5 Things Your Financial Provider Shares on Social Media

Sometimes meeting with your financial or retirement advisor is a lot like going to the dentist. You know it’s good for you, you know in the long run you’ll be happy you do it, but in the moment you dread it because of the costs (like projected ones!) and it seems like just another chore to struggle through. There’s no doubt about it: Planning for retirement and keeping on top of 401(K)s and other tools is a necessity. However, did you know following financial providers on social media is a more engaging way to stay on top of your needs?

A good financial provider with social media savvy will know that this is a platform to engage, educate/entertain (in equal parts), and where you can enjoy bite-sized nuggets of relevant information that’s easy to digest. Plus, with the anonymity of the screen, you’re more likely to ask those “stupid” questions everyone else is wondering about (that aren’t actually stupid at all). Plus, if your advisor is following Forbes’ tips for social media engagement, this can be a great way to kill some time at work, too!

Here are a few things financial gurus should be sharing on social media:

1. Retirement 101

What exactly is a 401(K) and how is it different than a 403(B)? How do pensions work in your particular state? And how can you calculate on any given day the minimum you should be saving for retirement? You can’t expect a financial wizard to also be a writing genius, but they should at least be following Copyblogger’s advice on how to trim the fat from their content and engage. They might even be working with a professional writer, feeding them information that’s then spun into content gold.

2. Short videos and infographics

Maybe the idea of even a short block of text turns you off, and that’s okay. Especially in an era of mobile readiness, you don’t have time to squint and read tiny paragraphs talking about your retirement. A good financial advisor will pepper in plenty of short videos (under three minutes) or infographics to draw you in. Plus, people learn in different ways and appealing to visual learners is crucial.

3. The latest news that’s easy to miss or confuse

Maybe finances and retirement aren’t big buzzwords on your news media outlet of choice. Perhaps you’ve heard about the hubbub with social security, but it’s confusing to figure out what’s really going on. A financial advisor’s social media page will link to authority sources, but also break down what’s happening for you in a few sentences. This keeps you from getting lost in the jargon of the financial tab of media sites.

4. Open-ended questions

Both you and your financial advisor are here to engage, but they should take the first step. By asking genuine, open-ended questions and actively listening, this is a way to get free advice from an expert! The best ones will respond within 12 hours and make sure they answered your question completely. There won’t be any pitches or recommendations that you make an appointment for more information.

5. Their human side

Particularly with advisors in major firms, it can seem like there’s not a real person behind all that advice. On social media, they should be sharing glimpses of who they are, their personality, their humor, but still keep it professional. After all, you don’t want to trust a robot with your finances!

Just like any other professional, some financial advisors are better at social media than others. However, it’s a great way for you to find out who’s the right match for you.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1MZnuO6 via social advertising

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1BJ3rRa

Building More Information Off of Social Media

Recent data shows that one in four people worldwide are using social media.

People use social media for all sorts of things, such as keeping in touch with family and friends, reuniting with old friends, staying current in the media and meeting new people, or networking. Networking via social media has allowed many small businesses to grow their businesses, get more clients, and meet others in the industry and more.

If you currently run a business, you need to be on social media.

Even if you’re a contractor working in the construction industry, social media can be a great tool to get your business where you want it to be.

So you want to be a contractor?

As the following article looks at, the first step is to learn all you can about the business and attend contractors school or get your general contractor’s license, which vary by state.

Both will give you the knowledge you need to do to the work effectively and efficiently. Social media will allow you to grow your business so you have work available to do.

Using social media if you’re a contractor

Once you’ve attended school and obtained your licenses, it’s time to start growing your business.

You can advertise for free on websites such as Craigslist, post flyers on doors and in coffee shops, pay for advertising services and, of course, rely heavily on social media to get word of your company out there.

Among the tips to remember:

• Start with a blog and website – You want to have a page that acts as a “home base” for your customers and potential customers. Build a website that has a built-in blog feature so you can update customers on any specials going on, what’s new in business, recent projects you’ve worked on and more. Dedicate a page for information on who you are and why you started contracting, a page for customer reviews, a page for your contact information and a page for current projects you’re working on. Put your website on your business cards, your truck and all of your social media pages.


• Join social networking sites – Facebook is currently the largest social media website, followed by Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google Plus. At the very least, join all five of these sites under your business name. Network with other contractors in the area, promote yourself by offering deals and discounts to new customers and always respond quickly to any customer complaints or suggestions.


• Focus on getting referrals – Social media is a huge tool in helping you land referral business, which some say is the best type of business since it requires no effort on your part. The more people you have in your network and that are following your social media sites, the faster the word of your business is going to get out. You can offer discounts via your social media pages, join groups to broaden your network and flat-out ask friends and family members for referrals.

While on the surface it may not seem like contractors need social media, the truth is that every single business person in every single industry needs to be on social networking platforms.

People expect you to be present on social media, they expect you to have a well-functioning website and they expect you to get back to them in a reasonable amount of time.

Don’t disappoint, use social media!

Photo credit: Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1LRxgP3 via social advertising

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1BJ3oVA

Entertainment and Social Media Make a Great Combo

When it comes to the entertainment world, the recent Oscars show in Hollywood was seen worldwide, but not just on television.

The world of social media shared, tweeted, pinned and more for several hours that evening, not to mention the next day about who won, who should have won, who wore what and much more. The lead up to the annual gala also brought millions of people to social media to offer their thoughts on what films and personalities stood out.

Now imagine if your brand could get even one-fourth of that attention on social media.

Is that something you would like? More importantly, is that something that would improve your company’s revenue stream over time?

Picture Social Networking

Whether you own or work for a well-known company or one that is known by much smaller numbers, you should never overlook the power of social media.

Sure, you may not have thousands and thousands or even millions of followers on Twitter or Facebook as such high-profile entertainment companies and entertainers do, but the potential is there to grow your brand’s recognition.

Perhaps you are promoting Time Warner Cable or any number of other television/Internet/phone providers and are looking to gain a social advantage.

While Time Warner Cable has nearly 90,000 Twitter followers, your company may very well only have a fraction of that figure. How do you not only up that figure, but also socialize your brand to the point it becomes a household name?

Among the areas to focus in on include:

• Not spreading yourself too thin – Instead of trying to be on numerous social sites, turn your focus to being relevant on a few, thereby increasing your following;


• Socializing continually – While you don’t want or need to be on social media 24/7, you do need a regular presence. Make sure you are tweeting, sharing, pinning etc. numerous times during the week;


• Worthwhile messages – It is also important that your tweets, shares, pins etc. are relevant and serve a value to the reader. If you’re using social media just to use social media, your relevancy will be minimal at best;


• Being a networker – Another important facet of a successful social media strategy is sharing the wealth. Retweet and share interesting and informative posts from others, especially those in your industry. Those folks are more likely to spread your brand’s name around when you do so in kind.

While some business owners fret about spending time, effort and even money in some cases on social media, others know it can work for their brands.

No matter what the size of your company is, take a lesson from the world of entertainment as it pertains to social media.

You don’t have to be a rock star, household actor or actress, or entertainment company known the world-over to be a hit on social media.

Put a winning strategy together and entertain the thoughts of seeing your brand win an award for best social production.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1BFbKNS via social advertising

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1LSgpeQ

Finding a Great Job on LinkedIn

At CareerGlider, we’ve been writing a series on how to use LinkedIn as a tool for finding new opportunities and great connections. If you’ve followed the previous posts, you’ve learned how to create a strong profile, and how to build your network. This week, we’re bringing it all together and discussing how to search for a job.

