Erik Qualman's Blog, page 632

2013 Black Friday … Is Your Biz Ready?

Even though it is July, IBM is already thinking about the holidays.  They have released its Sixth Annual Online Retail Holiday Readiness Report that reveals some of the most influential commerce trends to expect for the coming season, the factors that drive these and how retailers can prepare for them before Black Friday hits.  The report revels several key trends including:

How mobile is poised to shatter online sales records as mobile sales increased 30 percent in Q2 compared to last year.
Why fickle consumers are jumping from commerce sites (39.2 percent bounce rates) and abandoning shopping carts (70 percent abandonment rate in Q2) in record-high numbers
When customers are most apt to engage in cross-selling opportunities

To download the full report, click: Holiday Readiness Report

It's never to early to prepare for a rainy day or for your business to prepare for Black Friday 2013. IBM runs data to determine how ready your business is.

 

 

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How to Drive Traffic to Your Website Using Facebook

While company owners may know that they need to use social media to promote their SEO efforts they may not understand that that this can also drive traffic to their website.  This aspect of social media marketing can be just as important to any business as the SEO efforts are.  After all, if you are not getting traffic to your website then you are not making any money no matter how high your ranking is.  You need to know how to utilize Facebook to get people looking and buying what you are offering on your website.  Below are some tips on how to drive traffic to your website using Facebook.

Linking to Your Website

The main thing to remember is to include links to your website when you set up your about information on Facebook.  You can also use a custom tab that will direct your fans to your website or you can do both.  When you are posting, make sure that you always offer a link to your website even if you are not posting about a product.  This allows your potential customers who may not have liked your page yet to get to your website easily.  You never want anyone to search for your links because they will get frustrated and they won’t take the time to search for you through search engines.

Have Special Offers for Facebook Users

You want to have special offers that are only for Facebook users as an incentive for buying from your site.  You can create a special code that is put in your checkout page that allows for a certain discount to these customers.  People love to feel like they are included in an exclusive club and they will be more willing to head to your website to start shopping if they are getting a good deal.  This also affords you a loyal fan base that complements the fans you may have purchased when you were starting out and before you had many real fans.

Think About Your Cover Photo

This is a huge piece of landscape on your business page and should be taken advantage of at all times.  Use this to reinforce your branding by adding your website address without the URL to the graphics of the photo, but be careful to only use twenty percent for text.  The URL cannot be included as Facebook does not approve of this but you could use “mywebsite.com” without the “http” in front of it.  You can do a lot with this amount of text space if you make the text small.  Add your tagline and anything else that shows what you offer to customers or clientele.

You can certainly use your social media marketing techniques for strictly SEO purposes but you are missing out on a great deal of traffic to your website.  Consider the above tips as easy ways to get more customers buying your products or services and watch your sales and profits increase more than you ever imagined.

 

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Using social media to make you a better person

Online users create the best version of themselves for all the world to see, but why not use the power of social media to enhance your real life persona? From driving habits to healthy eating, here’s how social networking can offer a sense of community, competition and support to improve our lives.

Productivity and altruism – AOK 

According to a survey by The Future Laboratory and Confused.com, 57% of people in the UK said that they would be more likely to help keep their community clean if some element of competition was introduced. The power of social media in driving this community spirit is evident in operation #riotcleanup, where a co-ordinated group of Facebook and Twitter volunteers helped to clean up the aftermath of the 2011 London riots.

One app that encompasses both the competitive and community aspects of social media is AOK. In this, users record Acts and Observations of Kindness (AOKs) and tag them on a map. These AOKs range from the simplistic (took out the recycling) to the potentially life changing (adopted an abandoned dog). Players can form local or online groups, and leader boards encourage both groups and individuals to outdo one another with their acts of kindness.

 

Health and fitness – Endomondo

Arguably the most popular use of social media for personal betterment is for health and fitness. The Future Laboratory Report found that 35% of people already use apps and social networks to monitor their fitness regime and calorie intake. There are a number of services on the market, but the one that stands out as being socially led is Endomondo.

At the core of this initiative, Endomondo takes the idea that fitness is more successful when you have someone cheering you on, and uses social media to share your workouts with your friends as well as add photos and messages of encouragement. There is also a competitive edge as users can organise challenges and share their progress online, and the site itself hosts regular challenges for competing teams (and even competing countries).

