RSS Readers

RSS Readers, you may or may not be familiar with them, but I am here to tell you that you should in fact get one, and get one now! They can take all of the blogs, media sites, news, and basically any information that your little heart desires and turn it into one cohesive web feed so you can have access to everything all at once. 

At one time google reader was everyone’s go to RSS reader, but those days are dead and gone, mostly because google reader now seizes to exist. But since its extinction dozens of RSS readers have been developed. They all have their positives and negatives, and in the end it really does come down to personal preference. But I will break down 3 different RSS readers and tell you what I think:

Digg Reader:  This is one of the most popular replacements for google reader, mostly because it is stream lined and very simple to use. The site allows you to browse through a list of different categories based on interests to help you find things that you may want to read or subscribe to. There is also a search bar function where you can search keywords or add a specific website to your feed. Once you subscribe to some sites and blogs that you enjoy Dig places their most recent posts in your feed so you can have easy access to all the information, then if there is a specific article from a blog or site in which you want to reference later, you can hit the “Dig Button” (very similar to the Facebook like button) and it places it in your Diggs folder, where you can find it at a later date. Another nice feature of Digg is it sorts through your subscriptions and places them in order by popularity (based on number of overall views as well as number of links), this can be seen in your popular folder, this is a nice feature because so news sites can upload hundreds of articles in a single day, and who really wants to read all of that information? This way you can get a quick update of the most important information. One of the downfalls of Digg is its aesthetics of the site, it’s really not all that interesting to look at, and it lacks a lot of creative aspects that many people would appreciate.

Feedly: Feedly is very similar to the functionality of Digg; however it embraces the minimalist design but allows its users to customize the interface of their RSS reader. It also breaks the different categories of interest down using small graphics that are visually pleasing. It also breaks down the popularity of the overall blog or site and lets the user know how many people are subscribed to it (Digg also does this, but it is not as clearly presented). Another nice feature of feedly is they update their information about the site constantly, this includes new about new features and updates. They are very involved with having an open dialogue with their users, if you leave them a comment with a question or issue more times than not you will get a direct response from them. In my opinion Feedly is a better RSS feeder then Digg simply for the customer service and the creative applications that it possesses, functionality wise through they are almost identical. 

Flipboard: Flipboard is all about the visuals, essentially it does the same functions as other RSS readers however all the blogs are laid out in a magazine style format with colorful and visually appealing graphics. Some of the magazines are also interactive and can be influenced by the viewer. I have not yet signed up for an account with Flipboard but I am considering it, it looks pretty awesome. The homepage and the information presented on it is a little hard to understand especially if you do not know what an RSS reader does. I believe that it was primarily designed to be used for Apple’s iPad, however it can be used with other devices.

What Social Media Platform Is Right For You?

Now that you have viewed and read about several different social media platforms, Im sure you are overwhelmed. A business can depend on what types of social media they chose to use. So here is an overview to help you decide what social media outlets will help your business the most.

Pinterest:The site, which has a predominantly female audience, is ideal for businesses for which visual imagery is a main feature or selling point. If you focus on wedding planning, travel destinations, interior decorating, fashion or foods, you can say a great deal about your products and services through your stunning photos or videos. This website would be great if your business focuses on visual selling, because it is mostly picture and image based.

YouTube: Is also a visually driven tool, and is meant to be exciting and stimulating. The key to using YouTube effectively is to feature your product or service in an unforgettable way, and with millions of people now using YouTube, the bar is set very high. No one will watch a boring video. Videos that show people how to do something, demonstrate your product or service, or introduce a new or unusual (visual) product can help you benefit from YouTube.

Twitter:Twitter is an ongoing conversation that, like text messaging, has become widely popular. Unlike Facebook and other social media platforms, where people can choose what to look at on your site, or respond later, Twitter is more "in the moment."If you have breaking news, updates, questions for your followers, or if you want opinions now or even need to announce a recall, Twitter is the way to reach out to people. It's for the business that has things to say frequently and prefers to reach people directly. 

