Erik Qualman's Blog, page 545

Nintendo characters, games coming to Universal parks

USA TODAY – Want to play a life-sized version of Mario Kart? Universal Studios may soon make it possible.

Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts are working to create new attractions featuring Nintendo games and characters, the two companies announced Thursday. That could bring characters such as Mario, Link and Donkey Kong to theme parks including Universal Studios Hollywood andUniversal Orlando Resort, as well as Universal Studio parks in Japan and Singapore.

The news is only the latest sign that Nintendo is looking to expand revenue-generating opportunities from its creative portfolio. Two months ago, Nintendo announced its first plans to make games for smartphones and tablets in a deal with Japanese mobile game maker DeNA Co.

Also on Thursday, Nintendo reported that it turned a profit for its fiscal year that ended in March — its first in four years. Still, the company attributed the results in part to the weak yen.

Its net profit of $350 million (41.8 billion yen) was higher than its forecast $251 million (30 billion yen) profit and in line with analysts’ expectation.

Nintendo said it sold 3.4 million Wii U systems and 8.7 million of its 3DS portable game systems, bringing total worldwide sales of those platforms to 9.5 million Wii U and 52 million 3DS devices.

As for the deal between Nintendo and Universal, more details on “the immersive experiences … will be announced in the future,” the companies said in a short news release. “Nintendo has created remarkable and imaginative worlds filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks,” it said.

To pique your imagination on the possibilities, remember that Universal Studios Hollywood has opened a new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride to add to its Transformers ride and Simpsons virtual roller coaster.

Article by Mike Snider for USA TODAY

Thumbnail from Shutterstock

 

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Today’s Leader at Facebook “Like” Speed

Inside every leader who deals with Millennials is a power waiting to emerge. This power has the ability unleash team productivity like it’s never before been seen. The power of which I’m speaking is the power to save time. You were expecting something a more elusive, right? It’s not scarce and it’s not a secret; however, one has to be bold enough to seize it.

In today’s culture, most things can be done in an instant. If something takes longer than we think it should, we’re likely to pass on it altogether. Some people have changed as the culture has changed, others (those of Generation Y) were born into this face-paced, digital society. Millennials post videos and know that they’ll start getting feedback immediately. Status updates get replies in minutes, and the speed of tweets and retweets is unmatched. The social web has created this hunger for consistent, instantaneous feedback that Millennials seek. It would seem that this quick response feedback would only be possible within digital realms. Or, would it?

Consider this contrast. Baby boomers would prefer less face time with their bosses. Their generation equates conversations with leaders as negative occurrences (i.e. a bad report, low sales, or worse). Millennials also experience negative feelings when it comes to their bosses, but theirs stems from a different place. If they don’t receive that consistent, instantaneous feedback, they feel as though their performance may be lacking. They’ll be searching LinkedIn by lunchtime for new job opportunities. Both perspectives are acceptable. It’s up to the leader to decide which will inspire greater productivity, and then adjust accordingly.

The first few times I shared this theory, I got comments like:  “Ryan, I have enough to do. Now I have to make sure I’m coddling Millennials, too?” I understood their initial reactions. Though, I also understood that time wasn’t the issue. The issue was leaders not wanting to change from their traditional styles of leading. The time of ignoring employees and giving them feedback only when performance reviews required is gone. In order for leaders to keep employees, they’ll have to follow suit and give Millennials what they need – consistent, instantaneous feedback.

It’s not nearly as elaborate as you may think. Providing this feedback will have your Generation Y team members working harder than ever. And, you can get these results in faster time than it takes to press “like” on a Facebook post. I’ll tell you how.

“Hey Ryan. You did a great job on the client’s proposal. The in depth research added a lot of value to the project. Keep doing what you’re doing!” There you have it. It really is as simple as that. As you’re refilling your coffee, or walking to the restroom, you take a few seconds to give some feedback; and you didn’t even have to make a special trip.