Searching LinkedIn Jobs

LinkedIn Jobs is powerful, but LinkedIn keeps some of the features hard to find. Start by selecting “Jobs” from LinkedIn’s menu bar. If you know the tricks, you can set up a carefully-tailored search and automate a lot of the work.

If you look closely, you’ll see a blue “Advanced Search” option beneath the “Search” button. That opens up a wider range of options, but don’t be satisfied with those. You’ll see another blue Search button, and next to that, faint gray text that says “More options.” This is where the good stuff is hidden.

Say I want to look for a job in social media in Los Angeles. I search for “social media” in keywords, and narrow it down:

• 
  

  Date posted: I’ll prioritize jobs posted within the last week, as older listings are more likely to be stale;

  
  


• 
  

  Location: I’ll search “Greater Los Angeles Area” rather than zip code;

  
  


• 
  

  Experience level: this is a really useful filter, because it brings up only jobs at or around your seniority. I’ll set it to Associate;

  
  


• 
  

  Job function: I’ve checked any that I think might be relevant.

  
  

Notice I haven’t touched the “Industry” filter—all kinds of companies need social media experts, and I don’t want to exclude any results.

Filter your results by Relevance—the filter’s not perfect, but it’s the best way to search. Finally, you can save this search (top right-hand corner of results) and have the results emailed to you.

Introductions & Follow-up

Don’t just send in your CV and hope for the best. Find someone you can reach out to in the company, to learn more about the work environment or the job, or to keep yourself front of mind. This is where having a good network comes in.

Groups are incredibly valuable here. Before you start applying for jobs, find people in your industry and see what groups they’re part of. Join any that are appropriate. That gives you the ability to send messages to members of the group who aren’t connections (here’s how). It will make your message more effective, of course, if you’re visible as a genuine contributor to groups.

If one of your connections knows someone at a company that interests you, ask for an LinkedIn introduction—introductions are a powerful tool. If you have no other option and you’re feeling brave, you can also make a connection request to the person directly—but be aware of the consequences of the person saying they don’t know you. Whatever you do, make sure you personalize your message.

Groups

Not everyone realizes that LinkedIn Groups have their own jobs pages. Go to the group’s page and click on “Jobs” under the banner. Jobs posted in groups give you three big advantages: you’re seeing postings others might miss, your group membership shows a demonstrated interest in the position, and you have an ‘in’ when you apply.

Make yourself visible

If you’re actively looking for work, you want to be able to see who’s viewed your LinkedIn profile. In your Settings, click on “Select what others see when you’ve viewed their profile.” Set it so that others can see who you are. That’s the only way for you to see who’s viewing your profile, which is important.

Remember—your activity on Jobs is private, but other things you do on LinkedIn are public, so if you have a job, don’t advertise that you’re looking for another one.

We hope these tips are useful—and good luck in your search!

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1LMp30u via sme marketing

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/18sBr7H

Are You Social About Developing Your Career?

Think about traditional ways of advancing in your career.

You most likely would consider furthering your education, working longer hours, going out of you way to impress your boss and hoping you get that promotion you’ve always wanted.

While that can still work, there are now other, more creative, ways to advance your career, especially if you’re willing to switch companies.

Thanks to the power of the internet and social media, networking has made it possible for millions of Americans to land their dream jobs and further develop their careers.

Being More Social

If you want to grow your career and work in a challenging environment day after day, look no further than social media to get you there.

Here are five ways you can use social media and the internet to develop your career:

• Further you education online – Years ago if you wished to further your education, you would have had to attend a brick-and-mortar university. As the following article shows, now, you can get your professional development hours and get your degree completely online. The advantage of this is you can still keep your full-time job and complete your school work on your own time – whether that’s early in the morning, late at night or on weekends. You can take as many or as few classes as you want and complete the degree according to your time frame, not the schools.


• Join LinkedIn – LinkedIn is the number one networking site for professionals. Build a profile, find other people in your area and worldwide that work in your industry, join groups and chat with others who work in your field, and network with as many people as you can. You never know when someone will be looking to hire, and you want to be recommended when that chance arrives.


• Keep your social media pages professional – As much fun as it can be to post selfies and share your weekend plans, it’s not going to help you advance in your career. Use social media to your advantage by keeping it professional and business-oriented.


• Keep people informed – One of the beauties of social media is you can keep people up-to-date on your job situation. If you were recently laid off and are looking for work, don’t be afraid to post that on your pages. This lets friends, family members and business associates know that you’re available. An offer may come your way sooner than expected. Or perhaps you run your own business and are accepting new clients. Let people know through your social media pages. Social media is one of the best – and free! – forms of advertising.


• Discover new careers – Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of using social media to grow your career is learning about other new and exciting career paths. Perhaps you’re an accountant and you’ve always dreamed of owning your own firm. Social media can help get you there by introducing you to those who have already succeeded. Or maybe you work in construction but prefer to teach people how to perform do-it-yourself projects around the house. In this case, you may consider starting a blog with paid advertisers to showcase your projects.

Even if you’re not currently looking to further your career, you should be actively engaged in social media.

Sometimes the best opportunities come when you’re least expecting it.

Social media can help improve your chances of that happening.

Photo Credit: Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1LE4LEm via small marketing business

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1Bw1qId

What It Means to Be “The Original Social Media Agency” in 2015

Our tagline at Ignite Social Media has for years been, “the original social media agency,” because we were created way back in 2007 out of nothing to work exclusively on social media. While most social media practitioners then, and now, were PR firms, ad agencies and digital agencies, we envisioned a different way to handle social. Our way includes having all the disciplines you need (community managers, art directors, web developers, data analysts, strategists, project managers and media buyers) under one roof, focused on nothing but social media marketing for major brands.

The philosophy hasn’t changed in the last eight years, but it seems like everything else has:

• Social media has moved from a desktop experience to a mobile experience;

• Getting fans and followers is harder than ever before as people got “like fatigue.”

• Organic reach has been ratcheted down for brands on Facebook and Twitter is introducing an algorithm to their feed as well.

• While there were virtually no paid advertising opportunities on social networks when we started, brands now pump billions into promoted posts across the networks.

What does it mean, therefore, to be the original social media agency today? Some thoughts:

• We encourage our clients to think beyond an individual channel into a larger content strategy; and then adopt that larger strategy to specific channels.

• We’ve always thought that way, but for a while everyone wanted “their Facebook strategy.” That’s starting at the wrong end of the problem.

• We encourage our clients to think about partnerships with other like-minded content producers.

• Brands frequently want to focus on what they have to say. Many times it’s better to find someone else to say it for you.

• We encourage our clients to focus on Organish™ content.

• Organish is our trademark for a philosophy built around the fact that organic content does better on social than ads. But today, you often have to pay to boost that content. Even when you’re paying, if you create content that can perform well on its own, you’ll pay less and get more from your media budget.

• As people discover products on social networks such as Pinterest, we encourage our clients to strive for Content Everywhere™.

• It’s not enough to fill your branded channels with branded content anymore. Great social strategies facilitate content featuring your brand appearing across the social web. When done properly, we’ve been able to tie that back directly to sales metrics.

If you’re in social media marketing, you can never believe you “have it all down.” Because if you ever did, the world is constantly changing under our feet and we need new strategies that thrive in these new situations. A program we did 3 years ago may have worked then, but we have to take a hard look at it today. In all likelihood, it won’t work today.

So I guess that’s what “original” means in the context of the modern social media agency. It means constantly evolving as we all work to invent, perfect, and quantify social media as the productive marketing discipline it ultimately can be.

