Archive for Social Media Marketing
3 Tips to Succeed with Social Media
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Most people are engaged with some form of social media these days and this trend is likely going to keep growing. As a business owner or consultant, this is the ideal time to incorporate ways to succeed in social media into your marketing platform, and it helps to know some basic dos and don’ts. In the article “How to Succeed with Social Media: A Brian Solis Interview, ” there are some pointers for mistakes to avoid and ways to make social media succeed for you. Here are some tips drawn from that article:
1. Don’t Rely on the Past: Social media is constantly growing and evolving. This is an exciting time as it seems that almost anyone can become an innovator. With social media, you can’t just take a template for what to do in social media and expect it to work just like it did yesterday. Because of this, it’s important to be open to experimenting and creativity, just as if you are a student to social media and learning what works. Basically, you have to keep evolving with what is available.
2. Don’t Forget to Blog: Not only are blogs important to succeed in social media, but if done correctly, they can add value to a website that ultimately has a blog that reads like a good book. The best blogs work to power and inspire others, rather than just add self-serving content or marketing jargon.
3. Do Keep a Facebook Fan Page: If you business doesn’t have a Facebook fan page yet, you’re missing out on crucial ways to build your brand and interact with customers. Not only can you customize the tabs in Facebook, but you can also have your Facebook fan page monitored by Google Analytics. Some experts are predicting that Facebook fan pages could become even more popular than Twitter, but only time will tell.
The most important thing to succeed in social media is simply to engage, be real and authentic, and to constantly be reevaluating and growing with the platform.
Multiply Your Facebook Fan Base
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Now that Facebook Fan Pages have gotten rid of the wording “Become a Fan” and replaced it with the “Like button,” chances are more fans will be showing their support. This new language makes it simple to capture the interest of fans. As fan pages are shared and promoted, this is the perfect opportunity to expand your fan base.
Rather than following the standard strategy of creating a fan page and inviting all your friends at once, there is a smarter approach. In the article 21 Creative Ways to Increase Your Facebook Fanbase, some good suggestions are given. Here are some highlights:
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Use your email list to invite subscribers. Since these are people who have already shown interest in your website, utilize them first by encouraging them to become fans and write on your fan page wall. In addition, you also also include a link to your fan page with any email signature. Remember, your fan page is an extension of your website and just as important to promote.
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Put Facebook widgets on your website. This is a softer way to advertise your fan page to interested users. Above the widget, write an action headline to entice visitors to become a fan and use the “Like button.” Use Twitter and Linked in as well to promote your fan page.
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Create a good landing page on Facebook. Just like your website, a strong landing or welcome page for a fan page is important. Consider incorporating video and interactive elements, such as encouraging comments.
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Use Facebook advertisements. Now that the “Like button” is in place, more Facebook users are going to press it. Use Facebook advertisements to get your name out there and encourage fans to join in.
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Add Google Analytics to your fan page. Facebook now has a Google Analyics tracker device that is free and easy to use. Check out the article How to Add Google Analytics to your Facebook Fan Page and follow the 3 steps that are outlined. After all, your fan page is an extension of your website, so tracking visitors is important.
As you can see, it’s an exciting time to multiply your Facebook fans. Try out some of these tips and let me know how it works for you.
60 Seconds to Using Twitter Hashtags
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Twitter hashtags are kind of a mystery if you’re new to Twitter or have never used them. Even if you’re a power user on Twitter, it’s still good to brush up on hashtags and how to best utilize them. They are actually one of the most simple and interesting features on Twitter.
If you’re not familiar, a Twitter hashtag is a phrase or name contained in a Tweet message with the # symbol listed (i.e., #jobs). Basically, it’s a way of identifying a subject so that others with the same interest will read and find your Tweet. All hashtags with the same phrase are categorized so that if you write a Tweet with #jobs in it, your Tweet will automatically be listed with all the others mentioning the same hashtag. As long as your profile is public, your Tweet will be in a searchable list. This is a great way for finding people with similar interests and phrases surrounding a key word.
It’s kind of like putting key words into Google, only you’re doing it through the platform of Twitter hashtags. Because you don’t want to see every Tweet with the words “job,” adding the #jobs hashtag is simply an easier way to search.
There is no formal or official way to use hashtags, but the practice seems to have evolved over time. On Twitter you’ll notice that are trending topics based on hashtags. The trending topics change daily, depending on things going on in the world, and they are especially popular during natural disasters. According to Mashable, hashtags became popular in 2007 during the San Diego wildfires with the #sandiegofires making the rounds on Twitter.
These days, Twitter hashtags have expanded to cover businesses, networking and sporting events, conferences, and pretty much anything in the popular media. While the trending topics come and go, some hashtags have stood the test of time. For example, #followfriday is a recommendation of Twitter users that are worth following. This phrase, which started as one weekly hashtag on a Friday, turned into an international and daily phenomenon. Do a search for “followfriday” and you’ll see what I mean.
To find more ways about using hashtags, read my article, A Guide to Twitter Hashtags.