Now, I’ll share a true story an audience member told me. In effort to give Millennials consistent, instantaneous feedback, this is what he did. At the end of the day, before making the drive home, he sent a quick text to his employees. Keeping things light and positive, the text message was his opportunity to provide feedback and correction. He went on to share that, surprisingly, some his team members were working again later that night as a result of receiving the text.

There’s the thumbs up, Facebook “like” speed in action. A short text message; increased productivity.

Will you choose to complain about needy Millennials, or will you jump on the leadership train and inspire greater productivity that will ensure a competitive edge? It’s your choice.

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New Learning App For Kids With Special Needs

STOP SEARCHING – START EDUCATING!

SpedEdTech, a California-based company, released a new app designed to help special needs students, their teachers and therapists, and their parents. Downloaded to  iPads,  the SmartEdApp provides a library of educator-selected activities for individualized student learning, tracks student progress, allows sharing goals and results with an entire IEP team, and integrates with the school’s existing Apple technology.

“SmartEdTech’s iOS app is a powerful tool which categorizes expert-created activities, tracks performance, and provides a distraction-free learning environment for special education students,” explains Sami Rahman, CEO of SPED K12. “As the parent of a special needs child myself, I appreciate how this app can affect the life of a child.”

The library of activities, designed for PreK to Grade 3, is tied together by a searchable database and allows specialists to select activities based on a child’s individual learning needs such as expressive and  receptive language, reading, math, reasoning skills. When a need is identified, the teacher conducts a search of the library and specific apps are recommended; the teacher creates a unique desktop view for each child to access.

A free no-obligation sample selection of 7 activities is currently available on  iTunes.  Click the link, register with SmartEdApp, and download the sample.

  “I like that the app provides a variety of activities for each child, so that he/she doesn’t become bored while working on a specific skill,” says Kathleen Harris, Education Specialist from Elmira, New York. “And the collaborative tracking software means that everyone involved in the child’s education will know at a glance how he is progressing . Instead of spending time sharing information, IEP meetings can focus on solutions.”

      SmartEdApp provides learning experiences for children identified as having Autism Spectrum, Language and Articulation  Disorders, and Learning Disabilities.  “Searching for the best apps that will enhance children’s skills takes a lot of time on the part of the specialist,” adds Rahman. “With SmartEdApp, teachers can stop searching and start educating!”

SmartEdTech is a rebranding of the parent company SPED K12, founded in 2012 and located in Sunnyvale, California. SPED K12 focuses on innovative solutions for the needs and concerns of Special Ed teachers, administrators, therapists and parents. The company pioneered the use of software-based technology housed on an Android tablet that has been used by hundreds of specialists in the US. Under the banner of SmartEdTech, similar technology has been developed for use on iOS tablets.

Find out more about SmartEdTech at www.smartedtech.com. Connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube  .

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4 Ways to Become a YouTube Expert

I have had the opportunity to become an expert in YouTube SEO. It was almost accidental. In fact, I was shy about admitting it. There is a snippet of my story in the Resource #2 section below.

It was after I had obtained success on behalf of well-known clients (who need to remain anonymous), that I decided to “own it.” This isn’t for kudos for me, but more importantly, so that I can share my tips with you, the Socialnomics readers! In that way, you, too, can become YouTube SEO Experts like me.

This list ranges from free (hint: Under the Resource #1 section) to very expensive (Resource #4), and everything in between. Fortunately, if you are referencing price range, most of these are under $100 and even under $30. Two of these resources have been the basis for a portion of my success (especially Resource #3) and the other two are well-trusted in the industry and by me, personally.

Keep in mind, these resources vary in “what” they offer for training, from production tips to YouTube SEO tips, and everything else, related to YouTube. Or, almost everything else

There are no affiliate links in this article. Even though I have affiliate links for many of these resources, I stripped out the affiliate portion of the link. The only semi-exception is Resource #2 which does lead to a video that has an affiliate link in it. (There is more explanation is that section, below.)