The post What It Means to Be “The Original Social Media Agency” in 2015 appeared first on Ignite Social Media.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1DPQs0n via small marketing business

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1DUgFeb

Online Resources that Help You to Write Impressive Posts on Social Media

With the rising number of people who use mobile devices along with the growing popularity of social media platforms, many utilize social media to acquire and share information. To capture the interest of your reader, you cannot just create any content. Online users are presented with an overwhelming number of posts in various social media networks. To stand out, you need to create a powerful content that has interesting insight and can provide valuable information. For writers, these tools make your work a whole lot easier.

Writers.net

Writing content in any topic is never easy. For writers, it is always a challenge to come up with creative ways in order to create posts that would give not just essential information but to provide something new. Writers have to keep on further enhancing their skills. One great site that you can use is Writers.net. This website is a very useful site where you can get various writing resources and news. It is also a platform where writers, publisher and editors can participate in the discussion. Through this site, you can further enhance your writing experience.

PageFour

For writers especially those who have various ideas and insights that they want to write down, it can be quite challenging to organize their work. Created to serve for this purpose, PageFour is a platform specifically created to help process, outline and organize the work of writers. You can easily organize your works with its separate notebooks. With this platform, you will not have a hard time building your working environment. It is compatible with MS word and it is also an effective tool to edit your work as it helps point out areas that needs improvement.

OmniOutliner

Before you can write an impressive content, it all starts with your ideas. When you have so many ideas you want to write about, you need to use an app that can make the whole work easy and efficient. Omnioutlier is an application that can help you from start to finish. It is great for collecting your ideas since you can store and even gather all of the necessary information that you need. This app enables you to edit your outlines.

A-Writer

Managing social media can also be a daunting task especially since you have to constantly update it and ensure that you provide fresh and updated content. When you just do not have the time to write, you can always ask for professional help. A-writer.com offers premium writing services. Whether it is essay writing or article writing, you can rely on the expertise of their writers to create the content you need for your site. The company offers reasonable pricing for their writing services depending on your criteria and specifications.

Hemingway App

Only creative and bold writers can create articles that are worth reading and sharing. Thanks to technology, there are now easy to use applications that can further help you improve your piece. Among these apps is the Hemingway App. With this app, it can show you the common errors, complex sentences and other problems. Highlighted in yellow, it makes your writing clear and bold. The app also provides hints or suggested words for replacement. It makes it easier for you to identify areas you need to improve.

Youngwritersonline

To be a prolific writer, you have to constantly improve and work on your craft. There are various online sources for this purpose. Youngwritersonline.net is a great website for writers both new and experienced writers. Members of the site can access the community forum where you can interact and discuss with other writers. Through the writing forum, writers get the chance to submit your work and to work with other writers to further improve your skills. On top of that, Youngwritersonline.net is also home to various contents, exercise, chatroom, etc.

Writer Pro

Using a professional writing suite makes it easier for you to simplify your workflow and to analyze syntax. Writer Pro is a software that can scan texts and highlight the errors. It works in various languages like English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. This tool is created for iPad and iPhone users where you can write, edit and read your work. With this writing suite, you can easily write down your ideas using the Note. Then, you can finally start writing then and refine your work. What is nice about this app is that you can use the iCloud technology to sync and access your written work.

With the help of these tools, you can definitely create an engaging and impressive content that you can post in social media. By drafting a creative content that has great story, your followers along with the other online users will definitely share your content to others.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1BMX0Mx via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1AIpAvz

How to Build a Company and a Content Strategy Based on Values: Inside Rand Fishkin’s Journey With Moz

Is LinkedIn Your Social Media Weapon of Success?

Social media has allowed people to find old classmates, catch up with family and friends who live out of state, stay up-to-date on high school friend’s lives and has even helped people find their dream jobs.

While Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus can be used for job-hunting, LinkedIn is the top social media networking site for professionals.

As of November 2014, 332 million people are using LinkedIn.

For job searches, LinkedIn can be used to connect you with prospective employers, it can broaden your network, it allows you to stay current with top employers you hope to work for, it can connect you to employees of your dream firm and more.

But, in order to use LinkedIn to its full advantage, you need to have a profile that stands out and makes employers want to hire you.

What You Should Include in Your LinkedIn Profile

People and employers are 11 times more likely to look at profiles with photos, so that should be one of the first things you do.

Ideally, you’ll want to upload a professional head shot of yourself, but if you don’t have one, use a photo that’s clean and portrays you in a professional manner.

Other pieces of information you’ll want to include are:

• Strong headline – Your headline is what’s going to either get employers to stay on your page or it’s going to veer them away. Make it count by being specific, enticing and leaving your viewers wanting to learn more.


• Personal summary – After your headline, you’ll want an eye-catching, personable summary of yourself. Include a brief summary of your previous work experience, any relevant volunteer experience; what it is you’re doing now and what you hope to do in the near future. If you’re willing to relocate, state that. If you’re available immediately, put it in your summary.


• Use LinkedIn groups – Groups allow you to connect with other individuals in your industry and create good conversations. They can also be used to connect with people who have the same interests as you, so join groups to your liking and get to networking.


• Avoid buzzwords – Buzzwords are the most overused words found on LinkedIn profiles. The article “What to Include and Exclude in your LinkedIn Profile” states that instead of using buzzwords, you should provide concrete examples of your work and accomplishments. The top 10 overused buzzwords found by LinkedIn include passionate, motivated, strategic, driven, track record, creative, extensive experience, responsible, dynamic and analytical.


• Recommendations – You should ask for recommendations from fellow employees via LinkedIn and help other people out by recommending them. Giving recommendations makes you an authority in your industry and asking for them can make for a great first impression to the company you want to work for.


• Keep it current – If you get a promotion, change your LinkedIn profile. If you switch companies or take on freelance work, put that on your profile. Log in regularly and see what’s happening with those in your network and stay up-to-date with your own profile. That, coupled with the other strategies mentioned above, will make for a winning LinkedIn profile certain to catch employer’s attention.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1zAh2E0 via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1LAiyxx

Instagram, Twitter Outpace Facebook in Growth

According to the latest statistics from Pew Research, both Instagram and Twitter’s user base doubled in 2014. Although Facebook continues to dominate the social media scales in total users, its growth has become relatively stagnant, signaling users want more variety in their digital diet.

But what does all this variety mean for business owners? Double, triple, quadruple the work? Not necessarily. Despite the diversification of social media habits, businesses don’t need to look far to match marketing strategies with changing trends.

Key Changes in 2014

Released in 2014, Pew Research’s study outlined significant changes in how social media is used and by whom. More than half of all online adults use at least two social media sites while the number of adults ages 65 and older using Facebook rose to nearly one-third of the senior population.

Instagram and Twitter, in addition to their increase in users, received high marks for loyalty. Nearly 50% of Instagram users access the site at least once per day with more than half of users being classified as millennials. Platforms like Pinterest are also gaining popularity for its emphasis on highly shareable, visual content, but the context that keeps users coming back to Instagram and Twitter is missing from Pinterest.

Action Steps for Twitter and Instagram

Most marketers look at these results and conclude one of two things: Their marketing strategy needs a tune up or it wasn’t built correctly in the first place. Not to fear! There are a few ways to help your business gain exposure on Instagram and Twitter without investing countless hours of sweat equity. Consider the following solutions.

• Use hashtags and post frequently. If you’re not already using hashtags, it’s time to start. Using hashtags on Twitter, Instagram, and even Facebook can boost engagement by 70% or more, provided they are placed strategically and no more than 2-3 times in your post. Web-based tools, like Tagboard and Iconosquare, simplify hashtag research so you can select hashtags that are both popular and on-brand.
  

