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Posts Tagged ‘Facebook’

One of my clients, Katy Goshtasbi, owner/founder of Puris Image, a personal branding company asked me to be the subject of a video series she is creating on her YouTube channel. She had a great idea to create quick 2 – 3 minute videos with her flip cam, interviewing her clients on their experience personal shopping with her at Stein Mart and posting the videos to her social media sites.

What I love about her video series approach are several things:

1. She’s uploading new videos every week with new client interviews and using her keywords with each upload.
2. She’s giving the embed code to each interviewee to get them to add it to their blog (see below), this gives “in-links” to her content.
3. She’s keeping the videos short so that she can keep the viewers interested.
4. She’s promoting the video on her blog, her Facebook site and in Twitter.
5. She’s promoting a strong brand, Stein Mart, in the videos, which is a great way to get noticed, especially if Stein Mart monitors social mentions of their brand. The goal would be that Stein Mart would reach out to her to thank her for all the kind mentions and perhaps it could turn into a great online relationship for her, if the Stein Mart web site or Facebook page links to her videos content. It could help her go viral online and get her more viewers.

If you’ve been thinking about using video to promote your business, take a look at Katy’s approach and see how you can do something like that for yourself. What do you think of her series so far? I’d love to hear your comments below.

Have you seen any Twitter hashtags on your favorite shows lately? I’ve started noticing this myself and then read a great article in TV Guide Magazine about the introduction of hashtags (#) scrolling at the bottom of your TV screen for certain shows.

Just last week, “#Glee” was shown throughout the entire episode of Glee and “#AmericanIdol” is loving their real time Twitter Tweets from devoted fans during the show itself.

Many broadcast and cable networks are now starting to add Twitter hashtags to the bottom of their shows: Fox, CBS, NBC and Comedy Central included. Fox marketing president Joe Earley says, “We thought if we provided the official hashtags, then more posts would aggregate.” Joe is right. If you want to aggregate information to view real time activity on your brand, name, product or service, hashtags are the way to go.

Monitter.com is a great online resource that lets you monitor hashtags in real-time from their website. You can even monitor up to 3 hashtags at once, which appear in three columns with the newest tweets in each column popping up at the top. It’s a powerful way to see trends and get in on the conversation that people are having, real time!

As DVR’s become more popular, social media is now helping TV networks drive people to watch their favorite shows in real time so they can be part of the conversation. In fact, NBC just launched NBC Live, a whole site devoted to promoting its shows via social media, while CBS just recently held its own “Tweet Week” devoted to its shows.

Social is starting to weave itself into the daily fabric of our lives, from the computer to our phone, to the way we search for information online and watch TV (which you can also do from your phone). So much cross over is very exciting for those of us in the social media industry. If you are not using the power of Twitter or Facebook to promote your business, you need to take a look at these results below and then ask yourself why not?

Last month, Comedy Central jump-started the hashtag trend with its Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump. The network reports that the show became it’s “most watched in history” and credited some of that success to its decision to run a “#trumproast” hashtag at the bottom of the screen throughout the special. Analysis shows that the “#trumproast” hashtag was used more than 27,000 times on Twitter during the telecast. That’s a lot of social activity for a 1 hour Television show.

Think there is no power in social media? Think again!

There are now over 600 million people using Facebook. 2 million web sites are integrated with Facebook social plug ins. Facebook has their own algorithm, much like Google, which is called Edge Rank. Having good Edge Rank determines if your posts are making the “Top News” feed. Facebook has two news feeds: “top news” and “most recent”. Top News is the default feed Facebook assigns to accounts and what most people see. It is a snapshot of the “most active” Facebook people and pages you are connected to. Most Recent is the feed that shows what every person or business you are connected to has posted in their status update. As a business, the more you are “shared”, “liked” and “commented” on, the better your Edge Rank.

As a business, you must follow these tips to improve your Edge Rank and help ensure your posts are being seen by your community:

1. Post photos: they get the BEST Edge Rank
2. Post videos
3. Post URL Links out to content (Only posts with URL’s can be shared. Text only does not show the “share button”)
4. Post live, manual posts (not all auto fed)

More Tips About Facebook and Your Blog:

You may also want to consider manually posting your new blog articles into Facebook, rather than auto feeding them in via the notes tab, Networked Blogs app or other automated tool, like Twitterfeed. The reason is, a manual post allows you to choose the best “thumbnail” image to accompany the post. Sometimes, auto fed blogs don’t provide a visual thumbnail (and sometimes they do, so, check the one you are using). People like to see images along with content. Take a look at how your blog article entries look on your Facebook wall now and decide what works best for you. At least 1 post per day should be a live, manual post to improve Edge Rank.