What is my reasoning for stripping my own affiliate links? I wanted you, the reader, to know that I am recommending these resources because of their value and not because of the kick-back or incentive to me, personally. These truly are the resources that I recommend, based on what I share with you in the following sections.

Become a YouTube Expert

Resource 1: Ileane Smith, YouTube Expert Extraordinaire

Ileane Smith is not only a personal friend, but a highly trusted business associate. In fact, so trusted that we are writing a book together (working title: “Ultimate Guide to Using Triberr”)! If you happen to follow Marketing Momentum (w/Charles & Deborah) you will hear me reference Ms. Ileane like every fifth episode.

Many of you already know Ms. Ileane and follow her on her blog, “Basic Blog Tips.” She is highly regarded by Jon Morrow and his guest blogging course, where he includes here in his “little black book.”

Ms. Ileane is known for many things (and an expert at all of them!), but one of the areas where she is most widely known is YouTube and her YouTube training videos. She has pulled all of that into a course where she tells you exactly how she did it, with proof! So, while I may not be able to say that her method has worked for me, yet, that is only because I just started her course. But, I can say that her methods definitely work and I have seen evidence of that in her own YouTube channel (and working with her, personally).

Here is a starter list of the resources that Ms. Ileane offers, related to YouTube training:

Pinterest Board with YouTube resource links (free).
Ms. Ileane’s YouTube channel, including a bunch of tutorials (free).
Ms. Ileane’s patreon site, with YouTube coaching (nominal monthly fee).
Full “How I did it” YouTube course that bares all ($79).

Resource 2: “YouTube Ranking Secrets Revealed”

Ok, before you watch the following video, you have to get your snickers out of the way. In some ways, I broke even my own rules, with the use of asterisks (*) and how I titled it. I made it back when whiteboard “explainer” videos were just starting to take off and before they became as common as a glass of water.

It was an experiment and it succeeded even more than I expected! Right away, it hit #1 on YouTube (yes, the video below!) and it hit #1 on Google. People didn’t believe me until I showed them the screenshots. The key thing is that I’m not here to prove anything, just to say that I used these very same “tactics” that are taught in this course to place this very same “campy” video at #1 and it stayed there for weeks, ranking for “YouTube Ranking Secrets Revealed.”

I hesitated including this source in the list because it is a JVZoo product. I have nothing against JVZoo. In fact, many of my favorite tools come from programmers who got their start that way. So, there is some excellent quality there! It wouldn’t be fair to you, as readers, if I didn’t include the method that has worked for me. The other resources in this list are entirely legitimate and I know they work, but this is one that I experienced myself, as far as basically 100% success.

Keep in mind that just because I had success that that doesn’t mean you will necessarily rank for everything you do on YouTube. It still depends on the key words and key word phrases that you choose, as well as your competition. Also, the course itself (under $13) is linked via the video page (above).

Resource 3: Udemy

I sign up for every free Udemy course on videos that I can find. And, I watch for those $9 specials, Black Friday specials, weekly specials.. Hint: Sign up for Udemy and watch for specials, because they have them. You can sometimes get 90% off a course, bringing the cost way down.

When it comes to Udemy, I may not be able to tell you the most successful course out there, but there is one that was particularly helpful in understanding YouTube SEO. And, when you factor in that the cost is only $9, for full retail price, it isn’t a bad risk at all.

It is called “Internet Marketing – YouTube” and it is by Brian Dale. I don’t really have that much else to say about it except that it is an excellent primer for those wanting to know more and especially those who need help getting started. No offense to Mr. Dale, but if you do find a better course out there, remember I didn’t say that this resource was necessarily the best. And, it may be dated, but if you are a newbie and you need to get started and need some help, for $9 you have a step by step provided by this really nice instructor, Brian Dale.

Become a YouTube Expert

Resource 4: Online College Courses

This list wouldn’t be complete without at least suggesting that YouTube and video marketing students look into opportunities to fine tune their expertise at a college or university. And, these days, there is a really viable option in online colleges and universities.

