Erik Qualman's Blog, page 568

Operating on Social Media for Medical Information

Those that live in cities and near medical facilities might take for granted the availability of healthcare.

It’s easy to pop in a doc in the box or run in to see your practitioner on a few hours’ notice. If a specialist is needed, they’re usually right there, too.

But what about those who don’t have such accessible health care, maybe due to location for those in more rural areas.

Are there other ways of gaining information?

Social Media

Social media is big; we all know that.

We can learn from social media, connect through it and engage using social media. It’s not so far-fetched to use social media for medical needs.

And this can go both ways – doctors, hospitals and medical clinics can use social media to reach out to patients and at the same time, patients can use it to reach doctors and staff as well.

Doctors, Staff and Facilities to Patients:

Doctors can use social media to reach out to patients in a variety of ways.

One example is posting medical research and findings on social media and getting it to their patients. The same goes for hospitals and clinics – if they are opening new departments, hiring new physicians or implementing new care protocol, they can publish it in social media.

Social media is a great platform for general material to get out to patients.

Even texts can be used for appointment reminders and invoice notices, but personal information should never be disseminated through social media.

Patients Gaining Information:

Just as doctors can release information to their patients through social media, patients can use it to connect with doctors or other patients through groups and social networks.

Again, confidentiality is key here, especially when it’s a doctor/patient communication, but patients on social network sites can learn a lot from one another’s experience and medical journeys.

Reaching a Broader Area

As the following article shows, in November of 2014, headlines hit of the USDA Announces $10 Million in Healthcare Grants.

These grants can make it much easier for those in rural areas to gain needed medical information and care.

Because of geographic areas and barriers, poor nutrition and difficult access to medical care, those in rural areas often have more healthcare issues than those with better access to healthcare and information.

With this grant, more people can gain the access they need, and social media will probably be a big part of getting the information out there.

Again, the Internet offers capabilities that people didn’t have even a decade ago.

With better information dissemination, people can learn better daily habits to keep themselves healthy, and when to seek care when they may need it, even through social media.

 

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#LikeAGirl Dominates Super Bowl #LikeAGirl

It’s rare following the Super Bowl spectacle for one Super Bowl message to be viewed as the clear winner of the night, the clear talking point. Super Bowl 2015 will be known as the night the world got behind the #LikeAGirl movement. If you missed the motivating min-documentary you can view it here: http://youtu.be/XjJQBjWYDTs

#LikeAGirl

Of course, I might be biased. I am the proud father of two girls and spouse to an incredible wife. My entire Equalman Studios team is comprised of only females and my team amazes me every day by their passion, talent, selflessness and drive. That’s right, I’ve been fortunate in both my personal and business life to be surrounded by girls and I hope they continue to reach new heights #LikeAGirl. It’s their strength that makes me and others better everyday by their #LikeAGirl acts of kindness, bravery and ingenuity.

The video sponsored by Always is directed by documentary filmmaker Lauren Greenfield. People in the film are asked to demonstrate what doing things ”like a girl” means to them. For example “throw like a girl.” Many respond with lackluster or silly efforts. The younger girls (8-12 years old), however, take an opposite approach. The epitome of these motivating young girls is one responding that “running like a girl” means “running as fast as you can.” I could not agree more. To all the grils in the world I say keep on running all the way to the top of the mountain #LikeAGirl. The video has since been viewed more than 80 million times in 150 countries.

#LikeAGirl

There are detractors that argue it’s the Always brand simply trying to sell more feminine hygiene product. While this argument has merit, I personally believe it’s never a bad thing when we can help young females increase their confidence during a very challenging age that is lined with many emotional hurdles inside and outside the hallways of middle and high school. I know this, if more people acted #LikeAGirl the world would be a better place.

 

 

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Why We Love Social Media Analytics (And You Should, Too!)

Social Media Analytics is a powerful means to discover the exact customer sentiment which takes off the lead in attaining a better social position in the market. Keeping aside the obstructions that might come in the way while tapering down the amount of “Big Data” collected from social media platforms, analysis is of a great help to all the businesses that wish to be an active part of an actionable insight.

