by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Oct 16, 2013 | Social Media
Social media has given us the opportunity to connect and network on so many levels and at a deeper capacity. We no longer depend upon traditional mediums for advertising, collaborating, creating partnerships or interacting. Opening the doors to communication, social media and the Internet has widened our reach and sent us global connectedness.
Along with this comes the inherent changes or erosion to our privacy. How many times per week does Facebook change their policies and search options? What about Google? Your Face May Appear in a Google Ad Soon
“Bradley Shear, a lawyer who specializes in Internet privacy and social media, said it’s a bad move on Facebook’s part. “Facebook has over a billion users,” he told ABC News. “Even though only a small number of users used this privacy option, that can still mean millions of users.” Facebook did not specify what percentage of users opted to use this privacy option, but confirmed with ABC News that it was a small percentage, within the single digits.” ABC News
Most of us arduously attempt to keep some things are little more private or at least away from the lurkers and stalkers. It isn’t always easy to maintain or stay up to date with the most current changes. Upon setting up our social platforms, we carefully click here and there to designate our wishes, but unfortunately, we need to monitor the news and adjust our perimeters accordingly.
WARNING: Facebook’s Graph Search Changes the Meaning of a “Like”
The Always Up-to-Date Guide to Managing Your Facebook Privacy
Reminder: Finishing the Removal of an Old Search Setting
Job-hunting? Time to scrub your Facebook page
Facebook privacy: Users should check these settings as new changes roll out
The Most Fun You’ll Ever Have With Facebook Privacy Settings
We use our platforms for a variety of reasons and on the business level, most of the changes will not affect us, but it is still important to be prudent about our right to privacy.
Image credit: http://geeksongrand.com
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Sep 10, 2013 | Entrepreneur, Small Business, Social Media
Social media isn’t merely about creating profiles on various platforms to broadcast your best content. It has become one of the cornerstones of marketing. It is your opportunity to build a trusted and loyal community. In this community exists partners, colleagues, collaborators, customers and friends. Treat them with the respect and courtesy they deserve and that which you expect in return.
Every day you read about etiquette, best practices and thousands of different tips to engage and build your following. What I find interesting is that much of this content is disseminated from alleged social media experts, marketing and PR firms or social media managers who don’t always follow their own suggestions. Their tweets and posts offer real life recommendations on engagement and proper “politeness” yet they do not care to practice what they preach. I am not sure why, but if they are writing and sharing the content, do they not believe they should follow their own advice?
Acknowledge the voice of your network.
If you want to build a credible authentic network, engage in conversations, thank people for sharing your content, ask questions, post rich and valuable information, don’t ignore anyone, unless of course they are bots, spam or porn.
Simple rule of thumb: treat others the same way you want to be treated. Sure, this is so cliché, but it is common courtesy. Would you just walk away from someone at a networking event or cocktail party after they asked you a question or tried to engage you in a dialog? I think not.
Since you have taken the time to be online, then make the time to learn about your audience. You have the potential to meet and greet some pretty incredible people but only if you choose to actively participate.
We are all a brand: whether it’s personal or business, we have an online reputation to develop and construct if we want a strong presence and ROI. Maintain your relationships. Be authentic. Be human. Be professional.
Sharing: refrain from overselling yourself and your products or services. Constant self-promo is a sure fire way to generate a mass exodus. Make your marketing mix diverse. Share relevant content that is of interest to your network. Solve problems. Be cognizant of trending topics. Repost and respond to the content of others. Share the love with a retweet. Always give back. Be a resource.
“In a recent article about brand identity, Digiday argues that brands need to loosen up and act more human instead of focusing on expertly tailored mass market messages.”
Provide the personal experience: interact with your fans and followers. If they ask a question or have a complaint, respond immediately. Find out what is wrong. Don’t ignore them. Troubleshoot, create trust and provide impeccable service. Social media is your conduit for making human connections. Acknowledge all contact.
“The absolute best way for companies to stay relevant in social media and to effectively engage their followers is to listen to what their fans are saying. Don’t try to steer the conversation; instead, listen to what customers are saying and respond. Reply to user’s feedback and jump into conversations that are already happening.” Lisa Parkin
“Stories that resonate on an emotional level, that put a human face on a global business, drive engagement and amplification.” Brian Pember.
Read: actually click on the links shared in your social media channels. Don’t just blindly repost them. You are probably missing out on some fabulous content. Be able to make a comment or engage more deeply regarding the article. Seriously, don’t just spew it because it is a “pay it forward” thing to do. If you are going to retweet or share, be real about it.
Invest: your digital footprint can be far reaching but it will only be what you make it. Consistency and frequency are two key points to remember. Don’t desert your followers. Be present and invest in the time to generate interest in your brand. You get back exactly what you put in.
