Archive for Social Media Marketing
Many companies are marketing on Facebook to brand themselves and reach customers. If you haven’t already gotten a Facebook page for your business, this should be high on your list, but also take note. Facebook loves to change things. We’ve all seen Facebook shake things up in the last year with their privacy settings and redesign of the Home page, and changes are going to continue.
Facebook is launching a new design that will eliminate the “Boxes” tab that appears on the left side of the page and in the “Boxes” tab at the top. This means that if you are using boxes to do marketing on Facebook, you’re going to need to change too. This will affect many businesses who currently feature promotional items or post videos in the “Boxes” tab.
As a replacement, Facebook users will use an applications tab to promote their content to fans. Facebook is also doing a redesign of the applications tab that will change the size from 720 pixels to 520 pixels, affecting many custom designs. Also, to make the applications tab more engaging, Facebook will use new ways to communicate with fans, including news feeds that appear based on the number of people who visit the page.
In addition, marketing on Facebook is going to become even easier as the site becomes an advertising platform. Businesses will be able to access email addresses from pages and applications, making it easier than ever to build an email list through their site. These changes are set to go sometime in 2010. In the meantime if you have any questions about how these changes will affect your Facebook brand, let me know.
Facebook is currently the most popular social networking site, with many users logging on daily and continuously sharing information with each other. According to their statistics, there are over 2 billions pieces of content, such as photos, website links, articles and blogs shared each week among users.
Now Facebook has also made it even easier to track and distribute this information, all with the push of a button. Known as Facebook Share, this tool quickly allows users to share content and measure how many people are reading the links. With a few lines of code, you can get the Facebook Share button as a widget on your website. The live counter keeps track of how often the URL is opened and sent to other Facebook users. It also gives you a few other key features, such as how many people “like” the link, how many comments are posted, and clicks back to your site.
The Facebook Share button can easily be added to a website. To try it yourself, go to Facebook’s widgets page and paste the html code into the body of your website. This is a great opportunity from Facebook to get real, measurable results and keep your marketing efforts going strong.
Article Marketing Basics: The Free Way to Drive Traffic to Your Website
Posted by: admin | Comments (3)If you’re looking to drive traffic to your website and establish yourself as a go-to person in your field, article marketing is a free (or low cost, in some cases) way to grow your business online. However, article marketing isn’t as simple as throwing together a few thoughts and sticking your article on your website. There are a few basics to follow, which, by the way, do not include being the world’s best writer. To start, you’ll need some good ideas, knowledge of your target market, and a sincere desire to help prospective clients find answers. A spell checker or proofreader doesn’t hurt either, especially since you want to keep the credibility you’ve worked so hard to establish.
Now it’s time to get down to business. You’ll be following four basic steps:
- Pick a topic that will resonate with your target audience. For example, If you are a dentist who’s trying to use articlemarketing to grow your business, don’t write an article about gardening.
- Choose relevant keywords that will show up on a Google search. While you don’t want to go overboard on keywords, try to use them at least once in the introduction, again in the conclusion, and a couple of times within each paragraph of the article—again, without overdoing it.
- Use smart writing to grab your readers. Remember, you are writing an article, not a thesis. You want to compel your audience to keep reading with tools such as short sentences and paragraphs, subheadings, lists, a great title, and a polished final draft. Remember those keywords are important.
- Publish your article online. The first crucial step is to upload the article to your website, since the search engines love fresh content! Once you’ve done that and you are the author of the article on the search engines, the final step is to submit it to online article directories. These can be found in various free and paid versions. Do a Google search for “article directories”
And there you have it! With a little effort, you can have an article marketing campaign by that is free to low cost—and easy to do. Now that you know these four basic steps you’ll be generating hot prospects and targeted clients in no time.
Twitter is gearing up to launch a new feature where tweets will have a location associated with them. This opt-in only geolocation tool will allow users to activate their precise longitude and latitude. You will then be able to see what topics are being discussed locally and easily find professionals in your area. Now, instead of getting a worldwide search, when you are searching for, say an “accountant,” you will be able to see tweets from the accountants in your area, as well as their location of business. If this sounds like an interactive yellow pages, it could have that potential as well as an interesting way to keep up with the buzz of what is going on locally in real time.
