“Social Media Best Practices in Construction & Beyond” for the LINXS Training Institute


 

Los Angeles Airport LINXS

Los Angeles Airport LINXS Project

 

This month, GANZ Media gave a presentation for the LINXS Training Institute of LA Mentor-Protégé Program Virtual Workshop titled “Social Media Best Practices in Construction & Beyond“.

Click here to see the progress of the Los Angeles Airport People Mover project.

Attendees learned how best to promote their construction projects using social media. The topics covered included the many ways to use social media, the keys to a successful social media plan, do’s and don’ts, plus tips and tricks.

Contact GANZ Media today to see how we can help you with your Social Media or Digital Marketing!

GANZ Media Joins Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce – Helps Young Professionals


GANZ Media Joins Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce – Helps Young Professionals!

In August 2017 GANZ Media joined the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.

In September we had a booth and attended a Chamber sponsored Buy Local Heath & Fitnesss Festival at Reed Park.

As active members of the Chamber of Commerce, GANZ Media CEO Aaron Ganz serves as a co-chair of the Young Professionals Marketing & Social Media Committee.

The mission of the Young Professionals committee is to provide young professionals the opportunities to connect with other like-minded professionals, to foster leadership and professional development, and to give back to the community.

Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce - Young Professionals PartyGANZ Media at Santa Monica Chamber Buy Local FestivalSanta Monica Chamber of Commerce - Young Professionals Group

GRAND OPENING! Encino Business Royal Gems Jewelry shines with new Social Media Campaign from GANZ Media!


GRAND OPENING! Encino Business Royal Gems Jewelry shines with new Social Media Campaign from GANZ Media!

Royal Gems Jewelry New Facebook Page!

Grand Opening!

Happy Client just picked out Engagement Ring!

A local retail store in Encino, business owner Mitch Garten needed our help. Royal Gems moved locations and needed Social Media Marketing to help launch their Grand Opening, and then continuously on an ongoing monthly basis.

GANZ Media updated their website with Social Media icons to help increase exposure. We performed an online marketing analysis and created new Social Media profiles including: Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. We updated and added new online directory profiles and launched a Facebook Advertising Campaign.  As of March 2017, we are happy to report foot traffic has doubled and Owner Mitch is quite happy!

Social Media Graphics created by GANZ Media just in time for the Holidays!

Custom Designed Ads for client geared towards                       keeping couples happy!

About Royal Gems:

A custom designed piece of jewelry – whether it be an engagement band, an anniversary gift, or “just because” – is sure to be the most memorable and treasured gift in a woman’s (or man’s) life. Mitch believes that you should not have to settle for mass-produced, “cookie cutter” jewelry when you can own a one-of-a kind creation designed only for you.

Jeweler Mitch Garten has been creating custom, one-of-kind jewelry for more than 30 years. From white gold, to yellow gold, and from diamonds to pearls, Mitch is a master of intricate detail and quality workmanship that will leave you breathless.

His passion for unique designs that reflect each client’s’ individual personality and style is evidenced by his many loyal clients – across California and the world – who refuse to purchase their fine jewelry from anybody but Mitch.

Social Media Success! Bastian Salon Celebrates 4 Years with GANZ Media!


salon-4

In 2012 we met the owner of Bastian Salon at our tradeshow booth put on by CBS Radio at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Like many new retail business owners, they were faced with the challenge of creating an online marketing program.

GANZ Media analyzed their top local competitors to determine a baseline for how other hair salons promoted themselves though both the use of their websites, and social media. We determined which were the most effective social media channels to use, the frequency and type of content used for online promotions, and the most popular and relevant topics being discussed. The competitors revealed not only what areas should be focused on, but showed what was missing, thus giving Bastian Salon an opportunity to differentiate and stand out.

salon-3

Using their logo, we setup Social Media Profiles on Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Then GANZ Media started a monthly social media management campaign. In the beginning, the owner of Bastian Salon reviewed the content we created every 2 weeks (in advance of it posting). Items sent out over social media included: monthly promos & specials, industry news, positive Yelp reviews, and haircuts of happy customers. We came to their grand opening and took photos and a series of YouTube videos. After a trial period, they allowed us to send out content without a bi-monthly review process.

