6 Ways To Gather Feedback From Your Social Media Fans

6Nov

Advertising, Copywriting, Facebook, Instagram, Marketing, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized, Video, YouTube

“We value your opinion!” We’ve all heard that one before. Sometimes, we just don’t have time to bother with providing feedback to companies. Thankfully, social media allows some convenient and even fun ways for consumers to give their opinion. Check out these ways you can gather tons of info to analyze.

1. Polls. There’s no easier way to get the feedback your team is looking for than to ask for it! Whether the options in the poll are “Yes,” “No,” “Maybe” or options “A,” “B,” or “C,” many marketers feel this is one of the most efficient routes.

2. Contests. Of course, incentives go a long way. You can ask for some feedback, and in turn, they are entering for a chance to win a prize. The prize doesn’t even need to be extravagant, but perhaps one of your products or gift cards to a service your company provides.

3. Inquiries. Once your following starts to grow, you can publish posts that will drum up conversations. After all, we are trying to create engagement, and someone needs to break the ice first!

4. Announcements. As always, there is the ever-popular comment section. When you make an announcement, whether it’s a new product or change in policy, check out people’s reactions through comments, likes, rants, cheers, emojis, etc.

5. Live Video Q & As. Lately, businesses have been getting a lot of feedback by hosting Q&A sections via live video services such as Facebook Live, Periscope, and YouTube Live. As your broadcast streams, you can read what everyone is saying in the comment section.

6. Custom Hashtags. Hashtags are still an excellent way to hone in on specific information. People will use hashtags for everything they’re talking about even if it’s in a negative light. If you want people to talk about your product, provide a hashtag that corresponds with your brand.

People love to talk on social media. Whether it’s about a positive or negative experience, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms have become a sounding board for opinions, thoughts, and feedback. Use this to your business’s advantage!

Click Here to Subscribe

What Marketers Can Learn From Vine’s Failure

By Christopher Tompkins

5Nov

Advertising, Copywriting, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Live Video, Marketing, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized, Video, YouTube

In 2013, an odd little app named Vine popped up on the App Store. A few months later, it was bought by social media giant Twitter. That’s when Vine started to explode. Users were able to share 6 second long videos to their friends, and soon it became a medium of its own. Now in 2016, Vine announced its days are numbered. So, what happened?

Vine could have been one of the big platforms. It certainly was on its way. But there was a problem with it – it turned into a gimmick. Social media marketers seemed to skirt around the platform and stick to the proven formulas such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. But what actually happened with Vine was it failed to adapt, compete, and read the signs of the market. It neglected to fight two contenders – Snapchat and Instagram.

Vine could have been what Snapchat is and will become. It’s a powerful tool, sure. But it didn’t cater to the general public, and more importantly, businesses. It stuck to creating funny memes, video clips, and was a testing ground for fledgling YouTubers. But it didn’t expand its service. Those six-second snippets were all it had. We’ve seen with Snapchat and Instagram the need for platforms to adapt, just like marketers do.

Just like those who run these fantastic sites, marketers can’t be in a bubble. You need to see what your competition is doing, what the consumer wants, and adjust accordingly. It’s fine to have a niche, but to be bull-headed is something else entirely.

As a majority of social media marketing experts understand, video is a dominating force and will continue to be in 2017. That’s why you need to forge your marketing strategy in a way that it incorporates what people want. Never forget – people CHOOSE to see your content. You want them to be enticed.

While video is one of the ways of the future, Vine will not be included in that grand vision. While Snapchat reaches new levels of potential, Vine failed to be versatile and appeal to a broad audience. Don’t make the same mistake as a marketer! Learn to adapt!

Don’t end up like Vine. Contact us today to make sure you stay on top!

Click Here to Subscribe

5 Unlikely Industries That Excel At Social Media Marketing

By Christopher Tompkins

5-Unlikely-Industries-That-Excels-At-Social-Media-Marketing-1-200x300

3Nov

Business, Copywriting, Email Marketing, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Periscope, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized

When we say social media marketing applies to any business, we mean ANY business. Still, some professionals don’t feel their industry fits this progressive marketing’s mold. It’s time to wake up!

Are you a professional in one of the following fields and refuse to use social media for business? Check out the ways social media marketing can work for you.