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone explains, “If people do opt-in to sharing location on a tweet-by-tweet basis, compelling context will be added to each burst of information. For example, with accurate, tweet-level location data you could switch from reading the tweets of accounts you follow to reading tweets from anyone in your neighborhood or city—whether you follow them or not. It’s easy to imagine how this might be interesting at an event like a concert or even something more dramatic like an earthquake. There will likely be many use cases we haven’t even thought of yet which is part of what makes this so exciting.”
Developers are currently testing the new features, which have many implications. While the tool could be a great way to meet people with similar interests or help businesses advertise more effectively, there are obvious privacy concerns. Having someone know exactly where you are and what you are doing is a red flag for opt-ing out of the feature. It all depends on how you use Twitter. For businesses, having a location tool seems like the ideal way to get customers to come to you. But for the average person who tweets from home or elsewhere, it could completely change the way we view personal privacy. Only time will tell.
By now, many of us understand the power Twitter has on business development and marketing. While Twitter is supposed to be a time-saving networking tool, many of us end up spending more time than we should searching keywords and links relevant to our business and industry. What users should be aware of in order to save valuable time and energy is the Twitter Search feature.
What is Twitter Search and how can it help you? Twitter Search (http://www.twitter.search.com/) allows you to view and review the information and people you want to connect with. You can view only the Tweets you want to view in real time. there is no time consuming search, the latest Tweets relevant to your search appear when you type in your desired keyword. In one place, you can simply analyze what your target audience is talking about, the latest trends in your industry and opinions about your service and product.
Using Twitter as part of your overall marketing strategy is an excellent way to connect with people and companies who have seemed unreachable in the past. Now the Twitter Search feature allows you to easily gain access to these connections without having to scroll through the masses. The best part of the feature is its ability to save your searches. Instead of starting your keyword search from scratch each time you log on, Twitter saves your keywords and the information you are interested in. In a sense, it automatically favorites the information, companies and people you are interested in.
I have provided the link above, but Twitter Search is also available on your Twitter profile page. For a while there, this feature was only available to a select group of users. However, after much trial and error, Twitter has made it available to all. All users now can see a Twitter search box to the right of their homepage under your account information. Once you type in a search, Twitter saves this information underneath the search box, creating a helpful list of topics and information.
Have you used the Twitter Search feature on your profile homepage? I find this tool very useful and would be interested in learning your thoughts and opinions as well.
Source: Mashable
This is a bit of a shocker. Facebook, who has seemingly been in a race to emulate many of Twitter’s features, just announced that it’s launching the ability for Facebook Page admins to simultaneously update both their Page and Twitter.
Facebook explains how this will work in a blog post:
“If you manage a Facebook Page, you now will be able to decide whether to share updates with their Twitter followers, and you also will be able to control what type of updates to share: status updates, links, photos, notes, events or all of them.
If you have multiple Pages, you will have the option to link each of those Pages to different Twitter accounts. This new feature will only link Facebook Pages to Twitter, not your individual profile. It will soon be available at http://www.facebook.com/twitter”
While that makes a lot of sense from a convenience standpoint – many big time Twitter users also have popular Facebook Pages and vice versa – it’s surprising to see Facebook so openly acknowledge Twitter’s reach. That said, by giving users the ability to update both services via Facebook, they’re clearly hoping that the Facebook Page will become the first stop for admins.
That would mean lots of “via Facebook” messages showing up in tweets, and in fact, it’s not hard to imagine Facebook quickly becoming one of Twitter’s most popular clients. However, I wouldn’t expect this functionality to be extended to user profiles anytime soon, which would clearly be a bigger win for Twitter than Facebook.
We did suspect that Facebook might be working something along these lines last month when messages “via penguin FB” showed up on Twitter by way of a Facebook engineer. But now, we know the details, and it definitely creates a lot more intrigue in the ongoing Facebook vs Twitter battle.
Hosting and attending events is an effective way to generate buzz about your business as well as introduce yourself to the very people you are trying to attract. As a host, using the Facebook event feature can help you keep organized and gain interest from your target audience. As an attendee, this feature can help you stand out before the event even begins!
So whether you are invited to an event through Facebook or are planning to host one of your own, you should understand how to use the Facebook event feature effectively. Here are the top eight steps to setting up your Facebook event and creating buzz in the process:
Use a catchy title
Just like creating a catchy title for your article, your event title needs to grab the invitee’s attention. Keep them excited about what is in store for them at the event. For example, instead of “BBQ at my place”, try something like “Mix, Mingle and a little Jingle BBQ!”.
