Erik Qualman's Blog, page 482

How to Make the Most Out of Video on Facebook

America’s favorite armchair pastime, Facebook, has encroached on YouTube’s territory in a major way. Last October, the social media giant announced that it will establish a “dedicated place” on its interface where people can watch videos. On March 1, a company spokesman admitted that, in the interest of time sensitivity, live videos now take precedence over prerecorded footage in users’ news feeds. For marketers, Facebook’s growing obsession with all things video flings wide a door of lucrative opportunity.
Two Types of Video Advertising

Marketers use two types of video ads on Facebook: paid ads and in-stream videos. A paid video ad blasts a target audience with an intentional sales pitch. Through strategically placed video, a business can fine-tune its image and gain a sense of control over its audience. In-stream videos, by contrast, seem less intentional and salesy. Viewers who encounter these videos organically often don’t realize they’ve been sucked into a commercial. Rather, they feel they’re learning something new or benefiting from the wisdom of a friend.

Grab This Opportunity

Facebook executive Ted Zagat is so confident in his company’s audiovisual future that he predicts the entire social network will go “mostly video” in a year or two. That’s great for big companies that can afford to hire professional videographers, but what about small business owners who don’t feel confident in their video-making capabilities? Given Facebook’s snowballing success in the video realm, this is an opportunity marketers clearly shouldn’t miss. Here are some actionable tips for making the most of your Facebook video:

Keep it Simple and Short: Small business owners who feel squeamish about creating videos needn’t panic. The Internet boasts plenty of low-budget tools that help amateurs create winning videos, including user-friendly sites like GoAnimate and WeVideo. The good news is that Facebook videos are better when they’re short. A recent study by the analyst group Socialbakers found that 21 seconds of video footage is far more effective than 60, 100, and even 150 seconds of footage.


Align Video Content With Brand: Before posting a video ad, give it the star treatment. Write a script that shines, and make sure its message aligns with your brand. Consistency is key to building a trustworthy ad campaign. All of your marketing materials, including your videos, should reflect the same identifiable company mission. If you can’t summarize your company’s mission in a sentence or two, chances are your public won’t be able to, either.


Go Native: The way you get your message onto the platform matters. Don’t share videos to Facebook via a YouTube link; upload them directly to Facebook. The network’s algorithm prefers “native” videos to imported ones. And if you’re puzzled about how to launch a video campaign, fear not. The site’s Advertiser Help Center walks you through the ad creation process and provides plenty of helpful tips along the way.

Facebook’s foray into the land of video is not a temporary jaunt. Rather, it’s a permanent voyage into a promising new world. If you want your company to remain a contender, you really ought to climb aboard. The good news is, it’s not difficult to join Facebook’s video advertising crowd. In fact, it’s quite easy, and with over one billion people logging on per day, it’s also quite lucrative.

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Why Overlooking SEO is Killing Your Business

Business owners will do everything they can to ensure their businesses run like a finely tuned machine. Most will fight tooth and nail to make sure their business prevails over all else. They will protect their business at all costs. Reason being, once you build something from the ground up, it becomes your very own love child, for good reason too. So then why do some business owners overlook the very tool that could take their business from an unheard of start-up to a multinational corporation? The answer is simple; it is because they do not know about it.

SEO is King

One of the most important techniques you can utilize to increase your business’s value is search engine optimization. More commonly known as SEO, search engine optimization is what it takes to increase your relevance and make your web presence known. There are two main ways to improve your exposure online: organic and paid listings.

Before incorporating SEO into your site, the only other real way to increase your web presence is by paying Google to do it for you. Although this is effective, it is not the most cost effective and best long term route of getting to the top of the listings and staying there. To get there and stay there, it takes proper SEO marketing campaigns that are well thought out, to benefit your business. How do you incorporate SEO into your business?

SEO Metrics

Search engine optimization requires you to do certain things to make your site easier to find through Google. Some of these things involve backlinks, keyword searches, and social networking. The whole point of SEO is to make your site more indexable by Google. The more links and shares going to your website on places like social media, the more popular you become. By adding keywords specific to your business or brand, you can actually increase your relevance by simply adding more inclusions of a specific keyword.

