What Snapchat’s Original Content Will Mean For Marketers

21Dec

First, it was Netflix. Then Amazon. Then YouTube. Now, Snapchat is creating original content that will be exclusively available on their platform. It’s an impressive jump from a social media networking app to a content host. But what can marketers take from this?

The way we see it, there are three revelations for marketers to learn from.

1. It’s time to invest into online marketing. Like, right now. As you can see, traditional media mediums like television and radio are in trouble. Netflix, YouTube, etc. are partial to blame, but their effectivity knows no bounds and Snap Inc., owner of Snapchat, is jumping on this bandwagon while they can. If you haven’t considered online marketing or social media marketing yet, it’s time to move.

2. Video is becoming standard and essential. Still pictures and text can grab someone’s attention only so much when compared to video. More and more platforms are allowing videos to become prominently placed and conveniently visible. Since people are going to be heading to Snapchat and other platforms for original content, make sure your own is ready to roll!

3. Snapchat is finally starting to have enough backing that it can produce its own content, which means it’s definitely a contender as a favorite platform. Mobile-exclusive content and platforms are on the rise in a big way.

As you can see, Snapchat’s plans for original content is a big deal for multiple reasons. It’s time to wake up, business owners! Your company needs to approach marketing in a new way!

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Try These 5 Engagement Heavy Social Media Updates

By Christopher Tompkins

20Dec

Copywriting, Social Media

When you’re looking back at your social media marketing activity in 2016, you may wonder what you should be looking for. ROI? A huge mass of followers? Well, smart marketers will measure an all-important element: engagement.

Which posts rocked? Which flopped? Did a certain subject strike a chord with your audience in a surprising way? Maybe something you were sure of had no impact at all. Well, after studying what’s been done, it’s time to move forward. The following tools are ideal for gathering in your audience and getting people talking.

1. Contests. Social media is stuffed with contests, and for a good reason. They work. For participants to enter, you can ask for some feedback, a simple like or retweet, or even a well thought out answer to “Why should you win?” The best part is, the prize doesn’t even need to be extravagant, perhaps one of your products or gift cards to a service your company provides.

2. Blogs and Long Forms. It may come as a surprise to some people, but many internet users still like to read. Original articles coming from your company is a fantastic way to spread your wealth of knowledge and to establish yourself as an “opinion leader.”

3. Sales. Be alert, there are bargain hunters everywhere. Take advantage of this “compulsion to save” by offering coupons, deals, and flash sales often. It will be a big help and people will follow you to make sure they don’t miss the next one.

4. Freebies. Even better than something on sale is something free. This is especially poignant if you have an ebook, PDF, e-course, trial, or another form of digital product, so you don’t have to be bothered with shipping and handling.

5. Imagery. Text-only social media content can only do so much. You absolutely need pictures, videos, GIFs, interactive art, and more. Now that Twitter no longer counts visuals against its 140 character count, there’s even less of an excuse.

So, does your social media marketing need a shake up? Try to implement or improve one or more of these strategies. Make sure your content is professional, positive, and popular! You will soon understand why this social media marketing thing is so effective.

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Twitter and Instagram’s Dive Into Live

By Christopher Tompkins

19Dec

Instagram, Social Media, Twitter

When people ask us what we think 2017 will be about in terms of social media marketing, we loudly proclaim “video” and perhaps more distinctly, “live video.” It’s not just us and the others in our industry that think so either. It turns out that the minds behind the platforms themselves are on the same page. What more proof is needed than when two of the biggest sites, Twitter and Instagram, implement live broadcasting services into their functionality?

Twitter has added Periscope’s live video broadcasting features into the main Twitter app itself. Does this mean that soon enough we’ll see the end of the Periscope sister app entirely? Only time will tell, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it disappears from our mobile screens soon enough. When you hit the “Compose” button on your Twitter app, you will now see a new option, with Periscope’s eyeball-esque logo staring back at you.

Additionally, Instagram Live is now accessible for all users. It’s prominently placed where one goes to upload content. Additionally, you will also see that Boomerang functionality is also there. Once again, the social media bosses seem to be converging these smaller “branch-off” apps like Boomerang, Layout, and Periscope into their giant, popular software.

