5 Things to Check Before Publishing Your Blog Post by Irfan Ahmad

Ever wonder why most bloggers who start with enthusiasm give up so early?

 

The most common reason is many don't get much traction to what they post, others fail to pull enough visitors in, while some just don't understand the art of content execution.

 

Writing blogs may be an effective way for marketers to share ideas with their readers, but that doesn't mean you have to rush through the procedure. By spending just a few minutes before hitting the publish button, you can add more value to your content, value that can bring massive eyeballs and may be higher conversions.

 

The following infographic, which comes courtesy of sushidigital, serves as a checklist of key points to remember before publishing on a finished blog article.

top image credit: 123RF

Soource: http://socialmediatoday.com/irfan-ahmad/2349236/5-things-check-publishing-your-blog-post-infographic

The Top 15 Social Media Marketing Strategy Mistakes to Avoid by Heather Smith

Social media is the most popular online activity, so it makes perfect sense for businesses to want to tap into that audience to try and increase sales. Right now, more than 90 percent of businesses use social media in one form or another.

But, simply opening an account or sending out some tweets is not enough to make social media platforms a viable and profitable part of a marketing strategy. By avoiding some basic missteps, many businesses have the ability to increase ROI and create more opportunities from social media accounts.

#1. Not having a strategy

Less than 20 percent of businesses say that their social media strategy is mature. Social media users are inundated with information and messages every second of the day. Businesses that don’t have a social media marketing strategy won’t ever cut through the clutter and deliver an effective message to their target audience.

Creating a strategy includes having distinct and measurable goals, developing a clear social media policy, thinking through a brand’s social media voice, and planning out a content calendar with end goals in mind. Without a clear strategy, businesses could create the best content on the web, but receive little to no engagement.

#2. Not integrating with other digital assets

Social media works best when integrated with other digital marketing efforts. One mistake many businesses make is to leave their social media accounts on islands. Not only should the accounts be linked together through profiles, but they should also be directly tied to websites, emails and paid search advertising campaigns. Not connecting these accounts reduces the amount of reach each asset has separately.

Twitter

#3. Not using images

Images on twitter cause tweets to take up more space on the feed and help drive engagement. Tweets that include an image have 200 percent more engagement than tweets without images. While an image may not be appropriate for every tweet, businesses should include one whenever possible to help draw attention to their message.

#4. Not taking advantage of hashtags

Hashtags are a great way for businesses to insert themselves into conversations and trending topics that make sense, while also doubling engagement.

For example, businesses can use the hashtag #throwbackthursday, or #TBT, to cash in on one of social media’s longest lasting regular Thursday conversations. For this hashtag, it makes sense to post an old image or ad, because it flows with the conversation. Using a new ad or product image would stand out and seem promotional. Using strategically chosen hashtags can help businesses find their target audience, reach non-followers in large numbers and help grow a brand’s influence.

#5. Not using a consistent voice

A business’ Twitter account should be used for business, not personal anecdotes. While unique, funny and chatty messages can make a Twitter account seem more “human,” getting into arguments, insulting other brands or using it to advance the unrelated interests of executives pushes the platform off-message and can create backlash.

Brands shouldn’t have their Twitter account act and sound like a robot either. Repeatedly sending out the same messages can create ill will from consumers as well. The key is to find a happy middle ground where the brand’s voice is consistent, caring and human at the same time.

Facebook

#6.  Not utilizing images or using the wrong size image

Visual stimulation helps drive engagement on social networks. In fact, 40 percent of people respond better to visual information than plain text according to Zabisco. On average, photos get 50 percent more impressions than any other post type on Facebook, while also gathering more likes and comments according to a study by Roost.

To optimize images on Facebook, businesses should make sure to use the correct image size, which varies depending on where the image is going to be used. For the average post, that means uploading a 1,200 x 1,200 pixel image, while Facebook ads have different guidelines businesses should follow  to drive the most potential engagement.

#7. Not removing the URL from a post

When you put a link in a Facebook update, the social networking site automatically creates a clickable image that also works as a link. Because of this, businesses don’t need to include the URL in the post. While having the extra link doesn’t hurt anything, it does show to some users that the business doesn’t understand the capabilities and features of Facebook, so it’s best to delete the extra URL.

#8. Not interacting with followers

Social media is meant to be interactive and consumers expect a certain amount of responsiveness from businesses on Facebook. Responding to posts, thanking consumers for commenting and addressing complaints helps consumers feel more connected to the brand.

Businesses should have a strategy in place to respond to commenters, both negative and positive, and how to use the social media platform as a part of a crisis management strategy. Not every comment needs a response, but responding to followers helps build camaraderie and trust between brands and consumers, which can affect future sales and word of mouth marketing.