Realtors.The internet is a miracle worker for real estate agents. From Zillow to Trulia, houses close in a snap these days. While this is great news, Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms have the potential to help in a more human and personable way and compliment your Zillow activity as opposed to replacing it. Post your current inventory, share success stories, keep people informed about the current housing market climate. It’s the perfect tool for communication!

Mom and Pop Retail Shop Owners.Just because your company may be more traditional in nature doesn’t mean there isn’t room for social media. Post web-exclusive sales, new merchandise, fun and entertaining content, and of course holiday greetings to your customers.

Restaurant Owners.Yelp and other review-centric sites have made the internet a useful tool. Unfortunately, Yelp doesn’t allow the restaurant to have a voice of its own. That’s why you need a Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Post those lovely food pics, share your specials, but most importantly, these platforms allow a place for user-generated content. People can post their positive experiences, reviews, and their own platter pics. The best part is, you can closely monitor what people are saying. Whether you have a pizza shop on the boardwalk or a downtown bistro, there’s a seat for you on social media.

Financial Advisors.Finance may not be the most visually-appealing of industries, but without a doubt, social media marketing is a great place for client connectivity. Post free advice, tips, news, and more. Overall, it’s essential to have the communication lines open.

Charities. A charitable organization is all about spreading the word, right? Social media marketing is the perfect tool for this. Raising awareness about your cause has never been easier with the help of Facebook events, live video, success stories, testimonials, and so much more. We work with several charitable organizations, and we’re proud to say that we helped raise funding for extremely important causes.

No matter what your industry is, social media can help raise brand awareness, credibility, and establish an extraordinary online presence.

Are you unsure about how to begin? Contact us today to learn about our consultation packages!

Click Here to Subscribe

Today’s Top Apps To Help Social Media Marketers

By Christopher Tompkins

2Nov

Advertising, Business, Copywriting, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Pinterest, Politics, Reddit, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized, Website Design

The industry of mobile apps is one of the most thriving aspects of software development in our current time. The sheer versatility that an app can possess seems almost infinite. It transforms our tablets and smartphones into gaming platforms, televisions, digital assistants, and so much more. It’s more than just playing Angry Birds and watching Netflix anymore. It’s about enhancing the most crucial aspects of our lives.

For social media managers, the App Store and Google Play stores are saving graces. If there’s something we cannot do with our basic tools, we can download one in no time. While I’ve written about popular apps before, it’s always good to stroll the digital aisles and see what new tools our fellow marketers can utilize now. So, as 2016 reaches its twilight days and the holiday season is revving its engines, let’s see what’s available for our online conquests.

1. Slack. A marketing team is all about communication. However, communication is also needed amongst the team as well. Slack can help your employees keep in touch and tackle the toughest parts of the work day. Consider it a social media network, exclusively for your business!

2. LinkedIn Recruiter. If you’re using LinkedIn for one of its primary functions, to create a professional network, you might be able to enlist the best and the brightest new employees through LinkedIn Recruiter. It’s a new service that the “newly-acquired-by-Microsoft” platform is pushing heavily, but it might actually come in handy for those trying to generate a workforce through marketing efforts.

3. Facebook Pages Manager. Let’s face it, the world is only getting more mobile. Social media is helping with this process. Facebook Pages Manager helps us well, manage our Facebook pages. Simple enough right? This stand-alone app is solely dedicated to business professionals and helps us focus on the practical side of social media. You’ll now have to switch apps to be disrupted by your friend’s fun videos and rants about the election.

4. TypiMage. Now for some visual aids. It’s important to tweak your visual aid strategy regularly. You don’t want your pictures to get stale. TypiMage sees the need for a balance of text and images in social media posts and allows you to create stunning images with a unique catalog of typography effects. Get ready to get put your creative hat on.

5. Polarr Photo Editor. Of course, Adobe Photoshop will always be one of the top names in the photo editing and graphic design industries. That being said, the world of apps has certainly given the expensive software a run for its money. Polarr allows users to tweak photos so the subject matter is in the best possible light (or filter, or color saturation, or, well, you get the idea).

The app industry won’t be stopping anytime soon. As long as we’re still going gaga for smartphones and tablets, apps will be in demand. Social media marketers should smile about this fact and that there are so many apps to choose from in so many categories that we need to do our research to learn which of the millions are worth the download. These programs that people pour countless man hours into are available for either free or inexpensive, so start experimenting!

