2011 January | Digital Gutter Space - Social Media and Digital Marketing Knowledgebase

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Archive for January 21, 2011

What Drives People to Use Location-based Applications?

January 21, 2011

In this age of the ‘social network’ there are umpteen ways of making your social signature on the web ’relevant’. ‘Checking -in’ just happens to be one of the newer batch. But you must know how to use it effectively to your advantage. What today is going viral had its humble beginning with users sharing their information about their immediate location on the web. It simply shifted to allow users to check in to movies, television, books and now, brands!

All of these extra options simply help us to redefine ourselves in the various social platforms we use by answering some of these basic questions like – Who we are? What are the places we recently visited? Or what is the name of the latest movie we watched? Or even our last holiday shopping information. This in turn provides an additional level of sharing and hence requires an added level of activity from our end.

Today, it is not enough for an average social media user to watch a movie or a TV show. It is more important to “let the world know about it”. According to experts, today social media users are more inclined towards sharing a “collective experience” rather than a solitary existence. This has further propelled the popularity of location-based applications around the digital sphere.

According to a data published in the San Francisco Chronicle, in October 2010 alone, there were 20,000 location-based applications in existence. While some of these location-based apps were built around ‘location-sharing’ as being their key feature, others simply weaved in the ‘location-tagging’ feature among several others. However, the common objective behind using all forms of location-based applications is ‘to stay in touch ‘. According to Sam Altman, Co-founder, Loopt, it all started with a single question once he walked out of class at Stanford –“where are all my friends?” Now the whole social media world is eager to respond – “here I am”.

Want To Create Killer Content? Read On!

January 21, 2011

Individuals and brands throughout the world are in the look-out for ways and means to create killer content. Brands are able to separate themselves from the crowd with quality content. But creating killer content is easier said than done. If you are looking for ideas to create killer content, you need more than just talent.

There are various advantages of delivering killer content to your fans and followers. They makes your fans to forward your piece to their networks; thereby enabling you in getting more fans and customers. These tips will surely help –

Talent counts!

You should carry out this basic task if you want to create content that mesmerizes your audience. Talented writers/designers can work wonders and help you create an amazing web experiencing for your visitors.

Adhere to Deadlines

Efficiency mustn’t be compromised with talent. Strictly adhere to the deadlines and instruct your team to work accordingly. Writer/designers who stick to schedules make a website, creatively satisfying!

Content with face

Content should reflect your work standards and must track the latest from your world. You must ensure to keep a track of other businesses and check out their developments which may directly/indirectly affect you.

Content forms the backbone of your social media marketing strategy. An impeccable social media campaign will fall face-first if the content has nothing on offer. Ensure that your content receives wide appreciation amongst your readers by not only creating strong content, but also timing it in a way for it to receive the maximum coverage.

Many companies starting off with social media neglect their own website which screams attention! In this age of web 2.0, one can’t shy away from putting the best content with design. It is like what everyone says – Content is King!

Top 4 Social Media Campaign Screw-ups (And Avoiding Them!)

January 21, 2011

Social media campaigns are all about creating and strengthening communication bridges with your customers. Getting instant reviews is a piece of cake with social media. It is the positive ones which take a lot of perseverance. If you think of getting positive review just by setting up an account, you are in for some tough times. We strongly suggest you for avoiding the below mentioned points if you want to have a positive result from your social campaign –

Just another medium

No! It’s not! If you think social media is just another advertising medium where you will say and they will hear, then you are out already! This kind of mindset may seriously undermine your social media campaign and may even fetch you negative reviews. Cut out meaningless ads and create advertisements that would make people want to click on them.

Me! Me! And Oh! Yeah! Me!

Blatantly selling to users is kind of like signing the death certificate of your campaign. Avoid telling users that you are the ‘Guru’. Make your posts and updates reflect this sentiment instead. It is only when users will take notice will your campaign take off!

Social media only when I have the time!

Social media gives you the chance to stay in touch with customers 24 hours a day, 7 seven days a week. Sounds too taxing, especially with the work-load and all? Then here is what you should do -

Find someone to handle the campaign on your behalf.
Discover online apps that help you to schedule your tasks helping you to create the impression on being online 24×7.

Bother them all the time

Avoid holidays and weekends as although your readers are mostly available during these times, these are the least productive of them all. Target them during business days, and possibly during working hours.

Understanding the behavior of your target audience is a key to social media success. Make your customers feel at home and you will find long term benefits in doing so.

