See how Josh, from The Junkluggers, used Manta to bring in close to $100,000!
February 2 Tweet Chat; How to Showcase Your Products & Services Online
January 23, 2012 by Anna Harper-Hess No comments »
We’re hosting a tweet chat & you’re invited!
When: February 2 at 2 p.m. ET
Topic: How to Showcase Your Products & Services Online
Hashtag: #MantaSMB
This chat will focus on the best ways to market your products and services online. We hope you can join us!
What is a tweet chat?
A tweet chat is an interactive way to use Twitter to have a conversation with others about a specific topic or idea. A moderator hosts the chat and keeps the conversation moving forward. This chat will focus on trends, tips and advice for small business owners.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to participate in a tweet chat:
1. At the scheduled chat time, log onto www.tweetchat.com (or whatever tweet chat tool you like) using your twitter name and password. Enter the hashtag at the top of the screen. In our case, our chat is on February 2 at 2 p.m. ET, and the hashtag is #MantaSMB.
2. Let your followers know you will be participating in a chat, then introduce yourself or wait for the chat to begin. The moderator will start the conversation by asking a question in all caps. Here’s an example: Q1– HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVING A FAMILY? #MantaSMB
3. When you answer questions, make sure you notate which question you are answering. For example: A1 – I set priorities so I can balance by time between my business and my family. #MantaSMB
4. Remember to add the chat hashtag to the end of your tweets. A tool like www.tweetchat.com will automatically do this for you.
5. Don’t be afraid to add your thoughts to the topic or to ask follow-up questions. As long as your questions are on topic, they are welcome during the tweet chat.
6. Avoid sales pitches or marketing messages; the chat is about sharing your experiences, not selling your products. Often moderators will open up the floor for these types of tweets at the end of the chat.
7. Get to know the other participants. As you start participating in the tweet chat, if you find some of the participants to be interesting, insightful or helpful, be sure to add these people to the list of Twitter users you follow. This is a great way to build your network.
Happy New Year from Manta!
December 31, 2011 by Anna Harper-Hess 2 comments »We wish you a safe and happy new year!
Grow Your Referral Network With New Features on Manta!
December 16, 2011 by Anna Harper-Hess 33 comments »In a blog a few weeks ago, we told you about some awesome new features we’re launching on the site to help you grow your business by building relationships. I’m happy to report that these new features are live! Here’s an overview of these features and instructions on how to take advantage of these new tools for your business.
Recommendations
There’s nothing more valuable than a referral from a happy customer. In fact, a recent survey of Manta users found that referrals are the most valued source of new business leads. Customers can recommend and promote your business directly from your Manta profile. We’ll email you when you get one, and you can decide how it’s displayed.
Get Started With Recommendations
It’s easy to get started. Simply email your best customers and ask them to recommend your business. Here’s a sample email you can use:
Dear______,
Thank you for being such a great customer. I value your opinion and would be thrilled if you would recommend my company on Manta.com. To recommend our products or services, visit my company profile at: [insert link to your Manta profile] and click on the “Write a Recommendation” button on the right side of the page.
Thank you for supporting my company!
Regards,
[your name]
Social connections
Connect with–and follow–the companies you’re most interested in, including the places you worked or advised, the schools where you studied, and the organizations you belong to. Each connection gives you added credibility by association and puts you in front of more partners, prospects and customers. As you follow more companies, schools, and organizations, you’ll find that other folks will start to follow your company, too. It’s a great way to connect with others!
How To Connect & Follow Companies
To connect to a company or organization, simply search for the company name on Manta, then click on the button that says, “Do You Work Here or have some other connection?” Once you’ve filled in the details, you will begin to receive notifications of new activity on that company’s profile. If you’re interested in following a company on Manta, but don’t have a specific connection to them, just click the button labeled: “Follow This Company.” All of the companies you follow will appear on your Manta member profile, so you can manage your connections.
We hope you enjoy these new features. When you get a minute, comment on this blog, message us on Twitter, or comment on Facebook and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear your feedback!
Tweet Chat Recap: Customer Service in an Online World
December 1, 2011 by Anna Harper-Hess No comments »Below is a slideshow recap of today’s chat on Customer Service in an Online World. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in today’s chat! The full transcript of the chat can be downloaded by clicking here.