What does this mean for marketers? It means that you have options and, frankly, there’s very little excuse for ignoring live video now. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat all offer some form of live service. Platforms are eager to win this “live video war,” so your content gets extra attention and engagement in order to promote the service.

Do not wait until it’s too late. While you probably won’t be able to broadcast live on all five channels unless you have a surplus of smartphones at your disposal, you should pick one or two of these services and start building up engaged audiences. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are some of the most powerful platforms already, so the fact that they’re actively using this innovative concept is quite exciting.

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How Sharable Is Your Social Media Content?

By Christopher Tompkins

18Dec

Social Media

Ok, we have to apologize for something. You CANNOT post funny cat videos on your business page and reap the rewards of people laughing all day. Someday, you’re going to have to add some deeper content.

Even though viral videos, movie trailers, and everything pop culture related always strike a chord with audiences, you will be surprised to learn that serious topics are more “shareable” than anything else.

In 2016, some of the most shared content was political (no surprise there thanks to the Presidential Election) and medical science based news. This is actually great news for clients who work in fact-based industries. In fact, this is so surprising that it’s one of the reasons why some people don’t jump on board with social media. “Who wants to hear about anesthesia on social media?” We once heard. The answer? A lot of people!

Social media isn’t just for fun, even though a lot of people use it for entertainment. It has become one of the biggest avenues for news articles. Every industry has a place on social media. Everyone.

Recently, Facebook has given priority to news articles that are uploaded through their “instant articles” feature. It helps users have INSTANT access to the information because the text actually is already on Facebook. So, just because a news article isn’t the funniest or most entertaining thing in the world, it may just be the most enlightening or educational.

So, the next time the thought “Nobody wants to read this on social media” comes across your mind, you can forget about it. With millions of people logging in every day to check out the latest content, countless people will enjoy what you have to say!

5 Reasons Why Social Media Marketing Works

By Christopher Tompkins

17Dec

Social Media

Social media marketing takes time, effort, and well-developed strategy. Over 50 million businesses found a home on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the other platforms. Social media now controls a large portion of internet activity and rightfully so.

With 2 billion people on Facebook alone, it’s safe to say there’s something to this whole internet marketing thing. Do you need further proof? Check out these reasons you need to jump on board TODAY:

It keeps a brand in customers’ sights. Social media users have fully integrated visiting their favorite platforms and pages into their everyday lives. The primary purpose of marketing is to have your message positioned where your audience congregates. It was the same when we put ads in magazines and commercials into prime time television shows. Now, marketers need to be on their computers, smartphones, and tablet screens via social media marketing. Seeing as how this is where people spend most of their time, it’s fair to say that it’s a good strategy.
It keeps a brand active against the competition. If you haven’t begun using social media yet, you can be sure your competition has. Do yourself a favor and check out what businesses are already benefiting from engagement and a strong online presence. After you’re done saying “They’re on there too?!,” You should probably sign up.
It keeps brands honest. The internet is full of wild lies and rumors, but social media gives a voice to the people. User-generated content, ratings, comments, tagging and other features allow customers and clients to speak their thoughts. As scary as this sounds this is good news for brands. Even negative comments give your business a time to shine by utilizing professional damage control methods.

It keeps a brand involved in the community. Because of just how popular social media has become, you need to show that you care about your customer base by participating. You can do this by delivering engaging posts via the avenue of communication your audience prefers. In essence, it is the same as community outreach which, as all professionals know, is amazing for PR.
It keeps a brand relevant. Social media has become so much more than “connecting with friends.” Many people now use these platforms to network and promote themselves, but also to learn about their industry. Opinion leaders post articles and news stories that are relevant to their work every day.

What can social media do for your brand? Contact us today and find out! Comment below!

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Last Minute Holiday Ideas For Social Media Marketing

By Christopher Tompkins

15Dec

Advertising, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized

Time is almost up. Santa has already planned out his course. Most gifts are wrapped. Many stores are already preparing for Valentine’s Day. While the holiday season is the prime time for marketers, it’s a very brief and time-centric period, so you need to act decisively and quickly.

