Since tomorrow is Independence Day, I thought we could talk about how to take advantage of holidays on social media networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Social media is effective because it connects your business with customers is a personal way. Many people get excited about holidays. They have traditions with family of friends thats are very important to them. Tapping into that emotion can help you connect and improve their customer loyalty.

Last week Google Plus turned two years old. The search giant's social network has had trouble catching up with the big players like Facebook and Twitter despite regular new features and updates. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider creating a page for your Brevard small business. There are some real benefits to being on Google Plus.

As a small business based in Brevard County, Effex Agency works with many of the local Chambers of Commerce and other economic groups. We wanted to tell you about "Made In Brevard" a joint venture among the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast (EDC) and the four Chambers.

When deciding what social networks are best for your small business, Pinterest has become a more appealing option for many. Visitors to e-commerce sites from Pinterest are more likely to make a purchase, making the image based social site an easy choice for retailers. Now, with the release of rich pins, Pinterest is making pins more useful and not just for it's users but also for brands.

Sometimes, when we talk to small business owners in Brevard County they ask about the free website options on the internet. Since Geo-cities in the early days of the internet there have been places to create your own "free" website. Now there are a variety of free blog and website options and most hosting companies offer a website builder tool. Free websites offer the ability to get your message out quickly and cheaply. Unfortunately, customers will see exactly that, a cheap website.

There's a lot of advice out there on how to get the most out of your business' Facebook page. When it comes to Effex Agency's tactics for Facebook marketing in Melbourne, Florida and elsewhere, we like to use the 50/30/20 rule as a good starting point.

When someone comes to us looking for search engine optimization in Melbourne, Florida, we always tell them the importance of starting with good content that informs the customer. More simply: write for people, not search engines.

One of the two content management platforms we use regularly here at Effex Agency is Joomla. For website projects that require multiple content creators, complex user account configurations or advanced business process features it's our choice.

There's an old marketing adage called the "rule of seven." It states, generally, that a prospective client needs to see or hear your message seven times before they'll buy your product or service. The exact number is debatable but the idea is simple. The more your business is out there in front of the public's eyes, the more likely it is people will develop the trust and familiarity necessary to do business with you. While the rule of seven has existed since before TV it's still good advice in today's world of accessable media and social networks.

Whether you're a one man shop or a company with a full sales department, thinking of your website as a member of your sales staff can help you see it's worth and better understand how to invest in improving it's functionality. A professional website is a resource for other sales representatives and a first impression for many people considering your product or service. If done right, your website might even be your star salesperson.