Erik Qualman's Blog, page 644
January 4, 2013
Youtube deletes videos that buy fake views; including Rihanna and Justin Bieber
Youtube has finally taken a step further in its war against fake views, deleting thousands of videos that received ‘unnatural’ views during the past few months. Each of these users received a warning email clearly stating that this is a breach of Youtube terms of service and that if they are caught again, their account will be terminated.
Here is an excerpt from the email: “This following video was found in Violation of TOU #4 Section H: ‘You agree not to use or launch any automated system, including without limitation, robots, spiders, or offline readers, that accesses the Service in a manner that sends more request messages to the YouTube servers in a given period of time than a human can reasonably produce in the same period by using a conventional on-line web browser.”
This has created some controversy as some users claiming to never have bought views also had their videos deleted, and they have no way to contact Youtube to make an ‘appeal’ and have their video restored. See such claims in this Google forum: https://productforums.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/youtube/RTeFVXWsMTs
Universal Music and Sony, homes of all the major artists worldwide like Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Madonna, Katy Perry, Alicia Keys, Beyonce etc. had many of their videos deleted which added up to 2 Billion fake Youtube views. Read the full article in the Daily Mail by clicking here.
Buy More Fans, a business selling Youtube views, comments on this issue:
“We have been doing this for 5 years and Youtube knew about it the entire time; if a user bought views while having Adsense ads on their channel, they just wouldn’t get paid for those ads, otherwise it would be cheating Youtube to earn income. We used various techniques that never bothered Youtube. Only 5 of our customers made claims claims, although we supplied views for hundreds of videos. There has been many updates by Youtube and we always found a new way to deliver views, but none of those updates have threatened users to have their account deleted… Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have not gotten too serious about this yet, which is good for us.”
In fact, Facebook recently took action against fake Facebook fans as well, when it ‘clamped down on fake Likes’ back in September, resulting in a drop of likes up to 1% even on certain famous Facebook pages (See full article at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2196808/Facebook-clamps-fake-Likes.html).
Could this possibly be the end of fake views? As we speak, a quick Google search shows us that hundreds of sellers still offer users the possibility to buy Youtube views, Facebook likes, Twitter Followers, Instagram Followers… and the list goes on.
Whether it is or not the end of fake views, it’s a great reminder for all of us to focus on what really matters when it comes to video marketing: creating great content.
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January 3, 2013
Travel the Roads of Social Media
Whether you are a seasoned travel agent or just starting in the business, social media can be a great tool for you to promote your company and the trips it offers.
That being said, just exactly what percentage of travel agents actually engage in and know how to properly use social media?
According to a 2011 report from L2, social media was determined to be a major source of referral traffic to 78 percent of travel websites. For 90 percent of those in the survey, social media platforms were the number one downstream sites for users following a visitation to a travel site.
By simply taking the time and effort to become a player on social media, travel agents/companies can use Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and other such venues to reach out to unlimited customers. In doing so, they stand to increase their revenue stream over time, allowing them to grow their business.
So, what should travel agents and/or companies do to become more socially active with the public? Among the items to focus:
* Social media presence – First and foremost, make sure you get social media to begin with. In many industries, small business owners and even some of the larger companies still do not fully get how social media can help them. Other than time and effort, social media is relatively free to use, so why wouldn’t you take advantage of it in the first place? If your travel agency is not yet involved in social media, make it a priority in 2013;
* Social media promotion – Once you have your social media tools in place, make sure you are properly promoting your efforts. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest etc. are the top players these days, but there are other venues out there too. Whichever ones you choose to use, make sure the public is aware of your whereabouts. Use your website, business cards, newsletters, blog posts (see below) etc. to promote your social media efforts. If you don’t spread the word, you are not being very social. You should also utilize keywords in order to better locate travelers who are searching for the exact services that your agency offers;
* Blogging – One of the great ways to promote your travel agency is through your company blog. Whether you offer deals for out in the country getaways, fun in the big city, Waikiki hotels or global destinations, talking about it on your blog is great advertising. Along with using your company blog, look to promote your blog by guest blogging on other related sites. For instance, take your travel agency blog and offer posts to restaurants or car rental companies in the desired area. In turn, they can provide you with articles from their industries on your site that would be of interest to travelers. You both win given the added exposure that the posts will receive;
* Follow your brand – As you are promoting your travel agency on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other sites, make sure you stay engaged. Such sites are a great way for you to see what is being said about your company, both good and bad. If there are issues with your company from disgruntled customers, use social media to try and resolve the matter. By listening to and properly reacting to social media chatter, you can get great feedback from the public, feedback you may otherwise not receive. Most importantly, be professional when responding to any customer inquiries;
* Reward consumers – Lastly, increase the chances of building a solid following on social media by rewarding those who follow and “friend” you. Make available special deals and prizes like discounts on trips etc. on your social media pages, thereby increasing the chances of getting more people to your pages. As you do this, the word will spread and your company name gets more recognition.
