WARNING: YOU’RE LOSING MONEY BY NOT USING THESE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Let Fans Help Enhance Sales, Leads, Branding and SEO- The Basics of an Effective Social Media Marketing Strategy

At this point, nearly every business has at least some presence on social media. But many of these pages are one-way streets where the company simply posts content and expects viewers to read it passively. This is simply wasting a tremendous opportunity, no matter what type of business you’re in.

To build a stronger fan base, you must offer ways for them to interact with you. Doing so creates a deeper investment of time and emotion in your users, which both facilitates their progress in the sales funnel and encourages them to share your content, thus extending your reach to new prospects.

If you’re a business-to-business operation, you may believe this arena is not relevant because most of the fan engagement campaigns seen on social media target consumers. Why, you may wonder, would a “vote for your favorite flavor” type of contest be of interest to an audience of busy executives? However, there are other methods of community building that are proven to work with professional users.

Showcase Current Customera

People love to be in the spotlight … and get their own business some free publicity at the same time. You’ll be surprised at how many of your satisfied clients would be happy to give you permission to share their experiences with your product and service. These customers can become a loyal group of fans who will forward your content about them to their own customer bases.

Case studies.

You may already have these on your website. If so, it’s a snap to convert them to Facebook posts. If not, consider adding this critical sales tool in both places. The basic format of a case study is:

Problem (that the customer had)
Solution (your product or service)
Outcome (proof of how well the product or service worked)
There are many online sources you can tap for writing a great case study.

Interviews.

This informal version of a case study comes across as more authentic because it’s in the customer’s own words. You may even want to video it for posting on YouTube and, of course, a link to it on your Facebook page.

Quotes.

The interview is also a gold mine of testimonial quotes which support your marketing claims not only on social media but in every channel you use: website, brochures, sales letters, etc. Also, check any letters of appreciation you’ve received for usable quotes.

Solicited reviews.

Your very best, most enthusiastic customers may enjoy writing about you on their own social media pages or website blog (perhaps as part of a reciprocal post deal). Ask them to submit their content under a unique hashtag; this will make it easy for you to track and collect their submissions. Of course, you will link to these reviews on your own social media page.

Social media screenshots.

Your customers may already be talking about you without you even asking. Keep an eye on their Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages. When you see a nice comment about your product or service, grab a screenshot of it and post it on your own social media. Presto: a testimonial with just a couple of clicks!

Invite R&D Input

People love to give opinions. Whether you’ve got a new idea already in the works or you are looking for one, social media is an ideal – and free – way to gauge its viability and uncover problems and possibilities you may not have thought of. Plus, you’ll kill two birds with one stone by inspiring deeply engaged conversations on your social media pages.

Existing customers.

As with the above social media marketing strategy, your first line of opinion givers will be existing customers. Solicit their suggestions through email or direct mail as well as on social media so they’ll be sure to see it, and ask for responses to be posted on your social media page.

Prospective customers.

With the optimal keywords included, a request for input on your social media page can also attract a pool of prospects who never heard of you before. They’ll love feeling that they’re part of the product development process. And they’ll be half way to sold before the product even hits the marketplace!

Start Product Usage Discussions

People love to give advice. Provide your customers with a forum for sharing their creative uses of your product or bugs they’ve solved, and the conversation will never stop. Enabling customers to engage with each other as well as you build lasting relationships and lets you decide how much time you want to put into it. This user generated content is also perfect for both your SEO and your customer service team.

User tips.

For tangible products, YouTube instructional videos are the way to go. In fact, you may find some customer videos there already, an immediate source of useful links for your social media community.

Also, consider starting a YouTube channel for product demo videos. Viewers who comment here can form their own valuable community as well as joining your Facebook community. These demo videos are also highly effective in landing pages and sales presentations.

Online seminars.

The value of educational podcasts and seminars that have to be signed up for is in the relevance of the audience. So, even though the headcount is probably smaller than for a YouTube video, it’s virtually 100% seriously interested in your products and services.