• Post frequently. Regardless of hashtag use, both Instagram and Twitter cater to a real-time social media use, meaning posting sporadically is unlikely to increase your reach. Combine scheduled and curated posts with originals to ensure a steady stream of content on both platforms.

• Encourage audience participation. You’re not required to do all the heavy lifting simply because you represent a brand. Instead, encourage audience participation by holding contests. Particularly effective on Instagram, asking for user-generated content gets people excited about your brand.
  

• Case Study. As Fast Company discussed, Benefit Cosmetics received higher engagement rates during the company’s Instagram challenge.By asking viewers to take a selfie using their mascara, the company gained hundreds of responses tied together with the hashtag #realsies. At the end of the campaign, the company compiled the responses and created a new, unique, and shareable piece of content that served to promote their brand continuously.
  

• Repurpose old content. Regardless of your brand’s age, you have content you’re not using properly. Whether it’s old pictures from a charity luncheon or written testimonials from customers, you have content waiting to be repurposed. Think about items, from documents to holiday cards, which speak of your brand’s value. How can you bring that information to the forefront digitally?

• Extend the reach of existing content, such as pictures or branded reports, by creating a presentation, SlideShare, or short video.


• Do you have a few, meaty articles stuffed with statistics? Double check the stats to make sure they’re still relevant or update as needed, and Tweet them or post a simple graph outlining changes in trends.


• Migrate your #TBT (and other Facebook habits) to Instagram and Twitter by posting links to old company pictures, newspaper headlines, or brand memorabilia. Follow up by asking your audience to engage with the image, post responses, and share!

Be Creative & Analyze

Provided you’re dispersing content your audience cares about, helping your business grow via a variety of social media platforms isn’t much different than using Facebook strategies. After you invest time in the cultivation of a Twitter or Instagram following, don’t waste valuable time operating on assumptions. Dig into the analytics for each of your posts to determine what your audience loves most about your social activity to enhance results.

Do you know of a brand that rocks Instagram and Twitter marketing? Tell us about it!

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1GlkPK8 via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1BK2hnV

LinkedIn: Getting Your Network Right

At CareerGlider, we’ve been doing a series on how to use LinkedIn to raise your profile and help you to find great jobs. Our earlier posts (here and here) showed you how to improve your LinkedIn profile. This week, we talk about how to grow, deepen and make the best use of your network—how and when to connect with people, and how to use groups, recommendations, and endorsements.

Connection Requests

It’s important to connect with people you know early and often.

For one thing, recruiters will see the size of your network. While it doesn’t help you to have masses of connections for the sake of it, some recruiters will think less of candidates with few connections, especially in fields like recruiting or media where networking is an essential part of the job.

Also, people move around, and the coworker sitting next to you today may be a valuable contact in another company tomorrow. It’s much better to have that connection ahead of time than to be reaching out when you want something. So make a habit of checking for people you can connect with on LinkedIn, and if you come across interesting people, remember to add them to your network shortly after meeting them.

Some people advise you to personalize every invitation to connect. If you’re connecting with your work friends, that’s probably overkill, but generally it’s important to send a personalized note.

Partly, that’s because when reaching out to people you don’t know you (or don’t know you well) you need to be careful. When you ask someone to connect, that person has the option of telling LinkedIn “I don’t know this person.” If that happens too many times, you may be asked to provide an email address for future invitations, or be prevented from sending invitations at all.

Here are some tips for getting in touch with people you don’t know well:

• 
  

  If you do know the person, remind them how you met;

  
  


• 
  

  If you don’t, explain honestly and directly why you’re trying to connect with them, and mention something you have in common (LinkedIn groups can help with this),

  
  


• 
  

  Try to frame the request as what a matter of you can do for them;

  
  


• 
  

  Personalize: include something specific about the person, or their company, that distinguishes them and interests you;

  
  


• 
  

  Be warm and enthusiastic, and thank them.

  
  

You’re very limited in characters for an invitation—300 is the maximum—and you’ll probably need all of them.

Groups

There are several advantages of groups. You can message members of groups without purchasing LinkedIn’s InMail. You can learn what professionals in your field are reading, thinking, and talking about—which is especially valuable if you’re trying to break into a new industry. You can join up to 50 groups at any one time.

Joining 50 may be excessive, but make sure you join a number of groups. Joining groups with breadth, such as alumni groups from your college, will give you access to people you might not otherwise have any connection to. Also join groups which are devoted to specialities or fields you’re interested in, and have people you’re most likely to want to connect with.

Be aware that by default, what you write in a Group is visible to everyone in your network. So make sure what you write is well-polished, and don’t say anything—about job-hunting, say—you wouldn’t want your network to know. (You can change that default in your Privacy Settings by changing who can see your activity feed.)

Recommendations and Endorsements

A recommendation in LinkedIn is what it sounds like—a written recommendation from someone who knows you and your work. Endorsements differ from recommendations in two ways: they’re one-click, not written, and you’re endorsed for individual skills.

It’s pretty effortless to endorse someone for a skill on LinkedIn, and for that very reason it seems that recruiters don’t place great weight on them, unless they’re comparing you to a candidate who has dozens when you have none. A quality recommendation, by contrast, is highly valuable, and you should solicit them, ideally from your direct manager when you’re about to leave a role.

Next week, we’ll put it all together by looking at the features of LinkedIn Jobs. In the meantime, best of luck growing and deepening your network!

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1w5Xdsv via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1CYqhS7

How Internet and Cable Providers Can Utilize Social Media

If any industry understands the power of the internet, it’s the cable industry. As broadband subscriptions continue to rise and an increasing number of customers are migrating toward online streaming services, it’s apparent that the future of digital communication will be rooted in the internet. Specifically, that means cable and internet providers need to find ways to interact and engage with customers online. Thankfully, social media offers a great opportunity and should be leveraged for maximum results.

3 Most Important Social Media Platforms

As an internet and cable service provider, there are three social media platforms that stand above the rest in terms of potential customer reach and engagement. They are:

• 
  

  Facebook. As the largest social media platform on the internet – with 890 million daily users and 1.39 billion active monthly users – Facebook is the most critical component of your social media marketing strategy. Without Facebook, any strategy will fall flat.

  
  

• 
  

  Twitter. Twitter is growing extremely fast and has enormous value for service providers. It’s a great way to release timely statements and engage with customers.

  
  

• 
  

  Pinterest. The third most important social media platform for cable and internet service providers is Pinterest. When properly managed, a presence on Pinterest allows you to engage with customers in a fun way.

  
  

4 Rules of Social Media

In order to truly unlock the power of these three social media platforms, you’ll need to understand the four golden rules of social media for businesses:

• 
  

  Listen. The mistake most businesses make is failing to listen. The number one rule is to use social media as a tool for gathering information. You should listen to what your customers are saying and learn from their opinions.

  
  

• 
  

  Engage. Once you’ve mastered listening, you can begin effectively engaging. When properly used, social media is a healthy two-way street.

  
  

• 
  

  Inform. Social media is one of the quickest platforms for disseminating information and releasing statements. When properly used, sites like Facebook and Twitter can serve as a free PR outlet.

  
  

• 
  

  Excite. Social media should be exciting! This is what sets it apart from any other online community or website. Don’t be shy about sharing videos, curating cool articles from around the internet, and trying new things.

  
  

5 Simple Tips for Optimal Engagement

Listen, engage, inform, and excite by implementing the following five tips into your social media strategy:

• 
  

  Always respond. Any time you receive a serious customer inquiry on one of your social media profiles, make responding a priority. Sadly, according to SproutSocial, only one out of every five customer inquiries on Facebook and Twitter are ever responded to. Become the exception to that statistic.

