Are you on Google Plus yet? Have you created a Google Plus Page for your business?

Some 625,000 Google+ subscribers join each day and in just six months it already has 90 million users and is on pace to break through the 100 million user mark in February 2012.

Image from 6SMarketing

Here is a helpful template from DreamGrow correct as at October 2011 with the dimensions for the different elements on Facebook:

Profile Picture For Facebook Pages

Width: 180px
Height: 540px

Facebook Page Avatar - displayed against every post

Width: 90px
Height: 90px

Facebook Landing Page

Width: 520px
Height: Unlimited

Maximum Size Of Pictures That Can Be Uploaded

Width: 2048px
Height: 2048px

Maximum Size Of A Picture As Displayed

Width: 960px
Height: 720px
Facebook ads

Facebook Adverts

Picture width: 110px and height: 80px
Size: 5MB

Header: 25 characters
Body copy: 135 characters

Facebook Status Update

Status update length: 63,206 characters
Comment length: unlimited

Video

The maximum size of vide you can upload is 1024MB and a length of 20 minutes

And a bonus tip for your personal presence on Facebook:

Facebook Profile Timeline Image

Width: 851px
Height: 315px

Here is a helpful infographic from Hubspot with tips for your website home page if you are planning a redesign.

Some additional considerations would be:

- easy access to your contact details and if you are a hotel you would also want to have your phone number prominently on your website in text format (not as an image) and with your international dialing code

- links to your key social media channles that will be relevant to your target audience

- a quick navigation to your busines blog

- don't forget information you are required to legally post on your website which will differ in differeent markets.

What else do you consider is important?

Source: SEOmoz August 2011

You will find an associated article with 8 tips to grow the views of your online video series on my Google Plus Page here: http://bgn.bz/gp8ovt

What suggestions do you have that have helped you grow the number of views to your series of online videos?

Source: Jun Group using data from YouMe

If you are using mobile marketing in your business have you considered using augmented reality to engage your audience.

Here are a number of examples from the UK and Ireland of the use of Blippar a mobile app which integrates augmented reality - the first two links take you to the Android and iPhone app store to download the Blippar app to your mobile phone.

[View the story "Blippar Your Brand - Examples Of Using Augmented Reality" on Storify]

Here is an interesting initative that I came across today - the launch of Hireland.ie.

They have established a website and are encouraging small and medium enterprises in Ireland to pledge to create new opportunities.

On their website they published some research that had been undertaken with 150 SME's in Ireland (average number of employees was 36) to ask them about their recruitment plans for 2012 in Ireland. The survey took place between 9-12 January 2012.

I have certainly noticed a lot of new opportunities in the technology sector being announced of late.

Employment opportunties in SME's in Ireland forecast to increase in 2012

The results of the Amarach research are interesting read and not what I expected to find based on the conversations I have had with businesses this year:

• 52% of SMEs plan to hire one or more new employees this year
• Of those planning to hire they expect to recruit 4 new staffSMEs expect to employ an average of 4 new staff.

I personally have not met owners of SME's who have told me that they are planning to increase the number of positions in their organisations, but if research is born ot in new vacancies being created that is going to be great news for employment opportunties in Ireland.

The research also reported that the benefit they were looking forward to was the 'potential for better customer service'. Don't get me started on customer service (or lack of it in many cases). Great customer service is not dependent on number of staff - it's about education, culture and a employing talent in your organisaiton who have a mind set and desire to deliver great service.

But back to Hireland.ie - this is an initiative you can get involved in and pledge your support to increasing employment opportunties - check them out at http://www.hireland.ie.

Speculative job applications can lead the way to unadvertised opportunties

One quick tip for those who are finding it difficult to find an opportunity - don't give up on the speculative enquiries. I recently met with a young graduate who has spent their last 2 years in paid internships.

They wrote a speculative job application to an SME last Summer who were impressed with their experience, held onto their CV and called them for an interview when an opportunity arose in their company.

So yes there are opportunities to be found and more often than not the vacancies are not advertised.

As an ex-boss of mine used to say 'Keep the faith' - in this case with your job search!

If you are a non profit I am sure you are looking for new ways to raise awareness for your organisation and attract volunteers or donations.

Here is a great example of the Anthony Nolan association doing that in the UK.

Over on their Facebook Page they posted this great image of a 'collection box' but designed as a sofa.

They comment that:

• Right now, there’s £42.9m in loose change down the back of the nation’s sofas
• Just think how many lives we could save with that!
• Don’t let your change disappear behind your cushions.

Pop it in a 'Sofa of Change' collection box instead – and help us provide more lifesaving transplants.

I recall the Anthony Nolan association from when I lived in the UK. Their goal is to save the lives of people with blood cancer by matching them to people willing to donate their blood stem cells for lifesaving transplants.

Apparently only 30% of suitable doners can be found within a family. In 2009/10 Anthony Nolan found 937 matches.

You will find the organisation active through social media on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and their blog.

Learn more about their cause through this video - again a great execution explaining how you can become a stem cell donor.

 

 

If you are in the UK and want to get involved as a stem cell donor contact Anthony Nolan at http://www.anthonynolan.org