Discussion forums.

One in five Americans use forums to discuss or recommend products. Register at your industry’s most popular online forums and make sure you’re getting your fair share of attention. Give as much as you get: contribute original content, not just marketing messages, to achieve maximum credibility. And be sure to respond to complaints or criticism immediately.

For an ultimate solution, start a forum on your own website. This will involve you in a lot more administration, but you’ll know it’s all about you, all the time.

Conclusion

It’s clear that social media marketing strategies do have a place in B2B marketing. In fact, because B2B customer decisions are more likely to be influenced by brand reputation and word of mouth, it may be one of your most important marketing channels. Build an active social media community by encouraging higher levels of interaction, creating thought leadership content and turning customers into brand advocates.

Source: here.

THE TOP 10 BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

To some entrepreneurs, social media marketing is the “next big thing,” a temporary yet powerful fad that must be taken advantage of while it’s still in the spotlight. To others, it’s a buzzword with no practical advantages and a steep, complicated learning curve.

Because it appeared quickly, social media has developed a reputation by some for being a passing marketing interest, and therefore, an unprofitable one. The statistics, however, illustrate a different picture. According to Hubspot, 92% of marketers in 2014 claimed that social media marketing was important for their business, with 80% indicating their efforts increased traffic to their websites. And according to Social Media Examiner, 97% of marketers are currently participating in social media—but 85% of participants aren’t sure what social media tools are the best to use.

This demonstrates a huge potential for social media marketing to increase sales, but a lack of understanding on how to achieve those results. Here’s a look at just some of the ways social media marketing can improve your business:

1. Increased Brand Recognition.

Every opportunity you have to syndicate your content and increase your visibility is valuable. Your social media networks are just new channels for your brand’s voice and content. This is important because it simultaneously makes you easier and more accessible for new customers, and makes you more familiar and recognizable for existing customers. For example, a frequent Twitter user could hear about your company for the first time only after stumbling upon it in a newsfeed. Or, an otherwise apathetic customer might become better acquainted with your brand after seeing your presence on multiple networks.

2. Improved brand loyalty.

According to a report published by Texas Tech University, brands who engage on social media channels enjoy higher loyalty from their customers. The report concludes “Companies should take advantage of the tools social media gives them when it comes to connecting with their audience. A strategic and open social media plan could prove influential in morphing consumers into being brand loyal.” Another study published by Convince&Convert found that 53% of Americans who follow brands in social are more loyal to those brands.

3. More Opportunities to Convert.

Every post you make on a social media platform is an opportunity for customers to convert. When you build a following, you’ll simultaneously have access to new customers, recent customers, and old customers, and you’ll be able to interact with all of them. Every blog post, image, video, or comment you share is a chance for someone to react, and every reaction could lead to a site visit, and eventually a conversion. Not every interaction with your brand results in a conversion, but every positive interaction increases the likelihood of an eventual conversion. Even if your click-through rates are low, the sheer number of opportunities you have on social media is significant. And as I pointed out in my article, “The Four Elements of Any Action, And How To Use Them In Your Online Marketing Initiative,” “opportunity” is the first element of any action.

4. Higher conversion rates.

Social media marketing results in higher conversion rates in a few distinct ways. Perhaps the most significant is its humanization element; the fact that brands become more humanized by interacting in social media channels. Social media is a place where brands can act like people do, and this is important because people like doing business with other people; not with companies.

Additionally, studies have shown that social media has a 100% higher lead-to-close rate than outbound marketing, and a higher number of social media followers tends to improve trust and credibility in your brand, representing social proof. As such, simply building your audience in social media can improve conversion rates on your existing traffic.

Source: here.