With new opportunities ahead for you in 2013, travel the road to properly using social media in order to land more customers.
Photo credit: 123rf.com
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January 1, 2013
Social Media Video 2013
Social Media Video 2013: The future is all about digital media. You, as supporters and fans of Socialnomics understand this and is why you demanded a revised version of my book Socialnomics and its Social Media Revolution video – the are both finally here! Please enjoy and thanks for all the support.
Social Media Video 2013 | New Music
Social Media Video 2013 | Fatboy Slim Music
Social Media Statistics 2013 from Video
Over 1 billion users on Facebook
If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 3rd largest and 2x the size of the U.S. population
Over 50% of the world’s population is under 30-years-old
Each day 20% of Google searches have never been searched before
In 10 years over 40% of the Fortune 500 will no longer be here
Social Media has overtaken porn as the #1 activity on the Web
1 in 5 couples meet online; 3 in 5 gay couples meet online
1 in 5 divorces are blamed on Facebook
What happens in Vegas stays on YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook…
Ford Explorer launch on Facebook more effective than a Super Bowl Ad
69 percent of parents said they are currently “friends” with their children on a social media site
92% of children in the US have a digital footprint/shadow
Every second 2 new members join LinkedIn
More members join LinkedIn per day than the entire enrollment of all the IVY League Schools
Social Gamers to buy 6 billion in virtual goods by 2013; movie goers only buy 2.5 million in concessions
Every minute 72 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube
If Wikipedia were made into a book it would be 2.25 million pages long
97% of Pinterest Facebook Fans are Women
53% of people on Twitter recommend products in their Tweets
90% of people trust online recommendations from people they know
Only 14% trust traditional TV advertisements
New Yorkers received tweets about an east coast earthquake 30 seconds before they felt it
93% of marketers use social media for business
Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Katy Perry have more Twitter followers than the entire populations of Germany, Turkey, South Africa, Canada, Argentina, United Kingdom, Egypt
“We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO it.” – Erik Qualman
“We will non longer search for products and services, they will find us via social media.” – Erik Qualman
“Social Media isn’t a fad, it’s a fundamental shift in the way we communicate.” – Erik Qualman
“The ROI of social media is that your business will still exist in 5 years.” - Erik Qualman
Keynote speaker: Delivering a Socialnomics Keynote for Starbucks
Social Media Statistics Sources:
USA Today
Wikipedia Country Populations
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/broker http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/wor... [roughly 52% based on table data] | 2010 U.S. 310,232,863 | 2010 World 6,814,609,654 | 30 and under: 3,548,760,268 / 6,814,609,654 = 52% http://sasweb.ssd.census.gov/idb/worldpopinfo.html
Infographic supplied by Awareness
Babson Olin School of Business Advertisement, Fast Company April 2011, page 121. 40% of companies at top of fortune 500 rankings were no longer there in 2010
Source: Huffington Post
Michael J. Rosenfeld, Stanford University* and Reuben J. Thomas, The City College of New York; Meeting Online: The Rise of the Internet as a Social Intermediary,Page 46, Via: Adam Gorlik, “Forget Cupid. Online connections have valentines falling in love, Stanford researcher says,” Stanford University News,
1 out of 5 is also supported by Match.com Blog
Tony Cooper, ”One in Five U.S. Divorces Fueled by Facebook, Social Media, Recent survey by AAML shows Facebook-related antics, extramarital activity burgeoning,” San Diego News ,
Opinion, not a statistic
eMarketer http://www.emarketer.com/mobile/article_m.aspx?R=1008262
Mamapedia http://www.mamapedia.com/voices/placeholder-liberty-mutual
CNN http//www.cnn.com/2012/TECH/social.media/10/07/baby.pictures/index.html
LinkedIn Press Center
2 new members join LinkedIn every second 2 x 60 seconds = 120 per minute x 60 minutes per hour = 7200 per hour x 24 hours = 172,800 members per day