No time to fiddle with these apps? Come to us! Every week, our managers study new strategies, and this includes apps, websites, and new tools to make our client’s campaigns the best possible!

Click Here to Subscribe

The 5 Essential Steps To Social Media Images

By Christopher Tompkins

1Nov

Graphic Design, Social Media

Balance. Not a word that people often associate with social media marketing, but in reality, it’s one of the most important elements of a successful strategy. Just like a meditating monk or a juggler, balance is essential.

But what is there to balance? For one thing, the balance of visual tools and text. One cannot live without the other in the world of social media marketing. Now that Twitter no longer counts imagery against its 140 character count, there is no excuse for not using imagery. That being said, you need quality pics, videos, and GIFs. The following are the best approaches to social media visuals.

1. Platform logistics. I bet you thought we were going to get all creative didn’t you? Well, that comes later. First, you need to know the dimensions each platform requires. Pinterest images are better if laid out vertically, while Instagram prefers squared images. For full details about what size every image should be, check out our article on the subject here.

2. Eye-Catching Material. Sure, it’s easy to say “make your images eye-catching,” but how do you actually accomplish this?

First, choose an appropriate subject matter. Whether it’s a model, a plate of gourmet food, or a mechanic smiling next to a newly-repaired pickup, have an image that makes people interested and represents what the post is about.

Secondly, make sure the image is high-quality. No blurry photos! Low-resolution photographs or graphics will make your company look like amateurs.

Finally, whether you’re using image editing software or you’re going the “no filter” route, make sure your images have bold colors, snappy text where applicable, and simple, albeit iconic, message.

3. Collage, Slideshows, and More. If you’re going with the static image route, you have a few opportunities to spice things up. Add multiple images to a collage or slideshow to appeal to our media-hungry senses. You can also add music and special effects to images via certain third-party apps. When dealing with Snapchat and Instagram, utilize the array of tools that they’ve already given you!

4. Videos and GIFs. As any social media marketer will tell you, video content is on the rise. 2016 witnessed many software developers trying to take advantage of the video craze. Do you lack a certain Spielberg quality to filmmaking techniques? No worries! You can create a hybrid of sorts with pictures, text, and effects thanks to video editing software like Ripl or Viva Video.

5. Live Video. Are you ready to take the ultimate leap into truly engaging visuals? Nothing pulls followers in an interactive and live video session between you and your customers. Periscope, Facebook Live, and now YouTube allow businesses to connect with their fans in this phenomenal way. You can answer questions on the spot, showcase new products, and much more.

These five steps are proven methods to drum up more engagement by staying in touch with contemporary practices. So, you want a balance between text and imagery? Here’s your path to image excellence. For the best way to get the best written-word, check out this blog!

Click Here to Subscribe

Why Social Media Marketing Makes Your Company Contemporary

By Christopher Tompkins

31Oct

Social Media

Remember when we all thought that the future would have flying cars, robot butlers, and pneumatic tubes everywhere? It looks like the Jetsons were a tad off. Instead, we’re working with the thinnest, sleekest, and fastest phones, computers, and tablets. What does all of it have in common? The internet. Heck, even our refrigerators and cars have internet access now.

The world wide web is a defining factor of not only this decade, but our generation. The ways in which we work, communicate, play, and connect has been reshaped into a more convenient and intelligent form. However, one most significant aspect of our lives that has changed is marketing. Is your business with the times?

In today’s age, a mass majority of businesses are on social media in one aspect or another. Whether we’re talking about Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, or LinkedIn, social media, in a nutshell, has become the central hub for internet users. This is why over 50 million businesses have signed up to Facebook alone. They’re going where the people roam.To have a business profile on social media means your business is not under a rock. Instead, you’re making an effort to connect with customers in a way they love. It’s not just about promotions. It’s about being a part of the community.

Social media has become the go-to place for communication. Whether it’s spreading awareness about events, promotions, news, personal updates, etc. This is the place where people go now. When you add the marketing aspect to it, businesses can reap the rewards of social media’s popularity. Even though there aren’t the retro-futuristic gadgets we all thought we would have by now, social media marketing is pretty fantastic.