 

Driving – Motormate by Confused.com

If there’s an area where we could all use a little improvement, it’s our driving habits. Even the most self-proclaimed perfect driver has a few bad habits they’re either too proud to admit or simply don’t notice. This is where telematics technology can help. The main aim of telematics is to create a more bespoke profile of how you drive in order to make sure that the insurance premiums you pat are fair and more reflective of the kind of driver you really are. This idea is most popular with younger drivers, with 9 out of 10 of those surveyed in the Future Laboratories report (92%) claiming that they’d made more of an effort to clean up their driving habits if there was an element of financial reward.

The MotorMate by Confused.com app tracks a driver’s acceleration, braking and cornering and gives them a score at the end of each journey to let them know how well they’ve done. The app also allows drivers to share their score to their friends via Facebook, creating friendly competition between drivers who aim to get the highest score. The knock-on effect of this is that, as your driving habits improve (and there is proof of your improvement), your insurance costs could come down as companies see you as a safer driver.

Social networks, when used in the right way, can instil a spirit of community and competition to help you become a better person. Whether it’s trying to shave a few pounds off your car insurance premium, losing a few inches off your waistline or wanting to make your community a better place to live, social media can help you achieve those goals.

Jamie Gibbs writes for car insurance website Confused.com, the pioneers behind the Motormate by Confused.com telematics app. He specialises in motoring, fitness and lifestyle features, and tries to turn most of his daily tasks into a game to keep him motivated.

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Should We Let the CEO Tweet?

A tweeting CEO is music to followers’ ears as long as the chief has something to say that’s worth tweeting.

And, with more and more companies turning to Twitter everyday, CEO birdsong is quickly becoming commonplace.

So, what are some of the benefits of CEO’s tweeting and how can some higher-ups get themselves and the company in hot water when they don’t choose their words wisely?

Some Surprising Statistics

According to Reuters, some of the top CEO’s tweeting are also the most unexpected. With just more than 550 million active Twitter users, one 140-character tweet has the ability to put a CEO in the spotlight.

Stealing the CEO Twitter spotlight is Harpo’s very own Oprah Winfrey with over 15 million followers. And, if that doesn’t surprise you, News Corporation’s old school businessman Rupert Murdoch might with roughly 400,000 followers and growing.

And, in a recent study by BrandFog, 82% of the Twitter users surveyed said they’re more likely to trust a company with a CEO that actively uses social media.

Tweeting Pluses

CEOs that actively tweet are beneficial to businesses in some very unique ways. And, with consumers being more likely to follow a CEO, tweeting is becoming big business.

CEO Involvement – Going along with the idea that a CEO’s tweet is considered trustworthy, a huge plus to tweeting at the chief executive level is the consumer perspective of CEO involvement.

Many people think that executives aren’t really involved in the day-to-day activities of a company, but a CEO that tweets about morning board meetings, talks about company successes, and generally speaks on behalf of the company will come off as more than just a bigwig in the eyes of the consumer.

Direct Feedback – Consumer opinions that find their way to a company middleman may never be utilized, but feedback that’s direct to the CEO is much more likely to influence future business decisions.

When a CEO tweets, people listen and respond. So, CEO’s can use Twitter to not only stay connected with their clientele, but also create an open forum where opinions and comments are appreciated.

Addressing Pertinent Issues – Tweeting is a great way for CEO’s to set the facts straight when issues concerning the company do arise. In most cases, small rumors and inaccuracies are put to rest with a single and effective tweet.

Especially in the case of company rumors, authority tweets from CEOs aren’t only useful in denying or confirming gossip, they’re also helpful with relaying the correct information when brand credibility comes into question.

Tweeting Minuses

Although most CEO’s are responsible with their Twitter accounts, slip-ups are inevitable. And, when those tweeting mistakes are broadcast to millions, the result is company embarrassment or worse if the accident isn’t fixed.

On the less serious end of the Twitter accident spectrum are CEO’s that misspell important words or phrase information awkwardly that’s then re-tweeted from one follower to the next. This happens everyday on Twitter.

As for the catastrophic side of the spectrum, CEO’s that tweet breaking company news before the rest of the company even knows about is a Twitter disaster.