Strategy: know your goals and reasons for creating your profiles. Who is your market and what do they need? Create your content and set a schedule for fresh ideas, retweets, quotes, contests and conversation. If you are all over the board, people won’t understand your brand or may question what you actually do.
These are some pretty staggering numbers from Jeff Bullas: 10 Social Media Facts, Figures and Statistics You Need to Know exemplifying exorbitant growth and opportunity to establish trusted relationships with your network.
- Facebook has over 1.15 billion active users.
- Google+ has 343 million active monthly users.
- Twitter has over 288 million monthly active users.
- LinkedIn has now reached 238 million users.
- YouTube has over 1 billion unique visitors every month.
- Instagram has now reached 130 million users.
- Pinterest has 70 Million users.
Don’t just create an account or promote yourself. Meet your community. Generate interest. Engage. Enjoy your network. Be personal – show your human side. Social media isn’t rocket science, although many would like you to think it is. A large portion of it is purely being social, not DOING social.
It is common sense, active participation and thoughtful interactions. Just like you would do in the “real” world.
Don’t trade off personal communications or hide behind a digital persona. Get out there, listen, shake hands, measure, and extend a virtual hug to your network. If you want to see the payoff, just be a human brand.
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Aug 20, 2013 | Blogging, Marketing, Small Business, Social Media
Content attracts
Marketing has drastically changed over the past several decades in terms of the delivery methods but no matter how you look it, it is still content driven and always will be. It used to be solely about print media and ad space but now it is more about vying for attention from your online audience. This can be the biggest constraint but with the right content, geared toward the right market, you have an opportunity to be seen and heard.
Consumers consume content: Feed them a healthy rich diet.
“The single most significant trend is the continued emergence of content marketing as a standalone discipline. Content, in all its shapes and forms, is core to everything we do as marketers.” Econsultancy.
You need remarkable content. Just what is that?
Remarkable content is written for your buyers and their needs. You are here to provide solutions to their questions and problems. When you can do this, you will see a higher conversion rate. You have the opportunity to attract your audience with compelling content and images through your blog posts, website, e-newsletters and online discussions.
How will these statistics influence your content marketing strategy? (courtesy of WSI)
- 79% of marketers report that content is more effective than paid advertising.
- Blogs have 434% more indexed pages
- 90% of consumers find content useful
Research:
- Your audience, your buyers and their key drivers of what makes them tick.
- Where do they hang out?
- What interests them most?
When creating your content, think about some of the common questions you have been asked.
- What problems does your product or service solve?
- How will your product or service help them improve their career, their daily lives?
- What makes it difficult for them to do what they need to do on a daily basis?
- What are their obstacles to success?
Your solution based content can produce reactions and needs to your offerings. Help your readers thrive and flourish.
Feed their hunger.
Invest in your content: 60% of the sales cycle is over before the buyer speaks with your sales team says HubSpot. This means it is up to your content to drive the message home with your blogs, ebooks, webinars and any other online content. “People don’t need to be told how awesome you are, let them come to you.” @sbedrick #BDNMaineWhatsNext
Content is more than text: Use images. They capture attention, invoke emotion, are more widely shared and help to simplify your message. Share the images on your social networks like Facebook and Pinterest. Articles with images receive 94% more views.
“Harnessing the power of images and visuals will make your marketing more powerful and more memorable.” Anita Campbell.
In a 2012 study by ROI Research, they found that 44% of respondents were more likely to engage with brands who shared pictures. This is a pretty big number that shouldn’t be overlooked. Visual content is fast becoming an important force for online communications. Pictures communicate your message quickly and succinctly. Consider the rise of infographics! This is a huge market to disseminate a variety of information, share data and statistics. Fav 5 Infographics
Here is an informative overview about the tools and benefits of visual marketing: How to Optimize Your Marketing for the Visual Marketing Revolution
“Blog posts became Facebook updates and Tumblr posts, which shrunk to Tweets and finally to Instagram or Pinterest. Here’s how smart brands are navigating the new visual social-media era.” Ekaterina Walter.
Share your “remarkable” content on your social media channels. Make sure it is a mix of third party articles which are industry specific and rich, some of your content and blog posts that are solving problems and answering questions and finally your company’s landing pages which is for the final lead conversion process. Your goal is for your audience to not only read and visit your site but to also share your content and materials.
Is your content:
- Sticky
- Useful
- Engaging
- Educational
- Problem-solving
- Insightful
- Branding
- Experiential
When you post poor content, you don’t get visitors.
When you don’t get visitors, you lose money.
When you lose money,
You close your doors.
Don’t close your doors, write rich compelling content.
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Aug 13, 2013 | Customer Service, Social Media
People buy from people – we know this. Take the opportunity to humanize your brand and build foundations to nurture trust and loyalty. Simply creating accounts and posting content is not enough. We all enjoy the human touch and conversations. We are not science experiments, sterile metrics or robots. We are thoughtful engaging humans who want to be valued and heard.