  
  

• 
  

  Love local. Customers want content that’s personalized. One of the best ways to do this is by targeting with local content. For example, if you’re a San Francisco cable or internet provider, write an article about the top places to eat in the city. Don’t just spout off information about your latest sale or package. Contribute valuable content that speaks to readers where they are.

  
  

• 
  

  Show personality. The reason so many brands fail to gain any traction on social media is they show no personality. Help people connect with your brand by letting down your guard and engaging.

  
  

• 
  

  Be consistent. If you’re only posting content once a week, you’re going to lose followers and credibility. Be consistent and try to post at least once or twice per day. However, don’t get lazy with posting at the expense of consistency. Always be aware of what you’re posting, whether it’s relevant, and how it will be received.

  
  

Appealing to the Masses

As a cable and internet provider, it will become increasingly important to connect with customers via social media in the coming months. By implementing these helpful tips, you’ll be able to build an active community that engages with your brand.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1vlxWK4 via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/19NvgeO

Don’t Come Home Without Social Media

Whether you’re buying a home or selling a home, having the right home inspector in place can make your life easier.

A home inspector’s job is to examine the home from the top of the roof down to the bottom of the foundation. If there’s something wrong with the home, it’s the home inspector’s job to find it.

Ideally, the home inspector’s report will cover the plumbing and electrical systems, the heating and air conditioning units, the windows and doors, the roof, the foundation, the walls, if there are any insects in the home and more.

They may also test for carbon monoxide in the home, make sure the fire alarms are working and assess the home as far as general everyday safety is concerned.

While it may not come to mind first and foremost, social media can be a valuable tool for you when researching the home inspection industry.

Get Social to Save Money

Since home inspections can cost up to $800 per home, it’s worth it to take the time to find the best one in your area.

As the following article looks, you can look online for the best home inspection training and you can even use social media to find a good home inspector.

Many home inspectors have turned to social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, to grow their home inspection business.

Since social media is one of the best ways to advertise your business, more and more companies are getting on board. This makes it great for you – the consumer – to rely heavily on it when searching for a home inspector.

Profile Possibilities

As a consumer, you can look at the social media profiles of local home inspectors to see what they’re all about.

Look to see if they are highly recommended by others and if they’re offering any discounts or promotions at the time.

A home inspector with a decent social media following and who goes out of their way to network with customers in the area is proving to you that they take their profession seriously. They know that if they don’t provide the best customer service and outstanding customer satisfaction, they are at risk of losing business.

Tips on Finding the Best Home Inspector

In addition to turning to social media, customers can find the best home inspectors by:

• Asking questions to top contenders – If you’ve found three home inspectors via social media but aren’t quite sure which one to go with, start asking questions. Good questions include how long they’ve been in business for, how many homes they’ve inspected, what they charge and what type of report they will provide. Asking questions also allows you to get to know your home inspector on a more personal level, letting you see if you connect with them or not.

• Verifying they have their home inspector’s license – Contact your state to make sure their license is current and up to date with state regulations. This is an easy thing to do and will put your mind at ease knowing that you’ve chosen a professional in the industry.

• Reading reviews on your home inspector – Hopefully, your home inspector will be actively involved in social media. Search for and read all reviews regarding your top contenders. If they received almost all positive reviews, you most likely have found a good home inspector and should move forward with the process.

Choosing a home inspector can be a tedious process, but can make for much less of a headache down the line if you choose the right one.

Take the time now to do your research on a home inspector so you don’t end up wasting your time and money on someone who does not do a thorough job inspecting the home.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1EdpwGK via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/19Nvh2p

Munch Movement proposal 20 02 2015 by WOW Consulting

via London SEO company

London SEO company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1MFbbGJ

7 Creative Tools for All Who Like Writing for Social Media

Writing is a skill that you have to constantly work to improve. Apart from continuous practice and gaining experience, it is also about passion. In today’s world where everyone has mobile devices to access the Internet, it is also easier for writers to hone their writing skills and to have a simplified process with the help of various online tools and resources that are now readily available on the Internet. By using these tools, you gain more knowledge and skill as a writer and find the most effective means to publish your work.

Writetodone

This website offers The Ultimate Guide to Better Writing where you can discover the secret of finding inspiration; learn the simple ways to double your writing speed and to master the essential skills to become a better writer. Writetodone gives you essential tips that will increase your speed as a writer as well as the quality of content you create. Aside from this useful online guide, the site is also home to creative and informative materials for writers. You can read articles and even enjoy flash fiction contest. To get instant access, you can just provide your name and e-mail.

Bookbaby

One of the most fulfilling achievements a writer can ever make in his or her entire career is to be able to publish one’s work. With the overwhelming popularity of indie writers today, you can also have the opportunity to make your own book and to even sell it worldwide. One site that can help you make and sell printed books or even eBooks is Bookbaby. This site offers a great alternative for those who are interested in self-publishing. The site makes it easier for you to create custom-printed books. Book Baby also aids writers and publishers in selling their books on iBooks, Amazon and in other platforms.

Endnote

Endnote.com is a tool that you can use to search, use and share research content. It is used not just for bibliographies. In fact, you can sync your Endnote library with your other mobile devices. This makes your research easier to access anytime and anywhere. With this platform, you can organize your work as Endnote makes it more efficient for you search for full-text articles and online databases.

Oflowapp

Writers have to come up with creative ideas. This is not an easy thing to do especially since there are times where you are running out of creative ideas. But with the use of online tools like Oflowapp, you can generate creative prompts. This particular app can spark your imagination as there are over 150 creative prompts. This is an inspiration generator app that writers can use to bookmark their favorite methods, create ideas. You can also use this app to set creative reminders.

BestEssayTips

To become a more prolific and proficient writer, you have to constantly enhance your knowledge by reading various online resources. You can learn so many things from other professional writers who have extensive experience and skill in the field. BestEssayTips is home to lots of useful online resources for writers. This site can be used by writers as source of quality writing tips.

Newnovelist

This site is a Windows program that is created to help writers to finish their novels. With its new features, it gives you the technology that you need to make it easier for you to become a successful novel writer. What makes Newnovelist different from other tools is that it also provides creative writing advice. This program is not just a simple tool that you can use for organization. This tool can help you organize your notes as it has a broad range of templates to simplify the writing process. Once you are done, you can finally publish your novel. This program gives you the facilities that you need to submit your work to a publisher or an agent.

Nanowrimo

Writing a novel is definitely not easy. But by using tools like the one provided by Nanowrimo, you can write a novel in a month. This tool is not your ordinary writing tools as it can help you track your progress to ensure that you are right on time. When you sign-up, you get to access lots of useful online resources that you can use. You can also get pep talks and through this platform, you get the chance to interact with fellow writers.

Writing requires time, skill, effort and resources. But with the use of these creative resources that you can access on the Internet, you can achieve your goals as a writer. Whether you are starting a novel or you are about to publish your work, these sites will make things easier and faster for you. At least, you do not have to stress out yourself just to be able to complete and publish your work.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1CNEQW1 via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1G9Vfrj

The Rise of the Facebook Queen: How Mari Smith Went From $50 in Her Pocket to 500K Followers

4 Social Media Marketing Tips to Use in 2015

Nobody can ignore social media marketing anymore, but very few actually understand how to approach it. Most small businesses create an account in Facebook, update it from time to time and leave it at that. However, if you want more than to just tick a corresponding box, you need some actual techniques.