Speaking of colleges and universities, there are even those who offer incentives like free laptops, discounted software, and other college-only benefits available to the student (including group projects and networking!).

The discounted software is particularly helpful for getting those really expensive software programs (i.e. Adobe products for the graphics in your YouTubes) for really low prices. For that low price, you are only allowed to use it as a student and not use it in a business or make money from it, but think of it this way, you can start building your portfolio by using the software. Couple that with the education you are receiving and when you graduate, those jobs will seem like they almost fall into your lap. That is really the purpose behind incentives like academic-priced software and free laptop incentives.

If you opt to attend a college or university, the next step would be to make your list of those you are considering. Personally, I attended Los Angeles Film School and then later I attended Capella University, an online university where I finished my BSIT. I have heard good things (but do not have first hand knowledge of schools like Full Sail. There are many different options, whether you go to a brick-and-mortar traditional school or enroll in an online school, to finish your degree. You may also want to look into certificate programs, which give you the credibility, but not the high cost of the college credits. The best recommendation I can offer you is to check with alumni and find out what they think about the school but also what skill level they have. Are you finding that the alumni from the school you are considering are actually experts in that field? If they are experts, how much of that is attributed to the college or university and how much is attributed to their experience since college or their giftedness? Sometimes it is easier to go back to Resource #1-3 until you are ready for the larger investment of Resource #4.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. No matter what price level you are looking for, from free to many thousands of dollars, there is a way to become a YouTube expert. And, just think, after you have become that YouTube expert, maybe you can be featured on Hulu Plus commercials recommending that everyone come watch YOU on Youtube (and subscribe to your channel, of course!).

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Periscope co-founder: Piracy standards don’t work for live video

MASHABLE - NEW YORK —Periscope co-founder Kayvon Beykpour was at TechCrunch Disrupt Tuesday, talking about his app, Android and of course, the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

TechCrunch’s Sarah Lane opened the interview by asking Beykpour about the much-discussed Periscoping of the “fight of the century,” as well as the larger discussion about the platform in the context of piracy.

Beykpour thinks some of the discussion has been overblown. “There was an order of magnitude more articles written about Game of Thrones on Periscope than there were steams,” he said.

Still, Beykpour admitted that the MayPac fight was a slightly different phenomenon.

He admitted that the current process mandated by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires a provider take down content within 24 hours of being notified, doesn’t really work for live content.

“We’re totally open to conversing about types of tooling we can build to improve the process,” he said.

He also said — as I mentioned in my experience watching the fight via Periscope — that the app isn’t really ideal for something like Game of Thrones or a movie. It’s much better as a social and interactive experience.

Beykpour also put an end to some of the speculation from Saturday night that frequent hearting (where users like a stream by tapping the screen) had any impact on whether Periscope would take down a stream or not. “It is not part of our heuristic,” he said, but admitted it was “hilarious” to see viewers (sometimes in multiple languages) discourage people from hearting in an attempt to preserve the stream.

Android in the works

The biggest question we get at Mashable anytime we write about Periscope: When is it coming for Android?

Don’t worry, an Android version is in the works. “Of course we’re working really hard on Android and we’re really close. We’ve got a beta that we’re using,” Beykpour said.

Still, it’s important to remember that the Periscope team is still very small. The group has grown from five people to 13 in the last month and a half — but that’s still an impossibly tiny number.

“We spent a year building the iOS app,” the co-founder said. “We can’t just snap our fingers and make [Android] appear.”

Beykpour also noted that the Android app wouldn’t look exactly like the iOS app — because it is important to build to the specific strengths of the platform.

He also hinted that a future Periscope update might have a mapping feature that will help users discover streams in different parts of the world.

Image from TechCrunch via Mashable

Article by Christina Warren for Mashable

Thumbnail courtesy of 

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8 Economic Fun Facts About Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms are a wealth of information, from what your best friend had for breakfast this morning to breaking news. They’re also extremely useful aids for online marketing and improving search engine rankings. But with all their uses, it’s easy to forget that social media platforms are also businesses, and as such, they have economic and demographic ups and downs, just like any other business. Here are a few things you might not have known about your favorite social media platforms.

