Showing posts with label Social Networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Social Networking. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Are You Getting All You Could be From Google Plus?


Google Plus

Despite the fact that it's the fastest-growing social networking site around – and the one that might have the biggest potential going forward because of the support it gets from the world's most popular search engine – a lot of business owners, executives, and marketers just don't understand Google+ (also known as Google Plus or G+) as well as they would like to. In fact, many are a lot less familiar with Google+, and its features, than they are social sites like Facebook and Twitter that could have, arguably, less online marketing power.

In one sense, this is only natural. Google+ is still the newest of these sites, and its features and buzzwords change more rapidly than the others do. Still, if you're serious about generating leads from your business website, there isn't any excuse for failing to put together a comprehensive social media marketing plan, Google+ included.

With that in mind, here are some great tips for making the most of your Google+ profile:

Fill in the blanks.
This is good advice for any social media platform, but especially one that's growing as quickly as Google+ is. Make sure you've filled out all the important sections, with a current photo and searchable keywords to match.
Make the most of your hovercard.
This is the "snapshot" people will see about you and your work when they mouse over your identity. For that reason it should have a quick, compelling bio matched with a professional, inviting photo. This might be your one and only chance to get someone to follow you, so put your best virtual foot forward.
Turn your profile into an introduction.
The best Google+ profiles aren't the ones that read like bland corporate descriptions. Instead, they have all of the basic facts, but also hint at a bit of expertise, and maybe even a little bit of passion. Post the kind of profile that would make others want to meet you, not just one that shares the basics.
Make your Google+ page easy to find.
Your website, blog post, and other forms of content should all have links and invitations that point to your Google+ page. Over time, the right people will figure out exactly where to find you.
Let your ideas come full circle.
Circles are a great forum for sharing thoughts and ideas. Don't just join circles relevant to your business or industry, invite others that you would like to connect with to participate in them, too.
Know the contacts you're trying to meet.
We've written a lot about marketing personas lately, but it's worth bringing them up again with relation to Google+. When you know what kinds of customers you want to meet, you can put together your content and updates in a way that appeals to them.
Join relevant discussions and hangouts.
As with LinkedIn, a lot of the real action on Google+ doesn't take place near your profile, but in relevant discussion groups and hangouts. Join these and be active, but concentrate on sharing ideas rather than marketing pitches – if people want to know more about your work, they'll connect with you and ask.
Promote other content and offers.
As your Google+ following grows, you can use your profile to promote blog posts, content, and offers from your website. Just be sure you don't go overboard and blanket your contacts with solicitations.
In essence, the best way to use Google+ is the same way you would any other social media platform. But, before you can do that, you have to understand how things like circles, hovercards, and hangouts work, which takes a little bit of time and effort.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

26 Mobile Apps to Improve Your Business and Networking


#1: Adobe Reader

Do you need to work on PDF docs on the go?
Adobe Reader offers features to view PDF documents, store and access documents in the cloud with Acrobat.com, navigate through PDF content, annotate and comment on PDF documents, fill out forms, organize documents, electronically sign and print and share.
"Easily access, manage and share a wide variety of PDF types."
Free

#2: Bump

Do you want to easily share documents with those around you?
With Bump you can share contact information, photos, videos and files by simply bumping two phones together. You can also share contacts, photos and files with others and sync with your computer.
"Send your contact info, photos and music to the people around you who have this app."
Free

#3: CardMunch Business Card Reader

Have you been holding onto a whole bunch of business cards from the last conference you went to? Looking for a solution for the cards you collected at Social Media Marketing World in San Diego?
Convert business cards to address book contacts and add them as connections on LinkedIn. CardMunch provides card-capture functionality for faster card scanning.
"Turns your business cards into contacts, now with LinkedIn integration."
iPhone | Android *Yulu Card Reader
Free

#4: DocuSign Ink

Do you need to get that document signed, sealed and delivered?
With DocuSign Ink you can sign, send and store documents and even create a signature in different colors and formats.
"This app allows me to do my paperwork without having to download and print the papers, then sign and fax them in."
Free