Within 3 months Bastian Salon ranked #1 in the Search Engines for Hair Salons in Artesia. This was even before they had launched their website! At that time the owner provided the following quote:

“I’ve been receiving plenty of congratulatory messages about the salon. I’m enjoying the new “flavor” of our FB posts and tweets. Thanks GANZ Media! Social Media Marketing Plan & Monthly Management & SEO.”

To date, Bastian Salon enjoys 189 Yelp reviews (4.5 out of 5 stars). With thousands of viewers sent to their site every month through social media, and dozens of new clients every month, Bastian Salon is happy with the results. As you can see from their recent Yelp Review for GANZ Media:

“Our small business started out with Aaron from day one. That was nearly 4 years ago. We expanded into a 60% larger space and from 2 employees to 8. Aaron and Ganz Media have been with us all along. Thank you, Aaron for putting the word out there about us!  I really appreciated having your help during our early days!”

salon-2

 

ABOUT BASTIAN SALON

Specialties: Aveda Products, Aveda Color, Yuko Hair Straightening, Anti-Frizz by Yuko

History: Established in 2012.

Bastian Salon originally opened with the idea of being a space where similar-minded artists could create and share.  It wasn’t enough just to “do hair.”  We became a group that wanted to continue learning – to be more and to give more.

Business Owner: Bastian Villarama

bastian-master-stylist

I can hardly believe it’s been 20 years since I started in the hair industry. I’m a 4th gen stylist which includes my mom, sister and grandmother. It really is a craft I am proud to be a part of and my passion for it continues to grow. I worked in our family salon on Guam for two-thirds of my career and trained at the Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, CA many times over the years. In 2010, I trained at the Sassoon Academy London for 6 months in cutting and coloring. What an experience! Still, I wanted more, I was blessed to be able to join the Sassoon creative team as a stylist. My time with Sassoon has taken me to Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Miami. Now, I’m back in the Cerritos area starting a new adventure. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

GANZ Media Launches Press Campaign for World’s first Automotive Dynamic Cabin Pressure Checker


CASE STUDY: Validyne Engineering

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Press Campaign for World’s first Automotive Dynamic Cabin Pressure Checker & More!

We began working with Validyne in January 2013. A World Leader in Variable Reluctance Technology (VRT) and Pressure Sensors since 1968, Validyne contracted with GANZ Media to complete the following:

  • Created 2 Line cards (digital flyers) as a tool for their sales force
  • Developed Social Media Plan & Competitive Analysis to evaluate online trends
  • Conducted Monthly Social Media Marketing & Blog postings
  • Performed SEO Optimized Social Media profiles to boost rankings in the search engines
  • Created a Series of Press Releases including a Nationwide announcement introducing the World’s first Automotive Dynamic Cabin Pressure Checker for the Transportation Industry.

These efforts produced the following:

  • Provided Inbound Marketing Strategies for Website resulting in 120 new leads per month vs. 10 previously
  • Developed Email Campaigns with average 15% open rates and 3.2% click through rates, increased online followers and Social Media reach
  • Press Releases resulted in over half a dozen Magazines & Publications

3 Reasons Facebook is Too Big to Fail


3 Reasons Facebook is Too Big to Fail

3 Reasons Facebook is Too Big to Fail

Facebook stock is down, but the future is looking up.

Let’s face it, the Facebook IPO was drastically overvalued.  Overly optimistic traders, corporate greed, a shift in members viewing Facebook on smart phones vs. PC’s (resulting in fewer advertising opportunities) are among the many reasons for a lower than expected IPO and corresponding current stock price. And while its revenues represent only 1% of the world’s $507 billion in total ad spending, the growth opportunities for Facebook are limitless.

