Erik Qualman's Blog, page 552

7 Ways To Multiply Your Blog Post Views

Writing, filming or designing good content takes a lot of work, especially if it is done well. If you are going to put the work into creating good content, then you want to make sure it can be viewed by as many people as possible. Here are 7 ways you can hack the algorithms as well as repurpose your content to maximize the potential views. It may take a few extra steps than simply writing a post and tweeting it out to followers, but the reward for those few extra steps could be triple or quadruple the amount of views.

7 Growth Hacks Bloggers Can Start Using TODAY

#1 Post ALL blogs on LinkedIn as well as your own site: LinkedIn has a very easy to use publishing tool, and their algorithm favors content published on LinkedIn versus links to your blog. Meaning if you take a blog post you wrote on your blog and copy and paste it into LinkedIn and publish it here, your post will get increased views simply because it’s published using their tool. It also has the potential to be picked up by LinkedIn Pulse or one of their “channels” that users subscribe to. One of my posts was picked up and I had over 1,000 views on it just after one day. That same blog post only received 150 views on my personal site. It’s worth repurposing content on LinkedIn.

#2 Post ALL videos as native Facebook videos in addition to YouTube: Most bloggers that record videos will often add their video to YouTube and use that link to share the video on all other social media outlets. However, Facebook’s algorithm gives preference to its own video player when determining what content to show in people’s news feeds (more here). Some people have said that their videos posted to Facebook have received hundreds of percentage points more views compared to videos posted using YouTube’s player. If you create video content, you should absolutely be uploading that video to Facebook in addition to your YouTube channel.

#3 Use tags, keywords, and an SEO plugin: Again, why would you spend the bulk of your time writing a really good post and not do the follow through work of filling in tags, keywords, etc. I use an SEO plugin for my WordPress blog and it is very helpful. It guides you through the process of tagging and adding keywords in your blog. It also uses a color system (red, orange, green) like a stoplight that lets you know when your blog is maximized for SEO. Green means go! The two or three blogs I have on my site that are super juiced up for SEO were written months ago but still drive hundreds of views a month to my site.

#4 Use headlines in your blog posts and the same keyword(s) throughout:When you start writing your post, identify a keyword(s) that you think people might use when Googling your content. For instance, the few I used for this post include: growth hacks and content. The more you use these words, the higher up you will be on the Google search for these words. By adding a headline to your blog post (like the one I used above tip #1), you are able to optimize those words even more than other references to them throughout the post. Having these included in your title also will increase optimization.

#5 Consider becoming a contributing author to a blog: I currently serve as a contributor to The Huffington Post and Socialnomics.com. I have repurposed a lot of the content from my personal blog on both platforms. Not every post makes sense to repurpose on each or both of these sites, but when it does align, it’s great to be able to do so. If you write a few times a month, I strongly encourage becoming a columnist for a blog related to the discipline you write about. This is a great way to extend the reach of your content as well as build your credibility as a blogger.

#6 Share tips and other easy to package content on SlideShare: If you’re like me and enjoy getting creative with your content, SlideShare is a great place to repurpose your blog posts. Anything you have written about that includes a certain number of tips, or a bulleted list of some sort is easy to start with as each item can become a slide. For instance, it would make sense for me to turn this post into a slide deck to be published on SlideShare. Each tip could be a slide as well as a follow up slide that has a screenshot or more information. Also, SlideShare easily integrates with LinkedIn now, so you can publish your SlideShares to your LinkedIn profile.

#7 Tag relevant followers and friends to posts you share on social media:Tagging friends and followers in posts can make the one being tagged feel special, and it helps multiply your potential audience. You don’t want to spam your friends every time you share a blog post, so be sure to use this tactic sparingly and only if it adds value or is relevant to the people being tagged. However, when done correctly it can really give your content legs. For instance, if I share this post on Facebook and tag 5 friends that I know will be interested in the post, then this link would show up on their timelines as well as my timeline. It could reach 5 times more people than if I just shared the post. Perhaps a less “spammy” way to do this might even be by saying something like, “Thanks to all my favorite bloggers (list their names and tag them here)! Hope my latest post can make your awesome content reach even more people.”

BONUS TIP

Bonus tip! If you are writing for a younger audience or certain niche audiences that have heavy engagement on Instagram (ie. fitness, lifestyle, photography blogs, etc), it would be smart to consider posting the blog there as well. Use a good visual! If it’s a fitness blog post for instance, maybe take a quick video of you exercising or a picture of your healthy meal (whatever is relevant for the post) and then note in the caption that the link is in your profile. Links are only clickable in Instagram when they are in your profile. Be sure to use lots of hashtags when you post it, those are big on Instagram and will attract more of an audience.