1. Pay Special Attention to Instagram

Instagram is one of the fastest growing social networks (in 2013 it grew a whopping 23%; for comparison, Facebook only grew 3%). It is mobile – which corresponds to current trends, as the sales of mobile devices and the number of users who surf the Internet almost exclusively from mobile devices are increasing at breakneck speeds. It is visual – and visual images are incredibly powerful instruments for creating the needed impression in visitors. It is especially important in case you sell physical goods – after you’ve created a decent Instagram following, you can use it to showcase your items and persuade people to do your marketing for you.

2. Diversification

In the last 12-24 months we saw the rise of many new social networks. Some of them appeared as an answer to perceived flaws in the main players (for example, Ello that started last March stating that they will never sell personal information of their users like Facebook). Others in order to cater to needs of specific groups (Foodie – for food enthusiasts). Still others use some unusual mechanic as a sales pitch (tsu – they promise to share revenues with users based on the popularity of their posts). New social networks seem to spout up like mushrooms and it remains to be seen if any of them will be successful or survive at all – but marketers cannot ignore them, especially if they are aimed at their target audiences.

3. Scommerce

Social networks are getting increasingly eager to serve not just as an advertising ground, but as selling spaces in their own right. Twitter has already made first steps in this direction with the introduction of their Product Cards, but this trend is going to gain momentum, and judging by how quickly things happen in this sphere, it won’t take long for a full-fledged system to develop.

4. Video Is Growing in Importance

Statistics show that video is quickly gaining prevalence as content of choice throughout most social networks – for example, today Facebook exceeds YouTube in the number of video views via desktop, and we are talking about a network that is primarily text and picture based. Clever use of video in marketing is going to become more and more important – probably because of ever-growing sensory overload people experience, as they are getting less and less likely to read even a single sentence from the beginning to an end.

It is doubtless that social media marketing is going to continue to develop in 2015 and we don’t know how exactly it is going to happen. But we know that it is possible to try to be prepared.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1DqUEmY via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1Botpc3

Twitter and Google Team Up For Search-What It Means For Your Business

Twitter has recently agreed to make its tweet data accessible to Google search. The merger is set to happen in the first half of 2015 and although Google has had the ability to search for keywords in Twitter profiles before this deal, this partnership will make the search apply to tweets quicker and more directly. Since no Twitter account is required to view tweets on Google search, Twitter will see increased traffic and visibility. This deal isn’t just beneficial for Twitter, but for businesses who advertise and operate on the social platform. The new system will allow businesses to reach more people with each tweet and capitalize on the change in search, gaining the most reach with their content.

Stay Current and Timely

With this new system, tweets will be displayed in real time on Google search results, instead of just showing profile information. This algorithm allows information to become seen more, since it will be available on both Google and Twitter. The micro-blogging platform boasts an astonishing 6,000 tweets per second which makes it easy for your business’s single tweet to get lost in the fray of hundreds of thousands of tweets per minute. But if you include keywords related to a trending search, your timely and relevant tweet will be viewed by anyone searching for the subject matter. These topical tweets can be about breaking news, current trends as they relate to your business, or anything that people are searching for. This strategy doesn’t mean spamming your account with a steady barrage of tweets; you don’t want to swamp your feed with white noise for the chance to get one tweet noticed. But be aware of what’s happening both in the world and in your line of business and be the first to deliver the latest tip to anyone searching.

Instant Access

Although Twitter already has its own search function on its site, adding Google search to the equation will help disseminate search results to people with or without Twitter. It’s been found that when Twitter allows Google to crawl its content, the traffic from people not logged into Twitter increases tenfold. With the popularization of multiple social media platforms, the way people receive news and updates has changed. Because of Google’s new approach, which gives users instant access to news and information rather than forcing them to peruse links, users will soon rely on Google alone for timely information. Considering Twitter is one of the most important new sources for this approach, tweets will be an important way of getting noticed and getting more attention for your brand.

Look to the Future of Search

This isn’t the first time Google has had a real time search deal with Twitter. The companies had a similar arrangement in 2009 that expired in 2011 with little explanation for the split from either company. However, when the initial split happened in 2011, Google cited that in the future, its search engine would facilitate real time updates from many different platforms, not just Google+, but also Facebook and newly updated web pages. This latest Twitter/Google renewal may be just the tip of the iceberg as Google expands instant access to many different areas. If that turns out to be the case, plan ahead and build your online presence on multiple platforms, staying timely on all of them.

Consider Your Tweets Carefully

Google keeping an active log of all tweets is a great opportunity for people to find the exact information they need. The only downside is the 140 character limit of Twitter doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the most intelligent or well thought-out conversations. With the intermingled search of Google and Twitter, the search engine could further the reach of genuine, worthy broadcasts, but also the blunders of any company unfortunate enough to not think out their tweets fully. Don’t fall into the trap of creating sub-par content for the chance of a link click. Despite the extended reach, plan and compose your tweets carefully and leave little room for error.

There is always a “next big thing” when it comes to SEO and social media marketing. Google and Twitter had a similar deal from 2009 to 2011, which eventually deteriorated, but even if this newest union doesn’t last forever it’s still a great way to build a huge audience. Your business’s Twitter account, and eventually other social accounts, could be seen by millions with the help of Google search. It’s time to put your best foot forward and show the world at large how great your company can be.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1EKDBsR via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/19t04Br

Social Media to Get the Perfect Pitch for Your Business Online

In today’s web world, use of social media can be the best tool for a business to prosper. Any business, big or small, local or global, online or offline can use social media marketing. For many, social media marketing is a powerful medium and that one must take the utmost advantage of it.

There are various ways and strategies to improve your business. Social media is an online activity to not only make your business known but also to draw potential customers. Let’s understand the benefits of social media to get the perfect pitch online for your business:

• Social media increases brand value of business. Marketing through social media draws people’s attention towards your business. For every content you use on social media, the visibility of your business increases. People start recognizing your business. Social media networks become channels to voice your brand. This helps in making you more accessible for new customers and more familiar with the existing ones.

• Social media marketing helps in increased business exposure. It allows your business to extend beyond geographical boundaries.

• It is a cost-efficient and convenient way of increasing brand visibility.

• Social media provides limitless opportunities for you to interact with existing and prospective customers. The biggest advantage is that through this medium you can interact with customers in a real-time conversation about your mission, product, services and events.

• Social media can also help in lead generation. There are various sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin etc. that offer paid advertising options. You can use these platforms to reach your prospective business partners or your potential customers. For e.g. Facebook’s Graph Search or targeted paid Facebook ads.

• Advertising through the social media can be extremely targeted in a cost effective manner. On the other hand, traditional marketing strategies are more general in nature and not very cost effective. Social media ads can be customized as per demography, age group, gender, profession based etc. so that one can hit the nail on the head. One of the great things about social media is that you can focus your efforts on those who actually have an interest in your company. This means you can gain more customers on per penny spent on advertising.

• Use of social media for your business can give your company a competitive advantage. Advertising through this medium is more timely, current and relevant. This can give you a competitive edge over your competitors.

• Another advantage of social media is that through Social Media Dashboard you can monitor and assess your social media activities and judge the effect of social media campaign on website traffic, lead generation and actual business conversions.

• If your business is active on social media, it can improve your rankings on search engines. This will boost your visibility and help increase your profits.

Irrespective of the size or type of your business, social media marketing can help to give your business the perfect pitch. It can then experience growth and make better profits.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1L6UNLr via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/19t03xk

Shorty Awards 2015 #BusinessBlogger

What music is to the Grammy’s, the Shorty Awards are to Social Media. Like the Grammy’s the Shorty Awards honor the best people and organizations on social media. In it’s 6th year, the online nomination process has attracted influencers such as Guy Kawasaki, Jerry Seinfeld and fashion blogger of “The Man Repeller,” Leandra Medine. Thanks to creators of the awards, Sawhorse Media, this year is predicted to be it’s biggest one.