It is not uncommon for a stock price to dip significantly after its IPO. Companies such as LinkedIn and Angie’s List experienced similar plunges. LinkedIn’s share price was $94.25 in their first day of trade after their IPO, yet plunged to $63.71 a month later. It currently trades at $105 a share. Angie’s List Inc., the consumer-reviews site, had a first-day close after the IPO value of $16.26, up 25 percent from IPO price. It dipped to $11.56 within the first month. Four months later the price was $18.89.

There are many examples of tech stocks which have performed well after initially dipping in price.  Google is currently trading at $675, compared to $84 since its 2004 IPO. Apple stock prices were at $22 dollars for its IPO back in December of 1980 – and increased 1700% within one year – and as of today are trading at a whopping $665 per share (over a 4000% increase). What is most important to recognize is not the short term expectations, but the long-term growth potential of this technology platform. There are three reasons Facebook is too big to fail:

1) Lifestyle Facebook is not just a software application, it is a way of life.

Individuals can find lost family members, old classmates, share pictures and events with friends and family, and chat live with other members. According to Mashable.com, the average person spends 5 hours and 46 minutes per month on Facebook, up from 4 hours and 39 minutes back in June of 2009.  This is more than Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Microsoft, Amazon and Wikipedia combined!

2) Advertising Machine Facebook relies on Ads to drive revenues.

While there has been a shift in members viewing patterns on Facebook from personal computers to mobile phones (which have fewer ad opportunities due to a smaller screen), Facebook has barely scratched the surface of reaching out to other companies to partner with. Companies with large networks of people have the ability to exponentially grow the views and ad opportunities. The same untapped potential is true of 3rd party software applications that allow Facebook users to share content with online friends, and login with their existing Facebook logins.

3) Demographics Collection and Meta Data build value.

The most significant accomplishment of Facebook is the statistical data they have compiled. Users fill out their age, physical location, interests, simply by signing up. Pages users view, topics they frequent, companies they visit, all are collected which allows Facebook to search for patterns that their advertising department can capitalize on. But even more than that, Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon have all have teamed up to share demographics (meta-data) from one site to another. While in many cases the personal information or identity of a specific person cannot be revealed, those seeking to advertise now have a larger reach, and the most precise statistics ever available. As the number of technology partnerships increase, the value and advertising opportunities increase.

Like any other tool, technology can be used to build or to harm.  Other Social Medial platforms such as MySpace have gone by the wayside. This is not because they weren’t useful, but because their technology did not keep up with the changing needs and demands of their users. Facebook understands their users. They “get it”.  Improvement of existing features, incorporating new features such as Timeline which allow users to display more content (and allow for more advertising opportunities), a large R&D budget, and an untapped world market guarantee a long and profitable future.

Click here to contact GANZ Media today and find out how we can create a Social Media Campaign for you!

What Social Media is and why your company will fail without it.


What is Social Media?

GANZ Media Social Media Global Chart

This is Social Media!

 

The Internet is a transformative force, especially for businesses. When the World Wide Web first arrived in the late 1990s, companies were unsure if they should have a website, how to properly use them, and what content to put online. Today nearly every business of any size understands that a website is a necessity, and most can’t conceive of how they would conduct business without one. Like those early days of the web, Social Media is in its infancy. There are few standards, and less general understanding for how Social Media can and should be used to increase business. And yet, like the Web, Social Media has the ability to transform your business, increasing your sales and building trust and rapport with your clients and customers.

 

1. Social Media (Function):

Imagine what the future of Apple computers would have been if Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, after building their first computer in their garage, had simply announced over a bullhorn to their neighborhood that the future of personal computing had arrived. Would anyone have taken them seriously? They had no credibility, no track record. In fact, they were just one of thousands of computer kit builders in the United States at that time.

Instead, Apple launched their product and generated a significant following through years of organic growth through tradeshows, developer forums, outdoor concerts, and more recently selling a technology lifestyle though brilliant ads appearing on buildings, billboards, and breathtaking storefronts in malls and shopping centers across the country.

If you have ever watched the hit TV show ‘Madmen’, you can see how advertising changed the face of history in the 1960s. New promotional techniques combined with improved channels of communication altered American culture forever and expanded the possibilities for businesses to reach their customers. Branding was born.