There are so many great bloggers that I follow and several of them have content that more people should be reading. I hope this post helps simplify that process for you and helps you reach more people with your valuable content. If you are a blogger and have other tips, please comment below to share with others reading this post.

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How Does Social Media Influence Marketing Communication?

Marketing has been around for a lot more time than we may be tempted to believe. Social media is relatively new when compared with it but there is no way to deny the fact that it is the one medium that had the highest influence ever on marketing. We are going to highlight just some of the ways in which social media influences marketing communication in order to help you to better understand the importance it has in modern business.

 

Image by pixabay.com

 

Two-Way Communication

This is a huge way in which social networks influenced marketing communication. It is not that important for B2B communication as we do tend to use other technologies like modern video conference with Bluejeans but when communicating with the target audience, gaining access to a two-way communication channels is really important. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter allows the target audience to respond to marketing messages. This offers instant feedback and marketers automatically know that they are doing something right as responses are positive. Alternatively, modifications can be done if responses are negative.

Smaller Companies Can be Heard

Social media marketing is practically a gold mine for smaller firms since they can be heard. When dealing with the larger companies, there is no competition in terms of how much money can be invested. There are huge costs associated with regular marketing and social media made it possible for firms with low investment capital to be heard. This lead to some really interesting companies standing out due to the massive exposure that was generated through the use of such communication channels.

A Social Media Revolution

Social media had a huge impact on public relations, marketing and advertising. Companies actually manage to save thousands every year, some every month, thanks to the fact that they manage to move away from the regular channels used: TV, radio and print. We saw the fact that there is a clear increase in the number of ads that are bought in banner form since companies can use social media pages in order to send a message out without having to spend anything.

Target Audience Analysis

Social media brings in so much information about the target audience that a marketing campaign has. It is not that difficult to learn what people love and you can use all the information that is freely available about those individuals you are interested in. Social media is something that you have to use these days because it offers a lot of data. Use that information in order to be successful on the long run.

Social Media Marketing Is Not Easy

Although social media is incredibly useful in helping all marketing communication efforts become more effective, it is really important that you use all channels properly. All companies have to be consistent and use social media in a proper way. One thing that many do not know is that when you use social media channels, you cannot do it sparingly. Have patience and always use your channels in order to improve your marketing channels.

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7 Interesting Facts About Twitter You Didn’t Know and Should

1. Twitter bought Vine for $30 million several months before it was even officially released

2. Twitter’s bird is called Larry

3. The CIA reads up to 5 million tweets a day

4. A day’s worth of tweets would fill up a 10 million page book

5. The official Twitter account of Sweden is given to a random citizen every week

6. “Friendstalker” was one of the early names considered for Twitter

7. 347,000 tweets are sent every minute!

Facts from factslides.com

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Best of April Fools’ Day 2015

April Fools’ Day has grown into the day where companies can release anything that seems absolutely absurd and have people laugh, and maybe even believe them for a minute. Here are some of our favorites from this year:

1. Google

Google allowed Google Map uses to play Pac-Man on their street.  With just a click, users were able to turn their neighborhood into a Pac-Man game.


Image from Google Maps
2. Uber and Tinder


Uber and Tinder teamed up to bring users Tinder for Uber and partner site, Uber for Tinder. Tinder for Uber allowed users to swipe right or left on Uber drivers while Uber for Tinder allowed users to get a Uber to meet their Tinder match. This prank had users wondering why these services did not actually exist.



Image from uberfortinder.com

Image from tinderforuber.com
3. Hulu


Hulu lauched ‘Hulu Pets’ as their April Fools’ Day joke. Hulu Pets is their new streaming service offering shows such as “Wheel of Furtune”, “The Bark” and “The Real Pugs of Portland”. Too bad this ‘premium pet purrrrrgramming’ is only temporary.

Image from Hulu

4. Tesla


Tesla decided they were going to have some fun and release a whole new product line. The first product in this new line is called “Model W”. Their press release said, “As many in the media predicted, it’s a watch. That’s what the “W” stands for watch. This incredible new device from Tesla doesn’t just tell the time, it also tells the date.”  This prank was definitely aimed to poke some competition at Apple.