Post an attractive photo
Post a photo that will grab the reader’s attention. Instead of a standard picture of a BBQ, use a group photo from last year’s event (if there was one), or even a funny picture of you cooking up hamburgers. Of course, the type of photo you use depends on the event and the audience, however it is important to post a picture that will entice the invitees to attend. If you are an attendee, share any photos you have as well. Whether they are photos from last year’s events or photos after the event has taken place.
RSVP with a message
If you are invited, RSVP your response to attend and write a message in the event box (seen on the invite to your profile page). Without even visiting the event page, your message will be transferred to its wall!
Write a message on the wall
When you click on the event invite, you will be taken to the event page. You can RSVP here and write on the wall. When you write directly on the wall, your response will feed to your profile as well as the feed of your friends. This will create more visibility for the event. This step is also recommended for the host; generating buzz on both ends.
Allow guests to invite friends
Create more visibility for your event by allowing your guests to invite their friends. Of course use this at your own discretion. Depending on what type of event you are hosting and how large you hope it will be.
Share the event
On the event page, there is a share button. When you click on this, your event (whether as host or guest) will be published on your profile page. Of course you will want to use your discretion with this and only share with the friends you feel would benefit.
Share with Twitter
Depending on the nature of the event, share with your connections on Twitter, posting a link to your Facebook event.
Post video
Before or after the event, invite guests and friends to view a video. This video can be footage from last year’s event such as guest speakers or of you personally inviting your guests. As a guest, if you captured any video, share it with the other attendees!
Share yourself with caution. The do’s and don’ts to your life in social media
Posted by: admin | Comments (0)How much personal information do you share with your contacts on social networking websites? Yes social media marketing is an excellent way to gain recognition, establish yourself as a professional and propel your business to success. But networking online also has the potential to provide information about your private life that you wouldn’t otherwise divulge in a person to person situation.
In order to be successful at social media marketing, you must establish meaningful connections. However, when is the information you are sharing with your contacts appropriate or inappropriate? How much information about yourself should you be sharing?
Below are the do’s and don’ts of sharing your private life while social networking:
Do be authentic
Let your contacts know there is a human behind the profile. Being genuine with your posts and not fibbing about who you are in terms of your beliefs, your career and your personal life will establish trust with your connections and open doors for long term relationships.
Don’t post pictures you will later regret
Your profile picture says a thousand words. Be sure your photo paints a positive picture for your connections. The last thing you want is to post a photo of you dancing on the table, beer in hand, at your cousin’s wedding! You don’t have to post a photo of you posing in a business suit, but be sure what you do choose to post is tasteful and non-offensive.
Do share interesting information
If you are going to share personal information about yourself, be sure it is information that will be interesting to your audience. Share pictures and stories of your last family vacation or an exciting event you attended. Steer away from marital problems (unless the topic is relevant to your business) and any other information you may regret sharing in the future.
Don’t share information such as phone number and address
Unfortunately, sharing too much private information such as your phone number and address could spell trouble if it ends up in the wrong hands.
Do use private messaging to share personal information
If you feel the need to share private information (such as your phone number or address) with one of your connections, do so through private messaging. Private messaging is there for the purpose of keeping things private. There is no need to share every piece of information with everyone on your contact list.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, I was lucky enough to attend this year’s Social Media Success Summit. As a certified Internet marketing VA, I have a vested interest in all things related to social networking and social media marketing. Of course I was thrilled to sit in on Gary Vaynerchuk’s presentation “How to Create a Mega Following and Mega Sales with Social Media Marketing”.
Gary Vaynerchuk is a social media guru, launching his family business, Wine Library to become a leading contender in the industry. With the help of major social media marketing tools; Facebook, Twitter and video blogging, Vaynerchuk understands the macroscopic power of Web 2.0.
With the success of his online personality at Wine Library TV (http://tv.winelibrary.com) (he attracts over 80,000 viewers) and his ability to use social media to grow his family business (he managed to increase Wine Library’s annual revenue from $4 million to well over $50 million); Vaynerchuk has caught the attention of such household names as Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien. He has also appeared on The Today Show, Nightline and Spike TV, to name a few. Not to mention, his latest book Crush It! Why NOW is the Time to Cash in on your Passion landed him a $1 million book deal with HarperStudio.