Lucky for me, I’ve been nominated to win a Shorty Award under the category of #BusinessBlogger and I can use your help! The more nominations on Twitter, the more of a chance I have to win the award. Here’s how you can help:

With the help of my loyal followers on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and the entire world wide web I can be the 2015 Shorty Award Recipient of #BusinessBlogger. For every person that nominated me on Twitter before the deadline of February 19th, I promise to send a digital hug your way!

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1EGfdZv via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1zKu7tm

Social Media Marketing for Adult Businesses

There are often difficulties in getting likes/shares and tweets about adult topics such as the Hitachi magic wand or other adult toys and items. Some people are shy about publicly liking these types of sites and products so it can make promotion on social media even more difficult. Sex sells. We know this. However, when we talk about it openly (on social media) admitting what it is we’re buying, it’s a different story.

Tips for Social Media Marketing for Adult Businesses

Google’s search algorithms are not friendly to adult-oriented topics so marketers have to get creative in the ways they choose to advertise and grow a following. Finding indirect ways to draw attention to your page will also attract more followers since most people prefer to keep their personal life in the bedroom and not share information about what they like online.

Here are some tips for social media marketing for adult businesses:

• Choose an adult friendly platform such as Tumblr, Twitter or even Instagram to market your business. Facebook is the least friendly site for adult businesses.


• Learn your audience so you’ll know what appeals to them the most and it will make it easier to find content that grabs their attention.


• Most of your content should provide or link to information that is useful or entertaining. The goal is to provide something of value for your followers so they will want to share it with others.


• Make your products seem more innocent by using humor, comics or photos of cute animals but only post photos and content that is in good taste and non-offensive.


• Look for posts that you find interesting and then like, share and comment on them to help draw attention to your page.


• Ask questions or ask your followers to share stories or information they find interesting to encourage engagement.

These tips can help increase the number of likes/shares and tweets your page receives, which in turn will help your business grow.

Humanize Your Profile

When deciding whether to follow your website or not, potential followers will go over your profile. The first thing they’ll look at is your profile picture. It needs to be a real photo that helps them see the human side of your business. This is important for all types of businesses but especially for those that sell products like the Hitachi magic wand massager, since items like these are a sensitive topic that people don’t like to talk about.

In the About Me section, provide information about your company that will help users understand who you are. Explain what your company is all about, why you started it, how your products can benefit them and then provide links to your website where they can obtain more information.

Remember that you can get the most form social media platforms when you take a social approach. The time will come when you’ll get the chance to promote your business but first, you need to concentrate on connecting with others and making friends. This is the primary use for social platforms and you’ll lose followers if you’re too promotional.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1DihYTK via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1AyOeSa

The Surprising Fact About Gaming Your Mom Doesn’t Want You to Know

Whether you’re a teenager or a man in his early 30s who grew up on classic video game consoles like Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis and PlayStation, there is something about gaming that you may not know – and that your mother may not want you to know! Namely, that adult women are now the largest single demographic of gamers. In fact, adult women significantly outnumber teenagers, and come second in total numbers only to ALL male gamers combined – adult and minors, alike. This change in gamer demographics is no small footnote; it has the capacity to fundamentally change the gaming industry, and is already being felt, both in console and mobile gaming markets. But how did this come about?

The Emergence of Mobile Gaming and Its Impact on the Industry

With the explosion of the iPhone onto the market in 2007, and subsequent launches from competitors far and wide, an entirely new industry was born: mobile games. Available through app stores, often for free, these relatively simple games gave up much in terms of performance and graphics to their computer and console counterparts, but more than made up for these shortcomings in playability, accessibility, and fun quotient. Put simply, because mobile games initially weren’t very good on a technical level, they had to be stripped down to their core elements – and in the process, they became really appealing.

This new gaming industry attracted a whole new demographic of gamers. Moms, grandmothers and adult women started flocking to these new mobile games (and, with the rise of Facebook around the same time as the smartphone, social games as well). By 2010, these women accounted for 40 percent of all game players; now, in 2015, that total is up to 48 percent. Teenage boys by comparison? They account for just 17 percent of video gamers. These numbers illustrate two things: 1. stereotypes aren’t always based in reality (in fact, they usually aren’t); and 2. the video game industry has changed radically, and perhaps for good. So what’s in store for the future?

Game Companies Everywhere are Starting to Make an About-face

We can expect two major developments in mobile (and console) gaming in the near future. The first will be the industry-wide adoption of these new female gamers.

In-game ads will become more egalitarian, if not outright female-centric, and games themselves will start to be tailored to female audiences. Though it may be some time before scantily clad female warriors are absent from games altogether (and in fact, may never be), we can expect more female protagonists, more titles developed with the casual gamer in mind, and a greater implementation of advertising and digital sales into mobile and console games. Post-transaction sales (that is, sales made after the game is purchased or downloaded) are now a staple of the video game industry, and with adult women (i.e., individuals with disposable income, unlike, say, teenagers) now the largest gaming demographic, this tactic is only going to become more pervasive.

The second development, and one that is already taking place, is the further encroachment on console gaming by mobile and social media titles. With Snapdragon’s advanced mobile technology capable of producing beautiful, real-life graphics on mobile hardware, gamers are no longer reliant on consoles for titles that are visually resplendent and rich in gameplay. In fact, many console titles, such as Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, have already made the jump. In the very near future, the line between console and mobile gaming may be indistinguishable, even to the hardcore gamer.

It’s a New World Out There – Embrace It

Women gamers are here to stay and the gaming industry must and will change to reflect this new consumer demographic. So face it teenagers and young men – your moms are now hipper than you!

Thumbnail image from shutterstock.com

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1Fi5DzS via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1v6wMCi

Click on Improved Social Media Promotions

How would you rate your social media efforts and ultimately results as a business owner?

If you were to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being awful and 10 being great), where would place your social media outreach over the last year? While many might say somewhere in the middle or a little higher up, others, unfortunately, would be near the low end.

When you stop and think about it, why is your social media dragging you and your business down?

Focus on Time and Effort

Like many tasks in life, it essentially all boils down to putting the maximum amount of time and effort into your social media strategy.

For those who choose to do just that, the rewards can be rather terrific. On the other hand, those choosing to do social media here and there will oftentimes find themselves a day late and a dollar short.

In order to boost your social media results in 2015 and beyond, keep in mind:

• Focus – First and foremost, where should your social media focus be in 2015? That starts with what kind of products and/or services you offer the public. If you offer http://ift.tt/1L5sG1d or another likewise company, your focus should be on families, individuals running businesses out of their homes etc. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t approach some senior citizens, but many older people are probably watching their dollars, not to mention many of them are not heavy Internet users. Focus on your demographics (make sure you know your demographics for starters) and know who you stand the best chance of reaching with your social promotions;


• Implementation – Once youknow where your focus should be, how will you go about implementing your social media pursuits? Some choose to do it in-house, others opt for outsourcing it. If you do the former, make sure you dedicate the time needed for a viable social media program. You can’t do occasional tweets, shares, and pins etc. and hope to strike gold. Set aside some dedicated time to really make it work. If you select the latter, make sure you choose a qualified social media company, individual etc. Do some background researches on them before you take them on board. Do they produce results? How is their customer service? Are they looking forward with their social media ideas instead of standing pat? These are all things you need to understand;


• Learn – Lastly, don’t hesitate to look around and see how others (including your competition) are doing social media. While you are not best served in emulating everything your competition does, you can learn some things from them. Also don’t be shy about surfing the Internet for blog posts on social media, especially from some of the better-know experts. All the information may seem a tad overwhelming at first, but you can ultimately benefit from such knowledge. Knowing which sites are best to use, the prime times to use social media, how to avoid negative customer interactions for the entire world to see etc. are all things you and/or your social media provider should understand.