Image from Tesla

5. Netflix


Netflix decided to warn users about the dangers of binge watching with a 13 video series. They just wanted to remind users to go to work, go outside, see your friends, etc. Netflix just wanted to remind users to “binge responsibly”.


Image from Netflix

What were your favorite April Fools’ Day pranks this year?
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The Beauty of Using Social Media to Further Your Career

If you have a passion for making people beautiful, cosmetology school could be for you.

With more than 1,900 schools throughout the U.S. and with the industry expecting to rise over the next decade, now is the time to turn your dreams into actions and become a licensed cosmetologist.

Did you know that one of the best ways to learn about the industry, choose a school that’s right for you and ultimately find a job in the cosmetology field is with social media?

Social media allows you to connect with both schools and other cosmetologists across the world so you can learn and grow from others that went before you.

Social Media Can Help you with all Things Cosmetology

Social media can help you find the latest news and information regarding cosmetology.

The article “5 Vital skills you can only learn at cosmetology school,” for example, discusses exactly what you will learn while in cosmetology school. These things include all things hair, skin care secrets, finer points of nail care, the intricacies of safety first and how learning is an ongoing process.

This article can be shared across social media with other hopeful cosmetologists to encourage and inspire them to pursue their passion.

Other ways social media can be used in cosmetology include:

Network with cosmetology professionals – If you’re hoping to become a cosmetologist, there’s no better way to see exactly what the profession is like than by connecting with others in the field. You can follow and friend cosmetologists in your area or ones that specialize in an area you hope to specialize in. Reach out and ask them questions and see if they have any tips on which schools are the best to attend.
Find a cosmetology school – Social media can help connect you with the best cosmetology school in your area. You can search for a few schools close to where you live and keep up with their social media pages. You can also ask fellow cosmetologists where they attended school and which school they recommend. All of this can be done through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn and other social networking sites.
Share your passion for cosmetology – If you have a strong passion, why not share it with your friends, family members and others who have the same passion that you do? Social media allows you to share your knowledge with others and give advice in the beauty department to people who are looking for it. After completing your schooling, you are an expert. Share your knowledge across social media.

Connections Are Key

Social media allows people to connect and network with one another.

Whether you are looking to find a cosmetologist in your area, are looking to attend cosmetology school or are looking for a job in the cosmetology field, social media can help by connecting you to the people that have been there before.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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7 Amazing Apple Facts You Didn’t Know and Should

1. Smoking near Apple computers voids the warranty

2. Apple earns US$300,000 per minute

3. Apple has more operating cash that the US Treasury

4. Every Apple iPhone ad displays the time as 9:41 AM, the time Steve Jobs unveiled it in 2007

5. If you use iTunes, you have already agreed not to use Apple products to create nuclear weapons

6. You have a better chance of getting into Harvard University than getting a job at the Apple store

7. The creator of the iPod first offered the idea to Philips and RealNetworks, but they failed to see its potential

Facts from factslides.com

Images from factslides.com 

Thumbnail from factslides.com

 

 

 

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How to Find a Job in a New City (With No Leads)

A lot of people move to new cities without a plan. Some people have jobs lined up well in advance, but others just find themselves in one city or another with no means of employment once they get there. Stuff situated, they need work fast. But it’s easy to take on a bad job in times like this, something to cover the bills. By doing so, many people end up with bad jobs for a long time, ones they have to stick with. Sometimes it pays to take an extra week or two of unemployment, to line up work that really fits you. This way, you’ll have a long term job that you enjoy, that you can build off of. A bad job that you get quick may pay the bills, but it will result in lots of misery while its doing it. Here are two ways to help you find a good job in a new city, even when you don’t know anybody or have any leads to follow up with.

 

Image by pixabay.com

1)    Online Job Listings. This is the obvious answer, but many people don’t dig far enough in this direction. Los Angeles Jobs get posted all over the place, so this one isn’t just as simple as mucking around Craigslist. Think about your field, what you can do, what experience you have. Think of every search term that you can possibly type into your browser, and find those jobs. Even if you’re unable to find open jobs in your field, make a second list of great companies that you would like to work for. Narrow these down to companies that you believe you would be uniquely fitted for. When you have 4 or 5 of these, companies that you really believe you would work out well with, compose a personal letter to each. Tell them who you are, what your experience is, and why you want to work for them in particular. Many companies value excellent employees over almost all else, those who have a great sense of their values and company culture. By speaking directly to this, you may find a company creating a position for you.

