tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21886952024256635592024-03-21T15:54:32.510-04:00OnFast - Be Everywhere FastOnFast is social tools for business. Our products include a social dashboard, social coupons, painless blogging and Facebook applications.
You can find the most current information about OnFast and what we're doing on this blog.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17333411991137454111noreply@blogger.comBlogger355125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-18985648255934675932013-11-22T08:00:00.001-05:002013-11-22T08:00:01.314-05:00Social Media News For The Week Of 11/22/13<p><strong>10 Surprising Social Media Statistics That Will Make You Rethink Your Social Strategy</strong><br /><br />Leading this collection of relevant and useful statistics is the rapid growth in social media usage by people over 45 years of age. For example, people between the ages of 55-64 are fastest growing demographic on Twitter at the rate of 79 percent since 2012. Another important statistic is the fact that 189 million of Facebook users access the site only from mobile devices. This points out how brands must structure their content to be mobile-friendly. Also, the decline in the importance of television to younger audiences is evident in the social network YouTube reaching more 18-34 year olds than cable networks. <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3021749/work-smart/10-surprising-social-media-statistics-that-will-make-you-rethink-your-social-stra"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>10 Questions to Ask When Measuring Your Social Media ROI</strong><br /><br />Measuring the success of any social media marketing campaign is crucial in ensuring its long term success. Time is money, as any small business owner knows, so continually repeating strategies which are not gaining traction for a brand doesn’t make sense. Measuring a company’s efforts against its marketing goals is essential to making any social media marketing endeavor worth the time and money invested in it. <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229948"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>IBM: These Are The Top 7 Social Trends That Will Emerge In 2014</strong><br /><br />Another influential take on the upcoming year of 2014 and what trends will unfold during the next year. This time from IBM’s VP of Social Business, Scott Hebner. One of his predictions is the convergence of Social, Mobile, and Analytics in the Cloud. Another interesting projection is the emergence of brand journalism in the transformation of content producers into true brand advocates, moving businesses beyond reliance on traditional media. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/markfidelman/2013/11/18/ibm-these-are-the-top-7-social-trends-that-will-emerge-in-2014/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Social Media Helps Build Bridges to Customers</strong><br /><br />Social media marketing has fundamentally changed the way in which brands interact with their customers. Consumers as a result can truly engage with the businesses they find important to their lives. The medium has become the perfect platform for erasing the gap between companies and the consumer. <a href="http://www.baselinemag.com/social-media/social-media-helps-build-bridges-to-customers.html/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-57162612264896697302013-11-18T13:15:00.001-05:002013-11-18T13:15:15.576-05:00Social Media News For The Week Of 11/15/13<p><strong>Social Media For Small Businesses: How To Harness The Hashtag (Infographic)</strong><br /><br />First used on Twitter and recently added to Facebook, the hashtag (#) is showing up more frequently as its proper use is learned by individuals and businesses. Hashtags offer any business a unique way of sharing their message with a vast audience on multiple networks simultaneously. Businesses need to understand how to leverage this powerful tool that is available to assist them in building their brand on social media. This useful infographic by American Express clearly explains the hashtag and how it should be used for business purposes.<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/12/small-business-hashtag_n_3991246.html?ir=Small Business"><strong> Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>2013 Social Media Facts for Business [Infographic]</strong><br /><br />As we wind down 2013 and move forward into a new year social media marketing has grown and been expanded further in its adoption by businesses. Yet their are still many social network holdouts among small businesses. This interesting infographic presents the state of social media near the end of 2013 and offers compelling evidence supporting its use in furthering the marketing efforts of businesses of all sizes. <a href="http://socialbarrel.com/2013-social-media-facts-business-infographic/54070/"><strong>Full Story Here: </strong></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>U.S. Small Businesses Take Cues from Major Retailers With Early Holiday Promotions, Ink from Chase Survey Reveals</strong><br /><br />Ink from Chase has released the results of a survey of small business owners as they approach the coming holiday season. The study found that many plan on ramping up their social media marketing promotions, e-commerce, and mobile marketing sales efforts in response to consumer demand. Over all, 34 percent of small business owners believe this holiday season will be better for their companies over last year. Their expectations are for 30 percent of their business to come through e-commerce and 13 percent through mobile commerce. <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20131114005401/en/U.S.-Small-Businesses-Cues-Major-Retailers-Early"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Keep Calm and Keep Posting: 5 Social Media Marketing Myths Debunked</strong><br /><br />Social media marketing can be a dynamic way to build a businesses brand through engagement with both existing and potential customers, if utilized properly. Over the years of its existence a number of common misconceptions regarding social media’s use by businesses. Many smaller firms particularly feel they don’t have the time or enough quality content to effectively leverage the medium. Even more don’t understand the fundamentals of its use. Others don’t let the human side of their company shine through on social networks, missing the point of social media for business which true connection with their audience. <a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/keep-calm-keep-posting-5-social-media-marketing-myths-debunked-0673814"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-76121330061284453462013-11-08T08:00:00.001-05:002013-11-08T08:00:03.384-05:00Social Media News For The Week Of 11/8/13<p><strong>Pinterest Is Now The Fastest Growing Content-Sharing Platform</strong><br /><br />The content distribution service ShareThis is reporting that in the third quarter of the year Pinterest became the fastest growing platform for the sharing of content. This finding is the result of the analysis of millions of shares made using the ShareThis service. The explosion of Pinterest recently indicates how important it is for businesses to diversify their social media marketing efforts beyond merely Facebook and Twitter. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pinterest-is-fastest-growing-content-sharing-platform-2013-11"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>5 Social Media Marketing Trends For 2014</strong><br /><br />With the holidays and the end of the year right around the corner it is useful to look ahead in anticipation of the coming year. Social media marketing will no doubt continue to grow and be adopted by ever more businesses. A few trends to look for in social networks and business include the rise of Twitter to potentially rival Facebook, Google to really catch on with users, and continued growth for video-sharing. <a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/5-social-media-marketing-trends-2014-0670336"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Twitter Gears Up To Make Public Debut</strong><br /><br />Twitter had its initial public offering this week. Another sign of the maturation of social media as business. Twitter is expected to receive a small price jump from its beginning price of $26. Twitter has been much more cautious than Facebook regarding this IPO. Facebook infamously suffered a severe drop in stock value in the aftermath of its IPO, but has since recovered. <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2013/11/07/twitter-gears-up-to-make-public-debut/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Twitter’s Data Has Unique Value for Business</strong><br /><br />As Twitter shares begin trading it is useful to see the value to business of the data that can be garnered from social network. Twitter can provide important insights into public sentiment in regards to many topics including brands and their products. To reap the full benefits of this information however, going forward, brands need to learn how to better interpret the data gathered from increasingly improved analytical tools. <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2013/11/07/twitters-data-has-unique-value-for-business/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-62801952278889781352013-11-04T08:06:00.001-05:002013-11-04T08:06:42.250-05:00Social Media News For The Week Of 11/1/13<p><strong>Six Signs You’re Using Social Media Wrong</strong><br /><br />Successfully leveraging social media for marketing purposes takes much more than simply signing up for social network accounts and randomly posting to them. It should be one facet of the company’s overall marketing campaign, utilized in concert with the businesses other efforts. Social media is for promoting brand awareness through relationship building with customers and listening to what they have to say while monitoring the competition. It is crucial to measure your results to gauge your level of success as well. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2013/10/28/six-signs-youre-using-social-media-wrong/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a> <br /><br /><br /><strong>How Local Businesses Should Size Up & Tackle Social Media</strong><br /><br />Businesses just starting out with social media marketing often wonder which platforms should they begin their efforts. A more important question to ask of themselves is what are their goals for the campaign and to establish a strategy to get there. It always makes sense to start with the big players in social media which include Facebook, Google , Twitter, And LinkedIn. As the campaign moves forward then concentrate the effort on the channels which garner the best results. <a href="http://searchengineland.com/lifting-up-the-social-kimono-for-local-businesses-174473"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Brand Presence: How To Choose Where To Be On Social Media, Without Breaking Your Budget</strong><br /><br />Research by Business Insider has uncovered several importantly relevant findings about big brand social media use with implications for small brands. A study conducted across several years has found that the social media fans of a brand will spend more money on a annual basis buying the products of the company than non-fans. This proves that patience and taking the long view pay off eventually. Also, Twitter adoption rates for Fortune 500 companies are now higher than Facebook. 73 percent of those companies are active on Twitter, while 66 percent have active Facebook accounts. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/top-social-media-brand-strategies-2013-10"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>‘Tis the Season for Mobile Shopping and Social Media Marketing</strong><br /><br />Mobile shopping and social media marketing will have an even bigger impact on the holiday shopping season this year than last year. According to information released in a infographic by OfferPop, 48 percent of shoppers used social media in their shopping during the 2012 holiday season and the figure is expected to rise for 2013. <a href="http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5367-holiday-shopping-2013.html"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-82417888600919168732013-10-25T08:51:00.001-04:002013-10-25T08:51:42.973-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 10/25/13<p><strong>Social Media Marketing For Small Businesses: How to Hang Onto Every Fan And Follower</strong><br /><br />Keeping social media fans and followers through engagement is more important for a small business than gaining large numbers of meaningless ones by not connecting with them. 80 percent of social media users prefer connecting with brands on social networks over websites, according to a report by MBA Online. Social media marketing is not meant to be one way communication, postings must be followed up with responses to the comments and questions of fans. This is how true engagement and connection take place, which the purpose of the medium. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/23/social-media-marketing-small-business-amex-open_n_3941926.html"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Chasing the Wrong Rabbit? Social Media Goals for Small Business</strong><br /><br />Social media marketing is not meant to be an instant revenue stream for businesses. It is rather a platform for relationship building with customers while building brand awareness for its products and services. Setting up specific goals and objectives which are measurable, achievable, and relevant within a set timeframe should be what every company’s social media efforts strive for. <a href="http://www.business2community.com/small-business/chasing-wrong-rabbit-social-media-goals-small-business-0656358"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Social Media for Small Business: Choose Wisely, Then Execute</strong><br /><br />Social media and online marketing have not provided businesses with a magic wand of technological success. Instead they offer new platforms from which to promote themselves and connect with a wide audience. Small businesses should carefully spend their resources within a clearly established strategy. <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/23/idUS12206257720131023"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>What Consumers Are Doing On Social Media [Infographic]</strong><br /><br />Interaction between consumers and brands has increasingly taken place on social media over the last