What reasons can you think of to justify your use of social media?
An effective social media program takes time, an investment and ongoing devotion of resources in order for it to be successful. When launching a social media program, it is often easy for a business to look at what will be involved and reconsider the launch. DON’T! Social media is a crucial element to any business’s success, and here are ten reasons why that is true.
1. Garner Exposure
Thus far in the progress of both mankind and marketing, there is only one place that allows you to market to a billion people with the click of a button (theoretically). Social media networks are one place where hundreds of millions of people gather on a regular basis for the sole purpose of seeing your content. (OK, maybe not all of them are there to see yours specifically, but you understand what we mean.)
2. Generate New Leads
The beauty of these hundreds of millions of users is that each and every one is, in theory, a potential customer! Take advantage of this untapped reservoir of potential clients and use social media to generate new leads that can be nurtured and eventually converted into clients.
3. Build an Online Community
Brand advocates are gold in any business. The best way to turn a lead or customer into a brand advocate, you ask? Give your brand a personality by building an online community of people who love interacting with your brand. This online community will extend far beyond the number of ‘Likes’ of followers you have, and that’s great for business.
4. Target Niche Audiences
People everywhere know from experience how hard acquiring a phone number might be in a social setting, but on a social network, it’s just handed to you along with so much more! This gives you the perfect opportunity to target specific audiences with different campaigns in a much different way than what had previously been done – and for a far lower cost of management!
5. Integrate CRM
Social media provides a perfect environment in which to nurture leads through engagement. Integrating your CRM with your social media will allow you to streamline all of your efforts when it comes to converting leads.
6. Monitor Your Activity
One of the beautiful aspects of social media is the ease with which one can monitor one’s activity. Insights and analytics are available for almost every aspect of your social programs. Analyzing these help you maximize your efforts and minimizes redundancies so your social media programs are optimized for maximum success.
7. Effective Marketing
People are willing to share much more with strangers than they might be with your brand, and social media is a great way to monitor the success or failure of a marketing or advertising campaign. Did you think your edgy politically-themed campaign was going to strike a chord with your audience? Well, they might think differently, and monitoring sentiment and reception on social media allows you to know exactly what your audience is thinking and how to target them appropriately.
8. Increase Your Reach
Extend beyond your immediate networks and explore new audiences which, in turn, will expand your business into new territory.
9. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
We noted in a post earlier this month that social signals as a result of social media efforts play quite a role in search rankings. So take advantage of what social media has to offer when it comes to getting found.
10. SELL!
It goes without saying, but the goal of every business is sales (of whatever it is you are offering). Businesses that are highly active on social media note in overwhelming number an increase in sales as a result of their efforts on social networks, so don’t let your skepticism get in the way of increased sales.
What other reasons can you think of that support launching a social media campaign? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
How Are Small (and Some Large) Businesses Using Social Media [INFOGRAPHIC]
/by Corey PadveenHow exactly are businesses implementing their social media strategies?
In a recent blog post, we showed you where small businesses were spending when it came to social media, but how exactly are they using it? The infographic below does a fairly good job of showing you exactly how small businesses are using social media, and how it is paying off.
How Small Businesses Are Using Social Media by Infographiclabs
How are you using social media for your business? How do you plan on using it in the new year? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
Why Content is Crucial to Successful Social Media Strategies
/by Corey PadveenIf the goal of your social media strategies is to get found, then content is crucial.
We know this seems like a given when your goal is to get found and convert those leads into sales, seeing as how a site without content won’t attract too many clients. What we mean is the quality of your content will directly impact the success of your social media strategies.
One of the most powerful ways to create engaging content is through a blog. An industry-specific blog with focus on keywords relevant to your industry’s top searches will surely result in an engaged audience coming back for more. The added benefit is that the content is continually updated, which stands to benefit your search rankings. But be warned, new Google algorithms Panda and Penguin monitor blogs and content-driven sites and penalize sites that focus only on keyword stuffing and never creating authentic, engaging and insightful content for visitors. So, if you think you have content people want to see, then take a look below to find out why it is crucial for your search rankings.
A recent study done by a UK-based SEO group noted that 70% of consumers prefer reading about a company through articles posted as opposed to reading about it through advertising. Furthermore, 60% of consumers feel more comfortable with a company after reading customized content on their site or blog. One can safely assume, then, that strong, engaging content leads to more conversions, and who would say no to that?
So, what do we mean by ‘engaging’ content? This is where your social media strategies come into play. Integrating social media into your blog and web activities is crucial to expanding your reach and increasing your search rankings. Through the content on your site, propose ideas and ask for feedback. Comments are a great way for leads to engage on-site, but there should also be options for them to get in touch with you on other social channels, like Twitter or Facebook.
With great content and the integration of said content into your social media strategies, you stand to benefit greatly both in your search rankings and with increased conversions.
Maximize Your Twitter Marketing Efforts
/by Corey PadveenHow can you go about maximizing your twitter marketing efforts to get the most out of the social network?