Social Media Analytics helps companies harness the importance of every bit of data hence collected, and take decisive actions across the entire enterprise.
The activities range from the identification of new patterns and trends for the product development team, to the protection of brand image and dividing customers into micro segments.
Then refining the marketing campaigns accordingly, in a way improving and upgrading the overall customer experience, leveraging great profits to your business.

The analysis procedure nails its importance in 2015 as well as it helps to:-

Tracking the influence of social media optimization, five major social media platforms introduced there specific analytics tool in order to bond with their customers better, in other words analysis led to a cohesive customer relationship.

Facebook-In the authoritative board of a Facebook brand page, there are a mixed bag of experiences to reference. The key here is regularly not in a solitary number. It will rely on upon the objective. On the off chance that the objective is to just serve a post to 1,000 individuals and you can see the number arrived at will be no less than 1,000, well then – objective accomplished.

It is additionally useful to analyze the quantity of fans arrived at straightforwardly with those arrived at through an alternate kind of post.

Twitter- twitter has recently come up with its analytics tool, which is now open to everyone with a twitter ad account, after a simple log in. the analytics product is only accessible through the twitter ad account via the twitter ad tool.

The dashboard is ultimately a handy means to tell you how well each of your updates on Twitter’s public profile have performed. You can track your impressions, replies and clicks on a daily basis and analyze your own social media strategies.

Pinterest-The extent that Pinterest goes, probably the most valuable data comes as alluding pins. In the event that you are now a Pinterest devotee, then you realize that sticks are the things inside gatherings alluded to as “boards.”

An uncontrollably prevalent pin could possibly be stuck onto every one of your boards to increase significantly more referral activity since not every guest takes a gander at each one board. This is best for brands that have various boards and a wide mixed bag of boards and pins.

LinkedIn- the analytics tab in LinkedIn provides users with the clear metrics about the company page which is again bifurcated into three other sections namely- updates, followers and visitors. It is a graphical representation of the incoming and outgoing communication and also a brief idea about the engagement that takes place.

The graph displays the ratio of engagement and also potential engagement that might take place in context with the communication that goes out through the mouthpiece of a particular brand. It can be helpful in both the sponsored as well as organic campaigns.

YouTube-It is getting to be clear that social networking examination are not generally as basic as ROI and KPIs, however they are most valuable in interpreting what it is about promoting through this media that draws consideration and whose consideration it draws.

There are YouTube measurements for demographics, however its difficult to say how precise the data is considering countless are not logged in with accessible information. An exceptionally helpful understanding in YouTube is the group of onlookers maintenance chart.

Whether you’re an enormous or little organization, in case you’re contributing time, cash, and exertion into social networking, than you ought to utilize social networking investigation to see the entire picture of your work. Begin utilizing examination to track your online networking endeavors today and make sense of the best recipe for accomplishment for you and your organization tomorrow.

 

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Trending: Apple may be the largest smartphone seller

Apple has fallen behind Samsung in smartphone sales, until now. In the last three months of 2014 Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones. Huffington Post reported that according to Ben Bajarin, principal analyst at Creative Strategies, that was more than any other company sold during those three months. While Samsung does not release exact numbers they said they sold between 71 million and 76 million but it was estimated by Bajarin they sold about 72 million phones in that same time period.

TIME reported that various analysts are doubting whether or not Apple did sell more than Samsung and are calling it a tie. Alex Fitzpatrick said, “A tie game means we’re headed to overtime. Whether Apple can hold on to its maybe-possibly-kind-of lead over Samsung depends on how its newest iPhone models perform as their shine wears off.” Samsung is rumored to reveal a new phone early this year while Apple won’t reveal new phones for a few months.