Likewise, CEO’s that unknowingly tweet information that gives other companies an advantage, say for instance future product ideas and release dates when it comes to retail, healthcare recruiting or even new hires , could end up costing the company more than a couple embarrassing re-tweets.

As long as the CEO uses common sense and a second set of eyes before sending each tweet, Twitter is a great tool for both companies and consumers.

Photo credit: inc.com

 

 

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Some Canadian Businesses Who Get Social Media

Canada has been a proven leader in social media adoption since 2001 when more than 40% off the nation’s population had plugged in to Facebook or Twitter.

By 2012 almost half of the population had joined and by 2014 it is estimated at current growth fully 53% will be on social media.

With all of the people in Canada that have joined the social media frenzy, you’d assume that most businesses have, too. Well, that assumption would be incorrect.

Sure, many businesses have websites. However, more people check businesses and their ratings through social networking than through static webpages.

A website is still a great idea, people can find out all of the business or product information on a static website. But social media allows businesses to interact with customers in a more personal way.

Let’s look at who is doing it right in Canada.

Toronto Transit Commission

That’s right, the Toronto Transit Commission or TTC is making use of social media. They’re also doing it better than most.

Their regular website is social and encourages people to like or follow them on other networks.

When there are delays or other transit information the TTC posts or tweets the information. Not only can commuters find out through social networks, the TTC offers SMS messaging.

While waiting for a train commuters can text their destination to the TTC and receive a reply on when their next train will arrive.

Porter Airlines

This airline uses social networking to engage potential customers, communicate delays, and showcase discounts.

Porter Airlines began in 2006 as an affordable airline and alternative to the bigger, well known companies. The airline uses Twitter more than Facebook in order to put fast paced information out for customers on the go.

Smoke’s Poutinerie

Do you love poutine? Maybe you’ve never heard of the Canadian comfort food.

Poutine is a very Canadian fare made up of french fries and cheese curds smothered in gravy. The dish is so popular that there are restaurants devoted to just poutine- Smoke’s is one of them.

Unlike many Canadian businesses, Ryan Smolkin, the founder of Smoke’s Poutinerie, decided to use social networking to its fullest. He has accounts across all social media- YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr.

Smoke’s Poutinerie is well-known for sharing discount, menu items, events, and more on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. There’s an annual poutine eating contest which is advertised on their Facebook landing page. People visiting the page can receive a free ticket and even free poutine for a ‘like’.

More businesses have been encouraged by Canadian citizens that wonder why there isn’t a move toward more social businesses.

Social media makes it easier for customers to interact with a company. Answers to questions, customer service in general is easier in real time.

Not only that, social networking can be a very economical way to generate word of mouth advertising, whether promoting travel, real estate, mobile credit card processing, eateries or just about any other product or service.

The question for your business in Canada, are you being social enough?

Photo credit: archives.com

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Turn to Social Media for Your Next Credit Card

Using social media to find the best credit card isn’t such a strange idea after all.

More people are turning to social networking to connect with businesses, not just friends. Following the businesses you like or are considering via their network accounts makes a lot of sense.

Customer Service

People are finding that they can use social media to solve problems they are having with services or products.

Since so many people are on social networks, it doesn’t make sense for companies to fail to respond to followers or fans. When a question is posted on such an account to ignore it would be bad press.

Customer service on social media is faster, more personal, and less likely to cause the same frustration as with email based service or phone calls. The reason? Social media is viewed by the public. Most companies want to put their best side into view.

Companies of all sorts, not just credit card issuers, find that they are getting kudos for having good social media customer service plans.

Grab Great Deals

Happy customers tend to share their experiences.

If you are in the market for a new card, look to what your friends are saying about their cards. Bad experiences and good experiences are shared by people every day on social networks.

A quick entry into a search bar will show you what people are saying about their companies. Hashtags are easily search through Google or in Twitter’s search bar.

The best deals will tend to show up more often than some, but keep an eye out for deals that are brand new and not on huge ‘trend’ lists yet.

Follow several companies and keep an eye on their pages or feeds for new deals. Changes to programs can come at any time and some may have just the right perks you need for your lifestyle.

Hidden Perks

Every credit card has what is known as hidden perks.