In addition, never underestimate the benefit of adding valuable content and linking to trusted sites. In a sense, Google views this as a recommendation and the more time people spend on your page the better off you are. Clearly, SEO plays a large role in a successful business. If you need help starting your own SEO campaign, check out Gareth SEO Consultant.

Don’t neglect SEO on your websites

Now that you understand why search engine optimization is so crucial to your business’s success, finding the time to utilize it will not seem so difficult. Do not spend money on temporary advertisements to increase your sales when you can use a method that will enable you to get to the top and stay there. There is no more saying you do not know why your site did not succeed. Success is tied to organic search listings, which is dependent on SEO. Do not make the same mistake of ignoring SEO until it’s too late. Take the first step into optimizing your site for SEO and watch your business thrive for the long haul.

 

We hope you found the above promoted content as entertaining and helpful as we did. 

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Anonymous Declares War on Trump Once Again

Anonymous Declares War on Trump Once Again

Infamous hacker group, Anonymous, is out on a mission to take down Donald Trump. On March 4th, they posted a video in which they declare “total war” on Trump and his presidential campaign. The group hopes to bring down his websites, both personal and business, and reveal embarrassing information that could ruin his campaign. The idea of taking down Trump isn’t new to Anonymous. Back in December they posted this video regarding Trump’s comment on Muslims. Watch out, Trump. (Source Engadget)



Virtual Reality Is Real

Virtual reality is a term we’ve been hearing forever and one that took over SXSW Interactive this year. Following all the hype, PlayStation announced the launch of their VR headset, available in October. VR comes at a price of $399 plus the cost of PlayStation camera, Move controllers and games. Gamers are definitely excited to bring gaming to a whole new level. (Source CNET)



Cue Fangirls Freakout…

The Internet is FREAKING out over Taylor Swift’s most recent Instagram uploads. Swift took to Insta to show her nearly 70 million follows the romantic getaway she is on with boyfriend Calvin Harris. Fans are tweeting how the couple is #RelationshipGoals. (Source USA Today)

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Have You Got What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur?

Tech is now a huge part of our everyday life, and who do we have to thank for that? Leaders. Forward-Thinking Entrepreneurs. Tech Startups such as Uber, Airbnb and Tinder have erupted in the past couple of years and for that we can thank the drive and passion of the entrepreneurs behind them.

So what does it really take to become an entrepreneur? Well, Global Messaging have created this awesome infographic detailing the anatomy of one. It looks at the character traits and talents needs to make it in big business.

Some of the characteristics are:

- Motivated and Focused – motivation and focus comes from a genuine

interest in what you are doing. Regular goal-setting gives you targets and

keeps you engaged in your venture

- Creative and Innovative – being creative with your products, services and

operations appeals to both customers and employees alike.

- Risk Taking and Courageous – being comfortable with taking risks is vital for

businesses to grow and succeed. But it is important to understand what risks

are worthwhile and to not be impulsive.

- Passionate and Determined – if you passionately believe in your venture and

refuse to give up, success is bound to follow.

- Strong Work Ethic – a true entrepreneur knows that nothing just comes to

you; you have to go out into the world and earn it yourself.

So do you think you’ve got what it takes to become the latest big name in tech start ups?’

 

 

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8 Tips to Increase Your Social Media Following

Social media has become the preferred method of reaching out to customers and building brand awareness, since so many consumers get their information from platforms like Facebook and Twitter. However, setting up a social media profile is only the first step in any social media marketing campaign. Unless a business actively works each month to add new followers, only those customers who already know about that business will see its messages.

By now, social media has been around so long, marketers have learned techniques to win new followers. By adding these tips to their social media efforts, marketers can boost the number of high-quality followers who see the messages they post.

Be Less Selfish

A study of social media use from Stanford University identified two types of users, “informers” and “meformers.” Informers spend the majority of their social media time sharing information and interacting with others on these sites. Meformers focus their efforts on self-promotion. Although informers have twice the followers of meformers, 80 percent of social media users are meformers. Unfortunately, by missing the importance of sharing useful content with their followers, meformers are unlikely to build the following they need to make a real impact.

Be a Follower

Many experts agree that the best way to get more followers is to follow like-minded accounts on various social media platforms. Some of them will automatically follow back. Businesses should make an effort to interact with those they follow, reposting their content and congratulating them on any accomplishments.

