These three are all you need to understand. Facebook is huge, learn it, use it and adapt with it!
1. 93% of adult US Internet users are on Facebook. source: BlogHer, April 2011
2. One out of every eight minutes online is spent on Facebook. source: ComScore, February 2011
3.The average Facebook user spends more than 11 hours per month on Facebook. sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2010 & Facebook Press Room, 2011
ShortStack App for Facebook Promotions
I just finished a webinar on making Facebook Promotions. I have promoted this company before but was so excited about this tool I had to write another quick tip on Facebook Promotions. The Company Shortstack based out of Northern Nevada has developed an easy to use promotion and I-Frame tool that I believe everyone could run and use with little to no training.
Their tool event comes with Data base management if you are willing to pay a small monthly service charge. They have Free services and if you are a small business looking to find less than 2500 fans locally you can use their service for under $10 a month.
Check out their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/shortstacklab
Facebook is becoming easier for businesses to use everyday. And companies such as ShortStack are leading the way.
Have fun designing and promoting.
Image via Wikipedia
This week has been very interesting for me in following news on several athletes which have found themselves in trouble using social media. R. Mendenhall of the Steelers is probably the one that most are familiar with this week, with his commits on Bin Ladin which cost him thousands of fans, endorsement deals etc…
But there are several others. It has me thinking, will social media eventually lose out to traditional media because of its dangers to the rich and famous?
A with most things Social Media could easily drive personal name value for all Rich, Famous, Talented, to the point where they make even bigger profits on their names, so I see why social media would be attractive.
However, In the past year we have seen multiple cases where social media has crippled or harmed someones reputation because they put an honest opinion out for the world to see in social media. We have become a society where honesty is not valued and respected but is something to be torn down and ridiculed when it deals with the lives of our rich and famous.
Rashard Mendenhall, spoke his mind honestly, we might disagree with him, but does that give us the right to destroy him? Because he is rich and famous is our jealousy clouding our better judgement, and are we tearing down a man, not because of his opinions but because we see opportunity to make ourselves feel more valued?
At times I admit I hear of Athletes or Movie Star tweets and think what a fool they are to opening there thoughts to the world to see. Often, I think they are brilliant and understand that even bad press can build value in their brand. And let’s not kid ourselves here, this is all about branding and value of brands. With the incredible incomes athletes and movie stars can make every thing they do is about brand. So they have some responsibility to take in knowing every word they display and every reaction they have is influencing the value of their brand.
So back to my question, will social media eventually lose ground, because the risk of Brand Value losses is too great when left to the viral nature of the web? Or will Social media become a forum of false statements and opinions in order to deceive a public opinion to favor the brand value? Will Social Media become what Fox News is and only serve their purpose and agendas to their select audience?
I would love to hear your opinion on this? What is the Future of our Social Voice?
Image via Wikipedia
One of my favorite sports events will take place in less than a week, The NFL Draft. As I sit here today wondering if my team will trade up to get that special player or draft safe and stay on the path laid out before it, I started building an idea for this Blog.
What if all the marketing tools and vehicles were laid out before you in a draft format and you and your competitors had to draft your marketing tools and team? Which tools and resources would be crucial for you to draft a winning team and strategy for your run to success. Ok this is not going to be one of those top five lists that fits everyone. But Maybe you can find some fun and humor in thinking outside the box for a minute.
So here are the rules:
You and your top four competitors have to draft from the same pool of Marketing Tools and vehicles to market your company’s website. You Get the first pick but assume your competitors think similarly to you and they get your next three top tools. You get the fourth pick ect until all the tools are gone. Want to give it a go?
Here is your list of Draft Prospects:
Ok that is the list for this Draft. You can’t have everything. Your job is to pick eight vehicles for your marketing plan. Once again to play fairly you must assume your list is identical to your competitors so you only get a pick every four selections (1,5,9,13,17,21,25,29)
So what is your Draft board look like.
Here is mine without explanation :
1)Blog
2)Facebook PPC
3) SMS TEXT marketing
4) Direct Mail Post Cards
5)Yext Tags
6)Newspaper
7)Web Ads
8)Web Directories
Ok send me your draft list – lets see your strategy. Have some fun.
I read a great blog today written by Wendy Bryant, on Social Media Today blog post. She was discussing her feelings on Social Media and the word a lot of business owners and managers forget in that statement “Marketing”. The summary below I believe sums up all the hype better than anything I have read to date. Maybe because like so many others she is not selling me anything, she is trying to offer good sound advice. Great work Wendy
What’s the lesson here? Human connection. This brand did not solve my problem online; they took it offline and used good old, fashioned customer service. They wowed me. I felt appreciated and my faith in that brand was restored. Remember, you are on social to connect, connect and re-connect. It’s going to be good and bad. Be prepared. Be willing to acknowledge your mistakes, fix problems and help your clients. That’s what every business does: makes their customers happy. I don’t care if you’re a B2B or B2C company—get over it. We all have customers and we all have to make them happy.
Back to my opening comment, social media is part of the marketing mix. Say that with me.
Once you start thinking about social media this way your perspective will change. I agree with Doug Stephens of Retail Prophet, social media won’t save your business. You’ve got to look deep inside your company and figure out what’s right for you. If your brand is suffering fix it. Social media isn’t going to fix it. Social media doesn’t replace all your traditional media; it enhances, enriches and connects you in a way you’ve never been connected before. Get ready because it’s not going away and will continue to evolve.
via Say it with Me: Social Media is Part of Marketing | Social Media Today.
Charlie Pankey 