Movember and the Manta Mustaches
November 23, 2011 by Michael Halvorsen 1 comment »
Last year, many of the men of Manta came together to create a Movember team. This year we’re at it again but with a much larger team. At the beginning of November, 18 men at Manta started with a clean-shaven face and began growing a mustache in support of Men’s Health.
We’ll be growing our ‘staches for the month of November, wearing them as a banner to support men’s health issues. Many friends, family members and coworkers have asked us about the sudden change in facial hair, which has turned out to be a great conversation starter.
Did you know that prostate cancer is more prevalent than breast cancer? Using our ‘staches we’ve been able to reach out to so many people to talk about these men’s health issues, bring awareness and continue the research for a cure.
The facts are scary:
- 1 in 6 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
- Every 15 minutes, a man dies with prostate cancer in the U.S.
We’re raising money for Movember to benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG. While most of the donations so far have come from friends and family, Manta Media Inc. also has agreed to donate to the team. Donations are tax deductible, so please help support us or your local Movember team.
The Manta Mustaches Movember Team
December 1 Tweet Chat; Customer Service in an Online World
November 17, 2011 by Anna Harper-Hess 6 comments »
We’re hosting a tweet chat & you’re invited!
When: December 1 at 2 p.m. ET
Topic: Customer service in an online world
Hashtag: #MantaSMB
Like it or not, customers are talking about your business online, but many small businesses neglect to address online customer service questions and concerns. Join us for this chat and learn how to monitor what your customers are saying about you online, and tips on the best tactics to use when responding.
Tweet us, post on our Facebook page or comment on this blog with your questions about customer service prior to the chat, and your question could be featured.
What is a tweet chat?
A tweet chat is an interactive way to use Twitter to have a conversation with others about a specific topic or idea. A moderator hosts the chat and keeps the conversation moving forward. This chat will focus on trends, tips and advice for small business owners.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to participate in a tweet chat:
1. At the scheduled chat time, log onto www.tweetchat.com (or whatever tweet chat tool you like) using your twitter name and password. Enter the hashtag at the top of the screen. In our case, our chat is on December 1 at 2 p.m. ET, and the hashtag is #MantaSMB.
2. Let your followers know you will be participating in a chat, then introduce yourself or wait for the chat to begin. The moderator will start the conversation by asking a question in all caps. Here’s an example: Q1– HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING A BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVING A FAMILY? #MantaSMB
3. When you answer questions, make sure you notate which question you are answering. For example: A1 – I set priorities so I can balance by time between my business and my family. #MantaSMB
4. Remember to add the chat hashtag to the end of your tweets. A tool like www.tweetchat.com will automatically do this for you.
5. Don’t be afraid to add your thoughts to the topic or to ask follow-up questions. As long as your questions are on topic, they are welcome during the tweet chat.
6. Avoid sales pitches or marketing messages; the chat is about sharing your experiences, not selling your products. Often moderators will open up the floor for these types of tweets at the end of the chat.
7. Get to know the other participants. As you start participating in the tweet chat, if you find some of the participants to be interesting, insightful or helpful, be sure to add these people to the list of Twitter users you follow. This is a great way to build your network.
Coming Soon! New Features to Grow Your Business
November 16, 2011 by Anna Harper-Hess 31 comments »Hi Everyone,
We’re launching some really cool new features to help you enhance your business presence on Manta and we want you to be first to know about these new changes.
Here are just a few of the new profile features you’ll see in the coming days and weeks:
- Recommendations: Allow customers to recommend and promote your business directly from your Manta profile. We’ll email you when you get one, and you can manage how it’s displayed.
- New social connections: Enable you to connect with–and follow–the companies you’re most interested in. You’ll be able to connect to the schools where you studied, organizations you belong to, and the places you worked or advised. Each connection gives you added credibility by association and puts you in front of more partners, prospects and customers. And they can follow your company, too, as a way to stay in touch.
- Product/service showcase: Provide more valuable, detailed content to differentiate you from your competitors and show visitors some specific details for your various offerings–and even include photos. And all of this additional content means better visibility across major search engines.
Below is a screen shot of how some of these new features will appear. Be sure to check them out and let us know what you think!
The Manta Team