We are inundated daily with all sorts of tools and ideas of what we should do and how we should do it, seemingly a little clinical at times. Reach out; personalize the conversation. It takes minimal time and effort.
Just be nice, take genuine interest in the people you meet, and keep in touch with people you like. This will create a group of people who are invested in helping you because they know you and appreciate you. Guy Kawasaki.
You don’t want to be ignored when you shop at a store or dine at a restaurant. You want to be greeted. You want to be welcomed. When I first moved to North Carolina I needed some new furniture. I was not only empowered with my move but so excited to furnish my apartment. Upon walking into a local establishment, I saw 5-6 salespeople milling about. I wasn’t greeted. I wasn’t asked if I wanted help. No one seemed to notice me.
I never went back AND I of course tweeted to them about their horrific lack of service. The point is, whether offline or in the digital world, pay attention to your followers.
The most successful marketer becomes part of the lives of their followers. They follow back. They wish happy birthday. They handle problems their customers have with products or service. They grow their
businesses and brands by involving themselves in their own communities. Marsha Collier
Think about what impresses you most about the brands and companies you follow. What sets them apart from the competitors? What drives you to like, know and trust these brands?
How can you scoop up some market share and humanize your brand?
- Engage your followers in conversations. This is SOCIAL media. “Social media is not a media. The key is to listen, engage, and build relationships.” David Alston.
- Show authentic interest in their business and their lives. Sincerity drives rapport.
- Focus on relationships. Sure it can be a numbers game but the quality is better than quantity. I would rather have four quarters than 100 pennies. “Activate your fans, don’t just collect them like baseball cards.” Jay Baer.
- Listen and respond to industry-related issues. We all like to have a voice.
- Follow up and respond to all messages. It is common courtesy and good business.
- Have a personal picture of yourself. Let them look into your eyes and see YOU, not a graphic.
- Provide introductions to other followers. Introductions are powerful tools – it says I know who you are, what interests you, and who is important in your network.
- Promote other people’s content. Self-promotion should be a smaller portion of your content marketing. A random act of kindness is paying it forward. It is always a nice surprise to see your own content shared by other thought leaders. “Social Media is about the people! Not about your business. Provide for the people and the people will provide for you.” Matt Goulart.
- Reshare your follower’s posts. A retweet is once again sharing the love and showing that you are listening and following.
- Show your human side. Your passions, failures, successes. Isn’t this what helps bring people closer together? It isn’t a weakness to share such details, but a strength to show your vulnerabilities as well as your dreams.
- Share your expertise on trending topics. Your knowledge is wanted and needed. Solve problems and inspire others to think deeply. Think value not “me me” fluff.
- Encourage feedback from your community. Asking questions and cultivating responses shows you value their input.
- Set up keyword alerts. Follow industry chatter, hashtags and your brand. Respond accordingly. Following the conversation and being able to troubleshoot promotes you as an attentive brand manager.
Be THAT company, THAT person, that you want to buy from.
Today people don’t trust companies. One of the things marketers want to do is to humanize their brand. What better way to do it than put a live person in front of them? Jackie Huba.
What steps do you take to humanize your brand?
by Ace Concierge | Virtual Assistant | Jun 12, 2013 | Small Business, Time Management
How many hours do you spend online checking email, reading posts, searching for information, checking sports scores, reviewing competitors, tweeting, sharing content or setting up reminders? These activities are necessary but also very time consuming and at points, a distraction away from business. What if there was a simple tool to help you automate some of this work, have it delivered to your communication channel of choice and was at no cost to you?
Launched in 2010, “If This, Then That” is FREE service that allows users to connect 62 different channels with “recipes” to help optimize your business, your life and your content. You create triggers “if this” happens “then that” which is the action, pushes the data to your desired channel.
Sample recipes:
- Push RSS feeds to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Buffer
- Receive a text message, email or phone call when a particular hashtag is posted
- Have Facebook or Instagram images sent to Dropbox
- Receive a text message if there is a forecast for rain
- Star a Gmail and have it delivered to Evernote
- Add Foursquare check-in history to Google Calendar
- Receive a text message for new Gmail notifications
- Send email attachments to Dropbox
- Send an email to IFTTT to call your phone if it is missing
- Automatically create a Twitter list of new followers to review at a later date
- Twitter keyword search to your email
- Schedule tweets using Google calendar
- Have ESPN sports scores and breaking news delivered to your inbox
As you can see, the possibilities are almost limitless. By creating your recipes, you will save time and be a little more productive and organized. It is one of my favorite tools, simplifying content curation and automating a few of my daily projects.
“Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.’” – Thomas Edison
How do you use IFTTT?
Image credit: IFTTT