five years and will only continue to do so in the future. As businesses compete for the time consumers spend on social media, it is valuable for brands to know where their potential customers are spending their online time. This informative infographic offers some insights. <a href="http://socialbarrel.com/consumers-social-media-infographic/53782/">Full Story Here: </a><br /><br /><br /></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-10254430379511095342013-10-24T08:56:00.001-04:002013-10-24T08:56:57.513-04:00Don't forget the hashtag<p><strong><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/oNyPHw9ZbIj_xlGxzJ1FBUgj57DKytpMFVeAr1SmmuvWwc-UtHYLFskqmRSm41pOmCc0w3RkiHxaHqjgLpV6=s300" alt="" /></strong></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Hashtags (words or phrases prefixed with the symbol <span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>#</strong></span>) started in 2007 on Twitter and have since spread to Pinterest, Instagram, Google and more recently Facebook. Hashtags ensure that people can categorize content according to their interests and make it easy for other people to find their relevant content.</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>Onfast.com</strong></a>.</p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-7537110847578228252013-10-22T08:01:00.001-04:002013-10-22T08:01:05.689-04:00Social media posters: Do you know these people?<p><strong><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/PpPEIuC0JJCIpwvRSP_ZDuOFr3Wzw1Zt8Qtjye6CnM-m0ViRhw5u29Yd8GxRmMiqLEnfdO93YHwkdUv5nkgM=s300" alt="" />The Chronic Updater</strong></p> <p>It’s a beautiful day. I’m on my way to work. Going for lunch. Buying wine at the grocery store. Driving home. I’m home. On and on…………</p> <p><strong>The Happy Vacationer</strong></p> <p>Here I am on a mountain. I’m overlooking a valley in Maine. I’m overlooking a lake in New Hampshire. I’m on the interstate heading south. Happy to be home……</p> <p><strong>The New Parents</strong></p> <p>Little Joey. Little Joey 5 minutes later. Little Joey eating Cheerios. Little Joey sleeping. Little Joey waking up. Little Joey. Little Joey…….</p> <p><strong>The Foodie</strong></p> <p>My vegetable lasagna. Here’s my picture of really green beans. Pizza in a cup. The big steak at the Texas barbeque joint.</p> <p><strong>The Rage Guy</strong></p> <p>I hate government. Why do stores close at 6pm? We need more roads. They messed up my burger order again.</p> <p> </p> <p>You get the idea. Hopefully, you are not one of them. Too often social media posts are just too much information (TMI). You can tire out your friends quickly with mundane, irrelevant, and frequent posts. Be considerate of your followers’ time and keep it pithy, spontaneous, and interesting.</p> <p>Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>OnFast.com.</strong></a> Visit OnFast.com today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.</p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-57093972237324427472013-10-21T10:23:00.001-04:002013-10-21T10:23:37.706-04:00Set up Google Alerts to find content<p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/RSC4bE3hB9mmIKTsniCEhbExo2miI0kHyfxnyZjjV-32S5ZOeF0AuPaIhvhsCf0njeG-3fPVtnHrcwMdLDs=s300" alt="" />With <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Google Alerts</span>, you can set up alerts for topics and news relevant to your business. Google Alerts provide a window into what’s making news and what others are saying, including your competitors.</p> <p>Monitoring online digital conversations can inspire ideas for your posts and introduce you to new content resources.</p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-14413432707486788622013-10-18T08:00:00.001-04:002013-10-18T08:00:01.179-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 10/18/13<p><strong>For Online Video, Social Media Is The New Hit-Maker And Virtual Remote Control Rolled Into One</strong></p> <p>Social media-influenced video has now eclipsed stand-alone online video in viewership numbers, according to Business Insider. Social networks YouTube and Facebook along with many other emerging platforms are giving businesses a cost-effective alternative to traditional television advertising and video content distribution. YouTube is still the number one platform for Social TV, but Facebook has the fastest-growing online video audience. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-drives-online-video-viewing-2013-10"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>5 Reasons You Should Be Using Social Media To Promote Your Business</strong></p> <p>The benefits for a small business to market itself on social media are well established. For any company that may be still on the fence about it, social media marketing will build up trust in your brand while increasing awareness of your business. Social media also will drive increased traffic to your website and boost search rankings with improved SEO. Social media provides the perfect platform for keeping track of what is being said about your brand while offering your company a forum for response. <a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/5-reasons-using-social-media-promote-business-0647150"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How Social Media Campaigns Will Change In 2014</strong></p> <p>Social media marketing continues to grow and mature as a promotional tool for brands as we head toward 2014. Google will become a viable platform as businesses expand their circles and share their content on the network. Image-based content shall become even more prevalent and influential. Customer engagement will be a key influence in determining if a brand truly stands out from its competitors.<strong><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhendricks/2013/10/16/how-social-media-campaigns-will-change-in-2014/"> Full Story Here: </a></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Creating a Social Media ‘Fingerprint’ for Your Small Business</strong> </p> <p>Social media marketing has evolved from a luxury to a necessity in the last few years. As this transition has taken, it has also become imperative for brands to establish a clear strategy for successfully leveraging the medium. This strategy can be seen as a virtual fingerprint for the business, across multiple channels. This fingerprint should be an imprint the brand’s character and culture spoken on the medium in it’s own company voice. <a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/marketing-sales/2013/10/16/creating-social-media-fingerprint-for-your-small-business/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-5326362914880841622013-10-16T09:45:00.001-04:002013-10-16T09:45:26.794-04:00SEO Keyword Tip<p>A careful choice of keywords in your social blog posts is a major consideration since they attract visitors who are interested in your products and services. These visitors are not only interested they are motivated in doing business. If you are experiencing a steady increase in traffic to your social sites your choice of SEO keywords is on target.</p> <p><a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>OnFast.com</strong> </a>rates your posts for effective keyword usage. Try it today.