1. Facebook is dominated by females

A Business Insider survey showed that at the end of last year, about 10 percent more women used facebook throughout the year than men. Check out your news feed today and see if this rings true with the posts you see.

2. Twitter has more male followers

While Facebook is primarily used by women, Twitter is more used by men. According to the survey, approximately 7 percent more men use Twitter than women, and that number is growing. The imbalance is worrying the Twitter team because the platform used to be gender equal and there is currently no explanation for the sudden change.

3. Twitter has only made $436 million dollars this year

It may seem funny to use the word “only” in this sentence, but the numbers are down a whopping 20 percent for Twitter this quarter, and the outlook isn’t good, according to this videographic from Amigo Bulls, an investment analyst company. They projected the earnings at a generous $456 million, but the actual report fell short by millions.

4. Facebook has already made more than $3.5 billion this year

On the other hand, Facebook is doing better than ever with an accrued $3.5 billion dollars in their first quarter earnings report. This is a 42 percent increase compared to last year’s first quarter earnings.

5. LinkedIn made $2.2 billion last year

The popular networking platform isn’t doing too bad for itself either, although it has a ways to go before it reaches the revenue levels of Facebook. LinkedIn’s increasing popularity has paved the way for an extremely successful year.

6. LinkedIn is the largest adult social media network to date

The oldest of the three mentioned social media networks, LinkedIn quickly made its way to top as the largest adult gathering place to date. According to the survey, its demographics are more skewed towards well-educated users between the ages of 30 and 49.

7. Snapchat is the youngest social media network to date

On the other end of the spectrum, we have the fairly new Snapchat network that allows users to share what they’re doing every moment of the day. The survey shows that more than 60 percent of Snapchat users are between the ages of 18 and 24. making it the youngest major network currently in existence.

8. Social media platforms make their money off advertisements

Have you ever wondered why it’s free to use most social media platforms? It’s because they don’t make money off of you. They make money off advertisers who pay Facebook to post their advertisements. Based off of Facebook’s most recent report, you could say it’s a pretty lucrative business.

That sums up where social media networks are currently at with their economic standing. Keep your eyes peeled for the next quarterly reports this July and more demographic surveys as the year continues.

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Social Media Tips to Kickstart Your Kickstarter

Whether you want to raise money to create the best independent film of all time, or you have a product that simply everyone needs, coming up with the initial funding can be a tough hurdle to leap over. Fortunately, Kickstarter campaigns allow companies to come up with the capital to move forward.

It can take Kickstarter several weeks to approve your project, and then it takes time to build a following, grab the interest of those willing to invest in your idea, and reach your goal.

But with smart social media strategies. You’ll reach a bigger audience more quickly than you might otherwise have.

Creating and Sharing Videos on Social Media

According to Digital Sherpa, videos help people understand your product better by 74 percent. On top of that, one third of online activity can be attributed to videos.

This is something that Lace Anchors paid attention to during its Kickstarter campaign. Lace Anchors created videos that explain what shoelace substitutes have to offer. Once people saw it, they knew just how brilliant the idea was.

They built on this idea, creating many different how-to videos that helped spark interest in the product. The campaign earned $135,000 more than the originally set goal. This serves as proof that a picture (or moving picture) truly is worth 1,000 words – or at least $135,000 more than your goal!

What you can take away from this is that you should create high quality videos that not only explains your product or service but also captures the viewer’s attention. Share them on social media and ask others to retweet and share them as well.

Gain a Following on Multiple Platforms

It takes months to gain a serious following on social media. First, you should be on as many platforms you can manage. Some of the bigger players include:

Facebook
Twitter
Google+
LinkedIn
Pinterest

However, don’t rule out the smaller social media sites, especially if the demographic fits with your target audience.