Click Here to Subscribe

# Marks The Spot: How To Hunt For Social Media Content

By Christopher Tompkins

30Oct

Advertising, Business, Copywriting, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Marketing, Periscope, Pinterest, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized, Video

At times, social media marketing may feel like a treasure hunt without the map. That golden piece of content to like, share, and expand upon tends to be difficult to find without the right tools. But this isn’t a reason to give up. On the contrary, this content will help shape your marketing strategy for the better, so you need to track it down! Check out the best places and avenues to find content that’s not only relevant to your industry but highly engaging.

Reputable sources. Whether the news source is industry-specific or a dedicated news station like CNBC or Huffington Post, a prominent, respectable name is always a great place to search for content. It will validate the article’s reputability and bring a sense of professionalism to your brand.

Content delivery systems. Sure, technically Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are awesome sources for news, but there are times when you need to hone in on a particular subject matter or filter out unnecessary posts. That’s why there are tools like Feedly, Nuzzel, and Daily by Buffer to help you weed through the internet mess to the most trending topics and articles.

Social media managing tools. Hootsuite and Buffer are places to schedule, analyze, and publish content, but you can also use handy tools to filter tweets, updates, and posts by keyword, hashtags, or accounts.

Blogs. There are many blogs out there that are powered by industry influencers and experienced experts. A quick Google search could open a brand new world to relevant and reliable sites that you can regularly check for content.

Google Alerts. Finally, the internet can be wrangled into one nice blast to your email thanks to Google Alerts. Set up a few alerts for your most important subjects and just wait for the content to come flowing every day. I would suggest to only set up a few because that will be enough to keep your inbox from erupting but you will still get a plethora of content and ultimately, inspiration.

There’s no reason to be lost on your content treasure hunt. In reality, there is so much material for every possible subject matter that you will have to weed through good articles to choose which one works best for you!

What about original content? Contact us today to learn how our experts can create content for you that other businesses will want to share!

How To Fight Social Media Marketing Doppelgangers

By Christopher Tompkins

How-To-Fight-Social-Media-Dopplegangers-200x300

29Oct

Advertising, Business, Copywriting, Email Marketing, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Local Marketing, Marketing, Snapchat, Social Media, Social networking, Twitter, Uncategorized

We were asked what to do if someone tries to impersonate your business on social media. While it’s a frightening thought, it’s easily resolved.

Your social media manager poured tons of effort into your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account. They carefully optimized the page with all the ins and outs of your business, posted engaging content, and uploaded professional quality imagery. Then one day, you go online to see another version of your company’s account lurking about.

The profile picture is the same, even the name and profile information match. But it’s not yours. Instead, there are spams and scams and inappropriate content congesting this profile’s news feed. It seems there’s an evil twin of yours online. What is there to do?

The mere existence of this fake account is a threat to your social media marketing efforts. As soon as you discover the account, report it to the authorities immediately. Whether you are on Facebook, Twitter, etc. The powers that be will be able to pursue the perpetrator. While it’s more common to see this in personal profiles, it’s certainly possible for scam artists to copy a business as well. Make sure you have proof that you represent the real business, which will make things go a lot smoother.

In addition to fake accounts, there is always the possibility of someone publishing your content as their own. While this is entirely unnecessary thanks to sharing, retweeting, quote-tweeting, etc., it still happens from time to time. If this happens, prepare to defend your well thought out content.

If you see that this is a real person and not just a spammy account, email them directly before taking more serious action. Politely ask them to remove your content. If they comply, the issue is over. If not, you need to inform the authorities.

Take plenty of screenshots and be sure to include the dates and times of when your original post was published. Contact Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or whatever platform you use. Each site has a comprehensive and responsive team that does not take these situations lightly.

Don’t think that not participating in social media marketing at all is the answer. In fact, you are more susceptible. Having no social media activity means you won’t know if there is a copycat online. Secondly, you will have no real profile to call the real one. Don’t be vulnerable to scams.

Social media marketing provides a new level of online recognition. Every now and again, there will be someone who tries to abuse the system. Luckily, the resolution to this situation is easy and fixable so you can keep on marketing.

Our clients have nothing to worry about. Our attentive social media marketing team scans the internet for any sign of trouble. If it ever occurs, we strike it down immediately. Are you looking for effective and secure social media marketing? Contact us today to see how we can help!