</p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-38009011103504424152013-10-14T09:57:00.001-04:002013-10-14T09:57:08.471-04:00Don't Let Your Social Media Efforts Backfire<p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/77kl8ZZqD8XoXu9dP9DgjZ-XiJkPgtNquHV90sTKf8knQmoTJA00zV-BPONf_SV4wro9SLGHJw6zKyo-vx0=s300" alt="" />In days gone by, advertising, marketing, and communications were one-way outbound channels and could be controlled by the brand. Brands could regulate what messages were disseminated, to whom, where, and when.</p> <p>Today with social media, a whole separate conversation among consumers is going on behind the scenes. For the most part, your coveted brand reputation and purchasing influence has been transferred to the whims of consumers.</p> <p>Through social media channels, consumers can comment and rate products and services either positively or negatively. These trusted testimonials carry a heavy influence with prospective customers. Most amazingly, comments along with video, and pictures can be transmitted in real-time from mobile smartphones to an unlimited audience with little effort on the part of the sender.</p> <p>Recognizing the perils of negative media, brands are being compelled to be more open, honest and transparent. Seeking to hide or disguise legitimate issues on social networks is likely to fail.</p> <p>Most important, in today’s social media marketplace you must deal with a negative issue immediately. Assign a skilled, knowledgeable, and empowered resource to monitor and deal with the discourse.</p> <p>Remember you are dealing with real people in a two-way conversation. Never be formal, or authoritarian with your responses to negative posts. Be genuine and take responsibility for actions within your control.</p> <p>Above all, your goal is to show you are reasonable, fair, and easy to work with.</p> <p>Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by OnFast.com. Visit <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>OnFast.com</strong></a> today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.</p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-31380092485620668572013-10-11T08:00:00.001-04:002013-10-11T08:00:03.047-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 10/11/13<p><strong>Twitter’s Comcast Partnership Moves It Leaps And Bounds Ahead Of The Competition In Social TV</strong><br /><br />In the emerging trend of Social TV, Twitter has positioned itself ahead of competing social networks by entering into a deal with Comcast. This partnership is the biggest step taken so far in the convergence of social media and television. Comcast will embed a “See It” button in tweets by Comcast’s NBCUniversal. The button will take the user to a live program either on a mobile device or a television. To use this functionality users must be subscribers to Comcast’s Xfinity service. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/twitter-and-comcast-take-on-social-tv-2013-10"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Tune-In Your Social Media For Customer Focus And Better Business Practice</strong><br /><br />Social media can be a highly effective tool for small businesses to keep in touch with their customer base and meet their needs. Social media can provide companies with valuable market research information. Listening to your followers, linking all social accounts, and planning a clear strategy for your social media campaigns will lead to success with the medium. <a href="http://www.firmology.com/2013/10/08/tune-your-social-media-skills-in-to-consumers-for-better-business-practice/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>The Top Twelve Business Etiquette Tips for Social Media</strong><br /><br />Society functions best when people follow basic rules of etiquette in their interactions with others. The same holds true in social media networking. Businesses must be polite and treat their customers on social media the same way they would in a face-to-face encounter. This article offers guidelines for companies to follow in polite engagement with their fans and followers on social media networks. <a href="http://www.4hoteliers.com/features/article/7932"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media Tips for Small Business Owners</strong><br /><br />Small business owners should never forget where their attention should always be in all their social media posts. The reader should be the focus point of all postings on social media channels. Never make your brand the point of anything shared in blogs or social networks. <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304176904579111420867007860.html"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong> </a><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-20166673703197314812013-10-04T08:00:00.001-04:002013-10-04T08:00:01.211-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 10/4/13<p><strong>The Death of Social ROI - Companies Are Starting To Drop The Idea That They Can Track Social Media’s Dollar Value</strong></p> <p>Businesses are realizing that their social media marketing efforts can’t be measured in the strict terms of revenue-per-customer metrics, according to a study conducted by Business Insider. The report found ROI tracking use by marketers fell from 17 percent to only 9 percent and the tracking of conversion rates dropped from 25 percent to 21 percent. At the same time investment in social media by firms is up and expected to reach 16 percent of the total marketing budget of companies by 2018. As businesses have moved forward with social media they have learned to concentrate their efforts on audience-building, brand awareness, and customer relations. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-myth-of-social-roi-2013-10"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Social Media Strategies to Grow Your Business</strong></p> <p>Frustrations over the lack of measurable returns for a company’s social media investments results when they fail to understand the nature of the medium. Social media is about building relationships between people, not products. Learning who the business’ target audience is and connecting with them will lead to successfully leveraging social media marketing. <a href="http://independentretailer.com/2013/10/02/social-media-strategies-to-grow-your-business/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>4 Businesses That Use Social Media for Growth</strong></p> <p>While social media is about interaction and connection between people, the end goal for business is to get those people talking about the brand’s products and services. This article provides a few good examples of businesses who have successfully grown as a result of their social media marketing efforts.<a href="http://smallbiztrends.com/2013/09/using-social-media-for-growth-business.html"><strong> Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why Social Media is Now The New ‘Word of Mouth’</strong></p> <p>Social media has taken over the role of ‘word of mouth’ advertising. A successful social media marketing campaign results in a large number of people talking on the medium about a firm’s products and services. The brand’s fans, in a sense, do the marketing for the company. Social media thrives because of the ever shrinking attention span of modern society. Social provides instant gratification in the form of social opinion provided through instant communication.