2013-05-20

Shanna Mallon

About Shanna Mallon

Shanna Mallon is a writer for Straight North, a leading Web development, Chicago based agency. She has been writing professionally since 2004, moving from newspaper reporting and book editing to her current role as a Web copywriter and food blogger.

Are You Safe on Twitter?

twitter-login

You might not think about this often, but broadcasting on the Internet includes some risk—How safe are you when you use social networks like Twitter? How much personal information about you is available online? Could posting on Twitter make you more likely to become one of the millions of Americans hurt by identity theft? When [...]

With Social Media, the Proof Is in the Payoff

whiteboard-twitter

Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about the business benefits of social media—but, if you’re like most business owners, you’ve probably found yourself wondering just how beneficial social media can be. How exactly does it work? Does Pinterest activity actually increase website traffic? Will posting on Facebook bring in new customers? What can Twitter do [...]

3 Things Amex Sync Could Mean for Brands

amex-card

American Express made headlines recently by launching its new Twitter program, Amex Sync. Through this new feature, users who sync their American Express credit card info with Twitter are able to purchase products that AmEx highlights, simply by Tweeting designated purchase hashtags. While the Tweet-to-purchase program is currently limited to participating merchants and products (such [...]

How Flickr Gets It Right

Flickr Gift Accepted

The first time I logged into my Flickr account in 2013, the photo-sharing network had a holiday surprise waiting: three extra months of Flickr Pro membership, at no extra cost. As a paying member with an annual plan, my three months get tacked onto the end of this year I’ve already paid for, like an [...]

Fight Fire with Kindness: How to Respond to Mean Customers Online

man-hiding-behind-computer

You don’t have to use social media long to see one of its biggest drawbacks—hiding behind computers often gives people more courage to be mean. Anonymous readers can leave hateful, hurtful words in blog comments or on social media, and you may be left wondering how to respond. Have you wrestled with this? If so, [...]

5 Things To Know Before You Start a Marketing Plan

5 things before marketing

Good marketing comes from good understanding—knowing what makes your company unique and knowing why the customer should care. Do you have this kind of understanding about your brand? You should. Before you launch a new marketing plan, here’s what you need to know. 1. What’s In It For Customers How will your product or service [...]

12 Things Most Business Owners Will Never Understand About Marketing

confused-man-at-desk

You don’t have to be a marketer for long to interact with the kind of business owners who just don’t get it. While most professionals today acknowledge marketing matters, few people know why. And when you find yourself needing to explain marketing to a CEO, this can be pretty discouraging. What can you do? Below, [...]

How to Explain SEO to Executives

Everything PR Screenshot

Getting CEOs on board with search marketing can sometimes seem like an impossible task—but it doesn’t have to be. Although it’s true that most executives are used to looking at their brands in a certain light and therefore have a hard time understanding why search engines see them differently, you can help them grasp the [...]

The Pros and Cons of Automating Tweets

twitter automation

In today’s world of smartphones and laptops and business on the go, it’s more popular than ever for people to be active on social media. Users are reading and posting Tweets at all times of day—and what all this online activity means for you, and your business, is great opportunity for influence, if you can [...]

The Case against Not Being a Contrarian

Printed technology

Like this title, a contrarian position can confuse and frustrate your audience … but does it work? Contrarian brands are powerful, but risky.