Category Archives: Marketing
Is It Irresponsible For Colleges To Continue To PUSH Traditional Marketing As A Major?
We are at a transitional period with technology and things are changing very quickly. It is quite amazing to be aware and involved with this transition from what is considered a traditional means of advertising and marketing to the very technology focused era of digital marketing.
I remember when the Internet initially became mainstream, it was a very exciting time as a technology user to be involved. I remembered thinking how cool it would be to be involved with technology from the inside, as a person actually driving the growth of the technology.
The first boom of technology really put us in a position to see such growth in this field. It was so very different than what is online now; it is quite amazing how things have grown and how quickly they have grown. The Internet initially was VERY text driven and basic. I you go to a website called the Wayback Machine you can actually see how your favorite website displayed during the first boom of the Internet. You will be quite amazed at the changes and growth of technology in a relatively short period of time.
A few years ago I decided to go back to school after returning ten years previously to get my Bachelors Degree in Business. This time I decided to get a Graduate Degree in Internet Marketing and this was driven by my need to be a part of the evolution of technolgy. When I started doing my research online every search produced Full Sail University as the only option that taught everything thing that I was interested in learning. They were very cutting edge and differed from any other University that I’ve ever seen with their platform and coursework. So of course Full Sail was the option for me.
After spending so much time in traditional sales and marketing industries and having a love for all things Internet related, this was a natural progression for me. So I went full steam ahead into this exciting and evolving industry. I felt a real sense of urgency when moving into this field because I knew that is would be life altering and I was correct.
Digital Marketing has truly changed how all industries are promoting and advertising their organizations. Traditional marketing, which was partially driven by physical media, has had a 180-degree change. I am not minimizing the role of traditional marketing only stating that it has changed. It has change so quickly that it has grown even beyond what I was taught in Graduate school just 2 years ago. That is astounding.
When I attended Full Sail University the curriculum was geared toward giving students the most cutting edge knowledge needed to either work with an organization, start your own organization or grow your current organization. Honestly I’ve never seen a University embrace cutting edge technologies as I’ve seen Full Sail University. This really makes me proud to be Alumni, because I graduated from the best!
Attending such a cutting edge university made me take a look at the offerings of some of the other universities. This is when I realized that there are so many universities and colleges still offering degrees in Traditional Marketing. I am really amazed that more universities have NOT pursued offering degrees in Digital/Internet Marketing or even altered their curriculum to incorporate MORE digital marketing courses.
I was speaking to a few people about traditional marketing degrees and the dire need for colleges and universities to take a look at what they are teaching. Hello? Traditional Marketing as we once knew it, does not exist anymore. I am not saying that it’s totally gone, only that it is a hybrid of what it once was at best. Due to this fact colleges and universities should address their curriculum immediately.
Teaching traditional marketing in a world that no longer exclusively utilizes this media as a primary means of advertising and marketing is irresponsible on the part of the university. The goal of colleges and universities are to prepare students for work in the real world. Continuing to teach marketing as it was many years ago only prepares students for a world that no longer exists. We have evolved way past brochures, print media, flyer and other traditional marketing strategies.
Time to step it up colleges and universities that have not altered their marketing curriculum in the past two years or so. What you are teaching is obsolete at worse and dated as best. Either way it does NOT prepare your graduates for the new world of Digital Marketing.
The takeaway: When looking for a college or university make sure their curriculum is up to date and prepares you for the field that will best put you on the best path for your career.
What Psy Of Gangnam Style Could Teach Us About #SocialMedia
To those that may be unaware, social media is starting to BE The Media choice for news. We have really moved beyond getting news in a traditional way and we have moved toward more social ways of obtaining our news, entertainment and otherwise. Social media as a means to get news is really growing in popularity to the point that traditional news outlets are falling behind. This is primarily due to having the ability to get news from mobile devices and tables on demand. I know, when something happens or when I want to find out more information about practically ANYTHING I got online and scout out my online content sources.
Social Media and content is so mobile and global that it has really expanded the reach of many. I love that social media has really allowed people to move out of their geographic area and to mainstream quicker than ever. Psy and Gangnam is a huge example of expansion into a much more global world by way of social media, social content and viral video.
A few weeks ago before this became a phenomenon, my son showed me this video. He is 13 and heavily into K-Pop or Korean Pop music. He is part Korean (1/4) so he is very interested in this culture. He additionally is very into sharing content with me that will give me laugh. I must really give him credit for a lot of my really funny Facebook wall content. So a few weeks ago he showed me this video and I thought it was absolutely hysterical. I LOVED this guy immediately because he was so entertaining. I asked my son immediately if this was suppose to be a “serious” video because it was so campy and funny. At 13 he gave me a look that said…”look mom, I’m only 13 and it’s not that deep for me…”
Psy created a runaway hit in Gangnam style so much that there have been many versions of this video created which is a for sure indication of how successful it is. Psy is a Korean pop star that I’m sure had NO idea of what would happen when he created the video Gangnam Style. I am also pretty sure that he is very please with the results and amazed at the power of social media.
