5 Key Steps To Mastering The Social Media Marketing Landscape I had the pleasure of being accomodated at 5 star hotel the other day and when I went down to breakfast I was confronted by an array of food selections that an ancient Roman Emperor would have been impressed with. The luxury of choices that confronted me was overwhelming and selecting what to eat almost becomes an exercise in filtering the noise and array of stimuli of sight and smell that stood spread before me. Do I eat something that is a change from my normal day to day diet or should I be courageous and select something I would not normally have at home? Should it be really healthy, slightly healthy or or just plain decadent. Will it be a hot or a cold meal. Should I get a custom made meal by ordering at the counter like a young couple next to me were ordering, or should I just take something on display. So much choice and not enough time or appetite to try everything. Social Media Marketing has the presented the marketer with so many choices in the last few years.
Social Media Success - The One Thing You Must Do Posted by John Paul Aguiar in social media Social Media Success Comes When You Leave Yes, I said it and NO I haven’t lost my %^*&#* mind… I know you’re thinking it haha But, the reality is that social media is just one piece of your marketing puzzle. Would you spend day and night in a forum? Would you spend all day and night writing articles? Would you spend all day and night making videos? I know for me, the answer is a BIG hell no and I’m pretty sure that’s your answer too. Yet you have no problem staying on social media morning noon and night. Crazy right? We all want social media success, but at what cost? Why not focus more time and energy on YOUR blog? Remember your blog? A place to connect with your readers? Now, I love social media and I have been using it a VERY long time. No matter how great social media is, I also know when to take some time off and focus on other things that will benefit my blogging business. Work social media like you would any other party! Annoying right?
The Anatomy of a Killer Content Marketing Strategy Joe Lazauskas is the co-founder and CCO of Faster Times Media, a content studio and consultancy that helps businesses create exceptional articles, videos, blogs, and social media updates. Say hello on Twitter @joelazauskas or via email at joe@thefastertimes.com. Content marketing has become a powerful way for brands to build long-term relationships with customers while still generating short-term results. As a first step, many marketers are building out new brand publishing initiatives, often with the help of a content studio staffed by editors and journalists. Smart content marketers will tell you that brands need plenty of their own content published on their own sites. But that’s not the only option. At a recent talk, Chris Ahearn, the former president of Reuters Media, said that while the big publishers are still alive, they’re bleeding badly. SEE ALSO: Why Brands Are Becoming Publishers Although, some of the so-called “small” publications are not so small anymore. The process works.
Today's Teachers Must Become Connected Educators By Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach We live in an age of fast-paced change and, unfortunately, economic downturn. Most schools and school systems are not able to give us the kind of professional development we need, as often as we need it. But the good news is that we also live in an era of great technological proficiency, where many useful learning tools are available for free --- tools that are safe and fast and easy to use: information-gathering tools, knowledge-management tools and, best of all, tools for collaboration. If we are connected educators and we know how to leverage this ubiquitous technology to connect to other people who share our interests and passions --- to find them, to vet them and to learn from them --- then we possess a powerful means of do-it-yourself (DIY) professional development. Connected educators also know how to extend their professional learning communities into the 21st century world of the Web. So why is it important to be a connected educator?
Creative Problem Creation Problems get a bad rap. We’re all clear on the negativity around problems, but we don’t appreciate their positive character. It’s time we use their powers for good. One of the least popular characteristics of problems is their selfishness. Like the friend who shows up for dinner unannounced, problems, left to their own, care only about their calendar. An important strong suit of problems is their ability to create focus. I propose we bring problems to life on our own terms to create new thinking; to creatively fabricate problems to generate laser-focused thinking in the direction of our choice; to imagine what could be and create the right problems to get us there. The most provocative and productive problems to manufacture are those that remove inherent goodness of your products or that outlaw their physical fundamentals. Here are some examples: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Sure, these examples were reverse engineered.
7 Ways to Get More Out Of Your Content Marketing Strategy You’ve decided to pursue a content marketing strategy. You have an outstanding piece of content you’ve spent hours creating, putting your heart and mind into the piece and that is great. Then, you published it. Yet after sometime, you begin to get the feeling, “Maybe I could have gotten more out of my outstanding piece of content.” What could you have done? Sometimes it is hard to realize that content you like and have created with care and thoughtfulness will not get the attention you think it deserves. 1. Whatever outlet you choose – your own blog, a guest blog, a publishing platform – you must be aware of the audience present in that space and choose accordingly. 2. There are multiple opportunities to reuse content you have already published (be careful if you published as a guest post and promised unique content). A content-based publishing platform allows you to republish, link back, or publish directly to an industry or topic related audience. 3. 4. 5. Social media is crowded. 6.