Image from reuters.com

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Trending: Snapchat Discover

On Tuesday, Snapchat launched a new feature called Discover. Snapchat says that Discover is a “new way to explore Stories from different editorial teams.” As of now these editorial teams include CNN, Comedy Central, Cosmopolitan, Daily Mail, ESPN, Food Network, National Geographic, People, Vice, Yahoo! News and Warner Music Group.  Discover acts as Stories by letting the editors post daily stories which expire after 24 hours, like all Snapchat stories do. Snapchat says Discover is easy to use, simply tap to open an edition, swipe left to browse Snaps or swipe up on a Snap for more.

Have you checked out Snapchat Discover yet? What do you think of the update?

Image from techcrunch.com

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Trending: Amazon competes with Microsoft and Google for Corporate Email

Amazon has announced that uses are now able to sign up to preview their new service, WorkMail. WorkMail was created by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is a secure, managed business email and calendaring service.  WorkMail allows users to access email contacts and calendars using Microsoft Outlook. Mashable says that two vital features of the web service will be the ability for companies to control the encryption keys to their data and being able to have their WorkMail email content stored in designated countries which is a large security benefit. Other benefits include Outlook compatibility, anywhere access, active directory integration and low cost.

WorkMail will cost $4 per email per month compared to $5 per email per month from competitors Microsoft and Google. Targeted at corporate companies, Reuters reported that email could be a $1 billion opportunity for Amazon.

 

Image from aws.amazon.com

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The Power of Social Media for the Consumer

It seems everything these days is expensive.

It all costs money, and usually lots of it, from food to family and from cars to college.

Consumers are fortunate, though, to be able to use social media to their advantage and find the best cost and way to buy and pay for certain things.

Whether you’re looking at calculators or what’s for dinner, take a look at social media to help out and empower you regarding your family’s spending.

When your kids are young…

Little kids cost money; there’s a lot of spending that goes on. Take a look at social media for some of these things:

• Play classes – Many times a new mommy wants to get her toddler into a play class. Hop on social media to find some of the best deals in your area for this.

• Preschool – Preschool costs can vary immensely. It’s almost like applying to college (well not really, but there are some similarities). Check out social media to help guide you through this, from what kind of school you want to the hours you want to what you’ll be paying.

• Free stuff – Don’t neglect the fine art of free. From free museum days to story times to craft classes – you can often use social media to find fun things to do that don’t cost any money.

As they get older…

With bigger kids comes bigger spending.

It would be nice if the reality of “Oh, they’re out of diapers -how much money I’ll save” and then “Oh, no more paying for preschool because they’re in public school” matched what we thought it would be, but there’s always something else to take the place of the money you’re not spending anymore.

So look at these things for saving:

• Shoes and clothes – whether it’s for their sport or just because it’s the in thing, your kids will want certain clothes and shoes. Hop on social media to look for sales from your favorite stores or to be the first to get coupons and discounts.

• Sports and activities – If your child is into sports or other activities, you need to sign them up. Investigate the best team, area and level you want to be involved in through social media.

• College and other academic endeavors – It all starts with social media sites now. You can learn a lot about costs and fees through social media, and this will be a big factor in making these choices.

As the following article, “Adoption questions about the cost of raising a child” looks at, maybe you are considering adoption, whether you already have children or not.

Finances should be considered about the costs involved in adoption and raising the child.

• You can find groups through social media that are doing the same thing as you and a lot of your questions can be answered.

• You can find the best route to take in your area to see an adoption through, and not be surprised about the costs involved.

• Social media can offer you and your child a network to be part of throughout his or her childhood and beyond.

Social media has evolved into one of the consumer’s best resources, no matter what you’re looking to spend or save on.

When it comes to family matters of finance and spending, don’t forget to check out social media before those purchases.

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5 Tips for Digital Startups

The main problem of most startups is that their founders concentrate too much on exactly what they are working on and often neglect everything that doesn’t constitute the subject of their innovation. As a result, they often lose chances to increase the efficiency of their business that are right under their noses. Look through our list – we are sure you will find a point or two of interest.

1.      Start Small but Think Big

In order to have more than a so-so success, you have to build proprietary technology that is at least ten times as good as its closest analog in some respect. If you cannot create real advantage over competitors, you will never achieve much.

