Brian E. Boyd Sr.'s Blog, page 16

I am a Social Media Actor

This was written by Sarah Boyd. Sarah is a Social Media Analyst with Media Connect Partners.

“When we are on stage, we are in the here and now.” –Stanislavski, Theatre Theorist

And when it comes to social media, this theory stands the same.  Social media is a live performance with audience members (you, me, any social media user) actively watching.  Who’s on stage?  You as well.  Your company, your brand.

Years ago, I acted professionally in New York City. Though I absolutely love social media, I sometimes feel myself longing for the days I went on auditions, performed in front of the most piercing of eyes, and played the most dramatic roles.

It’s at these times that I realize – I am an actor – a Social Media Actor, that is.  I play the roles of many different characters (clients), and instead, when I recite my lines (posts, tweets, etc), the entire world is watching.  Ever thought about taking an actor’s approach to social media?  These are some qualities of a Social Media Actor:

You’re ALWAYS on Stage

Monitor every little action, every little move, every comma and exclamation point, every tweet that is sent out, every reply posted.  Everyone sees everything, so make sure your content is ready for all eyes, all the time.
Develop Your Role

Make sure you conduct a deep “character analysis” before beginning any role.  Do homework on the person you are representing online!Answer these questions: Do you know where they live, their history, how long they’ve been around, etc.  What about their “sound” or “voice”?  If they’re young, are they more enthusiastic?  Are they from a different country with cultural slang?  More details make for better content and an overall better strategy.
Be Authentic

Are you truthfully representing yourself?  Social media should portray you in an authentic and believable manner (hint: this is where the character analysis helps!). Content should reflect transparency.  By truthfully representing yourself, the audience will easily be able to detect a social media personality that they’ll fall in love with.
Break the Fourth Wall

Engage with your audience.  Step off stage to develop relationships with your patrons. Use social media as a tool to go above and beyond in connecting with your audience.


Determine Your Objective

Super Objective:  Your overarching goal.  The number one thing you want to accomplish throughout all social platforms, always.Objective:  A temporary goal.  This can be a goal for the month or the week.  Maybe reaching a wider audience is this month’s goal, or using more images in content.Tactics:  How are you going to accomplish your objectives?  Are you reaching a wider audience with advertising?  Will you be creating unique memes images to share with your audience?

How seriously do you take your role as a Social Media Actor?

10 Things Your Ministry Can Do In 140 Characters

Twitter changed the world with just 140 characters.  And, in a space where every single character counts, it can be a challenge for ministries to reach their congregations while continuing to evangelize to others.  While a face-to-face sermon offers the ability to provide details and context, it seems that 140 characters online just doesn’t cut it sometimes.

How can your ministry use Twitter to spread the word of Christ? Take a look at these 10 tweets, and this is just the start:

Invite someone to Church or a Bible study.
Link to articles that will encourage growth in godliness.
Tweet a short prayer or passage of Scripture.
Tweet lyrics from Christian hymns and songs.
Tweet a short salvation prayer or a link to your salvation page.
Tweet to tell someone that Jesus loves them.
Host a Twitter Chat for a small group.
Tweet about updates within the congregation and upcoming Ministry events.  Encourage church members to sign-up and bring their family and friends.
Tweet information, such as article links, videos or websites, which reinforces the topic of recent sermons.
Encourage people to share their testimonial and how they are growing in the Christian life.

It may be challenging to write a tweet, but if you do, your ministry could convert someone to the love of Jesus Christ—140 characters at a time.

Tell us, how is your ministry using Twitter?

Does Your Brand Need a Vintage Filter?

This is written by Kirstin Venn. Kirstin is a Social Media Analyst with Media Connect Partners.

Are you tired of seeing “duck face” photos of teenagers? Well then Instagram isn’t the platform for you. Juuuust joking.

The stereotype is that Instagram is only used by hipsters and foodies who take more pictures of their meals than of themselves.  

Is there more to the famous vintage-filtering, photo-based platform than we know?

“Instagram has changed the way people see the world,” says Instagram co-founder, Kevin Systrom. But we can’t take his world for it. We want facts and proof that Instagram can benefit our business.

Instagram is used to share beautiful and targeted images and videos with a specific audience. But beneath the app’s quirky appeal is a powerful tool to market your business and services while connecting with customers. Instagram can easily be used to market your company image,and get your name into the community.

3 Ways to Use Instagram for Your Company: 

1. Build your brand.

Sharing images that reflect what is important to you as a company builds awareness.
The more transparent you are about who you are and what you do, the more people are likely to trust you.
Let prospects get to know your staff members by posting a professional picture and bio on Instagram so that potential clients know who will be handling their account.
Share pictures of what best represents you.  It’s important to consider the variety of images that are posted as well.