This is a GREAT example of how social media efforts can really give brands exposure through the sharing of content. Not every brand will experience this kind of exposure, however it does display the importance of increasing your social media presence AND adding video to your digital marketing strategy.
Gungnam Style specifically is an example of the replacement of traditional media and it’s importance. At one time the successfulness of songs and video were totally dependent upon traditional TV and Cable mediums. That is no longer the case due to YouTube and social media being uses as an avenue to push content. This is also and example of how important visual elements are to the digital marketing strategy.
Take a look below at some of the visual elements that you can easily incorporate into your social media strategy.
- YouTube: Video is huge and should be the first element included in social media strategy. Create a Youtube channel, customize it with your brand and start adding videos. I would be great to use a 60 second commercial as the feature video of your channel and then add others as you see fit. Learning how to create videos is a great skill to have and can only be good for business because you can create tutorials, videos about your business and more. These videos can be shared to your Facebook Page, on Twitter, your blog and other social media channels. Also, Youtube video is indexed by Google so it will aid in exposure for your brand.
Image via CrunchBase
- Flickr: Is a great channel to host and share photos. You could add photos of company events, blog images and more. You can also chose how you’d like to share these images with others.
- Pinterest: Is the newest and is being labeled one of the hottest image sharing social media platforms out there. I suggest you start pinning as well. It is fun and offers a great opportunity to promote your brand through images.
What’s really great about all of the channels above are that they offer an opportunity to increase brand awareness by way of visual medium and they also increase your chances of having your content shared.
We are, right now living through a historical transition of how we communicate, share and promote content. It’s HUGE and businesses really should be paying attention. Gangnam Style, although just a video, really displays this change for all to see.
Related articles
- Why You MUST Ignore Your Social Media Scores (anisesmithmarketing.com)
- Businesses Should Mimic The Politicians With #SocialMedia with [Infographic] (anisesmithmarketing.com)
- Mobile Web is Not COMING It’s HERE Just In Case You Haven’t Noticed [Infographic] (anisesmithmarketing.com)
- Psy’s “Gangnam Style” MV hits 300 million views on YouTube (allkpop.com)
To Post Or Not To Post, That Is The Question: Share Responsibly W [Infographic]
We are living in a increasingly social world and I am pretty sure that it will become more social as time passes, if you can even imagine that. As we grow accustomed to a different way of conducting “conversations” and sharing content we must be very aware of how and what we share, this is especially true if you are not self employed.
I am a total advocate of freedom of speech, freedom of expression and all of the other freedoms we are allow by because we are American Citizens. I love to see great content, even controversial content especially when it is beautiful and or thought provoking. However I have had some things come through my news feed that makes me question the sanity of the people that are posting. For example I had a full upclose and personal blow by blow image gallery of c-section photos. Ummm Seriously? I want to see this? Why? Wouldn’t a person think about how they would feel if they got an a up close and personal of someone’s C-section in their news feed. One would think that the persons posting would come to the conclusion that people may not want that much information about them or may it could be that this may come under the over-sharing category. People should think about this BEFORE they hit the dang share button. Hmm imagine that, think before you post? I, do so wish that this had been the case with my c-section over-sharing friend, my cornea is still scorched and its been about two years since that traumatic experience.
Ironically the same person that shared her C-section photos had the audacity to complain that Facebook was violated her privacy. Umm wow, really? I think that Facebook MIGHT have had an opportunity to violate your privacy had you not beat them to the punch with the full frontal cornea burning images first. My point here is that although we are living in a social world some personal photos and such go way beyond oversharing and there needs to be an exercise in restraint. With that said I would never report a person based on their sharing. I recently experienced a friend that was reported and banned and I believe that to be excessive when I can just as easy move on to the next piece of content.
Sharing with lack of restraint is really unnecessary because you can share only the information that you’d like by utilizing Facebook privacy settings. I find that in addition to the abundance of over sharing people really lack the ability , or chose not to to set up lists. This is the simplest way to provide content to certain lists of people and not to others. Facebook has always had the ability to set up lists to gear your content toward certain people on those lists. I wrote an ebook about this at least two years ago. This option was tweaked a bit and made easier after Google+ was introduced with their fancy circles which almost force you to be aware of who you share content with. Lists would have allowed c-section overshare abuser to share her photos with just the people she wanted to, instead of her entire friends list. This would have spared me the trauma of a scorched cornea as well. I have a super quick video below that will aid you so won’t, too, be guilty of affecting the vision of some poor unsuspecting soul.
I have a list of friends, family, acquaintances, co-workers and subscribers on my Facebook page and I gear my content to different people by using lists that I’ve created. However even though I have lists, I am very cognizant of the information that I share. I only share information that I would share with my grandmother, father and or son. Since my father and son are both friends with me on Facebook this rule is easy to remember.
If you question what you should or should not post, take a look at the infographic below to give some guidance.
