Social Media Darwinism The world is irretrievably social. If you combine the Eli Pariser’s “Filter Bubbles” with how social media is becoming a search engine you will understand how your online branding and marketing can win and win big.
This article covers the best Twitter tools to use in 2015 for getting better marketing results. If you want to get the most out of this year: click now!
Great list of "new to me" Twitter tools. Twitter is the "radio of the web" and so indispensable to an online marketing strategy. Content evolves, changes and spins. As it does so always good idea to share the latest revolutions on Twitter.
Just don't forget to curate content from from other trusted sources related to your brands and don't push too hard. Twitter is like water - hard to hold in your hand and always flowing downstream.
When hundreds of thousands of Tweets are fired every second, a one-in-a-million chance — including unlikely sounding sounding scenarios that could harm users...
Martin (Marty) Smith's insight:
When a 1 in a million thing happens 500 times a day, there are not 500,000,000 tweets a day, you have to think in scale as Del Harvey explains in her excellent TED Talk. Community demands a proactive stance or, as Harvey explains, having someone think about and prevent catastrophe.
"I pause and think, how could all of this go horribly wrong?" The idea of visualizing catastrophe is a must when one in a million happens 500 times a day.
Great example of how a community manager must think "in scale" and create "smart protections" that help without hindering.
Whether you use them for reaching potential customers, interact with people, or to generate content, Social Media is a power tool for businesses. Check out some of the most popular online networks and how much of an impact they each have.
Marty Note Love being able to compare key metrics across social nets.Wish they had stayed with the SAME metric for time on site throughout however. They switch from days to months and that makes Instragam appear as if it has more time on site than Facebook (it doesn't).
These figures displayed in the infographic help show just how powerful social media sites are. Unsurprisingly Facebook has one of the highest amount of users which could suggest when it comes to an IMC program and using social media, Facebook should be strongly taken into consideration alongside the other platforms shown in this infographic.
Social Media Snob Test The purpose of social media is to connect, to BE SOCIAL. Better to NOT be on social media than to be on social and look like an arrogant snob. Not being on social can be forgiven. Being a snob in this day an age is difficult to forgie.
You Know Your Company Is A Social Media Snob If...
* You follow less than 50% of your Twitter followers. - Following a tiny % of your followers is the ultimate snobbery because it limits communication (you can't DM unless you follow) and you can't REWARD unless you follow. - When an expert in your area with 10x the following as your company has (at the moment) follows you FOLLOW THEM BACK!!
* You company doesn't Retweet. - When you Retweet you share someone's take. You are saying, "this is good enough to share" and that statement is a reward and and a way to "mentor" your space.
* Your company doesn't respond to @yourcompany notes. - Not responding in a timely way to @yourcompany notes is an EPIC customer service fail.
* Your company isn't on GPlus. - Time to come in for the big win AND Gplus is the most disruptive social net because of its proximity to high yield SEO (duy its GOOGLE) and most business verticals are nascent on GPlus because there is a learning curve.
* Your company isn't having conversations. - If you are still using social media to push messages without listening and responding you look either clueless or a snob (and neither of those are good).
* Your Company isn't on Instagram or Pinterest. - Marketing communication is becoming highly visual so to not be on either Instragram or Pinterest is snobby since it feels like insisting we continue to do things the old "talk about ourselves to ourselves" way.
* Your company isn't creating video. - Video is highly widget-ized and so easy to share content. Video is also a more universal language. I may not speak english but video, done right, can be a cross cultural tool.
* Your company[s SMM is highly scripted. - Days of scripting every interaction with customers is long gone.
Don't be a social media snob either by intention or ignorance because being a SNOB on social media is the wrong signal to send...always.
In Europa werden 47% der Inhalte allein über Facebook geteilt, hinzu kommen noch mal 45% über Twitter. Den Rest teilen sich Google+, LinkedIn und -syurpriz (russ.: Überraschung)- VKontakt, das russische Social Network. Pinterest - obwohl es in USA bereits eine sehr große Rolle spielt - ist im Rest der Welt noch nicht so verbreitet.