social gamers bought $2.2 billion in virtual goods; Predicted to increase to $6 billion by 2013. (NPD Group) | Movie goers buy less than ½ this in concessions ( http://www.hoovers.com/movie-theatres/–ID__286–/freeuk-ind-fr-profile-basic.xhtml)
YouTube Press Statistics
If Wikipedia were made into a book it would be 2.25 million pages long – that would take you over 123 years to read (50 pages per day x 365 days). (Karen Valby, “I’m Diderot…Bitch.,” Fast Company, April 2011, page 106)
Mashable: http://mashable.com/2012/02/25/pinterest-user-demographics/
Source: 53% of people on Twitter recommend companies and/or products in their Tweets, with 48% of them delivering on their intention to buy the product. (ROI Research for Performance, June 2010) http://www.bazaarvoice.com/social-commerce-statistics
Source: 90% of consumers online trust recommendations from people they know; 70% trust opinions of unknown users. (Econsultancy, July 2009) via Bazaarvoice
Source: “Marketing to the Social Web,” Larry Weber, Wiley Publishing 2007
Washington Post
93% of marketers use social media for business http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-marketing-industry-report-2011
http://twittercounter.com/pages/100 and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population
Book Erik Qulaman for your next Social Media Keynote Speaker
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December 31, 2012
Three Things Your Brand Needs to Be Successful In Social Media in 2013
So you’ve read about what your brand resolutions should be, what social media goals you should consider, and what to do and not do over and over again…but do you really know what your brand needs to be successful in social media this upcoming year? I have three specific items your brand should have on its checklist (if it’s not on there already)…
1) Hire Well
It’s not just about what you do on Facebook and Twitter and the content you produce, it’s the people helping to strategize said content and how it’s utilized across channels. When hiring your team, consider your culture, your goals, and where you want that team to go. Do these new potential employees fit your brand needs and especially the culture your brand has been developing?
2) Hire Native
I cannot emphasize this enough – hire native, hire native, and hire native. By native I mean – digitally native. Do you want to teach your employees social media and blogging or do you want them to crash through the door with their own ideas, know it like the back of their hands, and challenge your team to think more creatively, think more personally, and bring it to another level? Enough said.
3) Do What You Preach
Unfortunately there are one too many brands who offer advice and preach to be social media savvy and then they don’t hold their own. Eat the dog food and show your brands you are an expert through your actions, and not just your blog posts. Your audience will trust you more, come to your brand for your content, and believe in your brand if you prove it. Just look at Amex who isn’t a social media expert per say, but they started rocking it across social media channels, using guest bloggers to bring in expertise, and offering their small businesses the content they need to be successful in their markets. Now that’s the ticket.
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Put Social Media to Work to Shop Productively
With the New Year starting and consumers looking to save money whenever and wherever possible, can social media play into the equation?
For more and more savvy shoppers, the answers is yes.
According to Nielsen’s State of the Media Social Media report for 2012:
* Individuals spend more of their time devoted to social media networks than any other site form, including 20 percent of their time with PCs and 30 percent via mobile;
* Forty-seven percent of social media users look to social networks when it comes to customer service;
* Seventy percent use social media to listen to others’ experiences, while 50 percent use social media sites to note concerns and complaints regarding a company’s brand and its services.
As the economy still remains on shaky ground for many Americans, turning to social media to look for deals and specials can be a great way to save a few dollars and live a happier and better life, when all is said and done.