Please Include Attribution to OnlineClasses.org With This Graphic 
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- Mobile Web is Not COMING It’s HERE Just In Case You Haven’t Noticed [Infographic] (anisesmithmarketing.com)
- Is Now the Time For Smaller Niche Social Media Platforms? (anisesmithmarketing.com)
Businesses Should Mimic The Politicians With #SocialMedia with [Infographic]
This is NOT a post about politics! I repeat, this is NOT a post about politics. I never considered myself much of a political person, but the older I get the more I have an interest in my future. Politics tends to bring out strong feelings in most people and actually that is quite understandable as one person literally has your future in their hands for increments of four years.
However this is not really about politics as it is only the purpose behind the vehicle driving the most fascinating social media campaign that I’ve ever seen. I mean really regardless of your political affiliation we are really living during a historical time depicting almost literally in real time, the transition or death as it were, of traditional media in lieu of social media and digital marketing.
The political campaign although fascinating as a person that has an interest in my own future but so very compelling to watch as a digital marketer. So much so that if I were an organization that has not moved in the digital marketing area, I would be literally stalking the online presences of both parties. The ongoing social media surge, engagement and viral content is mind boggling. Both political parties are sharing content which is producing engagement of the likes that I have never seen. It is quite fascinating.
The Digital Media assault is endless and relentless by both candidates but the end result is exposing millions of people to your message. That is after all, what social media is all about. Social Media allows a unique kind of engagement and interaction that traditional media just has never been able to get. This political campaign is a HUGE example of the power of social media.
For those companies that are not involved with social media, I suggest you get involved with your political candidate of choice by way of their social media channels. Look, listen and learn because they are really showing the world HOW to rock a social media campaign.
Take a look at the Infographic below to give you an idea of how much content is out there and how both campaigns are really focusing a lot of attention on social media and utilizing social content to reach the masses.
Is Now the Time For Smaller Niche Social Media Platforms?
Social media platforms have grown at a super quick pace. So quickly in fact, that it seems as if there is another social media platform popping up every day. A lot of the platforms probably are hoping to duplicate just a percentage of the success that Facebook is having. We should all be so lucky, right? I’m not sure that duplicating any platform is exactly the right route to take but I guess you can’t blame them for trying.
One of the things that set Facebook apart from others has been it’s differences and it’s ability to transform so often. Due to his, duplication of its platform is next to impossible. I see that as a good thing because there is one Facebook and if I’m involved with Facebook already, why would I want a duplicate platform. Social Media platforms that gain in popularity now are the ones that dare to be different, step outside of the box and have no idea what the box is, like Pinterst and Instagram. The popularity of those platforms, I believe is due to the totally different route they’ve taken.
Before the popularity and mainstream social media dominance, there was a small social media platform, now PAID called Ning. This platform was one that allowed its users to set up small FREE niche social media platforms. I was a part of Ning and really thought it had potential to be one of those out of the box social networking channels, because of its uniqueness. The ability to create my own social network based on my interest and invite friends with similar interest held a great appeal to me, it still does.
The potential of Ning was very short lived due the platform change, from a free to a paid service. So early in the game of social media, this was a real deal breaker for Ning. However the thought of creating my own unique, smaller, niche social media platform still remains at the top of the “Oh so cool” list. Although Ning doesn’t offer this service anymore there is a NEW kid on the block and guess what? It is what Ning was suppose to be before it changed. Now you can Create a social network Free of charge, your niche, your way with Groupiest! I don’t like it, I LOVE it and ideas are brewing
Ning was really just a social media platform that was a little bit ahead of it’s time because it was introduced Pre-social media boom. So, ultimately Groupiest is the platform that NING was suppose to be. With social media platforms that have members in the billions, this may be a great addition, especially if you have an interest on a niche focus area.
I would love your thoughts!
The Three T’s Of The New Workplace Organizational Structure: Technology, Teamwork and Time With [Infographic]
We are truly in new and unchartered lands when it comes to technology. We are experiencing growth and change at a rate of speed in which I’ve never experiences due to the growth of technology primarily excelerated by the growth of smaller devices like tablets and smart phones. These technologies are now having a profound effect on how we live in our personal and business lives. Technology in regard to our personal lives is a little bit easier to adapt to; however, technology growth within the workplace is a whole different animal.
When planning a new technology strategy, there are so many things that have to be considered. Some of those things are how people will adapt to the introduction of new technology, training staff, how it will effect the budget and more. If a company is a B2B or B2C it can be that more difficult to adapt, change and embrace new technologies on an organizational level. Of course for some organizations it can be an easier process but for some it can be a challenge. Companies that are involved with technology on a certain level will of course adapt better to change, but those that are totally removed from technology may struggle a bit more than those that work within the technology industry.
Although technology has grown at such a fast rate we are all still trying to catch up with all of the changes. I once said that at any given day you can feel like a n00b because of the super quick growth to technology, social media and digital marketing channels. We are truly in a different work era now due to the the boom of technology and although technology can be used to streamline our processes, save time and make things easier often times that is not the case because we are all still learning to utilize those technologies within our workplace more effectively.