Being able to produce a “viral sensation” on social media may seem like magic, but Twitter hopes to uncover the secret sauce behind the world’s more viral tweets. The question is, can you really boil down “going viral” to an algorithm?
Predicting virality, however, is not as easy as looking at how many retweets a tweet is getting and assuming it will “go viral”. Just think about Gangnam Style… who could have ever predicted how far and wide this infectious pop phenomenon would travel? And plenty of marketing firms have spent top dollar on YouTube videos with all the elements of “virality” – like cute cats, memes and hipster-cool spokespeople – only to have them flop.
Plus, there are different degrees of online virality. Some videos, photos and other content seem to bubble to the collective surface of the internet – again, think Gangnam. I bet even your grandma would recognize the tune. But other forms of virality exist, and might be even more important. What’s hot among my peers or colleagues would probably hold my attention longer than a generic trend, and I’d consider it more valuable to be able to tap into what’s “going viral” in my own network.
Viral On Demand The Holy Grail of content marketing is finding the "vial" formula. Viral is so context specific and context changes so fast even knowing the components guarantee nothing.
Can Twitter's experiments produce viral on demand? Doubtful because the variables, both known and unknown, conscious and subconscious are vast and their combination highly variable in TIME.
Can Twitter know what Tweets are most likely to blow up? This seems a more achievable goal, one the experimenter (Twitter) could certainly influence WHAT content could climb.
Ultimately we are all on this journey as we watch analytics and attempt to find the "magic formula" of converting content. Wish Twitter well in their secret search for viral on demand but, much like the Grail, think they will end up realizing you can't get there from here.
Working with great cancer research centers on our new crowdfunding cancer research website (http://www.CureCancerStarter.org) is helping me slow down long enough to think about what works on social media. Nothing like having to explain things you do in automatic-mode to help examine marketing process.
After creating more than 20,000 Tweets I've noticed the kinds of tweets that are more likely to be shared and they fall into three groups:
* What's Happening NOW. * Action verb tweets.
* Q&A Tweets.
NOW The web only has one TIME and it is always NOW. Twitter is like the radio of the web. If something cool is happening NOW such as a Google Hangout or a revolution in Egypt Tweet it.
Action Verbs See, Watch, Share, Learn and Listen are action verbs. Action verbs at the beginning of a Tweet are like an alert. Sometimes I use all CAPS for emphasis (but that can wear thin fast). You can also make a word that isn't typically an "action" verb have action-like qualities. AND Then He Tweeted This... makes AND an "action verb" because something seems to have just happened.
Q&A Questions are my favorite ways to tweet. Sometimes I use Q: What Is The Question of the Day A: Answer (asking and answer my own question). Answering my questions is helpful but not a conversation. I use this tactic to make specific points that benefit from sounding like a question and answer when they really aren't. This format makes lecturing sound less like lecturing (lol).
This morning I Tweeted:
gel electrophoresis? @RoswellPark Dr. Fenstermaker Explains [VIDEO]
Love this kind of question where an ACTION (visiting the link) provides the answer especially when the answer can be attained by watching a video. I also like being VERY clear about visual support so put [VIDEO} in all caps and off by itself. Do the same treatment with Infographics, Study and Report.
Questions are great ways to encourage engagement and feedback too. I ask TWITTER questions about vendors, software and ideas all the time. By "asking Twitter" I mean that I pose the question with a hashtag and see who responds.
Social media is one of those things that businesses of all sizes know that they need to do, but they are not really sure how to do it, where they can find the time to do it, or if they are willing to pay someone else to do it.
Okay, people are all-eyes-and-ears on social media. But attention doesn’t always equate to productivity. So is it really working?
Martin (Marty) Smith's insight:
We will know we are truly THERE when there isn't a need for an article like this, an article that sings social media's praise as if it was needed. Sad thing is we still need reassurance.
It is as if we can't get comfortable with what is clear and right in front of us. The old ways are more than gone they are all but fogotten. The new ways are here and have been for longer than most realize.
Net effect? We will know we've successfully arrived at NOW when we no longer have a need for an article like this until then read away.
Fast Company posted that Twitter will follow Facebook's lead and use the links you share and keywords you type to tighten their advertising sweater around you.