#5: Easy Note + To Do

To-do lists have a way of growing when you don’t chip away at them little by little. Using an app for note-taking and managing lists can make them feel much more doable.
The Easy Note + To Do app allows you to organize notes in folders, check items as complete, assign a due date and prioritize.
"Good basic functionality with an attractive and clutter-free design."
iPhone | Android * EasyNote Notepad To Do List
Free

#6: Foursquare

Whether you’re in a familiar location or somewhere new, Foursquare has your back and 30 million others, too.
“Open up the app to discover and learn about great places nearby, search for what you’re craving, and get deals and tips along the way.”
"I really like seeing what my friends are doing. It's also useful to find places I've been before or remember when I was last at a certain place."
Free

#7: Google+

You don’t need to decide whether to check Google+ or leave your desk.
The Google+ app will help you stay connected via hangouts, photos and updates from what your friends are sharing.
"Sometimes the best things in life are small and simple yet packed with powerful connections!"
Free

#8: Highlight

Are you feeling particularly social today?
The Highlight app may be just what you’re looking for with its notifications when friends are nearby, ability to see mutual friends and messaging within the app.
"This app provides a good idea of what the near future of mobile + location can be."
Free

#9: Instagram

Taking photos on a mobile phone offers users spontaneity plus the ability to visually transform a picture and share it immediately.
Instagram includes filters and borders, blur effects and easy sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and Foursquare.
"A photo can say more than a status update ever will."
Free

#10: Job Search

Searching for a new job can be time-consuming and stressful.  Using an app during a job search will help make the most of your time.
With the Job Search app you get access to information from company websites, recruitment agencies and job boards in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, India, South Africa, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia.
"Shows a lot of jobs available in my area."
Free

#11: Kindle

You don’t need a dedicated e-reader to take advantage of reading on the go.  With the Kindle app, you can stay up to date with books, eBooks, magazines and newspapers right on your smartphone.
And while there are more reading choices than you’ll ever have time for, if keeping up with social media–related books is of interest, you can certainly do that. iPhone users can search for books within iTunes and Android users can find social media titles onGoogle Play.
"Being able to read books on the go without actually having to carry them with me is so convenient."
Free

#12: Logo Mania Quiz

Marketers recognize the value of a memorable brand logo. These apps will let youtest your skills and make a game of identifying a logo.
If your business is rebranding and reassessing the value of your corporate logo, this may be a fun way to review the strengths of well-known logos. (You can play Angry Birds or Words with Friends later!)
"Can't stop."
iPhone | Android *LOGO Mania
Free

#13: Meetup

Is online time usurping much of your day? There’s still nothing like the face-to-face experience.
The Meetup app will help locate meetups around topics of interest to youincluding social media, tech, business and entrepreneurship—and of course a range of fitness, hobbies, community, parenting and dog meetups, among others.
"It's nice to see what people are doing in the community and be able to be involved."
Free

#14: Nook

Similar to the features mentioned about Kindle, the Nook reader app will helptransform your smartphone into your own library on the go.
There’s still nothing like holding a print book in your hands, but with these apps you’ll never find yourself without something to read when you’re waiting for the bus or train and the unexpected long time in a waiting room.
This may not the most desirable way to read something like War and Peace, but the convenience and ease will come in handy. Plus both apps will sync with your Kindle or Nook device and let you resume reading where you left off.
"Love being able to have my book handy, no matter where I am!"
Free

#15: Odometer

Do you need to keep track of mileage for a business trip?
Odometer apps will simplify the process and help you store the date and number of miles traveled.
"Export history as .CSV file on Odometer +."
iPhone * Odometer + $.99
Android* Odometer Free

#16: Photo Covers for Facebook Lite

Facebook cover photos are excellent real estate for business branding. The iPhone and Android apps referenced here will make it easy to create a new photo coverand post it while on the go.
Use your own image or choose one from a library of images that you further customize with special effects, captions and more.
"Simple but spot-on."
iPhone | Android * Timeline Cover 4 Facebook Lite
Free

