglect seeking a medical opinion. Hoarseness does not usually attend a common cold in the child, and these symptoms may be premonitory of an attack of "croup;" a disease excessively rapid in its progress, and which, from the importance of the parts affected, carrying on, as they do, a function indispensably necessary to life, requires the most prompt and decided treatment.

The following observations of Dr. Cheyne are so strikingly illustrative, and so pertinent to my present purpose, that I cannot refrain inserting them: "In the approach of an attack of croup, which almost always takes place in the evening, probably of a day during which the child has been exposed to the weather, and often after catarrhal symptoms have existed for several days, he may be observed to be excited, in variable spirits, more ready than usual to laugh than to cry, a little flushed, occasionally coughing, the sound of the cough being rough, like that which attends the catarrhal stage of the measles. More generally, however, the patient has been for some time in bed and asleep, before the nature of the disease with which he is threatened is apparent; then, perhaps, without waking, he gives a very unusual cough, well known to any one who has witnessed an attack of the croup; it rings as if the child had coughed through a brazen trumpet; it is truly a tussis clangosa; it penetrates the walls and floor of the apartment, and startles the experienced mother, 'Oh! I am afraid our child is taking the croup!' She runs to the nursery, finds her child sleeping softly, and hopes she may be mistaken. But remaining to tend him, before long the ringing cough, a single cough, is repeated again and again; the patient is roused, and then a new symptom is remarked; the sound of his voice is changed; puling, and as if the throat were swelled, it corresponds with the cough," etc.

How important that a mother should be acquainted with the above signs of one of the most terrific complaints to which childhood is subject; for, if she only send for medical assistance during its first stage, the treatment will be almost invariably successful; whereas, if this "golden opportunity" is lost, this disease will seldom yield to the influence of measures, however wisely chosen or perseveringly employed.

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DEFICIENCY OF MILK.

Deficiency of milk may exist even at a very early period after delivery, and yet be removed. This, however, is not to be accomplished by the means too frequently resorted to; for it is the custom with many, two or three weeks after their confinement, if the supply of nourishment for the infant is scanty, to partake largely of malt liquor for its increase. Sooner or later this will be found injurious to the constitution of the mother: but how, then, is this deficiency to be obviated? Let the nurse keep but in good health, and this point gained, the milk, both as to quantity and quality, will be as ample, nutritious, and good, as can be produced by the individual.

I would recommend a plain, generous, and nutritious diet; not one description of food exclusively, but, as is natural, a wholesome, mixed, animal, and vegetable diet, with or without wine or malt liquor, according to former habit; and, occasionally, where malt liquor has never been previously taken, a pint of good sound ale may be taken daily with advantage, if it agree with the stomach. Regular exercise in the open air is of the greatest importance, as it has an extraordinary influence in promoting the secretion of healthy milk. Early after leaving the lying-in room, carriage exercise, where it can be obtained, is to be preferred, to be exchanged, in a week or so, for horse exercise, or the daily walk. The tepid, or cold salt-water shower bath, should be used every morning; but if it cannot be borne, sponging the body withsalt-water must be substituted.

By adopting with perseverance the foregoing plan, a breast of milk will be obtained as ample in quantity, and good in quality, as the constitution of the parent can produce, as the following case proves:

I attended a lady twenty-four years of age, a delicate, but healthy woman, in her first confinement. The labour was good. Every thing went on well for the first week, except that, although the breasts became enlarged, and promised a good supply of nourishment for the infant, at its close there was merely a little oozing from the nipple. During the next fortnight a slight, but very gradual increase in quantity took place, so that a dessert spoonful only was obtained about the middle of this period, and perhaps double this quantity at its expiration. In the mean time the child was necessarily fed upon an artificial diet, and as a consequence its bowels became deranged, and a severe diarrhoea followed.

For three or four days it was a question whether the little one would live, for so greatly had it been reduced by the looseness of the bowels that it had not strength to grasp the nipple of its nurse; the milk, therefore, was obliged to be drawn, and the child fed with it from a spoon. After the lapse of a few days, however, it could obtain the breast-milk for itself; and, to make short of the case, during the same month, the mother and child returned home, the former having a very fair proportion of healthy milk in her bosom, and the child perfectly recovered and evidently thriving fast upon it.

Where, however, there has been an early deficiency in the supply of nourishment, it will most frequently happen that, before the sixth or seventh month, the infant's demands will be greater than the mother can meet. The deficiency must be made up by artificial food, which must be of a kind generally employed before the sixth month, and given through the bottle.

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