Cheap Revolution

Have You Planned for Google Reader's Shutdown Yet?

We're about two and a half months away from July 1, 2013, when Google Reader is due to shut down. By now, many bloggers have switched to Feedly, The Old Reader, or other alternatives to consume their news if they were using it in the first place. 

However, one critical misstep is not setting up a plan to retain the readers that are subscribing to your blog. I've already replaced my RSS Reader with Feedly because the switching cost was low as it allowed me to import my Google Reader settings automatically. Not many others possess that feature. What if your readers choose to stop consuming information through a Reader? You may think to yourself, "Well, they'll catch it on Twitter, Facebook or one of my other social media outlets." Are you really going to count on your readers being online at the same time you post or soon after?

The advantage to RSS readers is it permitted us to scan all our feeds in one centralized location at our convenience. Social media streams are constantly changing and don't provide the same benefit although they have other perks. That said, more and more of us are consuming information through social networks these days, especially for breaking news. Distributing information through these outlets isn't a viable, permanent replacement for everyone.

How can you expand your pool, keep your audience engaged, and minimize the impact of your site traffic? The answer is by utilizing an RSS To Email tool. 

Providing a subscribe by email option allows readers to receive an email when a new post is published. We all use email and we know how it works. From the bloggers standpoints, they receive more control and a direct opportunity to reach their audience. In addition, building an email list becomes a nice added benefit. 

For a list of RSS to Email tools, check out this comprehensive blog post from CrazyEgg. We're currently contemplating trying out RevResponse's RSS To Email tool which is a free solution. At this time, it makes sense to direct your eyes to the sidebar where ours lives :-). 

Are you concerned with Google Reader closing its door? Why or why not? 

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How to Use Facebook for Mobile Marketing

In 2011, more people bought a smartphone than a PC and one in seven searches was conducted on a mobile device.

Over 500 million people use Facebook on a mobile device and it's outgrowing desktop use by two to one. That means people are spending twice as much time checking Facebook on their mobile device than their computer.

For businesses to take advantage of this trend, Hubspot has compiled a whitepaper on how to use Facebook for mobile marketing to generate leads. This is a really good read for startups and small businesses. 

After going through this 42-page eBook, you will know how to:

• Create mobile friendly marketing campaigns
• Update your website for mobile apps
• Design posts that are optimal for mobile devices
• Use Facebook ads on mobile
• Measure the success of your campaigns

Turn Facebook into a powerful social channel by downloading this free eBook. 

9 Creative & Affordable Gift Ideas for Employees

Running a small business is tough these days. During uncertain economic times, you need to be constantly keeping an eye on your bottom line.  Although you want to show your employees they are valued and appreciated, you need to do it on a budget. But just because you are looking for ‘cheap’ gift ideas for your employees doesn’t mean you have to give them the impression that you’re cheap. 

There are several ways you can show appreciation to your employees without breaking the bank. Here are nine gift ideas that are both affordable and will make your employees happy:

1. Free Movie Tickets

Fandango.com is a great place to get movie gift cards for employees. A night out at the movies for two with popcorn and drink in most parts of the country for around $25. If your employees are movie lovers, this is a gift that is sure to please. 

2. Get Your Employees Fit in 2013 with FitBit 

FitBit.com has a device called the Zip Wireless Activity Tracker (available for $59.95) that tracks all your steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled throughout the day. These stats can be kept online and on certain smartphones like the IPhone 4S or 5. FitBit’s Activity Tracker keeps people motivated and moving toward their fitness goals. And it does so in a fun way. We all know that the reason most people do not go to the gym even after spending money on a membership is lack of motivation, and this device helps solve that problem.

Switching Costs and CAN SPAM Policies of Top Email Campaign Services

The end goal of all marketing is to attract interest and generate sales of whatever you are selling. And toward this end, email marketing is still one of the most cost effective ways to get in touch (and keep in touch) with both current and potential customers.

 In our most popular blog post, “7 Alternatives to Constant Contact,” we dove into the top email campaign services, their benefits, features, pricing and plans. Many of the comments asked about the ramifications of switching services and how CAN SPAM policies have impacted their email initiatives, which is what we’ll dig into this post. It’s most useful for those who are not satisfied with their email marketing campaign software or may be thinking of switching to a different service.