Web 3.0 is going to be the intersection of predictive analytics with social shares so expect more of this kind of algorithmic tightening. Every now and again I try to toss in a search or a tweet that is totally rogue just to drive the profiling algorithms watching my every move a little crazy :).
Twitter For SMBs Twitter Basics for SMBs shares 7 quick tips to improve your Twitter tribe making skills. Building online community is crucial, so follow these 7 tips:
In terms of granular targeting of your messaging, few platforms are more effective than Twitter. Using its various advertising tools, you can boost your posts to place them in front of your targeted demographics, create a trending hashtag, or even target users who are watching a particular piece of live television programming.
Martin (Marty) Smith's insight:
Great insight here in how to use Twitter and Twitter's tools to get your landing pages in front of the buyers you've been looking for.
Scoop.it Use: 3 Years GPlus: 2 Years Haiku Deck Use: 1 Year
Content Created Scoops: 6,716 Tweets: 17,300 Haiku Decks: 38 Google Plus: 2,000 (estimate)
Following
Scoop.it: 34,000 Twitter: 5,355 GPlus: 4,397
Haiku Deck: Doesn't Offer Yet (have talked to them about this)
Caveat If your Apples to Oranges warning light is on we agree. There are so many variables with one of the variables being how each of these tools helps the others so comparison is somewhat moot.
That said here are some random thoughts about each social media / content marketing tool:
Twitter = Frustration Twitter is always 3 steps forward and 2 back. Each day @Scenttrail (http://www.twitter.com/scenttrail) and @Curagaqmi (http://www.twitter.com/curagami )gain and lose followers. Engagement is limited in this kind of "fire hose" marketing and for every 3 followers 2 drop off (I trim with JustUnfollow) despite my generally trying to follow everyone even remotely related who has followed me or us.
When we see Ashton Kutcher has millions of followers and treats what we work at so HARD as a big joke it's frustrating and maddening. I don't think any team can DO WITHOUT the "radio of the web", but its hard to grow a tribe there. Best to use Twitter for what it is good at - informing your tribe about what is happening now.
Scoop.it = Following & Future of Content Marketing Scoop.it's ability to form a tribe is outstanding. The stumble comes when we try to figure out how to communicate with, listen to or curate from our followers. We think our Scoop.it "Magazine" Page: @Martin (Marty) Smith should be MORE IMPORTANT.
Scoop.it has 1M users now. We would love to see more Hero Marketing similar to what Haiku Deck does so well. Where is the Top Scoop.it Curators list? Where are the stats showing the Top Scoops of 2014 on a variety of dimensions (share, links, views)?
Scoop.it is sitting in the catbird seat since content curation is about to be the big win, but we would love a more proactive stance from Team Scoop.it. That said, they've been KIND and GENEROUS adopting me despite tough financial times due to cancer treatments. Like Haiku Deck Scoop.it has a great team and they will figure it out.
Goole Plus We LOVE Google Plus, but losing the charismatic leader Vic Gundotra was a shock. I love hangouts, but they are not enterprise ready full of creaks, pops and cracks when used. Not easy either. GPlus has a LEARNING CURVE.
On the positive side IT'S GOOGLE. I don't know anywhere else where a following of less than 5,000 can generate page views close to 2M. Content on Google gets seen, commented on and that's worth our investment and continued learning.
Haiku Deck For team Curagami the real revelation is Haiku Deck. We get MORE for LESS with Haiku Deck than any other social media tool (period, full stop). The fact that our decks, even the old sleepy ones, continue to generate new views is amazing.
Haiku Deck's adoption of our favorite online community / Hero Marketing idea is why our 38 decks are slouching toward 100,00 views after only a year and much less ditch digging than our first two years on Scoop.it. We created a Haiku Deck about their creation of online community:
If guessing is required for finding the optimal frequency, then at least we can be making educated guesses. Here's our research on the ideal amount to post.
Discover 4 surprising social media research findings about how consumer behavior on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram affect your social media strategy:
* We like Facebook for social login. * Customer service via social nets grows especially on Twitter. * Youngsters NOT unfriending Facebook. * Instragam fastest growing site globally.