Facebook Like Box - Social Plug In

When it comes to Facebook Social Plug Ins, use the “like box” on your blog. The “like button” is not as viral. It posts 1 line to the wall of the person who clicks it. But, the “like box” makes the post easier to share, shows up on the wall of the person who posted it and includes thumbnail images of fans.

Add This Sharing Buttons

Allowing people to share your blog while reading their Facebook wall posts is key. If someone starts on your blog and wants to share your article in Facebook or any other social tool they use, you should make sure your blog is as “sharable” as possible by adding share buttons to each and every blog article. Add them to the top and bottom of the post. For example, you may use the “TweetMeme” button at the top of the post and the “Add This” list of buttons at the bottom. Be social everywhere you can and encourage sharing.

Selling Cookies with Facebook Status Updates

Still wondering if you should start using social media for your business? Here’s a great story about how my neighbor used Facebook to promote her daughters Girl Scout Cookies sales this year.

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time again, as I’m sure you know because you’ve seen many cookie stands out if front of your local grocery store in the past few weeks. I was very pleased to see that my neighbor used social media to get the word out about her daughters fund raising efforts.

One day she posted on her personal Facebook profile the following status update:

“One week from today we will have 108 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in our house! Please put in your orders quick before I eat all of them ”

All did was reply back with my comment, “I’ll take 2 boxes of thin mints, please!” and the sale was done.

I love that she started getting the word out 1 week in advance, and, as the pick up day approached, she had Facebook status updates:

“It’s Cookie day!!!! Come get your Girl Scout cookies starting at 4pm today ”

Then a few weeks later as the initial purchasing rush has died down another reminder:

“Just stocked up on Thin Mints, come & get them before they’re gone ”

Yuuummm! Who doesn’t love Thin Mints! And, when you know they are almost done for another year, it’s pretty easy to walk across the street and pick up a few more boxes.

Social media marketing works. If you “don’t have time” or “don’t know how” to use it for your business, I can help.

Haircut Back View

Haircut Front View

Combining social media with traditional marketing works. Facebook is great for not only connecting with your current customers online, but also getting new leads and exposure via referral.

Here’s one way a hairdresser used social media (Facebook) for lead generation.

I discovered Rely Local from a postcard at a local shop in my neighborhood. I visited their site and “liked” them in Facebook. A few weeks later, I noticed a post entitled “click Like and be entered to win a free haircut from Hair by Chandra.” I really never expected to win, but, as a social media consultant, I know how beneficial clicking “like” can me to a business, so I was happy to click.

When I won, it was such a nice surprise and this was a really great example of how timing is everything. I had been considering finding a hair stylist in my neighborhood, instead of making the 1 hour round trip to visit the shop I’d been using for awhile. So, when I saw the post asking me to click “like”, I was at the perfect time in my “buying cycle” to pay attention to the post and find out more about WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?)

After the free service, she took my picture and uploaded it to her Facebook Business page from her Iphone. I went online to Facebook as well and added my happy comments and review of her service under my photo and also as a separate post right to her Facebook wall (which showed on my own personal Facebook wall and was viewed by all my friends.)

Because of her contest offer, both her Facebook wall and Rely Local are getting new “likes”, engagement, and the opportunity to be seen by all my local friends (and others like me) who may be interested in using her services, or learning more about Rely Local. This is the viral beauty of social media sharing and how you can build your Facebook “fans” and get more leads with social media.

What a business really needs to realize is that social media tools, like Facebook, can serve as another touchpoint (or “eyeball” if you will) to keep you top of mind to your audience. The more someone sees your posts, they will be much closer to buying from you when they are ready to purchase because of the relationship you’ve built with them in the social media community, in this case, Facebook.

I was thrilled to get a free haircut and happy to have found someone local that I liked. It was a win, win for all. Thank you social media!