One example of using connections and social media effectively is Whole Hog Games. The goal was to create its first video game titled Full Bore by raising $12,500 in just 30 days. The progress started before ever launching the campaign. Whole Hog Games got family and friends on board and spread the word via social media and word of mouth.

According to IndieGameGirl.com, the gaming company reached over 8,000 people on Facebook alone upon launching their campaign.

Press Releases and Article Coverage

Whole Hog Games raised about 20-30 percent of its funds because it was mentioned in articles across the Internet. Don’t limit yourself. Whole Hog Games reached out to some of the bigger websites that cover the gaming world. This paid off in article coverage in online publications.

The resulting traffic helped them raise thousands just from two articles. The key is to email sites that fall within the niche of your product or service. The more you can narrow down your queries, the more success you’ll have in getting mentioned by these sites, or even getting an exclusive interview or article.

Create a Great Site and Interesting Content

If you really want people to sit up and take notice of your campaign, create an easy to navigate website with excellent content. Like Lace Anchors, consider taking the time to create informative videos that explain how your products work.

Whole Hog Games engaged readers and created a strong website with information about the game. Potential investors want to be sure you’re serious about developing your idea – and that you aren’t only a flash in the industry that will quickly burn out.

With a little determination and a lot of social media preparation, you can easily kickstart your Kickstarter campaign before you take it live. After you kick off your campaign, the attention will grow day by day.

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Adoptions Becoming More Socialized

Just like everything around us, adoption is becoming more socialized – with social media, that is.

Social media has some grand power to it, and it shouldn’t be overlooked when taking on the adoption process.

What are people doing regarding adoption and social media?

As far as potential parents using social media – there are quite a few popular platforms.

Let’s take a look:

• Blogs – This is a big one for potential adoptive parents. Many couples create blogs solely based on their desire to become parents. These aren’t random blogs dabbled in as a hobby, they are serious reflections of the couple and how much parenting means to them, glimpses of their lifestyle and stories of their search. Friends can chime in adding testimonials and references, and agencies and birth mothers can see what this family has to offer.

• Facebook – Of course, Facebook. Not only can the above blog be posted onto Facebook, but it’s a great forum for a call out to adoption possibilities. You never know who may be experiencing the same journey, who has found children through adoption and wants to share their experience, and great links to possibilities.  Some potential parents decide to create a Facebook page dedicated to their adoption journey, some incorporate it into their current one, and some do both.

• Adoption agency profiles – Many adoption agencies feature profiles of their clients, the potential parents. This is a great way for couples to showcase themselves in the search for a baby or child.

Know the Risks

Looking to adopt is a risk.

You’ve got to put yourself out there and be willing to step outside the comfort zone of privacy, but the ultimate goal is a family, and it’s worth it.

Remember, though, the birth mother has risks herself and can use some help, too.

As a birth mother, it’s important to seek professional help in the adoption process.

As the following article looks at, 4 Reasons Every Birth Mother Needs Professional Adoption Help include:

• Legal Help – She needs to make sure everything is in order and everyone protected for the adoption.

• Emotional Help – Too often, the birth mother is on her own. Professional help with people experienced in the adoption process can offer a great deal of emotional support during this time.

• Medical Help – Again, often a birth mother is on her own and may not be aware of medical issues, including basic prenatal care. There could be issues during delivery and with professional help; she can have support in this area.

• A Network – Like the emotional help, professional help can provide a network of experienced people who have either been through this personally, or by helping others through it.

For both the birth mother and the family looking to adopt, adoption is an emotional roller coaster. The ultimate goal is having the baby in a healthy, nurturing environment to grow and thrive and be loved.

Whatever measures it takes, through social media, professional help and dedication, this is very possible.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Shutterstock

About the Author: Heather Legg is a writer covering topics including social media, family matters and women’s issues.

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Are You Driven to Use Social Media?

You use social media to keep in touch with family and friends, stay up-to-date with current and trending events, and even find jobs and network with other professionals. But did you know social media can also be used to help find you the best deal, including when it comes time to buy a new car?

That’s right, social media can help save you money and land you the car of your dreams.