Use Hashtags

One way to meet new people on Twitter and Instagram is to communicate using the most popular hashtags at a given time. If a hashtag is trending, the likelihood that people are browsing what other people are saying on that topic is higher, especially if the hashtag relates to a major event.

Add Sharing Buttons

Brands should take every opportunity to cross-promote their social media on every marketing channel they have. Videos, blog posts, and articles should always give customers the opportunity to share to their own social media accounts with just one click. Share buttons are easy to add and have been found to substantially increase mentions on Twitter.

Provide Sharable Tips

To go beyond existing social media followers, brands must post content that customers find interesting enough to share. While there is no shortage of competition in this area, businesses can set themselves apart by sharing their own knowledge or expertise in the form of tips and advice. When consumers find something interesting, they’ll see that business as an expert and be more likely to seek more information.

Time Posts Carefully

Frequency of posts is a popular issue with social media marketers. While experts recommend posting consistently, high volumes of posts at once can lead to unfollows. According to research from SumAll, engagement begins to drop off after a small number of daily posts. A social media scheduling tools will help brands space posts out to be consistent without overdoing it.

Tell a Story

Customers are more interested in hearing brand stories than reading ads for products. Realizing this, smart marketers are encouraging customers to share stories of their own interactions with products and services. The key to successful social media storytelling is to listen to customers and provide the information they’re most likely to want.

Join Groups

A great way for brands to find like-minded social media users is to join an event where other industry professionals will be interacting. On Facebook, this happens in the form of Groups and Events, which serve as great ways to network and share ideas. Twitter does this through Chats, which are created by adding a designated hashtag at a designated time. Participating in these will often help professionals connect with others in their industries.

Social media is a great way to build brand recognition, but it only works if a business continues to increase its reach. Using these tips, professionals can continue to add new people to their networks and ensure people are reading when they post new content.

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Using Social Media To Promote An International B2B Service

Promoting B2B services is totally different than promoting B2C services. There are various things that you want to adapt since you will be in contact with other business managers and people that actually know what you are trying to do. Obviously, when you need to promote an international B2B service, everything becomes even more complicated.

There are various things that you can do and using social media is definitely something that you are going to think about. You can definitely use social media to enhance B2B networking but we now want to talk about actually getting new international clients. Networking helps you to eventually get clients but this is done in time. You can u se social media in order to actually promote your B2B services but many managers end up making mistakes. This is why we should highlight some things.

Using Social Media Advertising

This is one of the first things that you should consider. However, in this case it is vital that you conduct a very good market research. You want to realize exactly what the clients need and want. You cannot simply target a country and terms like “business”.

If you want to use social media advertising, we recommend that you invest money in local market research. For instance, if you want to get clients from Spain, it is a good idea to hire a local research firm that would help you to identify the complete profile of that Spanish client. All the data that you receive can be used in your social media advertising and in all the other campaigns that you will launch.

Targeting Local Social Networks

Most people think about Facebook, Twitter, Google + and similar. This is not actually the only option available since you may be able to find some great local social networks that would be interesting for your promotion purposes.

Try to locate some social networks that are used by your audience in the country where you want to promote the B2B service. This will surely take some time. Make sure that you do not invest too much money in this. The promotion through the local social networks might or might not bring in results. That is why you really want to exhibit caution.

Bonus Thing To Consider: Using Local B2B Marketplaces

Using B2B marketplaces is definitely a really good idea and most countries have such locations where you can advertise for free and get a direct contact with potential customers. The idea in this case is to adapt. You want to observe the competition that comes from the country and see how you can offer something better. If your service is 100% unique, focus on how you should communicate. The way in which you present your services in B2B marketplaces is always the most important thing with such a promotional method. Using these marketplaces is free and you can combine the strategy with the social media use.

On the whole, what is really important is being sure that you know as much as possible about the local market when you do anything in a foreign environment. That is practically the only way to be sure that you will be successful. This basic business principle is going to be particularly important when you use social media, even when you promote B2B services internationally.

 

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Five Things to Consider When Measuring Social Media Metrics

Measuring social media metrics isn’t difficult, but it takes consistency to get accurate results. You’ll need a solid understanding of your key performance metrics, as well as a number of easy-to-use tools to help you keep track of the data.