These perks are the less advertised ones, things like extended warranties on purchased merchandise, travel insurance, and more. Because most people do not research every tiny perk, these perks aren’t revealed until after the card is issued to new cardholders.

Social media can help you find these perks as credit card companies want you to know about them. Twitter and Facebook offer a way for card issuers to reach customers and tell them about all of the great hidden perks they offer.

Referrals

Friends might also tell you about their card company.

Ask around, you might come across a very happy friend that has received cash back for referring new customers. Some card companies, including those who offer mobile credit card processing to their vendors, offer referral rewards to customers.

This means that if you sign up and are approved, your friend will receive cash. Then, if you refer people you can earn cash as well. People love free money and sending friends to your company is an easy way to earn.

You can also learn about other lesser known perks such as VIP treatment at some events, cash back, travel miles, and more when you pay attention to what people are saying on social media sites.

So, what has your experience been on social media when it comes to credit cards?

Photo credit: writemoneyinc.com

 

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The Surprising Non-Verbal Power Of Video

Social media groupies and web marketing nerds, this is our world.

758 million people worldwide (over 10% of earth’s total population) watched an average of 79 YouTube videos each in just one month, according to a recent ComScore report.

While the common belief is that the power and popularity of video is created by the way it combines visual & audio messaging, the influence of video is deeper than that.

In his book Honest Signals Dr. Alex “Sandy” Pentland, professor at the MIT Media Lab, has identified four core unconscious, nonverbal ways that humans communicate with one another. They are…

Activity
Interest
Mimicry
Consistency

The most important of these that’s revealed in video is consistency. This is also recognized as fluency. His research shows that people who know what they’re doing and are truly influential have a certain consistency with their rhythm and motion. Sure, it may be practiced – but it’s honest and hard to fake.

More On Face Value

He also goes on to say that the most valuable communications in any organization take place face to face. The power of all the detailed inflections of the human face, not the human voice, is a natural draw for attention.

It’s ironic. Because while our modern offices are surrounded with so many media streams, multiple screens, digital distractions, email, global telephony, memos, reports and yes, PowerPoints; real connections of real value are made by via the human face.

So it’s no surprise that online video and video conferencing have become so popular, so effective and so revealing. It’s our primeval need for face time that drives much of our desire to connect. And it’s also good for business because face time has been proven to generate so much natural productivity in our busy, distraction-ridden offices.

More Options To Make That Face-To-Face Connection

Today’s online options for connecting are advancing over Skype-style technology by leaps and bounds. Here are several to explore…

Adobe Connect lets you engage from virtually any device by way of an always-on URL which acts as digital office where you can securely store all of your files, documents, layouts and notes.

Bravo Video, a user generated online video platform lets users record and contribute video right from their webcam, smartphone or tablet in just two clicks. And as a host you can control all contributions and where to use them.

HD Video Conferencing from web and video conferencing giant Go-To-Meeting, is now available in beta for their larger plans. This crystal-clear format offers the best possible online HD resolution for conferencing.

As it turns out, using video to connect is very natural – and very human. Think about the many ways you can engage with it in your social media and web marketing efforts.

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Facebook VS. Google [Infographic]

How do the two biggest websites in the world, Facebook and Google, compare in terms of traffic and revenue? We found this unique infographic that lays Google and Facebook’s statistics out very clearly, including things like various companies that Facebook and Google have purchased, and the total number of employees of each company. We didn’t expect to see these results!

Via: Boostlikes.com

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Via: Boostlikes.com
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Are Networks Relying Too Much on Twitter?

Twitter is a great way to provide breaking news to a large audience within a matter of minutes.

However, tweets are not always accurate. Spreading rumors and inaccurate information can be very problematic when networks and the public that rely too much on Twitter for breaking news.

Breaking News Alerts

Twitter provides a great platform for delivering news.

After all, news networks can’t constantly cut into regularly scheduled programming. And not all news requires a lengthy news article to be compiled for network websites, which makes short tweets a great way to provide updates.

One of the greatest features about spreading news on Twitter is the way social media can spread. People don’t have to be tuned into news sites to hear about the latest story.

Instead, if it’s truly breaking news, it’s likely to be retweeted over and over so family and friends who aren’t as tuned in will still become aware quickly.