THE TOP 7 SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING TRENDS DOMINATING 2016

Late last year, I made some predictions about social media in my post, The Top 7 Social Media Marketing Trends That Will Dominate 2016. Now that we’re more than halfway through 2016, let’s take a look at what the dominating trends really are:

1. Less is more, better is better.

Social media is a crowded world already—there are billions of users with social profiles, and they all follow hundreds to thousands of different accounts. On top of that, most platforms’ newsfeed algorithms now sort posts based on a degree of perceived relevance, rather than based on the time of publication (in fact, Instagram just changed theirs over recently). Add in the fact that users are beginning to prefer hyper-relevant, in-the-moment content to regurgitated updates or retrospective posts, and you have a perfect formula for users to prefer fewer, but better posts. Quality has always been more important than quantity, but now social platforms and users are further cementing that fact.

2. A shift is happening in platform dynamics.

Until recently, the three big players of the social media game were Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn—almost indisputably—and all three platforms served similar functions for slightly different niches. Today, those positions have changed and diversified; Instagram and Snapchat are newer players in the game, but each serves a niche role despite having massive user bases.

3. Live streaming is getting bigger.

Video content has seen a huge spike in popularity over the past few years, in part because it has become a more accessible medium, and in part because users are growing tired of older mediums. Combined with the trend of users demanding more “live” and in-the-moment updates, live streaming video has seen a major increase in popularity; especially with the recent release of Facebook Live.

Source: here.

PRIVATE: VIDEO MARKETING ON SOCIAL MEDIA: A SMALL BUSINESS GUIDE

Social media makes video marketing accessible – and affordable – for every business. It’s one of the best ways to reach your customers where they already are: on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and other online networks. And since social media users love video, it’s one of the best ways to raise brand awareness and engage customers and clients.

These days, you don’t need any special equipment to shoot a great video ad — a smartphone and enthusiasm for your brand will suffice. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a rundown of the top social media channels you can use to boost your brand with video.

1. YouTube

YouTube is the biggest video-sharing platform on the planet, so it’s a great place to start marketing your business. After you sign up, you can create a customizable channel for your business, complete with colors, logos, slogans and more. Don’t be intimidated — setting up a YouTube channel is simple and takes just a few minutes. Editor’s Note: Looking for information on social media marketing for your business? Use the questionnaire below, and our vendor partner will contact you to provide you with the information you need: Which social networks do you use or would like to use?

Once your channel is ready, you can upload as many videos as you want. Viewers rate your videos and leave comments, which will raise the overall visibility of your videos among other YouTube users. Anyone can subscribe to your channel, so whenever you upload a new video, they’ll be automatically notified.

If you don’t think you have the chops to put together a high-quality video ad, check out YouTube Director, an app for the iPhone and iPad. The app walks you through the process of making a quality ad, and lets you add text overlays, music and scene transitions with a few taps.

Tips

• Be consistent: Upload new videos regularly to encourage viewers to subscribe.
• Include calls to action: Tell viewers directly to rate the video they’re watching, leave a comment or subscribe to your channel.
• Interact: Respond to feedback quickly, and thank viewers who leave comments to encourage further interaction.
• Share: Share links to your YouTube Channel, and embed your YouTube videos in posts on Facebook and Twitter to engage new viewers.

2. Facebook

Taking your video-marketing campaign to Facebook is a no-brainer, given the platform’s huge and devoted user base. Generally speaking, Facebook users love video — they’re much more likely to click and view a brief video clip than to read a text-based post.

To get started on Facebook, you’ll need to set up a page for your business, which is quick and easy. Pages can be fully customized to represent your business, with all the information that potential customers need to know. Users who “Like” your page will see your posts — including any uploaded videos — and those posts will appear automatically in their news feed. Even better, friends of those users might also see the same videos appear in their own feeds.

Tips

• Keep it light: Facebook users log on to be entertained, so striving to keep your videos light, and even entertaining, is sure to boost engagement.
• Get interactive: Watch for comments and questions that viewers leave under your videos, and respond to them quickly and professionally.
• Monitor reactions: Facebook gives you the tools to see who likes and shares your videos. Watching to see which videos garner the most positive reactions will help you plan your next updates.
• Broadcast live: Facebook lets you broadcast live video using a feature called Facebook Live. Check it out— it’s a great way to boost engagement and give clients and customers a more intimate look at your business.