2. Showcase your expertise.

Market yourself by expressing your expertise in picture or word format. Posting a simple and beautiful picture saying “We know social media” will stick in potential customer’s minds.
Post short videos or images giving tips and talking about your company—this will increase your credibility, overall trustworthiness, and gain your company exposure.

3. Drive traffic to other platforms.

After building up a strong online presence, Instagram can be a great way to drive traffic to your website and to other platforms such as Facebook and more effectively, Twitter.
Post pictures frequently and make sure to cross post your Instagram pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and any other platforms your company uses.

How to Make Your Business Well-Known on Instagram:

Secure a branded username, preferably using your company name or initials.
Fill out the profile information and advertise your other platforms wherever you can.
Use a branded profile image.
Follow your followers back!
Make use of Instagram’s video feature which is the new competitor to the ever popular “Vine”.
Market upcoming events with pictures and connect Instagram with Twitter in order to live tweet.
Show your commitment and affiliation with communities and charities by following various organizations.
Use other apps that enhance your images and make your pictures stand out.
Track your click through rate using 3rd party analytics.

Instagram is a platform that helps drive sales and gain a large amount of exposure to the public if you have a professional online presence and a well thought out strategy.

Don’t write it off as a useless platform for hipsters and foodies just yet… take a look at what Instagram has to offer, then give it another #review!

If this all sounds too good to be true, but you don’t have the time, or need help making your social media into ‘social amazing’, give us a call: 1.800.627.1265

5 Steps To Make Your Facebook Page a Destination

Last blog we helped you set up your Facebook page… Now it’s time to take it to the next level!

1.  Depending on the exact nature of your Christian business, you will want to become a “thought leader” on a topic that is not directly tied to your business. While the topic should not be directly related to your business (ex: You sell Christian books—so you are a thought leader on Christian books), it should be something that supplements your industry (ex: You sell Christian books—so you are a thought leader on Christian inspiration, biblical information, and advice.)

2.  Now you’re ready to start creating content! And content is KEY. Organize yourself with a content calendar, using it to decide what kind of information you want to post and when.

For content, graphics are always a hit! Creating memes (images with text on them–see example below) makes for very “shareable” content that fans can post onto their own Facebook walls.
Also make sure you engage the audience, providing a call to action. This could be asking them to “click the link” to visit your website or purchase something, or asking engaging questions at the end of your post.
Obey the 70/30 Rule. This dictates that no more than 30% of your content should be business-driven and/or promotional. Seventy percent should be useful content that provides something FOR the user, not content that asks something FROM them.

3.  Find influencers in your industry. Search Facebook for other ministries, causes, churches, and organizations that are similar to your company’s mission or industry. Engage with their Facebook pages by “liking” or “sharing” their content on your page, linking back to their page. This creates a social relationship that could serve to get your business free exposure and possibly even partnerships.

4. Take advantage of Facebook page features!

Ads (actual advertisements on the Facebook side columns) and promoted posts (standard Facebook posts that are pushed on to a target audiences newsfeed) deliver a bang for your buck—generating massive awareness to people who might otherwise never hear about your business.
Use the “Facebook tabs” to add extra deliverables to your audience, such as:

A tab where Facebook fans can purchase your company’s products directly
A contest tab for giveaways
A daily Bible verse tab or prayer community tab
A tab to your Twitter or Instagram account

5.  Lastly, keep up with your page and try new things! Your fans will expect new and engaging content when they visit your page. Read articles, and visit competitors and like-minded businesses to get ideas and see what works—and what doesn’t.

And if you find you don’t have the time or manpower to consistently give your Facebook page the attention it deserves, contact MCP: Faith and we’ll be happy to do the legwork for you! +1800.627.1265

5 Steps To Setup Facebook For Your Christian Business

Facebook has exploded over recent years, and with over one billion users, you would be missing out on a lot of potential business by not being a part of it!

1.  The first step for anyone who wants to get exposure for his or her Christian business on the social media scene is to create a Facebook fan page.  *Note: A Facebook profile is different from a Facebook page. There are limitations with profiles that you will not have on a fan page, such as, an unlimited number of fans/connections, the ability to run ads and the ability to create custom tabs.