When buying a car, most customers will say that one of the most important factors is the price.

Next to homes, cars are one of the most expensive purchases that consumers will make. Unlike houses, their value tends to decrease the second the car is driven off the lot. Resale values are low and maintenance can get expensive.

Finding the right car for the right price is top priority for car buyers.

Negotiating and Being Social Are Crucial

As the following article looks at, in order to have the most success when you negotiate the price of a new car, there are certain things you must do – both on and off of social media.

Here, we’re looking at three ways to negotiate the price of a new car:

Do your homework – Car dealerships always mark up the price of vehicles because they know customers are going to negotiate. While you most certainly want to pay the lowest price possible, that’s not something that’s going to happen automatically. Do your homework by researching the type of car you want and how much it’s going for. Kelley Blue Book is a valuable source in finding accurate values of vehicles based on their model, make and current condition.
Turn to social media – If you’re not extremely knowledgeable about purchasing new cars and getting the best deal, turn to your friends on social media. You can ask for their advice on buying a car and negotiating the price, ask what vehicle they recommend and even ask if there is a dealership or salesman they would recommend. Then, find those companies and individuals social media profiles and follow them. Perhaps even reach out to them and let them know you’re interested in buying a new car.
Be willing to walk away – This is the most important strategy when learning how to negotiate the price of a new car. Before stepping foot onto the car lot, know what price you are willing to pay. If the dealer refuses to honor your price, be willing to walk away. More often than not, the car salesman will call you within a day to lower his offer or except your offer. Don’t get overly emotional when buying a car. It’s important to remember that there are hundreds of other cars just like the one you want out there. You don’t want to be stuck with a huge monthly payment or a car that’s too expensive for your budget because your emotions got the best of you.

By doing your homework, turning to social media and being willing to walk away, you’ll be able to negotiate the price of your dream car.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Shutterstock

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Analyzing Your Competition’s Campaigns To Improve Your Social Media Marketing Plan

It is really important that we get all the help that we can when we create a social media marketing plan due to the fact that this is much more complicated now as opposed to a few years ago. Out of the various different things that you can do, taking advantage of what the competition already did is something that is highly underrated.

As a simple example, when you run a general blog site like this one, how do you know what to share on social channels in order to get the best engagement? The answer is easy to find when you find similar sites that are more successful and that have proper online social exposure.

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In order to help you out with analyzing competitor campaigns, here are some tips to remember:

Keywords Used

You surely heard this many times till now and you have to understand how important it is. Analyze how the competition uses keywords so that you can see what works and what does not work. This helps you to save so much money and time on the long run.

Analyze Where Traffic Comes From

There are so many tools that can be used in order to figure out where the traffic comes from when you analyze the sites of the competition. Many strong brands will receive a lot of traffic from social networks together with search engines. Figuring out how traffic comes from social networks is a little complicated.

Analyzing Rankings In Search Engines

Ranking engines do exist and you can easily use them in order to see how other sites compare to yours. Google Webmaster Tools is definitely what you can use in order to analyze approximate website traffic and profiles of individuals that visit, together with interests and other sites that they may have visited.

Used Social Media Platforms

Some social media platforms are better for some business types. You can take a look at the competition and see where they are more active. There is a pretty good possibility that they are present there because that is where their customers are. If the profile of the customer is similar, it is quite obvious that you will want to be there.

Partnership

You can learn so much from the partnerships that your competition has. This is an information source that is usually overlooked. The businesses will basically find synergy and sign a partnership with the companies that have a similar audience. This helps you to learn more about the target audience and you can easily analyze those companies too in order to learn more.

Reward Programs Used

This is especially true when referring to the online shopping experience but it is also needed when referring to brick and mortar locations. Most successful businesses have some sort of loyalty program used. Analyze what the competition does and see if there is something similar that you can use in your company.

Customer Support

Analyze the customer support that is offered by the competition. This shows you what you have to do and can give you data that can be used in order to offer a better experience for your own present and future clients.

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