If you haven’t touched on the holiday season in your content at all, you’re missing out on a nice heaping helping of customer engagement and brand awareness. Perhaps you have done a decent job covering the holiday season, but you’re looking for that extra festive flair for your Facebook, Twitter, and other accounts. Either way, you need to check out these content ideas that will help spark the holiday spirit:

1. Updated festive visuals – Add a Santa hat to your profile pic, a menorah to your cover image, flashing lights to your Snapchat Story. Above all, make sure your holiday-themed content has imagery.

2. Flash sale – It’s a bit too late to do a “12 days of deals” type deal. However, it’s still fair game for quick “limited time” social-media-exclusive sales. Make sure they’re worth people opening up their wallets for them because a lot of “wish lists” are complete!

3. Contests – Giveaways and prize draws are popular at any time of year, but especially during the holiday season. A big basket of merchandise or a larger grand prize will get people flocking to your page.

4. Eblasts – While not strictly speaking social media marketing, an e-mail marketing campaign is an effective and personable strategy content idea for reaching out during the holidays. Some services allow the ability to add variable data such as names, addresses, interests, etc.

5. Pics from the team – Whether you post (not embarrassing) pictures from your Christmas party or your team reaching out to the community for a volunteering event, this idea adds a healthy dose of humanity to any marketing campaign. This type of content, above all else, should be promo-free.

So, maybe the holiday season snuck up on you this year, or you’ve been grasping at straws for what to publish. Either way, the above ideas will help you finish off the holiday season on a high note so you can focus on the new year!

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Tap Into Your Customer’s Mind Through Social Media

By Christopher Tompkins

14Dec

Business, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized

What is a marketer’s job? To promote a business, right? No. Actually, it’s to be a mind reader. Every piece of data that we study, every update we publish, every advertisement we create, is all in an effort to create something that adheres to the customer’s mindset. This is why psychics would make such good marketers. However, we can’t tap into our audience’s minds, as nice as it would be. There is good news, though. We have the next best thing.

Social media allows us to study the public’s reaction to our marketing efforts. Never before has there been such an accurate and analytical marketing medium as this. Sure, we can have focus groups, polls, studies, and even articles written about traditional marketing efforts. Yet with social media marketing, we literally have the raw reactions to our strategies before us.

How exactly do we see this? The answer, like many social media related issues, lies in engagement. Obviously, if you’ve struck a chord with your followers, they will like, share, comment, retweet, upvote, message, and rate your content. If not, then your engagement may look a little desolate. That in no way means you have to give up, however. That just means you have to go back to the drawing board. Even successful marketers regularly restrategize.

As we’ve seen with events such as the Presidential Election and other significant events, people have no problem sharing their thoughts online. Comments are precious assets not only for marketing but how your business is perceived by your customers as a whole. Do yourself a favor and read the comments on your pages. You’ll be surprised at how much insight you can receive. Additionally, more innovative ways like Facebook Reactions and Quote Tweeting will further tap into your fans’ psyches.

Social media marketing gives us a “backstage pass” into your customers’ thinking. While we may not be able to see what they’re thinking exactly, their real and organic reactions speak wonders.

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The Top 5 Daily Habits For Social Media Marketers

By Christopher Tompkins

13Dec

Business, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Pinterest, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized

A morning routine is something that we all enjoy and need. It seems like our bodies go into auto-pilot mode as we brush our teeth, wash our face and prepare for the day. Habit, routine, and structure make for a successful day. This is the same for social media marketing work. Yet things go a little beyond brushing teeth in the world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the other platforms.

Here are 6 habits that every marketer should have in their routine.

1. Check out your competitors. It helps to be a spy. See how your top competitors and industry influencers approach marketing. Are they offering big discounts? Is their engagement down? Did they forget a holiday? See how you’re faring and see if there is anything inspiring out there.