Facebook: It's size alone is a positive for any business, because you can assume most people are on it. Unlike Twitter, you can choose what to look at and what to share. This gives businesses more opportunities to represent themselves in various ways. Facebook is about a long-term commitment and building relationships, although there's some immediacy as you can reply directly to people's comments or questions.

Pinterest For Business

Pinterest is relatively new to the social media world, and you may overlook it as a potential business opportunity. Pinterest has been labeled as something primarily for teenage girls and housewives, but if used correctly it can be used as a social media tool that could potentially generate traffic to your business. Pinterest can be difficult to navigate if you are not familiar with it, but here are a few simple tips to help you get started.

• Make the website whether it is a businesses website or a blog you are trying to promote “Pin-Friendly”. There is a Pinterest widget that can be downloaded right to your webpage that will allow your viewers to “pin” your website to the Pinterest website much more easily. This is a crucial step if you really want to optimize you Pinterest usage.

• Depending on what your business is promoting you want to organize your content. Pinterest allows users to create themed boards and then you “pin” your related content to that board. Organization is key because Pinterest is navigated through how well you organize your content, so if you have poorly organized material chances are you are going to have a low number of people viewing your page.  

• Branding the photos included on your Pinterest account has proven successful. By adding your companies logo to the photos it increases the chance that people will then associate you with that product, rather then just having a link attached to the photo. It also helps because it makes it more difficult for people to steal and copy your ideas which is a real risk on Pinterest. However the brand you include should be tasteful such as a small image in the corner, not an image that disrupts the viewers experience.

• Compared to other social sites like Facebook or Twitter, Sterling says Pinterest users approach the platform with a shopping mindset. To take advantage of that include as much “shopper-friendly” information as possible, describing the product or service featured.

Sources:http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229795

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Page

We all want a job when we get out of college, thats a give in. But how fantastic would it be if the jobs found us instead? Thats what LinkedIn is for! However your not going to get that job with that nice vacation picture from two summers ago. You need to optimize your profile and make yourself look like an asset and that you are worth hiring. Its not as difficult as it sounds, I promise. In fact I have compiled a simple list that will help you get on the right track.

1.) Develop a Keyword Strategy: Attach keywords to yourself that you would like to be associated with, because when individuals or job recruiters are trying to find candidates this is how they will be trying to find them. *However keep in mind that most of the keywords you attach will be in terms of yourself rather than what a recruiter would typically search for. An example would be in your profile you may describe yourself as someone who is interested in digital strategy, but a recruiter would most likely search for digital strategist. Make sure you use this tip to your advantage.*

2.)Have a Professional Picture: This is very important because this is the first thing people see on your profile, and believe me they will make judgments. Make sure your picture is just of you, no cats, moms, ex girlfriends. Make sure you are wearing professional business attire. The picture should only be of the shoulders up so technically pants are optional for the picture, but really you should probably wear pants.

3.)Make a Vanity URL: Yes you are allowed to be vain, but in all honestly a vanity URL can really make a difference. A vanity URL is a customized link that you create that will lead people right to your LinkedIn page. I would recommend putting your name right in the URL, that way if someone searched your name say on Google your LinkedIn page will pop right up. Here is an example of a vanity URL: www.linkedin.com/in/KylieZywicki

4.)Make Strategic Connections: Linked in is not Facebook, the goal is not to have the most connections; think quality vs quantity. The connections you make are very important because they will be viewed by other professionals,recruiters, and possible employers, who you have on your connections list can either make or break you. You want high level established professionals preferably in the field in which you are looking to work.

Sources:http://mashable.com/2013/11/17/linkedin-tips-2/

Twitter Is Not Just For Teenage Girls

If you thought twitter was just for teenage girls obsessed with the latest boy band, I am here to tell you that you are mistaken. 42% of twitter users follow companies or brands. Based on this statistic you can imagine how fantastic of a tool twitter can be for your business. There is a number of ways that you can use twitter in order to increase sales or customer awareness, all of which are extremely simple, perhaps even obvious.