The first thing that we must do when planning to implement new technology within our organization, is to realize that we are indeed in a different workplace era now due to the growth of technology and adapt accordingly. That, I must say, will probably be the biggest challenge in the new technology focused workplace. We are now a part of a technology boom that is equivalent to the initial introduction of PC into the workplace. So I cannot promise that the process will be easy and seamless. We can use the technology that is growing so quickly as an asset to our organizations or allow it to be a burden. A few very basic things to keep in mind are the fundamentals and I call them the Three T’s Of the New Workplace Organizational Structure:
Technology:
We must first learn to embrace technology in general as time is not going to roll back to suit you in your need to hold on to the pre-technology days. Then we must discover the technologies that we deem to be appropriate for our business. Not all technology, social media and or digital media channels are appropiate for all businesses. Exploring new technologies can be as easy or as hard as a company can make it. The first step would be to assign or hire a person that is familiar with a variety of technologies, that have embraced new technologies and can lead your company on the right path. After finding out what technologies and or digital marketing strategies work for your organization, implement a plan to integrate those technologies into your company organizational structure.
The implementation process is what will probably be the hardest challenge, and this is especially the case with older organizational structures. The key is to have professional guidance and get started sooner rather than later because technology will never wait for you to catch up.
Teamwork:
One of the greatest things about the growth of technology is that it presents organizations with an opportunity to take a look at their organizational structure and tweak it if needed to integrate more of a teamwork structure if it is conducive to the organization as a whole. Technology will almost force people within the organization to work as a team due to the huge effect that technology has on the entire organization. There is no aspect of an organization that will be exempt from the use of technology when its implemented so this will create more of a teamwork atmosphere. Teamwork is great for employees, the workflow and the bottom line which is good for the entire company. You know what they say, there is no I in team.
Time:
As we utilize technology more effectively and implement a more team oriented workplace it can actually minimize the amount of time spent on task and streamline organizational workflow. This is of course contingent upon effective utilization and adaption of technology, increased teamwork and proper training of staff.
We are at a point in the workplace that we are NOT utilizing time effectively which minimizes productivity and maximizes the amount of time spent doing tasks. Consequently our days are longer, our workflow is not as effective as it should be and organizations are not running as smoothly as they could. Take a look at the Infographic below which will give you an idea of exactly how ineffectively we are managing our time within the workplace. A few tweaks to organizational structure to implement a teamwork dynamic and implementation of effective technologies could really change this slippery slope that we are on.
Source: OnlineMBA.com
Ultimately the goal is to utilize technology strategies that are smart for the employees and organization as a unit in order to use time more effectively while creating a teamwork inspired organizational structure. This is the new workplace organizational structure, embrace it!
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It’s NOT Complicated, It’s A Digital World, You Need A Digital Marketing Strategy: That Was Easy
I often speak about how technology has really grown so much within the past few years. It is quite astounding if you think about how quickly we have gone from being a traditionally print focused world to a world that is really becoming primarily digitally focused. Sometimes I think, OMG When did this happen? It was such a gradual process that the transition was almost seamless. One minute we were flipping through newspapers, magazines and yellow pages and now, not so much. There is a bag filled with two versions of 2013 Yellow Pages marinating in 103 degree heat on my door step waiting for trash day, as we “speak” I have no interest in pretending that I care enough to move those Yellow Pages into my home even on a temporary basis, I prefer to allow it to stew in the sun in wait for the recycling truck.
One of the things that really contributed to quickly propelling us to this digital world is mobile devices. People are literally attached to any information that they need to access by way of pocket or purse through their mobile device. The need to go home and flip through the Yellow Pages, Newspaper or Magazine is just no longer needed.
Since moving so rapidly into the digital age the need for traditional marketing as a primary medium is not as high demand as it once was. With that said it is imperative that companies look beyond traditional marketing used as a primary means to market an organization. I am not saying that companies should disband their marketing teams only that it is very important to integrate digital marketing strategies within the company marketing mix. I would say that a huge part of the marketing focus should be on digital marketing.
It is no longer optional whether we need to adopt digital marketing strategies, it has now become almost mandatory. Think about how many times you’ve picked up a newspaper, magazine or yellow pages within the past 3 months and this will be an indication of how important it is to adopt at least some digital marketing strategies for your organization. If you have not utilized any traditional media it could be that your customers or potential clients may not have either.
Getting started with digital media can be as easy or as hard as you allow it to be. Starting with the basic online strategies are advisable. Companies should additionally incorporated video, slideshows, images, podcasts and a variety of other interactive elements to their marketing mix. Like I said, I wouldn’t throw out traditional marketing strategies, especially if they are working. I would, however integrate more digital marketing strategies to the mix. Take a look at my 12 go to platforms that your company should be rocking.
There are a lot of people that have issues with Facebook for whatever reason. STOP TRIPPIN’ people! Yeah I said it. Facebook, love it or hate it but they have around 800 million users and they are still growing. This is HUGE for your ability to build your brand. It’s not really about love or hate, frankly it’s about business, brand exposure and Cha-ching!
Facebook has now created an option to Subscribe. This is HUGE for people that use their personal Facebook page for networking, like me. This allows people that follow you on other channels to follow you on your Facebook personal page without becoming your friend. Remember if you opt to allow people to subscribe to your updates, remember to provide some information that would appeal to them and use the public option to post.