Twitter is a phenomenal resource for any kind of business. The real-time conversational aspect that it brings gives it a certain unique feel and a environment apt for engagement, but what are some Twitter marketing techniques businesses should adopt in order to get the most out of it? Below are some of the top Twitter marketing strategies businesses can employ in order to capitalize on all that Twitter has to offer to businesses.
1. Be Authentic
Don’t automate your posts – no one wants to hear what a machine has to say as it randomly generates messages using your pre-loaded content. People follow you to hear what you have to say, so tell them! If you decided to take the stage, and hundreds or even thousands of people came to hear you speak, would you simply play a recording a leave? Probably not. And if you did that, di you think they would stay? Also unlikely. So share what’s on your mind and engage with an audience that is eager to hear what you have to say.
2. Engage!
People like to converse and be heard. As a brand, it is your responsibility to listen to the customer and engage with them wherever possible. Nowhere is it more possible than on Twitter! As we noted above, Twitter is an avenue build for real-time conversation. So when someone is engaging with your brand, it is always in your best interest to address their comment, be it positive or negative.
3. Avoid Self-Promotion
Sure, the end goal is to convert these leads into clients, but endless self-promotion is nauseating, and the only thing you’ll succeed in doing is alienating your brand. We noted this in an earlier blog post and we are sticking by it. Social media is not for self-promotion, but for brand promotion thriugh engagement. When people are loyal to your brand, they will convert into customers.
4. Create a Relevant Database
It might be nice to see that you have thousands of followers and are following thousands of others, but this might not mean you have an account full of quality. If the goal is sales, then you will want to have as many targeted followers as possible, and the same goes for those you are following.
Can you think of any other best practices when it comes to Twitter marketing? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
How Much Time Are You Spending on Social Media Networks? [INFOGRAPHIC]
/by Corey PadveenA recent study shows that social media accounts for 18% of all time spent online. Even without seeing the numbers, that sounds like quite a lot of hours spent on social media. So, how much is it exactly, you ask? The infographic below details how much time users are spending on different social media networks. The numbers don’t lie…we’re hooked!
Mobile Shopping is on the Rise
/by Corey PadveenMobile shopping is increasing quickly, and you should have social media strategies in place to keep up!
By 2015, the number of mobile shoppers is expected to hit 111 million. That is a pretty significant base of potential clients. So, it is time to ask yourself, do you have any social media strategies in place when it comes to mobile marketing and capitalizing on the consumers that are getting their shopping done on their mobile device?
There are already 110 million smartphones in the United States, and 75% of them plan to do some form of online shopping this holiday season. In fact, only 12% of people plan on doing most of their holiday shopping in a brick and mortar store, while 42% plan on doing most of their holiday shopping online. And, for the first time, 1% of US-based consumers plan on doing the majority of their holiday shopping on their mobile device. So, we reiterate the question we asked above: do you have any mobile social media strategies in place for this holiday season?
Now, those number may seem daunting to the average business without a mobile (or, in some cases, online) strategy in place. Don’t worry – there are certain industries where this holds quite a bit more weight. Below is a list of the industries where mobile marketing stands to generate the highest return:
Don’t run the risk of getting left behind. Last year, retailers increased their spending on mobile marketing significantly (from $55,000 in 2011 to $207,000 in 2012) and the number of retailers who do not focus any effort on mobile marketing has been slashed in half.
So don’t get caught up in the notion that mobile marketing and social media is not as important as it seems. It is a phenomenon on the rise and it only stands to get bigger. Take advantage of a mobile strategy this season and see how it works for you.
Information for this breakdown taken from an infographic available on Mashable.
Going Social on Thanksgiving
/by Corey PadveenHow did Thanksgiving play out on social media?
First of all, we would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoyed the long weekend and got some much needed rest. We thought to get you back into the swing of things we would post a coupled of little fun facts showing how Thanksgiving manifested itself in the form of mentions on social media. Take a look at some fun stats below:
Did you think these would be the top keywords mentioned on social media for Thanksgiving? What other ones can you think of? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
10 Reasons to Use Social Media
/by Corey PadveenWhat reasons can you think of to justify your use of social media?
An effective social media program takes time, an investment and ongoing devotion of resources in order for it to be successful. When launching a social media program, it is often easy for a business to look at what will be involved and reconsider the launch. DON’T! Social media is a crucial element to any business’s success, and here are ten reasons why that is true.
1. Garner Exposure
Thus far in the progress of both mankind and marketing, there is only one place that allows you to market to a billion people with the click of a button (theoretically). Social media networks are one place where hundreds of millions of people gather on a regular basis for the sole purpose of seeing your content. (OK, maybe not all of them are there to see yours specifically, but you understand what we mean.)
2. Generate New Leads
The beauty of these hundreds of millions of users is that each and every one is, in theory, a potential customer! Take advantage of this untapped reservoir of potential clients and use social media to generate new leads that can be nurtured and eventually converted into clients.