Through your measurements, you can determine the major successes and weaknesses of your social media strategies. It’s important to have a good idea of the kinds of metrics that you should be measuring and how those metrics influence your techniques. Here are several things to consider as you approach social media metric tracking.

1. Track the Right Metrics

Obviously, you’re tracking metrics to be more efficient in the long run. There’s nothing less effective than keeping an eye on metrics that do you absolutely no good. Some things that you should be watching closely include referral traffic, quality and relevance of content, share of voice, size of the community, engagement from your community, and social mentions.

Depending on the kind of business that you run and your specific situation, you may need to add a few more metrics to your list, but those mentioned should be enough to get you started.

2. Set Goals

Like everything in business, you’ll need some distinct goals in place to guide your hand. Begin by choosing just one goal to follow. Perhaps you want to focus on consumer engagement, or hone in on your website traffic. Set a goal to boost these numbers, and then begin branching out until you’ve set a precedent for every metric that you’re measuring. By the end of your venture, you’ll have a clear benchmark with which to compare your progress, which will show you what needs to improve.

3. Have a Way to Analyze Data on the Go

Nowadays, one of the most important aspects of running a business is the ability to analyze these metrics while on the go. You can be far more engaged with your business if you’re able to view data at any time, not just Monday through Friday from nine to five. Finding tools that’ll allow you to watch your metrics from wherever you are is one of the best ways for your business to stay competitive in this fast paced world.

4. Follow the Trends

The types of metrics that you’re measuring will often go hand-in-hand with the trends in both social media and your industry. For example, about five years ago, measuring keyword usage on social media was considered the best way to stay competitive. Today, things have evolved away from keyword usage and are more concerned with factors such as specific brand mentions. Ignoring the fact that social and KPI trends change as time goes on is one of the biggest mistakes that social media marketers can make.

5. Visualize Data

Another important aspect here is understanding and fully processing the data that you’re pursuing. According to studies, 90 percent of the information that the brain receives is visual. As a result, the brain processes visual data 60,000 times faster than it processes text. In other words, you’ll have a much easier time tracking your metrics and finding places to improve if you use charts, graphs, infographics, and other visualizations to report and view your data.

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Apple vs FBI Case Explained

Cough Cough More Privacy Please

That’s what everyone is asking for. Facebook, Google, and Snapchat are all taking measures to increase their encryption capabilities. This not-so sudden move was prompted after the Justice Department got pissy at WhatsApp. The New York Times reported over the weekend that the encryption built into WhatsApp (owned by Facebook) prevents law enforcement from reading or intercepting any messages sent via the platform.

This is a clear issue for the Justice Department and in theory the solution would be act like a tattle tail and request a legal court order. Though as we’ve seen with the Apple vs. FBI case that would prompt serious legal and technical hurdles. As of now there are no clear cut solutions for law enforcement but what is one hundred is we can expect to see an increase of encryption on all ends. (Source Mashable)

Headlines Apple vs FBI Case Explained

If you’re having a hard time tracking either side of the Apple vs FBI case then look no further. On Sunday HBO’s John Oliver provided a breath of fresh air regarding the case. The 18-minute long video premiering on the last episode of “Last Week Tonight” describes both sides of the argument.

One major flaw Oliver points out on the FBI’s side is if Apple engineers do engineer a code to unlock the iPhone they can simply “throw it away” however Oliver says “no one seriously thinks that’s going to happen.” Oliver goes on to comment encryption has become “so ubiquitous, it’s making it impossible for law enforcement to gain access to certain information.” Very true. The segment depicts a clear picture of the case and is definitely worth checking out, especially if you’re not sure who to side with. (Source Tech Insider)

 When Was Your Pic Posted Again?

Instagram has finally responded to our pleas of getting lost in a social media time warp. Rather than having to calculate how many weeks ago your fav pic of your Valentine’s dinner was posted the social media mogul switched to applying a simple month, date, and year format. Hallelujah. The update is slowly rolling out to users so if you don’t see it yet don’t panic, all good things come to those who wait. View image below. Instagram saves the day with this new update, so now you can use those math skills for calculating how many days till spring has sprung. (Source Mashable)

 

 

 

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How NOT to Use Mobile Apps at Corporate Exhibitions

Integrating mobile apps within your marketing, particularly within displays and stands at events such as corporate exhibitions is increasingly popular. But that doesn’t mean its actually a good idea for you.

