22 Top Blogging Tools Loved by the Pros Do you blog? Looking for exciting new tools to simplify the blogging experience? If so, keep reading. We decided to get the scoop on today’s hottest blogging tools. We asked 22 pros to share their favorite new finds. #1: InboxQ Mitt Ray @MittRay A great blogging tool I discovered a few months ago is InboxQ. InboxQ lets you create campaigns with different keywords. You can work on these questions and come up with better blog topics in your area of specialty. When people type in questions with these keywords, I get an update. Use InboxQ to find the questions people are asking on Twitter. Mitt Ray, founder of Social Marketing Writing, author. #2: Content Idea Generator Rich Brooks @TheRichBrooks The Content Idea Generator (v2) is a Google Doc that will automatically find news and related stories for your blog from a variety of sources… everything from Google News to Reddit, from tweets to public Facebook updates and more. You can get started here. Rich Brooks, president of Flyte New Media. #3: Diigo
How Online Content Impacts Your Social Media Marketing Strategy There is a quasi-conventional wisdom developing which says that social media is best used (and sometimes is only useful) for top-of-the-funnel (TOFU) brand awareness. Though this may have been true early on, as social media becomes a more broadly accepted mode of communication by consumers of all stripes, its usage has become more sophisticated. Much like a company website, today’s social consumer expects more than a brochure-level social media experience. Businesses are learning that getting social with their content creates a virtuous cycle: sharing web-based content on social media expands a brand’s social media reach; greater social reach in turn drives more traffic to a company’s web-based content, multiplying its reach, and so on. Having said that, online content marketers are using social media for more than just TOFU brand promotion; they are using it to drive leads and sales. Let’s say your company, Widget World, sells really awesome widgets. Perfect. That’s it. Why did I bother?
7 Habits of Remarkably Charismatic Marketers You know those people everyone wants to be around? The ones that light up the room with their smiles? The ones that make every person they talk to feel like the most important person in the world? I love those people. And I bet you do too, because they just make you feel ... awesome. That (along with Inc.' Think about it. 1) Draw people in with engaging content. Do you want to be that people-magnet that others just naturally want to start conversations with? Write interesting blog posts to drive visitors to your website and establish your company as thought leaders in your industry. 2) Make your marketing something people want to interact with. Charismatic people aren't usually seen begging for friends. First, make sure your content is relevant to those receiving it. 3) Listen and respond. Charismatic people don't talk your ear off and dominate the conversation. Set up a social media monitoring system . 4) Be genuine and humble throughout all of your marketing. 5) Make others feel loved.
Using Instagram for Social Media Marketing Not too long ago a reader asked me how to use Instagram hashtags within a social strategy. Well even before she asked me that question I was thinking of a bigger question: In which ways can a marketer use Instagram in social media marketing? Here are 9 key points in marketing with Instagram. Since marketing is not holistic for any company, product, or situation, I encourage you to read these points and comment below if you want to expand on any ideas raised, or especially if you disagree. Nine Points on Marketing with Instagram: 1: Don’t rely just on Instagram When forming your social media strategy Instagram is a great mobile marketing tool, but it is not the only tool. 2: Involve your Community As with any social media campaign not only should you reply on your own pictures, you should reach out liking and commenting on their photos too, especially if they mention your product or brand. 3: Let Your Community See Behind the Curtain Personally my favorite examples of this are: Connect:
Free Webinar: The Science of Social Media Social media effectiveness shouldn't rely on luck. Too long have superstitious, unicorns-and-rainbows myths dominated the field. The culmination of years of research, this webinar presents a framework for reliable social media success. Watch this on-demand webinar to learn how to build your reach, engineer contagious ideas and measure your results, through data-backed, scientifically-proven best practices. This webinar was certified by Guinness World Records as the largest online marketing seminar ever. Webinar Details Duration: 60min Presenters: HubSpot's Social Media Scientist, Dan ZarrellaHashtag: #smsci Dan Zarrella, author of The Social Media Marketing Book, is an award-winning social, search, and viral marketing scientist. Who should view:Marketing professionals interested in optimizing their social media presence. Technical Requirements:Internet connection and computer speakers for audio.
A Practical System for Writing Snappy Headlines That Grow Traffic Writing great headlines can be a hard job for any blogger. So much of our post’s success rests on the quality of the first few words. It can be daunting for even the most seasoned blogger to get that headline right, but it doesn’t have to be. Snappy headlines can bring traffic, and sales. As any writer knows, our primary goal is to simply get people to read what we have to say. But, that’s not all headlines do… Headlines are for more that just our readers. That means that the real trick to writing great headlines is to find something that will not only motivate our reader, but influence our postion on Google. Google Searches Are Performed By Humans We’ve heard of the phrase “search robot.” Why Our Headlines Are Usually Bad The reality is that most headlines are bad, and this happens for a few reasons. They write them last.They write them for themselves.They try to be creative. Too often, we treat headlines like personal summaries of our blog post, rather than motivating calls to action.
The Present and Future of Content Marketing Content marketing here and now The era of traditional marketing through product placement, direct advertisements, and promotions may as well be over. Content marketing has rapidly picked up steam and is about to replace traditional marketing as we know it, with nine out of ten B2B marketers currently engaging in some form of content marketing. Combine the prevalence of content marketing with the potential for success (companies that blog receive 55% more web traffic than those that don’t), and it becomes obvious that the need for content marketing will only continue to grow. Image 1: Articles, social media, and blogs represent the top choices for content marketers As the importance of social media rises, so does marketers’ belief in its viability as a content marketing platform. Image 2: Belief in social media effectiveness rose from 31% in 2010-2011 to 50% in 2011-2012 Content Marketing in 2012 and Beyond David Woodrow @DavidWoodrow Connect: Authored by: David Woodrow See complete profile
How to Create a Social Media Marketing Plan Social Media Examiner Do you want to make personal connections with your customers on social media? Interested in better ways to address their wants and needs? The key to engaging with your audience on a more personal level is to focus on the right customer, at the right time and with the right employees. In this article you’ll find out how to create a social media marketing plan to put customers first and improve engagement. Discover how to create a social media marketing plan. Listen to this article: Listen now: Play in new window | Download | Embed Subscribe: iTunes | Android | Why Focus on Customers? In social media many companies take customer-focused brand messages and customize them into content for each channel. The reality is that your target audience has different communication needs depending on which stage of the buying cycle they’re in. Here’s how to take a customer-centric approach with your social media marketing. #1: Understand the Stages of the Buying Cycle The steps of the purchase cycle. Conclusion