Facebook is a driving force behind social media and if you are smart you will take advantage of this to propel your brand. The new revamped Facebook Timeline with ability to offer people the opportunity to subscribe to your updates is HUGE for your brand. Add the power of the Facebook Business Pageand that makes a power combination.
When you scoff at Facebook, think about which comparable platforms offer you the ability to reach up to 800 million people. So if you have jumped off the Facebook bandwagon, I suggest jumping back on. 800 million people, there’s nothing to think about, just do it.
Twitter offers a HUGE opportunity to reach out to an unlimited amount of people, with 140 characters. Things to keep in mind, don’t spam, don’t shove your marketing message and or sales pitch down the throats of your followers. They don’t care what your selling. REALLY. Twitter is about sharing content that is of value to your followers, NOT about you, your message and what you’re selling. The plus is that providing great content and valuable information will put you in a position to be viewed as an authority within your subject area. This will increase your chances of turning followers into potential clients, clients and or people to collaborate with. Twitter is HUGE, use it.
Is the new kid on the block and is really being minimized by many. This is a platform that should be taken serious if nothing more than realizing that Google RAWKS. The Internet would NOT be the same if Google wasn’t a huge player. Google+ is not just a social media platform but a Game changer. Google + will change the Internet as we know it like they did with the introduction of Google and the domination of the Internet since then. Google will take every platform that they own or that they plan to own and add it to Google+ to make it ROCK. BELIEVE IT! Google+ is the Game changer because it is the beginning of Social Search. Grab a Google+ Page for your business as well. Pay attention peeps.
Curation is a huge part of the future of the Internet, primarily because there is an abundance or over abundance of information floating about on the millions of social media channels. People are quite literally overwhelmed by the amount of information that is being chucked at them. Curationallows the curator to compile topics of interest by weeding through the information, finding what’s of relevance to their demographic of followers and supply that information to their followers. This is what Scoop.it is all about and you need to check it out.
Is an extremely social media oriented blogging platform that is easy to share, easy to follow and extremely popular. I use my Tumblr account everyday. Tumblr is great for supplying small segments of information, pictures and quotes to people that are interested in grabbing quick information.
Is one of the most powerful blogging platforms available now. I am a reformed WordPress basher that really didn’t get the big hoopla about WordPress until I used it myself. I was using Posterous as my primary blog platform of choice, they changed their format and IMHO Jumped the Shark. So, I was almost forced to look at the only blogging platform that I hadn’t tried and that was WordPress. I like the functionality of the free platform and I really REALLY love the self hosted WordPress.org option. Since WordPress added the option to subscribe for most of the blogs, they are now the best in my book. I use the Free format for everyday, uncomplicated blogging and the self hosted format for my more involved blogging needs.
Is one of the most underutilized and underused formats in the social media game. Stumbleupon will give some serious juice to your content. I have included it as a sharing option on my blogs, I’ve added it to my Chrome Plugin and I Stumble every blog that I +1 and share. Use it!
Is one of the BEST Twitter management tools that I’ve ever used. I am usually not one for Twitter management tools; However, I really LOVE Commun.it. This platforms helps you to focus on people that are your most engaged members, supporters and influences. That’s huge because it allows you to know who is really in touch with your brand so you can actively engage with them. This is “For The Win” for creating an active and engaged Twitter following. Commun.it also gives you an indication of those that have unfollowed you and those that you should consider unfollowing based on lack of engagement. This is a must in your arsenal for 2012.
Is first and foremost a great way to meet some really AMAZING people, not just any people but the Social Media Elite ( my opinion) There are so many people in technology and social media related fields playing this social media stock market game.
What’s good about Empire Avenue is that it numerically rates your social media activity by platform and assigns a dividend (div) amount based on how engaging your content is. The dividend is payed out daily to people that buy your shares, sort of like dividends in real stock market.
You can register as an individual or as a company. After you register, connect your social media channels and watch your share price and divs go up. There is a big drive to buy n00bs, because players have an opportunity to buy shares at a low price.
This game is not for the faint of heart. If you content sucks, your divs will suck and people unload your shares. The good thing is that share price and divs can give you an indication of things in your social media strategy that you may need to work on. What’s more important than the gaming aspect, is that Empire Avenue offers players the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the most amazing, tech savvy people that they will ever meet. Join, then chase down the Facebook Groups,Social Empire, Team Zen, XBar and Eav Winners. Join the groups, learn the game and meet the amazing people behind the game.
I am still learning a lot about Twyla but this is one of the platforms that I will be using more. One of the HUGE things about Twyla that I like is the POWER TWEET. It allows you to create the most powerful tweet ever. Twylah is still in Beta so you have to ask for invites.
Is Image driven Google juice. It is the “New” Hot Social Media Platform, although I hear it’s been around for a while. Either way everyone is jumping on it, primarily because people really love pics and that is the driving force behind Pinterest. It allows you to grab pics from online sources, Flickr, Urls and uploaded images and add to your boards. People can then share those images by repinning them. You can also embed the images, which is really cool. I just started using this and I really like it.