2.      Specialize

Users tend to give preference not to the products that can do a little bit of everything, but to those that do one thing, but do it really well. In other words, don’t try to be everything for everyone – be specific about what it does and prove that it can deliver.

3.      Find a Co-Founder with Programming Background

If you have a killer idea for a new app, it is wonderful. You may always hire a coder or outsource the task of actually implementing this idea – but it would be a much better idea to start this new business with a co-founder with some background in this field. He doesn’t even have to be an excellent coder – he simply should be able to think in the categories of programming, which will make the process of turning the idea into reality much smoother.

4.      Bring Your Own Device

Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD for short, is a new model that is getting more and more popular with smaller digital businesses and allows them to save a lot of money. Basically, it means that each employee brings his own laptop, tablet, smartphone and suchlike and uses it for work. There are some challenges (for example, how to make all this varied mess work together) but in terms of economy it is well worth it.

5.      Perfect UX and UI

It’s difficult to underestimate the importance of good website or mobile application for your business. Good usability influences conversions and in fact, this is the main thing that can bring your visitors to your customers. According to Magicdust – Sydney web design company, startups that pay attention to their design and turn to help of professional services are more successful than their competitors.

Do you have any of your own ideas that can be of use for startup owners? If so, share them in comments!

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How to Effectively Use Social Media in the Real Estate Industry

Social media is now considered a critical component of nearly every organization’s internet marketing strategy. This is particularly true in B2C industries where companies succeed based on visibility, relevancy, and engagement.

While real estate professionals once relied heavily on print advertisements, physical signage, and word of mouth, the industry’s marketing efforts are now largely defined by how well they utilize the internet and various social media platforms. The issue you must consider is whether or not you’re getting the most from the tools you have at your disposal. When used properly, social media can serve as a multi-purpose tool that helps you build a brand, network, and reach a larger market.

Using What You’ve Got  

One excuse that many professionals make regarding social media is they don’t know where to start. They claim there are too many platforms and they don’t have time to learn about them. These are usually half-hearted attempts to ignore making a change, but what these individuals don’t know is they are actually rather simple. There are five basic platforms you’ll want to use, and each is surprisingly intuitive. Here’s what you’ll use them for:

Facebook. As the staple social media site, this will be your hub. Here’s where you want to start building a community and interacting with followers. The most important things you can do on Facebook are to keep updated contact information and post regularly.


Twitter. This is a great place to send out quick messages and advertise new listings. Twitter is an excellent source of traffic generation and can help you engage a completely new demographic.


Instagram. Many industries struggle to find Instagram useful. Thankfully, real estate is not among them. Use Instagram to post pictures of properties and market your listings.


Pinterest. You can use Pinterest in the same way that you use Instagram; it’s a great place to curate images and content from across the web. You can delegate specific boards to categories like architecture, design, dream homes, and local listings.


YouTube. Videos are extremely powerful and have the greatest likelihood of going viral on the internet. While YouTube will likely be the most time-intensive platform of the five, it could also provide the highest return. It’s best use is as a virtual showing tool.

Tips to Get You Started  

You could spend weeks, even months studying social media and researching how to get the most out of specific platforms, but the best thing you can do is start. It’s a learning process and the sooner you begin implementing new elements, the faster you’ll notice a return. Here are a few helpful tips to get you started:

Be consistent. It’s a basic marketing principle, but you must remember to focus on producing a consistent message. From the images and avatars you implement to the tone of voice you use throughout your content, keep everything consistent. Consumers thrive on security and naturally trust businesses they feel comfortable with.


Listen up. The problem businesses have when using social media is they forget to listen. They consistently push out good, quality content, but rarely take the time to answer questions or engage their followers. One of the best things you can do is listen to your followers and learn from them.


Focus on visibility. Thin social media profiles can be worse than no representation at all. Do your best to stay active and build an active community. One good way to let clients know you exist on social media is by adding social buttons to your website, much like Fox & Roach, Realtors does at the top of their site.