3. Twitter

Like Facebook, Twitter has a huge, diverse user base, and its regular users are extremely engaged with the platform. That’s why it should be a key part of any small business’s video-marketing strategy.Twitter isn’t just about short, text-based messages. The network also lets users embed videos directly into their tweets, which will then pop up in the feed of anyone who follows your business’s account. Videos can be up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds long — plenty of time to engage viewers with a short clip.

Tips

• Be concise: Twitter has always been about keeping it brief. Users view their feeds sporadically, often for just a few seconds at a time, so stick to short, easily digestible clips.
• Engage: One part of Twitter’s appeal is the ability it gives users to engage directly with the brands they care about. When users comment or share your videos, reward them with a response.
• Be timely: Twitter users want to know what’s happening right now. Use your video clips to advertise special deals and ongoing sales, or to let followers see what’s happening with your business today.

4. Instagram

Unlike Facebook or Twitter, Instagram is a social network that’s dedicated solely to sharing photos and videos. For that reason, it might seem like a network where only highly visual businesses — such as those in food or fashion — can succeed. But with a little creativity, you can probably find a way to make the platform work for just about any brand.

Using Instagram is simple. After you create an account, you can upload images, photos and videos that run for 15 seconds or less. Users who follow your page will see those updates in their feed, where they can like or comment on them — and it’s really as simple as that.

Keeping your business’s Instagram account updated is easy, but the nature of the platform might make it a poor fit for your business. The network’s user base skews relatively young, which can be limiting. And if your business isn’t particularly visual, you might put your efforts elsewhere.

Tips

• Show off: Sharing images of your business’s products or services can help you reel in new customers.
• Post deals: Share images with coupon codes and other information about how to redeem special deals. That will encourage users to follow your account closely so they don’t miss out.
• Go behind the scenes: A good way to generate interest is to show people how your product is made, or perhaps give them a glimpse of your office.

5. Snapchat

It may be the fastest-growing social media platform out there, but Snapchat is still a niche platform for small businesses. If you’re not familiar with Snapchat, here’s a quick primer. The app lets you upload short video clips — as well as images — and the content is sent directly to anyone who follows your account.

The trademark feature of Snapchat is that users can usually only view each video once before it disappears from their feed, but that restriction actually only applies to videos sent directly to individuals. Content uploaded to your account’s “story” can be viewed by your followers an unlimited number of times for 24 hours.

The ephemeral nature of Snapchat posts — as well as the fact that the app’s user base skews younger than any of the others on this list — means that many small businesses would be better off investing their resources elsewhere. But businesses that cater to young people would be wise to give it a chance.

Tips

• Keep it casual: While other platforms encourage highly curated content, Snapchat posts can be simple and casual. If a post isn’t perfect, don’t fret — it will disappear soon anyway.
• Make it fun: Clips of employees or customers having fun with your product will keep young Snapchat users engaged and coming back for more.
• Go behind the scenes: Snapchat is the perfect platform for taking viewers behind the scenes of your business for a glimpse of how it’s run.

6. Periscope

Periscope — the most popular live-streaming app for mobile devices — is a great way to connect with your customers on a personal level. The Twitter-owned service makes it easy for you to start broadcasting live video with just a few taps. Customers who follow your account will automatically receive an alert on their smartphone whenever you start a new broadcast, which makes it relatively simple for you to cultivate an audience.

Live streaming has some clear perks over other kinds of video marketing. Since live streams are happening in real time, they help humanize your brand. Instead of seeing a carefully crafted advertisement, viewers feel like they’re seeing a truly authentic, behind-the-scenes representation of your business.