Image by freedigitalphotos.net

2)    Meet People. Get to know people in your city. When my wife and I moved to Baltimore, we Couch Surfed with several people our own age who lived around the city. We met some people who have gone on to be some of our best friends. People like this love to tell you about the city they live in. They’ll tell you places you can find to work. They may even work in your field or know someone who does. People naturally look to find ways to help people they like, and couch surfing is an awesome way to ingratiate yourself to new people who are being hospitable to you. Other that couch surfing, there are plenty of clubs, sports, and meetups you can attend to make friends and find out how to get employed.

Sometimes, you’ve just got to move and make it work. These two ways have helped me find jobs in every city I’ve moved, and I know they’ll work for you too.

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One-Press Order Now With Amazon Dash

TechCrunch – Amazon has new hardware called the Dash Button that allows one-press ordering of products you’re likely to want to replace on a regular basis. The Dash Button comes in a number of different branded versions based on what it’s coded to order, and includes an adhesive backing and hook holster to let you stick it where it’s most convenient.

The Dash Button is a natural extension of Amazon’s one-click ordering feature on the web, but turned into a hardware gadget that makes ordering laundry detergent, for instance, as easy as actually starting the wash cycle. Amazon clearly hopes that if you have a physical one-button device near the place where you actually consume these consumables, you’re more likely to have the presence of mind to order them via its service before you run out, when a trip to the corner store might prove more convenient even than home delivery.

You setup Amazon’s Dash Button using the Amazon mobile app, and then connecting to your Wi-Fi network to assign the product you want the Dash Button to order with a single press (limited by brands pictured on the hardware at launch, apparently). Once it’s configured, the button will automatically trigger an order to your default address using your default Amazon payment order, and you can cancel it via your phone should you have second thoughts. Amazon won’t trigger another order made via subsequent button presses until the first one is delivered, the company notes, unless you override that manually.

At launch, the eligible products for the Dash Button include things like toilet paper, cleaning products, juice, personal grooming products, dog food and much more.

The Dash Button is tied to Amazon’s Dash Replenishment service, which will offer direct integration for the same kind of service into devices themselves. Imagine, for instance, a coffee maker that has a button to automatically re-order coffee beans or filters, or a washing machine with a built-in button to order detergent. Amazon has already partnered with a number of companies to make this happen, and will ship the first-such devices this fall. Some products will even auto-detect when they need replacement supplies and order instantly if a consumer enables that feature.

Image from Amazon

Image from Amazon

Article by Darrell Etherington for TechCrunch 

 

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Getting Smart with Text Analytics & Social Data

Ever wonder how brands create campaigns that are spot on? During the Superbowl- Why was Budweiser’s #BestBuds so popular? How did Always nail their #LikeAGirl campaign? The market research industry can claim part responsibility for that. More specifically, there are text analytic software companies that contribute to the success of brand marketing ingenuity.

After picking the brain of Infegy Marketing Director, Rion Martin, I learned that there are multiple branches of data that text analytic companies delve into. By collecting data from various outlets and analyzing them, text analytics companies equip market researchers with information that can better suit future marketing endeavors.

Naturally, given that social data is the world’s largest focus group, our conversation revolved around today’s trending topics. For clients looking to utilize text analytics, it is important for the right data to be collected. It is not as simple as “find all the people who mention my brand.” It’s important to keep a pulse on the industry, competitive products, and existing hashtags. While creating a strategic social media monitoring query can be complex, it’s important to always remember that people freely and publicly post information. And the most exciting of it all -perceptions are changing almost instantly which is what makes text analytics such a powerful tool.

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Play Pac-Man on Google Maps

CNET – Ever imagine what it’d be like to play a monster game of Pac-Man through the streets of your hometown? Now you can, sort of, as Google has built a fully playable game of Pac-Man into Google Maps.

To play the game, simply go to Google Maps in a browser on your computer, or on the updated iOS and Android Google Maps apps, and find a location near you with a good amount of streets.

From there, click the Pac-Man button in the bottom left corner, and Google will transform those streets into a playable version of Pac-Man. The controls are pretty simple: just tap on the up, down, left and right arrows to move Pac-Man around while you collect dots and cherries, all while avoiding being killed by ghosts.

April Fools’ is Wednesday, meaning you’ll see some pretty bizarre things. If this is Google’s idea of an April Fools’ stunt, it’s pretty amazing.

Image from Google Maps

Article by Anthony Domanico for CNET

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