As Social Media becomes more and more the norm in online marketing, there are many resources now available where you can keep current on social media tools, results and tips. I thought it would be helpful to share some of the resources I use. Visit the sites below and “like” them or subscribe to their blog via RSS, or ask to receive their e-newsletter. The more you know, the better you will be able to manage your own social sites for maximum engagement, “likes” and, (what everyone really wants), sales and revenue increases:

Social Media Examiner
http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/

Mari Smith – Facebook Expert
http://www.marismith.com/

SmartBrief
http://www.smartbrief.com/

Search Engine Land
http://searchengineland.com/

Darren Rowse – Problogger
http://www.problogger.net/

Brian Clark – Copyblogger
http://www.copyblogger.com/

Denise Wakeman – The Blog Squad
http://www.biztipsblog.com/

Chris Brogan
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/

Lewis Howes – LinkedIn Expert
http://www.lewishowes.com/

Did you set up a Facebook Fan Page for your business recently? Great! Do you know what and how often to post in Facebook in order to make the News Feed? Are you aware that Facebook has two news feeds and that if you are not active with your fan community, you may not even be shown based on the Facebook Algorithm?

OK – that’s a lot of questions, but, I’m trying to get you thinking. Facebook is a wonderful free tool you can use to market your business online. But, just creating a fan page is not enough to achieve success in social media.

Here’s 3 things you may not know about Facebook that can hurt your online marketing:

1. There is a Facebook Algorithm!
   Facebook, like Google, has an algorithm they use in order to determine who you see in your news feed. Have you ever wondered why in your personal profile you only see about 8 of your friends posts, when you have 178 contacts? Facebook has decided for you that you will, by default, see only the “Top News”. They determine who is part of this feed based on interaction (comments, likes and shares). To see every post by everyone and every business you are connected to, you must click “Most Recent”.

   If you have a business fan page, and you are not getting comments, likes and shares, you may NOT be making it into the news feed of your fans. This means no one is seeing your marketing messages and Facebook will not be effective in getting leads, building your brand and driving sales for your business.

2. Community Engagement is Key
   The only way to ensure you are part of the “Top News” feed is to get your fans engaged with you. By posting often (I recommend 3 times per day, spread out throughout the day, or when you know your fans are online); varying the posts with video, text and URL links; asking questions people will comment on, being shared, and asking people to “like” the post, you can improve your probability of being in the valuable Top News feed.
3. Live vs. Pre-scheduling
   I love pre-scheduling! It’s a time saver and great for those who have a small staff (or just themselves) as their Facebook Community Manager, but, automated and pre-scheduled posts all the time will not help you become part of Top News. Live posts are also necessary (ie. Log into Facebook directly and post from the wall).

   Also, when someone leaves a comment, you should reply in kind – and make it personal (ie. Use their name). This goes back to the engagement piece above. When your community is responding to you, you must also be involved in the conversation. Social media is not just online marketing, it is relationship building and your “fans” are your community. Nurture these relationships, and give them a reason to seek out your posts and come back to visit your Fan page often by entertaining them, providing good content they cannot get anywhere else and coupons for your products and services.

I hope this article provides food for thought. I wish you a successful day of Facebook marketing!

I recently had a chance to hear Mari Smith speak again at the Facebook Success Summit (#fbss10) this week and she gave a great presentation about Facebook Engagement and creating Superfans!

It’s so true that Facebook is a community, and your Fan Page is part of it. For your fans to enjoy interacting with you on your business fan page, they must feel valued and depend on your updates as a source of relevant information.

But, how can you engage them? The best posts that will get your fans “engaged” or participating, commenting and communicating with you will have a mix of text, URL hyperlinks, videos and photos (with photos being the most engaging). And, you must be posting content with frequency, not just once a week. You need to put a Facebook strategy in place for three posts per day, when you feel is the optimal time for your audience to be online. (Check Facebook.com/insights and click “details” to determine where most of your fans live).

Everyone likes to be acknowledged, so, when someone comments on your post, be sure to comment back and thank them. Use their name, be personal. Recognize fans when you can, such as randomly choose a fan of the day, or feature a fan who uploads the most photos to your Fan Page wall.

Most of all, be sure to ask questions in your posts. “What do you think?” “Give us your comments below.” Tell them “we want to hear from you” or “click like if you liked this post”. Let your fans know you are interested in what they have to say. Create a fun place that your fans will want to visit again and again and post great content they will look forward to reading.

Here’s wishing you successful Facebook marketing for business.

I’m so excited to attend the Facebook Success Summit #fbss10 this month. I’ll be posting to my blog with a recap of the key takeaways from the presentations. It’s very important to me to stay current on what is going on in the dynamic space of social media marketing, and that is why I am taking part in this virtual webinar series through the month of October. With people spending a 55 minute average amount of time on Facebook, you want to make sure your page is a great experience for fans and also “sticky” enough so they will want to keep coming back.