• Connecting with Customers: Twitter is a great outlet for businesses to reach out to current customers as well as find and obtain new and potential ones, this is in fact the most obvious reason as to why a business would want to partake in a social media tool such as Twitter. 
• Customer Feedback: Not only can you connect with your customers you can hear what they have to say about your product and you can immediately respond to them (which they appreciate). You can hear their praise as well as their complaints, and ultimately in the end make a product that best fits everyone’s needs and wants.
• News: You can use twitter to inform your customers of any news or updates that your business wishes to share. You can share any news on current or upcoming sales, as well as any new product information.
• Coupon Codes and Promotions: Twitter is a great way to put your marketing skills to use. Share  any coupon codes with Twitter users in order to increase your sales as well as your overall number of followers. You can also do Twitter exclusives, which are sales only for your Twitter followers.
• Spying on Competition: Most businesses today tend to have a Twitter account and update it pretty regularly, and because they are open to the public means you can check out what your competitors are doing. This can keep you ahead of the game a little bit, and can give you ideas in order for you to be better or at least compete at the same level as them.

In the end all of these tools that you can use on Twitter can help you generate more customers, more sales, and brand loyalty. And who doesn't want all that? All it takes is a little hard work, some followers and some tweets.

Sources:http://askaaronlee.com/10-reasons-why-your-business-should-use-twitter/

Tracking your Social Metrics!

First of all what are social metrics? Basically in it’s simplest terms it is a way to measure social media. This can be useful to individuals or to businesses because it can be used as a tool to recognize where your most of your traffic comes from, and with this knowledge you can optimize your social media to best fit your needs.

There are many items in social media that can be tracked, a few of them are more important then others and can be deemed more valuable.

• Channel Reports: These answer the question are we spending our time and money in the right place. Channel Reports show you the percentages of where your users are coming from.(Examples being Facebook, Twitter)
• Customer Response Rates: This shows how well you as a business or an individual responds to your subscribers or customers. This is important because a recent study showed that 1 in 3 social media users preferred contacting a company via social media rather than by phone. Social media is about connecting with your users, and if your not effectively doing so you are not using your full social media potential.
• Opportunity Response Rate: Sales is obviously an important part of business, but an increasing number of sales is coming from social media. A recent study found that 54% of salespeople can track at least one sale back to social media. Tracking sales and finding sales opportunities is a huge advantage to social metrics.

There are a few popular social metric sites that can help you track all of this wonderful information on your website or blog page and those are google analytics (which I use) and socialmetricspro. They both do identical amounts of tracking and both have easy directions on how to set up an account. I personally would recommend google analytics just because it is more accredited, and has more users, but it comes down to personal preference.

Links to recommended sites:

http://socialmetricspro.com/

http://www.google.com/analytics/

Sources:

http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/social-media-metrics-ceos-cares-about

Cleaning Your "Cyber Closet" With Social Bookmarking

What is Social Bookmarking?

Have you ever found the greatest website in existence, got distracted by life, and when you finally had the time to enjoy it you could no longer find or remember the link? Well if this sounds like you I have the perfect solution! Social Bookmarking.

            What is Social Bookmarking you ask? Well it’s a revolutionary new online tool that allows users to save links to websites, articles, or media and save it in their own personal library for a later date. This is the bookmarking part of it. The social part comes from your ability to share your bookmarked links with friends or the public. As well as being a great communication tool social bookmarking has several other benefits:

Social Bookmarking Can Help Promote Your Business

Because the links you post to your library can be made public, you can use this to your advantage and self-promote. Post links to your own personal website or on related topics. The more bookmarks you make the greater online visibility you will have. No publicity is bad publicity. Right? An added benefit to this is because social bookmarking sites are known for containing fresh information search engines are always accessing them, so there is a possibility that if you are consistently bookmarking your website it will be higher ranked on search engines such as Google.