If your social media program hasn’t been clicking in recent times, refocus your efforts and make it click this year and beyond.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/17DIRVk via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1zIymFT

How to Get the Most Value out of Your LinkedIn Posts

Whether you are trying to appeal to other businesses or position yourself for finding a high-paying job, LinkedIn is a social network you can’t ignore. Posting on this social network, which has over 250 million active members, is a great way to grow your brand and generate income.

If you are still not convinced that LinkedIn is a channel worth leveraging, take a look at the infographic below. I created it to explain why you should be leveraging LinkedIn and how to get the most value out of your LinkedIn posts.

Click on the image below to see a larger view:

Click here to view an enlarged version of this infographic.

Conclusion

Although Facebook is my number one social network from a traffic standpoint, LinkedIn beats it from a revenue perspective.

Why? Because you can target specific individuals and businesses on LinkedIn with ease. One of the best ways to do this is by posting content that pertains to these individuals and companies on a regular basis. Just make sure you follow Rule #3.

Are you ready to post on LinkedIn now?

Embed This Image On Your Site (copy code below):

<br />

Courtesy of: Quick Sprout

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1A4aeRH via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1AjMP1J

Social Media Loans You Some Options

If you’re in search of a home, car, or small business loan, social media can help you during the financial hunt.

Many loan providers use social media to inform current and potential customers on the lending process, which makes it a valuable and informative resource.

Here are just a few ways you can use social media to lock down the right loan for your needs:

Finding a Mortgage Using Social Media

With all of the options available, it’s harder than you might think finding a mortgage provider.

Luckily, social media is a great place to start the mortgage loan process.

Many mortgage companies are using social media to post client testimonials as well as links to convenient mortgage calculators.

Likewise, mortgage lenders are also turning to sites like Facebook and Twitter to answer your questions about the mortgage lending process.

Although they can’t offer advice on financial decisions, they can suggest which options you can take when acquiring a mortgage.

You can also use social media to contact mortgage agents and further the conversation.

Social Car Loans

Social media can also steer you in the right direction when searching for a new car loan.

A large number of auto loan lenders and qualified dealerships have Facebook business pages and fan pages where they post the latest information on loans and promotional offers.

As the following article shows, because auto loans in a changing market are difficult to track, following lenders and dealerships on social media takes the headache out of the equation.

Social media is a one-stop shop when it comes to following dealerships and getting a better idea of the loan programs they offer.

Business Loans and Social Media

A greater number of smaller business loan providers are taking the social presence of entrepreneurs into consideration when choosing loan candidates.

By keeping up with your social accounts and building future business relationships, you can prove to lenders that you are serious about your business endeavors.

Whether your business is already in place and you just need a small loan to expand or you’re starting from scratch, you can begin building your presence now. By spreading the word about your new business and building your followers, you can prove to lenders that you already have a strong customer base.

With a healthy following and active social media profiles, you will also prove to lenders that you’re serious about the success of your business.

Social Outreach

Following lenders via social media is a great ways to gain a better understanding about the loans they have to offer. With that said, reaching out to your friends and family for loan advice is another effective way to make your way through the lending process.

Maybe you have a friend who just bought a new car or you have a social acquaintance that just went through the business loan process.

Simply seeking out and asking your social contacts about their loan experiences can better inform you about the lending process.

Finding a car, business, or mortgage loan is easier with a little help from social media.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1D4hUqD via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1vrcSgc

LinkedIn: Advanced Profile Features

Last week’s CareerGlider post discussed three ways your LinkedIn profile is used: as an online resume, as a filtering mechanism, and as a way of being headhunted by recruiters. We talked about how to set out the essentials of your resume while avoiding basic mistakes.

This week, we talk about how to help people find you on LinkedIn—and how to impress them when they do.

First: Stop Changes Being Shared to Network

By default, LinkedIn shares with your network every change you make to your profile. So you don’t spam your network with small changes, move the slider on the right-hand side of your profile headed, “Notify Your Network?” to ‘No’. When you’re ready for people to see your changes, you can always switch it back.

Custom URL

Also by default, LinkedIn gives your profile page a random-looking string of letters and numbers as the URL for your profile page. A custom URL looks better, on screen and on a business card.

In the drop-down menu at the top of the page, select Profile > Edit Profile. Your current URL is underneath your photo. Click on it. On the panel on the right, you’ll see a heading: “Your Public Profile URL.” Click on the pencil beside it and change the URL to whatever you like—preferably a variant on your name that’s available.

Custom Headline

Your headline defaults to your current job title and employer, but you can change it. And there are good reasons to do so.

One is to impress people: if they like what they read, they’ll read on. Another is to impress search engines. Recruiters often use Boolean keyword queries—search terms connected by ‘and’s, ‘or’s, ‘not’s, etc. You want to show up on those searches. While LinkedIn’s search algorithm is a secret, headlines are said to rank second only to your name in importance.

There needs to be a balance, of course: LinkedIn’s search engine may like your profile, but a human is not going to be impressed if your headline is an unreadable sludge of keywords

What ‘keywords’ should you use? Job descriptions in your field will help you. Let’s say you’re looking for work in social media. Here’s a sample posting in that field from a recruiter:

The full posting is available here.

Let’s assume you are just the right fit for this kind of job, and this job is representative of what’s out there. (In reality, you might well apply despite not being a 100% perfect fit, and you’d check many, many more of these postings.) How do you ensure you’re found by recruiters looking for similar candidates?

The words ‘Social Media’ should be the first thing in your headline. The posting also focuses on content skills, so that should be in your headline too. Skills in community management are also being sought, and the idea of an online community might be a nice way to hang your headline together. Finally, the problem the employer is really trying to solve—what all these skills are required to do—is promoting and managing a brand online.

Let’s put all of that together within 120 characters (the limit for the headline). One way of writing a headline is more minimalist, just using a few descriptive phrases:

Social Media Associate | Content Writer | Brand Manager | Online Engagement Specialist

Alternatively, you might choose something that’s more of a personal branding statement, for instance:

Social Media specialist and content writer passionate about helping brands connect with online communities.

Neither of these is flashy, and you might feel something a bit more exuberant better expresses who you are—in which case, go for it! But buzzwords like ‘Ninja,’ ‘Guru,’ and ‘Maven,’ are best avoided—no one is searching LinkedIn for ninjas, and some of these buzzwords are making most-despised lists.

Remember that we’re assuming in this example that you have all these skills: don’t forget your obligation is always to be completely honest.

Keywords in your Experience section

In your Experience section, make sure to include other keywords you think might be searched, or secondary skills employers may want to you to have.

In our social media example, for instance, if you had prior experience with any or all of the social networks listed, you would want to make sure those networks were listed in your Experience section. And if you had PowerPoint or Photoshop skills, you would want to get those words into your profile, and into your Skills list too.

This post doesn’t cover everything, but these tips are some of the simplest and most effective ways of making your profile more visible. The other important thing you can do is reach out to others—which is what we’ll cover next week.

from Darlene Milligan http://ift.tt/1EYCaL0 via small business marketing company

from Tumblr http://ift.tt/1EZGeL7