Click Here to Subscribe

Build Up Your Flock: 5 Ways To Be The Top Bird On Twitter

By Christopher Tompkins

27Oct

Advertising, Business, Copywriting, Social Media, Social networking, Tailwind, Twitter, Uncategorized

Since its incarnation in 2006, Twitter has become a major social media marketing staple. Few businesses use social media for marketing without utilizing the microblogging platform. We call it “microblogging” because it mainly performs the feature of a regular blog, only at a microscopic scale. Are you able to tell your story with 140 characters or less?

Twitter is the place for speed, efficiency, and effectivity. You need to hit your readers hard and don’t let them forget it! Are you looking for the best ways to approach the platform that has over 310 million users?

1. Use an Image – EVERY TIME. Good news! Twitter no longer counts visual media against a tweet’s 140 characters. Because of this new advantage, you have no reason for a bland, image-less tweet. None. Make sure you incorporate eye-catching imagery, so people hone in on your update.

2. Analyze trends. Twitter is the king of current events. As such, incorporate contemporary happenings into your content. While treading controversial waters can leave you burned, there’s plenty of positive, unbiased news you can use.

3. Call Upon Your Team. The beginning of a successful social media marketing campaign is your team’s efforts. Ask them to help your marketers promote their brand with their own following. Their genuine marketing efforts can go a long way.

4. Consistency. There are several social media poisons. Radio silence is one of the worse. NEVER let more than two days go without a post. People will quickly move along to the next best thing.

5. Make Your Tweets Self-Contained. A common trend in the Twitterverse is to tell a longer story in a series of tweets. This is a big no-no. What happens if one of your tweets is read out of context? “(cont’d)We would love to see you there! Make sure to come early so you get a good spot so you can see…” Do you want something like that popping up on your feed? It’s against the laws of Twitter.

6. Promoted and Sponsored Tweets. There are paid options available on Twitter to give your marketing an extra boost. Once you have a grasp on how Twitter works, advertising is the next natural level.

7. Study Data. Don’t be a dodo. Study your current performance and see how you can improve. Is news related content doing better than promos? Maybe videos are getting more attention (they most likely are). You won’t ever know if you don’t look at your data at least once a week.

As you can see, Twitter is a bit like chess – easy to learn, hard to master. At the Go! Agency, our social media experts handle over 100 Twitter accounts for clients. Contact us today to discover how our expertise will land your company on cloud nine!

Click Here to Subscribe

Is Your Social Media Marketing Falling On Deaf Ears? Focus Your Reach!

By Christopher Tompkins

31Aug

Advertising, Social Media

Social media marketing is about spreading your word as far and wide as possible, right? What if we told you that your business would actually benefit from a more focused audience? There’s something to be said about quality over quantity in the world of social media marketing.

Think about a simple social media post, whether on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Obviously, you want a lot of people to read this content. But in reality, if you make the update too broad, your content will fall on a lot of deaf ears. If you don’t make it focused and narrowed to cater to your target audience (which is actually your target customers), the wrong people may read it. Sure, the more the merrier, but uninterested people probably will just keep scrolling through their news feed and forget all about that post or advertisement.

How do you really sharpen your scope? There are several different approaches to making sure the right people are reading your marketing masterpieces.

If using Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, always be sure to use hashtags. These are essentially digital homing beacons that will attract people looking for material centered around its subject. Even if your platform of choice doesn’t allow hashtags, (i.e. LinkedIn, Pinterest) you can still write your updates in a way that clearly designates the demographic you’re trying to reach.

Successful social media marketers also understand the importance of content curation. Share relevant news stories and web content that pertain to the interest of your target demographic. This can be an industry update or even something lighthearted. Either way, make sure your followers will want to read it.

Advertising is another way you can be sure the right people are reading your content. Facebook and other platforms offer a wide variety of options so your advertisements, boosted posts, and sponsored content land on the screens of the people who would enjoy the ad instead of thinking it’s a nuisance.

Unsure of who exactly should read your social media content? You better go back to your business’ mission statement. Who is your product or service aimed towards? Every business has a target audience, even if you don’t know it. When it comes down to it, ask yourself who buys your products? When you have the answer, you will also have the same people you should market towards via social media.

Yes, it’s important to spread your brand to as many people as possible. However, if you aren’t focusing on your target audience, there’s no point!

How do you focus your social media marketing content? Comment below!

Tag : social media 101