My 15 Minutes of Fame: merits of social media. advantages of social media

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Know the Best Social Media Optimization Techniques

A year or so ago just using social media would have been great – nowadays it is necessary to optimize your content and website when it comes to getting the most out of your social media. There is no debating the importance of social proof and social searches. Search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing are increasingly using social networks such as Google+, Twitter, and Facebook when it comes to ranking websites. This is another reason to be aware of some of the best social media optimization techniques.

Make sure your content is easy to share

You want others to see and experience your content; it is essential that you make sharing your content as accessible as possible. If someone has to jump through a thousand hoops before they can share something, chances are that they will not do it. Make sure that you have an easy system in place that allows others to share your content.

Social media are great, but do not forget about your website

Truth is that if your business only has a Facebook account instead of an actual website, it is going to look rather cheap. Do not forget about your website, in fact it needs to be a centralized hub where people can gather to find information about your brand. Incorporate your Facebook content and Twitter feeds into your website, link to your YouTube videos but give end-users a single URL to bookmark.

Do not be afraid of feedback

How many times have we seen it in the last few months? A company representative makes a snide remark on Facebook or Twitter and someone ends up taking a screenshot. We have also seen large companies censor legitimate complaints from their Facebook page. If you want to know exactly how people feel about your company or services, offer them a chance to provide feedback.

If the message is positive, be sure to respond – you may just have made a lifelong fan. If the comments are critical, a quick response is not only the best way to react but also unexpected. If someone has a complaint and they feel that they are being taken seriously, chances are they are willing to give you another chance. This does not mean that you do not have the right to censor those messages that just seem to be hell-bent on spewing venom onto your page.

Reward inbound links

This does not mean that you have to promise a free flat screen television for anyone who sends someone a link. It means that you have to encourage people to want to come to your website. It does not matter if you have funny Facebook status updates, if you provide hints through Twitter, if you have a YouTube channel that introduces people to your company, as long as you make it appealing for people to want to come back.

Acquire (and display) social proof

Social proof not only encourages people to want to read your content, but it also makes them want to share it with friends and family. Social proof means that people tend to assume that the actions of other people provide us with the correct behavior in a given situation. The reasoning behind this is that others probably possess more information about the situation. This means that as humans, we are programmed to learn from the actions of others. Real life examples would be a velvet rope at a nightclub, an exclusive restaurant that does not allow you to make reservations for weeks, or a movie theatre where people are waiting outside to get in. People passing by want to know what could possibly be worth the wait.

This adds to your online credibility. It is normal for most people to want to learn more about what is already popular. Ask yourself, which link would you click – the one with four Facebook likes or the one with several thousand likes that also comes recommended by at least two of your Facebook friends?

Instant Social Media Connectivity

There are many desktop applications for always on or instant access to social media accounts. Popular ones are TweetDeck, Seesmic or Hootsuite. These applications allow fast access to many social accounts within one application. You can view all your social media accounts under one roof in order to manage or distribute your messages. You would also need fast internet connections to access, download or upload messages and content. AT&T is offering great discounts on their internet services you can easily get an ATT uverse coupon and save on your internet service.

(Via)

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Amazing Merits of Social Media

Have you ever noticed that “Like us on Facebook”! stamp on the back of a chips or cookies package and wondered who in the world loves their snack foods so much as to want to get daily updates in their Facebook news feed? Social media has become the marketing Holy Grail. How to sell something successfully to the mass of social media users is the subject of countless how-to books and lecture series, yet few companies have really found much success.

We would argue that while Facebook isn’t the best place for Dove to sing the merits of their newest body lotion, it is unquestionably a great place to connect with friends and family. Most of us can benefit from that connection for more than just finding out how Grandpa did in his golf game. Whether it’s networking to get a new job or scouting out a potential date, this week we’ll explore ways to use social media to sell yourself.

Do you ever wonder how can you benefit from the network you’ve established on Facebook or Twitter? Imagine you have a beloved cat that your three year old suddenly develops a debilitating allergy to. You wouldn’t think of dropping Fluffy at the shelter with a bag of kibble and a “best of luck.” Before social media, you would have been calling everyone in your Rolodex, hoping to find someone willing to adopt your pet that you knew would care for Fluffy. You would likely have spent days or weeks, perhaps resorting to a classified ad if you got desperate. With Facebook or Twitter, you can send one heartfelt message to everyone you know, asking them to re-post to their friends, and so forth, instantly reaching hundreds of potential cat lovers.

Use Social Media To Make Connections:

Are you seeking someone to share your popcorn with at the new Captain America movie? One intriguing invite and you’re likely to have a response before the day is done. If you’re looking for a more long term relationship, consider participating more actively in groups that fit your interests. As you post comments and join conversations, you’ll meet others with similar loves and interests.

Use Social Media To Get A Job:

If you’ve recently joined the ranks of people looking for employment, Facebook and Twitter can be a great way to find out about companies that have openings. If you reach out to your extended group of friends and family using social media, you may discover recently created positions that haven’t yet been advertised. Often a company will be short handed, but not able to actively recruit, and a fellow employee or friend recommending you can go far to get your foot in the door.

Use Social Media To Sell Old Gear:

Finally, if you’ve got a few extra gadgets, or perhaps an elliptical machine gathering dust in your garage, consider the opportunities of using your social media network to hawk some wares. One option is to create a group and invite your friends and family to participate. You can post pictures of what you want to sell, and add a comment with the description and price. Encourage others to post pictures of their own spare items and create an impromptu bazaar. Add tags to photos of products you think certain people in your group would be interested in. If you create an open group, it means anyone can join, while closed means you (or whoever you appoint to administer the group) has to approve people asking to join. It’s up to you to decide how large of a pool of potential buyers you want to amass. You may never have to wake up at the crack of dawn to host another garage sale.

(Via)