<a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/social-media-now-new-word-mouth-0634742"><strong> Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-92058186868432887132013-10-03T10:07:00.001-04:002013-10-03T10:07:59.759-04:00Do I need social media if I have a website?<p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/zOrJSAz2HsX93GifwALVoLpbCBVvGU7BbwaARO-ajLrUicBBfLJMepnakzguJo7YLKtnKKReH8KsTB8o7J4=s300" alt="" />Companies that have long relied on their web sites as a means of attracting customers are now finding that a website alone is not enough. In today’s marketplace, social media presents a better opportunity for enhancing relationships and expanding brand awareness. No one will deny that the web has become the most cost effective, “Go-To” method for finding answers to problems and identifying resources. Google is clearly the world’s number one research tool with billions of searches daily. </p> <p>When it comes to building and maintaining relationships, finding employees, and researching clients, social media presents far better opportunities. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn should be among your first choices. Social media’s biggest advantage is that it is an open conversation among like-minded people. Your audience can ask questions and leave replies. Most important, your viewing audience can share your posts with people you don’t know but have an interest in what is being said. If you use social media, your web of influence will proliferate organically and you will win friends and likes. Do it now!</p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-12529584207478801682013-10-02T10:36:00.001-04:002013-10-02T10:36:09.801-04:00A Contest Generates Excitement<p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/4XKxsYoZVcq4AaBNTdqZ9DJwZHSmS_GBlmY-KhD7aTBjCe7RZQcOd27quUBgbuQVEUCAst59OQZVgmhfnnIM=s300" alt="" />If you’re considering clever ideas for a social media marketing campaign to help get your message across, try running a contest to attract viewer attention.</p> <p>People crave freebies. Have you ever noticed at a trade show how willing people are to enter a contest? Running a social media contest on your Facebook page or company blog will produce the same results, especially if you include a quality picture of your prize as a visual aid.</p> <p>Asking people to enter your Facebook contest will get valuable prospect names and addresses. Even small prizes like T-Shirts and gift cards will produce a flurry of activity.</p> <p>Be sure to make the contest period reasonable and always post the name of the winner. You can purchase custom T-shirts at <a href="http://www.zazzle.com"><strong>www.zazzle.com</strong></a></p> <p>If you are successful, you may consider offering contests on a regular basis to draw in new fans and viewers.</p> <p>OnFast offers an easy no hassle way to set up a contest. Try it for free during our 30-day trial subscription at <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>www.onfast.com</strong></a></p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-77039100521328302212013-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:002013-09-27T08:00:06.963-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 9/27/13<p><strong>Does Small Business Understand Social Media?</strong></p> <p>Many small businesses may have a few misconceptions about social media and what it can and can’t do for their business. Many small business owners have jumped on the social network bandwagon with unrealistic expectations of miracles. Social media is about being social with people, real people. It is not the place for advertising campaigns to be thrown in the faces of the brand’s followers. True engagement between people is the name of the game. The end result will be, over time, increased sales. <strong><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-newman/does-small-business-under_b_3981670.html">Full Story Here:</a></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Social Media Demographics: The Surprising Identity Of Each Major Social Network</strong></p> <p>It is crucial for businesses attempting to reach out to their target customers on social media to choose the correct networks for the concentration of their efforts. Each social media network has its own unique demographic makeup. Business Insider has released their latest figures this week for each of the top social channels. A few interesting takeaways - On Facebook the 45 to 54-year-old age group has seen the largest growth since the end of 2012 at 45 percent. 27 percent of the 18 to 29 year old age bracket use Twitter as compared with only 16 percent of those in their thirties and forties. Pinterest is still dominated by female users at 84 percent. <strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/a-primer-on-social-media-demographics-2013-9">Full Story Here:</a></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How To Generate Leads And Engagement Through B2B Social Media</strong></p> <p>Quality content, which is relevant to the target audience of the brand, should be central to any social media marketing campaign. Google and LinkedIn are the favorite social channels for businesses that primarily derive their revenue from other businesses (B2B). These social networks have grown tremendously in the last year and will see continued growth in 2014, especially Google . <strong><a href="http://www.business2community.com/b2b-marketing/generate-leads-engagement-b2b-social-media-0625916">Full Story Here:</a></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3 Annoying Social Media Mistakes Businesses Need to Avoid</strong></p> <p>The worst social media mistake, which any business can make, is to forget the true purpose of the medium and blatantly self-promoting with an endless stream of marketing and advertising content. Some other missteps include not sharing the content provided by others and being insensitive about controversial or sensitive subject matter or even being overtly offensive. <a href="\http:/www.entrepreneur.com/article/228574"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-72958251172338915022013-09-26T10:10:00.001-04:002013-09-26T10:10:52.424-04:00Marketing A Small Business In The 21st Century - Part 3<p>Today, marketers can produce and share their own homemade video marketing messages, alongside all of the other technological developments in marketing discussed in parts one and two of this series. The small business marketer still has some tried and true older techniques to fall back on as well. Television, radio, and print, in addition to the good old yellow pages are still viable options alongside the newer and more provocative marketing choices.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Video</strong><span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span></p> <p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/l1wm_EbZUXstu7mIYjg4SkwWsD4vHODZ54n6Q30iluwly57Cmn0yCsQ33ylDCnSQekZTUtrcAMMTWImbQZM=s300" alt="" />The video sharing social media site, <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com">YouTube</a></strong>, has provided the do-it-yourself video marketer a tremendous platform from which to launch their videos across the third most visited website on the planet, after <strong><a href="http://www.google.com">Google</a> </strong>and <a href="http://www.facebook.com"><strong>Facebook</strong></a>. Since being bought by Google, YouTube also offers one of the most powerful search engines, second only to Google’s own search engine. Videos on YouTube can become extremely viral due to the medium’s nature. An important factor in what can make a video go viral is the fact that YouTube videos can be embedded across a wide spectrum of social media networks and websites. With billions of views every day, YouTube offers your marketing videos a potentially massive audience.