3. Build an Online Community
Brand advocates are gold in any business. The best way to turn a lead or customer into a brand advocate, you ask? Give your brand a personality by building an online community of people who love interacting with your brand. This online community will extend far beyond the number of ‘Likes’ of followers you have, and that’s great for business.
4. Target Niche Audiences
People everywhere know from experience how hard acquiring a phone number might be in a social setting, but on a social network, it’s just handed to you along with so much more! This gives you the perfect opportunity to target specific audiences with different campaigns in a much different way than what had previously been done – and for a far lower cost of management!
5. Integrate CRM
Social media provides a perfect environment in which to nurture leads through engagement. Integrating your CRM with your social media will allow you to streamline all of your efforts when it comes to converting leads.
6. Monitor Your Activity
One of the beautiful aspects of social media is the ease with which one can monitor one’s activity. Insights and analytics are available for almost every aspect of your social programs. Analyzing these help you maximize your efforts and minimizes redundancies so your social media programs are optimized for maximum success.
7. Effective Marketing
People are willing to share much more with strangers than they might be with your brand, and social media is a great way to monitor the success or failure of a marketing or advertising campaign. Did you think your edgy politically-themed campaign was going to strike a chord with your audience? Well, they might think differently, and monitoring sentiment and reception on social media allows you to know exactly what your audience is thinking and how to target them appropriately.
8. Increase Your Reach
Extend beyond your immediate networks and explore new audiences which, in turn, will expand your business into new territory.
9. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
We noted in a post earlier this month that social signals as a result of social media efforts play quite a role in search rankings. So take advantage of what social media has to offer when it comes to getting found.
10. SELL!
It goes without saying, but the goal of every business is sales (of whatever it is you are offering). Businesses that are highly active on social media note in overwhelming number an increase in sales as a result of their efforts on social networks, so don’t let your skepticism get in the way of increased sales.
What other reasons can you think of that support launching a social media campaign? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
ROI from Infographics [INFOGRAPHIC]
/by Corey PadveenROI generated from infographics is impressive! Just check out the infographic below that explains it!
What Does SEO Cost? [INFOGRAPHIC]
/by Corey PadveenEver wonder exactly how much SEO really costs? This helpful infographic breaks it down nicely:
Measure ROI from Social Media Strategies
/by Corey PadveenWhat is the best way to measure a return on your social media strategies?
Perhaps the most frequently asked question when it comes to developing social media strategies for a client is how they can expect to measure a return on their investment. There are a number of factors one can look to when determining what the return might be on social media strategies, and we’ve detailed a few of those below.
Growth of Your Networks
One of the simplest measurements one can look to when evaluating a brand or client’s social media strategies is the growth of one’s networks. Yes, this is a superficial measurement and it seems like a given, but people often forget about the non-fiscal measurements of a return. If a strategy is in place, then the growth of a follower base on Twitter or ‘Likes’ on Facebook means that a very targeted audience is interested in what you have to say, and that is certainly a valuable return. Nearly every one of those contacts is a lead, and knowing how that pool is growing is important to the next steps of any program.
There are number of areas one can look to in order to determine what this growth looks like. For example, Facebook insights offer a tremendous amount of information about your followers. Self-reported demographics like age, gender, location and education are made available to brands on Facebook, and this can help you tailor offers and content to those groups.
Carefully Monitor Your Campaigns
Facebook and Twitter campaigns are a great way to generate some quick sales and new customers, but make sure you are not simply implementing the campaign and watching sales come in. You need to know exactly what your rates of return are in order to maximize the profits generated from the campaign. This, again, should be carefully planned using some of the insights at your avail on different social networks. If, for example, you find that nearly all of your fans are females under 25, don’t offer a product geared towards older males. You might want to start attracting that demographic to your page, but that’s best saved for content as opposed to spending on a campaign.
The last point to consider is when you are not able to monitor your return in a fiscal manner. How do you show a return from social media strategies when there is no direct measurable return from your efforts?
Noting Intangible Returns
Time for some statistics! It’s not going to get terribly complicated, but you will need to do a little research to measure intangible returns from social media strategies, but trust us, it will all be worth it. Intangible returns tend to be the most impressive, and if you can show them properly, it will get your client on board with your social media program no questions asked.
The easiest way to go about this is by taking into account increased benefits as a direct result of the campaign. Say for example, you go through some numbers and deduce that the customer lifetime value (CLTV) for you or your client is X dollars. How this is determined depends on what you or your client offers. You can then study the number of new customers acquired as a direct or indirect result of social media (easily monitored with a Google Analytics Social Dashboard) determine the overall value brought to you or your client’s company as a result of social efforts and implement the following formula:
[(total value added-program cost)/program cost]x100=% ROI
If this generates a positive number, you have gone to show that percentage value added of your social media strategies. (Good job!)
Can you think of any other measurements for the return of social media strategies? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!