#17: QR Reader

Whether you want to scan a QR code (Quick Response Code) or create one, there are a number of apps that will add meaning and destinations (websites, special offers, contact information, etc.) to those ubiquitous codes.
Use the QR Reader to check out how other businesses are using QR codes and see if one makes sense for your business.
"Has so many options, is easy to use and distributes my code!
iPhone | Android *Scan
Free

#18: (i)Reddit

Reddit describes themselves as the “front page of the Internet.” If you’ve come to rely on Reddit’s news aggregation from countless sites, you’ll be happy with these apps knowing that you never have to leave home (or office) without Reddit again.
"This is a fantastic way to interface with Reddit."
iPhone | Android *Reddit News
Free

 #19: Square Register

What will your smartphone do next? Take credit cards?
If you’re headed to a tradeshow, conference or a community event where you’re planning to sell your products, the Square Register app makes it possible to swipe credit cards and have payments delivered to your bank account within 1-2 days.
"I love the convenience w/o the contracts and additional fees that are attached to the traditional credit card machine or merchant services contracts."
Free

#20: TED

If TED conferences are new to you, then you’ll be in for a thrill with their app that makes the wonder of these talks a mobile experience. There’s a wealth of information right at your fingertips.
Whether you want to buff up on some business-related topics, technology trends or be inspired by ones that are rated jaw-dropping, there’s clearly something for everyone on TED.
By #20, I don’t know about you but I’m feeling that if only there was an app for creating more hours in the day, we’d be all set!
"The TED app is great and perfect. It encourages you."
Free

#21: UberSocial

UberSocial, previously known as Twidroyd, is a mobile app that enables users to post new tweets, monitor and keep up to date on hashtags, lists and people you follow, while also managing other multiple social accounts all in one place.
"It's always been my most favorite mobile Twitter app because it's so easy to use and has many features."
Free

#22: Vintique

Want to look retro? Having several different styles for your photos on social accounts will add variety and make your images even more shareable.
The Vintique app allows you to add effects that give an old and classy look to photos.
"Fun to run pics thru all the effects."
iPhone    *Vintique $.99
Android * Vintique-Photo Editor Free

#23: WiFi Finder

Need to find WiFi areas while traveling to make a Skype call or save on some of those minutes?
The Wifi Finder app features over 550,000 free and paid locations in 144 countries worldwide.
"Found hot spots I didn't know were in my town."
Free

#24: (e)xcel Contacts Lite

Business is all about contacts and making sure that you have a good solid list that you can access while you’re on the go is essential.
The Excel Contacts app will help you move contact information to and from your phone.
"Transfer contacts to and from your smartphone."
Free

#25: Yelp

Making a decision about where to eat, shop or play has become more streamlined with mobile apps. Yelp has a very large and loyal following and is definitely worth checking out, especially when you’re in a new city.
It’s also very interesting to see how the places you’ve come to know, within close proximity to work and home, rank within the Yelp community. And, if you’re so inclined, you can add your two cents!
"No matter were we are, local or traveling, I can always find so much more on Yelp."
Free

#26: Zendesk

It seems fitting that the last app on our list would be focused on customer support.
In this article we’ve run the gamut of the sales process; for example, maintaining and engaging contacts, promoting businesses with photos, QR codes, credit card payments, plus more. Managing customer support via mobile phones has also become a necessity.
With Zendesk you can view, update and create new help desk tickets, configure support ticket fields and add comments.
"Very simple to use, giving you peace of mind while you're on the move."
Free