11 Facebook Marketing Tips and Tactics for B2B Marketers Facebook has an image problem. It started as a social network that was initially invented to provide a voting platform on rating the popularity of the fairer sex. It was more about girls than commerce. The CEO who might be on Facebook with his own personal profile, often has trouble seeing its value beyond its initial primary use as a channel to connect and share with family and friends. Senior managers who were not brought up in the world of texting, instant messaging or watching YouTube videos often do not know that there are 3 types of Facebook profiles. Personal Facebook profiles for individualsGroups for community organisations and clubsFacebook “Pages” for brands and companies It is often forgotten that brands and companies on Facebook is only a relatively recent addition to the web (less than 3 years) Facebook is Growing Up The young pimply adolescent social networking platform is becoming a serious grown up business marketing channel. Facebook is Not Just a B2C Marketing Channel 1. 2.
Social hubs - what are they and why you may need one? 4 Social Hub Examples As the number of social networks increases, brands have started to look at ways in which they can bring all their social networks into their brand owned websites. Contrast this with the more common situation where the only reference to social media on the main site are the ubiquitous Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ share buttons. These don’t give any impression of the type of interactions and communities developed on these networks or customers own networks. Social hubs can give customers a snap shot preview of the activity on each of the chosen social networks. What is a Social Hub? Social hubs tend to be content aggregation pages on a brands own website. If brands are making good use of the social networks in their own right, not just publishing the same thing to each of them, then they are actually useful if you are genuinely interested in that brand. Why do you need them – beyond buttons? Social hubs give: Social Hub Examples Cisco Social Hub Dell
Over 25 Links Uncovering Project Based Learning Resources On The Web Welcome to this first in a series of PBL Mania Posts. For the next few weeks I am celebrating Project Based Learning by hosting a webinar at Edtech Leaders Online, and by presenting a PBL session at the NICE Conference in Chicago. In this post I will introduce you to some awesome places on the web containing some of the very best PBL resources. Before reading, please take a moment to subscribe to this 21centuryedtech Blog by email or RSS and also give me a follow on Twitter at mjgormans. You will not want to miss this series or future posts involving STEM, Flipping the Classroom, Technology Integration, Common Core, and 21st Century Skills, So Sign Up Now! As always… thanks and have a great week. - Mike Gorman (21centuryedtech) Welcome to the land of PBL knowledge. BIE – BUCK Institute BIE – Also known as the BUCK Institute for Learning. BIE Videos – What Is PBL Video – A great collection of videos that demonstrate PBL and its best practices. West Virginia Teach 21 PBL Learning Reviews
'IV in a Bottle' May Revolutionize Hydration Dr. Benjamin Yoo believes he holds the secret to proper hydration -- and he can’t wait to share it with the rest of the world. An M.D. from Charleston, South Carolina, Yoo began developing a new sports drink in 2008 when he was hooking dehydrated athletes to IV bags. Yoo ran a series of tests, and the result was a beverage he described as an “IV in a bottle.” “Salt is the only electrolyte you need for any dehydration episode, whether you're an athlete or you're sick or you're a laborer working outside,” said Yoo. (MORE: Stay Safe in the Summer Heat) Exercising his theory that salt lost from the body must be replaced during strenuous activities, Yoo began testing the drink on football players during hot summer camps in Charleston. “It pretty much revolutionized what we do from a preseason training standpoint,” said Brad Drake, head trainer for the Charleston Southern University football team. (MORE: NFL Camps Fighting Serious Heat) “We sent it down to Haiti,” said Yoo. Dr.
A Guide to Integrated Digital Marketing [INFOGRAPHIC] Marketing is evolving to meet the needs of the consumer in this tech-reliant world. The Internet and the rise of mobile have created an environment in which consmers demand personalization and immediate access to information. To stay competitive, brands must adopt a marketing strategy that is both integrated and digital. This infographic details the 6 key components that make up an effective integrated digital marketing strategy. Connect: Authored by: Jacey Gulden Representing the new breed of uber-brand journalist, Jacey recently graduated from Indiana University with a BA in Journalism which included a focus on web and graphic design; she also earned two minors in Theater and Psychology. See complete profile