Whether the products and/or services include items to eat healthier and live longer, make improvements to your home, finding the right answer for how to stop gray hair or securing a car loan, viewing social media outlets for various small business can prove beneficial to you.
Among the things to look for when turning to social media to shop:
* Social media presence – Check the companies you are interested in to see how many social media venues they are on. Do they have a strong presence on the main sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest? If so, do they divide their time equally among such sites or favor one over the others? If they are on a half dozen sites or more, do they in your opinion spread themselves too thin?
* Customer attention – While many companies have a presence on social media, some do not do it very well. For some, the sole purpose is just to have an active face on SM, yet they do little to promote themselves. Before doing business with these companies, make sure that they respond to customer inquiries on their Facebook and Twitter pages for example in a timely and proper manner. With more Americans using social media these days, connecting with a business on their social media site allows for real-time interaction, a chance to ask questions and solve problems, and chat with other followers of the site;
* Helpful links – Do the companies you look at provide useful links on their social media sites to helpful articles and other pieces of information on the products and services you need? If the answer is yes, they can be viewed as an authoritative source in their respective industry. If the answer is no, could the company be doing more on its social media page or pages to garner your business?
* Special items for special customers – Social media venues are a great place for companies to offer their best customers deals, so is this the case with the companies you do business with? Social media is a great place for a company to reach out and reward its best customers by offering them coupons and other rewards on their social media sites. By doing so, they not only pull the customers to the sites, but they spread the word about their company as customers tell family, friends and coworkers about the site, leading to more eyes on the page.
As you welcome in 2013, look to the companies that you shop with to see which ones are being social and which are not.
At the end of the day, you can learn a lot about a business when it comes to seeing if they truly get social media or not.
Photo credit: stargroup1.com
Dave Thomas covers small business topics for various websites.
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December 21, 2012
55 Brands Rocking Social Media with Visual Content
The times they are a-changin’. These famous words of Bob Dylan can easily be applied to the rapidly evolving character of social media.
No doubt, social media is changing–it’s rushing into its most visual stage. If you aren’t prepared for the visual content revolution, you may be left in the dust. That’s why the HubSpot marketing team compiled this list of 55 brands killing it with visual content on these top four visually-driven social networks. Use this for inspiration to launch your visual content strategy.Flip through their presentation to learn how you can use visual content on:
Download the FREE whitepaper here!
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December 20, 2012
Hollywood Films and Social Media: The New Art of Promotion
Gone Viral. Buzz worthy. Reply. Like. In a digital world of constant Facebook updates, dozens of daily Instagram posts and a seemingly never-ending stream of tweets, it might seem odd to be thankful for the ever-increasing buzz of social media.
However, for Hollywood, Internet chatter has been life-enhancing, and they’re grateful for having an immediate way of staying connected and embracing the new art of promotion.
Hollywood director Michael Bay, for example, was able to gain some inspiration from “the people” for the fourth installment of the Transformers series. Here is what Bay said on his blog in regards to some Internet rumors about a certain casting choice:
“I squashed a rumor that was on the Internet last week. It was about Mark Walhberg. Mark was rumored to be starting in Transformers 4. We are working on another movie together, not T4. I had such a great time working with Mark on Pain and Gain, and he gave such a great performance — well let’s say that very Internet chatter gave me some ideas. We are at the inception of our story process right now on T4. Let’s say some ideas are gaining traction with me and my writer — so I’m here to say thanks Internet chatter.”
Eventually, Michael Bay decided that casting Mark Wahlberg would be the right choice. Just a few short days after Bay’s blog post, MTV.com reported that Mark Wahlberg, the Oscar-nominated actor, had been added to Bay’s cast of “Transformers 4,” stepping into the leading man position held by Shia LaBeouf in the first three movies. Therefore breathing new life into the over five-year-old franchise.
Hollywood Screenings & Twitter
And, getting help from Internet chatter isn’t all about filmmaker Michael Bay and growing a fan base. It also came in handy when certain Hollywood studios (namely Paramount) began hosting free screenings of films in major markets with the hope of garnering a positive reaction on Twitter. While the screenings are often a mix of professional critics and moviegoers, the critics usually have agreements with the studio that prevent them from publishing a critique until the film opens, thus allowing people to tweet their reactions before critics have their say. This creates a populist viewpoint for a movie that can contradict the critical consensus, according to Yahoo.com.