Is the ultimate source of Blog Juice! One of the things about blogging is the ability to get your content out there, shared, Tweeted etc. You can have the greatest blog out in the world with the most wonderful content but if no one reads it, the content is almost irrelevant. Triberr is the key to getting readers for your blog content.
Triberr allows a user to create a Tribe and add members to their tribe. All tribe members can add an RSS of their blog which then gives the tribe members an opportunity to share this content with their Twitter followers. This is huge for brand awareness, blog traffic, subscribers and potentially for meeting clients and collaborators.
When a person is invited to a Tribe they can then create a new Tribe of their own and invite members. Triberr is still in beta so you will need an invite, which are not really spread around like other Beta platforms. This is primarily because to offer an invite to Triberr is inviting that person into your Tribe.
The key to being successful with Triberr is being very selective about who you invite to your Tribe and careful about Tribes that you join. I find that it is best to have similar and or complementary content as the people in your Tribe. Also, make sure any Tribe that you join have members that are willing to share your content with their Twitter followers as you are willing to share with yours. I’ve learned these things the hard way so I am very selective about Tribes that I join. If you join a Tribe that does not meet your expectations there, just bounce. I would, I have and would do so again.
OK, those are my 12 things Rock on and get Digital! Just remember we are in a digital world so digital marketing is no longer an option but a necessity.
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#SocialMedia Time Management: Automation vs Scheduling
One of the things that I learned FIRST about Social Media was that it is NOT an automated process. I CAN’T stress this enough, you can NOT set it and forget it. That is the makings of a lame marketer that is NOT in touch or engaged with their followers and this could mean a lot of missed opportunities for a business. More importantly, it could make the efforts that you are making toward social media null and void . This is especially so if you are not effectively reaching your target market because you are not posting at the proper time and/or auto posting to the wrong channel. You could really be missing the opportunity to engage your audience. This is one of the biggest flaws of automating your social media efforts. When I say Automation, this should not be confused with scheduling.
I am not a fan of automation because it defeats the purpose of social media and that is the social aspect of it. One of the goals of social media is to reach out to people, engage and get in touch with your audience. Social Media creates an avenue in which business can reach out and get in touch with their clients, past, present and future. Also actively engaging on social media channels allows businesses to provide unparalleled customer service to current clients. Many companies are using social media as a channel in which to reach customers that may be having challenges and handle them before the can escalate.
Scheduling social media, on the other hand is just the smart thing to do if your social media usage has reach the stage beyond recreational usage. As your social media and digital marketing responsibilities increase it is insane to think that you will not have to implement some form of scheduling as a way to manage your time more effectively in order to minimize the likelihood of social media burnout. If you are handling more than one social media brand it is almost imperative that some form of scheduling is in order.
I must say that the extremely fast transition away from the primary use of traditional media and move toward digital marketing has really taken a lot of people by surprise. The quick growth of digital marketing channels as a huge part of a businessess marketing strategy has happend so fast that people in the digital media and social media industry have to be on their A game to keep up. So it is totally understandable that those that spend the majority of their time running their business are reeling from the quick transition so some of the tool that are available to help effectively manage workflow could be overlooked.
Since most successful business owners are so busy running their business, that the time needed for digital marketing and social media can appear like an overwhelming task to undertake. So it is essential to utilize some of the tools available to manage the time needed for social media and digital marketing. One of the best tools that I have found to help with scheduling is Buffer
Remember, scheduling NOT automation is the key to allowing you to manage social media task while taking advantage of all of the benefits of being more social in your marketing efforts.
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Social Media and Technology SHOULD Make Tasks EASIER NOT Harder So, Keep It Simple Stupid [KISS]
Technology and Social Media can be as difficult or as easy as you want to make it. I’m not saying that it’s so easy, only that sometimes it doesn’t have to be quite as complicated as some can make it. Sometimes people make technology, social media and digital marketing a lot more complicated than it needs to be. This is usually because of lack of understanding, negativity toward online platforms, the need to use something that is new and shiny just because it’s new and shiny or a combination of all of the above.
So I’ve decided to list a few very simple things that can be done to help you THINK of technology in a different way, a way that can create an easier way to get things done in the easiest way possible. The first thing you should really do is shift your mindset about technology, social media and Internet Marketing. Sometimes a persons mindset about technology can create unnecessary hurdles and complications. I think of technology as a way to make some tasks a lot simpler or as an easier replacement of tasks that have become obsolete. It’s really not that complicated.
Take a look at a few things that you should consider if you want to benefit from technology and do so in the simplest way possible. Keep in mind, that all platforms and social media channels do not work for every brand, but it is great to give a few of them a go to see if they work for you and if they make some aspect of your daily work flow simpler!