Saturday, April 13, 2013

Social Media Marketing: 7 Tools for Businesses and Brands


Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Flickr, LinkedIn -- the list of leading social networks businesses and brands must suddenly pay attention to goes on and on. Needless to say, it can be a daunting task to keep track of the social media marketing world when it comes to your business. Before you get overwhelmed, know that there are a number of handy online tools, software programs and apps out there that can not only help you save time, but also simplify your social presence. While many great options exist to choose from, to save time, we've narrowed the list down to seven of our favorite tools that any corporate enterprise should be using.
1. TweetDeck is a social media dashboard application that helps you manage Twitter and Facebook accounts all in one place. If you are big on interaction (shares, retweets, etc.) this is a great way to scroll across and see what's going on, find out where your business was mentioned in conversation, and respond to several accounts at once. TweetDeck is ideal for people who manage multiple social media accounts, however no in-depth analytics are currently provided with this service.
2. HootSuite is a social media management system that also allows the user to manage multiple networks at once. It currently supports Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Foursquare, WordPress, Mixi and even MySpace. HootSuite has a great scheduling system that allows you to pre-program an infinite amount of posts for future sharing, a huge time saver. Users can also look at the scheduler page to see what posts they've scheduled for the future, and HootSuite also keeps track of all-important analytics.
3. AddThis is a social bookmarking service that can be integrated into a website with the use of a widget. Once this widget is added, website visitors can then bookmark an item using Facebook, Google Bookmarks, Pinterest and Twitter. Capable of boosting shares and user pass-along, it's a handy way to promote specific pieces of content, sites or initiatives.
4. Instagram is a free photo sharing platform that allows users to take featured photos and apply visual filters that can transform the look and feel of the image. Easy sharing support makes it simple to post these photos on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr, which provides professional with a unique way to personalize social media content. Popular with the technorati, it's a surprisingly practical and handy way to add a little sparkle to any snapshot.
5. PinReach is a Pinterest tool that helps you view activity, measure impact and gauge success on your Pinterest pages. This analytics tool is the leading Pinterest solution for small businesses, according to MoneyandRisk.com. Its two main purposes are to assess Pinterest marketing engagement and to identify new marketing and sales leads. Consider it a handy go-to for those who are frequent users of the popular image-based social network.
6. Storify is a social media service that combines multiple parts of a story into one cohesive whole. Or, in plain English, if you have a topic that is trending or being discussed across different social media accounts, you can curate pieces from each account and compile them all in one spot, creating a more easily read and followed narrative timeline. Users can reorder the pieces, add text and massage previous posts to create one larger piece. This can be used as a marketing tool for current customers or to woo new clients.
7. YouTube's Audience Rentention Report. SocialMediaExaminer.com lists this as the single most important social media marketing tool to come around in a long time. Noting that many videos are carefully tailored to maximize search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, time watched by viewers, and prompt specific reactions, this solution helps you see which audience your clips are reaching, monitor audience habits, and strategize accordingly. Video production and distribution cost companies countless millions every year: Using such targeting tools, you can more effectively aim your marketing muscle where it counts.

Friday, January 18, 2013

7 Social Media Trends for Consumers: New Research


#1: More Time Invested in Mobile

The survey found that consumers are increasingly looking to their smartphones and tablets to access social media.
While the PC is still the most widely used device when it comes to social media consumption, the study found that time spent on mobile apps and mobile websites accounted for a 63% increase (compared to 2011) in total time spent.
Additionally, 43% of users said they use smartphones to access social media, while 16% connect using a tablet.
social is mobile
Mobile and particularly apps are where people are spending their social networking time.
Key Takeaway: When it comes to consuming social content, it’s all about mobile. For marketers, that means that mobile has to be your top content priority this year.

#2: Pinterest Usage Continues to Rise

Pinterest continues to experience exponential growth since its launch in 2011. The platform had the highest increase in audience and time spent of any social network across all devices such as PC, mobile web and apps.
spotlight on pinterest
Pinterest continues to be the most popular social networking site on the Internet.
In addition, a May 2012 Harvard Business Review article titled, “Moving customers from pinning to purchase,” states that:
“Pinterest users reported a surprisingly high correlation between pinning and subsequent purchasing: more than 1 in 5 Pinterest users has pinned an item that they later purchased. In the social world, this is a high conversion rate.”
Key Takeaway: As a marketer, remember that product photography is more important than ever when trying to persuade Pinterest shoppers to pin and buy your hottest-looking items. Capitalize on their shopping experience and make your profile as creative and visually engaging as possible.
Also, don’t forget to engage with people who have pinned your items to see if you could nudge them into buying something!

