By Rochelle Burnett, Creative Leap, Inc.

How to create a facebook link:

• Login to facebook.

• In upper righthand corner, click on the “Account” drop down.

• Go to Privacy Settings.

• Go to Search. Checkmark “Allow”.

• Go back to “Account” drop down in upper righthand corner.

• Go to “Account Settings”

• See header “username” – click “change”

• Choose a username and hit “Check Availability”

• If available, click “Confirm”.

• That’s it!

For the facebook link, add your username after the facebook address: http://www.facebook.com/username

For example, mine is:

http://www.facebook.com/rochelle.burnett

Logout of facebook to test your link. “Logout” is also under “Account” drop down. In Internet browser, type in your new link:

http://www.facebook.com/username

How to Create a Badge:

Example:

• Login to facebook.

• In upper lefthand corner, near your photo, click on “View My Profile”

• Scroll down, you’ll see “Create a Profile Badge” towards the end of your items in the left column. Click link.

• Click “Edit Settings”

• I prefer only checking profile pic and name. You may choose to add your email too.

• Click save.

• Then, click the “Other” blue button.

• This will generate some facebook html code like you see below.

• Select it (select all) and Control C (copy).

• Paste it into your website, blogs or email signature.

CODE EXAMPLE:

<!– Facebook Badge START –><a href=”http://www.facebook.com/rochelle.burnett” title=”Rochelle Burnett” target=”_TOP” style=”font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot;,tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; color: #3B5998; text-decoration: none;”>Rochelle Burnett</a><br/><a href=”http://www.facebook.com/rochelle.burnett” title=”Rochelle Burnett” target=”_TOP”><img src=”http://badge.facebook.com/badge/1424952410.1671.1207102493.png” width=”120″ height=”140″ style=”border: 0px;” /></a><br/><a href=”http://www.facebook.com/facebook-widgets/” title=”Make your own badge!” target=”_TOP” style=”font-family: &quot;lucida grande&quot;,tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; color: #3B5998; text-decoration: none;”>Create Your Badge</a><!– Facebook Badge END –>

There are a few things you should delete in the code. I’ve highlighted them for you in red. Be careful not to delete anything else.

If you were successful in the steps, it should look like this!

I can’t believe it has been 4 years since I opened Creative Leap! Time flies when you are having fun. We’ve been very fortunate as the economy hasn’t affected us  much. Our clients are still doing fairly well and they understand the importance of marketing and spending money on the web. I am so thankful for these clients, my co-workers, friends and family who have stood by me as I ventured down this path. I truly love my job and my clients. Everyday is a fun and new experience. Thank you!

- Rochelle Burnett, Owner

Creative Leap won the bid for the development of the new website for Waukee Area Economic Development Corporation. This was a huge creative leap for the organization as they went from no web presence to a full, content-rich, dynamic website. They were dedicated to making the first launch of their website a successful one, and we believe it shows. They were great to work with and we wish them great success! Visit their site at: www.WaukeeDevelopment.com

DeElda is a company owned by famous needlepoint artist, Dee Wittmack. She had not been doing e-commerce before, but the demand for her products and greater selection choices were growing. It was a large creative leap for Dee to make – getting all her product online. But, with determination on her part and our part, she has now opened a national retail store – online! Her site: www.Deelda.com

Emerald Homes of Iowa Website:












Burnett Realty Website:

Creative Leap, Inc. recently redesigned and redeveloped Burnett Realty’s website. This current update was built to be more social media friendly with a displayed youtube channel, facebook and twitter links, and a blog on the home page. Creative Leap, Inc. also integrated the Des Moines Area MLS into the site, built an e-marketing campaign in conjunction with the new site, and added as many lead-generating pages as possible.

Iowa Progress Project Website:

Creative Leap, Inc. also recently redesigned the website for the Iowa Progress Project. It incorporates a blog with teasers on the home page and an “action center” along the right hand side of our page. A special feature was the “ticker” displaying Culver’s fiscal plan. As with most of our clients, Iowa Progress Project is given the ability to easily update this website themselves through a user friendly Content Management System.

How many times a day do you now hear these words now, ”the economy is really hurting our business”? Sometimes, there is some truth in those words, there are businesses out there having a tough time getting ahead because their customers are buckling down and not spending like they used too. Other times, it’s just an excuse of why they are losing business when the real reason may be due to the fact that they weren’t that good at what they do. This may sound harsh, but how many times have you walked into a restaurant, store or business and been unsatisfied with the service, the product or the cost? I’m sure we can all name a few just off the top of our head. If that business closed tomorrow, would it have been the “economy” or the plain hard truth the business failed to perform?

I recently saw a news segment on a downtown restaurant that said it was suffering due to lay offs and furloughs in the downtown area. I won’t pick on this restaurant by giving their name, but I once visited this restaurant and all was going well until we ordered dessert and it took 30 minutes arrive (over the lunch hour). I’ve not been the only person complaining about the restaurant, I’ve heard many grumblings that the restaurant food and service was sub par. So, does that company have the right to go on the news and say the economy is hurting their business? If that restaurant had rave reviews and people all over town were talking about it, I tend to believe the downtown layoffs would not affect their bottom line.

So, in conclusion, BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE in your business. People will notice and people will choose YOU over your competition. If you dominate the marketplace, then the economy should not hurt your bottom line. How can you be sure you are being the best you can be? Hire secret shoppers, survey your customers and employees, hold focus groups, listen to your customer, shop your competition, and read about other successful businesses. Good luck and remember…only the strong survive.

Before Al Gore invented the internet, if you had a bad experience at a business, you went home and told your friends about it. After a few days, your frustration passed, and your experience became “old news.”

Today, the internet gives you the ability to voice your opinion to the masses. Websites like Yelp.com and Epinions.com allow you to review products and services and share your experiences with the world, whether good or bad. These reviews stick around too, they are often not taken down.

If your company or product receives positive feedback, it’s priceless. You can’t buy air time or ad space worth that amount of power. The unbiased opinion by a happy consumer is GOLDEN.

Now, start thinking about what YOUR clients would say about you if they left your business today and went home and reviewed you…   Read the rest of this entry »

Starting in March 2009 check back for regular updates from Rochelle about all the latest trends in print, web and social marketing.