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What’s your QR Code look like?

Definitions on May 11th, 2011 1 Comment

qrcode

Need I say more… it’s all right here.

Learn more about what a QR Code is: http://www.google.com/help/maps/favoriteplaces/business/barcode.html

Create your personalized QR Code: http://qrcode.kaywa.com

13 Creative Ways to use a QR Code: http://www.fastcompany.com/1720193/13-creative-ways-to-use-qr-codes-for-marketing

 

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Social Media Business Basics visiting Hawthorne, Nevada

Business Intelligence, Teaching on May 10th, 2011 No Comments

Social Media Business Basics visiting Hawthorne, Nevada!

I am extremely excited and very grateful to have the opportunity to share best practices and techniques on how to use social media to promote you and your business.

First steps matter in how your platforms are constructed and used. By the end of the class you will have a road map with helpful tools to successfully integrate into your social marketing strategies.

WHERE: Hawthorne, Nevada
WHEN: THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2011
TIME: 8:30am-3:30pm

Questions? Send an e-mail to Kathy Carrico at kcarrico @ unr.edu or call directly to (775) 784-6879.

Sponsored by
Nevada Small Business Development Center

Agenda items include:

  • Strengthening your on-line presence
  • Reasons to create Profiles
  • Selecting a professional email address
  • Email recommendations
  • Setup a Gravatar
  • Create a quick profile page on Google and Yahoo
  • Google Places – list your business on Google
  • What’s Your About ‘ME’ Statement?
  • Keep a Cohesive and Unified Naming Convention
  • Setting up a Twitter Account is as easy as 1-2-3
  • Twitter Definitions
  • Twitter Tools and References
  • Setting up a FaceBook Account is as easy as 1-2-3
  • FaceBook Tools and References
  • Setting up a LinkedIn Account is as easy as 1-2-3
  • LinkedIn Tools and References

Social Media Business Basics - Traveling to Northern Nevada towns to explore how social media can empower small business

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Welcome to WordPress Power Point Presentation

Business Intelligence, Definitions, Tips and Tricks, UNR Extended Studies PPP on April 29th, 2011 No Comments

More than just a blogging platform

Welcome to WordPress

Download the Welcome to WordPress Power Point Presentation

A Step by Step Guide

If you decide to move forward and develop a website here are a few steps to take in order to make it as painless as possible.

1) Figure out what you want to talk about
2) Choose a Domain Name ( www.DomainName.com )
3) Setup a Gmail Account using domain name (DomainName@gmail.com )
4) Register Domain Name
5) Setup Hosting
6) Setup WordPress One-click Install
7) WordPress – What’s it all mean
8) Select a Theme and more
9) Add and publish content
10) Start Networking
11) Build Profiles on Local Pages
12) Plus much more …

Details of Class:
Creating WordPress Blogs (NEW CLASS SCHEDULE – COMING SOON)
Create your own blog and blog-based website with WordPress, an open-source blog tool offering a wide variety of features and a large supporting community. This course will guide you through the fundamental processes for building and maintaining your blog-based website from setup and design to marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). With step-by-step guidance, you’ll learn how to develop and customize the look of your blog-based website, integrating widgets, plugins, themes and more. You’ll also learn practical ways to use your blog for business, build your personal brand, establish expertise in your field, and create and maintain new sources of potential revenue.

 

Managing your website – without the hassle!

Business Intelligence, Teaching on April 14th, 2011 No Comments

Small businesses and non-profits are beginning to realize that they don’t necessarily need a custom built CMS (Content Management System) to run their website. Why not use a state-of-the-art publishing platform that focuses on aesthetics, web standards and usability – and not to mention... it’s FREE?

WordPress is the next best cost effective web solution for your business or personal website.

No need to purchase additional software, your site is accessible wherever there’s internet connectivity and most importantly, you own it. No monthly leasing payments.

There are also hundreds of Free and inexpensive WordPress Themes available to choose from that represent several business styles. You can make simple changes to represent your brand and brand messaging without the hassle of managing a fully custom built website. Instead you can focus your time on keeping your business successful!

Take a look at WordPress as a solution for your business or non-profit. View their Showcase and the many businesses and non-profits that are currently using WordPress as their choice for a publishing platform. The WordPress administrative area is easy to use to make updates to both your posts and pages. WordPress also keeps costs of having a dynamic website minimal because of the long lists of plugins that are available to customize your needs.

Creating WordPress Blogs begins April 26

NEW COURSE! Create your own blog and blog-based website with WordPress, an open-source blog tool offering a wide variety of features and a large supporting community. This course will guide you through the fundamental processes for building and maintaining your blog-based website from setup and design to marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). With step-by-step guidance, you’ll learn how to develop and customize the look of your blog-based website, integrating widgets, plugins, themes and more. You’ll also learn practical ways to use your blog for business, build your personal brand, establish expertise in your field, and create and maintain new sources of potential revenue. Learn more

About Kristy Crabtree
Kristy Crabtree has more than a decade of marketing and website communication experience. As owner of Westward Strategy & Design Group she knows that in today’s market, your on-line communication platforms are the core of your management and marketing strategies. Kristy is also an Instructor for Extended Studies, Social Media Marketing Certificate – teaching Creating WordPress Blogs (April 26, 27) and Online Marketing Strategies for Small Business Owners (May 10, 11).