Tips

• Demonstrate: If you sell a physical product, Periscope is a great way to show how it works. Customers can tune in to a live demonstration, which can feel more trustworthy than a canned ad.
• Get creative: Periscope can be great for showcasing your company’s offerings, no matter what you sell. For example, realtors can use the app to broadcast virtual open houses.
• Interact: Live streaming isn’t a one-way street. Periscope lets you interact with customers and clients in real time, which is a great way to hold live Q&A sessions, webinars or tutorials.
• Reward: Giving exclusive offers for people who tune in to your Periscope stream is a good way to hook viewers and boost your sales.

MARKETING TO GENERATION Z STARTS BY UNLEARNING TRADITIONAL MARKETING PRINCIPLES

Guest post by Connor Blakley (@BlakleySpeaks), a serial entrepreneur, adviser, speaker, and youth marketing/branding strategist. He’s also a teenager and someone whom I mentor. Connor was named as the ¨#1 High School Entrepreneur to Watch in 2016¨” by StartUp Grind

Generation Z, America’s youngest generation (Born in 1996 or later) has never lived in a time when the barrier to real-time information and communication has been nearly nonexistent.

By 2020, Gen Z will account for 40% of all consumers, making it more important now more than ever to successfully connect with and engage this generation to create life long relationships. While many brands invest in Millennial marketing initiatives, with Gen Z, everything is going to get even crazier. This is the generation that will end the ideals of generations.

Researchers say goldfish have a larger attention span than Gen Z (6–8 seconds) and they cannot concentrate for long period of time. YES, this is technically right. But what the data won’t show you is Why. Gen Z just has a fast pace, highly selective and decisive filter that marketers have never seen or had to encounter before. However, once they find something they deem ¨worthy¨ they can become obsessively committed and engaged. This creates a unique opportunity but it also requires a new perspective and approach.

When I am asked, ¨Connor what was the ROI?,¨ the question goes in one ear and out the other. When executives use the acronym ROI, they are using the typical meaning which stands for Return On Investment. However, I think of it in terms of Return On Interaction. Putting resources towards relationships, engagement, and giving value to meaningful interaction, meaningful to them AND you, will mean way more for your brand than any form of traditional advertising, marketing or communication.

The point of all human relationships is connection, and marketing really starts to become effective when word of mouth starts to take place. If the key to a human relationship is a connection, then wouldn’t it make sense to invest in interactions, find connection points and create an authentic relationship?

If your brand can in essence ¨become friends¨ with as many people as you can through interactions, than you not only create brand loyal consumers, but FRIENDS who become ¨zombie loyalists¨. Yes, it is possible for brands to find that connection with people using traditional methods (it has been done for ages). The difference is the value+time given by the brand to invest in the relationship.

Rather than talking AT the consumer to find a connection, talk with them to be most effective.

Brands need to go deeper into the data, and meet Gen Z where they really are.

Don’t try to hard

Relatability is the authenticity of today. A general misconception regarding Gen Z is that they commonly use acronyms like ¨LOL¨, ¨JK¨, ¨WTF¨ , ¨OMG¨ or ¨SMH¨ while texting. When brands use this type of language in an attempt to look trendy it comes off as unauthentic and fake. Now more than ever today’s youth (Gen Z) act and behave like adults. They want to be treated as such.

Instead, brands need to closely pay attention to trends that are on the verge of virality. Finding a unique and funny way to incorporate these in your strategy is a sure fire way to pave a path to virality and forging true connections with Gen Z. Perfect examples of this being executed can be found on Taco Bell’s Twitter account. Not only do they creatively engage with fans, they actively create campaigns around the things they see we care about. Don’t try to hard to be relevant, pay attention to trends, and be creative. Simply listening and paying attention is a simple and a great way to create a relationship.

Rethink Social Media

The impact social media has on Gen Z is unparrareled to any generation before them. For generations health, financial prosperity, and relationships have played pivotal roles in one’s personal happiness. However, according to The Center for Generational Kinetics, nearly %40 of Gen Z says social media has a direct impact on their happiness. In order to effectively connect with Gen Z through social media brands now have to find a way to ¨lift up¨ their Gen Z consumer to make them feel like a hero.