Google Plus

#9.  Not using the platform at all

Google Plus may be the most underutilized social media platform today. It is directly integrated with Google search results, making profiles an integral part of any digital marketing or search engine optimization strategy.

#10.  Not utilizing circles or communities

Circles on Google Plus allow businesses to segment followers into groups and address each segment separately with unique content. If circles aren’t utilized, each piece of content goes to every single follower.

To increase conversion rates and engagement, instead of pushing content to everyone, businesses should create content that appeals to specific audiences and then post that content to the applicable circles and communities.

Pinterest

#11.  Not including descriptions or prices

Pinning images to Pinterest is simply not enough if businesses want to use the social media site to drive traffic and increase sales. Despite easy access, many businesses are forgoing the use of rich pins, which include a thorough description of the item and the price.

Descriptions should use terms that people search for and be as descriptive as possible and including the price entices pinners to click the link. In fact, a study from Shopify found that rich pins with prices get 36 percent more likes and repins than regular pins.

#12.  Not using active images

Pinterest is all about visual stimulation, but many businesses are using static and uninspiring images to portray products. Instead, businesses should use colorful images that show the products in action. For example, instead of a picture of a sweater on a table, use an image of someone wearing the sweater doing something fun. Curalate looked at a half million

Pinterest images and found that factors like color, white space and even the inclusion of faces make a difference in terms of engagement.

#13.  Not linking to product page

Businesses should strive to make it as easy as possible for shoppers to go from browsing Pinterest to buying a product. To do that, businesses should link directly to product pages instead of home pages or other non-related content. The more links and moves a consumer has to make before buying a product, the less likely they are to make a final purchase.

Instagram

#14.  Not using hashtags effectively

There is no limit to the number of hashtags a business can attach to a post and for some that freedom has led to an overuse of this normally effective outreach tool.

Hashtags allow people to filter through the millions of posts every day, and it’s very tempting for businesses to try and wedge their way into conversations where they don’t organically belong by using hashtags. But, just like traditional marketing outlets such as email, traditional mail and phone calls, spam can turn off consumers. Instead, businesses should only use hashtags that directly apply to the post or the company.

#15.  Not providing content users demand

Many businesses decide to use Instagram as another way to push static ads that could be posted on any other platform. However, Instagram is best used when businesses give consumers a behind-the-scenes look at what is going on and give insight into the personality of the brand.

Instead of posting a touched up photo destined for the pages of a magazine, businesses should use Instagram to send out a picture of the photo shoot, the models laughing, the chefs cooking, or the crew eating some pizza around a big table. Businesses can stay on message and keep a consistent digital voice while still allowing followers to feel personally connected, which in turn fosters more sharing and increased followers.

Wrapping it up

Brands should strive to create their own social media voice, while also attempting to optimize their social media efforts by avoiding the common pitfalls listed above. Social media has the ability to be an effective and cost controlled method for reaching out to potential consumers, engaging with current fans and helping increase sales.

Just like any other marketing strategy, social media efforts should be continually monitored and updated for full effect.

Source: http://www.jeffbullas.com/2014/04/07/the-top-15-social-media-marketing-strategy-mistakes-to-avoid/#b3swOKc83ZFoaMgJ.99

Measuring Your Facebook Page Performance by Irfan Ahmad

 

Are you trying to figure out how much your Facebook followers really like your brand?

 

Facebook is becoming a challenging marketing platform to understand for small businesses. In fact, many business marketers don't understand it at all. They don't know whether their Facebook page is performing well or not, or should we be getting more likes or shares based on their number of the followers.

 

Therefore, the Quintly team has analyzed different key performance Indicators (KPIs) for various page sizes, that will give you a clear idea whether your page is doing well or not. A key takeaway is: The total number of fans is one of the most important metrics for Facebook page admins to measure their ROI (you can compare your total number of fans in below chart).

 

Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/irfan-ahmad/2318441/measuring-your-facebook-page-performance-infographic

Using Twitter as Marketing Tool Is Tough for Brands by Irfan Ahmad

 

Is Twitter an effective marketing tool for brands? What sorts of challenges are businesses facing on Twitter? According to a recent survey conducted by SMMU, 40 percent of brands consider Twitter to be an effective marketing tool. Brands face a number of challenges (like building an audience, developing strong content, etc.) using Twitter as a social media marketing tool, with measuring Return-on-Investment being the greatest challenge.