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Traditional Marketing Tools</strong></p> <p>The marketing tools used by businesses to promote their products and services in the past, including television and radio ads, print newspaper advertisements, and even the yellow pages, are still useful tools at the disposal of small business marketers. The more modern platforms discussed here should be seen as additional marketing options, not necessarily replacements for tried and true techniques. These older methods should be fully utilized while they are still available, especially in the case of yellow page and newspaper ads. Your company should want as many eyes to see your products and services as possible.</p> <p> </p> <p>The options available to market a small business to its target have never been more broad and exciting. Today, small firms truly have the tools available, if properly utilized, to compete with much larger companies and reach a worldwide audience. </p> <p>Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>OnFast.com</strong></a>. Visit OnFast.com today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.</p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-59101459026870285782013-09-25T08:00:00.001-04:002013-09-25T08:00:01.733-04:00Marketing A Small Business In The 21st Century - Part 2<p>The arrival of the Internet and its acceptance by the public over the last twenty-plus years has given businesses a variety of new and exciting marketing tools with which to promote their companies. The rise of the Internet and the associated technology has resulted in brand’s having the ability to put up their own company websites featuring whatever information they choose to present to the public. Currently, the web is going through a second evolution, which is putting all the information of the web at people’s fingertips through mobile technology.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Website</strong><strong style="font-size: 10px;"> </strong></p> <p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/hM1hx_FCFgyHD37pxkkP6nfD5CZ2E5csb2o-MA7bzACK_4Ak8i93jOhXNSLvWdjvM2EW2dAkI4EHBX1Ptpg=s300" alt="" />According to Google, a small business that has its own website will grow 40 percent faster than one without a site. Yet despite this, Google states that almost 60 percent of small businesses have no web presence at all, making them completely invisible to the digital world. Unfortunately, many small firms believe websites are too costly and will dominate their time. However, Google offers free help and there are web tools available to simplify the process. <a href="https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en/us/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf">Search Engine Optimization (SEO) </a>is a critical factor in creating a successful company website so that it can be easily found by customers and prospects searching the web within your niche. Industry keywords must be employed within your company’s website. Social media presence and engagement also play a vital role.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Mobile</strong></p> <p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/aa45MfKs9XEtmJTlPL3y7Q1r7XtpRQ7ezfvcYEwPmZPu9W0XE3NAeIGL9zuhHjlFPgDqwpBucD1r3OsMIi_D=s300" alt="" />There has been a massive eruption in the number of mobile devices and smartphones around the world in the last few years and seems like it will outdistance conventional desktop computers in the near future. For a business, this means that just having a website isn’t good enough anymore. Your company’s website must be optimized for mobile at the very least and at best have a mobile app created specifically for smartphone and tablet users.</p> <p> </p> <p>This technology presents several unique marketing opportunities to businesses that will embrace it. Location-based marketing is a growing trend with the rise mobile devices. Using local listing websites to list your business will steer customers, who are already looking to make a purchase, to your business while being helpful at the same time.</p> <p>Mobile marketing can also be much more than local. If your company sells products, create a mobile friendly online catalog. Make sure it is easy to use, looks good on mobile, and maybe even give the customer the option of paying via their device.</p> <p>These technologies and others should not be looked upon as a burden by marketers, but as new and exciting platforms to showcase products and services. In part three of this series, we will at the new possibilities offered by video marketing and take a look at some old stand-by marketing tools.</p> <p> </p> <p>Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by OnFast.com. Visit <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>OnFast.com</strong></a> today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.</p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-28197159508621539792013-09-24T08:01:00.001-04:002013-09-24T08:01:06.191-04:00Marketing A Small Business In The 21st Century - Part 1<p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/gZf-SBIjnbbQIamVK3Ff-Y8m6--mRKL6bIGO5rLjbBliqUuuvRaLHI_v7yi8jLh5LrAoHbaUHDImhuPUpg=s300" alt="" />21st century small businesses have more opportunities and marketing options than ever before. The advent of modern technology, combined with social media, has given the small business owner a multitude of platforms from which to promote their company. In many cases, these marketing tools have helped to level the playing field between small and larger-sized businesses. Of course, all of the marketing possibilities available to any small business now means competition is fierce and not necessarily limited to the local area. In this three part series, we will examine marketing tools at the disposal of a small business today. In this first part, we will briefly examine and review two areas this blog has covered extensively already, social media and blogging. Then in part two and three, we will see what other options are now open to a small business marketer.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Social Media</strong></p> <p>Social media during the last 5-10 years has exploded globally and it is becoming necessary for businesses of all sizes to have a presence on the medium. Whether small companies like it or not, ignoring social media is not an option anymore. It would help any business to do a little research and determine which social networks their target audience prefers to use and start there. Remember, fresh, relevant content, delivered consistently, is key to gaining and keeping a following. Also, showing the human side of your business while engaging with your fans will help.