2. Read an industry-centric article. Even in seemingly stagnant industries, there is always something new and powerful to read. It’s always helpful to read what people are saying about your industry. This will help you learn about new updates, trends, and alerts.

3. Read a marketing-centric article. Since you’re all caught up in your competitor’s activities and industry news, you need to learn the best ways to funnel these content ideas into the best way possible for your social media audience. Should you create videos? Lists? Contests? Check out the best marketing strategies happening right now!

4. Research trends.Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Feed.ly, and Google will all help you find out what people are talking about right now. Find a way to harness today’s hot topics into your social media strategy, whether it’s a holiday, event, or movement.

5. Check scheduled posts. Smart marketers know that automation will allow them to plan and focus on other important elements of social media marketing than scheduling. That being said, you need to make sure everything is being published correctly!

Are these five habits in your work routine? It’s important to keep a careful watch on what’s happening and what’s being posted. As you continue throughout your work week, you will find that these small steps will benefit you and your efforts in big ways.

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What Is LinkedIn SlideShare?

By Christopher Tompkins

12Dec

LinkedIn, Social Media

LinkedIn is all about marketing with your fellow professionals. It’s essentially the world’s biggest conference if you will. It’s one of the few social media platforms that didn’t branch out into areas that it was never intended for. LinkedIn is for serious networking, and that’s that. That being said, every now and again they come up with new and innovative ways to share your wealth of knowledge. That’s where SlideShare comes in.

SlideShare is a stand alone site, albeit one that works entirely through your LinkedIn profile. Here, users upload infographics, documents, and most importantly, slideshow presentations named slideshares with other professionals. There are tons of slideshares available for viewing on a multitude of subjects. Think of PowerPoint presentations on steroids. These are all shareable through LinkedIn. In fact, you’ve probably seen material from SlideShare if you’ve spent any time on the traditional LinkedIn site.

Similar to a blog’s purpose, a slideshare presentation allows businesses to express their thoughts and knowledge via original or shared content. After spending a few moments on SlideShare, you will realize that this new medium of information delivery has a lot of potential because it strikes a poignant balance between text and visuals. It’s also a tad bit more digestible than infographics, but those can also be acquired through this site.

Who says the days of the slideshow are behind us? It just needed a facelift, that’s all. LinkedIn was the platform for the job, as we’re able to now consume a dense amount of information in an innovate fashion. Marketers should consider SlideShare a great tool in their social media utility belt.

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5 New Facebook Features You Need To Know

By Christopher Tompkins

11Dec

Advertising, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized

Sure, Facebook is just a website, but because it reflects its 2 billion users, it’s also a living, breathing organism that evolves over time. Because of this, those who run the platform continuously update both their desktop and mobile versions.

1. Facebook Discover – Once again, the king of social media takes notes from the new kid in town. They’ve created this new feature which allows users to see newsworthy stories, trends, and profiles just like Snapchat’s similarly-named section.

2. Facebook mobile’s new video section – The analysts were right. Many people predicted Facebook would have a new mobile section for video and it’s prominently placed right next to our traditional timelines. Take note marketers, your videos will get more attention now more than ever.

3. Facebook Workplace –The social media giant is getting down to business. Workplace is an enterprise collaboration app that is magic for both social media marketers and professionals of any industry. To combat the hugely popular programs Basecamp, Slack, and HipChat, they’ve created this software in hopes their already huge brand will expand. Now any office can utilize Facebook when they’re working with their teammates.

4. Chatbots –Chatbots are huge right now and are taking over Facebook Messenger. It’s a new way to communicate with a brand. While you won’t be talking to a human, you can purchase items, get caught up on news, ask support questions, and more. It’s definitely worth looking into for your own business.

5. Facebook Reactions – This new feature has been around for a little while, but some marketers don’t realize the new opportunities Reactions bring. This tool is especially useful for polls, contests, and other engagement-heavy content. Send a “like” for option A, a “Haha” emoji for option B, and etc.

Like Google, Facebook is trying to branch out in just about everything. Social media is an important facet of our everyday lives both personally and professionally. As we can see, these updates are evolving our experiences and as such, so should our strategies.

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