How is Gary Vaynerchuk so successful? Because of his ability to use innovative methods and modern technology to build his personal brand. The mentality and old adage “the world is in your hands” is taken literally by Vaynerchuk and has afforded him great fame and admiration among aspiring entrepreneurs and the media alike.
The mentality that has helped Vaynerchuk reach the pinnacle of success had everything to do with a strong desire to succeed and the use of every avenue available to get his name out to the public. Here are some tips I gathered from Vaynerchuk’s presentation; tips that will help you too reach success through social media marketing:
Control is in Your Hands
The so-called media ‘gate keepers’; editors and producers, no longer hold the weight they once did. We now have the power to determine our own success or failure. This can be accomplished through hard work and dedication as well as persistence attracting visitors to your website, gaining followers on Twitter and establishing fans on Facebook.
Word of Mouth is Important
Word of mouth is the best marketing method there is. This is why social media is so popular and so useful. It involves reaching out to your target audience and getting them to talk about you to their audience (and so on and so on). Your tweets and your status updates are the modern form of word of mouth marketing.
Social Networking is Your Job
Social media marketing is an excellent way to reach out to your target audience and launch yourself to success. The one secret however, is to treat social networking like your job. Take advantage of blogging software and write. Or get in front of a camcorder and create a daily video in addition to Twitter and Facebook. Use the platforms that work with you and your personality – market yourself with these tools on a daily basis.
10 Effective Steps to Increasing your Business Profits using Facebook
Posted by: admin | Comments (2)As an Internet marketing VA, I not only promote Facebook as an excellent marketing tool, but I use it myself. Facebook is powerful when used as a marketing platform. The possibilities for reaching business success are endless when you learn how to effectively optimize your Facebook profile.
Mari Smith, a renowned social media coach and the world’s leading expert on using Facebook for business, has developed 10 steps for maximizing your business performance using Facebook. With these 10 steps, you will attract your target audience and establish a loyal following, build your brand and increase your business profits.
I would like to share these 10 steps with you and have included them below:
Optimize your Facebook profile
Be sure to use a professional photograph. It is best not to use a photo of you at last year’s New Year’s Eve party. Also include a biography with information relating to yourself and your business. Be sure to use keywords that will attract search engines. And insert links to your website as well as your blog.
Choose your Core Message
Your Facebook profile should be dedicated to a core message. You want to update your status, on a consistent basis, with information that is relevant to your business or industry. The purpose of your presence on Facebook is to establish yourself as a key leader in your industry. Provide thoughtful and professional information that your target audience will appreciate.
Create a Facebook Fan Page
A fan page increases your visibility on the Internet. Using SEO strategies and rich media, you can attract unlimited fans. A fan page can also be promoted on your website using a fan box (click here to learn more about the fan box).
Add Friends Strategically
Congratulations if you are attracting friends to your Facebook and establishing meaningful relationships with prospects! You may be thrilled to see your popularity rising, however it is important to be strategic about who you allow to be your friend. Facebook does have a friending policy and the current limit is 5,000. Also be sure the friends you are adding are legitimate and not spam.
Relationships First, Business Second
Social networking is about establishing meaningful relationships. Not about pitching a sale. You want to let your friends know you care before making them see the benefit in your product or service.
Be Visible
Don’t just disappear from the Facebook radar. Be visible by posting (tasteful) photos, videos and status updates. Visit other people’s profiles and post to their walls with insightful comments and links. The goal is to be seen and heard everywhere, so when your products or services are required, they will think of you!
Promote Outside of Facebook
Let your website visitors and email list know they can find you on Facebook. Include a link to your Facebook profile in your email signature and add a Facebook badge to your blog and website titled “Find us on Facebook”.
Use Facebook Social Ads
Advertise your fan page and become a fan of other people’s fan pages.
Put a Time Limit on your Facebook Usage
Be aware of how much time you are spending on Facebook. Develop a strategy that works with you and your schedule to invest time in your social networking. If you find time is running short, outsource to someone who can dedicate more energy to this task!
Facebook Should be Part of your Marketing Plan
Don’t think of Facebook as only a social networking tool. Instead, think of it the same way you would think of running an advertisement; it is part of your marketing plan.
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