A prime example of this being executed is through Dj Khaled’s Snapchat story. Telling viewers “Baby, you smart! You Loyal! You a genius!,” while also simultaneously preaching simple motivational phrases such as ¨There will be roadblocks, but we will overcome them.” There is a reason brands like Dove and Ciroc have teamed up with Khaled. Aside from having one of the most viewed Snapchat stories on the planet, he has created a loyal community by making viewers feel like the hero.

Prove the Impact

In many ways Gen Z has grown up in a world they only know to be corrupted. They have lived through constant terrorist attacks, a recession, and wars. This this generation is not only worried about the future, but is ready to take action. Sixty percent of Gen Z want their jobs to have an impact on the world, and eighty percent of Gen Z will more often buy a product that has a social or environmental impact. Not only does Gen Z expect brands to have an impact, they expect them to show it.

Companies like Boxed Water have aligned their entire product and brand with a cause they care deeply about. For instance, Boxed Waters slogan that appears on every single product is ¨Boxed Water is Better.¨ Well why? Because not only are you buying water, you’re buying a better earth for everyone. Boxed Water is dedicated to planting one million trees by 2020 and changing the way we think about purchasing bottled water. Give your Gen Z consumer the tools to feel as if they have made an impact that makes the world a better place. Create innovative campaigns that don’t appear for self purpose and add value.\

Leverage Visuals

The average Gen Z consumer sees 200,000 marketing messages before they hit the age of 15. They have naturally learned to quickly decipher through what matters. The key for brands to quickly and effectively connect with Gen Z is to create and curate content that makes them feel comfortable.

Myself, along with brands such as Denny’s, Wendy’s, and Bud Light have found the best way to do this is through GIFs. Below is an example of an extremely viral GIF that was made after Obama ¨dropped the mic¨ after his speech at the White House correspondents dinner. The reason GIFs work so well is because everyone can relate to them. Whether brands use a GIF from a popular movie, recent event, or a popular celebrity, they are something that can be created to relate to everyone. Another reason brands are seeing tremendous results from using GIFs is that they are super short, perfectly aligning with the decision making filter of Gen Z.

Be Real

Honesty, transparency, and authenticity. These are the three traits crucial for brands to implement into the core of their brand. If you truly want to implement these traits, you have to connect with Gen Z on their own terms. Gen Z views brands guilty until proven innocent, so taking the extra step to not only capture their attention, but bring value to interactions is crucial.

Source: here.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING, THE BEST ROI

Social media marketing is the most effective and inexpensive mean of marketing.

The importance of social media marketing is of great significance,. Companies uses social media marketing to use the technology in the most innovative ways to ignite conversation. Social media marketing seems to the catchphrase since past couple of years. Companies develop social media in building communities and strategies on social media platform.

We, at Creative House understand the social media landscape and we know how to deliver inclusive solutions to drive best results. Social media acts the best method of marketing your product by using sites like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. We use the strength of these sites to advertise for your company in the best possible way. We post the link of your company on social networking sites that results in interested internet users to gain additional information about your company or directly visit online center of your business like a website or blog. The role of social media is to increase the visibility of target viewers on websites through social exposure. Creative House provides the best services to their clients as experts and professional team who has best knowledge of social media marketing do the work. At, Creative House you are assured to get paramount services, which will further increase your business in a highly profitable way. Our services are affordable and excellent at the same time with years of trust and faith.

IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

• Increase brand awareness
• Legitimize a brand
• Increase sales
• Improve customer service
• Distribute content
• Creative House is a company specialized for sales marketing strategies and brand awareness, which we mainly put through the existing digital platforms. We are rated as an exceptionally creative company, but at the same time a high tech oriented company. Creativity, science and technology: This triple combination, topped with the x-factor we definitely possess is what makes us assertive and successful.