Review: The Zen of Social Media Marketing
The book The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Hyder Kabani for intellectual people who haven’t quite figured out social media. Her book is focused on how businesses can use social media and even how to behave in social media. The book starts at a beginners level but quickly moves to more advanced without becoming too much to grasp. I found that the book offers a very thorough guide focusing on three main channels,Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
There are a few things I especially liked. One is how she teaches etiquette on the sites. It outlines what to do and what not to do in order to ensure success. She also touches on how businesses should implement a social media policy. The book is good at keeping it real. She doesn’t promise overnight success but insists that it takes time and patience. She also does a good job at showing the big picture then focusing on how to get there. You are able to see how it all comes together. She also does a great job in showing how successful her approach is. There is a section that features 12 case studies plus the success of her company demonstrates how her approach works.
The book doesn’t lecture you. It focus on you and how you can benefit. The book walks you through each channel explaining how it works and why it may or may not work for you. She essentially helps you eliminate social media trial and error. Her empasis on you and you finding your own social media voice is powerful. Although her approach guides you it’s ulimately up to you to become successful.
Overall, the book is an easy read and offers a great deal of insight on social media. Her ability to appeal fr0m beginners to the experts is worth noting. The book offers something to gain no matter what level your social media expertise is. She offers an extensive amount of tools and techniques to learn all while doing an extraordinary job of capturing the best practices. The book offers practical guides and useful lessons not just general concepts.Since social media is rapidly changing she offers access to a website where you can get continuous updates. If your hoping to master social media marketing then this book is definitely a step in the right direction.
Your eCommerce Site MUST Become Mobile
I recently read Measuring Mobile App Effectiveness, an article that discussed the future and sustainability of the mobile web and mobile applications. I’d like to focus on how companies can take advice from the article and create successful mobile applications. The article points out that the average consumer has seven mobile applications they use on a daily basis. On top of that, there is an ongoing debate on whether to communicate with a consumer through text messaging or through a branded application. What do you think?
After reading the article it seems as though apps have the edge over the standard text message. This could be because of the user engagement you can gain through an application over a text message. Most consumers are using their phones before their computers to find out quick information. Therefore, it seems almost obvious that the next step is to make your exisitng eCommerce site mobile-friendly as the article suggests. Now the question being addressed is no longer should companies mobilize their sites but….
Where do you being the mobilization?
When thinking about turning your eCommerce site to more mobile there are a few things to think about.
1.How can we provide and maintain a quality consumer experience?
2.How do we become one of seven daily apps?
3.How can we stay current with new features changing and being added daily?
4.What becomes mobile and what stays online?
5. How does our app become a need?
Let’s discuss… Let’s think…. Let’s learn!
If you want to become the mobile application that is used on a daily basis… question five is necessary to answer. People use apps that help them get through the day. The more helpful your app is for the end user…. the more successful it will ultimately become. In order to be a lucky top seven app then it must offer a feature that the consumer wants and more importantly needs.
Now let’s back up to the first question… how can you provide and maintain quality customer service? The easiest answer ( can be found in the article) is to generate strong content and to have a strong content management system… but I’m telling you something you already know. In order to have great customer experience (minus an app) you need a strong content management system.
The hardest part in developing mobile application is determining what content stays online and what content goes mobile?What are your long term goals? Are you hoping to have consumers engaged online as well? How will you separate the mobile experience to the online experience? I have a couple ideas but I’m more interested in knowing yours. So what do you think should stay online or mobile…or should there be a separation at all?
5 Ways to Use LinkedIn’s New Group Functionality
Our ability to have freedom of speech drives many of the fundamental values of the American Dream. Our first amendment is what allows social media to be so great. LinkedIn Group feature is a prime example of how. As a LinkedIn member you are able to create an open conversation on any subject or profession. Users can comment, share information…you know…practice their freedom of speech.
More importantly however are the reasons why this Groups feature is so great. LinkedIn has improved upon this feature making it easier to engage in conversations. After reading LinkedIn Takes Groups To The Next Level, I thought I’d highlight and simplify it’s improved features.
1.The feature allows conversations to feel more personal, more interactive. There is no longer a barrier. You can share links as if you were on the homepage. Plus with your profile picture is attached with any comment you make.
2. You can click on the last three participants profiles to jump in on the conversation…if interested in what their saying… plus you can see what the entire conversation was all about by clicking the discussion headline or “See all comments” link.
3. Create and Vote on new content.You can comment and “like” content (ahem Facebook) This also helps you gauge what others are interested in by seeing what they like.
4. Follow feature allows you to receive email alerts so when select members of a group participate you can start to follow them. LinkedIn will begin to highlight active group participants as “top influencers,” so the most active in a group will influence more participation from other members.