 

In addition, most brands have not used Twitter's paid services. In fact, some brands were unaware that they were available. Among Twitter features being used on a regular basis, Vine remains underutilized, despite the rise in popularity of video marketing. Check out this infographic below for all the findings from the survey. 

 Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/irfan-ahmad/2312171/using-twitter-marketing-tool-no-easy-feat-brands-infographic

Content Mixology: Engaging Audiences With Custom Content by Irfan Ahmad

Like mixing a drink, content marketing demands that business marketers serve information in ways that are attractive to their audience. This includes creating and curating custom streams of content, which give users richer and more appealing experiences.

How many brands are using custom content? What results are they seeing? And which tools are more popular? Find the answers and more in following infographic which comes courtesy ofuberflip.

Infographic highlights:
24 percent of content marketers report that the biggest marketing obstacle that they face is getting targeted audiences to engage with content.
46 percent of companies create targeted content based on progressive buyer persona profiles.

 

Infographic: What Content Marketers Can Learn From Bartenders

source: http://socialmediatoday.com/irfan-ahmad/2306451/content-mixology-engaging-audiences-custom-content-infographic

11 Web Marketing and Social Media Trends That Will Shape 2014 by Stephanie Frasco

2014 is going to be a killer year for Social Media and Small Business.

Social Media allows small businesses to leverage technology to even the playing field with bigger brands and companies. In 2014, some of the trends we saw in 2013 will continue to rise while others will fall. But it all comes down to how you communicate with your customers, how you leverage relationships, and of course how you share GREAT content.

Content is what businesses are built on today. It always has been and always will be.

So without further ado, here are 11 trends for 2014 and how you can get ready:

1. Mobile Is About To Go Mainstream
Every website needs to be optimized for mobile. This means having responsive design and thinking about how people interact with your business via mobile devices should be one of your top priorities. As a small business it's time to make the switch to a mobile site if you haven't yet, and think about ways that you can get in front of your customers through their phone. Yes, this include Mobile Apps, SMS, and emails that are designed to be viewed on your cellular phone.

2. Niche Sites Will Make An Impact
As Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus make it harder to get found organically, niche sites are going to prove to be more valuable than ever to get in front of your customers. Not only are niche sites highly targeted, they can also provide a much more affordable solution for advertising.

3. Blogging Will Remain The #1 Way To Generate New Business
Creating great content on a regular basis and driving traffic back to your site is going to remain the number #1 way to generate new leads. This means as a small business, if you don't have a blog yet, it's time to start one. Let us handle it for you. We're the pros.

4. Spammy Content Will Be Eliminated Everywhere
We've seen it happen on Google and now it's happening on Facebook. Spammy content is not going to get you anywhere, and the big sites are cracking down. Think about creating valuable content that resonates with your customers.

5. Google Plus Will Grow Faster Than Ever
G+ is my new favorite social network. With the search benefits from Google and the increased user base, it's likely that your audience will be making the move from Facebook to G+. Being a step ahead of the game is a good idea. Plus, they are about to launch promoted posts (+Post ads) that will get your content to a larger audience than ever before. Get on Google Plus as soon as possible.

6. Triggered Emails Will Increase Sales
Consumers are looking to connect with brands and by providing custom content for them based on their behavior is going to help you increase your sales. We love Infusionsoft, and you should too.

7. Ambassadors And Influencers Will Hold The Power
Influencer marketing and word-of-mouth marketing is going to be one of the most powerful ways to get in front of customers in a new way. By empowering your best customers to spread the word for you, you can gain trust in a new audience and hopefully turn them into new customers.

8. Image-Centric Sites Will Continue To Rise
Instagram, Pinterest and probably many more sites will come about in 2014 that are based around images. While text is not dead, you need to think of ways to incorporate images into your strategy that compliment your written context.

9. Video Consumption Will Increase
Whether it's an educational video or an ad, consumers will look to video content to learn about businesses. Video will continue to create meaningful relationships between business and consumer. Think video customer service here. Oh, and many times they will be watching video on their mobile phone. You know what that means.SEE #1 above.

10. Sharing Will Be More Important Than Ever
Social media sharing will be get ramped up and everyone and their mother will be doing it. While this is a good thing for getting your content shared, it also presents challenges to get found. The key here is to communicate to your customer directly and relevantly and you'll be found.  Plus, it's going to help your search rankings.

11. Marketing Will Be About Adding Value
It's no longer about pushing yourself out there, it's about how you provide value to your customer that matters. Whether this is through blogging, video, or email marketing, in order for people to stay engaged, they have to perceive value.

2014 is going to be an exciting year. Be sure to stay on top of as many of these exciting Social Media trends and Online Marketing trends as you possibly can.