Follow the 30-60-10 rule. The 30-60-10 rule states that 30 percent of what you share should be original content you’ve created, 60 percent should be useful industry content that you’ve curated, and 10 percent should be self-promotional content with direct calls-to-action.


Invest locally. Always remember that real estate is local. Unless you deal with a lot of out of town investors, 99 percent of your clientele is going to be local. That means the content you produce and conversations you engage in should be community-driven. Talk about a new restaurant down the street or the hometown baseball team; you want people to associate you with the community.

Get Started Today

Thankfully, social media requires very little upfront cost – if any. You can sign up for these five major platforms, free of charge, and get started today. While there is certainly much to learn, begin with the basics and take things slowly. Remember these helpful tips and discover what you’ve been missing.

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How Construction Companies are Leveraging Social Media

One thing in 2015 is quite clear; social media isn’t going anywhere. From the local coffee shops to Fortune 500 companies, social media will play a large role in nearly every business marketing plan this year.

While some find using social media to be easy, others struggle to find their place in what can seem like crowed internet space. For some time, many construction companies fell into that category and wondered if they could leverage social media in a cost-effective way. Now, more than ever, the answer to this question is becoming clear.

The State of Social Media in the Construction Industry

You might not think of the construction industry as tech-savvy, but a recent survey from

The Construction Marketing Association might surprise you. According to those surveyed, 97 percent of construction professionals are active on social media. That’s a striking 7 percent year-over-year growth rate and shows that social media is more than a passing fad.

When compared with the previous year’s data, it’s interesting to note that blogging, posting videos on YouTube, and Tweeting have increased 8, 12, and 13 percent, respectively. These are surprising statistics for an industry that was once primarily fueled by word of mouth marketing. Times are certainly changing for everyone, including construction companies.

How Construction Companies are Using Social Media

With such a large majority of construction companies using social media, it’s worth taking a look at how it’s being used and which tools are most effective. Accord Construction, one of the leading roofing companies in Oklahoma City says, “We’ve seen all kinds of creative campaigns and unique strategies over the past couple years. What we’ve discovered, though, is that customer engagement is the key to everything you do.” 

Most would agree with this, as the number of likes and shares a social media post gets helps determine how long it’s visible in news feeds. Obviously, the longer a post can stay visible, the better. Here are a few strategies commonly used for increasing engagement and reaching customers:

Create a buzz. Anything that draws people in and encourages a second look is great. Many companies find success by creating a buzz around a particular topic by using compelling images, inserting crisp ad copy, and curating fresh, relevant content.


Ask for participation. Social media is designed by nature to be social. It’s intended to bring multiple parties together for conversation and engagement. However, many people remain silent observers until convinced they should be an active participant. Companies have found the most success when they implement specific calls-to-action that ask users to make a suggestion, provide an insight, or give feedback.


Become a thought leader. For companies who are extremely knowledgeable, especially in their particular niche, social media provides an excellent opportunity for promoting thought leadership and engaging users. By producing quality content and providing helpful suggestions for users, some construction companies have been able to develop a tight-knit online community.

The 40-40-20 Rule

When using social media, construction companies should remember to follow the 40-40-20 rule as a guideline for what to post. This popular rule of thumb states that on any platform, 40 percent of communication should involve sharing useful industry information, 40 percent should consist of direct interaction with users, and 20 percent should be self-promotion.

Those companies who follow the 40-40-20 rule and effectively engage with customers have been most successful at properly leveraging social media. As any skill does, social media takes time to develop and perfect. It’s something that requires daily attention and ongoing effort, so remain patient and give it your best shot.

Succeeding at Social Media in 2015

If your construction company wants to remain competitive this year, it’s apparent that social media is one tool you’ll need. No longer can you rely on simple print advertisements or word of mouth; you’ll need to take a strategic, dynamic approach to marketing.

For best results, set aside 30 minutes, twice a day for social media. If possible, dedicate 30 minutes around mid-morning and another 30 minutes towards the end of the work day. Use this time to post content, interact with followers, and optimize your pages. After a few months, you’ll likely begin to see the positive effects of social media on your company.

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