5. LinkedIn will be integrate more with Twitter, greater sharing options with more ability to follow.
LinkedIn is continually updating and enhancing its features in order to make it the number one professional place to network.Thus far it has up to 67 million users and is growing. Get to know your LinkedIn profile as well as you know your Facebook profile. I think LinkedIn should be considered the first amendment in pursuing the online dream. It holds the keys to amazing networking possibilities, which is why we spend so much time on social networking sites anyway…right?
5 Steps to Making Monetary Gains With Your Content
Today’s guest post is written by Corry Cummings. Corry is the owner of Content Customs, a content creation company that specializes in high quality web content writing services. He also runs a blog over at Content Customs, which is managed and written by one of the head writers of the company.
One of the most important considerations for web site owners and web developers is content. Nothing has the potential to offer more visibility and better returns on investment than content. Unlike other marketing techniques, content works when you are not. This means that it is one of the major ways to secure the new American dream – passive income. However, it is not as simple as choosing a web site template and throwing some content up. There are generally 5 steps to making monetary gains with your content.
1. Perform Some Keyword Research
One of the first things that you should do (arguably before you even pick a web site topic) is perform some simple keyword research. Try to find keywords that web site surfers typically search for yet have limited competition. This may be difficult at first. Keyword research can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks. Be patient and find the markets in which you can compete. Your ample research will pay off in the end.
2. Observe the Basics of Search Engine Optimization in Your Content
When you first start developing content to make money on a web site, you must simply follow the basics of search engine optimization. Extensive search engine optimization can greatly slow down your initial efforts. It is much better to initially get some well written content on your web site that makes it a valuable resource than to spend weeks getting each page finalized before publication. At first, simply remember that your keyword phrases should be at least 2% of your total word count for each page
3. Establish a Target Audience
Recognize the traffic that you want to get and make sure your content addresses that audience directly. If you are catering to professionals, your web site will need to have a professional, non-conversational tone and include plenty of facts and statistics. However, if you are targeting a much younger or casual audience, your content must be casual and conversational. All of the traffic in the world is worthless unless you create a service that your visitors want and consider to be a valuable addition to their lives.
4. Secure Affiliate Offers and Products
This should be a rather obvious step. If you have nothing to sell or promote, you cannot make any money. Choose products that you can promote indirectly through content. It is absolutely crucial that you choose affiliates that relate to your content. You cannot expect to secure memberships or make sales if you attempt to sell dog collars on a web site that promotes video games. If you can gear your content to identify a problem that your visitors may have, you can easily solve that problem with one of your promoted products.
5. Launch Your Ongoing Content Marketing Campaign
Once you have your web site developed to the point that it can attract visitors and sell services or products, it is time to begin advertising. You can choose to target social media, blogs and other related web sites. Your main consideration is to exchange or build logical and valuable links back to your original content. Yes, this means that you might need to write some content for free. However, this is one of the only sure fire ways to build visibility and ongoing traffic to your web site.
You want your content to work for you. If the content is written properly, then there is no reason why the content does not make you money for years. It is also important however, that you market your content and build links to each page. Even if you decide to use a writing service of some sort, you still need to spend a lot of time putting together a content plan. You should thoroughly plan out each and every piece of content. This will insure that your not wasting any time, and that each page will work for you.
The Power of Douglas Karr and DK New Media
Who is Douglas Karr? If you don’t know, you should. Douglass Karr is a Social Media consultant, United States Veteran and the CEO of DK New Media, an online marketing company. His company helps implement social media into large technology companies. Doug himself is a professional speaker who does on-site strategic consulting or private blog coaching. This doesn’t do him or his company justice. Let’s get to know this guy and what he does a little better. Doug has helped hundreds of companies realize the power of blogging through his Corportate Blogging book due out in August. He is also the founding father of the Marketing Technology Blog which features many informed authors. Douglas himself has written 1,513 posts with his latest being How to Generate A YouTube Thumbnail. To say the least… this guy knows a thing or two about social media, blogging and search engine optimization.
The way DK New Media serves its clients is through a process. (taken from DKNewMedia.com)
1.Analysis – of the clients in terms of their current resources, strategies and implementations.
2.Implementation – of the tools and processes necessary to measure success.
3.Optimization – of campaigns to continuously improve the results as opportunities arise.
4.Automation – development and integration of tools and processes to reduce resources.
5.Education – of client’s staff to assume control and execution of the strategies developed.
This process ensures the creation of a successful strategy plan. They fully embrace the ideal of being partners with their clients versus consultants, developers or subcontractors. DK New Media has helped companies from all over the world. It is a company known for being innovative, creative and experts in this field. The Marketing Technology Blog showcases these very attributes by acknowledging other like minded experts and being as current as possible. This blog, in short, leaves nothing out. It provides all the technology and marketing advice you could ever want (or need). The blogs alone offer rich, relevant content from experts who have experience and know how…..not to mention these blogs are also interesting. However, don’t just take my word for it. Visit yourself and discover something new and valuable. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Douglas Karr…you can call him Doug…he and his company are one to read about.