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Blogging</strong></p> <p>A business can effectively establish themselves as an authority in their industry with a well-written blog. Being helpful, informative, and timely should be the goal of a company blog. This will promote the business in a positive light, without coming across as a blatant sales pitch. Once again, quality content is critical. A company blog can be a wonderful source of material for the business’s social media networks, in addition to standing on its own in a blog hosting site or the company website.<span style="font-size: 10px;"> </span></p> <p>In part two, we’ll see how a business’s own website and the emerging mobile technology can fit into a brand’s marketing strategy.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by OnFast.com. Visit <a href="http://www.onfast.com/"><strong>OnFast.com</strong> </a>today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-80531935520019920872013-09-23T08:00:00.001-04:002013-09-23T08:00:00.932-04:00Using Hashtags On Facebook For Business<p> </p> <p>The recent roll out by Facebook, allowing the use of functional hashtags, presents an opportunity for businesses that market themselves on the world’s largest social network. Hashtags simplify searching for and sharing of information and have been a popular tool on other social networks, such as Twitter. A hashtag consists of a ‘#’ symbol, followed by a word or phrase. A hashtag, when clicked, will take the user to a feed of all posts that include that tag word. These hashtags are completely clickable and also searchable. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Opportunities provided by hashtags on Facebook for brands include:</strong></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>1 - Promoting</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Carefully chosen keywords can be used as a hashtag and bring your company’s promotions to a wider audience, beyond your existing base of followers. Be careful that the words chosen cannot be associated in any way with unpleasant or controversial subjects. Also, make sure they are unique enough not to bring up a slew of unrelated results. Make sure you test your hashtags before you use them.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2 - Monitoring</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Hashtags offer a way for businesses to closely monitor the conversations surrounding their brand by following their hashtag’s feed. This will provide valuable marketing intelligence, and keep track of how a brand is talked about on Facebook.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3 - Targeting</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Hashtags give businesses the ability to target specific audience segments that may be following certain, specific hashtags. By using #greatburgers, for example, a restaurant could target all of the people looking to eat out at an establishment that serves great burgers.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Unfortunately, functioning hashtags are still not supported on the Facebook mobile app. Users can post hashtags, but without the ability to click-through to the feed. With over a billion users, Facebook’s adoption of the hashtag will bring the mainstream into awareness and use of this sharing, following, and searching tool, which will be beneficial to all.</p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p> <p>Written and produced in beautiful Naples, Florida by OnFast.com. Visit <strong><a href="http://www.onfast.com">OnFast.com</a> </strong>today to get your free trial subscription to our Social Media Marketing Service.</p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-88901458355048960022013-09-20T10:05:00.001-04:002013-09-20T10:05:44.759-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 9/20/13<p><strong>7 Major Social Media Mistakes You May Be Making Without Knowing It</strong></p> <p>Social media marketing has is a learning process, keep in mind that not very long ago it didn’t exist. There may be some mistakes your company is making, unintentionally, without realizing it. This article offers some food for thought about waging a successful social media effort, some of which goes against previous conventional wisdom and established best practices.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/major-social-media-mistakes-you-may-be-making-2013-9"><strong> Full Story Here:</strong></a><br /><br /></p> <p><strong>10 Questions to Ask When Creating a Social Media Marketing Plan</strong></p> <p>Embarking on a social media marketing without a clear cut strategy plan is a plan for certain failure. However, many businesses launch their social media marketing efforts without any plan whatsoever. The only plan is to increase revenues for the business. A strategic of goals and a pathway to get there must be established in advance. This article provides some vitally important aspects to consider before starting a campaign, or for a business that would like to take a step back before they re-double their efforts. <a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228324"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Five Steps to Becoming a ‘Social Media Ninja’</strong></p> <p>Some more good advice and best practices, along the lines of the above article. Know your audience and what network they spend most of their time. Concentrate on that one network before moving on to other channels. Give the audience quality content which is relevant to their lives. Be consistent and be careful with self-promotion. <a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2013/09/12/growing-your-business-becoming-social-media-ninja/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>The Top 7 Online Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2014</strong></p> <p>According to predictions for 2014 in social media marketing, many current trends will become even more prevalent. The rise of mobile; image-centric content; content marketing; and the diversification into emerging channels such as Pinterest, Google , Tumblr, and Instagram; will become even more important in the coming year. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2013/09/17/the-top-7-online-marketing-trends-that-will-dominate-2014/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-31844630591114002142013-09-06T08:00:00.001-04:002013-09-06T08:00:01.143-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 9/6/13<p><strong>A Blueprint for Using Social Media for Business Success</strong></p> <p>For businesses just starting out, social media and other internet resources can give entrepreneurs the illusion of easy success. However, only a carefully planned marketing strategy which utilizes the social media channels where their target audience are present. Making the effort to know your audience and being willing to pivot your efforts to where they are, then building a relationship with them will create success. This may be on lesser known networks such as Google Plus or Pinterest, rather than Facebook or Twitter. <a href="http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2013/09/03/a-blueprint-for-using-social-media-for-business-success"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Why Social Media Is So Addictive (And Why Marketers Should Care)</strong></p> <p>Society’s obsession with social media shows no signs of abating, it only grows. The reasons for this phenomenon come down, very simply, to human nature. People find some of their deep, psychological needs met on the social networks of their choice. Brands that learn to tap into factors such as ego and self-esteem among others, by meeting those needs, will position themselves for success. <a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/social-media-addictive-marketers-care-0603171"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How 4 Major Companies Revitalized Their Brands By Being Great To Their Customers On Social Media</strong></p> <p>The examples offered by these large companies provide useful clues for businesses of all sizes to effectively leverage social media. Brands, who carefully listen to their customers and respond to the valuable business intelligence they gather on social media, will profit from the excellent customer service they provide. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-for-brand-customer-service-2013-8"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2013: Is this the year of real returns and social media coming of age?</strong></p> <p>The very nature of social media makes it difficult to measure return on investment for social marketing campaigns. EyeforTravel’s Social Media & Mobile in Travel Distribution Report for 2013 found that travel executives are still firmly committed to social media, but investment in the medium is down. This may not be wise since the research showed that people in developed countries spend upwards of seven hours a day on social networks. Facebook executives promise better analytics are coming as the year progresses. <a href="http://www.eyefortravel.com/social-media-and-marketing/2013-year-real-returns-and-social-media-coming-age"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-73351741189856694602013-09-05T08:00:00.001-04:002013-09-05T08:00:01.185-04:00The best excuses not to use social media and they are all wrong.<p> </p> <ul> <li><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/TVdxXOI9XGwATggCah5DyvFwT775wimxuGJ6N8irQklhJntmSS3mjrOVzR8exT-f1wmAquRAchN6UrFM9w=s300" alt="" />Building my brand will take too much time.</li> <li>I’m not sure what to do.</li> <li>My website seems to work just fine.</li> <li>I already known to all my customers.</li> <li>I don’t see how social media can help me do my job.</li> <li>There are too many options and I don’t know which are best for me.</li> <li>Face-to-face contact works best for my business.</li> <li>I don’t have the time.</li> </ul><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-50064429055445358552013-09-04T09:44:00.001-04:002013-09-04T09:44:06.504-04:00Do I need social media if I have a website?<p><img style="float: right; clear: right;" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/1KQgwnYhZrb4aY-6OoNBfPVWqtvHKfZvqfSE61ILg0joKifbw1aLsG83pRRe4Om0aRSazeXlOS60xz-CZQ=s300" alt="" />Companies that have long relied on their web sites as a means of attracting customers are now finding that a website alone is not enough. In today’s marketplace, social media presents a better opportunity for enhancing relationships and expanding brand awareness. No one will deny that the web has become the most cost effective, “Go-To” method for finding answers to problems and identifying resources. Google is clearly the world’s number one research tool with billions of searches daily. </p> <p>When it comes to building and maintaining relationships, finding employees, and researching clients, social media presents far better opportunities. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn should be among your first choices. Social media’s biggest advantage is that it is an open conversation among like-minded people. Your audience can ask questions and leave replies. Most important, your viewing audience can share your posts with people you don’t know but have an interest in what is being said. If you use social media, your web of influence will proliferate organically and you will win friends and likes. Do it now!</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.onfast.com"><strong>OnFast.com</strong> </a>for a 30 day Free trial.</p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2188695202425663559.post-12745879693357015212013-08-23T10:26:00.001-04:002013-08-23T10:26:00.380-04:00Social Media News For The Week Of 8/23/13<p><strong>7 Steps to Productive Business Use of Social Media</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>Most businesses today are employing some form of social media marketing within their overall marketing strategy. However, many do not realize the importance of having a social media marketing strategy unto itself. After failing to gain measurable results, some companies even return to their former marketing techniques. Social media marketing requires a whole new approach, which falls outside the bounds of traditional methodology. <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/martinzwilling/2013/08/17/7-steps-to-productive-business-use-of-social-media/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>How to Use Social Media Listening to Build Brand Loyalty</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>Social media marketing offers businesses increased opportunity to hear what consumers are saying about their products, gaining valuable feedback as a result. Beyond merely selling, social network engagement provides companies a forum to clearly learn what the needs are of their target audience. A company that listens and takes heed of what they learn will earn the brand loyalty of their customers. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jayson-demers/how-to-use-social-media-l_b_3781277.html"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3 Ways Images Are Changing The Role Of Social Media Marketers</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>The rise of image-oriented social media sites, such as Instagram and Pinterest, is changing the way businesses engage their audience across the medium. Brands are learning how images can garner increased attention and response to their postings, when properly utilized. New techniques, skills, and strategy are required for a business to effectively leverage this growing trend. <a href="http://www.business2community.com/social-media/3-ways-images-are-changing-the-role-of-social-media-marketers-0592317"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Social Apps Trigger Engagement On Business Websites</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p>Businesses are incorporating social applications on their websites and seeing results from utilizing these social widgets. This is according to a study by eMarketer which found that 75 percent of companies have added the tools to their business websites. Almost 90 percent of those that have report higher engagement levels with their target audiences, while 54 percent state they are now better connected with their brand’s followers. <a href="http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/technology-web/2013/08/21/social-apps-trigger-engagement-on-business-websites/"><strong>Full Story Here:</strong></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p><br/>Posted via OnFast - <a href='http://www.OnFast.com'>http://www.OnFast.com</a>Mike Burrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765489003435499122noreply@blogger.com