LinkedIn is a very valuable tool if you are looking for a job or seeking a promotion. Unlike other social media outlets, it is geared towards the professional arena. You're not going to put vacation photos or status updates on this one. It is a very good way to connect though. Watch this informative video for a quick tutorial on all LinkedIn has to offer.
LinkedIn is an excellent way to connect to people that can provide references or job opportunities. Make sure your profile is updated and very professional. LinkedIn is also a great place to look if you own a business and are looking for new employees. It offers their resumes and a list of their connections. Checking for mutual connections is a great way to get feedback about the person of interest. If you stumble upon this blog and are looking for someone to work for you, here is a great example of a candidate seeking employment...
Pinterest is one of the newest Social Media Sites, yet it has quickly become one of the most popular. The structure behind it is a little different than others in that you post pictures of things that interest you instead of status updates. It is a favorite of crafty moms and brides, but Pinterest is also becoming a valuable tool for businesses.
There are several tips to successfully marketing your products or services on Pinterest.
Relate to the users. Posting products in a cold, sterile environment will only look like you are trying to sell something. Make the user feel like they need your product in their everyday life by pinning shots of the product in daily life.
Connect your company. By posting pictures of your office or employees, you connect with the consumer and become relatable.
Link to Social Media. Pin images that will encourage users to click-through to your blog or other social media sites. This continues the process of connecting to the customer and building your brand.
On Pinterest, it's all about visual appeal. Create interesting pins that draw in users and make that connection! Check out the infographic below for more tips and tricks for getting the most out of Pinterest. If you still want to know more check out an article from the company behind the graphic.
“Social media isn’t the end-all-be-all, but it offers marketers unparalleled opportunity to participate in relevant ways. It also provides a launchpad for other marketing tactics. Social media is not an island. It’s a high-power engine on the larger marketing ship.” Matt Dickman, technomarketer.typepad.com
Social Media is everywhere. It's become part of the American culture over the last 5 years, so much that it seems crazy to us when someone is not involved in some sort of social media site. The video above lists a number of statistics emphasizing the vast growth and spread of social media. These stats aren't just for general information though. They are valuable pieces of information for anyone trying to grow and expand a business. When any one person can reach millions and millions of people with a simple post, that is a technology to take note of. When social media marketing is done correctly, the scope of where a company can reach is virtually endless. The end of the video reminds us though, that with that power, it is very important to remain trustworthy. As simple as it is to get positive information out to the public, one mistake and negative information will fly across the social media networks just as easily. In 24 hours, your information can reach a lot of people. Make sure your content is interesting, reliable, and beneficial to the consumer, and you will have no problem tapping into the world of social media marketing.
With all eyes on the Olympics this week it puts local news station KSDK in the spotlight....and how do they respond to all the viewers? With a brilliant social marketing campaign called "17 iPads in 17 Days." If you live in the St. Louis area, look at your news feed on Facebook and tell me you don't see a number of your friends liking KSDK's page in the hopes of winning an iPad. The premise is simple.
You see the ad on TV during the commercial breaks or click the link in your news feed from one of your friends who has entered.
All you have to do is "like" KSDK then fill out a form in order to be eligible for the free iPad.
The winner is announced each night after the games for all 17 days of the Olympics.
This entire campaign probably cost the news station around $7,000 for the iPads, a small fee compared to many advertising campaigns. It's so smart because everyone is watching the Olympics and hears about the contest, then they become followers of the stations Facebook page. Once someone likes the page, KSDK's news updates will show up in their feed and this will likely drive viewership up for their news programs. For KSDK the proof is in the numbers:
In July, KSDK's total number of followers was just around 60,000.
Today KSDK has 113,104 followers.
It is too soon to tell if this simple promotion will boost ratings for the network, but it certainly cannot hurt it. Any promotion that nearly doubles an organizations followers is something worth looking at. KSDK saw an opportunity to capitalize on the Olympics and they definitely did not disappoint.
It only happens every 4 years...and with the excitement, heartbreak, feats of athleticism, and national heroes the Olympics brings, there is one part that can sometimes be overlooked- the ads.
Not to worry though, aForbes magazine article made sure to give the Olympic advertisements their fair exposure. They even cleverly ranked them with medals just like the Olympic sports they so brilliantly support.
They highlight the Proctor & Gamble ad for mothers as the "gold medal" Olympic advertisement, and I have to agree. I know I've heard of the company before, but I could not definitively tell you what they do. This ad grabbed my attention by tugging at the heartstrings. I'm not a mom, but it made me feel proud of my country and the athletes that are representing the USA.
P&G supported their TV commercial with a social media campaign on Facebook starring Beijing Olympian Shawn Johnson as their spokesperson. The site has numerous videos highlighting the mothers of star Olympians including Ryan Lochte, Gabby Douglas, and Jordyn Weiber. This emotional connection is sure to draw in fans wanting to know more about the athletes and their lives outside of the Olympics. It already worked for over 700,000 people!
I still cannot remember all the companies that fall under P&G as they quickly flashed across the screen, but I will remember the ad and that is sure to build brand support.
"How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?" Seth Godin, sethgodin.typepad.com
What is this great shift marketing expert, Seth Godin, is talking about? Social Media of couse! Social Media is a vital part to many people's daily communication, and businesses are starting to realize the power of marketing on the web.
"Social Media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube are changing the way the world does business. I think this is in response to our desire to connect with others. Relationship Marketing is all about connecting with people first as human beings and then as customers later. For a real business relationship to work, both parties must receive value. If only one or neither does, that relationship won’t continue for long." Terry Brock, Marketing Coach & Syndicated Columnist, terrybrock.com
It's important for businesses to connect to their consumers on the a personal level when utilizing social media marketing. There are several factors to consider while branding to customers:
1. Get Engaged. Not in the man getting down on one knee kind of way...but get involved in the consumers life by developing conversations. Use Facebook and Twitter to pose interesting questions to your followers that they might share with their friends. If you show interest in them, they will share that interest with others. According to an article on Mashable, 60% of consumers expect a brand to respond when they post a question or concern on social media. It's all about the conversation.
2. Be Creative. Coca Cola came up with something as simple as a sticky hand to get users attention. The simple campaign was so successful they developed an app to continue it's appeal. It doesn't take a huge budget to make a successful ad. All you need is one good idea to stick...sometimes quite literally.
3. Make a Presence. When directing social media users to your brand, don't be a one-hit-wonder. Keep content up to date and fresh. Build the brand across different social media platforms to expand your target audience.