Social Media is a new content distribution channel that is being used by businesses to increase their exposure and improve customer relations. Think of Social Media as the new digital Public Relations with a twist. Could you imagine Apple without a public relations department, or Microsoft without a marketing division? While the method of communicating with clients and customers has shifted over time from Radio, to Television, then to the World Wide Web, and now Social Media, each new technology allows for greater reach and greater participation from customers without replacing what came before. Social Media can significantly lower your marketing budget and can dramatically improve your overall marketing reach. Social Media marketing costs are far lower than traditional print and a fraction of TV and radio ads. Given the amount of competition for customers’ attention and dollars, companies cannot simply rely on the traditional methods of marketing and expect to survive. Having access to cutting edge tools can help you stand out in your industry and perhaps even lead the pack.

Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing were not simply fads companies adopted and then later discarded. They were new ways of thinking about getting the word out on the street about a product or service, using the available technologies, and developing new processes along the way.

Social Media is one of the newest technology-based sets of tools available for businesses. The world-wide popularity of Social Media sites has shifted a “Tweet” from a message used by teens to tell each other what they had for lunch, or who their favorite singer is, to a media powerhouse companies use to announce IPO’s, announce mergers, release new products, and connect with their users, customers, clients, and stakeholders.

 

2. Social Media (Structure):

In the classroom there is not just one type of student. You have visual learners, auditory learners, and those that are a mixture of the two. In Social Media, one size does not fit all. There are multiple platforms, each appealing to a different online segment: Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter), Video (YouTube), Pictures (Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr,) Music (Pandora, Spotify), Location-Based Services (Yelp, Foursquare), Collaboration (Google Docs), and Interest-Based Networks (LinkedIn, Plaxo, Xing). Each of these channels appeals to different types of potential customers, and many appeal to more than one. It is important to understand each choice, how the consumers are using it, and how to best use these tools to communicate, build relationships, and sell.

3. Social Media (Unique Properties):

Websites in the past have been little more than online brochures, providing static content, and requiring much effort to drive traffic to them. Social Media is different in that it allows companies to engage in a two-way dialog with customers and vendors, and encourages participation, allowing businesses to pose questions, launch polls, and create surveys to get instant feedback from their target markets and buyer personas.

The collective nature of Social Media allows content to reach a larger audience at a quicker rate than ever before. Similar to a fire, where a small spark can turn dry brush into a wildfire, a simple Tweet can incite nations to act (think Tunisia and the Arab Spring); announce world-wide product launches (the Apple iPad); and potentially reach hundreds of millions of viewers (YouTube: KONY 2012 received 100 million views); all while driving traffic to your website/fan page, making your smart phone ring, or filling your email Inbox with hundreds of new potential customers.

4. Social Media (Advantages):

Small companies can now compete at the same level as the major Fortune 500/1000 corporations. Since many Social Media technologies are free and can be automated, the only expense is for expert advice and training. The first step to Social Media success is seeing what your competitors are doing and start looking for trends.

Through Social Media, you can position yourself and your business as a thought leader (an expert in your industry or niche). Instead of sending one way messages that interrupt the attention of your customers (and thus compete with every other interruption), Social Media allows you to engage your customers in a two way communication where they seek you out, and you provide the information they want when and how they want it, which increases the potential impact of your message many times over.

The most important thing to know about Social Media is that your customers want to find something unique or novel. They want new content, special discounts, or hard to find resources that aren’t available in either in your physical retail locations or on your website. If your Social Media strategy takes this into account, you will have mastered the essence of this new technology. Social Media is not just a repeat of your other messages. It is like the difference between radio and television—show, don’t tell.

5. Social Media (Drawbacks):

A poorly crafted Social Media campaign can alienate customers, cost you business, and can remain permanently posted on the Internet. Starting a social media program and stopping for month, or even a week, can give the impression of an unmanned ship, and reduce your online credibility. Not having a dedicated Social Media specialist and a crisis response plan means you lack the ability to instantly turn a customer service problem into a solution, leading to a potential public relations problem. A bad Social Media program will cost you credibility.