2.  Don’t cut corners when creating your page. Remember, this page represents your business; think of it as complementary to your website. First impressions matter! Here are some fast tips:

Try to incorporate the same look, feel, and colors of your company website on the Facebook page—you want people to recognize you by your branding.
Consider making your page’s “profile picture” your company logo, or something that accurately represents your company and its values.
Facebook pages have “cover photos”, giving you another area to display your company’s voice, personality, and offerings. Another tip: Include your company motto or slogan in the cover photo.

3.  Request a personalized URL for your page, like: facebook.com/yourcompanyname

4.  Make sure to include outbound links to your business’s website and other social networks. You want fans to be able to find you across all social media platforms. And the same applies vice versa—make your sure to add a “Facebook widget” (a small logo icon that links to your Facebook page) to your company website and blog.

5.  Zero in on your target audience. Consider who your customers are and who you’d like your customers to be. Use tools such as the

new Facebook “Graph Search” to find people interested in what you offer. If you have an email database, send a note to all your subscribers letting them know about your brand new page, and asking them to “like” it.

Now your Facebook page is set up! That’s just the first step. Check back later to see how you can take your page from zero to Facebook hero, on the next MCP: Faith blog.

 

Klout! Or You’re Out.

This was written by Kirstin Venn.  Kirstin is a Social Media Analyst with Media Connect Partners.

Definitions:

“Klout” – A website and mobile app that uses social media analytics to rank its users according to online influence.

“Klout Score” – A numerical value that ranks users between 1 and 100.

On a basic level, Klout measures your online reach by analyzing the social media platforms that you use, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Foursquare. Are you active on Twitter?  Good news!  Your account automatically syncs to Klout, and you already have a Klout Score.  Take a look now to see what your score is, and then link your other social accounts – watch your score rise.

Sure, you might have some doubts.  “Why should this interest me? How does it affect me? How can I use it to my advantage?”

Here are 5 reasons why you need a higher Klout Score:

Social Reach—Klout helps you figure out just how much influence you have in your community/industry.
Job Hunting/Hiring—Potential employers are increasingly looking at Klout Scores along-side resumes to figure out how influential you will be in their industry as a potential candidate.
Marketing Yourself— In the technology industry, people tend to take you more seriously if you have a high Klout Score. It also increases your chances of being retweeted on Twitter or liked on Facebook.
Complaints and Service—Lots of companies are now screening complaints by Klout Score. If you have a low Klout Score, you run the risk of your complaint never being seen, let alone addressed. You simply aren’t a threat with such little influence.
Klout Perks—Many companies offer online discounts, gift cards, and free subscriptions based on Klout Score, and who doesn’t love free stuff! Check your Klout profile regularly to see if you are the proud new receiver of one of these perks.

So now that you know WHY Klout is so important, the question is HOW to go about improving your score. The fastest way to improve your score is by:

Frequently updating your Facebook and Twitter statuses.
Concentrating on a few particular topics.
Developing relationships online with people who have high Klout Scores.
Being interesting (bordering on socially irresistible).
Using the tools Klout provides for you on their website to figure out what to post, when to post, and how to schedule from Klout itself so that you don’t spend your whole day online.

Are you being heard on social media? Klout is a great tool to track your online influence. In the growing technical age you have one of two choices… climb on the social media band wagon… or get left in the dust.

People Say the Darnedest Things

This was written by Jordan Moran.  Jordan is a Social Media Analyst with Media Connect Partners.

Have you ever heard someone refer to social media as a megaphone?

We see people use it this way every day.  When you logged into Facebook this morning, what did you see?

“…They’re engaged!”

“…Matt’s ‘Cheese Horoscope’  is whisky cheddar…alrighty…”

“…Politics…”

“…Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl!!”

Unfortunately, newsfeeds aren’t always this predictable.

Nothing wakes me up more than a tweet someone sent that ticks me off in less than 140 characters. (How do they do that?!)Then there’s that eye-burning Instagram post that I never wanted to see in the first place.

What about those times that someone takes something you posted way out of context? Good morning!

The truth is, there is so much happening in our individual worlds and social media is the only tool that is large enough to contain everyone’s venting.

There are two things I try to remember when responding to an off-the-wall comment:

Hold true to what you’re saying. If someone disagrees with you, try to explain yourself a little more. If someone doesn’t quite get your joke, don’t get upset –– laugh it off. If someone’s upset by what you said, apologize and move on.
Only take the conversation offline if you have to. When things go south – it’s LIVE; and chances are the post has already been seen by a quarter of your friend list. Removing a negative comment only leaves people wondering why you removed it and opens the door for the cynic to comment again. If you can find a way to respond to the comment where both parties are happy, go that route. Remember, everyone’s watching. Always.  If you have to take the conversation offline, then go.