How to Create a Compelling Facebook Presence that Generates Profits
Social Media Marketing guru, Mari Smith gave a wonderful presentation with a 6 step Facebook strategy. Once you have set your goal for using Facebook, these are the steps to follow to achieve it:

1. Design – Make sure your Facebook Welcome page is designed to meet your goal (ie. Are you trying to get more people to opt in to your list? Make sure to include your email collection box.)
2. Content – Decide how often (frequency, time of day) to post good content to your fans and what kind. (links, videos, other people’s content.)
3. Promotion – Decide how often to run special offers, coupons and promotions.
4. Engagement – Make sure you are engaging your audience with questions and fun.
5. Conversion – Are the fans buying or doing the action you’ve requested of them (ie. Joining your list, commenting on your wall). Track as much as possible.
6. Scalability – When your fans grow into the thousands, do you have the internal support staff to continue your current level of service?

How to Build and Manage a Loyal Fan Base
Amy Porterfield and Cindy King, managers of the Social Media Examiner Facebook Fan page, gave a great talk outlining how they keep their fans engaged and happy. Here are their 5 tips:

1. Engagement – Respond to every post and use their name so it is personal.
2. Ask Questions – You don’t always have to ask something specific to your brand (ie. What is your favorite frosting.)
3. Use @ Tags – If your fan page has a personal profile behind it and you are “friends” with the fans, you can “tag” their name in a post to build relationships.
4. Use 3rd Party Articles – Reference someone else’s article and then pose your own question or comment about it.
5. Negative Comments – If you receive negative comments, don’t ignore or delete. Use it as a time to shine.

The Power of Facebook Advertising
Facebook has exceeded Google in the weekly market share of total internet traffic. Facebook is now the largest display advertising in the world as of 1st Quarter 2010, surpassing Yahoo. Chris Treadaway told us about how you can easily test Facebook ads and how extremely targeted and cost effective they are.

Chose to show your ad based on geographics, gender, age, birth date or marital status. Pick keywords people display in their profile. Choose to exclude those already following you. You’ll see the estimated reach numbers before you make the ad live. You can choose from the self service option spending as little as $1 per day or sponsored ads, with a $5k minimum. Be sure to run your ad for at least 7 days to get results, before deciding to change copy, headline or photo images. Track results over time to determine the ad that works the best for conversion.

Again, before you can get the results you want using Facebook for business, be sure to set a clear goal then follow some of the suggestions above to achieve it. If you need social media training or help with social media strategy, I can help.

Facebook Success Summit

I keep very current on social media training, tools and results so, I would not miss the Facebook Success Summit 2010: The Web’s Largest Online Facebook Marketing Conference.

This event is ideal for any marketer or business owner focused on business-to-business OR business-to-consumer. Who’ll be there? Radisson Hotels, Microsoft, AAA, Cisco, Universal Studios Orlando, Ikea, California Travel & Tourism Commission, Philips, Kellogg, MetLife, CNN, HP, Henkel, Autodesk, Country Music TV, AARP, HealthNet, Tropicana Atlantic City, Long John Silver’s, Cutco, Ben & Jerry’s, Mary Kay, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Otis Spunkmeyer, Wyndham Hotels, University of Tennessee, Brueggers, Herbalife and hundreds of small businesses.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Discover the best ways to market your business with Facebook
• Find out how to build an engaging Facebook presence
• Learn how to grow a loyal Facebook following via news feed optimization, creative promotions and Facebook advertising
• Discover how to create an active community using Facebook
• See how successful businesses built Facebook pages and how you can achieve similar results
• Interact live with Facebook marketers from recognized businesses, including Intel, Microsoft Xbox, Cisco, SAP and the Washington Redskins
• Connect with the industry’s top experts (Brian Solis, Mari Smith, Jesse Stay, Paul Dunay, Justin Smith, Darren Rowse, Jay Bear, Michael Stelzner and many others!)
• Learn how to integrate Facebook with your website, blog and other marketing programs
• Gain a leg up on your competitors, helping you stand out and providing an early mover advantage
• Ask live questions and get answers

All this from the comfort of your computer. Attend real time, or view the recordings for session you miss. No travel cost and transcripts are included.

Keeping up on what’s current with Facebook is a full time job. That’s why I highly recommend the Facebook Success Summit to any business who wants to succeed with their social media marketing strategy.