Tips for Tackling Negative Feedback on Social Media

January 20, 2011

Just as in case of any coin, social media has a downside as well. It offers tremendous scope of growth for your company but you need to be aware of the downside as well. With your business giving a platform to customers for sharing their thoughts on the brand, chances of negative feedback loom. If you are unable to handle the negative feedback in the right manner, then your brand-image may go down-hill.

Here are few tips for converting those negative feedback into positive ones –

Private approach to a public response – This is a simple approach that can save you the embarrassment and win back your disgruntled customer. Publicly clarifying to your customer may do more harm than you can ever imagine. The issue risks getting snowballed into something far uglier in a public forum. In this regards, you should personally call or message the customer tendering your apologies. Try and making up to your customer by either fixing the problem or duly compensating him/her. The fault lies, after all, with you.

Use public power – Social media has amazing powers. On one hand, you deal with your disgruntled customer on a personal level, and on the other, you highlight your positives on it. Your loyal customers can also do your talking by being mini brand-ambassadors.

Follow-up – After you are done fixing the issue, make sure to capitalize on it. Ask your customer whose problem you successfully dealt with, to post a word or two in the forum. Certifications like this will earn dollops of good will.

Social media marketing is a fantastic area where advertising, public relations, branding blend in with hard-core selling. Make the most of now and invest in social media marketing, today!

Tips for Successful Corporate Blogging

January 20, 2011

Corporate blogging is a challenging affair. You have to carefully handle this area of social media marketing. A blog enables you to create a reputation in the mind of your readers. This becomes a repository of information and enables to form the backbone of your social media campaign.

You must be very particular about the timing of your blog. Here are certain issues to consider when it comes to corporate blogging –

Frequency

One must not post every few hours when it comes to corporate blogging. A corporate blog aims to track the developments in your company. These developments need to be communicated to your customers. Quite simply, the frequency must be regular and the blog must have quality.

Tip – Send out one major blog once a week and some creatively satisfying ones every day. They must have something on offer for your readers. Bring in your employees and invite them to play an active role in your blog.

Information

Blogs need to be informative from the word go. Create blogs that are helpful to your readers. Any new developments in your company or in the service zone must be adequately explained in your blog. Your blog must clear all possible doubts of your readers and make them knowledgeable.

Engage

Blog enables you to engage your customers (or potential ones). It is great ideas to end the blog with a question for making your readers engage with you. This is a great way to generate feedback.

Corporate blogs may make or break your social media profile. Ensure that you get more fans by the day with corporate blogs which both inform and entertain. Make the most of your social media campaign by creating an impeccable corporate blog.

Tips for Gauging Social Media ROI

January 20, 2011

Social media offers a lot of scope, both short term and long term. Measuring success with social media is a challenge. Well, here are some metrics which will assist you in doing just that –

Customer engagement

Start with the quantity - number of followers of your brand in various social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. This should be followed by the number of re-tweets in Twitter and the number of comments on your blog posts, in short – the quality. Customers’ reviews and comments should also figure prominently on the list as well.

Referrals and the profits

Getting the word out is not enough. Know how many actually go to the link and buy your products and in turn, spread the word out. Understanding this key metrics will definitely help you to understanding the extent of your social media ROI.

SEO rankings

At the end of the day, your company’s standing in the search engines matter. Ensure to capitalize on the number of people visiting your website by turning them in to buyers. Those who spread your word out through various social news sites like Digg and StumbleUpon should be thanked upon.

Measure brand’s favorability

Social media gives you a great way to measure the brand’s awareness and favorability. The viral quality of various social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and others help to substantially shift your brand metrics.

Generating Lead

Through professional social sites like LinkedIn, you can reach out to potential clients and business partners. When you are a member of the various groups in this social media site, check the number of comments your posts receive.

Social media provides a great way to bring in new customers and turn them in to loyal ones. If you have a social media profile, then the above points will surely help you understanding the social media ROI for your business.

Simple Social Media Tips for Your Business

January 20, 2011

Social media is the buzz-word doing the rounds in the business circles these days. Having a social media profile and working on it with a definite strategy will earn you rich rewards to say the least. A company’s social media strategy largely depends on certain key moves. These steps will ensure continuous flow of money and increased fan-base over time.

Don’t have a social media strategy yet? Create one! These points will certainly help you carry out an effective social media campaign and bring in more customers –

Blog

Blogging is considered the cornerstone of a social media campaign. Blogs give your social media profile, a face. Blogging gives your customers (and potentials ones), an insight in to your company’s work culture. So, what are you waiting for?

Use popular platforms

Facebook, Twitter (and MySpace too!) are some of the platform one may use in order to connect with customers far and wide. Listen to your customers’ needs and wants, and work on them! It is the cheapest way to win quality customers. And the best part – It’s free!