- Embrace Social Media and its Growth: Social media has really taken the place of some traditional advertising and marketing methods that were mainstream a few years ago. So we MUST Stop fighting the growth of this technology! We should be at the point that we realize that social media is not going anywhere. We will NOT be able to roll back time, the horse is out of the barn, blah, blah blah. The point is, we should all be beyond denial that social media is here to stay. So we must make a conscious choice learn more and find a way to make this technology work for us. This is especially the case if you have a business because the use of traditional marketing ONLY as means of advertising and promoting a business is really a thing of the past. I don’t believe traditional marketing will ever totally fade but it has evolved into something different now and it has happened so gradually that we were unaware that it was happening. We hardly ever read newspapers or magazines anymore. Instead we turn on our computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones which have fueled the growth of social media. So it’s time to embrace social media on a business level even if you opt out of it on a personal level because traditional advertising and marketing options are very limited and I’m pretty sure time will not go backward anytime soon. This is Simple, right?
- Go Beta: Some Beta platforms allow you to complete some of your tasks in an easier way. There are so many new social media programs and channels introduced in beta form that you could almost try a new one a daily basis. Why not give a few of them a try? I have found some of the most amazing online channels offered in beta initially. I have incorporated these programs, channels and tools into my marketing mix and they have really been a great addition. Some of these channels have really allowed me to streamline some of my workflow. I’m not saying that you should jump at every beta that is available, only that you should try the channels that you believe would be most beneficial to your brand. Some of the these platforms may simplify your work flow as they have mine. YES, It is just that Simple
- Keep only the Platforms that are good for your brand: After trying some of these Beta programs weed out the channels that do not fit your needs. Not all platforms are a good fit for all brands or sometimes a platform just does not meet your expectations. Both are good reasons to discontinue use of the platform. Simply, if the platform adds value and simplifies some of your processes, keep it, if not dump it. Simple.
- Use Facebook: Why there are still people that are resistent to Facebook and additional social media channels for business is beyond me. It’s not like there are an abundance of options available to advertise and market a business these days. We are not living in the 80′s. I cannot stress how important Facebook has become, particularly for businesses. Ok, we understand Facebook does have glitches, the platform changes every year and Facebook implements changes that we may or may not like. Well guess what, there are 900 million people on Facebook and if we have an opportunity as business owners to even reach a percentage of those people why wouldn’t we go for it? Facebook with all of its flaws has presented companies with an opportunity to reach out to their customers in a way that has never been presented before. Stop whining and use this platform for your business even if you chose not to use it on a personal level. If you want to be even a little competitive, expand your business, or be relevant online you much embrace this platform. Simple.
- Use Twitter: Twitter may seem stupid to some but Twitter works! This platform rocks for business, increasing brand recognition and customer service. It allows to you engage, reach out, become an authority in your field and increase customer interaction ALL within 140 characters for people that ONLY have time to indulge in you in these 140 characters, so make it good.
- Use G+: Whether you think Google+ is relevent or not is irrelevant especially when it comes to business. Google plus is an extension of Google which rocks on every possible level, it’s Google. This platform is NOT a Facebook replacement but it is an important part of any online strategy primarily because the use of Google+ will help with exposure, indexing and increasing your company relevance with Google. With the merging of Google Local and Google+ Local pages creates one more reason that you need to be utilizing G+ for your brand.. Just hit the +1, share content on Google+ and watch the results. Simple, right?
- Blog: The importance of a blog cannot be expressed too much. Quite simply every post you write is a piece of content which makes your company more relevant as an authority in your industry. If you blog 3 times per week and another person never blogs, when the blog posts are indexed by Google the person that has blogged 3 times per week will be more relevant than the person that never blogged. That’s Simple
- Use WordPress for your blog: As a former WordPress basher I am quick to admit that I was wrong. WordPress is quite simply the BEST blogging platform available. I’ve tried others and WordPress has been the absolute best platform because of its ease of use and abundant plugins that creates a versatility and simplicity beyond any other blogging platform. It’s simple, use it.
- Go Mobile: A very high percentage of people use mobile devices to check Facebook, shop and visit other online websites. People have their mobile devices with them every waking moment so as business owners we simply MUST provide a channel in which visitors can view our online precence on their mobile device. NOT to do so, is cheating yourself and your business. Simple!
- Schedule Your social media: The use of so many channels and platforms makes it almost physically impossible NOT to schedule at least some of your business social media. There are a few channels that allow you to schedule your social media, one of which is Buffer. Simple, try it!
- Do Not SPAM: No one wants messages spammy or otherwise shoved down their throats. That is very old school and just simply doesn’t fly in an engaging, social oriented world that we now live it. Simple Don’t Do it!
- Keep It simple: Technology is an amazing platform and there are so many things to learn and utilize but technolgy and the use of technology should ALWAYS make something that is difficult, easier. The use of technology shouldn’t take a simple task and make that task harder. That is just STUPID NOT SIMPLE. So if any of the channels that you are utilizing creates a more difficult experience for yourself or the user, there needs to be an evaluation of that platform. I selected the platforms above because these are some of the most simple online platforms to utilize and should make workflow a lot simpler for a person or company.
So when venturing into technology and social media platforms for the first time, remember it just doesn’t have to be that complicated, there are easy steps, easy to use platforms and the use of any platform should not complicate a task.
