26 Tactics, Tools and Tips to Create a Strong Social Media Content Strategy Are you looking for ways to strengthen the impact of the content you create? It isn’t always easy to generate the buzz you’re looking for. Knowing what to publish, when and where can greatly increase the visibility and reach of your content. In this article, you will find 26 topics, an A-Z guide, with key points that will help you create a social media content strategy that resonates with your audience. #1: Align Content Development With Social Media Metrics and Goals Understand the goals of your company’s social media content delivery to help you develop a more attainable strategy. Jayson DeMers suggests, “First you need to know what to measure. He offers metrics for four social media goals: Keep this information in mind when crafting your social media content. #2: Beef Up Your Content Strategy With a Big-Brand Mindset Small businesses can learn valuable lessons from the big-brand approach to social media. Starbucks, with over 34 million fans on Facebook, is a good example. As Google describes:
[Infographic] Hashtag History: From Organic Organization to Powering Social Marketing Campaigns The pound sign (#) used to be a thing we pressed at the end of entering numbers in an automated system. This all started to change in 2007 with the introduction of hashtags which used the pound sign as a folksonomic tag. According to an infographic from OfferPop, a social marketing platform provider, since it was first proposed for use on Twitter, the hashtag has evolved into a “hyperlinked verb” and a shorthand tool for message optimization. Simply put, it’s a way for social media users and marketers alike to organize information. Kind of like the tags and categories on a blog or website. The OfferPop infographic charts the history of the hashtag from its organic inception to its current position as a pop culture and marketing phenomenon. Now hashtags have become a social media standard being used to organize content on Google +, Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest and even Flickr. Check out the infographic below.
5 Social Media Predictions for 2014 One of my favorite things to do this time of year -- in addition to spending the holidays with friends and family -- is to look back on the year that was and also look ahead to what the New Year holds in store. When it comes to the state of social media, the past year could be summed up in a few words: real-time marketing, content, video and mobile. In a space that's continuously changing and technology that's advancing quickly, it can be a challenge to know where you should be spending your social-media efforts. Understanding what's ahead can help overcome these frustrations. Here are my top five predictions for where we're heading in social media in 2014: 1. Platforms like Twitter's Vine app and Instagram's 15-second video make it incredibly easy to create and share this short-form content so take the time to not only understand how to use these platforms but also how users consume content on them. Related: How to Maximize LinkedIn for Your Business 2. 3. 4. 5.
How the Feed Changed the Way We Consume Content The RSS feed — or as we now know it, "the feed" — organizes the world into a series of neat, clickable, constantly updating bits of information. But it's a relatively new concept — just 10 short years ago, there was no way to know what a public figure such as Justin Bieber was thinking in real time. The feed now dominates online content consumption, from the news we read on our mobile devices to the social networks we check constantly throughout the day, as well as the ads that integrate onto those platforms.
Twitter's Redesign Makes Photos the Focal Point ZzzQuil Gets Awkward With MLK Day Tweet In yet another example of why brands might just want to sit out serious events instead of posting "topical" social media updates, sleep aid ZzzQuil is being hammered on Twitter today for a post about Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The tweet wasn't patently offensive, to be sure, but it was definitely an awkward brand connection: "Today is the day for dreaming. Happy MLK Day." As you can see below, the social media backlash began quickly, especially after being mocked by comedian Tim Heidecker. Check out more reactions below.
Now You Can Send Private Vine Videos to Friends, Others Technology is transforming how modern entrepreneurs stay connected to their business, their team and their industry. In this series, learn more about the cutting edge tools and thinking allowing innovators to stay ahead of the trends. Twitter-owned Vine introduced direct video messaging yesterday, which allows users to send private six-second videos and text messages to their friends -- even those not on Vine. Does this mean that businesses will now start spamming customers with videos? Vine seems to be working out a few bugs currently. Vine also introduced the option to change your profile color from the standard green to nine other hues. Related: 6 Reasons Why Vine and Instagram Videos Are Great for Your Business Wendy Frink is the social media editor for Entrepreneur.com.
For Pete's Sake, Brands, Stop Focusing on Viral Grumpy Cat turns two, continues to make its owners very happy Internet celebrity Grumpy Cat stopped by the To access our premium content,please subscribe or log in. It's quick and easy. Your video will begin in 5 seconds Turn that frown upside down. Grumpy Cat, an internet celebrity, whose real name is Tardar Sauce turns two-years-old and has made her owners laughing all the way to the bank. Watch out world, Grumpy Cat has hit her terrible twos. The top dog in internet cat stardom, known for her downward smile and bugged-out baby blues, spent her birthday touring New York City with an entourage worthy of Hollywood. And Hollywood is where the funny-looking feline is bound, with a movie project in the works to add to her pile of endorsements and licensing deals that include her scowling face on limited-edition bags of Friskies Party Mix treats and her own line of “Grumppuccino” bottled coffee drinks. So who will voice the cat we love to caption? “The business is doing very well,” Bryan laughed. The humans, to be sure, are more than a little grateful.
5 Brand Failures Across Social Media Could this seriously offend someone? As a social marketing manager, I ask myself this question before posting anything on a brand’s social profile. If the answer is yes, I stop. Dear brands: Please stop commenting on emotionally-charged tragedies and adding in something promotional. Hell hath no fury like a customer offended! As a brand, you are not who people look to for condolences and prayers when tragedy strikes. Here are some unfortunate examples of social marketing fails: Epicurious: Not cool using the Boston bombing to promote recipe ideas. Kmart: Not only should you not have said anything at all, but you definitely shouldn’t have added in a promotional #Fab15Toys hashtag. Urban Outfitters: Making light of a devastating storm may be funny to the teens who wear your clothes, but not to the parents who buy the clothes for them. Just last month, Spaghetti O’s posted this in remembrance of Pearl Harbor. AT&T: The worst offender of all. What is happening here?
Facebook rumoured to be planning electronic money services Users could use Facebook to make electronic payments and save moneyThe social network is rumoured to be seeking regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Ireland to offer electronic money and remittancesThe service is expected to be offered across Europe, but if it is rolled out further, it could boost Facebook's appeal in emerging economies By Sarah Griffiths Published: 09:56 GMT, 14 April 2014 | Updated: 16:11 GMT, 14 April 2014 It’s the place to update friends about your day, share pictures and catch up on the gossip. But in the future, Facebook users could use the site to make electronic payments and save money too. The social network is rumoured to be seeking regulatory approval to offer financial services - including electronic money and remittances - which would, for example, allow foreign workers to easily transfer money back to their families. Not just for status updates? They could pay for goods and services using emoney. 'This is clearly evident in Africa.
Why Social Media Cross-Posting is Bad Practice A friend of mine who owns his own business recently told me that he likes Instagram because he can post from Instagram to Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare at the same time. Totally cringe-worthy. This means that he is sharing the exact same content to all of his followers regardless of network or audience. Every platform is unique Each social network has its own purpose, and is different enough from the others to offer something special. Why is your company on Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks? You want to share valuable content. If you share content on more than one social media network, why are you on each of them? There are different reasons for each platform, and this depends on the way information is shared, the audience type, and it’s purpose. Reasons not to cross-post The main problem with posting the same exact message at the same exact time, is that you’re not making the message special for an individual network. Amy Donohue also sees cross-posting as a bad idea.