Conclusion:

The cost of doing nothing is much higher that doing something, even if you get it wrong the first time. Analyze your competition, develop a plan, and go for it! The very existence of your business may depend on how you approach Social Media.

Contact GANZ Media today to create a Social Media plan for your business!

 

Retailers Fail to Understand Social Media! – Gamestop & J.C. Penny Facebook Failures


Facebook “F-Commerce” enables consumers to purchase online using Social Media: but is it a bust?

Retailers Fail to Understand Social Media! - Gamestop & J.C. Penny Facebook Failures

Retailers Fail to Understand Social Media! - Gamestop & J.C. Penny Facebook Failures

 

Last year Facebook launched a new platform for online purchasing through their Social Media platform called F-“commerce”.  Many large retailers jumped on board to sell using this new distribution channel without understanding Social Media, and those who use it.

In a recent Bloomberg article GamesStop & J.C. Penny were cited as halting their Facebook store presences after disappointing sales. The article inferred that major retailers pulling out was a result of a poorly designed strategy by Facebook as a company, and would weaken their proposed upcoming IPO.  The real story is that the failure of Retail stores launching into Facebook e-commerce is a lack of their own understanding their digital audience.

Retailers enter the world of Social Media marketing without an understanding of the unique buying patterns of their visitors. They offer nothing new: no novel product or content, duplicating efforts found on their company websites or in the store.

Here are five tips for Retailers looking to use Social Media-

Retailers may want to consider:

1) Selling specialty items: hard to find or rate items not found in the store will keep existing shoppers excited, while bringing in new customers that might not normally shop at the physical stores.

2) Selling overstocked items: retail outlets can reduce inventory and cut storage costs by creating an outlet for products that are not flying of the shelves as fast as they would like, or selling used items as well.

3) Providing discounts not already found on website or in store: unique discounts, special offers, and linking them to QR codes on printed marketing materials.

4) Posting unique content: original news items, articles, customized Facebook apps & games, that keep viewers coming back for more. Creating a “Like Us” tab to showcase video and pictures combined with an opt-in email/newsletter sign-up. These allow for more advertising opportunities as well.

5) Incentivize sharing with friends: referral programs, “Like Us” programs traded for discounts, and integrating Social Media icons & links into every company email (both for corporate & employee sales teams).

[See article reference]

Contact GANZ Media to see how we can help launch your Social Media Campaigns!

Bestselling Author partners with Nerium to build a first-of-its-kind Global Skincare Line


Nerium is a revolutionary new skin care product, spear-headed by Jeff Olson, bestselling author of the Slight Edge.

Rene Protacio teams up with Jeff Olson, CEO & Founder of Nerium International and Best-selling Author of the Slight Edge!

Rene Protacio teams up with Jeff Olson, CEO & Founder of Nerium International and Best-selling Author of the Slight Edge!

In mid 2011, Nerium SkinCare, Inc. partnered with Nerium International to build a global, first-of-its-kind botanical skincare line based on a strong, scientific foundation. The direct sales industry generates $125 billion per year, and skincare is the dominant category in the industry.

When Nerium International needed someone help introduce Nerium to the World and to head up their LA Division, Rene Protacio was the man they came to. With International connections in Japan and Los Angeles, Rene has implemented branding strategies that have taken the company by storm! Maintaining a long standing career of dedicated service in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Japan, Rene holds a unique insight into the Asian market.

Seeking to work with leading vendors in the Social Media space, Rene teamed up with GANZ Media.  By working with Rene to understand the Nerium process, GANZ Media developed a Social Media Plan that has helped to develop nearly 100 Organic Twitter followers in just under two months! Organic Twitter followers are subscribers which have a direct relationship with a company or client, and are more loyal, and valuable connections than simply traditional followers.

Testimonial from Rene Protacio, Brand Partner:
“GANZ Media has been a consummate professional in developing my Facebook page and Twitter account. They taught me creative ways to promote my business online. One trait that separates GANZ Media from the rest is a true caring for their clients.”

You can follow them on Twitter, or find them on Facebook.