Another great feature is that people can become aware of breaking news on twitter no matter where they are. Smart phones allow people to receive news whether they’re at home, at work, or shopping at the store.

Inaccurate News

One of the biggest problems with Twitter is that the news isn’t always accurate.

Networks race to be the first to pass along juicy tidbits and new information. However, their quest to be the first means they often send out tweets without verifying information or having the whole story.

Several major events have showcased exactly how Twitter can serve as a reliable breaking news platform but also how it can be horribly inaccurate.

The Boston bombings, for example, allowed people who were at the scene to post what was happening minute by minute and even offer pictures from the scene. However, at the same time, many people spread inaccurate reports about what had happened.

In the days following the bombings, many networks raced to report information on suspects and the police investigation. CNN and the Associated Press even reported that a suspect was in custody several days before any arrests were actually made.

Another event that quickly led to gross inaccuracies being spread quickly over Twitter was the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford. Many major news outlets spent hours reporting on the fact that the congresswoman was dead.

It wasn’t until hours later that many news outlets, including National Public Radio, came forward to report the inaccurate tweets.

Problems with Correcting Inaccurate Tweets

It’s not easy to try and correct inaccurate tweets. Simply deleting a tweet doesn’t do the trick because it’s likely already been retweeted hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

Most news organizations try to send out a corrected tweet as soon as inaccuracies have been discovered. However, the damage has often already been done.

Many journalists argue that Twitter isn’t unlike any other forms of media as many networks report inaccurate information at times on live air or in newspapers and Twitter is just one more news source.

It’s wise to be skeptical of the latest breaking news on Twitter.

Until stories have been confirmed, it’s important for networks to be careful about what they’re tweeting if they want to be seen as a reliable source of news.

Photo credit: Wired.com

About the Author: Amy Morin writes about psychology and business, as well as business people, such as Steve Wynn.

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Using Social Media to Nail the Right Career

Social media provides an opportunity to learn about a variety of job opportunities all over the world with just a couple of clicks.

Leveraging the power of social media can help you land the career you’ve been dreaming about.

1. Advertise Yourself

In the past, people created paper resumes that were mailed to companies that were advertising job openings. However, social media has completely changed that concept.

Now, you don’t have to wait for companies to do the advertising. Instead, advertise yourself and companies will find you.

You can advertise your skills, education, and past job experiences in a variety of ways. Of course you can post an online resume to a variety of social media sites but it doesn’t have to end there.

Grab the attention of even more potential employers by creating a video resume and posting it on YouTube. You can also build your own website that includes text, graphics and videos outlining what you’re looking for in a career.

2. Network with People

Obviously, the main advantage to social media is the ease of networking. Harness the power of “who you know” and it can be a great way to get your foot in the door with some impressive companies.

Make it known that you’re looking for work. Tell your Facebook friends what type of job you’re looking for. Even if none of your friends have a career in that field, they may know someone who does.

Use other social media sites, such as LinkedIn to connect with a variety of professionals. Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to the type of career you are interested in and join in the discussions to gain exposure.

3. Check out Social Media Job Boards

There are a variety of job boards for various careers advertised on social media. You just have to know where to look.

Look for industry specific job boards on Facebook or through LinkedIn. Ask other professionals where they find job opportunities and openings and you’ll likely receive a lot of responses.

Keeping up with job boards via social media can help you stay current with the latest job opportunities all over the world.

4. Build Professional Profiles

Create as many professional profiles as possible. A strong social media presence is likely to open more doors for you.

Make sure you have social media profiles with the major social media sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Don’t forget other sites such as Foursquare, Instagram, and Vine.

Also, create a Klout profile and work to improve your Klout score. Many companies are inquiring about applicant’s Klout score as part of the hiring process and having a decent score can help you land the job.

5. Develop a Blog

Create your own blog and it will increase your chances of attracting companies who are looking to hire. It can also be a great way to showcase your knowledge of a specific industry.

If you’re not quite sure what career path you’d like to take, you can even blog about that. Talking about various career paths and the pros and cons of each can be a productive way to get discussions started.

The goal is to make people and companies aware of your job search, especially when in search of jobs paying great salaries in today’s challenged economy.

Use the power of social media to attract attention and help you nail the right career.

Photo credit: expectingchange.com

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