Social Bookmarking Can Keep You Organized

If you are a messy individual such as myself, social bookmarking can help you out. I mean it won’t clean your room or anything for you but it can organize your links and online resources. Whenever you save a link you have the option to tag keywords to it, this is important because if you have thousands of links saved in your library you will have an extremely difficult time trying to find it. But by attaching keywords to it you can search your library in seconds and find the link you are looking for. Bam! Instant Organization at your fingertips.

Social Bookmarking is a Collaboration Tool

If you are a student or even an employee that does projects with multiple people, social bookmarking sites allow you to set up groups with specific people. So if you are trying to share and coordinate information with multiple people, social bookmarking is a fantastic tool for that.

Recommendations

Twitter and Pinterest are actually considered social bookmarking sites; these are helpful if you are trying to promote a business because there are so many active users. But if you are looking more for a streamlined personal site that allows you to regulate your level of privacy I would recommend Diigo. Diigo is very simple and easy to use.

Useful Links 

http://www.submitedge.com/learn-seo/What-Are-The-Top-Benefits-Of-Social-Bookmarking.html

http://www.geekworldnews.org/benefits-of-social-bookmarking.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn4aL9obmyw

Content Is Like Fruit; The Best Is Fresh

 The 3 Pillars of Inbound Marketing

The definition of inbound marketing can be interpreted in many different ways, one of these ways is Permission-based online techniques like blogs, e-books, webinars, videos, tweets of information, etc. that are used to draw people to you. This is slowly replacing Outbound marketing which uses things such as print ads, newspapers, and radio and television commercials.

                Inbound Marketing is set up using “3 pillars”. These pillars include SEO or search engine optimization, Content Marketing, and finally Social Media.

1.) SEO (Search Engine Optimization): SEO is how your website ranks in search engines such as google. This does not include the paid advertisements that you see, it is strictly based on how much web traffic your website receives. Although there are some ways in which you can control and maintain your SEO a majority of it is believed to be out of your control. A rough estimate is 25% of your SEO is based on the keywords you chose to link your website to, the URL itself, and the copy and content of the page. These things can all be controlled by the creator. Unfortunately about 75% of SEO is based on how other webpage’s are linked to your website. Anytime your website is linked to another the search engine views this as a recommendation of sorts so therefore the more recommendations you have the higher on the search engine you will be. SEO is very important because most consumers don’t have the time or the mindset to sort through thousands of links so naturally they chose the first one that they see that fits what they are looking for, so if you are near the top you will obviously get more traffic than if you were near the bottom.

2.) Content Marketing:  The content that you have presented on your web page may be the most important aspect of inbound marketing. First and for most we live in a Web 2.0 society meaning that the content on your page must be interactive and it must serve as a communication tool between the customer and yourself. (Examples: live chats, comment pages, emailing lists). The content on your page must also be constantly updated and current; people do not want to read the same information over and over again. And although your webpage is professional the content on your page should sound human not like a robot. People are tired of hearing all the corporate lingo that has acted as a mask for businesses throughout the years. Real people are reading your webpage and they would like to read “real” content from a “real” individual.

“The best websites are designed by those who think like publishers … who start with a content strategy, and then focus on delivery” David Meerman Scott

3.) Social Media: Social Media wraps SEO and content marketing up and turns them into one cohesive action. The term “Social Media” does not refer to specific applications such as Twitter or Face book but rather how they are applied and the return on investment they receive. You must first make a strategy and then follow through with it; you must make sure that all the social media applications in which you are using are linked to one another. And you must remember that your ultimate goal in this is to form long lasting relationships with the consumer as well as seek out new ones.

http://davemorse.net/  (Blog I used that was very helpful)

http://www.whitespace.on.ca/Blog/bid/89127/3-Pillars-of-an-Effective-Inbound-Marketing-Strategy 

Social Media Leadership vs Traditional Leadership

 Social Media Leadership vs Traditional Leadership

Social Media is a game changer when it comes to advertising and promoting your business, most business professionals are aware of this change but are unable to fully grasp the concept of it. They know that in order for them to maintain and grow their business they will need to become part of this culture but lack the knowledge and understanding on how to implement such practices. The following quote is a good example on how social media must be used in a strategic way or else it is seemingly useless.