#3: Social Networking Generates Positive Sentiments

One of the most interesting findings in this survey was that 76% of participants said they experienced positive feelings after engaging in social networking.
Some of the words used to describe how they felt were: informed, energized, excited, connected and amused. However, 21% reported negative sentiments after social networking; examples are overwhelmed, anxious and wasted time. 24% remained neutral.
social networking sentiments
Consumers generally feel good after engaging in social media.
Key Takeaway: Social media is saturated with sentiment-rich data. Every update, tweet, blog comment or online review is a critical source of data that can inform your CRM program. As a marketer, you should be very interested in gathering and analyzing sentiment data to see if your social messages are producing the desirable outcomes you’re looking for.

#4: Twitter Drives Social TV

Twitter has emerged as the most powerful driver of ‘social TV’ interaction. That means when people are watching the Super Bowl, American Idol or the elections, they are simultaneously using Twitter to share their thoughts and experiences with friends.
In June 2012, a third of active Twitter users tweeted about TV-related content, which was up from 26% at the beginning of the year.
social tv
Tweeting while watching TV is becoming a very popular social phenomenon.
Key Takeaway: Social TV is still a new concept for marketers. However, considering that an average of 43 minutes are spent each day watching TV (HubSpot), and that many of those viewers are then sharing their experiences online, marketers shouldfind ways to align any TV advertising with their online strategies (e.g., incorporating hashtags or tweetable sound bites in their TV commercials). This prolongs the conversation about brands beyond the TV, while allowing for extended word-of-mouth marketing.

#5: Social Care is the New Customer Care

Social care is a way for companies to provide regular customer service through social media platforms. The study revealed that one in three social media users prefers social care to contacting a company by phone.
Consumers use a variety of channels for social care. For example, they are most likely to comment or ask a question about a company’s products or services on the company’s Facebook page (29%), on their own personal Facebook profile (28%), on official company blogs (15%), on Twitter (personal handle – no mention of company, 14%) and on Twitter (company’s handle, 13%).
social care vs telephone
Social care is transforming the way brands respond to customers.
Key Takeaway: Social media has conditioned consumers to get immediate feedback. As a marketer, the risk of failing to meet such high expectations is not just losing customers, but having negative comments about your brand blasted around the user’s network and their friends’ networks. If you can get social care right, you will create a wide gap between your brand and your competition.

#6: Mixed Feelings about Social Ads

Another interesting finding was how people react to social ads. While 33% of people surveyed find ads on social networks to be annoying, 26% are more likely to pay attention to an ad posted by a friend.
Generally a Like is the most common action taken after seeing a social ad (26%), followed by a share (15%) and a product purchase (14%). As far as demographics go, the study found that Asian-American consumers were the most likely to respond positively to social ads, while white consumers were the most likely to be turned off by social media advertising.
not listening
A lot of people find social ads annoying, especially if the ads are not relevant to them. Image source: iStockphoto.
Key Takeaway: Because advertising on social media is more annoying than other digital areas, marketers should proceed with caution and make sure their ads are highly relevant and targeted. On the bright side, many people don’t mind social ads if they’re tailored to suit personal tastes and interests. This presents a great opportunity for marketers to raise brand visibility.

#7: Social Listening a Key Consumer Activity

Social media is transforming the way consumers around the globe make purchasing decisions. Consumers are using social media to listen and learn about other consumers’ experiences (70%); find more information about brands, products and services (65%); and compliment brands (53%).
social listening
Most social media users are listening to other people's experiences.
Key takeaway: We tend to think of social listening as something only marketers and research analysts do. However, it’s interesting to see that consumers are also active listeners. This is an opportunity for marketers to educate consumers through compelling content, improve customer experiences (using social care) andmaintain strong customer relationships to uphold a positive brand image.