Gather mail-ids

Send out newsletters to your customer/clients and inform them about the latest development from your company. But first, you need their mail ids. Having customers in your social media profiles means they have their mail ids with them too! Device smart ways to get those mail-ids registered for your news-letter.

There are more ways to know on how to make the most of your social media profile. But it all gets down to one simple thing – Know your customers!

Starting off with social media is crucial to every business growth. If you don’t create an effective social media plan, then you risk losing out on key business prospects.

Pillars of Social Media Success

January 19, 2011

In order to discover success with social media, one needs to delve within. A building is only as good as its foundations. Social media success also depends upon certain pillars. They are discussed as below –

Listen

Be aware of your surroundings. Listening can really give you the desired feedback that will help you find success with social media. If you want people to hear you out, then hear them out as well. Social media is not another advertising medium you know!

Find the Influencers

Discover industry veterans and invite them into conversations by taking the power of social media. At the end of the day, thousands of followers would do no good if you don’t have people vouching for you. You need to focus on the quality as well. This quality of conversations will make your business stand out from the bunch and drive in more customers.

Killer Content

At least twice-a-week, make sure to deliver fabulous content. Another important social media insight is to bring in your employees and make them a part of your social media campaign. Ask them to write about your company’s blog. You will be amazed to discover the true potentials of your employees.

Participate

Participating is necessary if you want to increase your online reputation. Commenting for the sake of it, like “Wow! Nice post” is NOT a sign of participation. Bring the writer into a conversation and you will find more and more people noticing you.

Make the most of social media for your business because if you are not in the game, you are out!

New Year Predictions for Digital Marketing

January 19, 2011

Do you want to make your company’s products well-known? Or even make the biggest impact on your consumer in ‘real time’? Then digital marketing is the ideal solution. But as we step into the new year there is direct indication of ‘winds of change’.

The sphere of digital marketing is extending its outreach in several quarters, let alone the internet. According to a recent prediction by mobileStorm this year will see an ever increasing usage of smartphones, mobile based applications, real-time communication and much more. Let’s take a look at the three major digital marketing forecasts for this year.

The Mobile App Advantage

According to mobileStorm, the number of mobile apps accessible on all major platforms is expected to cross the 1 million mark this year. However, to build up consistency in mobile app usage brands will need to reach out to their target audience more effectively and attract their attention. This can be done efficiently through ‘push notification’ – a one of a kind technology set to launch soon. The basic idea is that, a user can easily create a customized message – whether it’s in the form of text, image, or video and send it to an iPhone, Blackberry or an Android. Using this technology a user can engage more audience participation in real time hence making communication MORE relevant!

MMS Could Be Passé

Once MMS was much talked-about but it didn’t live up to the expectations. mobileStorm forecasts that it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see MMS going completely drab. As a result mobile messaging trends could be hugely affected in the latter half of the year.

Real -Time Communication: the Next Frontier

The predictions for digital marketing suggest a rise in real-time communication this year. Using real time communication platforms companies can reach out to their target audience, far more easily and effectively. Further, it will enable companies to communicate with their target audience in a way which is based on their behavior ‘at the very moment ‘. Naturally this will translate into relevancy and fruitful communication driving revenues in the long run.

Whether technology drives change or it enables change is a matter of discussion, but as of now all we can expect is an exponential growth of technologically potent platforms this year as far as digital marketing is concerned.

Make Your Followers Come To Your Blog

January 19, 2011

In order to bring more followers to your website, you need to employ certain methods that would get the business noticed. Twitter can be of immense help if you have the right know-how to handle this medium. It can really transform your business and get you more followers and money. Here are simple tips that would really help you master Twitter –

Being Twitter-friendly

One needs to be Twitter-ready at all times. Immediately after reading a favorable tweet from your follower, send him/her a message thanking for the support. Also, give adequate importance to a popular tweet by forwarding it to your circle.

Tweet with brains

Interact with your followers just like you would in real life. Most of the times, people tend to miss updates. You should, in this case, re-tweet some of your old posts and your followers would surely love it!

Preparing the ground

Position your blog in a way to receive maximum coverage in the minimum possible time. Be on Twitter on the day of your blog post. Grab attention by re-tweeting good posts, sending messages. When the time is high, post your blog.

Follow the right ones

Following the right ones in time can work wonders for your business. Those of your readers, who re-tweet your posts on Twitter, should be followed and thanked regularly

Build trust to build reputation

Only when you readers trust you will they forward your work. Posting the right stuffs is a key to create that trust in the minds of your readers.

Twitter and other social media networks can really transform your business. Make the most of now and bring social media into your marketing mix.

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