And not to mention… he is the one who started me in the world of social media!
6 Ways to Benefit from Gatorade’s Social Media Mission Control
What do the following 6 things have in common?
1.Track Media Performance
2.Monitor Sports Landscape
3.Tracks Sports Trends and Buzz
4.Track Brand Attributes
5.Monitor Online Discussion
6.Proactive Social Media Outreach
This is Gatorade’s Mission Control.
Why should you care? Well, this is the future. Everyday companies are spending more energy and time on creating social data. They are also mastering the art of tracking, monitoring and creating all things brand related. Gatorade has an impressive, to say the least, social media command center. After reading this post on Gatorade’s’ Social Media Command Center I became slightly more enthralled by what this company is doing. They have honed in on what makes their brand work…what influences athletes….what engages….and then how to monitor all of this on one command center.
Essentially this command center allows them to make informed marketing decisions. Where the rest of us are stuck waiting on progress reports they are able to be proactive throughout an entire campaign. If something isn’t working they can adjust it automatically. Gatorade is monitoring its brand on social media while giving VIP access to more athletes. Gatorade is gaining perspective on whether or not this strategy works. If deemed successful the company will apply this to other areas of business.
What can you learn?
Let’s face it. You may not have the capabilities to create a state of the ark command center. However, you do have the capabilities to sow what they reap.
1. Follow Gatorade’s progress to gain perspective on what consumers pay attention to.
2.You can monitor what’s being said by taking time out to listen. You may not have high tech gadgets but you can do what they are doing.
3. Focus on your brand. What do you bring to the table? Track, monitor and create for your brand in all ways possible.
4. See what’s going on in your industry. Research what consumers are saying, tweeting, blogging, trending all in regards to your industry.
5. Reach out to consumers on social meda. Make new friends, ask/answer questions, begin discussions….
6. Be Creative. Take risks and set your brand apart. Maybe the next post you read will be about your great achievements.
5 Reasons Why Whole Foods Knows Social Media
Thanks to Mike Heffner at Express Employment Professionals in Greenwood, Indiana for sending me this story on Whole Foods. Whole Foods is giving their managers and their employees the ability to make their own “brand” on social. This shows an extreme trust because Whole Foods is switching from a centralized to decentralized brand messaging model.
If you go to Whole Foods’ site and click “Facebook,” you see a hub page that lists not only the main Whole Foods account, but all the individual stores’ accounts. This is a smart move, for 5 reasons:
1. It says that Whole Foods trusts its people. The company empowers its managers to speak online about their favorite beers, store events, jobs, you name it.
2. Potential applicants get a genuine glimpse of their local store’s culture. Knowing the culture of the Company-with-a-capital-C is only half of the story; future employees also want to know what it’s really like to work for their neighborhood store.
3. Allows Whole Foods to become a community. By creating these pages Whole Foods has embraced the idea of creating a community. Where customers begin to think of their trip to Whole Foods as a community experience rather versus just a trip to the store.
4. Through empowering its managers it empowers its customers. How? Customers now come in anxious to try what’s being talked about online. This gives credibility to its employees and allows the customer to engage offline.
5. All the information is in one spot. Future employees or customers can search for Whole Foods and find all they need to know without having to extensively search. The research is done for you; all in one stop
Whole Foods serves as an example of good online branding. They have successfully blogged about their industry, set up social networks where people can engage directly and empowered their current employees.Whole Foods sets a tone for other stores to follow. In this day and age no industry is left out, which even means grocery stores. They have been innovative with their online quest and serve as a good reminder on what to do.
5 Reasons Why Retailers Should Add Ecommerce to Facebook
Shopping online just got a whole lot easier. This is for all the stay-at-home moms, lazy dads and impatient people. Okay… I’m kidding… except for online shopping really has gotten easier. We are all busy and retailers have noticed. According to DMNews companies such as Avon, 1-800-Flowers, Gaiam and Brooks Brothers have added e-commerce to their fan pages and member news feeds. Facebook once again proves its functionality. Retailers can sell directly on Facebook by adding a “Shop” tab to a Facebook fan page. Fans can browse products directly on Facebook. This makes total sense. Not only can consumers visit their favorite brands on their favorite social media site they can now easily purchase without ever leaving. People spend a ton of time on Facebook and online shopping is a must for some so this expansion was only a matter of time.
1. Engaging with customers. The more time a customer spends on the companies fan page the more loyal they’ll become. Loyalty spurs customer evanglists which spurs brand awareness then growth…..you get the point.
2.Keep it Simple Stupid. Retailers understand the value of keeping things easy, simple and quick. People will spend more money on your brand if its easy to get/use. Consumers are literally shopping within news feeds and they can shop on fan pages just as easily as if on the actual web site.