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Online marketing strategy overview for Extended Studies

Strategic Planning, Teaching, Tips and Tricks on April 12th, 2011 No Comments

If 3 out of 4 people use social media and approximately 84% of consumers use search engines before making a purchase is your business their first stop?

Kristy Crabtree, owner of Westward Strategy & Design Group, knows that in today’s market if your business doesn’t have a presence online – you are missing out on potential sales. It’s as simple as that.

Find out WHY millions of businesses have a social media presence to expand their exposure and learn how to build yours effectively and efficiently. Discover best practices and techniques on how to leverage some of the best tools and top social media platforms to successfully integrate into your marketing and management strategies.

Topic discussion points

- We’ll talk about how to brand and market you as an individual to increase more leads for your business. I’ll explain why taking advantage of all of the ‘Free’ local business listings has an enormous impact on your search rankings.

- I’ll introduce to you one of the most powerful and easy to use publishing platforms available today and how businesses are using it to get their message to the right audience.

- We’ll review top 10 tips on how you can manage your own search engine optimization to increase your businesses exposure.

- I’ll give examples of the pro’s of having an active Facebook ‘business’ page and how it also increases your natural search rankings as well as using Facebook to promote your products and services through additional applications.

- We’ll talk about how to market on Twitter, what businesses see benefit, how Tweeting increases exposure and how to take advantage of micro-blogging.

- I’ll review leveraging LinkedIn and how to setup and use all of the available applications to promote your business on LinkedIn’s company profile page.

- Take home copies of the Power Point Presentation along with other helpful tips, tools and URLS will be provided.

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Social media business basics visits Fallon

Business Intelligence, Search Engine Marketing, Strategic Planning, Tips and Tricks, Westward Strategy on April 5th, 2011 2 Comments

Fallon, Nevada


I am extremely excited and very grateful to have the opportunity to share best practices and techniques on how to use social media to promote you and your business.

First steps matter in how your platforms are constructed and used. By the end of the class you will have a road map with helpful tools to successfully integrate into your social marketing strategies. 

I intend to throw as much FREE information at you as possible!

First stop on the 5 City tour
for Social Media Business Basics
is beautiful Fallon, Nevada!

  • WHERE: WNC Fallon Campus & Rural Development Computer Lab, SAGE 102
  • WHEN: MONDAY APRIL 11, 2011
  • TIME: 8:30am-3:30pm

Questions? Send an e-mail to Kathy Carrico at kcarrico @ unr.edu or call directly to (775) 784-6879.

Sponsored by
Nevada Small Business Development Center

Agenda items include:

  • Strengthening your on-line presence
  • Reasons to create Profiles
  • Selecting a professional email address
  • Email recommendations
  • Setup a Gravatar
  • Create a quick profile page on Google and Yahoo
  • Google Places – list your business on Google
  • What’s Your About ‘ME’ Statement?
  • Keep a Cohesive and Unified Naming Convention
  • Setting up a Twitter Account is as easy as 1-2-3
  • Twitter Definitions
  • Twitter Tools and References
  • Setting up a FaceBook Account is as easy as 1-2-3
  • FaceBook Tools and References
  • Setting up a LinkedIn Account is as easy as 1-2-3
  • LinkedIn Tools and References

plus more if we have time!

Stillwater Wildlife Refuge - Fallon, Nevada

About the Presenter: Kristy Crabtree has more than a decade of marketing and website communication experience. As owner of Westward Strategy & Design Group she knows that in today’s market, your on-line communication platforms are the core of your management and marketing strategies. Westward Strategy & Design Group specializes in developing relationships with businesses that are in need of strategic solutions in areas of website design, social media platforms and practices.

Kristy spends much of her recreational time in various rural Nevada locations as an amateur photographer and engages in camping, hunting and fishing whenever possible.

“Unlike other Reno web design or social marketing agencies, I don’t try to be all things to all people. Instead, I focus on implementing the latest, most effective online marketing strategies that work for you and your business.”

Guest speaker for NxLevel March 22

Web Design on March 14th, 2011 2 Comments

Kristy Crabtree will be a guest speaker for Cheri Hill’s NxLeveL for Entrepreneurs Class on March 22.

Subject – How to market your business online. What questions to ask, what to research, how to position you, your product or service and how to make you UNIQUE amongst the competition.

Learn more about NxLevel Entrepreneur Training with the Nevada Small Business Development Center..

3 tips for getting the most out of Google Places

Search Engine Marketing, Tips and Tricks on March 9th, 2011 No Comments

Here are 3 Tips for getting the most out of using Google Places for you and your business.  You can update your Places account at any time by signing in at http://places.google.com/business with your email address and password.

  1. Tips for creating a free business listing in Google Places: Business listing titles.

  2. Tips for creating a free business listing in Google Places: business types.

  3. Tips for creating a free business listing in Google Places: Adding useful descriptions and relevant categories.

Kristy Crabtree on Facebook Kristy Crabtree on Facebook