“Would you pick up a phone and randomly dial 10-digits? Unless you’re prank calling, probably not. The phone is a tool for communication, just like social media is a tool. Before making a phone call, sending a tweet or launching a blog, strategy is essential. It will guide the decisions you make, the platforms you use and how you interact.” (Quote by Sarah Evans)

Half the battle when it comes to social media strategies is finding your market of consumers. Social media comes in all shapes and forms from Face book and Twitter to Blogs and Social forums. Finding where most of your audience is coming from and actively communicating with them is where the real challenge lies. The best way to find your audience initially is by doing a trial and error process; first by creating several different social media applications and then tracking your progress and internet traffic on a site such as google analytics. Then from there you can see where your marketing has proven must successful and focus your attention on that site and audience.

Leadership is more difficult in social media because your audience is unknown at first, and they are global. It is also more difficult to monitor the behavior of your employees, because they may have personal social media accounts that can affect your business. As employees of your company they are constantly representing your product and business, so your company’s reputation is constantly at stake. As compared to traditional type businesses where leadership skills come in at a more direct level and you have a more direct control on employee behaviors.

Some people argue that social media doesn’t even have a strategy linked to it yet because it is still too new for people to fully understand its capabilities.

“Social-media strategy” is over-rated if not a downright oxymoron. The goal is to do more business. Social-media is a means to that end. Maybe you’ll use it to establish warm and fuzzy communal feelings. Maybe you’ll sell excess inventory. Don’t focus on some kind of high-level strategy because no one really knows how to use social media yet. Focus on tactics: Get more followers, make them happy, promote your stuff to them every once in a while. That’s all you need to know about strategy right now.” (Quote by Guy Kawasaki) 

http://www.toprankblog.com/2010/04/strategy-tactics-social-media/ (Link to blog in which i used for information)

Social Media Marketing vs Traditional Marketing

 Social Media Marketing vs Traditional Marketing

Traditional forms of marketing have been around since there were products to sell. Traditional marketing includes print ads, billboards, television commercials, and traditional “salesman tactics”. But over the past few decades our technology has evolved and we now find ourselves in a world that is run by social media marketing. There are several major differences between traditional marketing and social media marketing that can either make or break a business.

Now that a majority of people are constantly connected to the internet in one form or another whether it be a computer, tablet, or mobile device they expect new and better forms of marketing and advertising. According to Colleen Dilenschneider’s blog she states that social media is 12.85 times greater than that of paid traditional media. This fact supports the idea that social media marketing highly influences the market.

            One reason as to why it may be so much more influential is because of the easy accessibility it possesses. Because people can access it anytime they want to they have a minor sense of control. Also it is updated 24/7 in real-time. Traditional marketing was a static occurrence and was rarely if ever updated. Because social media is always monitored it has become a powerful communication tool between consumers and business. Consumers can directly give feedback, comments, and information right from the business. Traditional marketing does not have the same communication ability; they sometimes struggle in order to find out what the consumer actually wants because they have no way of asking them directly.

            One of the best ways to market is to implement a strategy that combines both types of marketing. If a business is trying to promote themselves and they have a Facebook, Twitter, or blog that they are using they can incorporate the link into print ads such as flyers. Business can also use QR codes which are digital codes that can be placed on anything from cups, to business cards; an individual can instantly link to the businesses page just by using their smartphone. And the simplest yet most effective way to incorporate both social and traditional marketing is having an email list, where individuals sign up to receive promotions and information about your business. (Kehrer)

Link to Colleen Dilenschneider’s Blog: http://colleendilen.com/2013/06/18/5-key-reasons-why-social-media-strategies-are-different-than-traditional-marketing-strategies/

Link to Daniel Kehrer's Article: http://www.score.org/resources/7-ways-blend-social-media-and-traditional-marketing

(Video done By Craig Collins)