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@Commun_it IS #Twitter Management Awesome Sauce, Why You NEED IT, @SharelOmer
At one time I was not a fan of any management tools, in retrospect I believe that was primarily due to the lack of need for them. If you are working with a small amount of accounts or in the beginning stages of your social media usage the need for management tools are minimal. However, as your business grows, the accounts you manage expand and your social optimization plan evolves you WILL need any and every management tool you can find. So, needless to say the philosophy that I could manage multiple social media accounts without any tools went out the window.
I tried a few tools that had me manage accounts by way of some form of dashboard. Although these tools seem to work for many, I honestly found the buzzing, movement and noise of the dashboard to be a bit much. I am not by any stretch minimizing any of these platforms but sometimes a platform is just not for you or your brand. I am a huge advocated of trying any and everything that seems of interest but I will only stick with them if they fit my branding, marketing and or digital marketing needs.
At this point in the social media game we realize the importance of Twitter for marketing a business. It is quite frankly my number one social media platform to reach business leads. Although I do love some of the others, I find that Twitter has worked very well for allowing me to build an amazing network of friends, followers, clients and potential clients. So if you use Twitter as much as I do and you find it to be an essential part of your digital marketing strategy, it is imperative to find a great platform or tool that helps to manage your Twitter profiles, especially if you manage more than one brand.
After trying a lot of Twitter Management tools and platforms I found out about Commun.it. Well the search for a Twitter Management Tool was OVER because this one fit like a glove. If you’ve ever read this blog, i’m sure you’ve read a post or two about how Commun.it makes my Digital Marketing Life Complete! They are my Digital Marketing soul mates, the Yin to my Yang, the peanut butter to my jelly, you get it right? In a nutshell they have it figured out and they continue to one up themselves with the upgrades which meet needs that a person didn’t even know they had. The Commun.it Team Rocks on Ice as well!
Commun.it offers the ability to totally manage ALL of your Twitter presences from one platform . In one of the many amazing upgrades, they now offer the ability to manage more than one Twitter profile. This is HUGE especially if, like me you are manager of more than one brand. I am currently managing four of my largest brands using Commun.it and it has really allowed me to maximize my Workflow.
- Build Relationships: This is the area that allows you to see a list of people that are more in touch with your brand. This section is separated by Most Engaged Members, Supporters, Influencers and Starred Members. This list changes according to engagement level but most importantly it allows you to interact more with the people that are in touch with your brand so that you can build a better relationship.
- Manage: This section allows you to analyze your New Followers, New Unfollowers, Consider to Follow and Consider to Unfollow. This is a great guide in allowing you to monitor your Twitter account in a very strategic way.
- Discover Leads: The most powerful sections of this platform or any platform that allows you to connect with Leads. This is an essential element to any sales driven industry. You have to spend a few minutes setting up key words and or phrases which allow Commun.it to compile this data for you, but after that you are golden.
Commun.it recently added more awesome sauce if you can image that! Using this very powerful platform we now have the ability to import Twitter lists and use the above functions, Build Relationships, Manage and Discover leads. These three functions are essential elements to any social media platform. I love the, discover leads options because as business owners and Entrepreneurs one has to be the marketing, graphics, account, sales departments and more. So one must have the ability to connect with and discover leads and Commun.it allows you to do so using Twitter which is one of the most amazing social media platforms for connecting with potential clients.
Why it’s Important
Social Media has removed barriers in creating new business relationships, and Twitter makes it easier than ever to connect with anyone. But the chaotic and disruptive nature of Twitter creates a huge challenge for businesses to leverage its potential and put all of the relationships in a business context. This is why for businesses that grow and rely on building & maintaining relationships with their customers, prospects, and partners, relationship management has become more important than ever. While traditionally businesses maintained various silos of relationship management activities (lead generation, CRM, support channels, sales funnel…), social media & online channels are creating a sea change in this area: there is a convergence in the mediums that are used to engage with potential customers, new leads, support cases and more – and the differentiation in these categories becomes blurred as well.Commun.it is the first solution that fuses community management, CRM and lead generation in a way that enables business-focused relationship management on Twitter.
How Relationship Management Works in Commun.it
Commun.it dashboard is intutive and easy to use. See how you manage relationships in 3 steps:
- Step 1: Incoming engagements are prioritized – easily focus on your high-value members – top influencers that drive awareness, top supporters that spread your word, most engaged members, potential leads
- Step 2: Relationship context in a glance – quickly scan through members in each list and see your relationship status, total # of engagements you made, # of times he mentioned items you monitor
- Step 3: Full relationship history with a member – drill down to a member reveals full relationship history – all mutual engagements ever made (including all mentions, replies, retweets and dms you ever made), since when you are following each other
One of the things that allows Commun.it to surpass the minimal competition that they do have is that they offer amazing features with the user in mind. Take a look at the video series that I created below to give you a demo of some of the features that are listed above.
I am using The Pro Version of Commun.it and I am really loving it. If interested in the functionality of this platform, check out the Commun.it Pro Tier . I would love to to know what you think of Commun.it! Feel free to catch me on Facebook, G+ or Twitter of course. 
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