Marty Note I'm not a big fan of Facebook marketing, but may need to rethink that at least on the social login and "trust mark" side of the equation. Not surprised to see customer service growing on Twitter (duh). Think what it will do when most companies understand that Twitter is NOT broadcast push platform but a pull conversation media.
Instagram growing fastest doesn't surprise. Visual marketing is growing and growing and growing with Instagram leading the charge. Surprised to see Pinterest so far down the list since they occupy much the same space, but Instragram is more mobile phone friendly.
Most Important Social Media Friend asked a great question but in the wrong way. Social Media isn't important to me in and of itself, but each social media channel can help communicate marketing messages and thus become valuable and important.
Key is "matching the hatch" to borrow a fly fishing term.
Matching the hatch puts the right kind of content, what Gary Vaynerchuk calls "native content', on each social net when THAT information is important to communicating a marketing message. Here is how I answered:
Depends on what I'm trying to accomplish.
If I want comments and discussion GPlus. If I want feedback from friends Facebook. If I want to generally test Scoop.it. If I want a "set it and forget it" content solution Paper.li. If I have something happening now or want to newsjack Twitter. To raise money on creative or gaming projects Kickstarter. If I want to share videos YouTube.
If I want to serialize stories Storify. If I want to test an infographic Pinterest. If I want to do something with audio then SmartCloud. If I want to create sustainable and potentially "evergreen" content then I use WP blogs. Content becomes "evergreen" based on how it performs (views, shares, conversions). If I want to sell something ecom then Shopify.
Match the hatch to get the most from your content, your growing social media tribe, your time and content marketing and curation efforts.
If who you follow is a key to deriving value from your social networking activities (and it is!), the better you do it for your own purposes, the more you’ll benefit.
Martin (Marty) Smith's insight:
I've been involved ina few "Tweet Chats" and didn't really understand them. Great Curatti.com post here from fellow "editor of chaos" @AnastasiaAshman on the "inside baseball" knowledge needed to turn a "tweet chat" into an effective online marketing tool.
Social Media sites these days are playing a very significant role in society among different communities and different age groups of people. Let`s take a look at the stats and facts in details.
The chart breaks down the number of Twitter users by gender (a slightly higher proportion of men than women are on Twitter), ethnicity (28 percent of hispanics are Twitter users), age group (30% of 18 to 29 year olds are on Twitter compared to just 5 percent of those aged 65+), income (the wealthy seem to really like Twitter, with 22% of those making more than $75,000 signing up) and whether they’re urban (21%), suburban (18%), or rural (11%).
Everyday Social Media numbers are growing, and here are 45 facts in an infographic by Digital Insights.
A few of the statistics:
40% of marketers use Google+, 70% desire to learn more and 67% plan to increase Google+ activities 42% update their profile information regularly on LinkedIn Every second 8000 users like some or other photo on Instagram 80% of total Pinterest’s pins are re-pins 4.2 billion people use mobile device to access social media sites
Tapestry Not Either Or AND is the most important work in an Internet marketer's vocabulary as htis infogrpahic showing the profitability of different social tactics makes clear.
Martin (Marty) Smith's insight:
Email Rocks You wouldn't be too far wrong if you viewed ALL of your social marketing as having a single purpose - building your email list. Social may be a POOR conversion medium if you think of conversion as MONEY, but it works great when you ask people to join your tribe.
Once joined magical things can happen not the least of which is you have to BUY LESS support from outside. Once your tribe is built and scaling you control your own destiny. If Google trashes your organic listings you have a way to recover.
If a competitor steals away customers with an amazing offer you can counter with email marketing to YOUR tribe. Makes you wonder why we aren't spending a lot more time finding new ways to build our list such as:
* Appointing List Building Ambassadors (i.e. give your 1% contributors the job of helping to build your list). * Contest and games designed to build our lists.
* Facebook advertising (building our list was what I could get FB to do).
* Join Our Email Tribe CTAs all over everything.
* QRCodes that prompt mobile signups.
* etc...
We've ignored email for the shiny new things. Perhaps we should go back to the tried, true and profitable most social network - our email lists.
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All Five Apps new to us.
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All Five Apps new to us.