Sometimes an app can be more of a distraction than attraction, and if done badly can leave the viewer with a worse impression of your brand than they would have if you had no app. Many businesses aim to redirect their clients and customers to a mobile app in the hopes of monopolising on your time online, especially now that the marketing landscape in 2016 is helping apps to show up in mobile search where stand visitors might go to find your brand again. Users able even to download directly from the mobile browser window, on the spot.

To help you make sure that your app isn’t ruining your stand, here is a list of things to avoid when using an app at a corporate exhibition.

Make sure your app is not buggy

Companion apps at exhibitions can be a fantastic way to give attendees a little more information. But if your app is filled with bugs and mistakes, it ends up making your company look overambitious at best, and hugely incompetent at worst.

If users have taken the time to download your app, in the hopes of getting direct to the source, fast, a broken or disfunctional app will be hugely irritating. A study from Techcrunch found that very few users will ever give buggy apps a second look, meaning that even if your app is only a little bit broken, users are unlikely to stick around long enough to find out.

Make it interactive

Apps that simply include written text lists of facts about your brand are of very little value to a trade show attendee. Rather than making your app just another version of your brochures or stand staff, it needs to show the user something about what your business does, or your brand values, in a new format.

One great way to make an app interactive and fun is to use it to incorporate augmented reality into your exhibition stand design. This article on augmented reality from Skyline Whitespace goes over the benefits using this new technology can bring to your stand, such as digital catalogues, interactive QR codes and social media integration.

Don’t make it too distracting

Even though interactive apps are definitely a valuable way to make your app attractive, making your app too interactive or immersive can actually have a negative effect on your stand. An app that takes attention away from your product or service will do you no favours.

Virtual reality at exhibitions is becoming hugely popular thanks to the accessibility of headsets like the Oculus Rift or Google Glass, but just because VR technology is impressive, it doesn’t mean it will add value. Attendees at corporate events have buying power but an app is extra information, not a salesman. Personal one-on-one talks with staff is what can land your sales, the app needs to convince users and attendees to want to speak with your brand.

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How To Create The Perfect Clocking Software For Your Business

How to create the perfect clocking software for your business

There are very many ways of keeping track of your employees’ time and attendance at work. A business is only as productive as its labor supply. You could have a thousand people working for you but then fail to be as productive as another business with only two hundred people. A business where employees are many and are constantly absent is definitely not going to be performing well. You are going to be losing money paying employees who are not working. Businesses that pay their employees for the time they are absent from work never last for a long time.

Design a clocking system

A clocking system is of great importance for your business. It is important to make sure that you get the best of these systems. Each business can have its own unique clocking system created for itself. The thing that you have to do is make sure that you get a system that works for the immediate needs and requirements of the business. Secondly, when you are creating a clocking system, you have to make sure that it is up to date with the technology that is available today. You should not create clocking system that employs technology that would have been great two years ago.

Convenience is vital for all clocking systems. There are employees who will claim that they forgot to clock in on a particular day because the system was just too far from where they work. An online clocking system is going to come in really handy. Clockspot is one of the few time clock software programs that are available in the market today. It is available online and that makes all the difference for many employees.

What is important for your business?

When you are creating a clocking system you should determine the basic features of the system that are of importance to your business. These include the likes of convenience aforementioned and the details that will be needed. Of course you will need the time when an employee clocks in to work and the time they left so that you can calculate the difference. This is the most basic information that just about all clocking systems use. However with the more advance systems, there is information for days absent, the days an employee did not spend a full day at work and the days they were away on official duty.

Such details are going to be needed when you are calculating your employees’ pay. This is especially so if you have those employees who are constantly out of the office carrying out official business. The employee can record where and when they were meeting with a certain client. With an online system you can keep track of your employees’ activities from any corner of the planet. The employees are able to clock in from anywhere as well.

Is there are feature for reviewing the details of your clients’ record? This is also necessary when you are creating that time and attendance software. In the event that the records are not well done, the client can ask to have the records edited.

To know more about time clock software, please visit the site.

 

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