3. Privacy. Implementing e-commerce apps or “Shop” tab allows customers to buy directly without giving their private information away. These companies specifically mentioned work with a technologies service firm Alvenda, so customers can feel secure when purchasing that their information goes to the store not Facebook.
4. Give the customer what they want. For example, if you have an upcoming birthday you can shop on their fan pages and put things on a registry or wish lists that can be shared on Facebook. Now there is no excuse for your friend to say I didn’t know what to get you….
5. “Like”. The reality is that some people rarely venture off their own live news feed, which means they may or may find your brand’s fan page. Companies like Levis, who was one of the first to use “Social Plugins” tool lets customers create pages for products they “like”. If the consumer “likes” something it will pop up on their news feed as well as the brand’s site. It’s a win-win.
Essentially, shopping is a social experience. Why not take it to the ultimate social site? The major benefit here is the influence that sharing has on friends and networks. Consumers can shop while seeing what others like and what’s popular with who.
What Type of Twitter User Are You?
After reading Chris Brogan’s 50 Power Twitter Tips I started really thinking about how people are using Twitter. The tips are insightful and should be read by everyone who using, thinking about using, and obsession over Twitter. While most of the tips Chris covers are included in my book, Twitter Marketing for Dummies, it is important to point out a few more things and maybe… ask some questions!
Below are questions outlining the ways that you use Twitter….Choose the answer that best fits you
1. While on Twitter you click every link that interests you
A. For the most part
B. When Bored
C. If it pertains to my work
D. I’d rather retweet then actually read it
2. Twitter is where I go to vent in under 140 characters 
A. Only if pertains something other then myself such as news
B.I typically hold nothing back
C. Not usually
D. I guess
3. I find the majority of my current news on:
A. Twitter or other social sites
B.Sometimes Twitter, wherever
C. I check it but it’s not my only source
D. If I’m on Twitter I’ll read what’s going on
4. I found out about Twitter from:
A. A reliable source
B. I wrote the book
C. My boss
D. My best friend
Which Twitter category fits you the best?
A. Informative
B. Personal
C. Business
D. Bandwagoner
All or Mostly A’s- You are an Informant. It’s good to gather and share news on Twitter. However, if that’s all your doing then your missing the action. Yes, Twitter is a great source for news but it’s also a great place share your own news. You can also connect with other people who share your interests, business ideas and more. Don’t be short sighted!
All or Mostly B’s-You are Twitter for your own Personal reasons. Cool. Let’s get one thing straight. People don’t want to follow someone who only talks about themselves. Also be sure to understand the power that Twitter can have for your business purposes. Although your account is for personal reasons you can still share and contribute for your business goals. Remember whatever you are posting is how people (who don’t know) will view you.
All or Mostly C’s- You are on Twitter for Business. Whether for yourself or for your boss. It’s good to be using Twitter for business but be sure you are engaging with your followers. It’s more important to share others information more than your own. Self promotion is boring. Also, people like interacting with people. They want to get to know the people behind the business. (plus spamming is obnoxious and will be ignored)
All or Mostly D’s- So you jumped on the Bandwagon? You are only on Twitter because everyone else is. You are rarely on and have little to contribute. Let’s face it you sometimes forget you even have an account. I’m not dogging you here but don’t just join Twitter because everyone else has. Think about some creative ways to really use Twitter for your benefit. You never know you may have some really great ideas!
Do People Use Email and Facebook?
I was scanning over the latest news on Mashable.com and came across an article that really got me thinking. The article titled,What Do You Check First: Email or Facebook?, was based on a study from ExactTarget, email and social media marketing company located in Indianapolis, IN. The article gave some interesting insight into why people choose to either check their Facebook or Email first. The article began with this line “Where you start your digital day says a lot about you…” This first line is what got the wheels in my head turning. Essentially logging on has become a necessity in starting the day Where do we go first? Twitter, Facebook, Email?
The underlying question here is how do we prioritize? Furthermore, how do we prioritize the time spent on social media sites? For instance, if our morning begins with Facebook… what does that say about us? Are we fixated on our friends or updating our profiles? Is this our priority? I’m just wondering if priorities have taken a shift since the explosion of social media. Are we afraid of what will happen if we don’t check our sites immediately every morning?
This isn’t necessarily what’s so intriguing to me. It’s the fact that social media has now become such an integrated part of our morning routine. Much like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast would be. It is no longer an obsession or an addiction, it’s a healthy habit. Or is it?
Here’s one stat from the study that stood out to me
More than 50% of U.S. online consumers check their email before visiting other websites when they start the day.
Now the study was focused on brand interaction online and so forth….However, what does this statistic also show? That we are logging on in preparation for the day ahead. We are in a state of constant communication. Whether we are checking out the latest news, offering a digital good morning or sharing a story from last night.
We are tuned in at all times.