Your followers aren’t going to always “like” what you have to say online. That’s okay! As long as you know how to respond appropriately, that’s all that matters.

Do you need help responding to an aggravating fan?

MCP CEO Speaks for Tulsa Leaders

On September 18th, 2013, Media Connect Partners’ CEO Brian Boyd spoke at the 2013 Communicators Summit in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The event was a resounding success for everyone involved.

Here are some photos from that event:

 

Media Connect Partners Expands Social Media Capabilities to Serve Hispanic/Latino Audiences of Clients

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Connect Partners expands social media capabilities to serve Hispanic / Latino audiences of clients.

Global social media strategy and execution firm MCP adds Spanish language communications to it its robust menu of client services

Charlotte, NC – September 16, 2013 – Media Connect Partners, LLC (MCP) (http://mediaconnectpartners.com) now has the ability to capture a wider audience and reach new communities by offering Spanish language services to its growing roster of clients.

“It is estimated that Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world,” said MCP Chief Executive Officer Brian Boyd. “It is vital that our clients have the ability to communicate their messages in a timely and meaningful fashion to such a large and active audience. We are excited to be growing our multicultural staff of experts to achieve that goal.”

Having an entirely separate, Spanish-only social media presence is more than a good idea for some companies. It’s expected according to Kelly Vo, MCP’s Manager of Social Media Analysts. Vo cites a Pew Research Center Report* that shows nearly 20% of Hispanics online are Twitter users – higher than Twitter usage among non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks.

In addition, the U.S. Census Bureau reports Hispanic population growth accounted for 52% of total U.S. population growth from 2001-2011. MCP anticipates the Spanish speaking social media market will grow exponentially.

“Now that MCP has the ability to write and respond in Spanish for our clients and prospective clients, we are able to provide the same level of attention and detail to their Spanish speaking fans that we currently provide for their English speaking followers,” said Vo. MCP is also developing specific cultural content targeted to Spanish language communities.

Helping spearhead the effort is the latest addition to MCP’s growing family, social media analyst Jackie Silva. “I believe my Spanish language fluency will allow MCP to reach a broader audience. I’m looking forward to contributing my background in social media, public relations and journalism to continue providing MCP clients with the most engaging and results-driven strategies and content possible. Enabling current and future clients to communicate with Spanish-speaking fans and followers in their common tongue will only further enhance MCP’s already strong social media offering,” said Silva.

*Pew Internet and American Life Project – Pew Research Center http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2010/PIP-Twitter-Update-2010.pdf

Read the press release in Spanish here: http://getsoci.al/1gpKcvH

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About Media Connect Partners

Media Connect Partners, LLC (MCP) is a full service social media firm specializing in delivering real world social media strategies and execution plans that deliver ROI. 20+ years’ experience in the business and IT worlds combine to keep our select clients on the cutting edge: Hobby Lobby, Hachette Book Group, Joel Osteen Ministries, Bank of New York Mellon and more. Offices in Charlotte, Ft. Lauderdale, Las Vegas, New York, Tulsa, Hyderabad, India and Pretoria, South Africa allow MCP to deploy client teams at a moment’s notice. For more information, go to http://mediaconnectpartners.com or http://fb.com/mediaconnectpartners. Follow MCP on Twitter: @MediaCPartners

Contact

For Media Connect Partners, LLC

Brian Boyd, CEO

800.627.1265 (office) 646.515.4363 (mobile)

brian@mediaconnectpartners.com

@BrianBoyd

Breaking Facebook News on Contests!

Breaking Facebook News on Contests!

It has happened again. Today, Facebook announced massive changes in the way business pages are allowed to run contests within Facebook. It was announced in a blog entry based on updated terms for business pages.

Here are the salient points that you need to know

Businesses are NO LONGER required to run contests exclusively using apps on Facebook tabs.
Business can no longer encourage “mass tagging” of posts in which people do not actually appear.

In other words…

What can I do?

You can collect entries by having users post, comment or like a post
You can collect entries by having users message a page
You can utilize LIKES as a new voting mechanism

What CAN’T I do?

You cannot encourage people to “tag themselves” in content in which they don’t appear to enter to win a prize

Really, this is huge, and it will be fascinating to see what companies like Heyo, Offerpop, WildFire and Tabsite to do enhance their offerings to remain relevant and maintain their value proposition. Stay tuned for updates!

To read the full promotions guidelines you can download it from Facebook, here http://bit.ly/1dnSXu5

Terms for business pages: http://on.fb.me/15uth9q

John Mattos