For more of a personal, and in-depth experience, Facebook has been used by studios to reveal trailers, posters, and production photographs. A large amount of actors are also active online and have gotten in on the fun by posting on-set photos and updates for fans.
All social media platforms allow Hollywood studios to grant “sneak peeks” or “first looks” at their films, and offer behind-the-scene access that isn’t broadcast on traditional media. Suffice to say, both Twitter and Facebook have a huge impact on deciding if you’re actually going to sit down to popcorn and a soda at the movie as well.
Social Media is the New Form of Entertainment; Young People Want Texting in Movies
According to Hollywood Reporter, social networkers have a one in three chance of deciding to see a movie in a theater because of something they read online. And, social networking isn’t limited to stay-at-home movie watching. 55 percent of moviegoers have texted during a movie. And film moguls take note: The poll found that a majority of 18-to-34-year-olds believe using social media while watching a movie in a theater would add to their experience, and nearly half would be interested in going to theaters that allowed texting and surfing the Web. Hear that, Hollywood?
While social networking is a big part of the movie watching experience, it has been found that traditional marketing is still the biggest factor in the moviegoers decisions. The study according to Hollywood Reporter found that 40 percent of respondents say trailers and previews are the biggest influences on their movie choices. Only 9 percent of respondents said that comments or reviews on networking sites are important.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the social media bubble is no longer just a place for idle chit-chat, it’s now a means of distribution of premium content. Most social-media sites are now formalizing their relationships with the entertainment industry to show users and advertisers that websites offer content beyond the trivial.
This also asks the question: Will consumers eventually want to get information that’s filtered by traditional means via a journalist? Or has the model of media consumption changed for good? It seems like the latter will win.
There’s no better way to amplify your voice, opinion, likes and dislikes than through social media. Keep Internet chatting and you may just see your suggestion transform an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster.
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December 19, 2012
47 Handy Facebook Stats and Charts
Facebook is a social media giant used for B2B and B2C companies, and data helps marketers determine the next steps in a campaign.
Do you know the best time to engage with your customers on Facebook? Learn this and more in this free eBook. They have compiled 47 stats, charts and graphs on Facebook that are easy to share and put into presentations. Use these stats to help you determine what is the best strategy for your next Facebook marketing campaign.After reading this eBook, you will be able to:
Determine how to best reach your particular target
Measure your progress on Facebook relevant to others in the industry
Implement strategies for best results on Facebook
Download the free guide here for some surprising Facebook stats!
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December 13, 2012
Credit Card Anxiety Leaving You Feeling Anti-Social?
While many consumers go out of their way to protect their personal identity online, others take a more haphazard approach, oftentimes leaving themselves open for identify theft.
In the case of credit cards, do you go out of your way to protect your personal information when using social media and other online venues? If the answer is yes, take credit for being a smart consumer. If the answer is no, you still have much to learn.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice for the calendar year 2010, 7 percent of all households nationwide saw at least one member of the family at or beyond the age of 12 fall victim to some form of identity theft. From 2005 to 2010, nearly 65 percent of these cases involved credit card fraud, the quickest growing form of identity theft. During this time period, credit card misuse was doubled as the deciding factor for identity theft.
As it turns out, unwittingly giving up personal information while using social media is one way that puts the consumer in danger of falling victim to identity theft.
In order to lessen the dangers to you and your family while online, consider that:
* Friend or foe? – Not all folks you talk to on social media venues such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ might have your best interests at heart. Just as you would not knowingly provide them with your credit card number, PIN number or Social Security number in person, be careful how you use social media with such information. With just one slip up on your part, you could fall victim to a scam that involves someone getting a hold of some of your personal details;
* Simple details could lead to your downfall – Giving out your birthday, your address, where you work etc. can just be asking for trouble. Keep in mind that you oftentimes use info like your birthday or a maiden name for security questions to credit cards, bank accounts, retirement funds and other personal belongings. If you give out such information during a discussion on social media, in a chat room or forum, etc. you open yourself up to possible identity theft, including someone getting ahold of your credit card data;
* Email can work against you – Another item to avoid is posting or sharing your email address all over the Internet. In the event someone is able to hack into your email, they could find personal data that you thought was protected, including credit card numbers, bank account details, information on prized collections, where you reside and more;
* Update your passwords regularly – How often do you update your passwords for sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn? If the answer is never to rarely, you could again be setting yourself up for trouble. Change the password information from time to time to stay one step ahead of identity thieves. By all means, avoid using the same user name and/or password on social media venues that you use for your credit card and/or bank account;
* Careful where you check in from – Finally, make sure whenever you use the Internet (social media sites, online shopping with those businesses that accept credit cards online etc.) that you do so from a safe venue. Using public, unencrypted Wi-Fi to handle such matters can leave you open to identity theft. In the event you use a computer or specific site that you feel may have been compromised, keep check over your credit card accounts, bank account, etc. for a period of time to make sure there are no unauthorized purchases.
With a New Year only weeks away, take credit if you plan to make online security a top priority in 2013.
Photo credit: micash.net
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Getting Copywriting Right in Social Media
“Engagement”
It’s the word that makes most businesses cringe.
We have just become used to writing in a more reader-friendly tone of voice on business websites, taking a conversational and casual approach to spelling out our offer to prospects and customers. We even figured out how to write this kind of content with SEO in mind – keywords and phrases became the topic of our ‘conversations.’
But with social media, the idea of engagement changes everything again. Instead of writing as the group making up the brand (the ‘we’), the role of copywriting becomes one of representing the personal identity of the brand (the ‘I’).
How to be interesting
Great SEO copy is essential for your website to attract leads from search engines. Using the words and phrases of your audience is (and always was) one of the ways a great SEO copywriter connects your brand with your readers. Using their words and their language helps them relate to you – to imagine using your service or product in their own lives.
But writing all about yourself, your products and your services is not engaging in a social context. It doesn’t require comment. It’s not an actual conversation.
It’s marketing.
Which is exactly where brands go wrong with social media. They end up being the one at the party who only talks about themselves and what they do.
In social media, copywriting needs to be more personal than that. It needs to act like a person and sound like a person – an interesting person.
I can hear you asking: “But what is interesting?”
Think about the way you use social media in your own life. You write a quick update consisting of a line or two about what you’re doing, you get one or two comments.
But, you’ll notice that when you ask a question or ask for help or post something you have an opinion on (that you found funny, scary, questionable, etc) suddenly your friends and family add another 15 or 20 comments. That is social ‘engagement’ – the power of one comment to spark an actual conversation of many comments.
Find your brand’s personal identity
Having an opinion means getting personal. The tricky part, though, is that being consistent with your brand copywriting is also essential. You don’t want to come across with a completely different sounding message. If your brand has a professional tone, you can’t simply be flippant in your social media.
The way to get to the core of good copywriting for social media is to identify and personify your brand’s personal identity. That is, the traits that your brand would exhibit if it took human form.
Here’s an example. Brand ABC describes its tone of voice as professional, helpful and considerate.
When I think about writing as this ABC brand, I think of an actual person – a real personality I know or can imagine that might be such a personality. Say…the assistant head teacher at a primary school. How would such a person write a Facebook update? How would she Tweet? What would he or she share? Why?
He or she would use professional language, be warm and interested in others. He or she would share topics that his or her audience cares about – that is things to do with the education of young people. He or she would respond to others in a way that feel inclusive, identifying them personally, and helping them find their way, comforting them when they needed it, and all the time considering the people that are listening.
That person doesn’t talk about himself or herself. He doesn’t brag. She doesn’t try to turn every comment into a platform or soapbox of personal gain.
He would write about others, what he has learned and how it relates to the pupils – the people that the audience cares about.
This is how you need to write as a brand in social media: be a personification of your brand identity (act like a real person), focus on others, explain what you are discovering within your niche and relate it to your followers in a way that helps them.
It’s not easy, but it sure is rewarding when you get it right.
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